What would it take for everyone to want to keep Tubby

[Ky Man]

I know a lot want better recruiting, some want a faster paced offense, some want better player developement, and EVERYONE wants more wins and a deep run in the NCAA tourney...[Final Four], does this about cover it or are they any other things Tubby could do in order for a lot of fans to change their minds about FIRE TUBBY.

[JOHN BLUEBLOOD]

Get back to seasons like 24-6 rather than 22-13 or 23-10. Get back to being a legitimate threat every year. Get back to bringing studs and exciting ball back. None of these things will happen.

[FatCatDaddy]

I am through with Tubby. I am tired of team turmoil, ten loss seasons, teams not respecting us at Rupp or on the road. He can do nothing to change my mind now.

[keesee12]

I would like to see a well coached team that does not lose close ball games and has the ability to blow lesser teams away.

A great statement i read in the Azibuke article in the cj today sums up tubby's teams.

they were talking about how Kaz played to the level of his competition rather than trying to play to level of his abilities reguardless of who he was playing.

Tubby's teams seem to have this problem, maybe because he is a good person and does not want to hang an embarresment on a fellow coach, who knows.

however i would trade a good guy for someone that develope players and teams to their fullest abilities.

I see tubby starting to take the Matt D. roll at UNC

[LAcat]

JOHN BLUEBLOOD wrote: Get back to seasons like 24-6 rather than 22-13 or 23-10. Get back to being a legitimate threat every year. Get back to bringing studs and exciting ball back. None of these things will happen.
Those are my feelings exactly. Kentucky has become a second tier program:cry:

[twincat]

I second that . I recall when Tubby took over I expected to see the same brand of excitement we had under Petino. It never ocurred to me at the time that Tubby had his own style of coaching and that the main reason Rick chose him as an a/coach was for his recruiting capability and perhaps his defensive schemes. But when they started the season using the half court set I was disappointed. As I recall, we weren't having all that good a season in 1998 until they caught fire in the first game of the SEC Tourney. The eternal optimist in me wants to wait til Tourney time and see what happens...

[lotsaloans]

Tubby has given the Cats his best. UK has been more than patient with Tubby. He's still young enough to enjoy the rest of his life. He has nothing left to accomplish on the collegiate level. He has worked his butt off in season and out. If I were him I'd enjoy the fruits of my labor and take my wife around the world a few dozen times. Tubby has done nothing to hang his head over. He is respected as a man of integrity. Why not retire while relatively on top of the game instead of hanging on too long and being ran out of town on a rail?

[Radiated]

A Miracle.

[alan32766]

for him to be the last coach on earth, and still only maybe

[ukwebfan]

A cold beer.:beer:

[BigblueDrew]

Radiated wrote: A Miracle.



So true.:blush:

[delkfor3]

I don't think there is much that Tubby can do, too many fans agist Tubby at this point.

[ukbob]

So if we won it all or even got to the Final Four, signed Patterson, Pettigrew, Stewart and Williams, then none of you would still want him back?

And do not answer this question by saying that none of that will happen. This is a WHAT IF scenario and the original question was "what would it take...".

[delkfor3]

ukbob wrote: So if we won it all or even got to the Final Four, signed Patterson, Pettigrew, Stewart and Williams, then none of you would still want him back?



I honestly don't know how to answer this.:shrug:I imagine if we were to win it all, most of Tubby's faults would be forgiven, and to to follow that up witha bigtime recruiting haul would be gravy.

[jpay]

Just win baby. Now on a slightly different subject. Why would any top recruit or any recruit want to come and play for a fan base that treats their coach in such a way. WE are 15 and 5 with 4 freshman in our top 8 players. Gawd I hate the internet!!!!

[ukcatfan]

FatCatDaddy wrote: I am through with Tubby. I am tired of team turmoil, ten loss seasons, teams not respecting us at Rupp or on the road. He can do nothing to change my mind now.

Gosh, why don't you learn to express yourself instead of beating around the bush.

:thumbup:lol::D:beer::beer::beer::beer:

[lotsaloans]

Top recruits snicker at the mention of Tubby. National press is horrible. The blue chips are not going to come here to get knocked out of the NCAA by Alabama-Birmingham every year in round 2 and risk their lottery dollars.

[Dwight Schrute]

I'm witholding judgement until the end of this season. It sucks because I really, really do like Tubby. I think as far as bench coaching goes, there's no one better out there. On top of all that, he's a really good ambassador for our program, and really is respected among our peers. I would love to see him fix this mess and bring in a top notch class this year, come back next year and dominate the SEC.

I don't think that's going to happen, though. The program is growing stale. As much as Tubby is growing stale on the fanbase, I think the fanbase, and thus the job, are growing stale on Tubby. It just might be time for both parties to split and leave on good terms. If Tubby left now, in five years we'd all remember him in glowing terms.

[catsfan20]

Dwight Schrute wrote: I'm witholding judgement until the end of this season. It sucks because I really, really do like Tubby. I think as far as bench coaching goes, there's no one better out there. On top of all that, he's a really good ambassador for our program, and really is respected among our peers. I would love to see him fix this mess and bring in a top notch class this year, come back next year and dominate the SEC.

I don't think that's going to happen, though. The program is growing stale. As much as Tubby is growing stale on the fanbase, I think the fanbase, and thus the job, are growing stale on Tubby. It just might be time for both parties to split and leave on good terms. If Tubby left now, in five years we'd all remember him in glowing terms.

Agreed. Good post.

[Mr. Peanut]

Win. Thats all he's got to do. And, he'll have to win enough to shout down the faction of fans that will be ready to jump on him with losses.

If we got back to annual top 10 status, none of the "style" issues would matter.

Open questions for me are - can he get UK back to that level in the time frame he will be given? (probably not. there wasn't much chance it was going to happen this year.) Could another coach get us there quicker? (Maybe. Regardless of whether you think TS is a great coach -I do BTW- Easy to see that a change might bring out some optimism for a few years that TS isn't likely to enjoy... but, with a new coach, there's the risk that he'll be a stinker. Risk v Benefit hard to know.)

[bigsky]

Win. Make us top dog, Robert Goulet singing about, mentioned by all recruits, feared by opponents, swaggering, proud again.

But this guy can't and won't get that done.

[Will Lavender]

I loved those Robert Goulet spots. ESPN has never been able to reproduce that bit of marketing genius in their college basketball ads.

The stuff they're doing now, with the RA reading Bilas and Digger and the rest of the crew the dorm rules, is pretty stupid.

[capcat]

lotsaloans wrote: National press is horrible.

That's not entirely accurate. I don'tperuse it as closely as I've done in the past, but a scan of articles lately was surprisingly positive about the program, coach, and players. Surprisinglyis the operative word there, as I'm comparing it what is expressed on message boards. Mention of Kentucky in a proposed "First Four" is one that comes to mind, but there were others expressing confidence in the caliber of our coach. As for players, I've read positives as well,with special note to the freshmen. Maybe locally you get more negative press, I don't know. I'm looking from a distance.

[KY Native in IN]

my opinion is pretty much worth bupkus, but....

we'll see at the end of THIS season....i said all along before this season started after the debacle that was the team last season, we'll see what kind of coach Tubby is...the past is the past...BUT he's been at the helm since '97 and with the exception of '98 of course, the predominant mind set has always been "almost" or "next year, next year"...we're still waiting for at least a FF....for UK that's not too much to ask...and that in and of itself should speak volumes....everybody's on their hands and knees BEGGING just give us a FF, please!!! the NC is almost out of the picture....we're not STRONG, we're not DOMINANT...most every game is a limp and a stumble...if we win seems like we just squeek through....we should have a banner in Rupp for the 2003 NCAA's but we don't...that team was a FORCE...we probably could've had one when Chuck Hayes was literally carrying this team on his shoulders...but ALMOST....almost and all these near misses is just getting old...it's a different game now some say...sure it is....but we've got a coach who won't make any adjustments to the newness of the game....we are big Oklahoma football fans in our house (my wife, but i cheer for them too) they have a very storied grid iron tradition...their current coach Bob Stoops has yet to bring home the NC trophy since his first year...but has been a contender for it at least 3 or 4 times...sure he didn't "get it done", but he got to the NC at least...Joe B. (who some compare with Tubby's record) went to the FF 3 times and got a NC once....the job of the coach of storied and historic teams is to keep the legacy alive and kickin'...if not, you've not done your job - you're stepping backwards....well, streaks don't last forever some may say, is 100 years of b-ball tradition and excellence a streak?....sure it was up and down before Rupp got here, but after he came which equals about over roughly 70 years, we've pretty much been on top (not counting "kentucky's shame" - that was just a speed bump)...we've not been to the NC game since '98.....not even a FF....incidently i hope he wins the NC this year and goes on a 5 year tear and puts us back in dominance...but if he does not get at least a FF this year....everyone should pretty much know what they need to know...i think one of the funniest posts is where someone said "we can replace adolph rupp, joe b. hall, rick pitino, but we can't replace tubby smith"....tubby is not Kentucky basketball...a link in a mammoth chain, but the program is not one man...it can't and better not be....

anyways, THIS IS STILL KENTUCKY BASKETBALL,,,REMEMBER??????

[katfever]

ukbob wrote: So if we won it all or even got to the Final Four, signed Patterson, Pettigrew, Stewart and Williams, then none of you would still want him back?

And do not answer this question by saying that none of that will happen. This is a WHAT IF scenario and the original question was "what would it take...".

If that happened Bob, he would deserve to come back. However, the chances of this team reaching the final 4 are close to zero. As far as recruiting, I have no confidence in his staff's ability anymore to be consistent recruiter. I think the better question is, what will it have to take for some of these posters to say Tubby's time is done here?

[BrassowFan]

It's a good question and a difficult one to answer.

I honestly believe that it is just too late for anything. I say that because it's no longer just about one season, it is about the direction of the program. Should Tubby take this team to the Elite 8, or even a Final Four, this season that would be a heck of an accomplishment but the issue is what he would do from there.

History would tell us that despite the possibility of success this season, however you would define it, he's had a decade and has yet to demonstrate that he can recruit and consistently compete at an elite level.

He would have to prove that his teams could dictate tempo, that he could motivate and get the absolute best out of his players and that he could bring excitement back to KY basketball. It would take much more than half of a season for him to do this and I just don't think that the fans have the amount of patience required to allow him the chance t demonstrate this. It isn't the fault of the fans, patience is something that they've given Tubby in spades... it has just run out.

I think that some positive actions at the end of a decade cannot heal the wounds that he's created over that time. IMO, it's just too late.

[wildcat74]

FatCatDaddy wrote: I am through with Tubby. I am tired of team turmoil, ten loss seasons, teams not respecting us at Rupp or on the road. He can do nothing to change my mind now.
:thumbup:thumbup

[Ky Man]

Hey, everyone, I am really pleased with the way this thread is going. People are voicing their opinions and there are not really a lot of bashing Tubby going on. Most posts seem to come from people who do love Ky. b-ball and are heart felt opinions. Thanks, I am reading everyone of them and they are making me THINK...and that is what is needed, to think then post.

[VIIBanners]

What he can do for me is get deep in the tournament and sign our main target recruits and fill the missing holes he said he would fill. He deserves to stay if he does this.

[bret1555]

As most of you know, I am a big Tubby fan. . . Unfortunately, he does have to pick it up. I think the end result of this season is less important to his future than recruiting. If we sign Patterson, then he's back next year, just by virtue of making the tournament. If not, I think he probably needs an Elite Eight appearance. Then again, my opinion and 25 cents won't even buy a pack of gum anymore.;)

[bluegrassking]

I supported Tubby a long time but he lost me last year pretty much for good. I said last year if he got to the Final Four he should be retained. Now another season is passing by and all the concerns I had a year ago are still with me.

I look back at what has gone on here since Tubby's system and recruiting took over the program and I can't see why anyone feels strongly he should stay.

The overall quality of our players and depth on our rosters has been substandard, the offense is CLEARLY not going to get it done, our teams are not fundamentally sound, Tubby cannot at the same time gather the pieces to make a powerhouse team-something is ALWAYS missing, I am not a believer in the BLD, development HAS to be questioned-This man has had 9 McDonald's All-Americans but has produced but one All-American (Prince was his Jr year I thought), ZERO lottery picks and only 2 1st rounders overall, he is despite being so well liked-horrible at promoting this program, he is wonderful as an individual but is not inclusive of our fans as a whole, he is horrible at communicating his plans and ambitions for the program, he is a poor closer on the recruiting, his substitution patterns have been scary even since 99, his teams do not enforce their will, problems are never solved, adjustments not made, he has surrounded himself in a vacum with yes men on the staff that do not compliment his weak areas, and more than anything else he tries to play an underdog at UK which is never going to work.

[BigblueDrew]

There is NOTHING coach Smith can do to make we wish him to stay. Then agian I have really been done with him for a couple of years now.I honestly think the best interest of UK basketball would be served by a new coach, the sooner the better.. Just my opinion.