OPEN SHOT: Larry Vaught interviews with Tubby Smith

by Truzenzuzex on Jul 7, 2008 8:38 AM EDT in Basketball

Larry Vaught recently conducted a series of interviews with former UK coach Tubby Smith. For a while, they were subscriber-only, but they recently made them free for all Wildcat fans.

Links to the artcles are:

Thanks to Scout.com for making these interviews available to us all. They are interesting and informative, and Larry Vaught does a great job as always.

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Tubby

Well, folks have their opinions, but there was never any doubt Tubby Smith was a classy fellow who played by the rules, even if it left him occasionally on the outside looking in.

There were few coaches, if any, for most of his tenure I would have ever wanted calling the plays in a close game.

My only real beef with Tubby Smith was the same thing that made him so successful: his stubborn-ness.

I think if he had recognized earlier that changes were needed, he might still be coaching at UK.

Then again, one defensive rebound against Michigan State and we’re probably looking towards another Tubby Smith campaign this fall…

The Heart & Mind of the Big Blue Nation ...

by JL Blue on Jul 7, 2008 2:21 PM EDT 0 recs

Isn't it strange ...

... how such tiny things - an ankle injury to Keith Bogans, a defensive rebound against Michigan State - can have such a profound, far-reaching effect on so many people.

If the circumstances on those two games had been reversed, how different things would be today.

Life truly turns on a dime.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jul 7, 2008 2:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

about how such seemingly relatively insignificant events can have such long-term, unforseen impacts. Like y’all, I’m fairly certain had we beaten Michigan State-which we nearly-nearly-nearly did-the fan unrest would have been much more muted and Smith would still be here. And if by some chance we’d gotten a less on-fire Dwayne Wade, and/or Bogans hadn’t had the ankle sprain and we had won that game too, giving Tubby 3 final fours—why, he would surely still be here and would probably be wildly popular with most Wildcat fans. It is so crazy how things work out.

The only thing I was a bit surprised about in the interview was Tubby’s remark about the best chances his teams had to win it all. He mentioned the 03 team that was the #1 seed, won about a thousand games in a row and lost to Marquette as one example-which I’m sure we all agree on, that team was very special. But then he mentioned not 04’s team (also an overall #1 seed I believe, and in my opinion a really excellent team that played hard and together, and that truly could have gone far but just inexplicably flamed out against what turned out to be a horrible match-up for them in UAB) but 05’s, which I thought was a pretty good team but by no means a great one, and to me obviously inferior to 04-though granted they did go much further in in March, which is really a testament to the huge effect that specific match-ups have on who gets how far.

by blue kentucky girl on Jul 7, 2008 3:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

I Differ On 3 FF = Wildly Popular

Joe Hall had 3 FF in 13 years (1973 through 1985) but was hardly wildly popular with UK fans. He was tolerated but not very popular in the 1980’s at all.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 7, 2008 4:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

Talent...

...the 2005 team featured *FIVE future NBA players (Hayes, Rondo, Morris, Azubuike and *Crawford)

The 2004 team maximized its potential with two (Bookie, Chuck).

At the end of the day, what gets teams over that last hurdle 99.9% of the time is NBA talent.

The Heart & Mind of the Big Blue Nation ...

by JL Blue on Jul 7, 2008 6:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

2004 Team

Daniels and Fitch also made the NBA from that team. Briefly but made it anyway.

The 2003-04-05 teams were 87-15 (#1 W-L % record in Div 1) so plenty of talent on each.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 7, 2008 8:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

I Have A Different Opinion

Winning those 2 games (even if the next games in 2003 and 2005 were L in FF) would have left Tubby with 265-83 record at UK (25-9 in NCAA games).

Joe Hall benefitted from an injury to Scott May in 1975 (when UK edged IU for FF that year) and “home cooking” in 1984 (when UK edged U of L and then Illinois in Rupp Arena for FF that year). Had those 1 or 2 of those games turned out L rather than W, Hall only has 1 FF in 13 years.

I think many UK fans turned against Tubby as early as 2000, not just 2006 or 2007.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 7, 2008 4:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

Unhappy, but...

I think you’re right, many people did turn against him early… but those two extra final fours would have extended things a bit. In My Opinion.

Probably wouldn’t have changed the ultimate result, but would have changed the timing.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Jul 7, 2008 4:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

Nearly Happened In 2001, Then Again In 2005

2001 to South Carolina but declined $2+ million (per year) offer at last minute. Litterally at midnight on deadline day for Yes or No answer to AD. 2005 to Virginia but they didn’t agree on $ terms.

The average UK coaching tenure (post Rupp) is 9 years. Tubby slightly exceeded that.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 7, 2008 4:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

3 FFs vs. 1

In my opinion, most of the LOGICAL people who wanted Tubby to leave felt that way largely because of his lack of recent FFs. As I’ve said before, I did not want Coach Smith gone at all as I was very fond of him and thought he was a great coach who maybe had ever-so-slightly lost his way, but that he had the ability to be very successful at UK again. I did know fans who I did respect, though, who felt differently-that his recent coaching successes just we’re enough, low energy, recruiting lackluster, etc. Among THESE people-not the crazies who were putting for sale signs in his yard and acting the fool on call-in shows—I’d usually see the Final Four issue as the one most cited. You can’t please all the people all the time, and for sure there were some who turned on him very early (like, before the 98 championship early) but I do think among the more thoughtful, less hateful majority of the fans, had the cards fallen so that we’d gotten those Final Fours in 03 and 05, Tubby would have remained largely well-received.

by blue kentucky girl on Jul 8, 2008 11:53 AM EDT up 0 recs

UK Averages (Through The Years)

76% W-L record. (Tubby was 76%)

69% in NCAA games. (Tubby was 72%)

1 NC per decade. (Tubby had 1 in 10 years)

2 FF per decade. (Tubby had 1 in 10 years) Tubby was 1 short.

5 E8 per decade. (Tubby had 4 in 10 years) Tubby was 1 short.

6 S16 per decade. (Tubby had 6 in 10 years)

6 SEC titles per decade. (Tubby had 5 in 10 years) Tubby was 1 short.

5 SECT championships per decade. (Tubby had 5 in 10 years).

Rupp and Pitino met or exceeded almost all of those criteria. Tubby and Hall met most but not all of them. Sutton met very few of them.

Gillispie will be judged on those criteria over the next 10 seasons. We’ll C how he does.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 8, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

I Helped Larry Vaught Arrange The Interview

I contacted Tubby’s AD and secretary a while back when Larry told me about his trip to Minnesota. I also visited both of them in early June to make sure Larry could get time with Tubby. Even so, Tubby is so popular (and busy) in the Twin Cities that it was difficult.

I really wanted to make these stories happen and I trust Larry Vaught 1000% more than any other KY media person to (1) be accurate and (2) be fair. He was on both counts.

10 years at UK was (more than) enough for Tubby at UK. He’s EXTREMELY happy in Minnesota and so are Donna and Saul.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 7, 2008 4:02 PM EDT 0 recs

Good for all...

Happiness in one’s life is all that matters.

by kykat51 on Jul 7, 2008 4:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

I remember why I liked Tubby

That was an excellent read and makes me realize why I liked and respected Tubby so much. He wasn’t perfect (who is?), but he is pure character and class. I wish him nothing but the best. Go Cats!

by BravoBigBlue on Jul 7, 2008 4:31 PM EDT 0 recs

When Tubby left for

Minnesota,I was listening to the Dan Patrick show,and one of is coherts made a comment about Tubby at UK,it went someting like this” Yes but 10 years at Kentucky is like 20 years anywhere else” and I thought at that time(and still do) that statement is very true,and on many levels when you think about it.

by -Zoso- on Jul 7, 2008 6:38 PM EDT 0 recs

Nice observation with coaches at UK...

Tubby was an older coach and most likely could not take the UK program any longer. Stress can cause a tremendous amount of detriment to one’s health and well being…it was time for him to move on, and Kentucky needed a younger, work driven coach and we have him.

All is well in Ky and MN now…everyone is happy.

by kykat51 on Jul 7, 2008 8:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

Roy Williams (UNC) Is 58 This Year

Too old for UK? Nope.

Tubby is VERY driven by his work. He (and his family) just needed a change of scenery. And vice versa.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 7, 2008 8:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

Tubby Is 57

Birthday was June 30th.

I’m 57 too. I don’t think of us as older.

Pitino will be 60 this year.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 7, 2008 8:35 PM EDT 0 recs

Looks older than years...

I am also 57, but I thought Tubby looked older than his years when he left UK. Also, when Pitino returned to Ky to coach Louisville, I could see the years that those few years in the NBA added to his face…inner happiness can sometimes disguise a person’s actual age, and stress in a job setting can make one look years older. Just from my personal experience and observations with people around me and others such as high profile coaches.

Glad to have you back FortyYear.

I am not sure, but I think Coach G is late 40’s? He may last 10 years at UK unless his workaholic everyday schedule kills him beforehand…I pray not.

by kykat51 on Jul 7, 2008 8:52 PM EDT 0 recs

Gillispie Is 49

Turns 50 during this upcoming season.

We went to Colorado, Utah, and Nevada on vacation last week. No access to computers.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 8, 2008 6:39 AM EDT 0 recs

1959

According to the UK athletics website, Coach Gillispie was born in 1959. That makes him 49 this year, right? We don’t want to prematurely age the man, kykat is right, the job will probably do that for him. : )

by BigSkyCat on Jul 8, 2008 9:15 AM EDT up 0 recs

Turns 50 Early In 2009

During the upcoming season.

I think (anyway).

by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 8, 2008 2:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

November 9, 1959

I only remember the month and day because it’s the day before my daughter’s birthday. So, he will be 49 in November of this year (2008). Probably not a huge deal, what’s one year to a man, right? (kidding of course)
Now, for me, this would be a big deal, I certainly wouldn’t want to be mistaken for a year older than I actually am. ; )

by BigSkyCat on Jul 8, 2008 2:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

I Thought It Was January

Regardless he’s 50 next year. The only UK coach older than 60 was Adolph Rupp.

I doubt Gillispie coaches more than 10 years at UK but it’s possible.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 8, 2008 3:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

Age

I look at the Kentuckty job kind of like the presidency. The job can really age you. 8 years is not a lot of time but most presidents really age more than the actual number of years during their tenure becuase of the stress. I think the UK job is similar in that aspect.

Tubby did a great job while he was here and while many fans arent happy with him now I think they will be in a number of years when he decides to retire. Joe B was kind of disliked when he retired and now everyone loves him. People will one day appreciate the job Tubby did. Im glad Tubby’s at Minny he really did need a change and Im glad Billy G is here.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Jul 8, 2008 9:25 AM EDT 0 recs

My Own Job Experience

I did a really good job for my employer from 1994 through 2000 (or so), then there was a management change. The new regime and I were Square Pegs Looking For The Right Fit in 2001 and 2002. So I changed jobs.

I have done a really good for my new employer since. My old employer wouldn’t want me back. My new employer wouldn’t let me go.

UK basketball like many other jobs.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 8, 2008 2:12 PM EDT 0 recs