Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press reports that Gophers men's basketball coach Tubby Smith will soon sign a three-year contract extension worth a little over $2-million/season. Smith still has two-years left on his current contract, so the extension will keep him with Minnesota through the 2016-17 season.

Norwood Teague, the soon-to-be Gophers' athletic director, is confident head basketball coach Tubby Smith will sign a contract extension in the near future. “It’s not done yet but hopefully it’s something that will be done very soon," Teague said.

Tubby Smith spoke about receiving a contract extension again on Thursday, and he reiterated that he expects to get one from the Gophers. However, he doesn't expect it to get done until a new athletics director is hired. The current AD, Joel Maturi, is set to retire at the end of June.

After more than a year of negotiations, the University of Minnesota and men's basketball coach Tubby Smith have agreed to a three-year contract extension. That comes on top of two years remaining on his current contract, keeping Smith and the Gophers tied together through the spring of 2017. Smith has yet to deliver an NCAA tournament victory in his five years in Minnesota, but the Gophers finished last season with a run to the NIT finals.

The University of Minnesota is giving Tubby Smith plenty of incentives to win. Smith's new three-year contract extension was signed this week and made available on Friday. Details of the new deal shows the Gophers basketball coach will make $50-thousand dollars more each year. The U of M has also agreed to pay Smith $2.5 million if he’s fired before the end of the 2016-17 season.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse says frustrated Gophers coach Tubby Smith wants Ralph Sampson III to go strong to the basket and not settle for jumpers -- even though that's never been his game.

It's been reported quite a few times over the last few months, but Tubby Smith still expects to receive a contract extension from the University of Minnesota. Smith says the University's transition to new president Eric Kaler is one reason he hasn't already received an extension.

Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith knows good teams across the country "come up with the wins and big plays" this time of year that are needed to earn a trip to the NCAA tournament. Smith also says he doesn't like being under .500 in the Big Ten -- something he hopes to change Thursday night against Wisconsin.