I’d like to say I’m sorry to everyone up front for writing this because I know no one wants to talk about the past (especially me) but the crushing weight of irony would kill me if I didn’t.
Here’s a headline from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Barring a significant change, new Gophers men’s basketball coach Tubby Smith said he won’t add any more players to the team’s roster for next season.
Ouch. That has to be tough to swallow for Gopher fans if they heard any of the criticism Tubby received before he left 
town. Or if they’ve been blinded by the spotlight that Billy Clyde is shining while searching for recruits NATIONWIDE.
Those of you in the national media that are so quick to shout “those racists ran him out of town” should go read that article. Being complacent about recruiting is something the Big Blue Nation is no longer willing to accept. Go Billy Clyde Go.
[Edit by Hefty Lefty] Right after reading this post, I came across an article in the Courier Journal that talks about the $300,000 increase in UK’s recruiting budget. Rumors that the increase was to pay for Billy Clyde’s cell phone bill are completely unsubstantiated. One of these coaches is definitely not like the other.
From the original article:
“We’re not going to bring anybody in unless they can help us,” Smith said. “It’s tough finding somebody who can do that at this point.
Yes it is tough finding players “at this point”. That’s why it requires…you know…actual work.
It is a glaring contrast. Gillispie hit the ground running and has his name popping up everywhere. You can see a genuine passion there. You have to love what you do.
Does anyone want to tell me Tubby has a passion for Minnesota basketball? He hasn’t even bothered to start fixing a bad team with some players.
This can’t end well for the Gophers.
Well, I don’t think Smith can get involved with any players at the pace he does so. Every year he was here, we rarely if ever landed recruits during the early period, it was always late in the game.
His method apparently requires a long-term go-it-slow approach, which I don’t think pans out all that well given his recent track record here. In fact, I wonder if recruits don’t prefer a more high-energy approach. I know I do, as a fan.
Alrighty, so let me get 2 things out of the way first. First of all I used to be a Tubby sympathiser (please hold your boos to a mininmum) that was until I played for him at 3 consecutive UK basketball campls, and tried out for a walk on spot. By the way, I didnt change my mind about him because I didnt make it, in fact due to an accident that my father had happen to him I had to put college off for a few years to save the family farm, but I digress. 2. I have played basketball at a high level, and so I have a fleeting hope that i know what I am talking about. Anyway, this is just like tubby to decide to sit on his hands and not even try to pick up another player. The team that he inherited was flat out horrible winning next to no games, I mean horrible. I also think that they will be better next year but that for a coach to not even attempt to recruit anybody else to help out the team is ridiculous, but expected from Tubby. Statistics say that they will win more games than they did last year (more like law of probability) but I dont see tubby ever being in the national spotlight again, I dont believe that he will be bringing home a big ten championship anytime soon, but hey at least next year there will be an extra scholarship for him to lose in his desk with faxes that he gets from his players. I loved him for a while but the man just is too lazy to become the great great outstanding coach that he could be.
Polio, I think your story would have a lot of weight, and would be an interesting puzzle piece to help UK fans figure out the last 10 years, if you wrote it and signed your real name. Not to say you’re lying, because you’re probably not; but the anonymity of the Internet that protects your identity also discredits your story, as you have presented it here. Casting aside my normal ass-hattery on the Internet, I hope that your father and family were able to overcome the tragedy that prevented you from walking on.
I don’t think Tubby was ever “lazy”. I think Tubby wanted to do things his way. For a few years, his way was sending assistant coaches to do the majority of the recruiting. Without trying to overextend an analogy, you don’t expect Bill Gates to micromanage every single department in Microsoft. That being said, Tubby’s hands-off recruiting really did hurt our chances. It was his decision to have him focus his time on other aspects of the game, and/or entrust the recruiting to his associate coaches. That makes his decision bad; it does not make him lazy.
I think the UK Fanbase/Media has taken too much from this “we aren’t recruiting” statement. I don’t think Minnesota, with Tubby Smith or Coach K or Billy Donovan coming in, could be fighting for Pat Patterson or Jai Lucas or any other existing top-50 recruit.
Thats why Tubby left for Minnesota, he doesn’t have to worry about recruiting top 50 recruits and putting a top ten team on the floor every season. He is lazy and content drawing his money and winning 15-20 games.
“15 to 20″ might be understating it a little. He was always in the 20-plus range here.
How are these assinine comments looking like right about now? Tubby outrecruited Billy for his 2008 class at Minnesota (at least according to some scouting services). That’s right. There’s snow on the ground and it’s below zero again today in Minnesota. Why would anyone want to play at Minnesota when they can play as BB royalty at Kentucky?
Minnesota (10-3) has more wins and is currently a “bubble” NT team after winning 8-9 games last season (with the same players).
I can guarantripletee you that Tubby ain’t content. If you watch his intensity during practices and games, you’ll know that in a New York minute.
And to say that Tubby left the cupboard bare in Kentucky is laughable. Kentucky has players that people have heard of at least. Had you heard of any of Minnesota’s players who were within a basket of taking the lead on #7 Michigan State with under 3:00 to play at MSU? Minnesota lost by 42 at MSU last season. Now I know MSU is no Gardner Webb or San Diego, but still they aren’t too bad.