Hardwood Happenings

By Chris Souder

I am glad to be able to blog again and what a first topic — UK Basketball — or lack of.

Of course if you have read any of my blogs I was and still am a Tubby fan.  I could say to most UK fans you got just what you deserve but I won’t!  I also listen to these people calling in blaming the program on Tubby.   I will give you my opinion on the whole situation and yes, I am still a UK fan, I will stick with the school and not just the coach — even though I will admit Minnesota is a close second.  I will not be like the Pitino disciples that jumped schools when he returned to Louisville.

Talent Level — I think one of the big gripes is that Tubby left the program with no talent. Maybe his recruiting was not what we think is should have been but if you stop and think it was not as bad as it appears.   What if Azibuke had stayed at UK?  What if Crawford had not wavered about transferring and cost him a year to sit out, what if Morris had not gone pro?  Look how many players he has in the NBA right now!  Morris, Bogans, Azibuke, Hayes, Prince, and Rondo.  You name how many other college teams in that same time period has as many pro players as what Tabby had.  There may be a few, but not many.

Also I will go back to what I said when the heat was on Tubby he averaged 26 wins per season with a tougher schedule than what they are playing now with 6 wins.  You can blame Tubby all you want but lets face it, he would not have lost to Gardner-Webb, San Diego and just may have found a way to beat Louisville — he seemed to have Rick’s number.  They may not have beaten UNC, IU but they would not have lost the way the Cats are getting beat now.

I am a coach so I don’t like to second guess Coach G., but I would like for someone to explain to me what he is doing with Crawford?  If he is in the doghouse can they work their way out through practice?  My point is if he is in the doghouse that is fine, I have players get in the doghouse and they work their way out through practice.  My next point is if he is in the doghouse why does he start and still plays  about 30 minutes or more.  I just don’t understand his pattern -I am not at practice - but if they are not doing what they are supposed to do then by all means, don’t play them. Lately, one guy will play 20 minutes one game and then go the next two games without even getting in the game.  I don’t understand why when we have a one point lead at halftime against UL Coach G. starts back Coury and before he can get Crawford and others in the game we are down 10 or so.

I am willing to give him some time but I am afraid he may be in over his head. I hear he is a tireless worker and great recruiter but will his tactics work at UK where you are constantly under the microscope.  His press conferences are painful to watch and listen to.  I feel sorry for Tom Leach who has to fill air time because he gives one word answers and seems sarcastic most of the time.  Has anyone noticed besides me that when we loses he has this smirk on his face and just says well, we got whipped again.  How long will that answer work?  That would not work if Tubby was here.  I agree he needs time to put his own stamp on the program but he has some strange ways!

He seems to demand a lot from his players at all times and practices are apparently brutal. That is okay,  and he also wants them to be leaders (Crawford, Bradley) but I am a firm believer that attitude reflects leadership. If all the rumors are true and that is as far as I will go with that, then how can he expect his players to buy into what he is selling!!

That leads me to another point: what happened to running a class program?  Tubby was nothing but class and always ran a class program and expected his players to act in the same way and represented the University in a classy manner.  Can we say the same thing about UK’s program this season, starting with the Coach?

Has anyone taken a look at Minnesota?  They are fired up with Tubby and how they are playing!  They took a very good Michigan State team to the wire on the road and have won more games than UK with less talent. I think they are like 12-3!!  What are we??

As far as his recruiting goes, I think he landed Ralph Sampson’s son who was a big time recruit, how did Tubby get him to come to Minnesota if he can’t recruit?  I will bet he will finish higher in the Big 10 than we do in the SEC and we have more talent than Minnesota does.

I guess that is enough for my first blog of 2008 and I hope to hear your comments!  Go Gophers—I mean Cats!

Until next time go out to the Hardwood and see what is Happening!!