This is a serious question. Did you hate him in May of 98. My cousin never liked him even after winning the title. I could never understand that. He disliked him after winning the title because of his lack of intensity and he missed Rick. Even though he won a national championship his first year and without Ron Mercer who Rick had the year before. Now, it is recruiting and last year's team and at least there is justification for the frustration; but in May of 98, it would seem to be hard to hate Tubby but I am curious.

 

I would say I was probably neutral. I was a big Rick fan and probably still trying to get over him leaving. If UK hadn't won in 98, I wouldn't have hated Tubby then. I would've understood, it being his first year. I was just glad they won. I want to be glad like that again. And so far, Tubby isn't doing it. I didn't hate him in 98, but it sure didn't take me long after that to dislike him. I've been displease probably since 2000 or so.

I would say I was probably neutral. I was a big Rick fan and probably still trying to get over him leaving. If UK hadn't won in 98, I wouldn't have hated Tubby then. I would've understood, it being his first year. I was just glad they won. I want to be glad like that again. And so far, Tubby isn't doing it. I didn't hate him in 98, but it sure didn't take me long after that to dislike him. I've been displease probably since 2000 or so.

 

I think that is a fair answer. I felt my cousin was always a little prejudiced although he wouldn't admit it.

But you've only came up with one example. So he outcoached Coach K. Personally, I haven't been that impressed with him either. But that's another topic. A blind squirrel finds a nut every once in awhile. You have one example, how many second round losses in the tourny do we have to have before you'll realize he's not that good? If Tubby was able to coach Pitino's players and win the title, why hasn't he been able to take HIS OWN PLAYERS and get them to the Final Four? To me, that means one of two things. Either he's not capable of recruiting good quality players, or if he can recruit those players, he's not a good enough coach to get them to the FF. I'm actually leaning toward both of those being right.

 

Right there IMO is why alot of people argue and stick up for Tubby. Because Tubby is a good coach unlike what you just said, actually he is one best coaches in the country..Now is the the best coach for UK? That is something that could be questioned. With everyone being so in love with Pitino and his fast pace style when he was here, and now Tubby coming in with his new style alot of people are just not going to like it. Not to mention anytime you follow a legend like Pitino was when he was here, then usually no matter what you do the fans just are not going to like you. So not only does he have the pressure at coaching at the best basketball program of all time, but also the pressure of following a legend. So no he is not a bad coach like some say, he is actually a great coach, but maybe this situation here is just not the best for either. If Smith was to leave, who ever the new coach would be wouldn't nave nearly as much pressure, and even if he does the same as Tubby he still wouldn't be hated as much as Tubby is, just because he is not following a legend....

 

Also people talk like Tubby has never recruited good, but there has only been two years really when he didn't recruit good and that was this years senior and sophomore classes. I blame the fact of the success of Daniels, Fitch, and Hawkins for the reason of these classes. Tubby was able to take those gusy who weren't that great coming out of high school and turned them into a team that was one of the best in the country. And well these players except for Perry, have just never gotten better and that is what is hurting the program right now more than anything...

 

I know I still believe in Tubby, but if this year ends up like last year. Then I could see making a change, but it wouldn't be because Tubby is terrible like you all say, it would just because sometimes change is good and it could be best for both parties....But as I been saying, I really think this season will end up being a really special season, and alot of fans will be very happy in March...

I would say I was probably neutral. I was a big Rick fan and probably still trying to get over him leaving. If UK hadn't won in 98, I wouldn't have hated Tubby then. I would've understood, it being his first year. I was just glad they won. I want to be glad like that again. And so far, Tubby isn't doing it. I didn't hate him in 98, but it sure didn't take me long after that to dislike him. I've been displease probably since 2000 or so.

 

So you didn't like the teams that won more games than any other team during the 03,04,05 seasons?

Right there IMO is why alot of people argue and stick up for Tubby. Because Tubby is a good coach unlike what you just said, actually he is one best coaches in the country..Now is the the best coach for UK? That is something that could be questioned. With everyone being so in love with Pitino and his fast pace style when he was here, and now Tubby coming in with his new style alot of people are just not going to like it. Not to mention anytime you follow a legend like Pitino was when he was here, then usually no matter what you do the fans just are not going to like you. So not only does he have the pressure at coaching at the best basketball program of all time, but also the pressure of following a legend. So no he is not a bad coach like some say, he is actually a great coach, but maybe this situation here is just not the best for either. If Smith was to leave, who ever the new coach would be wouldn't nave nearly as much pressure, and even if he does the same as Tubby he still wouldn't be hated as much as Tubby is, just because he is not following a legend....

 

Also people talk like Tubby has never recruited good, but there has only been two years really when he didn't recruit good and that was this years senior and sophomore classes. I blame the fact of the success of Daniels, Fitch, and Hawkins for the reason of these classes. Tubby was able to take those gusy who weren't that great coming out of high school and turned them into a team that was one of the best in the country. And well these players except for Perry, have just never gotten better and that is what is hurting the program right now more than anything...

 

I know I still believe in Tubby, but if this year ends up like last year. Then I could see making a change, but it wouldn't be because Tubby is terrible like you all say, it would just because sometimes change is good and it could be best for both parties....But as I been saying, I really think this season will end up being a really special season, and alot of fans will be very happy in March...

 

I think sayin he is a legend is a stretch.

The '98 Utah team was better than you give them credit for. Keith Van Horn wasn't on the team, his last year was '97. However, they did have Andre Miller and Michael Doleac who are still in the NBA and Britton Johnsen and Hanno Mottola who both played more than one season in the NBA. As far as Derek Anderson's injury it did occur against Auburn. The following website has the boxscores of all of the games for that season and Auburn was the last game he played until he made that cameo to shoot the technical foul shots. http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/wildcats.html

I thought the big guy was Doleac but i had no clue Andre Miller was ont hat team thanks Joes Gym.

How about this how many players did Rick have that played pro ball, and how many did Tubby have?

On top of that, Pitino said that if he had played him and he got hurt again that his NBA stock would really drop. That's what really gets me to this day. Anderson was still in COLLEGE, not the NBA. Finish college and then worry about the money. I thing some of the posters here hit it on the head. Pitino already knew he was going after the money and figured Derek might as well too. Anderson was cleared and should have played more than just shoot free throws. Just my opinion.

:thumb: :thumb: Thank you shamrock! My feelings are the same as yours, Pitino knew he was leaving and probably had an idea of drafting D.A. in the NBA draft at the time.:sssh: Pitino was a great basketball coach, no question about it. He was and still is a world class con man. JMO The U.K. basketball tradition was here long before he got to U.K. and will be here long after he and Tubby and any others are here and gone. I really liked Pitino's coaching and what he did while at U.K. but I for one got over him when he left. No one can go foward by looking in the rear view mirror or by constantly being negative.

I just get sick of people who bash Tubby, The man can't even get full credit from some of the fans for winning the National Title! So when ever I hear someone say that Tubby won his championship with Pitinos Players I have to come back and say that Pitino couldn't win it in 97 with his own players! Im behind Tubby and the Cats all the way!:ylsuper:

 

Coker won a Championship in 2001 at the U and made it to another one after that, and still he ended up canned after one and a half dismal seasons. Not said anything in a while and hadn't planned on it, but it kills me to hear people still talk about something that has happened almost ten years ago. Like said, Miami cleaned house after two years of an un-Miami type season, and people complain that people complain about Tubby.

 

P.S. Pitino lost to a pretty incredible Arizona team in 97' (in OT). I find it laughable that people say Tubby could have done better.

 

 

But I'm just stating fact rather than opinion so I guess I'll go back into seculision from the Tubby Smith/Kentucky threads before someone unwisely questions my creditibility as a fan.

Coker won a Championship in 2001 at the U and made it to another one after that, and still he ended up canned after one and a half dismal seasons. Not said anything in a while and hadn't planned on it, but it kills me to hear people still talk about something that has happened almost ten years ago. Like said, Miami cleaned house after two years of an un-Miami type season, and people complain that people complain about Tubby.

 

P.S. Pitino lost to a pretty incredible Arizona team in 97' (in OT). I find it laughable that people say Tubby could have done better.

 

 

But I'm just stating fact rather than opinion so I guess I'll go back into seculision from the Tubby Smith/Kentucky threads before someone unwisely questions my creditibility as a fan.

So what is your creditbility as a fan? I also find it laughable that people say Tubby only won the 98 championship because it was Ricks team!

So what is your creditbility as a fan?

 

My credibility as a fan is one of the biggest UK basketball fans you will ever meet. Watch every game, attend at least three or more a year in person, and respect with the upmost the tradition we have in Lexington. I cherish what Kentucky basketball has, did, and will accomplish, but as of late hate to see the decline in the program, and it actually hurts in my heart to see such a once prestigious program not even be ranked in the top 25. I give Tubby the credit of knowing how to teach the game....He is a good teacher, but theres more to the term coach than people realize. Sure, Tubs knows basketball, he knows how to teach defense, fundamentals, all the other things. But, like said there is so much more that goes into headlining a premiere program, and I honestly believe he is part of the reason in the decline in our program. With that said you will never hear me wish bad things on the team or program for that matter, I just hate when people try to say things are alright when they're seriously not. I'm hoping for the day that Kentucky is back on top of the college basketball spectrum, and I'll be with them every second untill they do, and will be with them if they never do. Hey, I am also a diehard Cubs fan and I've stuck with them for all these years, so I can definately wait for another Final Four season in the Bluegrass, and no Louisville won't cut it.

 

 

 

 

I also find it laughable that people say Tubby only won the 98 championship because it was Ricks team!

 

As do I. Its not like Smith walked in and said do the things Rick had you do. Of course not. However, the core group had been aligned some of which seeing two years in a row of the national championship, others just one.....this can go a long way to help a coach out. Ask Tubby? Also ask him if he has found a core group like that since then?

I think sayin he is a legend is a stretch.

 

Not really, especially with the way everyone always talks about him still. What Pitino did here was great, he got this program back on top after after probation, and set the team to go on the best run any team have had since the great run UCLA had..Yeah here at UK is a legend IMO...

Coker won a Championship in 2001 at the U and made it to another one after that, and still he ended up canned after one and a half dismal seasons. Not said anything in a while and hadn't planned on it, but it kills me to hear people still talk about something that has happened almost ten years ago. Like said, Miami cleaned house after two years of an un-Miami type season, and people complain that people complain about Tubby.

 

P.S. Pitino lost to a pretty incredible Arizona team in 97' (in OT). I find it laughable that people say Tubby could have done better.

 

 

But I'm just stating fact rather than opinion so I guess I'll go back into seculision from the Tubby Smith/Kentucky threads before someone unwisely questions my creditibility as a fan.

 

First thing no one really has said that Tubby would have done better in 97. The guy was just making a point to everyone who says that it was Ricks championship in 98 and not Tubby..

 

Secondly I under stand what you are saying about Larry Coker, and you know I have been one of the biggest Tubby supporters there is. But I have even said if we have another bad year like last year, then maybe it would be best for both parties to seperate, because it could work out better for both. However Coker had 2 bad years in a row, and Tubby yeah had a bad year last year, not 2 years in a row yet. But me unlike alot of people on here, have not given up on this year yet, because I see alot of promise in this team, and as I been saying I think this years team when all is said and done will end up doing alot of special things that will have fans happy come March...

How about this how many players did Rick have that played pro ball, and how many did Tubby have?

What does players going on to play pro ball have to do with it?:confused: Imo this is the main problem with college basketball right now, kids going into a college program not caring about their team, planning on just being there for one or two years and jumping to the NBA - fans judging their favorite programs and coaches on how many of their players go to the NBA. I am a COLLEGE basketball fan.

What does players going on to play pro ball have to do with it?:confused: Imo this is the main problem with college basketball right now, kids going into a college program not caring about their team, planning on just being there for one or two years and jumping to the NBA - fans judging their favorite programs and coaches on how many of their players go to the NBA. I am a COLLEGE basketball fan.

I have no clue why i posted that, i was just running through things in my head, it's off topic and i apalogize, i was just wondering what everyone else though of it. Rambler I'm like you I'm a college fan, I'd rather watch a college game anyday.