Minnesota, UCLA Up Against It...

Both are now coachless, rudderless, and Shakaless.

Where did they go wrong?

I'm not sure I'd pull the trigger at a high-profile job (UCLA) or against a high-profile coach (Tubby) without holding a replacement in the bag.

Neither school had someone lined up.  Now they have to sweat it out.  And both may have to settle for a mediocre candidate worse than who they sent packing.

In the distant past, no coach could pass up the opportunity to go to an elite school like UCLA.  But today, coaches can prosper in the hinterlands.  They can get on TV, they can recruit, and they can reach the NCAA Tournament.  Most importantly, if they have a sub-par season, they can have some job security.

Ask Ben Howland about job security.  He took UCLA to the Final Four three times and they sent him to the unemployment time.  Tubby won a National Championship.  But even recently, he had won an NCAA Tournament game and was still eliminated from employment shortly after his team was eliminated from the Big Dance.

When guys like Shaka Smart, Mark Few, and Brad Stevens look at the carnage of contemporary's careers, they have to pause and wonder if the grass is really greener at big time programs.  Why not enjoy life as a big fish in a small pond?  No one will fire Shaka if VCU misses the NCAA Tournament next year.  At UCLA, you never know how itchy the trigger finger is.

Meanwhile, UCLA and Minnesota are now stuck looking at retreads and barely average candidates.  Other powerhouse teams, take note!