Arrogance: Hurley pulled a Tubby this year

[ukfan1622]

I know most people think of Tubby Smith as a humble person but when it comes to his basketball system he was anything but humble. After his '98 championship he seemed to get it in his mind that he was such a great coach that he didn't need elite talent to win, leading to guys like Bobby Perry, Sheray Thomas, Michael Porter, and Saul Smith in the starting lineup.

This year Hurley, who is a better coach than Tubby from an Xs and Os standpoint, did the same thing. He could have brought in more talent but he just didn't think he needed it; look for them to be a force next year if he brings in some more talent and doesn't take the NBA boatload of $ waiting on him(which he will do in the next couple years...I think he's waiting on Popovich to step down from coaching to take over a dynasty).

 

[rick64]

I think he's waiting on Popovich to step down from coaching to take over a dynasty).

Only if his wife likes San Antonio.

 

[BC_Wader]

The end of Tubby was when he was asked about his time on the recruiting trail. He said something to the effect that he doesn't have to sell Kentucky because Kentucky sells itself. Once I heard that, I knew his days were numbered.

 

[kats23]

Tubby’s biggest misstep here was losing his assistant coaches and replacing them with garbage. His first staff here had 3 guys go on to be head coaches and relied on those guys to get his type of players his first few years.

It wasn’t arrogance at all. He hated the dirtiest of the AAU and his assistant coaches gave him some really bad advice on the guys he didn’t bring in.

 

[ukwazoo]

Popovich is rumored to be possibly done. Suffered a stroke recently.

 

[Catluv]

Tubby’s biggest misstep here was losing his assistant coaches and replacing them with garbage. His first staff here had 3 guys go on to be head coaches and relied on those guys to get his type of players his first few years.

It wasn’t arrogance at all. He hated the dirtiest of the AAU and his assistant coaches gave him some really bad advice on the guys he didn’t bring in.

Really big misstep was letting Saul run the team for 2 years. Not sure we ever came back after that decision.

 

[saxonburgcat]

Tubby’s biggest misstep here was losing his assistant coaches and replacing them with garbage. His first staff here had 3 guys go on to be head coaches and relied on those guys to get his type of players his first few years.

It wasn’t arrogance at all. He hated the dirtiest of the AAU and his assistant coaches gave him some really bad advice on the guys he didn’t bring in.

Actually the evidence is clear that Tubby didn't like to recruit and didn't put a lot of effort into it. I remember all kinds of stories from interviews done by Matt Jones and others to that effect. I also remember Saul's comments when he was an assistant at Memphis that they would ask a kid to commit and if the kid was hesitant, they would just move on to the next recruit. The Memphis boosters hit the roof over that and knew that the Smith family weren't right for them.

 

[ukcatz12]

Only if his wife likes San Antonio.

She should. With all the big ole women down there it'll make her look much more attractive by comparison.

 

[Fox2monk]

I know most people think of Tubby Smith as a humble person but when it comes to his basketball system he was anything but humble. After his '98 championship he seemed to get it in his mind that he was such a great coach that he didn't need elite talent to win, leading to guys like Bobby Perry, Sheray Thomas, Michael Porter, and Saul Smith in the starting lineup.

This year Hurley, who is a better coach than Tubby from an Xs and Os standpoint, did the same thing. He could have brought in more talent but he just didn't think he needed it; look for them to be a force next year if he brings in some more talent and doesn't take the NBA boatload of $ waiting on him(which he will do in the next couple years...I think he's waiting on Popovich to step down from coaching to take over a dynasty).

No he’s not, he is waiting for the Knicks job if anything. He’s not leaving the East Coast.

 

[NerlensCat]

Hurley is not going to win it every year. I think he is counting on many of this years team coming back for a run next year. If he loses a bunch of guys to the portal or draft, he might start looking for another NBA gig. He is just too arrogant to continue losing.

 

[ukfan1622]

No he’s not, he is waiting for the Knicks job if anything. He’s not leaving the East Coast.

You might be right but if Wemby fully recovers that collection of talent Pop has assembled will be pretty enticing to any coach that wants to win big.

 

[Fox2monk]

Popovich is rumored to be possibly done. Suffered a stroke recently.

His TDS flaired up probably.

 

[Fox2monk]

You might be right but if Wemby fully recovers that collection of talent Pop has assembled will be pretty enticing to any coach that wants to win big.

Yeah they are setup and still have a max contract slot available after getting Fox.i think they would be better served getting 2 really quality players but I don’t build the team.

 

[ukfan1622]

His TDS flaired up probably.

I hate to hear about Popovich's health problems; I didn't know about it.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Hurley is not going to win it every year. I think he is counting on many of this years team coming back for a run next year. If he loses a bunch of guys to the portal or draft, he might start looking for another NBA gig. He is just too arrogant to continue losing.

Yeah that Spurs opening is interesting. He'd have generational talent Wemby, and I think he's maybe realizing just how nice he had it with those last 2 Uconn teams. He's already talking about how this team is not "those" teams.. and you sort of wonder if Hurley might not try and parlay this college success into the ultimate goal, which is coaching an NBA team.

 

[JB_Cat]

Actually the evidence is clear that Tubby didn't like to recruit and didn't put a lot of effort into it. I remember all kinds of stories from interviews done by Matt Jones and others to that effect. I also remember Saul's comments when he was an assistant at Memphis that they would ask a kid to commit and if the kid was hesitant, they would just move on to the next recruit. The Memphis boosters hit the roof over that and knew that the Smith family weren't right for them.

I remember hearing a story that when Kevin Durant was coming out of high school, he wanted to be recruited by UK, but Tubby and/or the staff didn't know who he was. Not sure if that rumor was ever substantiated, but it does seem to line up with Tubby's lack of interest in recruiting.

 

[ukfan1622]

I remember hearing a story that when Kevin Durant was coming out of high school, he wanted to be recruited by UK, but Tubby and/or the staff didn't know who he was. Not sure if that rumor was ever substantiated, but it does seem to line up with Tubby's lack of interest in recruiting.

Some people attribute it to laziness about recruiting but after hearing Tubby talk extensively about his coaching methods I became convinced he just thought his system and coaching ability was good enough to not need elite talent. I guess there's no way to ever know if it was laziness or arrogance but it was one or the other.

 

[Stretch98]

Really big misstep was letting Saul run the team for 2 years. Not sure we ever came back after that decision.

This is not supported by the facts. Saul's last season was 2000-01. From 2002-03 through 2004-05, Tubby's UK teams won 87 games and lost 15. The 2003-04 team was the #1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Not too shabby.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Tubby’s problem was always that he wasn’t a good coach.

He never built a program anywhere.

He just went into ready made teams and did the good ole boy thing and it was refreshing for a couple seasons.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Hurley is having a down season after back to back titles winning all 12 ncaa games by double digits. And of course u need talent to win. He isnt gonna stay at uconn forever. I think he will go to nba.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

This is not supported by the facts. Saul's last season was 2000-01. From 2002-03 through 2004-05, Tubby's UK teams won 87 games and lost 15. The 2003-04 team was the #1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Not too shabby.

And what did that team do?

 

[Catluv]

This is not supported by the facts. Saul's last season was 2000-01. From 2002-03 through 2004-05, Tubby's UK teams won 87 games and lost 15. The 2003-04 team was the #1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Not too shabby.

Saul was horrendous. Just think if we had an elite guard how much better we would have been. Didn’t Saul play over Hawkins not even close in ability. Saul held back our teams when he was here!!

 

[Tprinceuk]

I know most people think of Tubby Smith as a humble person but when it comes to his basketball system he was anything but humble. After his '98 championship he seemed to get it in his mind that he was such a great coach that he didn't need elite talent to win, leading to guys like Bobby Perry, Sheray Thomas, Michael Porter, and Saul Smith in the starting lineup.

This year Hurley, who is a better coach than Tubby from an Xs and Os standpoint, did the same thing. He could have brought in more talent but he just didn't think he needed it; look for them to be a force next year if he brings in some more talent and doesn't take the NBA boatload of $ waiting on him(which he will do in the next couple years...I think he's waiting on Popovich to step down from coaching to take over a dynasty).

I think he takes the Knicks job if it opens.