Looks like Tubby is out

[CCU Cougar]

http://www.tonybasilio.com/index.php?page=tony

[PiggoBitttys]

Yep, on Tubby's call in show he normally does, basically he protected himself, didn't take callers like he always does. They're turning on him in UK, he will be out UNLESS he makes a run in the NCAA tourney, meaning Sweet 16 or Elite 8 atleast.

Their own AD said it will be addressed AFTER the season. He's saying he knows UK's fans lofty expectations, which he shares, have not been met. He says historically seasons change a lot between February and March, so he says to see what happens, then they'll assess the situation.

Which basically means, Tubby better make a big splash in the Dance or he's done. Hope they don't go after BG, but I think they have bigger names to get.

[Granny fan]

Why aren't we taking notes, for BOTH FB and BB.

[sowmonella]

Izzo and Heath?

[Karma]

UK looking while we are looking worries me. I really do believe there are only a handful of schools that out rank us in what we have to offer, prestige, etc., but UK is one of them.

[RhodeHog]

Let me be the first to say on this thread NO TO TUBBY!

[fu-man-soo]

i hope kentucky doesnt beat us to bg

[razrken]

If we paid Tubby 3 million a year it would be worth every penny.  If UK fires him they are stupid...he is one of the best bench coaches in America.

[ballhog™]

I'd want tubby before mike anderson.

[RhodeHog]

Let me be the first to say on this thread NO TO TUBBY!

If we don't get that top four or five names, would you rather hire Doc Sadler?  Gimme a break.

He would be at 3rd on my list.

[PiggoBitttys]

If we paid Tubby 3 million a year it would be worth every penny.  If UK fires him they are stupid...he is one of the best bench coaches in America.

Go to a UK board and post that. Tubby has done less there than their other coaches. He's done great for most programs, but not for UK. UK has very high standards as they probably should. He's not lived up to them once he lost Pitino's players.

[upperdeck_hawg]

tubby is a great coach, it's his recruiting that has suffered

[RhodeHog]

Tubby can't recruit as good as Heath, but he can out coach him any day.  I want a guy that can do both.

[rude1]

I'm still telling you guys that if Gillespie, Self, Barnes, Pitino, etc all turn us down I would take Tubby.  Been saying for as much as a week or two.  It's not my first choice but I'd rather have him than Doc Sadler, Sutton, or some "up and comer" who is coaching at Illinois Tech-School of Science right now.

He'd get us back into the tournament and brings two key factors to the table-intensity and experience.

Thanks but no thanks, if the guy can't recruit to KY and win, what makes you think he can come here and do something that he couldn't do at KY?

[booogaga]

hell tubby can come to arkansas if he wants.

[TRUHOG718]

Hell yeah some good ol fashioned Sec house cleaning..!!!!

[Hollywood_HOGan]

i'd like to have smith a LOT more than some of the other candidates.

SMith>Self

[94 Hawg]

I don't want tubby smith

[KAHog]

Realize this may be a true blog, but had to comment on one thing.  How sad is a reputible source of UT information that he is haveing his meet and greets at the Smoothie King??

[secfan30]

Tubby can't recruit as good as Heath, but he can out coach him any day.  I want a guy that can do both.

+1 Such a true comment

[stan the man]

Did anyone read on down regarding Tennessee being excited about running the HUNH offense?  Quite interesting.  Go back to the article and scroll down.

[pignatious]

I'm still telling you guys that if Gillespie, Self, Barnes, Pitino, etc all turn us down I would take Tubby.  Been saying for as much as a week or two.  It's not my first choice but I'd rather have him than Doc Sadler, Sutton, or some "up and comer" who is coaching at Illinois Tech-School of Science right now.

He'd get us back into the tournament and brings two key factors to the table-intensity and experience.

I'd take Tubby right now, no question about it. He is a winner. The list you have is who we should be calling.

[Tone]

I'm still telling you guys that if Gillespie, Self, Barnes, Pitino, etc all turn us down I would take Tubby.  Been saying for as much as a week or two.  It's not my first choice but I'd rather have him than Doc Sadler, Sutton, or some "up and comer" who is coaching at Illinois Tech-School of Science right now.

He'd get us back into the tournament and brings two key factors to the table-intensity and experience.

IF they turn us down, don't you mean WHEN they turn us down.  I just don't see any big name coach coming here.  It is not how it has been done before and especially given the unrest in the AD position.  Who would want to come to a job when they don't know who their boss is going to be?  Who would want to deal with Frank for 6 months?

[Fayetnam]

Tubby is a good guy! Hope he lands on his feet somewhere, then gets a chance to break it off up KY's .....nose!

[hog.goblin]

IF they turn us down, don't you mean WHEN they turn us down.  I just don't see any big name coach coming here.  It is not how it has been done before and especially given the unrest in the AD position.  Who would want to come to a job when they don't know who their boss is going to be?  Who would want to deal with Frank for 6 months?

That truth makes me nervous as well.  And if KY is another option, I fear we play second fiddle among the interested coaches.

[pignatious]

I'm still telling you guys that if Gillespie, Self, Barnes, Pitino, etc all turn us down I would take Tubby.  Been saying for as much as a week or two.  It's not my first choice but I'd rather have him than Doc Sadler, Sutton, or some "up and comer" who is coaching at Illinois Tech-School of Science right now.

He'd get us back into the tournament and brings two key factors to the table-intensity and experience.

IF they turn us down, don't you mean WHEN they turn us down.  I just don't see any big name coach coming here.  It is not how it has been done before and especially given the unrest in the AD position.  Who would want to come to a job when they don't know who their boss is going to be?  Who would want to deal with Frank for 6 months?

I'm still telling you guys that if Gillespie, Self, Barnes, Pitino, etc all turn us down I would take Tubby.  Been saying for as much as a week or two.  It's not my first choice but I'd rather have him than Doc Sadler, Sutton, or some "up and comer" who is coaching at Illinois Tech-School of Science right now.

He'd get us back into the tournament and brings two key factors to the table-intensity and experience.

IF they turn us down, don't you mean WHEN they turn us down.  I just don't see any big name coach coming here.  It is not how it has been done before and especially given the unrest in the AD position.  Who would want to come to a job when they don't know who their boss is going to be?  Who would want to deal with Frank for 6 months?

Not having an AD in place is going to hurt for sure. Should have told Broyles to go quickly instead of waiting til the end of the year. That is a huge mistake.

[Table Rocker]

Realize this may be a true blog, but had to comment on one thing.  How sad is a reputible source of UT information that he is haveing his meet and greets at the Smoothie King??

LOL

[Hogoman]

I don't want tubby smith

Me neither.

[jbcarol]

Remember, Mr. jb is down on the Tubster.

However, with no disrespect when you read, "if he does not make it to the sweet sixteen he is probably gone."  He almost always at least makes it to the sweet sixteen.  Last year was a close UConn loss and 2004 was the UAB (with an assist from Nolan?) aberration. 

However, Sweet 16 will not cut it at UK.

[PiggoBitttys]

Remember, Mr. jb is down on the Tubster.

However, with no disrespect when you read, "if he does not make it to the sweet sixteen he is probably gone."  He almost always at least makes it to the sweet sixteen.  Last year was a close UConn loss and 2004 was the UAB (with an assist from Nolan?) aberration. 

However, Sweet 16 will not cut it at UK.

Well, would Elite 8 be more appropriate? I saw your AD's comments on another board from a UK fan. He said (paraphrasing) if some of those February close losses turn into postseason wins, then it will be OK. Now, he didn't say exactly how many postseason wins. I figured at the least Tubby would have to win 2 games in the tourney, but I also said or Elite 8 because I wasn't completely sure.

[jbcarol]

Remember, Mr. jb is down on the Tubster.

However, with no disrespect when you read, "if he does not make it to the sweet sixteen he is probably gone."  He almost always at least makes it to the sweet sixteen.  Last year was a close UConn loss and 2004 was the UAB (with an assist from Nolan?) aberration. 

However, Sweet 16 will not cut it at UK.

Well, would Elite 8 be more appropriate? I saw your AD's comments on another board from a UK fan. He said (paraphrasing) if some of those February close losses turn into postseason wins, then it will be OK. Now, he didn't say exactly how many postseason wins. I figured at the least Tubby would have to win 2 games in the tourney, but I also said or Elite 8 because I wasn't completely sure.

He's not my AD but how long did they hang with Brooks?  I did not mean your post but Smith has been in his share of Elite 8's at KY as well and at some schools one of those will get a guy hired on the spot.  I'm actually a Hawg fan.  It's my husband who is disgusted with KY situation.

[brodie_hawg]

It has been reported several times lately that the administration is going to put the money on the table to get a good coach.  what prevented a proven coach hire the last time was a "search committee".  You can not hire a proven coach that way.  No search committee this time.

[jbcarol]

A national scribe had a category in the preseason that said it best "Coaches on the hot seat who simply will not be fired."  Tubby Smith was tops of the list.

Great guy in the community.  He sent his third son to play for Ole Miss.  His wife knows Ashley Judd.  The people who hate him are not the 10,000 people seated closest to him on the floor at Rupp.  They are paying the freight with "contributions" that supplement their season ticket prices.  If any one of them wants to protest, there are 10,000 more on the waiting list.  Butts in seats is not a problem.

I will choose not to bring up a racial angle in the discussion with Tubby.  Most of the people who attend the big tournament settings is the only game they get to see live all year.  Some of them have racial motives.  Mostly they are prejudiced against boring basketball.

Unless he dips much closer to .500 and that will not happen this year, Tubby is safe in Lexington.  Tubby will leave on his own acccord.  The right NBA situation might be that ticket.  But he needs to get on a roll to be more marketable.  KY is No. 10 in RPI right now.  2nd toughest schedule in nation.

Mr. Joe Craft of Tulsa built KY a $20M basketball practice facility.  Biggest capital check in history of UK sports.  His reason for giving:  Relationship built with Tubby Smith when he was at Tulsa.

[jbcarol]

Tubby is a good guy! Hope he lands on his feet somewhere, then gets a chance to break it off up KY's .....nose!

Mr. jb is not a fan of how Tubby Smith has mismanaged KY basketball in the last couple of years.  Mr. jb is a fan of Mr. Orlando Smith as a human being.

I know KY fans set a high bar of expectation.  I have just as high a bar if not higher for the Hawgs as well.  I am just not sure who our AD is right now.

A few facts related to a double-standard applied to Smith vs. other coaches in other expectations.  It is what makes some of names mentioned as possible UK replacements so amusing:

From '02-03 to '04-05 UK under Tubby went 15-3 in games decided by 5 points or less.  That spoils fans.  Mr. jb likes being spoiled.  UK is 6-12 over the last 2 years.

Tubby has taken KY to the elite "8" in '98, '99, '03, and '05 ('98 was a National Championship).
Some schools will hire a guy who has ever taken a team to an elite "8" whether he recruited the players on that team or not.  Sweet "16" also in '01 and '02 (nicknamed Team Turmoil).

Tubby will lose ten games for the 5th time at KY.  Indiana has lost 10 games every year but one since 1994.

In the past five NCAA Tournaments Duke has advanced past the round of 16 one time.

Kansas has lost in the first round in the last two NCAA tournaments.  Tubby has not lost in the first round at KY ever.

No. Carolina went 8-20 in '02.  Only Sutton could rival that kind of record at KY. 

In the last 5 years at UofL, Pitino has been in NIT twice.  Tubby always in NCAA tourney at UK.

UK's higher ranking under Tubby for years readily available (2005 was a good year):

1998: Coaches #1;  1999: Coaches #5;  2000:  AP #19;  2001:  Coaches #8;  2002: Coaches #13;
2003: AP #1;  2004: AP #2.

Tubby Smith overall regular season SEC championships outright or tied:  6 (of 9)
Tubby Smith SEC Tournament Championships:  5 (of 9)

Tubby Smith in 2003:  26 straight wins.  SEC regular season 16-0.  Conference champs (19-0)
In Regional Tournament a dirty Australian veteran player (Kirk Penney) cold cocks UK's only All-American Keith Bogans causing Bogans to severely sprain his ankle.  KY beats Penney and Wisconsin anyway.  KY loses Regional final to a tough Marquette team with Bogans trying to contribute.  A National Championship caliber team.  May Penney toil forever in the minor leagues of basketball

On his terms I would like to see Tubby move on for his sake.  I want him to do what he wants (successfully coach an NBA team).  Not before that special UK alum has agreed to come in and be the bridge until the young buck who is not quite ready yet comes in to lead UK to the future.

And by the way, let's get Arkansas a good coach and an AD too.

[cmoorehogs]

He's averaging 24 wins a year at Kentucky in 10 years, how is he not winning at Kentucky. He's 241-71 at Kentucky, 365-133 overall. They won 1 national title, 5 SEC titles, 5 SEC tournament titles, and have been in the Sweet 16 6 times in his ten years at kentucky. The man is a winner. Arkansas would take him in a second if he would come here.

[mayjumpoffwagon]

Let me be the first to say on this thread NO TO TUBBY!

second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, etc, etc THAT statement.

[jbcarol]

A national scribe had a category in the preseason that said it best "Coaches on the hot seat who simply will not be fired."  Tubby Smith was tops of the list.

Great guy in the community.  He sent his third son to play for Ole Miss.  His wife knows Ashley Judd.  The people who hate him are not the 10,000 people seated closest to him on the floor at Rupp.  They are paying the freight with "contributions" that supplement their season ticket prices.  If any one of them wants to protest, there are 10,000 more on the waiting list.  Butts in seats is not a problem.

I will choose not to bring up a racial angle in the discussion with Tubby.  Most of the people who attend the big tournament settings is the only game they get to see live all year.  Some of them have racial motives.  Mostly they are prejudiced against boring basketball.

Unless he dips much closer to .500 and that will not happen this year, Tubby is safe in Lexington.  Tubby will leave on his own acccord.  The right NBA situation might be that ticket.  But he needs to get on a roll to be more marketable.  KY is No. 10 in RPI right now.  2nd toughest schedule in nation.

Mr. Joe Craft of Tulsa built KY a $20M basketball practice facility.  Biggest capital check in history of UK sports.  His reason for giving:  Relationship built with Tubby Smith when he was at Tulsa.

Hate to say I told you so!  "Tubby will leave on his own accord/terms."  Today Tubby announced that he will be the coach to return Kentucky to dominance.  There was no response from the Athletic Dept.

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/16845632.htm

That's because the AD is setting the table to get rid of some dead weight off the asst. coaching staff:

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/16841770.htm

[Fayetnam]

Tubby has been hit hard by players leaving early! Tubby is a great X's and  O's floor coach, but when you loose that many player early over the last three years, it's gonna catch you with you!

[hoggystyle78]

I'll admit a couple of years ago I would've taken Tubby in a heartbeat. He for sure coaches with fire and animation, something Stan seems to be lacking in, but if he's not winning and recruiting big time at UK just what in the world makes you think he would do any better at Ark? I would like to see us go after Gillispie and Self hard then and only then would I go after Tubby JMO.

[DEVIL DOG HOG]

If Tubby leaves we won't be first in line for a big name coach.
I don't think Tubby would come here due to how  Arkansas handled the dismissal of NR.

[pignatious]

I'm still telling you guys that if Gillespie, Self, Barnes, Pitino, etc all turn us down I would take Tubby.  Been saying for as much as a week or two.  It's not my first choice but I'd rather have him than Doc Sadler, Sutton, or some "up and comer" who is coaching at Illinois Tech-School of Science right now.

He'd get us back into the tournament and brings two key factors to the table-intensity and experience.

Yes. I hope someone other than Broyles is talking to him right now about the possibility of coming here.

[SPAL]

I'm still telling you guys that if Gillespie, Self, Barnes, Pitino, etc all turn us down I would take Tubby.  Been saying for as much as a week or two.  It's not my first choice but I'd rather have him than Doc Sadler, Sutton, or some "up and comer" who is coaching at Illinois Tech-School of Science right now.

He'd get us back into the tournament and brings two key factors to the table-intensity and experience.

u better believe it fresh...im with you. Tubby is an upgrade.

[southern hawg]

Tubby as HC, Stan as Asst. (for recruiting purposes)

[jbcarol]

Tubby has been hit hard by players leaving early! Tubby is a great X's and  O's floor coach, but when you loose that many player early over the last three years, it's gonna catch you with you!

He's also been hit hard by players staying for four years

[jbcarol]

If Tubby leaves we won't be first in line for a big name coach.
I don't think Tubby would come here due to how  Arkansas handled the dismissal of NR.

That is an absolute fact.  They were in close communication.

[ndhog]

If KY cans Tubby, then they will go after Gillespie and probably get him.  Unless AR gets him first. 

[slopinhogs]

tubby is getting gray around the gills sort of like FB. he's been there a long time and has caoached a while too. may be time to go golfing and fishing.

[jbcarol]

I think you guys misread the link above.  Tubby announced he will be back and will bring KY back to dominance. The AD is setting the table for Tubby to let loyalty go, unload some of the assistants who are not carrying their weight recruiting wise, and get some good assistants.  That's the story line.  If Tubby leaves it will be on his own terms.  I know he would like to go out a big winner, to get the next ring, a decent NBA job.  Tubby's biggest critic in the local press wrote a column saying you have to keep Tubby as well.

[HogsGranpa]

I'm still telling you guys that if Gillespie, Self, Barnes, Pitino, etc all turn us down I would take Tubby.  Been saying for as much as a week or two.  It's not my first choice but I'd rather have him than Doc Sadler, Sutton, or some "up and comer" who is coaching at Illinois Tech-School of Science right now.

He'd get us back into the tournament and brings two key factors to the table-intensity and experience.

What is wrong with Sean Sutton?. 

He is a winner, going back to the NCAA, HC experience at a basketball school, and young, but old enough to maintains respect from college age basketball players.

[dmac_iz_kin]

This brings the question to my mind. Has something happend to college basketball, duke is not that good, Lsu, alot of teams have grossly underacheived.  Coaches talked about getting fired. SEC way down. is it parity? is it lack of effort maybe watching NBA players play no defense?