Do you think Tubby Smith of the University of Kentucky is going to be fired as the head basketball coach?

Question

He has won one national championship at Kentucky; but Rick Pitino recruited that team.

Tubby Smith can not attract white blue-chip players. He is also not able to recruit players who can play in the SEC.

His teams do not fit the Kentucky mold. His style of coaching would be better accepted at South Carolina State or University of Georgia where good is acceptable. At a college like Kentucky, he is coaching way out of his league.

Answer 1

This seems to be one of those sociology questions that causes much pause. Yes, Tubby will be dismissed as the Kentucky head basketball coach. In reality, he marred himself when he decided his own son would be a major part of winning the national championship with the Pitino players. He almost botched that one championship; his son was really a second-rate player. This created a void. Many players were suspicious of the Kentucky coaching staff. I do know Kentucky lost potential players from the father-son debacle. This is typical Tubby legacy. He blew it!!!

The questioner is obviously not a racist; he is obviously not white. But he did not ask the question about white or black players. He pointed out that Tubby did not expand and make white players part of the Kentucky basketball family. I will remind everyone that the national championship team did have a lot of white players that beat all black teams. As for me, I wish Tubby the best; he will be a good coach at a second-rate basketball school. He has obviously put his own neck into the noose. Good luck Tubby.

Answer 2

Ask Coach K what recruiting mostly 'white blue-chip' all-americans gets you... a slow, non-competitive product on the court.

What is this 'mold' Tubby doesn't fit? That he doesn't share Pitino or Rupp's skin color, which has been an issue from day one when he took over the program, and the KU faithful have always been looking for a reason to run him out of town. The Wildcat program was in decline even when the great Rick Pitino was in charge and like many other historical powerhouses, the talent for runs in the NCAA's (UCLA and Louisville come to mind) has just not been there. Give it a rest, because your alternatives for replacement are weak at best.

Answer 3

Barnhart is giving him another year to bring in a better staff. This was announced a few weeks ago when he said that Tubby is Kentucky's coach and that "together" they will make the changes needed to improve the program.

I believe Tubby is just that one recruit short of getting someone to take him deep in the tourney. He's one of the winningest coaches in basketball, they'd be stupid to get rid of him. And I like how all these Kentucky fans come to the conclusion that he needs to go, but has no solution to who we should bring in. Obviously, by fan standards, it's going to have to be someone who starts winning off the bat. And unless Pat Riley plans on ascending from the NBA echelon or Billy Donovan gets sick of Florida, I don't see anyone qualified enough to take the job.

You do realize in 16 years Kentucky has never missed a tournament? How many schools, even major programs, can say that? And you want to complain about his recruiting right? Well he recruited Tyler Hansbrough, but Hansbrough turned down the scholarship because he grew up watching Roy Williams at Kansas. Tubby and Kentucky was edged out, but was clearly a top choice. Everyone wants to bring up Chris Lofton, but neither Pitino nor Smith recruited him at either school because they both had now NBA guards committing to both schools (can we say Rajon Rondo anyone?). I still believe had Kelenna Azubuike not left for the NBA (not something you can predict nowadays) that they would've had a Final Four the year before last. And for him to be not much of a recruit, you think he has enough players in the NBA now? Seriously, the recruiting question is getting old.

I'm a Kentucky fan but have come to realization that parody rules in college basketball today. Especially in the SEC. The SEC is 7-2 in the tournament now, with 3 teams in the Sweet 16. I think it's no coincidence that Kentucky has "struggled" (never heard of a 30 win season being a struggle) because they're not the only team pulling top recruits anymore. Figure in the number of kids who are jumping ship into the NBA (Florida was a rare rare exception) and it's no surprise that it's different teams every year playing for the National Championship. UCLA and Kansas are just now getting their swagger back in the past few seasons, after having a long long drought from the top of NCAA Basketball. What makes you think that this doesn't happen at Kentucky?

And why does he need to recruit "white" blue-chip players? So are you saying that Kentucky hasn't been successful because of the lack of white players? So then explain to me how that North Carolina team with May and Co. was able to succeed....with the lack of "white" players? It's not a race thing, it's an excuse thing. People just digging for one more excuse to boot Tubby out the door.

Something else I always find funny. Whenever someone posts one of these questions about Tubby's coaching ability, why is it I've never seen anyone post hard stats to back up their complaints? Hmmmm, probably because there ISN'T ANY!! Well here's some numbers for you, 1 National Championship (and even if it was "Pitino's players" it takes a coach to get them there), 16-0 in conference (which not even Florida could manage) in 2003, 5 SEC regular season championships, 5 SEC Tournament Titles, 6 Sweet 16 finishes and 6 Elite Eight finishes. He totalled 100 wins quicker than any other Wildcat coach except Adolph Rupp. He's had 13 consecutive 20 win seasons. He joined Roy Williams, Nolan Richardson, Denny Crum, and Jim Boeheim as the only coaches to win 365 games in less then 15 seasons. He has a 76% winning percentage. Any suggestions on who we can get that's going to put up numbers like that, consistantly for 10 years?

It's spoiled, arrogant Kentucky fans like you who are pushing A.D. Mitch Barnhart to make a move that could set the program back DECADES. And we're not talking about happy Pitino times either. So unless you'll be happy with at least 4 years worth of NIT experience, because no reputable coach will take the job since it's obvious NO ONE is good enough for it anymore....then I suggest you get over it. Seriously.

Answer 4

Quit whining"sweetie." Are you writing a book? I believe so. I don't even want to read an answer (essay) that long.

Pat Riley and Billy Donovan aren't the only coaches winning right away. Pearl won and is still winning right away. Billy Gillespie (A&M) also. What about Tom Crean, Ben Howland, Jamie Dixon. What are you talking about sweetie? It does matter that Tubby won a Nat'l title with Pitino's players. What has he won with his players. Rondo is the most overrated player to put on a uniform. He plays good D but what else.

Tubby sucks neway. They need to can him and go after anybody but Bruce Pearl.

I have one question for "sweetie." If Tubby is so good in your mind - Who would you rather have, Tubby or Pitino? Easy answer.


GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!