Could March Madness consume Gophers coach search?
March Madness is one of the most exciting times in all of sports, short of the Super Bowl. But despite the excitement it generates every year, I certainly hope the University of Minnesota and Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi don’t get swept away in the excitement and hire someone based solely on this year’s tournament performance.
Last I heard, the Gophers still have a shot at landing Flip Saunders of the Detroit Pistons, a former Wolves coach who – rumor has it – would love to end his coaching career at his alma mater. If he lets this opportunity slip by, and the coach who slips in is successful, Coach Saunders may miss his last opportunity to fulfill that dream.
Yet Saunders really can’t commit to the Gophers until the end of the Pistons’ season any more than a Minnesota insurance agent can sell Raleigh North Carolina real estate. Waiting for Saunders could be a great move, if he actually makes the move to the Gophers.
But with March Madness reaching its pinnacle, it could be very tempting for Maturi and the Gophers to hire a hot tournament coach and have someone “on the job.” Yet this would be a good idea if – and only if – Maturi is certain that Saunders is NOT going to make the move.
Of the hot tournament coaches, there are some interesting names.
UNLV’s Lon Kruger is looking to be one of the hottest, guiding his 7-seed Runnin’ Rebels past 2-seed Wisconsin this past weekend. Yet despite this upset, is Kruger really the person the Gophers need? He’s not an especially inspiring personality, and he’s not known as a top-flight recruiter, which is needed more than anything.
Butler’s Todd Lickliter is also an intriguing name, but his availability is questionable. However, look for his name to pop up more if he can upset 1-seed Florida next weekend to advance to the Elite Eight.
Southern Illinois’ Chris Lowry is promising, but is he ready for Big 10 basketball? Dan Monson’s rise and fall in Minnesota serves as an object lesson there. By contrast, Tennessee’s Bruce Pearl would be an excellent hire, but the question is whether he’d see Minnesota as a step up.
That would be a definite “no” for Memphis Coach John Calipari, who, if he’s headed anywhere, would be more likely to go to Michigan than Minnesota. Washington State’s Tony Bennett’s name has lost some of its luster after Vanderbilt ousted his team in the Round of 32 this past weekend.
Of course, the second-best name after Saunders isn’t even coaching right now. Unless Michigan signs him first, Rick Majerus would be the second-best option to Flip Saunders.
But Flip is still “our guy.”
