The Minnesota Golden Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith told reporters he expects to get a new contract extension, regardless of whether or not the Gophers win the NIT this season, according to Marcus Fuller of The St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Smith said he doesn't have a timetable for meeting with President Eric Kaler after the season to talk about an extension. He said he is aware Kaler wants to hire an athletics director first.
"I still have two years left on my contract," Smith said. "It's not going to affect recruiting or anything else. That's the only thing I'm worried about at this point in time."
The Golden Gophers will likely only lose one player--senior Ralph Sampson III-- from this year's roster, as fifth-year senior Trevor Mbakwe has been granted a sixth season after tearing his right ACL in a game back in November.
Minnesota will play Washington in the NIT semifinals Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. If they defeat the Huskies, the Gophers will advance to the finals to play the winner of UMass and Stanford.
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