Tubby Smith To Texas Tech

[Babyboomer]

Texas Tech took a play right out of the University of Kentucky's playbook today. If you make a colossal mistake in hiring a coach, then make up for it by swinging for the fences and bring in someone that won't psychologically impair your players. Actually, that should be the goal of any program, but especially those programs who have experienced the legend of Billy Clyde Gillispie.

Just one week after Minnesota fired Tubby, the Red Raiders chose another former UK coach to lead their basketball program...a sane one this time. It was announced today that Tubby Smith will be hired as the new head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. He follows a long line of Kentucky villians: Bobby Knight, Pat Knight and Billy Clyde.

Maybe Kentucky can schedule a game with Texas Tech where UK can properly hang Tubby's banner in the rafters with Coach Smith in attendence. Say what you will about Tubby, but he brought #7 to UK and did things the right way while in Lexington. Congrats Tubby and Donna!

The folks in Lubbock have a quality man at the helm. It is a definite change in their coaching image.

[BlueCat]

I wish Tubby all the best as he leads the Red Raiders to what I am sure will yet another sweet 16 for a Tubby coached team. Texas is fertile recruiting grounds that will help Tubby in an area that has certainly been a weak spot for him in the past. He could do very well deep in the heart of Texas. Minnesota was a no win situation for Tubby since he hates recruiting and Minnesota isn't exactly a hot bed of top recruits or a destination that many would want to end up at.

[TheSpectre]

Minnesota is probably the loser here. While Tubby was not likely going to take the Gophers to a Final Four, he did win 20+ games in 5 of 6 seasons; big-time winning by Minnesota standards.

Texas Tech will be good for Tubby, I agree. I think he'll have them consistently competing for an NCAA bid.

[ForeverBigBlue]

I wish Tubby the very best. If nothing else, he should see an improvement in weather!

[seymour]

Smith is/was a good half court coach and should be able to win some games. He still can't recruit with the elite coaches, but he won't be recruiting against them so much as against the second level programs and he should be able to hold his own. I look for him to finish his career at TT and to take them to the tourney from time to time.

Will that satisfy the fan base? I doubt it, but we can hope that his signing is not oversold as it was in Minn. That would kill his tenure as quick as anything as he is not going to take TT to the promised land with a championship. TT is not a program where that will happen in my lifetime.

[Calituckybball]

Guess Texas Tech likes to get our "leftovers".....I do wish Tubby the best though.....Minnesota made a mistake in my opinion

[BlueCat]

Haha, most teams would like to have our leftovers.