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Former Timberwolves coach Sam Mitchell said he's interested in the Gophers basketball coaching job, calling the program a "hidden gem" in the Big Ten. Mitchell, who was the Wolves interim coach in 2015-16, believes he could take advantage of the strong high school talent in Minnesota and recruit nationally to help the program take the next step.
It wouldn't be surprising if Flip Saunders turned down the Gophers men's basketball coaching job in part because he wouldn't be allowed to have the staff of assistants he wanted. That staff could have been expected to include son Ryan, Don Zierden or Jerry Sichting of the Washington Wizards, and perhaps Trent Tucker, Quincy Lewis and Vince Taylor. Taylor was briefly mentioned for the Drake head coaching job that went to Gonzaga assistant Ray Giacoletti.
Flip Saunders wouldn't directly address the accuracy of Twin Cities reports now listing him as the leading Gophers basketball coaching candidate. Instead, the former University of Minnesota player and ex-Timberwolves coach described himself as an "NBA analyst" and an "ex-coach." "I guess the positive thing right now is that I have not been in Minneapolis," Saunders said Friday, March 28, on his weekly radio show with host Dan Barreiro on KFXN-FM 100.3. "I'm doing everything that I have planned to do. I haven't changed anything." Twitter and broadcast reports by WCCO-AM 830 and KFXN earlier Friday listed Saunders as the No. 1 candidate to replace Tubby Smith, who was fired Monday.
It appears the Gophers men's basketball team won't lose Ralph Sampson III after all. In a text message to 1500 ESPN on Monday afternoon, "U" athletic director Joel Maturi said he expects the 6-11 center to return for his senior season. Sampson declared for the NBA Draft on April 28 but apparently did not hire an agent. Sunday was the deadline for underclassmen to withdraw their names from the early- entry pool.
A little birdie says Flip Saunders would have to give up $8.6 million — the final two years of his four-year contract — to leave the Washington Wizards for the Gophers men's basketball coaching job if Tubby Smith were recruited away for the University of Maryland coaching job.
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