Billy Donovan vs Tubby Smith

[BearsBud]

Is there anyone out there who still declares that they would rather have Tubby then Billy? Much like milk, over time the cream will rise to the top, and I believe it has. While the cottage cheese sinks slowly to the bottom. Oh well, there's always footbal season to look forward to.:rolleyes:

[john4]

Look at the cast of characters that each program has surrounding them. Look at Floridas assistants, they are second to none and flat out get it done. Tubby has done more with less. I'll admit it, I'm not a UK fan, but I have a hard time listening to all the whining UK fans do about T. Smith. Coach of the Year, NCAA title, and you all want to throw him to the wolves. C'mon................
How many SEC championships does he have?

[Art]

Now this ought to be a good one.:D I have nothing to add.

[tripod]

piss on Florida and Billy!!!

[RUTNUT]

piss on Florida and Billy!!!TRY NOT TO GET ANY ON THIER NEW NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY.:D

[PhilpotHunter]

Now this ought to be a good one.:D I have nothing to add.

your a liar, you have a lot to add and within three pages of this post I'm sure you will add it anyways:D

[Art]

your a liar, you have a lot to add and within three pages of this post I'm sure you will add it anyways:D

I've said it all already. As I predicted a couple of weeks ago, a Florida win would really shoot a hole in the theory that some UK fans have that Donovan and FL have not taken over the top in the SEC. We won't get to hear the line "How many championships does Donovan have anymore" when the Tubby vs. Donovan topic comes up.

It comes as no surprise to me really. I am somewhat surprised FL won BUT I'm not surprised at the state of the UK program..It's gonna get worse too. I know a lot of people felt like this year was a low point, but just you wait til next season. Unless Tubby makes some MAJOR changes in his offense the we will loose 15 games.

UK is like the prison guard on The Shawshank Redemption. We've beat everyone up for years but now we are in the tank. Everybody is gonna get a piece of our arse next year.:D

I think Tubby's last year is next year, not this year.

[AteUp]

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060405/COLUMNISTS02/604050472/1002/SPORTS

UK's sophomores better than Florida's? Only two years ago

Jerry Brewer

On the day after an underrated sophomore class won a national championship, an overrated one came undone.

Florida's Corey Brewer, Taurean Green, Al Horford and Joakim Noah fulfilled every recruit's dream Monday night. Kentucky's Rajon Rondo declared for the NBA draft yesterday, which is not a bad move for him but breaks up a Wildcats group once expected to achieve what the Gators just achieved.

Because of the timing, you cannot resist juxtaposing the two. The purpose is neither to offer more wild praise to a team that rightfully deserves it nor to continue beating down a program with enough bruises already.

The intent here is to offer a simple truth about college basketball and college athletics in general: You never know. When dealing with 18- to 22-year-olds, you never know. You'd have an easier time predicting Anna Benson's next irrational act.

History figures to rate the Gators' quartet as the best sophomore unit in a bumper crop of 2004 talent. Better than UK's group of Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, Randolph Morris and Rondo. Better than Texas' trio of LaMarcus Aldridge, Daniel Gibson and Mike Williams. More nationally acclaimed right now than classmates such as Dwight Howard, Sebastian Telfair, Al Jefferson and Josh Smith, all of whom jumped from high school to the NBA.
Rankings mean little

You couldn't have guessed it because immeasurable things mattered more. Chemistry with coaches. Desire to improve. Motivation from being overlooked. Check out how Rivals.com ranked the Gators foursome coming out of high school: Brewer (No. 31), Horford (36), Noah (75), Green (105).

Recount, anybody?

They'd all be in the top 30 in a running class ranking, Noah in the top five. Most of UK's four -- Crawford (9), Morris (10), Rondo (25), Bradley (91) -- would drop. Only Rondo has exceeded his high school ranking.

Now he's gone. He plans to hire an agent, which will end his college eligibility. Rondo didn't lead the Wildcats to a championship, or even a Final Four, but he deserves this opportunity. He can't shoot, but he's a viable NBA first-round draft pick because he has all the difficult point guard skills down and a suspect jumper can be improved. He was a good kid but a bad fit in Smith's system, but he should benefit from the struggle, as should Smith.

"Coach Smith has given me tough love, which I believe has made me a stronger ballplayer and a better person," Rondo said. "Just handling adversity, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. He's always on me, and that's preparing me for the next level. I want to thank him for that."
Time to move on

Rondo departed with grace yesterday. After the embarrassing getaway attempts of Crawford and Morris, Rondo's class was good to see.

You shouldn't fault a kid for making a million-dollar decision. You should expect him to exit in an appropriate manner, which Rondo did by keeping Smith informed and respecting UK's role in helping him become an NBA prospect.

So, at the end, there really is no reason to bring up past gripes. But there are lessons to be learned from championship/declaration week.

For Rondo, it's patience and continuing to understand the diverse methods of basketball. With a little more of both, he could've led the Wildcats further, even though Smith doesn't always employ Rondo's favorite fast-breaking style. Florida's sophomores embraced coach Billy Donovan's ways, and look at what happened. Perhaps Kentucky's three remaining sophomores will try to emulate the Gators.

For Smith, it's about returning to what works for him. It's the same formula Donovan poached from Smith: Recruit your kind of guys and develop them.

The legacy of UK's sophomore class is incredibly disappointing, but perhaps the Wildcats can make themselves better for this struggle.

Jerry Brewer can be reached at (502) 582-4373 or jebrewer@courier-journal.com.

[Art]

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060405/COLUMNISTS02/604050472/1002/SPORTS

UK's sophomores better than Florida's? Only two years ago

Jerry Brewer

On the day after an underrated sophomore class won a national championship, an overrated one came undone.

Florida's Corey Brewer, Taurean Green, Al Horford and Joakim Noah fulfilled every recruit's dream Monday night. Kentucky's Rajon Rondo declared for the NBA draft yesterday, which is not a bad move for him but breaks up a Wildcats group once expected to achieve what the Gators just achieved.

Because of the timing, you cannot resist juxtaposing the two. The purpose is neither to offer more wild praise to a team that rightfully deserves it nor to continue beating down a program with enough bruises already.

The intent here is to offer a simple truth about college basketball and college athletics in general: You never know. When dealing with 18- to 22-year-olds, you never know. You'd have an easier time predicting Anna Benson's next irrational act.

History figures to rate the Gators' quartet as the best sophomore unit in a bumper crop of 2004 talent. Better than UK's group of Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, Randolph Morris and Rondo. Better than Texas' trio of LaMarcus Aldridge, Daniel Gibson and Mike Williams. More nationally acclaimed right now than classmates such as Dwight Howard, Sebastian Telfair, Al Jefferson and Josh Smith, all of whom jumped from high school to the NBA.
Rankings mean little

You couldn't have guessed it because immeasurable things mattered more. Chemistry with coaches. Desire to improve. Motivation from being overlooked. Check out how Rivals.com ranked the Gators foursome coming out of high school: Brewer (No. 31), Horford (36), Noah (75), Green (105).

Recount, anybody?

They'd all be in the top 30 in a running class ranking, Noah in the top five. Most of UK's four -- Crawford (9), Morris (10), Rondo (25), Bradley (91) -- would drop. Only Rondo has exceeded his high school ranking.

Now he's gone. He plans to hire an agent, which will end his college eligibility. Rondo didn't lead the Wildcats to a championship, or even a Final Four, but he deserves this opportunity. He can't shoot, but he's a viable NBA first-round draft pick because he has all the difficult point guard skills down and a suspect jumper can be improved. He was a good kid but a bad fit in Smith's system, but he should benefit from the struggle, as should Smith.

"Coach Smith has given me tough love, which I believe has made me a stronger ballplayer and a better person," Rondo said. "Just handling adversity, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. He's always on me, and that's preparing me for the next level. I want to thank him for that."
Time to move on

Rondo departed with grace yesterday. After the embarrassing getaway attempts of Crawford and Morris, Rondo's class was good to see.

You shouldn't fault a kid for making a million-dollar decision. You should expect him to exit in an appropriate manner, which Rondo did by keeping Smith informed and respecting UK's role in helping him become an NBA prospect.

So, at the end, there really is no reason to bring up past gripes. But there are lessons to be learned from championship/declaration week.

For Rondo, it's patience and continuing to understand the diverse methods of basketball. With a little more of both, he could've led the Wildcats further, even though Smith doesn't always employ Rondo's favorite fast-breaking style. Florida's sophomores embraced coach Billy Donovan's ways, and look at what happened. Perhaps Kentucky's three remaining sophomores will try to emulate the Gators.

For Smith, it's about returning to what works for him. It's the same formula Donovan poached from Smith: Recruit your kind of guys and develop them.

The legacy of UK's sophomore class is incredibly disappointing, but perhaps the Wildcats can make themselves better for this struggle.

Jerry Brewer can be reached at (502) 582-4373 or jebrewer@courier-journal.com.



Translation- Donovan now owns Tubby.

[buckdroppings]

Tubby is one of the greatest coaches in Basketball.

Donavan ain't bad either. Tubby's problem is recruiting. Every year seems like he recruits decent players but they are unable to mesh well as a team. He gets good physical players but they are horrible mentally. I'm not talking about the occassional Hayes I'm talking about a whole team of basketball savy players who can also get it done on the court.

[BearsBud]

Look at the cast of characters that each program has surrounding them. Look at Floridas assistants, they are second to none and flat out get it done. Tubby has done more with less. I'll admit it, I'm not a UK fan, but I have a hard time listening to all the whining UK fans do about T. Smith. Coach of the Year, NCAA title, and you all want to throw him to the wolves. C'mon................
How many SEC championships does he have?

How do you figure he has done more with less? He started with a premier program and assembled his own coaching staff and has since done the player selections. Now he has what he has assembled, if it is sub-par, it is because he made it sub-par. One NCAA title, basically handed to him and winning the SEC when noone in the SEC had anything. Now the SEC is building up and Kentucky is on the way down. Hell, there is not a school out there that is afraid to go to Rupp nowadays. There was a time when the thought of Rupp arena struck fear in the hearts of the likes of Duke and N. Carolina.

Donovan, on the other hand, went into a mediocre program at a football school and took it to the pinnacle of success. He didn't start out with a team of All-Americans and a string of SEC and NCAA titles, but he is starting now.

In todays Courier-Journal there was an article comparing the the Kentucky and Florida recruiting class that is now the So.'s at both schools. As high school seniors, Kentuckys group was better rated, their lower rated cohorts at Florida just won a national championship. Now, who was it started with less?

[Art]

Another spot just opened up for UK. This one has been expected for a long time.. I bet Sims is next.

http://www.wlextv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4731344

[mcdenney]

Tubby is a good coach and seems like a good person. However, the facts are that Tubby can't recruit as well as other top schools, can't get his players to "buy" into his system and therefore can't produce consistent offense. Whose problem is this? Tubby's. What do you think attributes to all these issues? In my opinion it is his system and his lack of change. Why would a top recruit want to come play at KY? Come and just learn how to play defense? We all know young top recruits want to go to college and play a fun style of offense. While I agree defense helps win championships it is not the only ingredient just as offense is not the only ingredient. Our willingness to not change our system will continue to cause problems for all the above (recruiting, team chemistry and offense) until we decide to change it or the coach.

Hats off to Billy for being able to recruit, coach offense & defense and keep team chemistry. Oh yeah, also for winning a national championship.

[JP]

Another spot just opened up for UK. This one has been expected for a long time.. I bet Sims is next.

http://www.wlextv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4731344

This one I expected. His dad coaches high school ball and I knew wouldn't put up with his absolute ABSENCE from playtime. Shame too, cuz the kid can play---we just...wouldn't know. I'm hoping Tubby talks Sims into staying....I know he didn't do much, but he's got heart--next year, he'll be better. Oh well, there are those 2 scholarships he needed. :)

[Feedman]

This one I expected. His dad coaches high school ball and I knew wouldn't put up with his absolute ABSENCE from playtime. Shame too, cuz the kid can play--

I agree. I saw him play before he came to uk and I could not figure out this season why he did not get more playing time. I am not a good judge of talent.:p

[Art]

Maybe WV will pick up Tubby's trash and turn him into another Gansy.

[kycurhunter]

ky will never be ky 'till tubby is gone....

we are on a downward spiral.

you cannot compare the 2.there is no comparison.

tubby sux!

[kyfanatic]

I think Tubby could take Billy in fisticuffs,but in a wrestling match Billy would be hard to get ahold of with all that greasy hair stuff.

[slickhead slayer]

Look at the cast of characters that each program has surrounding them. Look at Floridas assistants, they are second to none and flat out get it done. Tubby has done more with less. I'll admit it, I'm not a UK fan, but I have a hard time listening to all the whining UK fans do about T. Smith. Coach of the Year, NCAA title, and you all want to throw him to the wolves. C'mon................
How many SEC championships does he have?

Put down the bong dude, your going to get bong water on your keyboard.

Less with more?
Tubby took over the premier program in the nation, UK went to three straight championship games, and Tubby has done nothing since.
Donovan took over a team with three straight losing seasons, and a program who had NEVER been to a national championship game EVER.

He has taken them to 2 in the last 6 years. And all the while he has kicked Tubbys but in recruiting, despite having the deck stacked against him.

The Tubby vs Donovan comparison is like a poker game that has been fixed, yet the guy who has the stacked deck, still can't win.

[turk2di]

Tubby is one of the greatest coaches in Basketball.

Donavan ain't bad either. Tubby's problem is recruiting. Every year seems like he recruits decent players but they are unable to mesh well as a team. He gets good physical players but they are horrible mentally. I'm not talking about the occassional Hayes I'm talking about a whole team of basketball savy players who can also get it done on the court.
He is still recruiting for Tulsa & Georgia! Tubby, this is KENTUCKY. Its Ok to butt heads with the Dukes, UConns, UNC'S!