Tubby's Record Against UK's Rivals

[Will Lavender]

I think it can be agreed upon that UK's five fiercest rivals are Louisville, Indiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Cincinnati.

Tubby Smith's record against those teams is

30-13 (70%)

This is better -- quite a bit better -- than UK's average against those same teams before Tubby got to Lexington. That record is

199-113 (64%)

That's impressive any way you cut it.

Yes, the Final Four drought is worrying; and sure, this team has a lot of work to do. And also, these numbers have to be qualified a bit, because Kentucky had to play UT, UofL, Indiana, and North Carolina during their golden eras when they were clearly -- at least in the case of UofL and IU -- better than they are now. (I knew this already, but it's surprising to look back and see that both North Carolina and Indiana went through stretches where they dominated Kentucky.)

But still, they say in rivalry games that all the records can be thrown out.

Which makes Tubby's winning percentage an impressive feat for an embattled coach. His teams come to play in the biggest regular season games of the year.

[freethrow]

That is impressive. But as we all know, many fans could care less about records or stats. What have you done for me lately, rules.

[gerntz]

I don't see how a team we rarely play - UC - can be a fierce rival.

[Will Lavender]

gerntz wrote: I don't see how a team we rarely play - UC - can be a fierce rival.

Some fans go back before 1990, I guess. Talk to Terry L. Wildcat about that.

Anyway, I hate 'em fiercely.

[Sir Richard F. Burton]

gerntz wrote: I don't see how a team we rarely play - UC - can be a fierce rival.

I can agree. Who would your put instead of Cincy? Kansas?

[Will Lavender]

Sir Richard F. Burton wrote: gerntz wrote: I don't see how a team we rarely play - UC - can be a fierce rival.

I can agree. Who would your put instead of Cincy? Kansas?

If we're talking recently, possibly Florida.

Tubby Smith against Kansas: 2-2.

Tubby Smith against Florida: 12-8.

[Dwight Schrute]

I'd have put Duke in ahead of Cincy, but we're just splitting hairs, really :lol:.

[Stretch]

Another Tubby coaching hallmark: when has anyone mounted a late comeback against us to win a game after we held a decent lead? If it has ever happened, it has been extremely rare. When Tubby gets the lead late, you can stick a fork in the opponent because he ain't coming back.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

:cool:Will, I always have to throw this in: Cincinnati has not beat us in men's basketball since 1939...that's in our lifetimes Windy :cool:

[Terry L. Wildcat]

Will Lavender wrote: gerntz wrote: I don't see how a team we rarely play - UC - can be a fierce rival.

Some fans go back before 1990, I guess. Talk to Terry L. Wildcat about that.

Anyway, I hate 'em fiercely.

:thumbupgerntz, We will talk over an adult beverage on this subject :cool:I have hated the Bearcats since grade school and so did my dad.

[RaleighCat]

Two points here:

Cinci is NOT our rival. We might be theirs, but they're not ours. Dook is our rival. Florida is our rival. Add them alongside UofL, IU, UNC and Tennessee.

All that notwithstanding- Tubby's biggest rival is the Final Freakin' Four! It is Kentucky basketball history and expectations. Those are the rivalries that mean most as of today. Droughts have a way of coloring the landscape.

[Mark Blueblood]

RaleighCat wrote: Two points here:

Cinci is NOT our rival. We might be theirs, but they're not ours. Dook is our rival. Florida is our rival. Add them alongside UofL, IU, UNC and Tennessee.

All that notwithstanding- Tubby's biggest rival is the Final Freakin' Four! It is Kentucky basketball history and expectations. Those are the rivalries that mean most as of today. Droughts have a way of coloring the landscape.


Uhh......easy for you to say RC - but you apparently did NOT grow up in Northern Kentucky.

Anything to add to that Terry??

[wildcat74]

Will Lavender wrote: I think it can be agreed upon that UK's five fiercest rivals are Louisville, Indiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Cincinnati.

Tubby Smith's record against those teams is

30-13 (70%)

This is better -- quite a bit better -- than UK's average against those same teams before Tubby got to Lexington. That record is

199-113 (64%)

That's impressive any way you cut it.

Yes, the Final Four drought is worrying; and sure, this team has a lot of work to do. And also, these numbers have to be qualified a bit, because Kentucky had to play UT, UofL, Indiana, and North Carolina during their golden eras when they were clearly -- at least in the case of UofL and IU -- better than they are now. (I knew this already, but it's surprising to look back and see that both North Carolina and Indiana went through stretches where they dominated Kentucky.)

But still, they say in rivalry games that all the records can be thrown out.

Which makes Tubby's winning percentage an impressive feat for an embattled coach. His teams come to play in the biggest regular season games of the year.

Sunshine pumper, indeed ;)

[RaleighCat]

Mark Blueblood wrote: RaleighCat wrote: Two points here:

Cinci is NOT our rival. We might be theirs, but they're not ours. Dook is our rival. Florida is our rival. Add them alongside UofL, IU, UNC and Tennessee.

All that notwithstanding- Tubby's biggest rival is the Final Freakin' Four! It is Kentucky basketball history and expectations. Those are the rivalries that mean most as of today. Droughts have a way of coloring the landscape.


Uhh......easy for you to say RC - but you apparently did NOT grow up in Northern Kentucky.

Anything to add to that Terry??

Grew up in Louisville. I would consider Notre Dame as big a rival as Cincinnati. UK used to play them every year, they had players and a coach you could hate, they were usually good (at least competitive).

A rival is some team that you want to play every year (at least once) and can't stand losing to. Yes, Cinci would be on our rivals list, but pretty far down.

[Mark Blueblood]

I can buy that Raleigh - no problem at all.

But I guarantee you that Terry L., myself and a ton of other Northern Kentuckians would rather beat UC than ANYbody. At least to us they're a BIG rivalry. But not at the top of the list. Partially because they haven't beaten us since 1939 (or was it '29? Or was it ever??)

[kevinlw1974]

Will Lavender wrote: I think it can be agreed upon that UK's five fiercest rivals are Louisville, Indiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Cincinnati.

Tubby Smith's record against those teams is

30-13 (70%)

This is better -- quite a bit better -- than UK's average against those same teams before Tubby got to Lexington. That record is

199-113 (64%)

That's impressive any way you cut it.

Yes, the Final Four drought is worrying; and sure, this team has a lot of work to do. And also, these numbers have to be qualified a bit, because Kentucky had to play UT, UofL, Indiana, and North Carolina during their golden eras when they were clearly -- at least in the case of UofL and IU -- better than they are now. (I knew this already, but it's surprising to look back and see that both North Carolina and Indiana went through stretches where they dominated Kentucky.)

But still, they say in rivalry games that all the records can be thrown out.

Which makes Tubby's winning percentage an impressive feat for an embattled coach. His teams come to play in the biggest regular season games of the year.
I think you can throw Duke into that mix as well.

[VIIBanners]

Arkansas is a rival of mine. Those matchups were fierce in the 90's! Maybe Utah... ha ha!...

[wildcat74]

I like the wake forest rivalry.

[phoenix]

I do think it is reasonable to look around at our immediate recruiting area and consider them rivals. It is good to look like the best team in the area.

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

Ok, after all the talk I'm pretty sure that our five biggest rivals are...

right now...(in order, and with our current streak)

louisville (won 3)

indiana (won 1)

florida (lost 4)

north carlina (lost 3)

tennessee (won 1)





now, if somebody can throw us a record against those teams during Tub's years I would be grateful. Of course, no matter the answer, it has no bearing on where we are now as a program...just thought it would begood to know

[ukwebfan]

bttt

:ggrin: