Nope, that's not the message at all. The message is that the expectations are unreasonable. There are only 7 programs with multiple Final Four appearances in that span and only 3 with more than 2. Out of the 25 teams that have reached the Final Four in that span all but 6 of the schools have missed at least one ENTIRE NCAA tourney. No program can live up to the expectations of the UK faithful. Here's a good one for the Tubby bashers. Ask yourself, which programs would you consider more successful than UK over the last 9 seasons. Now realistically, which of the coaches of the programs you consider superior to Tubby could UK get to come coach there. Pretty short list huh?

 

The message is lower expectations. Sorry, don't want no part of that...

You can't expect less out of a coach than to never get to the final four with players he recruited...

The message is lower expectations. Sorry, don't want no part of that...

You can't expect less out of a coach than to never get to the final four with players he recruited...

 

I think there's a lot of schools that would LOVE to have that 1998 National Championship banner hanging from their rafters. I think there's signifigantly less that you could expect out of a coach than what Tubby has delivered to UK. Who do you think could do better?

I think there's a lot of schools that would LOVE to have that 1998 National Championship banner hanging from their rafters. I think there's signifigantly less that you could expect out of a coach than what Tubby has delivered to UK. Who do you think could do better?

 

Who recruited those players? If Tubby could recruit anything close to that, there wouldn't be a problem.

Who recruited those players? If Tubby could recruit anything close to that, there wouldn't be a problem.

 

Again, who do you think could do better? You're talking about Final Fours being THE measuring stick. If UK hadn't ran into one of the top 3 players in the NBA riding an incredible hot streak while its one best player was injured in 2003 and managed to eak out the OT win in 2005 would that satisfy you or anyone else? No, of course it wouldn't but by simply winning those 2 games that would put UK tied for first with Final Four appearances in Tubby's tenure at UK. Be truthful if Bogan's doesn't turn that ankle and UK gets one more rebound against MSU would that make Tubby that much better of a coach. Nope, he's had us right there and we've always been a tough out in the tourney but unfortunately just couldn't stop Wade with Bogans hobbled or get that one rebound. That alone should show what a thin margin for error there is in college basketball today. This is not the same game it was even 10 years ago.

Again, who do you think could do better? You're talking about Final Fours being THE measuring stick. If UK hadn't ran into one of the top 3 players in the NBA riding an incredible hot streak while its one best player was injured in 2003 and managed to eak out the OT win in 2005 would that satisfy you or anyone else? No, of course it wouldn't but by simply winning those 2 games that would put UK tied for first with Final Four appearances in Tubby's tenure at UK. Be truthful if Bogan's doesn't turn that ankle and UK gets one more rebound against MSU would that make Tubby that much better of a coach. Nope, he's had us right there and we've always been a tough out in the tourney but unfortunately just couldn't stop Wade with Bogans hobbled or get that one rebound. That alone should show what a thin margin for error there is in college basketball today. This is not the same game it was even 10 years ago.

 

Everyone has ifs...bottom line is the final measure...Tubby has no final 4s with his players, it's not acceptable...

 

It's not the same game, so lower your expectations...you've made your point, I ain't buying it, no use to go on here...

Everyone has ifs...bottom line is the final measure...Tubby has no final 4s with his players, it's not acceptable...

 

It's not the same game, so lower your expectations...you've made your point, I ain't buying it, no use to go on here...

 

You keep avoiding this one: Who do you think can do better--that UK can get?

You keep avoiding this one: Who do you think can do better--that UK can get?

 

I'm not saying Tubby must go! I am saying there is a problem and he needs to fix it...

I'm not saying Tubby must go! I am saying there is a problem and he needs to fix it...

It can't be that hard to understand...

It can't be that hard to understand...

 

I was just about to edit my post to tell AJG to read your posts on UK recruiting...

I was just about to edit my post to tell AJG to read your posts on UK recruiting...

He's right that the game has changed. What he missed is Tubby isn't that good at playing the new game...

He's right that the game has changed. What he missed is Tubby isn't that good at playing the new game...

 

I thought the same thing when I read his post. "The game has changed" isn't an excuse...

Not bad. The real problem is the list of players he missed is far more impressive...

 

B I N G O

So all the coach at UK has to do is make it to the NCAA tourney every year while keeping the losses in single digits (because even if you won multiple titles it would never be excusable to miss a tourney), make multiple Final Fours and win a national title while consistantly fielding elite recruiting classes. Lets see who has done that during Tubby's time at UK. Well, we have to eliminate Roy Williams, he won his title with Matt Doherty's recruits. Tom Izzo is out because even with his 4 Final Four teams in 9 seasons and a national title he has had 3 seasons of at least 10 losses in the last five--just won't cut it at UK. You can scratch Coach K off the list too--he only has one upperclassman on the roster, just can't recruit consistantly enough, by Gametime's description 2 good recruiting classes out of 4 won't cut it, sorry Coach K, not good enough for UK. Billy Donovan, nope hasn't been to the NCAA tourney every year, just won't cut it. Lute Olson, sorry 2 seasons of 10 losses in the last 4, seeded as low as #8 and only 1 Final Four in 9 years, won't cut it. This list of coaches that can do all that is dwindling fast. Let's see, Jim Calhoun step right up. Wow, 2 Titles in your 2 Final Four trips, one of the top recruiting classes every year. Looks like he can do the job, oh wait. He's got 3 seasons of at least 10 losses and only made the NIT in 2001. Gosh you know what we're fresh out of coaches that meet your criteria. Looks like Tubby isn't the only one who hasn't been able to keep up with the changes in the game over the last decade. By these unrealistic standards EVERY coach in the country would fall short of what is considered "acceptable" by UK fans--Fire Them All!

So all the coach at UK has to do is make it to the NCAA tourney every year while keeping the losses in single digits (because even if you won multiple titles it would never be excusable to miss a tourney), make multiple Final Fours and win a national title while consistantly fielding elite recruiting classes. Lets see who has done that during Tubby's time at UK. Well, we have to eliminate Roy Williams, he won his title with Matt Doherty's recruits. Tom Izzo is out because even with his 4 Final Four teams in 9 seasons and a national title he has had 3 seasons of at least 10 losses in the last five--just won't cut it at UK. You can scratch Coach K off the list too--he only has one upperclassman on the roster, just can't recruit consistantly enough, by Gametime's description 2 good recruiting classes out of 4 won't cut it, sorry Coach K, not good enough for UK. Billy Donovan, nope hasn't been to the NCAA tourney every year, just won't cut it. Lute Olson, sorry 2 seasons of 10 losses in the last 4, seeded as low as #8 and only 1 Final Four in 9 years, won't cut it. This list of coaches that can do all that is dwindling fast. Let's see, Jim Calhoun step right up. Wow, 2 Titles in your 2 Final Four trips, one of the top recruiting classes every year. Looks like he can do the job, oh wait. He's got 3 seasons of at least 10 losses and only made the NIT in 2001. Gosh you know what we're fresh out of coaches that meet your criteria. Looks like Tubby isn't the only one who hasn't been able to keep up with the changes in the game over the last decade. By these unrealistic standards EVERY coach in the country would fall short of what is considered "acceptable" by UK fans--Fire Them All!

 

 

You've typed for an hour and still have failed to address my main point...no final fours for Tubby with players he recruited...

You've typed for an hour and still have failed to address my main point...no final fours for Tubby with players he recruited...

 

I'll never understand why people care so much about final fours... It's just a semifinal game... You still lose. What makes those semifinals more important than any other semifinals? You lose, you go home... End the season with an L like every team except one.

 

I know, Tubby only has one championship... But nobody has ever been able to explain to me why final fours is the gauge of a coaches talent.

 

If you can explain it, please do. I'd really love to know, and I'm all ears.