Tubby Smith calls coaching rumors 'just talk'

MILWAUKEE — Following a remarkable run in the Big Ten tournament and a second-straight NCAA tournament appearance, Gophers men’s basketball coach Tubby Smith had to address rumors that he is a candidate for another coaching job.
Less than two weeks after refuting that he had been contacted about the head-coaching job at Oregon, Smith was asked about reports linking him to the same position at Auburn, which fired its coach March 12.
“Obviously that’s just talk, because I’m very pleased with what we’ve accomplished here,” Smith said following the Gophers’ NCAA first-round loss to Xavier on Friday. “I’m looking forward to coming back to Minnesota.”
When asked whether he had received offers from schools other than Minnesota, Smith said, “No, I haven’t.”
The Mobile Press-Register reported Saturday that Auburn Director of Athletics Jay Jacobs has said he will ask for permission to interview candidates during the coaching search, which he has said could take weeks rather than days.
In six seasons under former head coach Jeff Lebo, Auburn had only two winning campaigns — just one in the Southeastern Conference — and no NCAA tournament appearances.
The Birmingham News reported Friday that “a list of candidates” for Auburn’s head-coaching job included Smith, who has led four teams, including SEC programs Georgia and Kentucky, to multiple NCAA tournament berths.
CBSSports.com’s Dennis Dodd reported early Friday morning that a trusted source told him Auburn was close to hiring Smith.