On a scale from 1-10 (10 being the highest) Rank the program in 1998 and rank the program now. Has it gone up or gone down? If it has gone down what needs to be done to regain the previous score?

 

It was a 10 in 1998...But what do you think that means? That only means there is only one way to go from there, and that is down, nobody could stay at the level we were at for those years. Even if Pitino had stayed, we would not have been able to stay at that level. We would have had years even under Pitino where we were getting knocked out in the 2nd round as well...

 

As I been saying for awhile the people that all they do is put down the program, is the people who just cant get over Pitino from when he was here. They just dont realize that no matter how much we would want to believe that we would have stayed at that high level, it would have been impossible too. There was only one way to start to go from those years, and that was down somewhat. Tubby though has for the most part kept this team from going completely down. In 1999 losing in the elite 8. 2002 losing in the sweet 16 to the eventual national champions. 2003 losing elite 8 with our best player being hurt and going against a team that was red hot. 2004 we just choked and got knocked out early (the same way Duke has the last couple years as a one seed). 2005 we make the elite 8 and lose a double overtime game that we could have easily won. So we were just a couple of seconds or a broken bone away from being in a couple of final fours and competing for the title. Now yeah last year was a bad year all away around and that shouldn't happen, but some of you act like this program has been terrible and in reality it has not been. We have just been barely missing doing great things, and those great things will start to come.

 

Its just so funny that just after one game now though, that people start this crap up again. We were able to win a game against a decent program, while other top programs have already been losing. I really just do not get some of my fellow UK fans...

 

By the way sorry YAKOFNORWEGIA if it seems like I just commenting what you said, but it really was just getting everything out for all the people who have been negative after just one game already...:thumb:

Futurecoach....excellent post and I agree 100%, last year was disappointing from a fan standpoint and I'm certain, from a Coach and Player standpoint.

 

As for attendance declining, here is a website I really enjoy but can't confirm the validity of the information provided. Look at the attendance, since RUPP was opened and consistently, with teams that are on the schedule early or not "powers", the attendance is not the same but it has nothing to do, with the Coach Smith era....

 

UK Basketball History

 

If some of you UK fans, have never seen this site, I hope you enjoy....:thumb:

I'll answer my own question on Coach Smith....from the UK Athletics website

Coach Smith at UK

 

Since arriving in Lexington in 1997, Smith has led Kentucky to one national championship, five SEC crowns and five SEC Tournament titles, with six Sweet 16 finishes in his eight seasons.

 

Over his 15 seasons as a head coach, the 54-year-old has had 13 consecutive 20-win seasons. In 2005, he joined Roy Williams, Nolan Richardson, Denny Crum and Jim Boeheim as the fifth head coach to win 365 games in 15 seasons or less. Smith's career record is now 365-133, and his .733 winning percentage is eighth among active coaches entering the 2006-07 season.

 

He totaled 100 wins quicker than any other Wildcat coach except Hall of Famer Adolph Rupp, reaching the plateau in 130 games. Since taking over the UK program, he has won 79 percent of his games despite playing a schedule that annually ranks among the nation's best.

 

Even more impressive, Smith has averaged nearly 27 wins per season at Kentucky. In the SEC Tournament, he's 19-4 at UK, and he has won a league championship seven times in his 15 years as a head coach

 

....:thumb: I think some often forget Cshs81, that every time UK has a game, their is an opponent whose sole purpose is to not let UK, do whatever they want.

 

The problem is, that opponent has been succeeding in their sole purpose far too often.

The problem is, that opponent has been succeeding in their sole purpose far too often.

....:lol:

 

By the way, have I mentioned that was the first game....:sssh:

....:lol:

 

By the way, have I mentioned that was the first game....:sssh:

 

I think so...and I am aware of it.

 

Again, Tubby creates problems for himself in the off-season by building up apparently unrealistic expectations. Every off-season we hear about how the team is going to be more up-tempo, and this one was no different. Add to that the hype about how the team was actually "in shape" this year...I'll just leave that one alone for now other than saying that it's a bit perplexing that a coach who is as "great" as Tubby would have his team in anything less than top condition.

 

Anyway, on to my point. We are promised an up-tempo team every year and we never see it. I understand there are times when an opponent can do things that slow you down, but it shouldn't happen virtually every game. Otherwise, don't tell us you're going to play faster if you can't come up with a plan to make it happen.

 

I'm going to stick with my original thought that UK will be very good this year despite expectations and despite a bad first game. Like you said, it was just the first game. But, you can't help but be a little frustrated that after all the talk we heard the Wildcats come out with another uninspired performance that has been all to common under Tubby Smith.

It was a 10 in 1998...But what do you think that means? That only means there is only one way to go from there, and that is down, nobody could stay at the level we were at for those years. Even if Pitino had stayed, we would not have been able to stay at that level. We would have had years even under Pitino where we were getting knocked out in the 2nd round as well...

 

As I been saying for awhile the people that all they do is put down the program, is the people who just cant get over Pitino from when he was here. They just dont realize that no matter how much we would want to believe that we would have stayed at that high level, it would have been impossible too. There was only one way to start to go from those years, and that was down somewhat. Tubby though has for the most part kept this team from going completely down. In 1999 losing in the elite 8. 2002 losing in the sweet 16 to the eventual national champions. 2003 losing elite 8 with our best player being hurt and going against a team that was red hot. 2004 we just choked and got knocked out early (the same way Duke has the last couple years as a one seed). 2005 we make the elite 8 and lose a double overtime game that we could have easily won. So we were just a couple of seconds or a broken bone away from being in a couple of final fours and competing for the title. Now yeah last year was a bad year all away around and that shouldn't happen, but some of you act like this program has been terrible and in reality it has not been. We have just been barely missing doing great things, and those great things will start to come.

 

Its just so funny that just after one game now though, that people start this crap up again. We were able to win a game against a decent program, while other top programs have already been losing. I really just do not get some of my fellow UK fans...

 

By the way sorry YAKOFNORWEGIA if it seems like I just commenting what you said, but it really was just getting everything out for all the people who have been negative after just one game already...:thumb:

 

You can't be so sure of that. UK had a lot of talent while he was there and as long as they were winning players kept coming in. Recently we have had recruting troubles. I'm not saying we would still be a 10 rated team but we wouldn't be getting beat out in the second round if we had Pitino and kept the pace we were on. 96 champs, 97 runners up, if Pitino stayed and same result then 98 champs. Why couldn't we keep that up seems like UCLA did it for a while?

I think so...and I am aware of it.

 

Again, Tubby creates problems for himself in the off-season by building up apparently unrealistic expectations. Every off-season we hear about how the team is going to be more up-tempo, and this one was no different. Add to that the hype about how the team was actually "in shape" this year...I'll just leave that one alone for now other than saying that it's a bit perplexing that a coach who is as "great" as Tubby would have his team in anything less than top condition.

 

Anyway, on to my point. We are promised an up-tempo team every year and we never see it. I understand there are times when an opponent can do things that slow you down, but it shouldn't happen virtually every game. Otherwise, don't tell us you're going to play faster if you can't come up with a plan to make it happen.

 

I'm going to stick with my original thought that UK will be very good this year despite expectations and despite a bad first game. Like you said, it was just the first game. But, you can't help but be a little frustrated that after all the talk we heard the Wildcats come out with another uninspired performance that has been all to common under Tubby Smith.

I get frustrated do and don't often understand things, that not only UK does but a lot of college programs but put into context, over the course of the game it makes sense.

 

Pitino, used to like to physically wear a team down and then surge past in the second half, which sometimes work and others did not. Smith has a plan and unless he gets the big men to run the floor, his up tempo style/desire will not happen. Get more athletic big man, is a consideration....

 

I agree with your comments and I too, like the up tempo style much, much better. Smith is a defensive minded coach first and offensive second.

 

Have I mentioned, that was the first game....

It was a 10 in 1998...But what do you think that means? That only means there is only one way to go from there, and that is down, nobody could stay at the level we were at for those years. Even if Pitino had stayed, we would not have been able to stay at that level. We would have had years even under Pitino where we were getting knocked out in the 2nd round as well...

 

As I been saying for awhile the people that all they do is put down the program, is the people who just cant get over Pitino from when he was here. They just dont realize that no matter how much we would want to believe that we would have stayed at that high level, it would have been impossible too. There was only one way to start to go from those years, and that was down somewhat. Tubby though has for the most part kept this team from going completely down. In 1999 losing in the elite 8. 2002 losing in the sweet 16 to the eventual national champions. 2003 losing elite 8 with our best player being hurt and going against a team that was red hot. 2004 we just choked and got knocked out early (the same way Duke has the last couple years as a one seed). 2005 we make the elite 8 and lose a double overtime game that we could have easily won. So we were just a couple of seconds or a broken bone away from being in a couple of final fours and competing for the title. Now yeah last year was a bad year all away around and that shouldn't happen, but some of you act like this program has been terrible and in reality it has not been. We have just been barely missing doing great things, and those great things will start to come.

 

Its just so funny that just after one game now though, that people start this crap up again. We were able to win a game against a decent program, while other top programs have already been losing. I really just do not get some of my fellow UK fans...

 

By the way sorry YAKOFNORWEGIA if it seems like I just commenting what you said, but it really was just getting everything out for all the people who have been negative after just one game already...:thumb:

No apology necessary. I don't want to sound negative after one game. However this one game gives no indication of anything different than what has become a 10 loss season. I know that the UCLA dynasty will never be matched. My expectations are not that. I do expect to compete year in year out without double figure losses. If that expectation is too high, be thankful your not my children. I don't believe in having mediocre expectations. I believe in having high expectations that are attainable. Plain and simple we need an offensive coordinator just like the football team did. UK has forgotten what its like to score.

UK fans got really, really spoiled after 3 straight championship games in 96, 97, and 98. Those are very lofty expectations for any program to live up to.

 

I think what irritates a lot of UK fans is the way UK loses and even sometimes how they win. No effort, no heart, and no offense make you question is it worth even rooting for them. I kept turning over to the Bowling Green vs. Miami (OH) mud bowl last night because the UK game was so boring.

 

There is little or no excitement around the program. Tubby has always done well in the SEC, but can seem to never win the big game in the NCAA tournament (at least since 98). The SEC is getting better, but UK isn't.

 

UK needs a really good season or a Final Four appearance to re-establish itself as a top program and get the confidence back.

No apology necessary. I don't want to sound negative after one game. However this one game gives no indication of anything different than what has become a 10 loss season. I know that the UCLA dynasty will never be matched. My expectations are not that. I do expect to compete year in year out without double figure losses. If that expectation is too high, be thankful your not my children. I don't believe in having mediocre expectations. I believe in having high expectations that are attainable. Plain and simple we need an offensive coordinator just like the football team did. UK has forgotten what its like to score.

 

I would offer one word of caution...the last time Tubby cleaned house like he did this summer the team started 6-3, including a horrible beating from U of L (if I'm not mistaken). That horrible beating was the last loss of the season until Bogans sprained his ankle and the world met Dwayne Wade...

 

...listen to Strike-3. That was just the first game. If we get into January and it's the same ol' same ol' then have at it...because believe me, I'll be right there with you.

UK fans got really, really spoiled after 3 straight championship games in 96, 97, and 98. Those are very lofty expectations for any program to live up to.

 

I think what irritates a lot of UK fans is the way UK loses and even sometimes how they win. No effort, no heart, and no offense make you question is it worth even rooting for them. I kept turning over to the Bowling Green vs. Miami (OH) mud bowl last night because the UK game was so boring.

 

There is little or no excitement around the program. Tubby has always done well in the SEC, but can seem to never win the big game in the NCAA tournament (at least since 98). The SEC is getting better, but UK isn't.

 

UK needs a really good season or a Final Four appearance to re-establish itself as a top program and get the confidence back in this program.

 

UK fans were already spoiled. :lol:

UK fans were already spoiled. :lol:

I can see why. How many titles did they win from 79-95 again? What a run...

You're avatar makes me sick to my stomach. Just thought I'd share that with you...:lol:

:laugh: :laugh: I have other Ohio State Avatars if they really irritate you :sssh: :sssh: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I would offer one word of caution...the last time Tubby cleaned house like he did this summer the team started 6-3, including a horrible beating from U of L (if I'm not mistaken). That horrible beating was the last loss of the season until Bogans sprained his ankle and the world met Dwayne Wade...

 

...listen to Strike-3. That was just the first game. If we get into January and it's the same ol' same ol' then have at it...because believe me, I'll be right there with you.

I am and have always been a UK fan. I will always be a UK fan. I look at things like this, do you know how to boil a live frog? You can't get the water boiling and throw him in you have to put him in comfortable water and gradually increase the temperature. If you do it this way he will eventually die. I'm afraid we don't realize the water is getting hotter.

I would offer one word of caution...the last time Tubby cleaned house like he did this summer the team started 6-3, including a horrible beating from U of L (if I'm not mistaken). That horrible beating was the last loss of the season until Bogans sprained his ankle and the world met Dwayne Wade...

 

:thumb: :thumb: