Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
Because it’s been a while since we have seen the Tubby Stare.
Earlier this year some stories started brewing about Minnesotans disappointment with former Wildcat Tubby Smith as their head coach. They were having a lot of the same grievances Kentucky fans had in the last couple years, questions about his ability to develop talent and the level of recruiting. But Minnesota is now 18-12, including a marquee win over Wisconsin a few weeks ago, and is sitting firmly on the bubble with a chance to get off it if they could upset Michigan State in the second round of the Big 10 tournament. While the concerns haven’t vanished about Coach Smith, his critics have certainly quited down. (Which only goes to show the differences in Minn/Kentucky.)
Meanwhile, Oregon coach Ernie Kent has all but left Eugene (which is where UO is located, if you didn’t know,) and the back room discussions have begun. Supposedly the former Kentucky coach is on the Oregon AD’s list. While Tubby currently denies any particular interest in taking the job, he has yet to come out and say that he’s committed to Minnesota either.
When asked about his thoughts on the matter, Coach Smith had this to say.
“If I ever addressed every rumor, then I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. There’s always talk about coaches leaving and players leaving. It’s part of the business. We’re happy here. Even though this year was an up and down year, we feel like we have the right pieces in place. We think we can be a pretty good team in the future.”
After the past four years, we’re all familiar with Coach Speak, and that’s absolutely what this is. No, you don’t have to address every rumor, but you do have to address this one, because it has been brought up. As always, if he wanted to squash the rumors, Coach Smith would have come out and blatantly said no.
It’s too early to tell who will end up on the sidelines wearing green and yellow, but I don’t think I’m alone when I wish them success, with or without Tubby. I mean, who doesn’t like Ducks? Plus, it’s only seems fair, after what ex-duck Rich Brooks did for us.
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March 9th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Let be the first to start that rumor
March 9th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
plus with all those lakes, he would have plenty of water to mix his cocktails
March 9th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Zags Blog says he is hearing Josh Selby is going to Kansas. Sorry Macon_Volfan, I was actually rooting for UT and the Conference.
March 9th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
ummm he should
March 9th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
apparently per Tomlin, the Pac-10 is anyone’s game … so i say, go while the gettin’s good Tubbo !
March 9th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
If it weren’t for Tom Izzo and Michigan State, Tubby might very well still be here. Think about it. Three final fours in 10 years would be a good track record. Tubby can’t beat that guy!
March 9th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
but i did hear a rumor that U of L is counting on the Tub to come in following Ricky P’s departure to the “next coaching challenge available in the Italian Primero League” … taking the reins and bringing a title to Louisville (w/ Rick’s players) …an NIT title that is
March 9th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
They should go after P.J. Carleismo for the short term.
March 9th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
8. From what I read, he is on their short list.
March 9th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
In recent years they’ve had a hard time of grabbing the best white curly/shaggy haired players named Luke away from the Gonzagas of the world. Also, it seems like there is a shortage of NBA Jam type of dunkers named Fred.
March 9th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
If Tubby does leave, look for him back in SEC on the sidelines at Auburn….CFR
March 9th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Excuse me. I am ‘Mr. Integrity’ - do you really think I would leave UK (the best) and go to Minnesota (a waste land) - only to leave there after 3 years on my way to Oregon (another waste land - except to the NIKE cash).
You guys think if I took the Oregon job - I could leave all these assistant coaches in Minnesota???
March 9th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Zag said no such thing.
March 9th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
6 neither, can that pitino, or donovan
March 9th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Yo Tubby, my crap has more ‘integrity’ than you!
March 9th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
#8 & #9 - I don’t want to know what the “subject” of the list is if P.J. is on it…
March 9th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
#13.) Check his twitter page before you speak.
March 9th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
Good news for all you Barry Booker fans..he will be on the SEC Network games for the Tournament.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
I hope Selby does go to KU and I hope we get Knight, Lamb, Leslie, Kanter and Jones.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
I like ducks.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
He actually said one assistant coach thinks Selby is going to Kansas, which means little because we all think that seems like his choice.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Knight Leslie and Kanter have told the staff they are coming to UK, Selby is likely KU bound
March 9th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Selby said he is going to announce april 17th at the Jordan game. They said they were waiting because of potential coaching changes, but it could be a where does Knight go situation.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Tubby should just retire. I am sure he has enough money to live comfortably the rest of his life. Let’s face it. He sucks as a coach and would be better off writing children’s novels.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
let me add one more comment. Brandon Knight would have to be stupid to not come play under Coach Cal. I don’t think he is. We could use a guy who could light it up from the three point range and I think he knows that. No offense Darnell.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
i lol’d at 22
March 9th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
If you need one we are in front of Tubby’s house.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
We are going to announce in the next couple days that Seton Hall will be looking for a new coach. We will also be announcing that certain ex-UK coach and current UofL coach will in-fact take that job. Pitino has had his ‘people’ working with Seton Hall for roughly a month to work out the details. Pitino has directed Seton Hall to not fire their current coach till he is ready to take over. Pitino did not want any speculation to come out before he was finished with the season at UofL. Look for UofL to fold tent shortly after the Seton Hall opening announcement is made.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
10 loss Tubby,,,,, lol make that 12 for now .
March 9th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
I sure as hell would have kept Matt Pilgrim on the team if I were Coach Cal, unless Pilgrim walked up to Coach the first day he was hired and told him he should be starting over Patterson or some idiot thing like that. Have never understood the decision to keep Jorts (who personally I like) instead of him. But let’s be realistic talent-wise. Yes, I know some will say a chemistry problem but Coach Cal couold have dealt with that. He seems to have won over Liggins.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
caption the pic people! lol
“I know you don’t like me spittin in your mot********n face
But they ain’t a mot********n thing, you can do about it!”
March 9th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
huh
March 9th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
tubby is lucky as hell to get that national championship. He should call ricky p every march to thank him for scott padgett and co. Otherwise he has been the most bland coach in college basketball. Sure dwayne wade and tom izzo kept him from two final fours but he was NEVER going to win another championship.
March 9th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Living out here in Portland, OR, I can safely say Funny would be a fool not take the OU job if offered. Much better fanbase, Knight will do anything for the University, and there’s a decent recruiting base.
March 9th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Stupid auto-correct. Tubby not Funny.
March 9th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
For Christ’s sake, if tubby couldn’t get the premier program into the final four, why in the hell would minnesota fans think he could do anything with them. Twenty win tubby is all he is. If you define success by twenty wins, then tubby is your man. But c’mon minny, get over yourselves and be glad you aren’t 9-22 like you probably deserve to be.
March 9th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
The bad thing about the Oregon job is that they will have almost 0 talent. Tajuan Porter is graduating after this year, and he was really the last of the good recruits to come into that program. Tubby will certainly have his work cut out for him in Eugene. But shit, the weed is good, the summers are great, and you can’t beat the Oregon landscape. I’d move back if I could get a paying job there.
March 9th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Guys, why are you still talking about me? I brought you post season mediocrity for almost a decade - my style of play was sleep inducing - I didn’t recruit that kid who went to knoxville yet recruited jared inept carter, etc. You guys should have forgotten my name by now. (oh yeah, I was also responsible for recruiting that 8 foot freak show - um…what was his name….oh yeah, shatarded alleyne - nuff said
March 9th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
I said this when Tubby first went to Minnesota and all the media was cooing about what a good hire it was: if Tubby slid UK to mediocrity, what do you think he will do at Minnesota? His last couple years at UK would have been considered mildly successful by Minnesota standards; is it any wonder that he has achieved mediocrity by Minnesota standards?
March 9th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Minnesota fans complaining? They were 8-22 before he got there. They aren’t exactly national championship material now, but they are complaining after just 3 years of having 20 win seasons vs. 8-22? Tubby Smith is a good coach (and certainly a good man)…but he’s not super-duper to be a major powerhouse every year…certainly not in just a few years at Minnesota which isn’t exactly a name with a huge recruiting draw.
March 9th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
39 I totally agree. I always said that Tubby teams at UK were just good enough not to give us a reason to fire him. Really what we as fans want is for the coach to at least act like he cares as much as we do.
He does so many things that are detrimental to teams like recruiting criminals, throwing players under the bus and let us not forget nepetism of the worst kind. I still have nightmares of Saul,should have never worn a UK uniform. What an embarassment that was.
March 10th, 2010 at 12:57 am
As a Kentucky ex-pat living in Eugene with free access to basketball tickets, let me say that this has me salivating. I like Tubby, and he would be the de facto 1st or second best coach in the conference. Even if you truly believe he is a ‘ten loss’ coach, that is still a vast improvement over the caliber of basketball here now. Auburn could go on the road and sweep 3/4 of the Pac-10. It’s a basketball desert. Either way, as long as I have cable, I’ve still got the Cats!
37 - I know who you are. You can’t hide.
March 10th, 2010 at 1:21 am
If your gonna be in on of the northernmost states, you might as well be in oregon instead of friggin minnesota
March 10th, 2010 at 1:27 am
41 - dead on brother - Tubby was bad in that he never had us in position to win big in postseason play yet he didn’t suck enough to get us into the nit. And of course he wasn’t a pr nightmare like billy g - losing in 05 to MSU really sucked the wind out of his sails - he basically gave up from that point on
March 10th, 2010 at 6:35 am
where have i heard that highlighted tubster quote before?….hmmm
March 10th, 2010 at 10:52 am
“No, you don’t have to address every rumor, but you do have to address this one, because it has been brought up.” That means he has to address every rumor as soon as it gets mentioned? Don’t rumors have to be discussed for them to exist? Will, that is some BTI-speak right there.