Comments on: Post UK-Notre Dame Thoughts: And So It Begins

By: Bobby E

Bobby E — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:38:15 +0000

I love him, but Tubby was not GREAT — unless double digit losses and Sweet Sixteen’s are your barometer for success…
- He came in and won a title with a roster that had six players who would go on to see the boxscore in an NBA game (as well as the whole squad minus SAULBALL! had all been to an NCAA championship, some twice and Heshimu at least practicing with the 97 squad)
- He then proceeded to guide Kentucky on its longest Final Four drought EVER, and then skip out on a plane to Minnesota.
- He didn’t just lose in the 2nd round his last two years, but lost in the 2nd round three of his last four years.
- And five times in his 10 years here saw the nickname “Ten-Loss Tubby” come about.
- Anyhow this isn’t posed to be about the Tubster, its about Billy G, and I’m with Guy; based on basketball alone there is no way he should be let go.

By: BBL: Nothing official on Gillispie’s fate before Friday | MrSEC.com

BBL: Nothing official on Gillispie’s fate before Friday | MrSEC.com — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:21:23 +0000

[...] Straitpinkie writes that UK’s end means now it begins. [...]

By: » BBL: Nothing official on Gillispie’s fate before Friday John Clay’s Sidelines

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:26:47 +0000

[...] Straitpinkie writes that UK’s end means now it begins. [...]

By: Guy Smiley

Guy Smiley — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:15:34 +0000

You are right that Tubby was great at UK his first 8 years. I loved him as the UK coach. Frankly though, he mailed it in on the recruiting trail after that because I think he was already disenchanted with UK and the job. His style just turned into going after a couple studs, and when those fell through, grabbing a few backup plans and projects. The departure was nescessary. Like I said at the end of the article, Gillispie departure may be necessary too, and if it is, the search process in ’07 needs to be seriously looked at.

By: wink

wink — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:56:59 +0000

First off, I think it is well-known that I am a Tubby guy. Tubby’s departure hit me pretty hard, and I will be honest, upon his arrival at Minnesota I went out and bought me some Minnesota mesh shorts. I still love Tubby. I am not going to get into it too deep now because I need to do my perfect pushups to get ripped and then pop some z’s, but I really don’t think it is fair to say that Tubby had the program going in the wrong direction. He went to the Sweet 16 six out of his first eight years. In his last two they lost in the second round of the tournament. This is not the 60′s or 70′s were one program can dominate year after year. Programs will have their ups and downs. When people point fingers at Tubby, they often first point to his recruiting. While there were flaws there, obvious flaws, when he headed north he was only three years removed from his best recruiting class ever. It also appeared very likely that both Patrick Patterson and Jai Lucas were anxious to play for UK, and Tubby Smith, entering the 2007 season. I get sick and tired of people acting like Gillispie came in and swooped P-Double off of his feet. I’ll admit it has taken me more time to adjust to Gillispie because I constantly point everything back to Tubby. Last year everyone talks about how great of a job Billy Clyde did in winning SEC COY. But, did the Cats really get that much better late in the year or did they underacheive early? Did Gillispie do that great of a coaching job or did he finally realize that he needed to go through Ramel and Joe to be successful? I don’t know. I am sure we will get into broad discussion tomorrow. This is already way too long.