Tubby Smith era at UK

[CatsFanIL]

Not sure if you guys saw this or not, but A Sea of Blue is running a series on the Tubby Smith era at UK. Bit of a tribute, but also doing some top-5 players, top-5 wins, top-5 heartbreaking moments, etc. For me, growing up in the late Pitino era and into the Tubby era, definitely going to take me down memory lane. Still to this day, any kind of "favorite all time UK player list" will ALWAYS have Keith Bogans and Chuck Hayes on it. Will always remember that 1998 title run, the Tayshaun UNC game, gosh damn D-Wade, etc.

Anyhow, here's the link to the first part of the series: https://www.aseaofblue.com/2022/4/7/23011971/talkin-tubby-kentucky-wildcats-basketball-new-series

 

[catman15]

I was pretty young when Tayshaun hit those 5 3's to start the unc game but i just remember being heartbroken that my dad went without me. I have that game taped from a vcr somewhere around here. The Tubby era was most of my childhood since i wasn't ever old enough to remember Pitino being at UK

 

[drcats2013]

Top 5 players (not including Pitino recruits):

1- Tayshaun Prince
2- Keith Bogans
3- Chuck Hayes
4- Gerald Fitch
5- Kelenna Azubuike

 

[YardCat]

We could count on Tubby’s teams to play good defense and win 24-25 games every year. I miss those days!

 

[JC CATS]

Top 5 players (not including Pitino recruits):

1- Tayshaun Prince
2- Keith Bogans
3- Chuck Hayes
4- Gerald Fitch
5- Kelenna Azubuike

Or Cals?

 

[CatsFanIL]

Top 5 players (not including Pitino recruits):

1- Tayshaun Prince
2- Keith Bogans
3- Chuck Hayes
4- Gerald Fitch
5- Kelenna Azubuike

So not including Rondo in your top 5?

 

[drcats2013]

So not including Rondo in your top 5?

I can’t. Only played 2 years and didn’t quite match what these guys did on the college level for me. I won’t lie, I had him at 5 but had forgotten about fitch. He helped lead a team to a 1 seed, even if they were upset in the second round.

 

[JoeSwag]

Thoughts

-Rondo playing for Tubby was like having a Ferrari but never going above the speed limit.

-As for his teams, we never seemed to have a stud outside of maybe Tayshaun.

-Outside of the championship team, my favorite team was the 2005 squad. I loved Sparks.

- 2003 was the only other team capable of winning a title but I doubt they would have even beaten Kansas in the semis considering Kansas beat that same Marquette team that dominated us, by 34 points. And no, the Bogans excuse doesn't hold water considering how Marquette outplayed us in all aspects.

- Two of my favorite games I ever attended at Rupp were during the Tubby era
- December 1998 vs Steve Francis' Maryland
- December 1999 vs eventual national champion Michigan State

 

[CatsFanIL]

Thoughts

-Rondo playing for Tubby was like having a Ferrari but never going above the speed limit.

-As for his teams, we never seemed to have a stud outside of maybe Tayshaun.

-Outside of the championship team, my favorite team was the 2005 squad. I loved Sparks.

- 2003 was the only other team capable of winning a title but I doubt they would have even beaten Kansas in the semis considering Kansas beat that same Marquette team that dominated us, by 34 points. And no, the Bogans excuse doesn't hold water considering how Marquette outplayed us in all aspects.

- Two of my favorite games I ever attended at Rupp were during the Tubby era
- December 1998 vs Steve Francis' Maryland
- December 1999 vs eventual national champion Michigan State

Agree with you, other than the stud part though - I'd definitely consider Bogans to be a stud, I mean he was an All-American and NBA talent. Always felt that Azibuke should've developed more than he did.

Sparks vs Louisville and Sparks vs Michigan St - CLUTCH