Tubby and Patterson Tight?

[latisha0803]

I just watched my local news WSAZ Huntington WV, It had a story about Patterson. Patterson told the story about Tubby visiting his school, and he said that UK was coming on really strong. He said that they were calling and texting him a lotand that they were really keeping in touch. He smiled and said that him Tubby, and Hobbs were real tight. The broadcast showed Tubby watching him play, it also showed that Florida's assistant coach was there watching Patterson. The broadcaster said that Patterson's stock was raising and that Duke was showing some late interest. Just thought I would share.

[Lost Highway]

If he is really serious about UK, he needs to go ahead and commit now. Tubby Smith needs a boost and a means to shut up his critics. A commitment from a big power forward will go a long way in calming down the Big Blue Nation. Right nowmany are frustrated and confused about where our recruiting is going. Many think it is going nowhere.

If this drags on and on, more harm will come out of it, especially if Patterson goes to a Duke or a Florida. Tubby Smith needs a little help from his "friends". That message needs to go out.

[T75]

Based on our recent history going against Duke or UNC (and now Florida) it's not a good sign that Duke is now interested in Patterson.

Claiming Patterson for UK would mean so very much to Tubby and the program that I'm sure he's pulled out all the stops in his recruitment.

Still, it will be a big downer--BIG-- if he loses out on yet another big man for next season. Nobody is more aware of this than Tubby.

It's sometimes hard for us die-hard fans to understand why kids don't accept offers to UK. But most of them haven't a clue about tradition, only knowing a little about what has happened the last 5 years or so. Anything further back is just ancient history. And, rightfully so, they are looking out for No One. Other than Kentucky kids, most of whom aren't good enough to play at UK, there's no major draw for them; it's one of those "What have you done for me lately?" situations. 1998 was the year that most of this year's recruits were10 or 11 years old, playing in the streets or alleys. Every year we don't make it to the final four Tubby's row gets rockier. And Glory Road didn't help.

But then Rick was able to bring us back when we'd gone over 15 years; it can happen.

[Lost Highway]

T75 wrote: Based on our recent history going against Duke or UNC (and now Florida) it's not a good sign that Duke is now interested in Patterson.

Claiming Patterson for UK would mean so very much to Tubby and the program that I'm sure he's pulled out all the stops in his recruitment.

Still, it will be a big downer--BIG-- if he loses out on yet another big man for next season. Nobody is more aware of this than Tubby.

It's sometimes hard for us die-hard fans to understand why kids don't accept offers to UK. But most of them haven't a clue about tradition, only knowing a little about what has happened the last 5 years or so. Anything further back is just ancient history. And, rightfully so, they are looking out for No One. Other than Kentucky kids, most of whom aren't good enough to play at UK, there's no major draw for them; it's one of those "What have you done for me lately?" situations. 1998 was the year that most of this year's recruits were10 or 11 years old, playing in the streets or alleys. Every year we don't make it to the final four Tubby's row gets rockier. And Glory Road didn't help.

But then Rick was able to bring us back when we'd gone over 15 years; it can happen.


Good points, all.

Kentucky couldn't win five games a year with an all Kentucky high school rooster so they must go out of state. You have to RECRUIT when you leave the Commonwealth and you have to recruit hard. If Tubby can't do it, he needs an assistant who can. Tubby can not afford to strike out with Patterson and the sooner Patterson commits, the better. Several of the big time programs are already loading up, Kentucky needs to do the same.

The tone of the internet message boards would change over night if Tubby could get that 5 star power forward.

[Doug Hardin]

Lost Highway wrote: Kentucky couldn't win five games a year with an all Kentucky high school rooster . . .

Sorry for jumping on this typo, but it reminds me of the line in Major League 2 when Rube Baker didn't get cut and happily declares, "Hey Pedro! Guess what! I'm on the ROOSTER!"

[Caveman Catfan]

I sure hope Tubby lands Patterson. Seems like a solid kid!

[sardiscat]

"If he is really serious about UK, he needs to go ahead and commit now. Tubby Smith needs a boost and a means to shut up his critics. A commitment from a big power forward will go a long way in calming down the Big Blue Nation. Right nowmany are frustrated and confused about where our recruiting is going. Many think it is going nowhere."

There isn't a lick of evidence anywhere that Patterson is frustrated or confused about where UK's recruiting is going, so that would be the last reason why he would go ahead and commit now.

[BrassowFan]

T75 wrote: But then Rick was able to bring us back when we'd gone over 15 years; it can happen.


Rick sold everyone on UK tradition and that's what helped turn the program around. You're right, kids today only know of the last 5-6 years, but if you have a charismatic guy out there selling the program in the right way, good things can happen.

I'm not saying that I would want Pitino back, but I do think that made a big difference and was the catalyst for such things as the UK Museum. PR isn't one of Tubby's strengths and IMO it's something that the athletic department should look to fix. I don't think that it's healthy to have a low profile PR campaign on a high profile program.

[WildcatDan]

BrassowFan wrote: I don't think that it's healthy to have a low profile PR campaign on a high profile program.

I don't think anyone could disagree with that. Tubby knows that he is not good with the media and sometimes it seems like he tries to avoid media exposure. That is something I definitely wish he would change.

[Lost Highway]

sardiscat wrote: "If he is really serious about UK, he needs to go ahead and commit now. Tubby Smith needs a boost and a means to shut up his critics. A commitment from a big power forward will go a long way in calming down the Big Blue Nation. Right nowmany are frustrated and confused about where our recruiting is going. Many think it is going nowhere."

There isn't a lick of evidence anywhere that Patterson is frustrated or confused about where UK's recruiting is going, so that would be the last reason why he would go ahead and commit now.



Mr. Patterson certainly has no reason to be frustrated or confused and how you leaped to that thoughtfrom my comment is a mystery. Whether we want to admit it or not, there is a percentage of fans who are off the Tubby band wagon and they are very frustrated and confused. I don't know how many but I talk to a few oftenand I live a long, long way from the Bluegrass.

For Tubby Smith's sake a committment from a high profile recruit may go a long way in bringing back some confidence in the Big Blue Nation. And then, maybe it won't. Maybe he has failed so many times to sign a power forward, nothing will help him with these fans. I am in the number that would like a boost in confidence because I will be a UK fan with or without Coach Smith. Some will never accept Coach Smith again, no matter what. So for those fans, what Patterson does is of no concern.

[audacious1]

Lost Highway wrote: If he is really serious about UK, he needs to go ahead and commit now. Tubby Smith needs a boost and a means to shut up his critics. A commitment from a big power forward will go a long way in calming down the Big Blue Nation. Right nowmany are frustrated and confused about where our recruiting is going. Many think it is going nowhere.

If this drags on and on, more harm will come out of it, especially if Patterson goes to a Duke or a Florida. Tubby Smith needs a little help from his "friends". That message needs to go out.

Is that's what's best for Us or for Patterson?

[Lost Highway]

Tre Pryor wrote: Lost Highway wrote: If he is really serious about UK, he needs to go ahead and commit now. Tubby Smith needs a boost and a means to shut up his critics. A commitment from a big power forward will go a long way in calming down the Big Blue Nation. Right nowmany are frustrated and confused about where our recruiting is going. Many think it is going nowhere.

If this drags on and on, more harm will come out of it, especially if Patterson goes to a Duke or a Florida. Tubby Smith needs a little help from his "friends". That message needs to go out.

Is that's what's best for Us or for Patterson?

I trust it would be thebest for both parties but, only Patterson can answer this question.

Maybe I am living in the past but I would like to think signing with Kentuckyrather than a Duke or aFlorida would be better for Patterson but I am not the one selling the program. It isTubby's job to sell Kentucky over Florida and Duke. That is called recruiting. The young man's parents could attend every home game and he couldstep into a starting position immediately. Why would Duke or Florida be more attractive than that?

Are we trying to find excuses for players not to come to Kentucky? The more I read these forums the more I think a few ofour fans have no cluewhat a basketball scholarship to the University of Kentucky means.

Just consider for a moment what it would do for UK if Patterson committed over the weekend. What if he said, "I am coming to Kentucky and I want to be joined by two or three team mates who are the best of thebest." What if he got on the phone and started callingrecruits and said he was sold on Kentucky andtried to sell them. That is thekind of "friend" Coach Smith needs. Coach Smith needs some help and the best help he can get is acommittment from some one like Patterson.

So I say it is best for both UK and Patterson if he becomes a Cat.

[Will Lavender]

Lost Highway wrote: Tre Pryor wrote: Lost Highway wrote: If he is really serious about UK, he needs to go ahead and commit now. Tubby Smith needs a boost and a means to shut up his critics. A commitment from a big power forward will go a long way in calming down the Big Blue Nation. Right nowmany are frustrated and confused about where our recruiting is going. Many think it is going nowhere.

If this drags on and on, more harm will come out of it, especially if Patterson goes to a Duke or a Florida. Tubby Smith needs a little help from his "friends". That message needs to go out.

Is that's what's best for Us or for Patterson?

I trust it would be thebest for both parties but, only Patterson can answer this question.

Maybe I am living in the past but I would like to think signing with Kentuckyrather than a Duke or aFlorida would be better for Patterson but I am not the one selling the program. It isTubby's job to sell Kentucky over Florida and Duke. That is called recruiting. The young man's parents could attend every home game and he couldstep into a starting position immediately. Why would Duke or Florida be more attractive than that?

Are we trying to find excuses for players not to come to Kentucky? The more I read these forums the more I think a few ofour fans have no cluewhat a basketball scholarship to the University of Kentucky means.

Just consider for a moment what it would do for UK if Patterson committed over the weekend. What if he said, "I am coming to Kentucky and I want to be joined by two or three team mates who are the best of thebest." What if he got on the phone and started callingrecruits and said he was sold on Kentucky andtried to sell them. That is thekind of "friend" Coach Smith needs. Coach Smith needs some help and the best help he can get is acommittment from some one like Patterson.

So I say it is best for both UK and Patterson if he becomes a Cat.

I agree with this post. I really believe that bluechippers aren't scared to commit along with other bluechippers. Playing time is important, but I'm not sure it's as important as it's made out to be.[Delete]

This is why, I think, Tubby's best recruiting class came in a bunch. And it's why you're seeing two or three really good kids, sometimes at the same position, committing together all over the place.

Maybe all we need, as you say, is just one guy to commit, and then that guy can turn around and convince others to come on and join him.

[DCWildcat]

Patterson is still wide open.

I think the timetable from his family was to whittle it down to 5 (probably Wake, Kentucky, Duke, Florida, and a random school without much chance) by the end of the summer, then make a decision in November.

[audacious1]

Lost Highway wrote: Tre Pryor wrote: Lost Highway wrote: If he is really serious about UK, he needs to go ahead and commit now. Tubby Smith needs a boost and a means to shut up his critics. A commitment from a big power forward will go a long way in calming down the Big Blue Nation. Right nowmany are frustrated and confused about where our recruiting is going. Many think it is going nowhere.

If this drags on and on, more harm will come out of it, especially if Patterson goes to a Duke or a Florida. Tubby Smith needs a little help from his "friends". That message needs to go out.

Is that's what's best for Us or for Patterson?

I trust it would be thebest for both parties but, only Patterson can answer this question.

Maybe I am living in the past but I would like to think signing with Kentuckyrather than a Duke or aFlorida would be better for Patterson but I am not the one selling the program. It isTubby's job to sell Kentucky over Florida and Duke. That is called recruiting. The young man's parents could attend every home game and he couldstep into a starting position immediately. Why would Duke or Florida be more attractive than that?

Are we trying to find excuses for players not to come to Kentucky? The more I read these forums the more I think a few ofour fans have no cluewhat a basketball scholarship to the University of Kentucky means.

Just consider for a moment what it would do for UK if Patterson committed over the weekend. What if he said, "I am coming to Kentucky and I want to be joined by two or three team mates who are the best of thebest." What if he got on the phone and started callingrecruits and said he was sold on Kentucky andtried to sell them. That is thekind of "friend" Coach Smith needs. Coach Smith needs some help and the best help he can get is acommittment from some one like Patterson.

So I say it is best for both UK and Patterson if he becomes a Cat.


I completely agree that it would be Wonderful for UK to sign Patterson. I think the kid has a great work ethic, smart head on his shoulders and still have tremendous opportunity for improving to the point where he could be a Lottery Pick. Tubby can enhance his future on both sides of the ball.

Where I think we disagree is that it's necessarily good for Patterson. Don't get me wrong, I want Patterson more than another other recruit for '07, but sometimes Kentucky fans love their own program so much, that they're baffled why anyone would go anywhere else. My point is that not everyone loves our team like we do. That's all I'm saying.

Go Cats!

[Mackcat]

Unless it is a playing time issue, or the kid wants the best fit for a 1 year stay, im not a Duke fan at all, but im not sure how they ever lose a recruit, unless they are going up against Stanford, or some Ivy League school.

[blueheretic]

Tre Pryor wrote: Lost Highway wrote: Tre Pryor wrote: Lost Highway wrote: If he is really serious about UK, he needs to go ahead and commit now. Tubby Smith needs a boost and a means to shut up his critics. A commitment from a big power forward will go a long way in calming down the Big Blue Nation. Right nowmany are frustrated and confused about where our recruiting is going. Many think it is going nowhere.

If this drags on and on, more harm will come out of it, especially if Patterson goes to a Duke or a Florida. Tubby Smith needs a little help from his "friends". That message needs to go out.

Is that's what's best for Us or for Patterson?

I trust it would be thebest for both parties but, only Patterson can answer this question.

Maybe I am living in the past but I would like to think signing with Kentuckyrather than a Duke or aFlorida would be better for Patterson but I am not the one selling the program. It isTubby's job to sell Kentucky over Florida and Duke. That is called recruiting. The young man's parents could attend every home game and he couldstep into a starting position immediately. Why would Duke or Florida be more attractive than that?

Are we trying to find excuses for players not to come to Kentucky? The more I read these forums the more I think a few ofour fans have no cluewhat a basketball scholarship to the University of Kentucky means.

Just consider for a moment what it would do for UK if Patterson committed over the weekend. What if he said, "I am coming to Kentucky and I want to be joined by two or three team mates who are the best of thebest." What if he got on the phone and started callingrecruits and said he was sold on Kentucky andtried to sell them. That is thekind of "friend" Coach Smith needs. Coach Smith needs some help and the best help he can get is acommittment from some one like Patterson.

So I say it is best for both UK and Patterson if he becomes a Cat.


I completely agree that it would be Wonderful for UK to sign Patterson. I think the kid has a great work ethic, smart head on his shoulders and still have tremendous opportunity for improving to the point where he could be a Lottery Pick. Tubby can enhance his future on both sides of the ball.

Where I think we disagree is that it's necessarily good for Patterson. Don't get me wrong, I want Patterson more than another other recruit for '07, but sometimes Kentucky fans love their own program so much, that they're baffled why anyone would go anywhere else. My point is that not everyone loves our team like we do. That's all I'm saying.

Go Cats!


This is but more rationalization. Tubby's job is to get these kids here. To show them why it is in their best interest to come to UK. If he recruits like you wrtoe above it is nowonder he has problem.

"Well Recruit#1, we'd love to have ya. I know it might not be in your best interest to come to UK. but BY GOD, we shore would love to have ya."

Talk about defestist reasoning. You've already given up on the recruiting prowess of Orlando. Talk about a slam.