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Gophers, Smith right fit

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Also by Kevin Hagstrom:

Connelly, defense settling in (January 31, 2008)
Scoring options come from surprising sources (January 28, 2008)
Despite records, rivalry still great (January 25, 2008)
Wiconsin 'hungry' for win versus Minnesota (January 25, 2008)
Wisconsin's sign off (February 8, 2007)

by Kevin Hagstrom

Friday, February 1, 2008

One suffered for losing, the other for winning — just not enough. Together, however, they have restored faith and excitement to a community that had been starved of hope for years; Tubby Smith became head coach of Minnesota’s men’s basketball team last March.

Before he ever coached a game, the players and fans felt a renewed sense of confidence in the direction the Gophers’ program was headed, and Smith gladly welcomed the change in scenery. The recent past, for the both of them, wasn’t exactly paradise.

While Wisconsin rose to the top of the national rankings and challenged Ohio State for the Big Ten title last year, Minnesota plunged toward oblivion, where it remained, finishing 9-22 overall and 3-13 in conference.

Head coach Dan Monson fled early in the year after a fifth consecutive loss, leaving the team and the program — to interim coach Jim Molinari — in worse condition than Grave Digger leaves cars in a monster truck show. Nor was the destruction limited to one season.

Throw aside 2004-05 and Minnesota hasn’t won more than five Big Ten games since George W. Bush declared war on Iraq. Truth is: Monson scorched more than he sowed and he plundered more than he offered because the team never achieved much of anything under him. During the eight years Monson patrolled the sideline, the Gophers reached the NCAA Tournament just once.

Like the Joad family from John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath,” the Gophers had truly fallen on hard times. Even though the players will say they never gave up (which is expected, yet admirable nonetheless), the pick-me-up inside of them was dimming. And the forlorn fans, who withstood the seasons of losing, could only shake their heads, wishing it was 1996-97 again.

But something marvelous happened: Kentucky let Smith go and before you can say “I don’t believe this is happening,” Minnesota hired him.

The Gophers were eager for the three-time national coach of the year to run the show. The same couldn’t be said of the Wildcats fans during Smith’s final year in Lexington, Ky., however.

Despite leading Kentucky to a national championship in 1998, four Elite Eight appearances and 10 straight 20-win seasons and NCAA Tournament births in his decade with the program, Smith was essentially dubbed a failure; “Big Blue Nation” called him “10-loss Tubby,” referencing the five times he had double-figure losses in a season. Back-to-back second round exits and four in the past eight seasons certainly didn’t get Smith a pat on the back or a friendly hello, either.

Maybe that was for the best. He ended up uniting with a disenfranchised program that desperately needed someone to lead it from the depths of self-pity.

Given what amounts to be the same Minnesota team from a year ago, save a departed player and freshman or two, Smith has lived up to his reputation that he gets the most out of his players. Minnesota is 12-6 and 2-4 in the Big Ten this season heading into Thursday night’s game against Michigan.

It’s not to say that the Gophers have instantly morphed into a great team. Two wins in conference isn’t great. They probably won’t make the NCAA Tournament — barring a couple upsets down the stretch or in the Big Ten tournament. But it’s a step, an improvement and a change for the future.

For now, with Smith on board, the team is looking toward improving its standing and bringing the competitiveness back into the Badgers-Gophers rivalry. Minnesota will get its first crack at doing just that this Sunday in what could prove to be a significant game for both sides. With a win, the Gophers would legitimize themselves in the Big Ten, and with a win, the Badgers would remain in the conference title hunt.

On the surface, Wisconsin is facing the same Minnesota team it beat twice a year ago. But underneath it all, the Gophers’ demeanor has changed. There is light in their eyes, life in their veins and hope in their hearts.

Kevin Hagstrom hopes by now you know his year in school and his majors. If you don’t or just can’t remember, he can be reached at khagstrom@badgerherald.com to tell you one more time. Should you choose that route, also offer a prediction on Sunday’s (basketball game.

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Anonymous (February 1, 2008 @ 11:08am):

Did you honestly reference monster trucks and Steinbeck in the same column? Amazing.

Anonymous (February 1, 2008 @ 11:08pm):

"There is light in their eyes, life in their veins and hope in their hearts"

I want Kevin Hagstrom to adopt me as his child.

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