Is Tubby annoyed at all right now?

[Craig the Blueheart]

Let me first preface this post with this: I like Tubby a lot, but I was in the school of people that felt it was best for a change. I will also add, however, that I supported him every single game that he coached at our University.

With that said, what is Tubby thinking this morning as he opens his newspaper, and learns that we have yet another blue-chip type of recruit? If it were me, I would be a little annoyed by it. It would be the same if you just broke up with a girlfriend, and then she goes out and gets a better looking, richer and more successful boyfriend. I don't want to start a Tubby debate, but I constantly think about these kinds of things.

[RP_McMurphy]

He hired family and friends at Minnesota and has no pressure plus a fat paycheck. Let's face it Tubby couldn't stand the heat in the kitchen and left. Now we have a cook that not only can stand the heat but enjoys it.

[crazzedcats22]

I would have to think that it bothers him a little bit. It would have to. He was here for ten years and except for 1998 there was never the excitement and anticipation for UK basketball like there is now. Every other day, almost, we hear about a new top player considering the Cats, that was very rare with Tubby and I'm sure he doesn't like Billy G showing him up.

[wallnutz14]

It would be the same if you just broke up with a girlfriend, and then she goes out and gets a better looking, richer and more successful boyfriend.

Good analogy. I think that says it all. Tubby's got to be pissed over this. I know I would be. Actually, embarrassed might be the better word.

[Will Lavender]

He hired family and friends at Minnesota and has no pressure plus a fat paycheck. Let's face it Tubby couldn't stand the heat in the kitchen and left. Now we have a cook that not only can stand the heat but enjoys it.

I agree, somewhat.

Tubby brought on all of the heat in the last two years, but the oven was already burning -- unfairly -- long before it should have been.

Gillispie will get a more fair shot to please the fans; OTOH, he'll work harder and he's just a more talented salesman than Tubby. And it ain't even close.

[cityoflights]

I don't see why Tubby would be mad/annoyed at all. He made his own bed by relying too much on incompetant assistants for recruiting and refusing to replace them.

[Craig the Blueheart]

He hired family and friends at Minnesota and has no pressure plus a fat paycheck. Let's face it Tubby couldn't stand the heat in the kitchen and left. Now we have a cook that not only can stand the heat but enjoys it.

As a man, you have to AT LEAST be bothered a little bit. Somebody has literally come in and done his job off the court better than he has. If you throw in a more competitive team next year, that will only add to the fire.

[Art Vandelay]

I really believe Tubby couldn't care less. If you have listened to Tubby over the years, and even in recent interviews, he truly believes that he recruited and competed at the levels necessary to be considered an elite coach of an elite program. He has had plenty of support in that belief from a good many fans, lots of whom post on this board.

I think Tubby is right where he wants to be right now. He is the highly paid coach of a Big Ten program with very managable expectations. He will retire in a few years with a very large nest egg. I think Kentucky is happily in his rearview mirror and he doesn't think much about what is going on in Lexington.

[Will Lavender]

He has had plenty of support in that belief from a good many fans, lots of whom post on this board.

Until a couple of years ago, he earned that support.

There was a time not long ago when Tubby was in the top five in active win percentage in both the regular season and the NCAA Tournament. At that time, one could have been just as baffled at why a UK fan would not support Tubby as you would at why one would have supported him in the end.

I think Tubby believed that he could win with good talent. Matt Jones wrote an article a couple of years ago where he interviewed a recruiting analyst who claimed Tubby didn't like recruiting because he believed in his coaching ability so much. It's the old Bobby Knight philosophy, I guess. Tubby offerred just a few kids, tried his best to stay away from trouble, and ended up really shrinking the potential recruit pool. The margin of error was too small.

But to sort of throw Tubby's career away and scoff at it for what went on the last two years is shortsighted. Saul Bellow, the best American novelist of this century, wrote duds of novels at the end of his career. But that doesn't taint the masterful job he did early on.

[KevinKat78]

I agree, somewhat.

Tubby brought on all of the heat in the last two years, [but the oven was already burning -- unfairly -- long before it should have been.]

[Gillispie will get a more fair shot] to please the fans; OTOH, he'll work harder and he's just a more talented salesman than Tubby. And it ain't even close.
These 2 statements bother me. I feel that there was never any unjust pressure on Tubby. If he couldn't produce a team that could win as usual at UK and go to a final 4 ever few years then he would have the same pressure any man would have at UK. No Coach had lost as many consistently as Tubby since 1930. How can any of us say that he was mistreated by anyone since it has been 77 years sine anyone had lost so many games consistently? Tubby put UK in the longest drought not going to the final 4 in 9 seasons. If you look at all the records since 1930 and place the worst 15 seasons Tubby had 6 of them, maybe 7.
Then saying CBC will be treated more fairly. What does that mean? Why would CBC be treated more fairly? So far he is doing much better work that Tubby ever did. In my 41 years as a UK fan I've never seen this kind of Recruiting from anyone anywhere ever. I've never been so excited. I would be just as upset with CBC if he produced the same kind of basketball seasons as Tubby. There is no difference that I see between them except Tubby never seemed to work as hard as CBC does. CBC has yet to coach a game at UK but when he does I will judge the games the same as I always have for 41 years. I was a very strong Tubby supporter for his first 5 seasons. I was at the High Point game at Rupp Arena during UKs 27 game winning Streak. UK won by 5 points. It occured to me during that game that Tubby wasn't trying to let the players play as they wanted to but he was trying to keep the game close. It hit me He is not a good Coach and I don't want him at UK any more.:thumbdn: Since then I have been so upset to hear how great a coach Tubby is. I don't believe it any more. I also don't understand why anyone feels he was mistreated at UK. He sure was not. There are some fans out there that may have racial hatred for Tubby but I don't feel that it had anything to do with the way Tubby was treated at UK. There are people that may not like me for some reason or another but it has had little to do with my success or failures. I just don't feel good about people feeling Tubby was mistreated. He was the one that produced the teams he produced and he was the one that left by himself and went to Minnesota. I am very thankful Tubby left and that CBC is here. I look forward to watching UK play basketball again. I had given up that I would ever be excited again by UK Basketball. I feel that I'm being very fair about the situation.

[Craig the Blueheart]

I really believe Tubby couldn't care less. If you have listened to Tubby over the years, and even in recent interviews, he truly believes that he recruited and competed at the levels necessary to be considered an elite coach of an elite program. He has had plenty of support in that belief from a good many fans, lots of whom post on this board.

I think Tubby is right where he wants to be right now. He is the highly paid coach of a Big Ten program with very managable expectations. He will retire in a few years with a very large nest egg. I think Kentucky is happily in his rearview mirror and he doesn't think much about what is going on in Lexington.

If your assumption regarding his satisfaction in recruiting is true, then his beliefs are probably flawed. I am not so certain that your beliefs are paralell with his. I find Tubby to be a very intelligent man, and I think he would probably agree that his own recruiting wasn't satisfactory for this elite program.

In addition, he always had, and still has my support. I hope he wins every game he coaches unless it gets in UK's way.

[Craig the Blueheart]

These 2 statements bother me. I feel that there was never any unjust pressure on Tubby. If he couldn't produce a team that could win as usual at UK and go to a final 4 ever few years then he would have the same pressure any man would have at UK. No Coach had lost as many consistently as Tubby since 1930. How can any of us say that he was mistreated by anyone since it has been 77 years sine anyone had lost so many games consistently? Tubby put UK in the longest drought not going to the final 4 in 9 seasons. If you look at all the records since 1930 and place the worst 15 seasons Tubby had 6 of them, maybe 7.
Then saying CBC will be treated more fairly. What does that mean? Why would CBC be treated more fairly? So far he is doing much better work that Tubby ever did. In my 41 years as a UK fan I've never seen this kind of Recruiting from anyone anywhere ever. I've never been so excited. I would be just as upset with CBC if he produced the same kind of basketball seasons as Tubby. There is no difference that I see between them except Tubby never seemed to work as hard as CBC does. CBC has yet to coach a game at UK but when he does I will judge the games the same as I always have for 41 years. I was a very strong Tubby supporter for his first 5 seasons. I was at the High Point game at Rupp Arena during UKs 27 game winning Streak. UK won by 5 points. It occured to me during that game that Tubby wasn't trying to let the players play as they wanted to but he was trying to keep the game close. It hit me He is not a good Coach and I don't want him at UK any more.:thumbdn: Since then I have been so upset to hear how great a coach Tubby is. I don't believe it any more. I also don't understand why anyone feels he was mistreated at UK. He sure was not. There are some fans out there that may have racial hatred for Tubby but I don't feel that it had anything to do with the way Tubby was treated at UK. There are people that may not like me for some reason or another but it has had little to do with my success or failures. I just don't feel good about people feeling Tubby was mistreated. He was the one that produced the teams he produced and he was the one that left by himself and went to Minnesota. I am very thankful Tubby left and that CBC is here. I look forward to watching UK play basketball again. I had given up that I would ever be excited again by UK Basketball. I feel that I'm being very fair about the situation.

I don't want to speak for anyone, but I think BG may get a more fair shot at being a UK coach. I think this is true if for no other reason, he will be compared to OTS in his tenure. To the contrary, however, OTS was always compared to Rick Pitino. That comparison did not bode well for Tubby, as everything is now in the rear view mirror.

[Will Lavender]

These 2 statements bother me. I feel that there was never any unjust pressure on Tubby. If he couldn't produce a team that could win as usual at UK and go to a final 4 ever few years then he would have the same pressure any man would have at UK. No Coach had lost as many consistently as Tubby since 1930. How can any of us say that he was mistreated by anyone since it has been 77 years sine anyone had lost so many games consistently? Tubby put UK in the longest drought not going to the final 4 in 9 seasons. If you look at all the records since 1930 and place the worst 15 seasons Tubby had 6 of them, maybe 7.
Then saying CBC will be treated more fairly. What does that mean? Why would CBC be treated more fairly? So far he is doing much better work that Tubby ever did. In my 41 years as a UK fan I've never seen this kind of Recruiting from anyone anywhere ever. I've never been so excited. I would be just as upset with CBC if he produced the same kind of basketball seasons as Tubby. There is no difference that I see between them except Tubby never seemed to work as hard as CBC does. CBC has yet to coach a game at UK but when he does I will judge the games the same as I always have for 41 years. I was a very strong Tubby supporter for his first 5 seasons. I was at the High Point game at Rupp Arena during UKs 27 game winning Streak. UK won by 5 points. It occured to me during that game that Tubby wasn't trying to let the players play as they wanted to but he was trying to keep the game close. It hit me He is not a good Coach and I don't want him at UK any more.:thumbdn: Since then I have been so upset to hear how great a coach Tubby is. I don't believe it any more. I also don't understand why anyone feels he was mistreated at UK. He sure was not. There are some fans out there that may have racial hatred for Tubby but I don't feel that it had anything to do with the way Tubby was treated at UK. There are people that may not like me for some reason or another but it has had little to do with my success or failures. I just don't feel good about people feeling Tubby was mistreated. He was the one that produced the teams he produced and he was the one that left by himself and went to Minnesota. I am very thankful Tubby left and that CBC is here. I look forward to watching UK play basketball again. I had given up that I would ever be excited again by UK Basketball. I feel that I'm being very fair about the situation.

We'll just have to agree to disagree.

I certainly don't feel sorry for Tubby. He's a millionaire many times over; he was embraced by most UK fans for a long time. He was well-loved around the Commonwealth. He won a title here and had some very good teams.

But we're also talking about a man who had to hire a body guard to protect himself.

As for Gillispie, the reason he'll be treated differently is because he's NT: Not Tubby. Just as Tubby was always in Pitino's shadow, Gillispie will be free of any shadow. The program, at his hiring, moved out into a clear, wide-open space because many of us wanted a breath of fresh air.

He'll have a grace period before fans start pounding him -- but, like you say, I don't think he'll need one. :thumbup:

[JOHN BLUEBLOOD]

I believe that Tubby had so much confidence in his own coaching ability that he thought he bring in average kids and "coach" them way up. I think that Carruth and Parker made him gun-shy about bluechippers.

Let's face it, when Tubby said before the NCAA's this year that we had enjoyed another "successful season", we all should've realized that he doesn't completely understand what kind of success a school like UK expects.

Minnesota, like Georia is perfect for Tubby.

I'm not going to continue to bash him everytime we land another top recruit, I believe even the most dedicated Tubby supporter has to realize that the way Gillispie is recruiting now is what is expected here and Tubby just couldn't get the job done.

By the way, when your boss comes to you to suggest change, you have to be a subordinate to the situation- Tubby couldn't and made his decision to leave.

[Katfan74]

I've said it once and I'll say more and more. Tubby does know how to coach, that was proven in 98. His problem as everyone knows is with recruiting. We are getting the type of players now that we were getting before Tubby and that was UK basketball is all about.

Is it bothering Tubby? I doubt it. Just like stated in a previous post Tubby thought we have a successful season last year. Let me just tell you this, getting swept by both Florida and Vanderbilt and also loosing to Georgia after having them down by 17 does not a successful season make.

[CATHEAD]

I'll be happy when basketball season starts and we can stop focusing so much on the past.

[Art Vandelay]

If your assumption regarding his satisfaction in recruiting is true, then his beliefs are probably flawed. I am not so certain that your beliefs are paralell with his. I find Tubby to be a very intelligent man, and I think he would probably agree that his own recruiting wasn't satisfactory for this elite program.

In addition, he always had, and still has my support. I hope he wins every game he coaches unless it gets in UK's way.

http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?m=20070615

No assumptions by me, scroll down and click on the link to Tubby's Atlanta radio interview and listen to him defend his recruiting, among other things. This is only one occasion when I heard Tubby make such comments. I am convinced the man thought everything was okay and he didn't need to make any changes.

As for Will's comments above, I agree that Tubby had some good years. That said, recruiting was ALWAYS a painful process with Tubby. He seldom lined up anybody early and never seemed to have much enthusiasm for the process. You are exactly right when you say he shrunk the talent pool. Tubby was all or nothing on the top recruits and he often found hmself scrambling. Despite that, he refused to make ANY changes.

I also disagree that his last two years were the only years with problems. He had five seasons with ten or more losses, not to mention the first team turmoil. Even at his best, it seemed like things should have been a little better. I don't think that's unfair and I vehemently disagree that Tubby was ever judged anymore harshly than any UK basketball coach.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I believe that Tubby wishes nothing but the BEST for the University of Kentucky..a place he called home for 10 years......he is at a new job where he will not have the pressure......he will be fine and so will UK

[katfever]

I doubt Smith gives a rat's behind who UK gets- he has bigger fish to fry than fretting over that. lol

[Craig the Blueheart]

http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?m=20070615

No assumptions by me, scroll down and click on the link to Tubby's Atlanta radio interview and listen to him defend his recruiting, among other things. This is only one occasion when I heard Tubby make such comments. I am convinced the man thought everything was okay and he didn't need to make any changes.

As for Will's comments above, I agree that Tubby had some good years. That said, recruiting was ALWAYS a painful process with Tubby. He seldom lined up anybody early and never seemed to have much enthusiasm for the process. You are exactly right when you say he shrunk the talent pool. Tubby was all or nothing on the top recruits and he often found hmself scrambling. Despite that, he refused to make ANY changes.

I also disagree that his last two years were the only years with problems. He had five seasons with ten or more losses, not to mention the first team turmoil. Even at his best, it seemed like things should have been a little better. I don't think that's unfair and I vehemently disagree that Tubby was ever judged anymore harshly than any UK basketball coach.

Sometimes when people say things, they don't necissarily believe it.

[matt colvin]

I just want to know when we'll get a chance to play them, and give him a real reason to be annoyed!!!! :widcat::widcat::widcat::widcat:


Could you imagine the media coverage that would garner????

[WildFan]

It would be the same if you just broke up with a girlfriend, and then she goes out and gets a better looking, richer and more successful boyfriend. quote]

[quote=wallnutz14;297790]Good analogy. I think that says it all. Tubby's got to be pissed over this. I know I would be. Actually, embarrassed might be the better word.

It is a good analogy except you could go even further to suggest that she not only gets a better looking, richer, and more successful boyfriend, but also dates many of these, some of which were your friends.

[Craig the Blueheart]

[quote=Craig the Blueheart;297738]It would be the same if you just broke up with a girlfriend, and then she goes out and gets a better looking, richer and more successful boyfriend. quote]



It is a good analogy except you could go even further to suggest that she not only gets a better looking, richer, and more successful boyfriend, but also dates many of these, some of which were your friends.

That would hurt...