Wow, this has been a heck of a week, eh? Buyout rumors, Mitch’s very distant assessment of the program and Coach Smith, and crappy rap videos. We have people saying that Tubby’s contract buyout is possible.
Of course, there are still games to be played. Tonight is Senior Night. Nobody’s talking about giving Sheray, Woo and Bobby a good send-off because we’re all stirring the pot. They have worked and played hard for 4 years. The players deserve for us fans to stop screaming at each other and in the general direction of Memorial Coliseum. The players deserve for us to show them some appreciation for being committed to the Big Blue.
I’ve been thinking for a while about how I can shift gears out of fighting mode and back into Big Blue Fan mode. Given recent events, I think I finally found a path back to being a fan for just a little while longer, until the conclusion of the NCAAs.
I’m going to stop worrying about Tubby’s future.
What’s said has been said. People think he needs to go, people thinks he can stay and right the ship. Obviously the UKAA has heard enough. So, in my opinion, it doesn’t need to be said anymore. I would wish folks would stop with the “Tubby has to go” talk until after the NCAAs, but I know that’s like trying to herd cats. So I’m going to ignore all Tubby leaves or Tubby stays arguments until April.
That being said, here’s my final take on the recent events. After this, that’s it. I swear.
I think the key ingredient to whether Tubby stays or goes will be his staff. If he stays, most of his staff will be slashed. There will be at least one assistant coach brought in to organize a more robust offense. One of the biggest complaints you hear about Tubby from everybody is the lack of energy on the offensive side of the ball; I can see how Mitch could demand a change in that area.
Also, I think the only scenario where Tubby’s contract is bought out is if he steadfastly refuses to cut his staff. Last year he said he was going to make changes but there were very few replacements (the high profile Strength coach, maybe another). The rest of the changes were internal, mostly about getting Tubby more involved in the recruiting process. If Tubby tries to protect or hold onto his current staff, I think UKAA will proceed to buy out his contract.
If Tubby goes, we will most likely lose Patterson and Lucas as recruits as well. Both have stated that the coaching situation is a concern for them. Draymond Green will also likely change his commitment, since he told Kentucky Sports Radio that Tubby’s relationship with his high school’s coach factored into his choice.
Okay, that’s it. I swear. No more.
In addition to ignoring the tired Tubby debates, I am going to have realistic expectations for the rest of the year.
This team has the talent and potential to go to another Elite 8. However, due to one reason or another, it seems we can’t get 40 good minutes out of the team. Normally, our arrogant Kentucky expectations demand the SEC Tournament Final and the NCAA Final Four. I’m adjusting it to something that is reasonable based on their play.
I expect UK to get to the SEC Semi-Finals, and I expect them to to get to the Sweet 16 in NCAA. Both of those goals are reasonable for that team. If the team comes together and makes a nice late run in either tournament, I will be thrilled.
If you can only get through the rest of the season by spouting hate about Tubby and his kids, don’t be offended if I refuse to give you the time of day. I want to see Kentucky basketball in a positive light from here on out. There will be plenty of time for hate and Tubby bashing and protests and rioting in the off-season.
Serenity now! (Insanity later…)
February 28th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
I appreciate your support of the team, I think we all want to see them win, but being blind to the facts won’t solve anything.
The seniors have played hard at times, but as far as being loyal, what other choice do they have? Nobody else of any count wanted them. The past two senior classes speak volumes about what has happened to the program.
You make valid points, but your expectations are still unrealistic. I think we’ll get put out on either Thursday or Friday in the SEC. We haven’t beat anybody outside of Indiana and Louisville who’s any good, why would we start now? Honestly, if we lose tonight and against FLorida and lose early in the sec we might not be dancing in March.
You’re right though, this team has the quality to make an elite 8 run but they don’t have the leadership or attitude. Our juniors play scared at the end of the game. I don’t think this is all Tubby’s fault but it’s the same story year after year, never prepared, always sloppy, our defense is very overrated. We’ve held teams down because recently, the NCAA has had horrible shooters. For Tubby’s sake, if he has a chance in the NBA, he should take it. If he fails this year and next and is dismissed, his stock will fall significantly.
Finally, I don’t think anyone is spitting hate, they are just frustrated. The vandy game was typical of our season, we honestly could be undefeated in the SEC but we have no leadership in close games.
We can make the sweet 16 if we get another cake walk like two years ago when we played eastern, cincy and utah. If we’re an 8 seed or lower, it’s two games tops for us.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
I think your a little confused. Maybe I wasn’t clear enough.
I’m not blind to the facts; but the facts are already out there. Why go over them again and again?
To restate: I’m not putting my hands in my ears and screaming “LA LA LA I CAN’T HEAR YOU”; I just know exactly what everybody has been saying, because they have been saying it all year long. And the pro-Tubby crowd has the same arguments, and the anti-Tubby crowd have the same arguments (bolstered by the recent losing streak).
There is nothing new to the debate. UKAA is clearly going to address Tubby’s future with the school after the season is over. So why spend any more time beating people over the head with opinions?
When the final loss of the 2006-07 Wildcat season is in the books, I will go right back into Tubby evaluation mode. Until then, I think I should avoid it. I encourage everyone else to do likewise, but I’m not going to order/demand you to do so.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
How about speculating on where (if) we might go in the NCAAs? I think that would be a worthwhile topic and would allow you to avoid rehashing pro-/anti-Tubby arguments. I agree that Tubby can’t do much to end this season on a high note, short of winning the SEC tourney and making a deep run (past the Sweet 16), and until we see how the season ends, we won’t have much of an idea of what to expect from UKAA. In the interim, we can at least ponder some potential matchups, scenarios, etc. in the upcoming tournaments.
I think it’d be reasonable to expect that we go 1-1 (W vs. UGA, L vs. UF) with 1, maaaybe 2, wins the SEC tourney. So where does that put us? A #8 seed in the Midwest? What does Florida’s swoon mean for us? What about the fortunes of some teams we played well against earlier in the season (UL, for example), etc. etc.
Just thought I’d provide you with some fodder.
Cheers
February 28th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
i still have 5 on the buy out. As a matter of fact in my household in Bowling Green We have raised 28. 79 with money in the couch and the swear jar. R u watching the game? There are only three players that are scoring but I did like to see that Porter has gotten some PT
March 14th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Hello, Kentucky fans-
I am the publisher of www.VillanovaViewpoint.com. I have written a basic preview of UK/VU, which will eventually become a comprehensive preview, as soon as possible (I have to learn a lot about UK in a hurry, and so the basic preview is all that’s up right now.)
I considered waiting until the comprehensive preview was finished to post on this board, but when I noticed the post below, wondering as to where online to find Villanova fans or learn what we’re thinking as to Friday, I figured that UK fans would rather have the basic preview as soon as possible, and be happy to wait for the comprehensive one to be done later (hopefully by Thursday morning, I’ll have completed it).
It’s mostly about UK, as you can imagine, because it’s written for a VU audience and we’re already pretty familiar w/ our own set of Wildcats… If you have any questions about VU or the state of mind of the fans or our expectations, just reply to this post, I’ll answer any questions I can.
Comments, positive or otherwise, are always encouraged.
Just click on the link: http://www.villanovaviewpoint.com
There is a new button on the top menu labeled “NCAA - Kentucky”. All the UK material, basic and comprehensive, will be found there. Just click it. If I’ve made any mistakes on UK, please let me know (I’m giving myself a crash course on UK hoops but nobody understands a program like its own fans, obviously, so let me know.)
Good luck on Friday.