Fast Break

College basketball

Smith takes Minnesota job

With Kentucky fans dogging him after another disappointing finish, Tubby Smith is bolting the bluegrass for Minnesota.

Smith will be introduced as the 16th coach of the Golden Gophers at a noon press conference today, ending a 10-year tenure in Lexington that seemed to be nearing an end even before Minnesota contacted him.

The Wildcats went 22-12 this season and made it to the NCAA tournament, but lost to top-seeded Kansas in the second round, turning up the heat on the coach of college basketball’s winningest program.

Smith led Kentucky to the national championship in his first season in 1998, but the Wildcats haven’t been back to the Final Four since.

Minnesota was 9-22 this season, the most losses in the 111-year history of the program, and averaged just 60.6 points a game, its lowest in 56 years. Former coach Dan Monson was forced to resign seven games into this season with a 118-106 record in eight seasons. Prior to that Monson coached Gonzaga into the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament before losing to eventual national champion Connecticut.

College basketball

Alford heads to Southwest

Iowa coach Steve Alford told his players during a team meeting Thursday that he is leaving to take over at New Mexico.

“Things came up, and this is the decision he had to make,” senior guard Mike Henderson said. “He’s going to New Mexico.”

Alford, a former star at Indiana, had a 152-106 record in eight seasons at Iowa. He led the Hawkeyes to three NCAA tournament appearances, but Iowa won one NCAA tournament game under his leadership. Last season, the Hawkeyes were upset by 14th-seeded Northwestern State in the opening round.

Iowa finished 17-14 this season, missing out on postseason play.

Alford has been mentioned as a candidate at New Mexico since coach Ritchie McKay was fired after five seasons. McKay, who had three years remaining on his contract, was 82-65 in five seasons, including a dismal 8-41 road record.