MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota has fired Tubby Smith one day after the Golden Gophers lost to Florida in the NCAA tournament. Athletics director Norwood Teague announced the decision Monday and said it was time for a "fresh set of eyes" on the program. Smith was 124-81 (.610) in six seasons at Minnesota. He arrived in 2007 from Kentucky, immediately ramping up expectations for a team that was buried by an academic cheating scandal. Smith coached the Kentucky Wildcats from 1997 to 2007, winning the NCAA national championship in 1998. The Wildcats also reached three Elite Eights during his tenure. Smith won 20 games five times. But he went just 46-62 in Big Ten play and never finished higher than sixth in the conference. The Gophers made three NCAA tournament appearances under Smith. They beat UCLA this year before losing on Sunday.
