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Post by Administrator on Jan 17, 2003 2:05:55 GMT -5
I saw this poll on another board and thought it was interesting.
If Tubby Smith wins another championship, would that be enough to embrace him as our coach and unite the Big Blue Nation?
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Post by Tummygoat on Jan 17, 2003 7:40:30 GMT -5
No question on that one Spam. It's hard enough to win a NC and I don't care whose players you have. A Coach has to be a motivator for when you're down and for when you are up (he has problems with the latter). Sometimes I look at Tubby and wonder, maybe the '98 champ was a fluke. But then games like USC and now recently Vanderbilt show me that that was Tubby performing in 1998. I mean the whole second half of the Vanderbilt game I felt like I was in a state of deja vu living my junior year in high school all over again...yet it was 2003 and it was still Tubby.
I think the difference now is that we don't have the best players in our program. We have GOOD players, but we don't have AWESOME players. Bogans is an awesome player, but he needs more around him to make him better. Fitch, Daniels, Estill, Hawkins, to me are good Good players that would start for most any team, but they aren't the best. However, I'm very very happy with them and right now I wouldn't trade them in for anything.
I think this past Vandy game was a testament to Tubby's coaching that he can coach and with the right players in mind and talent, he could make any team good. It took K and Olson a long time to get a NC and Roy Williams is still looking for one. Tubby's been here six years and delivered a NC and almost another Final Four. I'm really interested to see how far we get this season because that just may be the thing that keeps him or kicks him...but one thing for sure is taht another NC would seal the deal for anyone questioning whether or not he can coach. I'm pretty sure he can, but I'm going to say that aside from the SOS and SEC one of the reasons we may not be so good is recruiting and he's promised to do a better job with that.
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Post by TedRay80 on Jan 17, 2003 9:47:34 GMT -5
Very well said, Grant. I notice someone has already voted no. Whomever that may be is someone with the "expect perfection" mentality. Any coach that can win two national championships over six years' time (one with a full team of players he recruited himself) is more than good enough for UK. To expect more is absolutely ludicrous.
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Post by MyBlueHeaven on Jan 28, 2003 22:09:23 GMT -5
Ofcourse, I voted yes. But, IMO we don't have to win another NT. I wouldn't lose my mind if we didn't win another SEC Tourney.
I just want to see a team and a coach put their 110% effort on the floor the majority of the time. I just want to see a team that has heart and is proud to be a Wildcat.
To Coach Smith's credit, I'm seeing more of that this season. I'm excited about this team because the team is excited and currently in unison.
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Post by Seattlekat on Jan 30, 2003 7:43:22 GMT -5
I voted the second NO. The question: be enough to embrace him as "our" coach and unite the BBN. By the "posts" I have read over the last 3 years - I don't think Tubby will ever be "embraced" by the BBN - regardless of what he accomplishes. I already embrace him as "MY" coach of the Wildcats and winning National Championships only "seems" to make the BBN "expect" more - whatever that would "be"!! I hate to "beat this in the ground", but the caller that stated, "Watch Tubby win a NC this year and we will be stuck with him for another 4 years!!" - seems to be the mentality of "many" UK fans!! I think Tubby is an outstanding Coach. He "adapts, he "improvises", and he "overcomes" as a Coach. He is a proven winner and a "class act" His work with the Olympic Team was great, but, may have put him "a little out of focus" - but - Tubby has re-dedicated himself and "come back" stronger than ever. What more would "one" want?? I am proud to have Mr. Orlando "Tubby" Smith as the Head Coach of "MY" Kentucky Wildcats! I have always stated that and I always will (barring a total "meltdown" of the UK program). So - GO BIG BLUE!! GO Tubby!! Go Team!!
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