Tubby Smith bemoans expectations, distractions at Memphis

[morgousky]

No, it just seemed as if there were a lot of rumors floating around but I don't recall seeing anything that says he was interested after Tubby left.

According to TBK at the time there was a contract drawn up and Billy walked away at the last second. And it's fairly common knowledge he was actually in talks backdoor. Lots of people think he was stringing it along because of recruiting.

Billy Donovan flirted with UK 100%. Only he knows how serious he was about it. My guess at the time was very serious. He loses the second title game I think he'd be here.

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

According to TBK at the time there was a contract drawn up and Billy walked away at the last second. And it's fairly common knowledge he was actually in talks backdoor. Lots of people think he was stringing it along because of recruiting.

Billy Donovan flirted with UK 100%. Only he knows how serious he was about it. My guess at the time was very serious. He loses the second title game I think he'd be here.

That's kind of what I had been hearing. Did seem as if he just strung UK along similar to what Lute Olsen did years ago, twice.

 

[TnRustyCAT]

REMEMBER THOUGH! HE IS SUCH A CLASS ACT!!!!! MAKES ME VERY !!!

 

[Seth_C]

Is this Tubby's fastest honeymoon ever?

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

Is this Tubby's fastest honeymoon ever?

At least it lasted longer than 15 seconds.

 

[TopCatCal]

Tubby was not the right fit for Kentucky, but still a great coach nonetheless.

Tubby is good when the spotlight is off him and can work with players he wants to play. I think at UK he did well when he had the players that bough into Tubby ball, but that just was not cutting it for UK. He also was thrown off by how players were starting to leave early, he was old school and expected 3-4 years from everyone and thrived with a Senior leader like a Prince, Bogans, Fitch, and Hayes. Also, having to watch Rick work his magic at UofL made Tubby look bad in comparison. Once players like Azibuke, Rondo, Randolph, and others starting leaving he was not the guy to go get a bunch of guys to reload immediately. He was good enough to make us a top team every season, but just had us lacking the elite talent to compete with the big boys at Duke/UNC/ETC. He also had to follow a legend.

His teams from 2002-03 through the 2004-05 season were some amazing teams to watch. Bogans, Fitch, Hawkins, Azibuke, Daniels, Hayes, Estill, Sparks, Rondo, and those guys had some great memories in there. Bogans healthy with a healthy ankle and a better shot against MSU, 2 Final 4's and a possible 2003 national title would have us all thinking of him a lot differently. The last year was bad, but who knows..maybe adding in Patterson, Lucas, and Draymond Green the next 2 years to team up with Jodie Meeks, Crawford, Bradley, and even Morris staying 1 more year could have had UK right back. Tubby is not suited for today's game, Calipari is and we have the right guy.

You say Tubby's a great coach. Why don't you take a poll among Memphis fans & see how many of them would be willing to trade Tubby for John Calipari. I bet it would be at least 95% of them would be willing to make this deal. Same thing with the Minnesota fans I bet the vast majority of them are happier with what they've got instead of Tubby.

Did you know ? Since Tubby left UK, he has a grand total of 1 NCAA tournament win.

Tubby isn't a great coach, he's not a very good coach, he's not even a good coach. He's a mediocre coach at best. And for those in the media that defended Tubby when he was here, telling us that he was one of the Top 5 coaches in college BB. Just how dumb do you feel now ?

 

[HoptownCat93]

66.7% career winning percentage. Coach of the Year in 3 different conferences. He won the national coach of the year(albeit different awards) twice. Guided 5 different to the tournament(I bet he makes it 6 at Memphis). Let's not forget, he took Tulsa to back to back Sweet 16's. Texas Tech was a dumpster fire after Billy left. Memphis lost so many players last year it's a wonder he had a roster this season. No matter where he goes, his teams have done well. Yeah, you can say he underachieved at Minnesota...but if underachieving at a school like that is winning 20 games 5 of 6 seasons then that is some pretty good underachieving.

I am not a Tubby apologist. I was screaming for him to be fired at the time. But ignoring his accomplishments shows a lack of research on the subject. He's not the right fit for a UK program, but rather a middle of the pack team or a rebuilding project.

I will never understand the hatred for Tubby. He gave his all to the program. He was not a Rupp/Cal/Pitino...but then again how many coaches are that good. He did decent while he was here. He won a title, made the tournament every season, and never won below 22 games while having a .760 winning %. Again, I know he had his faults BUT ITS BEEN 10 YEARS! He gave his all to the program and treated our fans with class and respect. He was not good enough to cut it here, but it makes us look classless to just pick apart the man 10 years later.

 

[HoptownCat93]

You say Tubby's a great coach. Why don't you take a poll among Memphis fans & see how many of them would be willing to trade Tubby for John Calipari. I bet it would be at least 95% of them would be willing to make this deal. Same thing with the Minnesota fans I bet the vast majority of them are happier with what they've got instead of Tubby.

Did you know ? Since Tubby left UK, he has a grand total of 1 NCAA tournament win.

Tubby isn't a great coach, he's not a very good coach, he's not even a good coach. He's a mediocre coach at best. And for those in the media that defended Tubby when he was here, telling us that he was one of the Top 5 coaches in college BB. Just how dumb do you feel now ?

This is where you Tubby hater show that you do not even read any post that is positive about Tubby, you make assumptions. Name one time where I said I'd rather have Tubby than Cal? Oh wait I never did!

I just said he's a great coach, but not an elite coach like a Calipari or a Pitino. When you respond to something, I please ask you to read my post in full context before claiming I said something I did not say. I'm a big Cal defender here and think he should be coach for life.

 

[Chuckinden]

Why? He had 2 years of experience at Marshal and didnt even make the NIT either year.

I am not sure he was even 30 years old yet with a 35-20 record in the Southern Conference.

That is not a potential UK head coach resume.

He played a great style but hadn't proven anything at the time.

This is true. I had no problem with the Tubby hire and Donavon just wasn't ready.

 

[Chuckinden]

I've said this before....Tubby winning the title his first year here was a double edge sword. He became lazy because he thought "this is easy", but for his benefit he has continued to reap the reward by conning other schools into believing he can really coach.

 

[kb22stang]

Says a UL fan that enjoys trashing KY anytime it gets a chance. Don't you have hookers that need tending?

You've gone as senile as your dad Tubby.

Please show me where I've trashed UK or where I've posted anything to give the impression that I'm a UofL fan. Or better yet, just admit you're wrong, you were wrong back when he was here, and you're wrong now. He was an average coach, and now he can't work up enough energy to make it to average.

 

[syrus12]

 

[kybassfan]

You've gone as senile as your dad Tubby.

Please show me where I've trashed UK or where I've posted anything to give the impression that I'm a UofL fan. Or better yet, just admit you're wrong, you were wrong back when he was here, and you're wrong now. He was an average coach, and now he can't work up enough energy to make it to average.

Your history is well known. Go fix up those hookers for next years recruits.

 

[morgousky]

This is where you Tubby hater show that you do not even read any post that is positive about Tubby, you make assumptions. Name one time where I said I'd rather have Tubby than Cal? Oh wait I never did!

I just said he's a great coach, but not an elite coach like a Calipari or a Pitino. When you respond to something, I please ask you to read my post in full context before claiming I said something I did not say. I'm a big Cal defender here and think he should be coach for life.

Tubby is not a great coach though. That's totally false. COY Awards are bogus and dot measure anything. 20 win seasons aren't hard to come by in the modern era. Hell some teams are on the bubble with 20 wins. When he was younger and more motivated, he was a decent coach with upside. During UK he peaked, but never great. After U.K. Hes been pretty bad.

Just call it what it is.

 

[saxonburgcat]

Yeah, you can say he underachieved at Minnesota...but if underachieving at a school like that is winning 20 games 5 of 6 seasons then that is some pretty good underachieving.

Funny how people find a way to "brag" about Tubby's results in Minnesota. You do realize that his best year he won 23 games, don't you? Pitino Jr has had 2 years in which he has won 25 and 24 respectively. He might even win another game to two this season and finish with 25 or 26.

Tubby never finished above .500 in conference and yet little RP did it this year.

I guess you think little rat is a candidate for the HOF???

 

[kb22stang]

Your history is well known. Go fix up those hookers for next years recruits.

lol... too sad