Eric Musselman showing off his… MUSCLES @RazorbackMBB pic.twitter.com/P2D7yYioOF

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 18, 2023

How good has he been? Musselman has a career 205-76 NCAA coaching record and his teams have made the NCAA Tournament in 6 of his 8 collegiate coaching seasons, including two Elite Eight and two Sweet Sixteen appearances.

Eric Musselman’s past interest in Gophers MBB head coaching job

Throughout his coaching career, which has mostly been at the pro level (NBA, D-League, CBA, USBA), Eric Musselman has expressed interest in an eventual return to the state he grew up in. Musselman has been a candidate/finalist during the last two Gopher MBB coaching searches.

A decade ago (2013), when Tubby Smith was fired, Musselman was one of the last candidates standing before then Athletic Director, Norwood Teague, hired Richard Pitino.

By the time Pitino was fired in 2021, Musselman already had two seasons and an Elite Eight run under his belt at Arkansas. That, combined with his success at Nevada, made Musselman one of the most expensive and well-known candidates AD Mark Coyle was considering at the time.

Still, if Minnesota was willing to pay his buyout and a similar salary, Musselman was legitimately interested. Instead, Coyle hired the cheapest and least-known candidate, Ben Johnson, another homegrown kid (DeLaSalle) and Xavier assistant who had zero head coaching experience.

Yes, Musselman would reportedly have interest in Minnesota job again.

In two seasons as Gophers head coach, Johnson has posted a 22-39 overall record, including two of the worst Big Ten seasons in Gopher men’s basketball history and life isn’t expected to improve in his third year.

Minnesota lost one of its best players over the last two seasons, Jamison Battle, to a big NIL deal at conference rival, Ohio State, and most experts have the Gophers picked to finish at the bottom of the Big Ten for the third-straight year. Should those predictions become reality, Ben will be fired at season’s end and Mark Coyle will, yet again, be searching for a new MBB head coach.

At first glance, it seems nearly impossible that Musselman would have any interest in leaving Arkansas, in favor of Minnesota. That would mean taking over one of the worst power-5 men’s basketball programs in the country, and leaving a program he’s built into a Sweet Sixteen / Elite Eight regular.

But, according to long-time Twin Cities insider and Pioneer Press columnist Charley Walters, that’s the wrong assumption. If the price is right,

— Pssst: Don’t think Arkansas men’s basketball coach Eric Musselman, a two-time NBA head coach, wouldn’t consider the possibility of coaching the Gophers, which his father Bill once coached, for the right offer.

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press

What would Gophers have to pay up for Musselman?

According to Walters, Eric Musselman is currently making $4 million per year at Arkansas so he’d have to get a bigger offer from Minnesota, in order to leave. His buyout, however, will be an extremely low $1 million after the 2023-24 season, which would give he and the Gophers athletic department a perfect window for negotiation.

For comparison purposes, Ben Johnson is making $2 million per season. It’s also important to remember how much more money athletic departments in the Big Ten will have rolling in this season and beyond, after their new $7 billion TV deal kicked in last week (July 1).

Brian Dutcher (SDSU) could be even more gettable.

In the same column that he mentioned Musselman as a possible replacement for Ben Johnson, Walters also names Brian Dutcher as a probable candidate. The U of M grad has been at San Diego State for 2+ decades (mostly as an assistant) and coached them to the National Championship game last season.

— Although Brian Dutcher is loyal to San Diego State, the Gophers would be expected to consider the Bloomington Jefferson and Minnesota grad if there’s a men’s basketball coaching change, which seems likely, after the coming season.

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press

Charley didn’t get the green light on reporting Dutcher’s interest in the Gopher head coaching job, like he did Musselman, but Brian has roots even more entrenched in University of Minnesota history and maintains a clause in his contract at SDSU that makes his buyout a fraction of the cost, should he leave for his alma-mater.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

San Diego State University head basketball coach, Brian Dutcher, took questions on his links to the University of Minnesota on Monday morning. Marcus Fuller was on that conference call and reported his quotes in a new article on StarTribune.com.

It was wholly worth my click. But the headline, “San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher dismisses questions about Gophers job speculation”, was a flat-out lie.

San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher dismisses questions about #Gophers job speculation @StribSports @marchmadness https://t.co/x0UpMicCL8

— Marcus R. Fuller (@Marcus_R_Fuller) March 9, 2021

Sure, Brian Dutcher took questions on the University of Minnesota head coaching job. But “dismiss” isn’t how I would describe his reaction.

Dutcher Speaks on Minnesota connection

In fact, Dutcher does just about everything BUT dismiss possible FUTURE interest in coaching the Minnesota Gophers MBB team. Here are the quotes in that Star Tribune article. You be the judge.

“I just told them in our first meeting, whenever anything happens at the University of Minnesota, my name’s going to come up because I went to school there and my dad coached there,” Dutcher said Monday. “But I’m solely focused on San Diego State right now that that doesn’t need to be in any of our heads. We need to prepare ourselves to play our best basketball in March and try to be at our very best when our best is required.”

Brian Dutcher (via Star Tribune)

Do you see a “dismissal” there? Me neither. He sounds like a guy who is coaching a really good basketball team, currently making a run in their mid-major conference tournament and prepping for a high-seed NCAA Tournament birth.

Dutcher to Minnesota confirmed?

If Dutcher answered these questions by vehemently denying interest in the Gopher job, I’d be skeptical. But after seeing these quotes, my antennas are way up.

Dutcher even added this at the end…

“I would say Richard Pitino is the head coach of the University of Minnesota and they are preparing to play in the Big 10 tournament,” Dutcher added. “And I am here in San Diego State trying to be solely focused on getting the Aztecs ready to play in the Mountain West tournament and then the NCAA tournament. Any comment beyond that would probably not be timely or worth discussion at this time.”

Brian Dutcher (via Star Tribune)

via GIPHY

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Minnesota Gophers suffered another terrible loss earlier this week, this time at the hands of lowly Penn State. That makes them an even 0-10 on the road this season, a feat that’s only been accomplished one other time since 1970. I’m sure Richard Pitino is happy to stick that feather in his cap.

After looking through the record books, it appears….

Since 1970, the #Gophers have only had two seasons without a road win. 2015 and 2021.

It is crazy when you consider the team has five wins over ranked opponents. What a weird year.

— Daniel House (@DanielHouseNFL) March 4, 2021

Given the circumstances, it feels like a perfect time to dive back into possible head coaching replacements for Richard Pitino, after his likely dismissal sometime between now and May 1, when he is due a bonus of $400K if still employed.

Just in case you missed it, I posted PART I of this Richard Pitino replacement series a couple weeks ago. The names in that blog were ones I went out and found on my own. Just curiosity and some quick research.

This time, I have three more head coaching candidates. These names, however, have more real steam. They also have a few important commonalities.

• all of these names have been floating around insider circles
• they all have heavy Minnesota ties
• they’re all young(er) than most of the candidates in part I
• all three currently coach in the Mountain West Conference.

I spoke with Darren Wolfson (KSTP, SKOR North) on a new live streaming show I launched on Minnesota Sports Fan social media channels this week called, “On The Internet LIVE”. We discussed all three of these candidates, along with Eric Musselman, who was listed in part I.

Craig Smith (Utah State) or Niko Medved (Colorado State)? Both are..
– Young
– Affordable
– One of us
– Dominating the Mountain West.

Take your pick #Gophers fans… @DWolfsonKSTP pic.twitter.com/1OEI8rRnVG

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) March 5, 2021

Craig Smith | Career: 149-77| Age: 48 | Current: Utah State

If you want the leader of the proverbial clubhouse, to land the Minnesota Gophers job, Craig Smith is it. He may look like over-the-hill Mr. Clean and he might have the most generic two-first-name name in head coaching history, but his style is anything but that.

Craig is a high-energy guy who obviously connects well with his players. But he’s also seen as an offensive tactician, running a lot of handoff and ball screen actions, which Pitino likes too, but hasn’t had much success with.

Local ties, since we care so much about that? Smith is a Minnesota native, from Stephen, MN. He jumped the western border to get his undergrad at UND, then his master’s in South Dakota. Craig never attended or coached at the University of Minnesota, but is clearly a Midwest guy and holds the “one of us” card.

Have you ever wondered what motivates @CoachSmith_USU LISTEN UP! Straight from his own mouth at the Craig Smith coach’s show. Be at Old Chicago on Monday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. for more! #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/PvjwXGdABd

— USU Men’s Hoops (@USUBasketball) February 10, 2021

Pure wizardry from Utah State HC Craig Smith. One of the nicer actions I’ve seen all year. We’re headed for a good finish on CBSSN @USUBasketball pic.twitter.com/KFeKkpZzJu

— Dan (@MrDanOppy) February 18, 2021

Smith Contract

Smith’s contract, much like everyone else on this list, would be much smaller than Richard Pitino’s (who currently makes over $2 million per season). Craig Smith just signed a new deal at Utah State that starts under $800K per season and peaks at $900K. Craig Smith’s buyout is only 25% of the total value remaining, which currently sits at less than $4 million.

Niko Medved | Career: 128-124 | Age: 47 | Current: Colorado State

The Niko Medved conversation starts with his Minnesota ties. He’s from Roseville, graduated from the University of Minnesota, had his first assistant coaching job under Dan Monson and comes from the Tim Miles coaching tree.

Recruiting? Well, Medved reeled in David Roddy from Minnesota to Colorado State, even while most thought he was an easy target for Richard Pitino. Now as a Sophomore, Roddy is leading the Rams in both points per game (16.1) and rebounds per game (9.6) and Niko is a the leading candidate for Mountain West Coach of the Year.

He stands at the top of the Mountain West conference, right next to Craig Smith and Brian Dutcher, but his success over time hasn’t come as quickly or as consistently.

2021 has been a different story, entirely. The Rams are near the top of the Mountain West and hold an 11-3 conference record, splitting both two-game series’ with the other coaches in this blog.

Medved Contract

Medved just signed an extension recently that pays him $750K per season and has the same type of buyout as Craig Smith’s at Utah State (25% of the remaining contract value). Conveniently, there are four seasons left on that contract after 2021, making the buyout exactly the cost of one season ($750K). So, Medved is another VERY affordable option for Coyle & Co.

Things get a little weird when you listen and/or watch Medved talk, however. He almost looks and speaks too much like PJ Fleck. Could Mark Coyle avoid hiring Medved as the Minnesota Gophers head coach, only because he might not be able to tell Niko and PJ apart? If Medved went for a midnight shave or Fleck joined a hair treatment club.. we could have problems.

Post game with coach Niko Medved @sports_ctv pic.twitter.com/5A3mpERWxs

— Jessica Kay Mendoza (@JessicaKayTV) November 6, 2019

Brian Dutcher | Career: 93-30 | Age: 62 | Current: South Dakota State

Brian Dutcher might be the most interesting candidate built into this blog… but I think he’s the least-likely choice. I’m not sure why, though. Brian’s dad, Jim Dutcher, coached the Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team for ten seasons from 1975-1985. He was 190-113, a relatively successful term compared to most of those who came before and after him.

Jim’s son, Brian Dutcher, has been at San Diego State for 20 years, but most of those seasons were spent as an assistant coach, behind SDSU legend, Steve Fisher. When Brian took the reigns in 2016-17, he was an immediate success, making the NCAA tournament in his first season.

In 2020, SDSU climbed as high as #4 in the AP Poll and posted an absurd 30-2 record on the season, before it was cut short due to COVID-19. This year, Dutcher has the Aztecs back at the top of the Mountain West (clinched regular season title earlier this week) with a 20-4 record and an easy at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.

LETS GOOOO!!! #Aztecs

(Via @terrellgomez3) pic.twitter.com/l4bkC2RosQ

— XTRA1360 (@XTRA1360) March 4, 2021

Obviously, Dutcher has proven his coaching chops… even if he’s only been at the helm for four seasons.

Dutcher Contract

Brian Dutcher makes the most money out of anyone in this part of the Richard Pitino Replacement List, coming in at $1.33 million per year. How much of a raise would the University of Minnesota be willing to give him?

We’d have to wait and see but there is an interesting out in his SDSU contract that shows his soft spot for Minnesota. For Dutcher to leave SDSU for another school, he’d have to pay an absurd $7 million buyout… unless that school is the Minnesota Gophers. If he leaves the sandy beaches of San Diego, for his “dream job” up in the frozen Minnesota tundra, the buyout drops to $1 million.

Brian Dutcher has a Minnesota out built into his contract at SDSU but the #Gophers won’t pony up much more $$$ than what he’s making from the beach right now… @DwolfsonKSTP pic.twitter.com/DLrDHt0jjm

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) March 5, 2021

All three of the coaches above are heading teams that sit in the Mountain West top-3. It’s possible that FOUR total teams (add Boise State) could earn at-large bids into the NCAA Tournament. The MWC isn’t a power-5 but sending three or more teams to the dance is nothing new. The mid-major conference actually earned FIVE selections in 2013.

Given the smaller cost and homegrown ties that these candidates have, it’s much more likely Coyle lands his new Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball head coach in this blog, than he does Musselman or anyone else in part I.

Don’t worry, there will be more of this series to come (soon).

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan