RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Old wine only gets better with age.

Unfortunately, Tubby is soured milk.

Get the man out of here. This place stinks!!!

good defensive coach. not the best offensive coach. doesn't bring the best out of the players he has.

Kentucky basketball has been declining ever since Tubby won it all with Pitino's players. Never in his 15 years of coaching has he ever recruited one player that played in a final four, championship game or became the champion. He can not develope big men, consistently puts players in unnatural positions, boring style of play, recruits streak shooters, runs off to many players, recruits selfish players, and never ever wins the big games. He has tried his best to make "The Program" look like Tulsa. GO Tubby, back to Tulsa

Tubby the best, yeh right. Tubby is average at best, and is to hard headed to relize he is bringing down what use to be a dynasty. I find myself watching more West Virgina, basketball because I can't stand watching Tubbyball, even when the CATS win is still doesn't look impressive. Tubby, has got to leave.

TUBBY WILL NOT WIN ANOTHER NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP. HIS RECRUITING IS TERRIBLE. IT'S TIME FOR A NEW COACH. KENTUCKY FANS WON'T PUT UP WITH ANOTHER YEAR OF FAILURE. IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE.

He is not a good coach at all, He is on a 11 game winning streak against nobody teams, he will be considered great if he can upset Flordia

To anyone that says Tubby is the best, Tubby should stay, or whatever positive remarks said are totally a opinion from someone that has never played organized basketball. Im not one to jump on or off a bandwagon, but Ive watched alot of Tubbys different teams and they are all coached with the same offensive set. When he took over UK, the commentor below could have coached that team to a national championship, Pittino had it stacked. Im not going to spend alot of time trying to change someones mind about Tubby, I just want to point out his teams major flaws. 1)Lack of ball movement 2)Floor spacing 3)Lack of a good motion offense 4)Unability to excute set offensive plays in crunch time 5)Unable to teach players how to roll off a pick and setting a good pick away from ball 5)Free throw shooting sucks(if there free better take them). I could go on but I wont. Im a true KY fan, and want only the best possible coach for the #1 basketball program in the nation. Im not lynching Tubby, right now he is our coach, and will probably will be for a while, I just wish he would start listening and reading what is being said and written, I beleive he is hard headed and insisting that his program will work. The bottom line is that his job depends on W&L's, and a couple more years like this one will really drop his stock. What everybody has to remember is that he is responsible for everything happening in tha e basketball program. If the players cant cant take instruction well, he recuited them- if he cant keep his players in class he has no control- if the players look soft and tired at clutch time he conditions them- if the players are standing around and not moving in the game he has a bench- Tubby will be his own destruction. This comment was written by a man that has played basketball all his life, starting in gradeschool and finishing @ a division 2 program, and still active in independent leagues. Everybody has an opinion but some are a little more educated than others. w

Tubby is the best. First of all as far as putting out NBA players, he has one of the best out there playing on the best team in the NBA (Prince for the Pistons). So, all those post down below about NBA players, you must not know what you are talking about!!!! Second, is Pitino's team in the NCAA tourny???? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Is Tubby's Yessssssssssssssssssssss! I love it! He just keeps proving all you rednecks wrong and you can't stand it. I am a Kentucky girl, I love my Wildcats, and I love their coach! I would support Tubby and cheer for his team even if he left and went to another school. I would just have two teams to cheer for. I hope he never leaves UK. We need him. If Azabuki would not have put in for the draft and we would have had Morris for the whole year we whould have been even better this year. Go Cats and Beat UAB Tonight! Got to go watch to game!

Tubby has to go. Kentucky has gone nowhere since he took over as head coach. The players he recruits are mediochre at best. Yes, he came to Kentucky and won a National Championship...with Pitino's recruits. In my honest opinion, we'd have been better off if Tubby would have stayed in Georgia. HE'S GOTTA GO!!

He has a pretty good history, but his team looks lost this year.

When the fans lose faith so be it. When the players consistently disregard instruction, fail to execute the simple things, refuse to practice, sulk on the bench, and generally lose respect for the head man then it is time for a new leader. Each year Tubby likes to promote one man to the media. One can't miss product. He did it with Rondo this year and that is the guy that appears to be burying him. The guy who either can't or won't adhere to the rules and as the annointed "Golden Child" won't be benched. Sit the guy for pete's sake. Take back control of the team. One last thing.. Morris appears to be out of shape. He can't keep up and since Tubby won't sit him either, Morris uses his fouls to get a breather. Meanwhile on the blue bench sits a 7'2" freshman who shows better moves and savvy than either of the other two 7'ers, but it is "coaches decision" not to play him. Tubby can't turn out NBA players, can't control his elite players, can't get to the final four, can't get a team to learn to full court press and can't recruit the number one player in the state. Go Tubby! All the way back to Maryland.

Tubby is terrible. If you want to know why check out my site at www.scrubtubb.com . Thanks

Tubby is as outdated as Denny Crum was when he stepped down. Slowdown ball just doesn't work anymore.Time for a change.

Tubby Smith is a bad UK coach... He would be fine in a mediocre program, but not one like the University of Kentucky. Point 1: Tubby won the National Championship with Pitino's team... The team grew progressively worse the next year and veteran players like Padgett and Evans who were incredible shooters under Pitino, seemed to lose their "touch" after one season with Tubby... Could that be because he would take them out after two missed shots? Point 2: How do you take a gift, like the press that Pitino left him, and not use it? STUPID!! Point 3: Nepotism... Saul appears to be a great guy, and maybe even a decent basketball player for a small D1 school, or D2 school... Tubby makes him primary point guard??? That killed recruiting for three years... Point 4: People keep saying what a great defensive team they are... Give me a break... THEY SUCK!! All a team has to do is drive in, and they get a lay-up... It's one of the reasons I can't stand to watch them play anymore. Point 5: Duke, Michigan State, UCONN, NC, etc... Big name programs don't REALLY EVER HAVE bad years... They may be weaker at the beginning until they find their rhythm, but they always (Duke) finish at the top by March... Point 6: Tubby has two guys over 7ft. tall, and the tall guy who just came back's supposed to save this team??? Get real... a team needs to be better than one player. Point 7: UK will NEVER WIN ANOTHER NATIONAL TITLE under Tubby Smith. Point 8: They won't get rid of him, because he is the 1st black coach at UK... and every group will scream racism... In fact people will call me a racist, just for stating the obvious... but my opinion has nothing to do with color... I think there are many excellent black coaches... Tubby just isn't one of them. Point 9: Pitino was an excellent teacher... he can take average players and help them reach their potential... Tubby takes excellent players and what does he do? In my opinion, nothing... Point 10: It seems that certain players run the team, instead of the coach... he caters to certain egos...(Bogans). The rules should be the same for everyone... That's if you want a team... I can't bear to watch them play anymore... It's not about winning either... If they don't win, but have played a tough, hard game, I can live with that... What I can't live with, it the fact that my beloved Kentucky has become a mediocre program, that now blends in with the other has been schools... (Of course, the announcers LOVE Tubby... because being the snobs they are, it paves the way for the East Coast schools to win... Kentucky is no longer a threat at the big dance.)

Any coach that has kept a clean program at UK for nearly 10 yrs is a great coach.Him not doing like Pitino,Sutton,Hall,and Rupp did is a testament to his great character & integrity.After all, how can any true UK fan bash Tubby when he is 1 for 1 in F4 appearances,while Pitino is 1 for 5 in his F4 appearances.I guess if Tubby made it back to the F4 & did'nt win the title he'd be doing what the great Pitino has done.I still see F4 banners hanging beside 7 NCAA titles in Rupp Arena in2005.Support your coach fans,he's gonna need it the next decade after the Heels 4ever this time pass uk in NCAA titles & wins.You don't hath to worry about F4 banners.UNC 16 UK 13 head to head UNC 18 to 10.Tarheels rule!!!!!!!!!!

my uncle pat looks like tubby smith except he's white

let's look at the facts...the number one program in the country in the nineties..has fallen out of the top 25..all because tubby is a one dimensional coach..defense only..kentucky cannot recruit the top players anymore because of one reason..the coach..unc loses their 7 top players and replaces them with top talent why can't uk?? a student of basketball can see that one man dribbling and 4 watching is not a productive offense...uk deserves the best coach available...unfortunately tubby smith is not it....

Tubby Smith is one of the best things thats ever happend to UK...They seem to keep imporving! you can ask his own players..ones who played for him and ones who played for Pitino..they say tubby coaches for teh love of the sport...Pitino for the win!

Classiest coach in business

michigan state was one heck of a game and uk should have pulled it out they were a young team that made young mistakes when they had a chance to put them away in the 1st overtime michigan st had a bunch of veteran seniors. 1 championship, 1 final 4, 3 elite 8s, 5 sweet 16s, 5 sec championships, 4 sec tournament champions, not a bad 7 year run

Its TUBBY TIME again and I can't wait... who needs pitino or coach k.... Tubby has given the CATS the best winning percentage in the last 3 years and maintained our programs supremecy

www.geocities.com/pitino_tubby_facts Tubby is indeed a very good coach. But he has NO comparison to Pitino.

Coach Smith is simply one of the best coaches in the country and an asset to the University of Kentucky as well as the Commonwealth. I believe he will continue to survive the opinions of such fools as we see posting here and in time quite possibly prove himself to be the best coach UK has ever had. It is hard to imagine how little one would have to know about either basketball or the man to provide Mr. Smith a 1-Terrible or 2-Bad rating born of honesty. Far more than ignorance coupled with fan fanaticism, it seems clear that these sorts of critiques more often than not, have the strongest portion of their base built upon racist origins. How sad.

tubby is getting off too easy. His team this year, and in other years too, routinely gets outcoached. Against Michigan St they looked lost.

Class all the way...Will be the greatest

Tubby finds ways to win, even when he doesnt have the talent of the other guys. Go Tubby, go 'Cats, and murder Louisville.

A great coach and a great basketball program. UK is consistant and has ranked high for years!!! GO CATS!

Hasn't been to a final four since his first season at Kentucky - 8 years. That's hard to do at the #1 collegiate basketball program. And he wouldn't have won that championship his first year without Pitino's players. The guy can't recruit.

I am not surprised to see that Tubby only gets a 3.5 on here, because I know quite a few racist Kentucky fans. It is too bad they aren't smart enough to realize that Tubby is only a few tenths behind Pitino and Rupp in all-time winning percentage.

tubby is overated and as a ky fan i would love to see him gone, his style stinks. hes a phony and some ky fans can see that. go tubby and take all your staff with you. wcv

Tubby Smith. Period.

I rate Tubby as a Good Coach that may be on the verge of greatness....by UK standards. All he needs are a couple of final fours over the next few years, and another NCAA Championship down the road and he will achieve UK greatness. C. Thompson Los Angeles, CA

A great coach and an even better person!

We love the TUB!! Go Cats!

not only does he know how to win, but you will never meet a better human being.

Tubby Smith is hands down the best coach in college basketball. Not just because I am a die hard UK fan do I say this, I have many reasons to back it up. Step 1 as a head coach: Recruiting! Tubby just went out and recruited maybe the best freshman class UK has ever had, and definitely the best in college hoops this season. He got three McDonalds All Americans in Rajon Rondo, Randolph Morris, and Joe Crawford. He also got Ramel Bradley from New York. Step 2: Coaching Ability!! UK plays one of the best defenses in college basketball and thats what makes them so good. With their great defense and their players athletic ability they are a top program every year. They also have a good half court offense and can beat lots of teams with their shooting. If you think he is a good coach, look at the facts. UK has been ranked in the top 10 in the RPI polls for 29 straight weeks. Thats just phenomenal. Step 3: NCAA tournament!! He has led them to the NCAA tournament in all his 7 years at UK and a National Championship in 1998 in his first season. They have also won a couple of SEC Championships under Tubby including last years. Step 4: Off the Court!! He helps raise tons of money for numerous reasearch organizations and charities in the Tubby Smith Foundation. He has raised tons of money over his years to help improve Lexington, Kentucy, and college basketball. Tubby has helped continue the tradtion of excellence in Kentucky and puts his name in a place of many greats, in Adolph Rupp, Rick Pitino, and Joe B. Hall.

Play chess with Tubby Smith and you will lose.

I think Tubby is a pretty good coach. But take it from me; I'm a black and old Kentucky native and a diehard fan, Kentucky fans are the meanest in the country! They are critical, unfair and always looking for a reason to send him if he doesn't meet their standards. I feel thatthe fans live for men's basketball. Right now women's basketball and the football team are pitiful. If it wasn't for tubby, Ky sports would be nowhere!

He's a very good coach, but the expectations make him seem worse than he is. He's maintained Kentucky at a high level , which is an accomplishment in itself. They expect more of course, but Tubby delivers what you'd want from a top coach. He won a National Championship and gets top players and produces pro players. UK needs to go to a Final Four more often with him though. It's all there to do so, and Tubby must produce, but if you look at what he gives you at the end of the year, you have to say he's a great coach.

Anybody who hates on this man, I would bet my life is that guy whom everybody who knows him, hates him. Man, you know you're a sonof*bitch if you hate on Tubby. You probably hate your grampaw if you hate Tubby.

He is without a doubt the best defensive mind in the game today. And one of the best Bench coaches in Basketball.

Terrible coach who put his son as the STARTING PG. Saul wouldn't have make most Div 1 teams.... That's enough to give the man a 1.

I think he has finally balanced his recruiting with his bench coaching abilities. I was very down on his recruiting. I have always believed he is the best bench coach in the country. He is too impulse when it comes to recruiting though, and my biggest gripe is his need to change a players natural talents to fit his system rather than using them to the team's advantage.

Good coach, even a better person.

Tubby Smith is going to become one of the greatest of all time, at the winningest NCAA school, of all time. Tubby finally has the talent to soar. Get ready for more UK NCAA banners. It's gonna happen, guaranteed. Go Tubby! Go Cats!

more than i can say for some of these so called experts

Super Coach. Super man. Has overacheived with less than top talent and should now do even better with a stellar recruiting class. Go Cats!

Best coach in the land, both on and off the court. Great character, very honest, and knows how to win. Usually does not have the best talent in the nation, but will still beat others that do. A class act.

dont envy the pressure there

Tarheel fan, but hard to hate on Tubby. Face it people, most of the guys on here are good at what they do( with the exception of a few) It just depends on who you like and who you don't.

Is this man seriously above Eddie Sutton? Yeah, he is a good coach, but how hard is it to recruit awesome players at Kentucky. Eddie works with little talent and still gets the job done.

I m a Duke fan but am man enough to admitt that Tubby is a very good basketball coach!

Shows class and dignity under extreme pressure from the BigBlueNation. Humble despite his accomplishments, which are huge.

To all you people who think Tubby is a great coach, yeah right! Tubby has been there 7 seasons and 4 of those seasons has lost more than 9 games, not quite up to ky's standards. Does he think he can carry over timeouts to the next game. Tubby, YOU CAN'T!!!!!! Let's talk about Saul, he couldn't have started for any other team in the country, yet he started for ky. Wonder who his dad is? The bottom line is: TUBBY LOSES THE BIG GAMES. Well he did win the championship game his 1st year. I could have coached that team to the national championship, they made the final game the previous 2 years, what has he done since??????/

Representin' So. MD with pride, baby boy!

Great Job Tubby. Another SEC championship and another lack luster choke job in the NCAA Tournament. Other'n the year he 'minded the store' with Pitino's players in 1998, he's not accomplished anything in the 'real' Tournament. Great job Tubby. Lit'l Tubby, mm mmm mmmm, he sure did like staying in the bathtub. Shoulda stayed in the bathtub.

Nice choke job, Kentucky! Gotta get to Sweet 16 the season everyone is pimping you.

Tubby Smith SUCKS, and if he wasn't black, all the current Tubby kiss-ups in the media would be pinning him as the sorry coach that he is, and running him out of Lexington on a rail!

Come on folks. Lets be for real about Kentucky basketball and Tubby Smith. Cant recruit? Well, look who he has signed for next year. Better yet, look at the best recruiter in college basketball, Billy Donovan. Yes, he can recruit, he just cannot manage the egos. You must take into consideration one thing... everytime and I mean everytime that Kentuckly walks on the court, the opposing team is going to bring their A game. not just some times, but all of the times. Leading in every category but one. How can you not be a fan of Tubby Smith, whether you are a wildcat fan or a dukey....

Herb's better

I just love Tubby Smith. I mean, when you've been coaching as long as this guy, you just know how to win ballgames. Sure, you may only beat Odom's South Carolina team by 2 points at home in Kentucky, but a win is a win right? Also, as a Tarheel fan I sympathize with Kentucky because I, like many Kentucky fans, also hate Christian Laettner. Do you know who else hates Christian Laettner? Jesus Christ. And also that rapper Jawz of Life. And Jamal Mashburn hates him too. Go Monster Mash!

A class act in every way,and a great coach,and person.

Can't hold a candle to Joe B. Hall.

Tubby has made big changes in the UK basketball department. He has focused more on the fundamentals, and thats great, especially defense. I love the way his teams play ball, and I support him 100 % ! GO CATS! Oh yeah and all of you people that say he cant recruit, look at the back court he has coming in. Looks like he beat out Pitino!