Bobcats Coaching Vacancy Gaining Some Legs....

[SCBlu]

Anyone hearing anything more on the radio/internet waves? This article confirms that Bickerstaff is heading back to management. I'm concerned abour losing Tubby......

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/9385999

[matt57]

This is interesting, i think it was assumed he would be stepping down earlier in the year. But, this could be the first step in a process some have been waiting for. I'm just not sure what to think. I really don't think Tubby is leaving. But, then I think about how Tubby has always been a man of integrity and he PROMISED changes this year. We're going on four months now without a S&C coach. There have been no movement with assistants yet either. One things for sure. We'll know something before long.

[DCWildcat]

How does this "confirm" that he's heading back to management? Acknowledging that he is considering a move doesn't confirm that he's doing anything.

[KapitalCat]

It's been out there since the start of the season that Biggerstaff might move out of coaching and move back into GM role. He is tired and building an NBA team, coaching in almost 100 games, (including exhibition) is draining.

[matt57]

This article doesn't "confirm" anything. however, it's been fairly well known that bickerstaff was looking into going back to full time GM. what this article does is puts out there for everyone to see. i'm still not sold on the fact that tubby will be the #1 choice. but, he very well may be.

[KapitalCat]

matt57 wrote: This article doesn't "confirm" anything. however, it's been fairly well known that bickerstaff was looking into going back to full time GM. what this article does is puts out there for everyone to see. i'm still not sold on the fact that tubby will be the #1 choice. but, he very well may be.
I think it will be a Paul Silas type guy.It's going to take 2-3 brutal years to turn them around.

[Kentucky Jim]

I'm tired of hearing about this. Tubby is a classy guy, do you think he's just going to turn his back on his new recruits and team after telling them what all he has in store for this upcoming season? I don't see it happening even if they offered him the job, he knows that he would not be the Charlotte coach on a permanent basis and would eventually be fired. They are a horrible team/organization right now.

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

Kentucky Jim wrote:
I'm tired of hearing about this.Â* Tubby is a classy guy, do you think he's just going to turn his back on his new recruits and team after telling them what all he has in store for this upcoming season?

So when Tubby left Georgia for UK (or Tulsa for Georgia, for that matter) didn't Tubby turn his back on his recruits back then? Do you think he recruited them by saying "Well, you know, we've had a pretty good run and I probably won't be here next year because I'll be taking another job....but feel free to sign with us anyway."

[Art Vandelay]

BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote: Kentucky Jim wrote:
I'm tired of hearing about this. Tubby is a classy guy, do you think he's just going to turn his back on his new recruits and team after telling them what all he has in store for this upcoming season?

So when Tubby left Georgia for UK (or Tulsa for Georgia, for that matter) didn't Tubby turn his back on his recruits back then? Do you think he recruited them by saying "Well, you know, we've had a pretty good run and I probably won't be here next year because I'll be taking another job....but feel free to sign with us anyway."
He left his own son behind at UGA - the one that was actually a pretty good PG.

[Coldstream]

Buck Naked wrote: BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote: Kentucky Jim wrote:
I'm tired of hearing about this. Tubby is a classy guy, do you think he's just going to turn his back on his new recruits and team after telling them what all he has in store for this upcoming season?

So when Tubby left Georgia for UK (or Tulsa for Georgia, for that matter) didn't Tubby turn his back on his recruits back then? Do you think he recruited them by saying "Well, you know, we've had a pretty good run and I probably won't be here next year because I'll be taking another job....but feel free to sign with us anyway."
He left his own son behind at UGA - the one that was actually a pretty good PG.

He's talking about 'new recruits'. Tubby's son was a sophomore I believe at the time he left. His son also chose to stay.

[Kentucky Jim]

Certainly your not trying to compare the head basketball coaching positions at Georgia and Tulsa to Kentucky?Lets not forget, his salary at UK is a little higher than it was at those places. I guess if you want to see Smith gone then you can paint this picture anyway you want.

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

I know, the point I was trying to make is that to think that Tubby would not take another job because he is "a classy guy" and he "would not turn his back on his recruits" is just silly.

And don't most NBA head coaches make more money than Tubby makes at UK?

[I. Melvin]

Yeah, but next year is a unique one money-wise for Coach Smith. I believe he receives a significant bonus if he stays through next year pushing his next year's take close to $4 million.

That is one of many reasons that I think he'll be here next year. If the Bobcats (or Hawks) come calling this time next year, I think he's gone.

You never know, but I also think the timing of any possible change is better for us NEXT year than this year.

BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote:
And don't most NBA head coaches make more money than Tubby makes at UK?

[ukbob]

I. Melvin wrote: Yeah, but next year is a unique one money-wise for Coach Smith. I believe he receives a significant bonus if he stays through next year pushing his next year's take close to $4 million.

That is one of many reasons that I think he'll be here next year. If the Bobcats (or Hawks) come calling this time next year, I think he's gone.

You never know, but I also think the timing of any possible change is better for us NEXT year than this year.

BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote:
And don't most NBA head coaches make more money than Tubby makes at UK?


Good points.

But, I think OTS could command $3-5mil in NBA salary with an additional bonus or 2 added in for good measure. He could definitely make more as an NBA coach.

I don't think Smith is terrribly happy here and taking a job at Charlotte would not shock me whatsoever. However, I think he stays at least one more year.

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

I hear the Donovan and Calipari whispers getting louder. :shock:

[Will Lavender]

BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN wrote: I hear the Donovan and Calipari whispers getting louder. :shock:
At UK?

John Calipari will never step foot in Lexington with his past. Never, ever, ever, never. Never.

[CATHYnKY]

This is the time of year I get so frustrated. Rumors, rumors about players and coaches. I wish I had the will power to stay away from the internet and wait for confirmations. But...........:shrug:

[Buddah]

Will Lavender wrote: BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN wrote: I hear the Donovan and Calipari whispers getting louder. :shock:
At UK?

John Calipari will never step foot in Lexington with his past. Never, ever, ever, never. Never.

i agree he won't be here sadly, but he doesn't have any past to speak of.. the camby thing was strictly marcus's doing and john was cleared of any knowledge or wrong doing.... and the things at memphis, i don't really know all the facts to comment.

[Buddah]

BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote: Kentucky Jim wrote:
I'm tired of hearing about this. Tubby is a classy guy, do you think he's just going to turn his back on his new recruits and team after telling them what all he has in store for this upcoming season?

So when Tubby left Georgia for UK (or Tulsa for Georgia, for that matter) didn't Tubby turn his back on his recruits back then? Do you think he recruited them by saying "Well, you know, we've had a pretty good run and I probably won't be here next year because I'll be taking another job....but feel free to sign with us anyway."
:thumbupgreat points, let us not forget that tubby signed a contract extension weeks before leaving for uk, with a big in coming class. so really tubby is no different than any other coaches that leave for money and tell kids and fans that they will be here next year... maybe in personality, but in this instance tubby is no different than rick pitino.. not wanting to start arguements, but coaches are the same when it comes to certain things.

[RaleighCat]

ukbob wrote: I. Melvin wrote: Yeah, but next year is a unique one money-wise for Coach Smith. I believe he receives a significant bonus if he stays through next year pushing his next year's take close to $4 million.

That is one of many reasons that I think he'll be here next year. If the Bobcats (or Hawks) come calling this time next year, I think he's gone.

You never know, but I also think the timing of any possible change is better for us NEXT year than this year.

BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote:
And don't most NBA head coaches make more money than Tubby makes at UK?


Good points.

But, I think OTS could command $3-5mil in NBA salary with an additional bonus or 2 added in for good measure. He could definitely make more as an NBA coach.

I don't think Smith is terrribly happy here and taking a job at Charlotte would not shock me whatsoever. However, I think he stays at least one more year.



The Bobcats could/would probably offer Tubby a contract worth $17-20m over 5 years guaranteed. They are not going to pay their next coach top 2-3 coach's money ($5-$8m per year). But coaching in the NBA is like hitting the lottery for guys like Pitino/Calipari/Montgomery/Floyd. Tubby would have to look at any NBA offer based on dollars alone.

I'm going on record that the Bobcats will offer Tubbytheir job.

[TOPCAT]

These are the kinds of threads that are killing us with Tyler Smith!He is looking for a stable situation and the topic and comments don`t help him choose ky.

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

Seriously, if Tyler Smith is choosing a college based on what he reads on an internet message board, then we don't want him anyway.

[Zakk Wyldcat]

TOPCAT wrote: These are the kinds of threads that are killing us with Tyler Smith!He is looking for a stable situation and the topic and comments don`t help him choose ky.
What?? All Tubby Smith has to do is meet with Tyler Smith eyeball to eyeball and give him his solemn word that he will be the head coach at UK next season. If Tubby is the 'classy, honest guy' everyone believes he is, then it doesn't matter what is said on some internetmessage board.

[wildcatdon]

if a person is not happy in a job,then many times money is not keep them there..money is not worth the stress the job brings sometimes..tubby can make just as much with the bobcats as he is with uk..he might think he needs a breath of fresh air also..

[kyrgaines]

If Tubby looked at a job that may be little more/less than his salary at UK, I don't believemoney is the primary reason he would leave. Granted, if somebody would offer him seven-digit figures then sure. Most likely it will be because he simply is tired of scrutiny at UK and a combination of rough road ahead. I don't think classy has anything to do with a decision like this. Its rediculous to say somebody has too much class to leave after signing recruits. Its his job to sign recruits as long as he is employed by UK. It would be a lack of class if he didn't and left. To say Georgia and Tulsawas different because they aren't UK. Is that based on the amount of money? That isn't classy, thats plain good financial sense. If he is still here after next season, I think he is here to stay. I believe Tubby's toughest season as a coach is yet to come.

[T75]

Any time any college coach moves he leaves behind recruits who had promises and hopes based on that coach--often so much so that the players transfer elsewhere because the coach was their main attraction. So every major coach started at some other level and most left a team that they were head coach of at a lower level. So Tubby is not better nor worse than allthe others in this consideration.

Too, Tubby is not the big UK fan that many of us bluebloodsare. I doubt that he could talk with any confidence about any of the great teams and the basketball heritage behind the program he inherited. Tubby is not married to his job. He and Donna are both somewhat bitter about the way UK fans treated Saul. Maybe they don't realize that the fans weren't occasionally booing Saul, but rather his dad for giving him playing time that didn't seem to be earned in his early years on the UK roster. Anyhow, with some cause, that is still a very sore spot.

Tubby, like any good businessman, will do what seems financially best for him in the long run. To me, that spells sitting right where he is and putting a bit more personal effort into recruiting so that his name doesn't lose any magic among high schoolers. There simply is no college job with better salary and perks, so Tubby we got & Tubby we keep.

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

Even though Donovan's wife said -

Mrs. Donovan: “Billy loves (Gators athletic director) Jeremy Foley. He loves Florida. Our kids have grown up here. We have great players in our program and great players coming in. It would be hard to leave Florida. . . . It is (home). Our oldest son is starting high school next year. We’re really rooted in the community.�



She didn't completely slam the door with this statement -

Billy Donovan’s wife takes time to blow off Donovan-to-Kentucky rumors.
Christine Donovan: “I think it’s probably a compliment to Billy that he would even be considered to go to Kentucky. I think Kentucky has such strong tradition, we were there five years, we have great friends there and loved our time there. I just think it’s such an honor they would even consider him for that job.�

[Buddah]

BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN wrote:
Even though Donovan's wife said -

Mrs. Donovan: “Billy loves (Gators athletic director) Jeremy Foley. He loves Florida. Our kids have grown up here. We have great players in our program and great players coming in. It would be hard to leave Florida. . . . It is (home). Our oldest son is starting high school next year. We’re really rooted in the community.�

Â*

She didn't completely slam the door with this statement -

Billy Donovan’s wife takes time to blow off Donovan-to-Kentucky rumors.
Christine Donovan: “I think it’s probably a compliment to Billy that he would even be considered to go to Kentucky. I think Kentucky has such strong tradition, we were there five years, we have great friends there and loved our time there. I just think it’s such an honor they would even consider him for that job.�



interesting comments.. i mean it is fun to speculate until mid night maddness and gives us something to do since it has been banded about on message boards and so forth, you know.

i was bored and i even thought up names for some of Billys and John's teams here. Billy's Bombers or Calipari's Cats " 94 ft of bliss, running and gunning". I swear that actually has a ring to it, Calipari's Cats. Never happen, but you know just fun to think of sometimes.

[Buddah]

FCFS82 wrote:
BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote:Â*
How many of you openly told your current employer that you were thinking of leaving and would be sending out resumes before you had an interview.



Scott Rigot, Reggie Hanson, David Hobbs, per reports. :ggrin:

[Caveman Catfan]

We learned that RP's flirting with the NBA cost him recruits and just plain made recruiting harder and harder. I am sure that other coaches uses these rumors against Tubby, as they were used against RP.

[TheMadCatter]

Caveman Catfan wrote: We learned that RP's flirting with the NBA cost him recruits and just plain made recruiting harder and harder. I am sure that other coaches uses these rumors against Tubby, as they were used against RP.
I know what you're saying and agree 100%, but iir the players RP was missing out on were the top ten blue chippers leaving us with players ranked in the 50-100 range which oddly enough are the same type players we've been signing the last few years ('04 being the obvious exception). Tubby's been missing out on the same level of recruits (top ten) that RP did for different reasons. I just think it's an apples/oranges comparison. I guess what I'm getting at is that I don't think Tubby's recruiting record has been very good even when noone was discussing his possible departure.

[RP_McMurphy]

I did........Buddah wrote: FCFS82 wrote:
BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote:
How many of you openly told your current employer that you were thinking of leaving and would be sending out resumes before you had an interview.



Scott Rigot, Reggie Hanson, David Hobbs, per reports. :ggrin:

[Caveman Catfan]

TheMadCatter wrote: Caveman Catfan wrote: We learned that RP's flirting with the NBA cost him recruits and just plain made recruiting harder and harder. I am sure that other coaches uses these rumors against Tubby, as they were used against RP.
I know what you're saying and agree 100%, but iir the players RP was missing out on were the top ten blue chippers leaving us with players ranked in the 50-100 range which oddly enough are the same type players we've been signing the last few years ('04 being the obvious exception). Tubby's been missing out on the same level of recruits (top ten) that RP did for different reasons. I just think it's an apples/oranges comparison. I guess what I'm getting at is that I don't think Tubby's recruiting record has been very good even when noone was discussing his possible departure.
The fact that rumors can be used against Tubby as they were against RP is a comparison of apples to apples.