Tubby Smith resigns, taking Minnesota job

[bills217]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry day for Big Blue.

[/ QUOTE ]

ARE YOU KIDDING?

This is the 8th best day in the history of Kentucky basketball.

[LesJ]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Sorry day for Big Blue.

[/ QUOTE ]

ARE YOU KIDDING?

This is the 8th best day in the history of Kentucky basketball.

[/ QUOTE ]

I truly don't understand how a fan could say this. As a Kentucky fan, I am far from enamored with double-digit loss seasons, but I am not real happy with how this has apparently gone down.

I think Tubby is a great man and I wish him nothing but the best at Minnesota. I think his bruising, defensive-minding philosophy will work well in the Big Ten.

Les

[bills217]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Sorry day for Big Blue.

[/ QUOTE ]

ARE YOU KIDDING?

This is the 8th best day in the history of Kentucky basketball.

[/ QUOTE ]

I truly don't understand how a fan could say this. As a Kentucky fan, I am far from enamored with double-digit loss seasons, but I am not real happy with how this has apparently gone down.

I think Tubby is a great man and I wish him nothing but the best at Minnesota. I think his bruising, defensive-minding philosophy will work well in the Big Ten.

Les

[/ QUOTE ]

Well that was a bit of an exaggeration. But you get the point. There is much rejoicing in the Bluegrass.

Andy Katz just listed off a bunch of names that would all be a disappointment, and he neglected to mention the guy who pretty much is the entire list:

Billy Donovan.

Unless it's something truly wild like D'Antoni/Pat Riley (admittedly unlikely), Kentucky absolutely will not hire a coach without calling Donovan. That is a guarantee. Which could be awkward considering he is playing for a 2nd straight NC at the moment.

A guy that I would prefer over Crean/Few/Calapari etc. is Bruce Pearl, although I don't know how the rest of the fan base would feel about that.

[mmbt0ne]

Seriously, if Pat Riley made any expression of wanting to coach the UK basketball team and got the job, I would stop watching.

Getting rid of Tubby to bring in Bruce Pearl is laughable.

[Uston]

Does the typical Kentucky fan really think that they're too good for Tom Izzo?

[LesJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Does the typical Kentucky fan really think that they're too good for Tom Izzo?

[/ QUOTE ]

Tom Izzo doesn't "excite" me as a UK fan, but it isn't because I think we are too good for him. Izzo has an incredible record of accomplishment at Michigan State. I think he is a class individual, and I can't really think of any "negatives" from his program during his tenure. All that being said, I could probrably put together a list of 15-20 coaches I would rather see come in. Regardless, it will be very interesting to see what kind of reaction this hire will have with the UK fan base. I have a hard time seeing ANYBODY coming in and gaining universal acceptance right away (for better or worse).

Les

[KUJustin]

Izzo is among the best but that's not very relevant.

And 18 year olds who are really, really good at basketball know all about tradition. These guys live and breathe basketball, are you kidding me?

[MyTurn2Raise]

[ QUOTE ]
Does the typical Kentucky fan really think that they're too good for Tom Izzo?

[/ QUOTE ]

from what i've read, they just don't like his style.
They're sick of games in the 60s and the big11ten type style.
I cannot really blame them.

Everyone loves Izzo's ability.