National media weighs in on UK and Tubby

[colonel-fan]

Weathering the storm: Kentucky puts the pressure on Smith to finish strong

 

Smith is as good a bench coach as there is in the game, and I have literally never heard a bad word uttered about him by his peers. (Trust me, that's rare.) But he also has a well-earned reputation for being disorganized. It's an open secret he doesn't like recruiting, which is why the program's strategy never seems to have a plan B, C and D. As a result, Smith often has to scramble for mid-level players after his primary targets head elsewhere. As for the way he runs his own team, well, ask Tubby on a Wednesday what time practice begins on Friday, and there's a good chance he won't have an answer.

[Log Mountain Boy]

I dont think Barnhardt is warning Tubby that he maybe fired if the season doesnt end well. Hes stuck with Rich Brooks and I believe he will stick with Tubby Smith.

[Da champ]

I always thought that Tubby was a better coach when he could work the underdog angle. That don't happen when you coach for the number one program in the country. Even when he loses 10 games...when the Big Blue comes to town every one still brings there "A" game. What do you all think?? :confused:

[5wide]

I always thought that Tubby was a better coach when he could work the underdog angle. That don't happen when you coach for the number one program in the country. Even when he loses 10 games...when the Big Blue comes to town every one still brings there "A" game. What do you all think?? :confused:

 

That's always been a complaint of mine against Tubby. I'm not sure he has ever adjusted to coaching from the top of the perch...it seems to me, as you said, that he coaches like he's the underdog. What I mean by that, is that it often seems like he wants to keep the game close/winnable inside the final 5 minutes. That is a good tactic at Tulsa and Georgia, but I think at UK you need to change your mindset and put your foot on the throttle. Coach and play like you are the best team, you're supposed to win and the game isn't supposed to go down to the wire. I realize that some games you are evenly matched or an underdog, but UK still plays a lot of opponents that they should beat worse than they do...

[just 4 fun]

That's always been a complaint of mine against Tubby. I'm not sure he has ever adjusted to coaching from the top of the perch...it seems to me, as you said, that he coaches like he's the underdog. What I mean by that, is that it often seems like he wants to keep the game close/winnable inside the final 5 minutes. That is a good tactic at Tulsa and Georgia, but I think at UK you need to change your mindset and put your foot on the throttle. Coach and play like you are the best team, you're supposed to win and the game isn't supposed to go down to the wire. I realize that some games you are evenly matched or an underdog, but UK still plays a lot of opponents that they should beat worse than they do...

 

Interesting angle...never really thought of it that way, but, you are correct...You should coach differently at a UK than at a Ga or Tulsa...play with a little swagger in your step...And the cats seem to have lost that to a degree..

[justme2018]

"And when you're talking about ranked teams these days, you're usually not talking about Kentucky. The Wildcats have spent most of the past two seasons completely out of the polls. You can criticize UK fans all you want for having unreasonable expectations, but it's not unreasonable for them to expect better than that."

 

100% Agree

[Log Mountain Boy]

UK fans should expect better. But they should also understand that teams go through low points. Look at Duke, they are only ranked so high because they are Duke, not because they are good. UConn has been awful. UL is starting to improve after a year and 1/2 of very poor basketball. Syracuse has been mediocre with the exception of the Big East tourney last year, for a while now.

 

My point is we have had one down year and this year hasnt been great for us, although we are a better team than last. This kindof thing happens to everyone. If it happens again next year then there is a major problem, but I really think things will get much better.

[5wide]

Interesting angle...never really thought of it that way, but, you are correct...You should coach differently at a UK than at a Ga or Tulsa...play with a little swagger in your step...And the cats seem to have lost that to a degree..

 

Wow...I figured I'd get blasted for that opinion...

 

Seriously, it may just seem that way, but it is something I've thought almost ever since he's been at UK. People used to criticize Pitino saying he couldn't win close games, and then they would praise Tubby saying he won the close ones...and there was some truth to those sentiments, but at the same time, my thought was that Tubby often let teams that UK should have buried play them down to the wire, then in crunch time, UK's superior talent would almost always win out...Pitino on the flipside would bury a lesser team, and when he was in a close game, it was usually because the opponent was as good, or better than his own team, meaning often times he was losing close games to even or better teams. Just a thought...

 

...and please don't take that as a plea for a return of Rick...I'm not a huge Pitino fan. I do think he is a great coach, but I never really liked him and wasn't that sorry to see him leave UK and I wouldn't want him back if Tubby left. Just wanted to clear that up, because I realize on this site if you criticize Tubby and say something good about Pitino then...well...you know the story.

[PhiSlamaJama]

Davis mentioned in the article that Lee Todd was a big fan of Tubby. I didn't know this. Also wasn't aware that "itchy finger," as Davis put it. And just like he closed his article out with let the Madness begin!

[letabrotherspeak]

There is some validity to the article, however there are some errors as well.

First the Barnhart/Smith rift goes on before the end of last year.

This deals with OTS general overall lack of organization with a variety of organizations.

Practice times? Not sure how ol Seth is going about that one, but practice times are set about 2 weeks ahead of time, all you need to do is checl out the media notes and it will show you practice times and news conference times.

OTS is a diseveled speaker when speaking to the press..."and again" is the phrase of choice by Tubby when making transitions. Listen to a post game he will drop a bunch of those. Heck you could make a drinking game with that phrase. Bottom line, I think he has a little of a George Bush in him when speaking with the press. Out of the sight of the cameras and microphone he is very candid and funny when speaking to small groups or one on one. Sometimes these interviews can lead one to an idea of him being disorganized.

As for the fact that OTS refused to get rid of some coaches is uttely false. He did his dang best to move Reggie Hanson out and Rigot as well.

The UK Athletic Association is very political and still control many aspects of athletics at UK.

For example it took OTS 5 years to finally get control of the scheduling at UK. Most of the assistant coaches contract are through the UKAA and they will take care of their own. For example, OTS and Barnhart had a heck of a time getting rid of Tommy Boyd the old S/C coach. Two individuals that are protected in the UKAA are Leon Smith and Reggie Hanson. Hanson had a job offer last year but decided against taking it. OTS tried to move Hanson but couldn't do it.

It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks.

[MSUEagles]

Weathering the storm: Kentucky puts the pressure on Smith to finish strong

 

Smith is as good a bench coach as there is in the game, and I have literally never heard a bad word uttered about him by his peers. (Trust me, that's rare.) But he also has a well-earned reputation for being disorganized. It's an open secret he doesn't like recruiting, which is why the program's strategy never seems to have a plan B, C and D. As a result, Smith often has to scramble for mid-level players after his primary targets head elsewhere. As for the way he runs his own team, well, ask Tubby on a Wednesday what time practice begins on Friday, and there's a good chance he won't have an answer.

:sleep: :laugh: :sleep:

[colonel-fan]

Smith on a very hot seat as Kentucky keeps floundering

 

The e-mail arrived so fast the ink on last week's column was still wet. I had the audacity to write on good authority that Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart would not spend the millions to make coach Tubby Smith go away. As it turns out, the prominent Kentucky booster quickly wrote me, the boosters are furious and are willing to pass the hat to make it happen.

 

Whether Barnhart will actually listen and bow to boosters won't be known until later this month. That's because unless unranked Kentucky (20-9) reaches the Final Four, it will extend a drought to a school-record nine straight years. At 9-6 in the Southeastern Conference with a chance to finish fifth in the East Division, there is no run on Atlanta hotel rooms by Kentuckians for late March.

 

What's clear is that one of the premier coaching jobs in the land is in turmoil. Talking to prominent boosters and alumni this week, it's clear that Smith's fan base has eroded to the point of open hostility. A mob mentality is forming, and Barnhart didn't help Smith's nerves with Monday's vague statement that he understands the fans' concerns. He went on to warn fans not to evaluate the team until later this month when it "still can play up to its potential."

 

If I'm a coach, I'm not putting that statement on my résumé.

[UKPat02]

Good article. I, however, don't like the fact that they brought up the race card. I really don't think Tubby's seat being hot has anything to do with race. It comes down to recruiting and not winning ballgames. It's really that simple, no matter what people say.

[FBALL]

Alot of speculation by somebody in Colorado taking the word of people who are not associated with UK, except for being fans, specualting about what is going on. Much ado about nothing.

[FBALL]

Good article. I, however, don't like the fact that they brought up the race card. I really don't think Tubby's seat being hot has anything to do with race. It comes down to recruiting and not winning ballgames. It's really that simple, no matter what people say.

Thats naive. It has always been an issue. Just one that not many people want to talk about.