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 ol' 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.

 

[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.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

And what did that team do?

None of them made a final four. One lost by 14 in elite 8 (Bogans injury played a factor but Marquette outplayed UK) and the other lost to a 5 seed when a 2 seed n elite 8. And the other lost to uab n 2nd round.

Overall, very disappointing after good to great regular seasons.

 

[ukcatz12]

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!!

That's not what you said though. You said UK never recovered after Saul left. Which we obviously did because we were the #1 overall seed in the 2004 tournament.

 

[EliteBlue]

Only if his wife likes San Antonio.

Yeah. I think he waits for a Boston, NY, Philly type job

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

Only if his wife likes San Antonio.

They got some big ol' girls down there, allegedly.

 

[NerlensCat]

They got some big ol' girls down there, allegedly.

So says Charles🤣🤣🤣. I love Charles. He is a one of a kind!

 

[NerlensCat]

Butt-Geeg built that.

Massive brawl erupts at Atlanta airport terminal, viral video shows
https://www.foxnews.com/us/massive-brawl-erupts-atlanta-airport-terminal-viral-video-shows

I have spent a ton of time at Hartsfield. I haven’t been in a little over a year, but it has almost always been the most efficient airport I have ever been through. The airport itself does a really good job. Unless you have seen the number of people they send through security on Monday early(5-7am), you wouldn’t believe it. That said Butt-Geeg had nothing to do with that😁. Not sure he would even know how to get to Atlanta.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

I have spent a ton of time at Hartsfield. I haven’t been in a little over a year, but it has almost always been the most efficient airport I have ever been through. The airport itself does a really good job. Unless you have seen the number of people they send through security on Monday early(5-7am), you wouldn’t believe it. That said Butt-Geeg had nothing to do with that😁. Not sure he would even know how to get to Atlanta.

Posted in the wrong thread, sorry. Was just a joke, of course he had nothing to do with that. S/hole airport, however. Utter dumpster.

 

[bbncal02]

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.

Well, that was the old school style of recruiting. Lots of coaches did that. Hell, some do now. Why wait on a kid if it might cost you another player?

Especially now? Tubby isn't the only one that hung it up to do the changing landscape. Look at Jay Wright, Tony Bennett, Saban, etc.

Tubby wasn't perfect, but the man did take 5 teams to a tournament. You can't do that unless you are a good coach.

Memphis also has a history of good coaches not doing well there (Tubby, Pastner).

Cal was the best coach they ever had. Penny has struggled there at times. Memphis is a classic example of a program that thinks they are something , but really aren't.

 

[bluedom44]

Hurley is an asshole and overall horrible human being. Tubby was nothing like that. Equating Hurley to Tubby is quite ridiculous. Tubby would never behave like Hurley in a million years.

 

[bbncal02]

Yeah. I think he waits for a Boston, NY, Philly type job

As long as Stevens is at Boston, I don't see Hurley there. I don't think they'd jive AT ALL.

And I don't think Hurley could handle the pros. His ego and then trying to work with other massive egos? Nah.

I mean Cal and Rick weren't great at it. And Rick is 10x the coach Hurley could ever dream of being management wise.

 

[bbncal02]

Hurley is an asshole and overall horrible human being. Tubby was nothing like that. Equating Hurley to Tubby is quite ridiculous. Tubby would never behave like Hurley in a million years.

Yeah, Tubby was a tough bird and could be mean if he had to. But Hurley is an ass.

Would you ever see Tubby follow a ref shouting, "Don't turn your back on me! I'm the best coach in the effing sport?"

Nope. Never. Hell, I could never even see Cal or even Rick do that ever doing that.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Hurley is an asshole and overall horrible human being. Tubby was nothing like that. Equating Hurley to Tubby is quite ridiculous. Tubby would never behave like Hurley in a million years.

Tubby so couldn't make a 2nd final four or win a 2nd title n a million years either.

 

[Stretch98]

Tubby Smith's 2005 UK team lost to Michigan State in the regional final in double overtime. That is one bounce of the ball from a Final Four, so it's not like Tubby never had a chance in hell of getting there.

 

[Someguywhodoesntlikeyou]

Tubby Smith's 2005 UK team lost to Michigan State in the regional final in double overtime. That is one bounce of the ball from a Final Four, so it's not like Tubby never had a chance in hell of getting there.

Rondo pounding the ball into the floor while not seeing a wide open Azbuike at the end of the 1st OT is seared into my brain for all time.

 

[know1]

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).

From about 2003-2005, Tubby's Cats won more games than any other team in college basketball. He just didn't get to the final four. I wish people would stop ignorantly portraying him far worse than reality.

 

[BeaveUKGT]

From about 2023-2025, Tubby's Cats won more games than any other team in college basketball. He just didn't get to the final four. I wish people would stop ignorantly portraying him far worse than reality.

2003-2005?

 

[know1]

2003-2005?

Oops! Yes - I'll fix it. Thanks!

 

[phunterd]

in the first OT, we were up by 4 and Michigan State got four offensive rebounds on one possession before they finally hit a three. Get the rebound and we likely win. Infuriating.

We likely lose to UNC the following game but who knows.