Tubby out at Memphis?

[George]

Watch Tubby cost UK another elite recruit without even coaching at Kentucky.

[Dwight Schrute]

There comes a point where Tubby Smith has been a failure longer than he was a success. At that point, can his most ardent defenders admit he was kind of a pretender?

Sure, he was a fine X and O guy. But he refused to recruit or do any of the day-to-day tasks required of being a Kentucky coach, and apparently a Minnesota, Texas Tech, and Memphis coach. Isn't that part of the package?

Tubby Smith is a "nice guy" (don't get me started on his darting in the middle of the night without telling his Kentucky players), but he's a contract thief and a mediocre basketball coach. Haters, go ahead and hate.

I don't know that I'd say say he's a contact thief - I don't blame a guy for negotiating the best deal he can get. But I agree that he's a mediocre coach and has shown no interest in adapting to the modern game.

Gary Parrish has a story about Tubby's first days in Memphis - Coach Cal calls him and tells him that he really needs to reach out and embrace a pretty rich booster - he never did it. Tubby is a good guy - he did a lot in Kentucky. But it's time for him to retire.

[Dwight Schrute]

Watch Tubby cost UK another elite recruit without even coaching at Kentucky.

lol

[Catatonic]

Tubby Smith is a "nice guy" (don't get me started on his darting in the middle of the night without telling his Kentucky players), but he's a contract thief and a mediocre basketball coach. Haters, go ahead and hate.

I like the idea that someone disagreeing with this concentrated dose of negativity would be the "hater" in the equation.

I think Tubby was very good in his prime. The irrational angst some people still hold onto about him is baffling to me.

[J.Jennings]

I like the idea that someone disagreeing with this concentrated dose of negativity would be the "hater" in the equation.

I think Tubby was very good in his prime. The irrational angst some people still hold onto about him is baffling to me.

I actually thought Tubby was good at Tulsa and Georgia, pretty good teams without the star talent. Became a great game manager in 98 and a few years beyond but then it all went to hell..

[Dwight Schrute]

I can't think of a more divisive person in my lifetime at UK than Tubby Smith. The guy has been gone for 11 years now and he's still getting this kind of reaction from people.

Eddie Sutton and Billy Gillispie both did more damage to the program than Tubby, and neither get nearly the level of animosity that Tubby brings in.

[KCKUKFan]

I like the idea that someone disagreeing with this concentrated dose of negativity would be the "hater" in the equation.

I think Tubby was very good in his prime. The irrational angst some people still hold onto about him is baffling to me.

Can you dispute anything I said in that post?

It might read as negative, but I'd argue vehemently that it's almost 100% true.

I'm not angry at him and I'm not being irrational. He's been a complete dud as a head coach for at least the same amount of time that he was good as a head coach. Maybe more (I'd have to check the stats). He has completely failed in at least two of the three main responsibilities of a head coach in every job he's been at since Georgia. When do people start realizing that the guy just wasn't very good and admitting it?

[Lighthouse]

Can you dispute anything I said in that post?

It might read as negative, but I'd argue vehemently that it's almost 100% true.

I'm not angry at him and I'm not being irrational. He's been a complete dud as a head coach for at least the same amount of time that he was good as a head coach. Maybe more (I'd have to check the stats). He has completely failed in at least two of the three main responsibilities of a head coach in every job he's been at since Georgia. When do people start realizing that the guy just wasn't very good and admitting it?

That's your opinion and you're entitled to it, but My opinion differs from yours. I think Tubby was a very good X&O's bench coach. His downfall at Kentucky was his inability to recruit top players and lost several to other schools. One in particular was a kid from Nashville who was a Kentucky fan and wanted to play there. He was quoted as saying, he couldn't see himself playing Tubby's style. This kid went to UNC.

[KCKUKFan]

That's your opinion and you're entitled to it, but My opinion differs from yours. I think Tubby was a very good X&O's bench coach. His downfall at Kentucky was his inability to recruit top players and lost several to other schools. One in particular was a kid from Nashville who was a Kentucky fan and wanted to play there. He was quoted as saying, he couldn't see himself playing Tubby's style. This kid went to UNC.

But, see, that's my argument.

There's more to being a head coach at a major division one program than just X and Os. I admitted freely in previous posts that Tubby has a fine basketball mind. What I'm arguing is that he's a mediocre basketball coach, because he continuously fails in other aspects of the job: relationships with players and boosters, willingness to adapt, recruit, etc. If I was CEO of a company, and I only excelled in only one of my duties while failing or ignoring others, then I'd be fired and considered mediocre. I'd be willing to accept that maybe he just wasn't built for the lifestyle of Kentucky coach, but then he went and had the same problems at three (much) lower schools.

Tubby Smith is a good technician, but a mediocre basketball coach. I don't think that's unfair.

[Matt Dillon]

My biggest complaint, with Tubby, wasn't his x's and o's, his not relating well to his players or his not kissing the boosters behinds. My problem with Tubby was, when it came to recruiting, he didn't even seem to care. I remember one instance, in particular, when coach K. and Roy were out recruiting their behinds off LEX18 found Tubby out on the golf course.

[Lighthouse]

But, see, that's my argument.

There's more to being a head coach at a major division one program than just X and Os. I admitted freely in previous posts that Tubby has a fine basketball mind. What I'm arguing is that he's a mediocre basketball coach, because he continuously fails in other aspects of the job: relationships with players and boosters, willingness to adapt, recruit, etc. If I was CEO of a company, and I only excelled in only one of my duties while failing or ignoring others, then I'd be fired and considered mediocre. I'd be willing to accept that maybe he just wasn't built for the lifestyle of Kentucky coach, but then he went and had the same problems at three (much) lower schools.

Tubby Smith is a good technician, but a mediocre basketball coach. I don't think that's unfair.

I didn't say your opinion was unfair, it's just different than mine, and that's OK.

[Dwight Schrute]

Tubby lost a lot of players to schools we had no business losing to. I remember Shagari Alleyne - Shagari Freakin' Alleyne committed elsewhere before committing to Kentucky. He also lost out on a lot of good players. Brandan Wright, Tyler Hansbrough spring to mind. He just refused to recruit.

[George]

Tubby lost a lot of players to schools we had no business losing to. I remember Shagari Alleyne - Shagari Freakin' Alleyne committed elsewhere before committing to Kentucky. He also lost out on a lot of good players. Brandan Wright, Tyler Hansbrough spring to mind. He just refused to recruit.

Don’t forget Kevin Durant. Draymond was coming to Kentucky, too, but then Tubby bailed. Might as well hold that one against him, as well.

[Spiritof96]

The Oscar Combs interview Brooks Downing paints Tubby as being disinterested in recruiting generally and then overwhelmed by the work demands of UK such that he irrationally punted on recruiting. Like a UK assistant had a top player on the phone and Tubby WOULDN'T TALK TO HIM, too tired. That interview was pretty damning. As great an X&O as he is, I don't think he wants to do the work of being a college "head coach". So I like him, I'm grateful for the 98 title and the 02-04 teams, but other than that, no thanks.

[Dwight Schrute]

The Oscar Combs interview Brooks Downing paints Tubby as being disinterested in recruiting generally and then overwhelmed by the work demands of UK such that he irrationally punted on recruiting. Like a UK assistant had a top player on the phone and Tubby WOULDN'T TALK TO HIM, too tired. That interview was pretty damning. As great an X&O as he is, I don't think he wants to do the work of being a college "head coach". So I like him, I'm grateful for the 98 title and the 02-04 teams, but other than that, no thanks.

He probably would've failed in the NBA because player relationships aren't his thing and you can't succeed there if your players hate you, but I am kind of surprised he never took a shot in the NBA. Not that the time demands are any less, but he wouldn't have had to worry about recruiting.