Honestly, I like Tubby. I think he has the right stuff to run a program like UK's. I consider him a great defensive coach and a good motivator. I think he's a very good person with integrity and he's very trustworthy. I also think he has problems recruiting the right players for his system. There's too many projects warming the bench, too many players on the bench that have no reason to be dressed in the Blue & White. He has a staff that's not helping enough when it comes to offense and recruiting. If I had my druthers...I'd like to see Tubby fire his ENTIRE staff, hire a new one and be the coach of the Cats for years to come. I take Tubby as a man that will be loyal and listen to his staff...Those clowns ain't in Tubby's class. Get rid of 'em Tubb.

 

I agree with most of what you have said here and this senior class is a very weak one overall. I think Tubby has been in a no win situation though with recruits as far as the fans have been concerned. Not many thought very highly recruiting wise of Chuck Hayes, Gerald Fitch, Eric Daniels, Cliff Hawkins but they turned out to be pretty good players. Carruth, Parker, Rondo, Crawford(improving but not there yet), and Morris(although he is starting to pan out), were all highly touted and turned out to be underachievers. You are right though that one bad recruiting year, can turn a great team into just a very good one. I think this year's class with Porter, Meeks, and Jasper is much better.

Long time fan?:confused: :confused: Are you saying that you have only been a U.K. fan since the beginning of the Pitino years? If not then it sure does sound like it. If you only became a U.K. fan when Pitino arrived in Lexington then you are not a long time fan, just a note - basketball was played at U.K. and tradition established long before Pitino ever got there, he did not create U.K. basketball. If you were a fan in all the years before Pitino then I have misread your post and apologize. If not, then don't call yourself a long time fan unless you are only around 18yrs. old in which case you haven't been around that long.

 

Been a fan since the mid 70's. Kenny Walker is my favorite player (because he dominated), Eddie Sutton is my favorite coach (because he was building a dynasty) before he got caught. The "Unforgetables" is my favorite team (because the roster was eat up with KY boys). I like Tubby (see previous post) but the buck does stop with him. I think he can fix it...I just don't know if he wants to hurt that bad.

Long time fan?:confused: :confused: Are you saying that you have only been a U.K. fan since the beginning of the Pitino years? If not then it sure does sound like it. If you only became a U.K. fan when Pitino arrived in Lexington then you are not a long time fan, just a note - basketball was played at U.K. and tradition established long before Pitino ever got there, he did not create U.K. basketball. If you were a fan in all the years before Pitino then I have misread your post and apologize. If not, then don't call yourself a long time fan unless you are only around 18yrs. old in which case you haven't been around that long.

You mean to tell me that there was Basketball at UK before Pitino? I thought he was the First coach! Next you will be saying there is not Santa.

Been a fan since the mid 70's. Kenny Walker is my favorite player (because he dominated), Eddie Sutton is my favorite coach (because he was building a dynasty) before he got caught. The "Unforgetables" is my favorite team (because the roster was eat up with KY boys). I like Tubby (see previous post) but the buck does stop with him. I think he can fix it...I just don't know if he wants to hurt that bad.

Who was your Favorite player in the mid 70s? Cause your Favorite player Graduated in the Mid 80s!

I agree with most of what you have said here and this senior class is a very weak one overall. I think Tubby has been in a no win situation though with recruits as far as the fans have been concerned. Not many thought very highly recruiting wise of Chuck Hayes, Gerald Fitch, Eric Daniels, Cliff Hawkins but they turned out to be pretty good players. Carruth, Parker, Rondo, Crawford(improving but not there yet), and Morris(although he is starting to pan out), were all highly touted and turned out to be underachievers. You are right though that one bad recruiting year, can turn a great team into just a very good one. I think this year's class with Porter, Meeks, and Jasper is much better.

 

I conside Porter, Meeks and Jasper as a very good class at this time. IMO a recruiting class is judged when the class graduates, not during their freshman year.

I am extremely rational. I have been a season ticket holder for 20 years. My expectation is to be amongst the top ten every season and competing for a national championship. I do realize though that there are going to be years where UK does not meet that expectation. Unlike the others I do not go off the deep end and claim the sky is falling after every loss. Unlike the others I consider the 2005 season a success (28-6) even though we lost to Michigan State in the regional final. Unlike others I consider the 2004 season a success (27-5) even though we ran into a buzz saw in UAB. Unlike others I consider the 2003 season a success (32-4; 16-0 in the SEC) even though we lost in the regional final to Marquette. Last season was the first season I thought was a disappointment in the last 5 years. It remains to be seen if this season will be a success or not. We shall see. The seasons mentioned are hardly, to use your term, Gaylord Fockeresque or anything approaching mediocrity...

 

A coach who wins 77% of the games his team plays in is far from mediocre...

:thumb: Great post!!!!!! Very well said.

Who was your Favorite player in the mid 70s? Cause your Favorite player Graduated in the Mid 80s!

 

I'd have to go with Macy or Robey.

I conside Porter, Meeks and Jasper as a very good class at this time. IMO a recruiting class is judged when the class graduates, not during their freshman year.

 

True. Now you need a mix of guys that are 4 year players and one or two every 4 years that are the type that are good enough to leave after year 2 or 3. From my standpoint, and my coaching experience. I would almost rather have a team full of the 4 year guys who are willing to buy in early and bleed, sweat, cry and nearly die in practice everyday, than one or two talented guys mixed in with that bunch who are not willing to work as hard due to their talent and things come easier to them.

I conside Porter, Meeks and Jasper as a very good class at this time. IMO a recruiting class is judged when the class graduates, not during their freshman year.

My favorite Player from 77-78 was the great 6th man.:thumb:

True. Now you need a mix of guys that are 4 year players and one or two every 4 years that are the type that are good enough to leave after year 2 or 3. From my standpoint, and my coaching experience. I would almost rather have a team full of the 4 year guys who are willing to buy in early and bleed, sweat, cry and nearly die in practice everyday, than one or two talented guys mixed in with that bunch who are not willing to work as hard due to their talent and things come easier to them.

 

I agree 100%:thumb:

My favorite Player from 77-78 was the great 6th man.:thumb:

 

Would that be (one of my favorites) James (I will drive the baseline and stuff it in your face) Lee?

Big Blue goggle wearers have come to that my man.

Cat fans who live in reality want a change.

 

I think that should be edited to Cat fans who can get over the run from 96 to 98, and actually think that is the norm for UK basketball throughout its long history...

Cats will lose at Bama, Vandy and Florida bringing their regular season loss total to 10, they'll lose in the SEC Tournament making it 11 and their 1st or 2nd round loss in the NCAA will bring the magic loss number 12.

 

They will win at home vs. LSU and Georgia, bringing Tub to the coveted 20 wins.

 

They might win a SEC tournament game and possibly one NCAA game - it's a stretch, but I say they end up 22-12. Very ordinary, but becoming very routine for a Tub-led team.

 

I love it when people say THEY WILL instead of IMO, because now if it doesn't exactly happen like you say its going to be so easy to come back to this thread and point this out to you, since you apparently are so sure that it will happen that way...

What were your reasons?

The kid was the best player in KY and had something many of Tubby's players such as Carruth, Fitch, Rondo, etc. have lacked a strong work ethic and some much needed character.

There is no reason for him not to be in the Blue and White.

You will have all your excuses just like your excuses for why the program has declined.

You think Lee Humphrey was highly recruited? Once you figure UK is considered lazy in recruiting circles maybe you can realize why UK is no longer a Top 5 college basketball program.

 

First of all read post 314 by me regarding Lofton...Secondly throwing Fitch in there with Carruth and Rondo is probably one of the WORST examples you could have came up with. Yeah Fitch got in a little bit of trouble, however your post was talking about strong work ethic and well Fitch probably had one of the strongest work ethics to come through here in awhile. His freshman year he worked his way into the starting lineup by doing the little things by playing hard defense, and going in there and doing what many guards wont do and that is go in a get the tough rebounds. Then throughout his career he kept working until he finally became THE MAN on the team and was the leading scorer and probably the last clutch shooter we have had at Ky. So comparing him with Carruth and Rondo's work ethic is way off....

Would that be (one of my favorites) James (I will drive the baseline and stuff it in your face) Lee?

You got it baby! HE was explosive...