http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/preview2007/columns/story?columnist=shelman_jeff&id=3097135&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos1

Smith and Minnesota an unlikely pairing

MINNEAPOLIS -- Two weeks before college basketball practice began, Tubby Smith stepped out of a golf cart at the private Windsong Farm Golf Club in suburban Minneapolis.

 

As Smith walked onto the tee on this blustery morning, it was impossible to miss the gigantic "M" that seemed to take up every possible inch of real estate on the front of his maroon pullover.

 

Even now, nearly eight months after he left Kentucky for the University of Minnesota, the sight of Smith in something other than blue and without the interlocking "UK" still doesn't look right.

 

That's because in many ways, Smith's arrival at Minnesota may be as unlikely as any of the 55 Division I coaching changes. After all, Smith isn't that hot coach moving up the hoops food chain for a more lucrative job in a higher-profile league. He isn't a fired power conference coach looking for a new start at a mid- or low-major. And, considering Smith has never lived in either a big city or a place where snow is a winter constant, it isn't as if Minneapolis was some natural draw.

 

But here was the 56-year-old Smith, playing golf with Minneapolis Urban League president Clarence Hightower, the brother of noted college hoops official Ed Hightower.

...

Smith's résumé as a college basketball coach is extremely strong. He has 14 consecutive seasons with at least 21 wins. Only four coaches have won more games in their first 16 seasons as a head coach. He has never had a losing season as a head coach. He has taken nine teams to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, four to the Elite Eight and led Kentucky to the 1998 national championship.

,,,

Smith's hope is that the Gophers will play tough defense and play faster than the opposition. Before those Kentucky fans out there laugh or throw up their arms after hearing Smith promise an up-tempo offense nearly every season, remember that it would be difficult for the Gophers to play any slower than they did a season ago when they averaged only 57.3 points per Big Ten game.

...

"It was difficult at Kentucky as well, everyone was shooting at you, throwing rocks at you. It was like, 'Can y'all please shoot at someone else.' That's the way it goes." - Tubby

Nope. Same old stuff, different package.

Yep and he probably will.

He should be delivering - for DHL or FedEX.

He should be delivering - for DHL or FedEX.

 

and the bashing continues.

I look for Tubby to build a respectable and classy program at Minnesota. He is now at a place where he will probably be appreciated and not have to take the amount of verbal shots from fans that know very little to nothing about basketball!

Not a lot is expected from basketball at Minnesota and imo Tubby will change that in time. How long, I don't know but I do think that he will eventually have a winner in Minnesota and have the Gophers in the NCAA. Good Luck to one of the best coaches in college basketball (just check his record) and definately one that outclasses pratically anyone and everyone in the game.

 

Good Luck to the Golden Gophers and Coach Tubby Smith and assistant Saul Smith! :ylsuper:

 

Minnesota is now my 2nd favorite team next to my....U.K. Wildcats!!

Watched Minnesota on the Big 10 channel the other night that UK was on ESPNU and I could not get it.

 

They were pressing and shooting 3's.

He should be delivering - for DHL or FedEX.

 

That was UK fans or coaches delivering in packages. Money to recruits to keep their golden image up, that is.

I look for Tubby to build a respectable and classy program at Minnesota. He is now at a place where he will probably be appreciated and not have to take the amount of verbal shots from fans that know very little to nothing about basketball!

Not a lot is expected from basketball at Minnesota and imo Tubby will change that in time. How long, I don't know but I do think that he will eventually have a winner in Minnesota and have the Gophers in the NCAA. Good Luck to one of the best coaches in college basketball (just check his record) and definately one that outclasses pratically anyone and everyone in the game.

 

Good Luck to the Golden Gophers and Coach Tubby Smith and assistant Saul Smith! :ylsuper:

 

Minnesota is now my 2nd favorite team next to my....U.K. Wildcats!!

 

I agree OR :thumb:

 

People can hate and hate on Tubby all they want to but the man is a heck of a coach and I like the guy. Sure he didn't give the UK fans a NC every year but he done all he could to do so. The guy has won over 385 games in his coaching career. In 15 seasons as a head coach he has had 13 20 win seasons, and to me that looks pretty good. He is one of just 5 coaches to win over 365 games in 15 seasons or less. It's sad to see UK people hate on a man who coach this team well while he was there. It's sad to see. I wish Smith the best of luck at Minnesota :thumb:

I agree with everything positive about Orlando Smith.

So we're going to whine about people bringing up Tubby in negative ways, and say he's irrelevant, but continue to post any article referencing him and babble on about 20 win seasons?

So we're going to whine about people bringing up Tubby in negative ways, and say he's irrelevant, but continue to post any article referencing him and babble on about 20 win seasons?

 

Never once "whined" about people bringing Tubby up in negative ways. If you haven't noticed, I favor a different shade of blue.

Never once "whined" about people bringing Tubby up in negative ways. If you haven't noticed, I favor a different shade of blue.

 

Not directed at you as much as the people commenting.

Not directed at you as much as the people commenting.

 

My mistake.

So we're going to whine about people bringing up Tubby in negative ways, and say he's irrelevant, but continue to post any article referencing him and babble on about 20 win seasons?

 

:thumb: