Here are some more names thrown out as possible replacements in CBS Sportsline's article.
Names that will surface as possible replacements are Florida's Billy Donovan, Texas A&M's Billy Gillispie, Memphis' John Calipari, Marquette's Tom Crean, Villanova's Jay Wright, Ohio State's Thad Matta, Gonzaga's Mark Few, Texas' Rick Barnes and countless others. Also, don't be surprised if the interest of Louisville's Rick Pitino is gauged. He preceded Tubbs at Kentucky before leaving for the NBA.
Everybody other than guys like Coach K, Roy and Bill Self(and maybe even him) are possible candidates.
I'm not trying to compare history, tradition, any of that stuff because I think we'll all agree that they're not even close.
What I'm saying is that currently both of those coaches (Matta and Donovan) are running Top 5 programs in the nation. They've built those programs. I guess there could be intrigue there to move to a "history rich" program like UK and try to build that program back up, so I could see that being an argument for them taking the job, but what if they don't experience immediate success? What if it takes 4-5 years and then, they are only considered an "above average" basketball program? The UK fans will be all over them, calling for their heads. Donovan and Matta are both seen as gods in their current situations. If I was a coach, I'd be happy with that (as long as the dollars were close - and looking at that link someone provided, they aren't far off from what Tubby was being paid). I don't know, maybe these guys are more "gamblin' men" than I am, but it's not like Florida and Ohio State are Div III schools or anything.
Having said all of that, I am not a basketball fan. I never played basketball, hardly ever watch basketball and generally (w/the exception of March Madness) could care less about basketball. If I changed this over to football, I could see a coach at a good football school, say Wisconsin, very much wanting to move to a school like Notre Dame, or Florida, or USC, or Ohio St., or Michigan. So maybe it is that you just need to have a basketball background to understand the significance of the UK coaching position vs all other "big schools having success" around the country...
'When I'm not longer rapping, I want to open up an ice cream parlor and call myself Scoop Dogg.'
-Snoop on his retirement
Your Mom is happy.
"I came here to kick ass and chew bubble gum... and I'm all out of bubble gum."
- - Rowdy Roddy Piper
"It takes a big man to admit when he is wrong. I am not a big man"
- - Fletch
Good move for Tubby. Great hire by Minnesota.
No way on God's green Earth will Travis Ford be the next coach at UK. He has never done anything to warrant a head coaching job of this magnitude.
Pedigree is nice, but it only serves to perpetuate lore. UK has not hired a "pedigree" head coach since Joe B. Hall.
I meant 4 overall. He won one, Tubby won the next year after he left(98), I think Pitino would have won that as well. Pitino also lost an OT final to Arizona while he was there. I think 2 additional titles in the last 9 years would not have been a stretch had Pitino stayed.
Pitino had set up the UK for one of the great all-time runs. They played in three championship games in a row(96-98) and won two of them and only lost in OT to a loaded Arizona team.
Pitino's biggest mistake was leaving UK.
Last edited by flyer85; 03-22-2007 at 04:58 PM.
If Thad Matta headed to UK, John Groce would get the nod at Ohio State.
Would Rick Majerus be interested?
Some people play baseball. Baseball plays Jay Bruce.
teach tolerance.
Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please. |