Smith says with a smirk, "We only won 22 games and went to the NCAA tournament. It was bad."

Here's a nice piece of investigative journalism on Smith and his tenure at Minnesota. Some new quotes from Tubby about his time and standards at UK.

about 3 years ago EEWildcat 9 comments 0 recs |

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Great Article

Covers the story pretty well. He’s right with that quote.

Kentucky is happy with Gillispie. Minnesota is happy with Tubby.

Win. Win.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 29, 2009 9:55 PM EST reply actions

I was annoyed ...

… at that comment, actually. I think Smith is a great coach, but I can’t believe he is holding 2007 up as a good year.

Look, 22 games is fine at Florida and Tennessee. It is a bad year for Kentucky. Yes, Gillispie’s 18 win first season was worse, but he’s not holding that up with pride, either. I just don’t believe Smith actually thinks this. I think it is a defensive reflex, and if he really believes in his heart that 2007 was a good year, or even an acceptable one, well, I’m just surprised and disappointed in him.

No, it isn’t a catastrophe. Yes, we have had worse, and more often than most people remember. The difference is, none of those coaches, to my memory, held it up as a good thing. I wish Smith wouldn’t. If he can’t convince me, what chance does he have of convincing his real critics?

I’m glad Coach Smith is happy at UM, but this sort of quote is not helpful, nor is it contextually accurate. If he can’t call back-to-back 22-13/22-12 seasons with no sniff of national ranking bad, I’ll help him out. At Kentucky, Coach Smith, those kind of seasons are bad. Period.

I am done.

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

by Glenn Logan on Jan 30, 2009 9:20 AM EST reply actions

I'll Help, Too > 1960 And 1961

18-7 and 19-9. NR both years. No NCAA in 1960. 1-1 in NCAA in 1961.

Few coaches can say 22-12 (or 22-13) are My Worst Season(s) at the school. Coach K cannot. Roy Williams cannot. Jim Calhoun cannot. Rick Pitino cannot. To name but a few.

Tubby is NOT claiming that 2006 or 2007 were GOOD, just that those were his WORST years at UK.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 30, 2009 9:54 AM EST up reply actions

That's not ...

… what he implied here. In my opinion.

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

by Glenn Logan on Feb 1, 2009 9:37 AM EST up reply actions

I Think It Is

We both know he sometimes says things in a way that cannot be clearly interpreted.

But that’s what he meant, I think.

by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 1, 2009 1:04 PM EST up reply actions

OK GUYS

Smith was a great coach but the game has changed in the last 10 years (Just like everything else in this world) and I know everyone says this same phrase but…. Rick P. left NBA players for Tubby and what did Tubby leave. A great shooter in Meeks. WHAT ELSE!!!! Billy G. sealed the deal with Patterson and that is a fact. Tubby couldn’t have done it. He would either be at Flordia or Duke. NUFF SAID

by bigkat25 on Jan 30, 2009 5:12 PM EST reply actions

Patterson AND Lucas WERE UK Bound In March 2007

Tubby left Crawford (NBA draft pick) and Meeks (likely NBA draft pick) among others.

There were no NBA players on the roster in May 1997. Nazr developed into one in 1998. Padgett in 1998 and 99. Magloire in 1998-99-2000. Bradley in 1998 and 99 plus 2001. None was NBA ready in 1997 nor even close.

You’re just FLAT OUT wrong.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 30, 2009 8:12 PM EST up reply actions