Florida 64 UK 61
Attendance 24,500 (A new Rupp Arena record)
Being a former avid UK fan (up until the current Tubby Smith era) I was surprised to see such a close game. I really figured Florida would blow them out with the talent they have. But the 'Cats self-destructed making only 3 of 21 3 pointers (2 in the last minute of play) and shooting less than 60 percent from the free throw line. Ramel Bradley, the SEC's leading free throw shooter couldnt buy one going 1 for 6 down the stretch plus missing the game tying 3 pointer at the buzzer. Florida escaped with their win streak intact but it was mainly because of the Wildcats inconsistency and Corey Brewer stepping up at the end. If UK had made a couple or three more threes and more foul shots it would have been a UK win instead of another almost win by a Tubby Smith coached team. He just cant seem to win the close ones against ranked teams.
UK has three seniors, Bobby Perry, Sheray Thomas and Lukash Orbzut who are non-contributing players. Perry and Thomas are no shows when it came to scoring and Orbzut only comes in to spell Randolph Morris and brings nothing as far as offense to the court other than setting screens and fouling. The freshmen like Harris and Stevenson and Coury can bring more to the table but they set on the bench rarely used while the seniors go out and do nothing. Loyalty is one thing. Bad coaching is another.
I have said for many years now that Tubbyball is not the style of play Kentucky fans are use to and its time for him to be relieved of his coaching job and someone brought in with a fire in them like Rick Pitino did back in the 90s and Billy Donovan is doing with Florida right now. If a change isnt made soon UK will find itself as an also ran against the likes of Florida and will end up becoming only a mediocre team at best in the SEC. The up-tempo players (like Rajon Rondo) do not want to play deliberate Tubbyball so they go elsewhere or transfer out of UK.
So far Tubby has brought records to UK alright. Things like the longest drought in UK history in making the Final Four. Losing to a team 5 games in a roll (soon to be 6 at Gainesville) since the 1970s. All kinds of records that show a program going in the wrong direction. Sure he wins 20 plus games a year but that isnt good enough for a storied program like UK (most NCAA wins, National Champions, and so on).
And when Tubby goes the AD Rich Barnhart should go as well. Anyone who would hire a coach for football who was originally hired to find a football coach isnt doing their jobs. Rich Brooks is making almost a million a year and he was originally hired to find a head coach. Instead of finding one he took the job himself. Doesnt sound like he tried too hard to find one.
I want to see UK get back the swagger it had before. The kinds of players Tubby Smith is recruiting is not going to get the job done. We have a coach who doesnt lead or inspire a team but uses intimidation as motivation. Hence "The Stare". If a player makes a mistake he is instantly benched. If they dont change coaches UK will never win the SEC crown again. It will be Florida. And the Big Blue Nation will turn green with envy.
Attendance 24,500 (A new Rupp Arena record)
Being a former avid UK fan (up until the current Tubby Smith era) I was surprised to see such a close game. I really figured Florida would blow them out with the talent they have. But the 'Cats self-destructed making only 3 of 21 3 pointers (2 in the last minute of play) and shooting less than 60 percent from the free throw line. Ramel Bradley, the SEC's leading free throw shooter couldnt buy one going 1 for 6 down the stretch plus missing the game tying 3 pointer at the buzzer. Florida escaped with their win streak intact but it was mainly because of the Wildcats inconsistency and Corey Brewer stepping up at the end. If UK had made a couple or three more threes and more foul shots it would have been a UK win instead of another almost win by a Tubby Smith coached team. He just cant seem to win the close ones against ranked teams.
UK has three seniors, Bobby Perry, Sheray Thomas and Lukash Orbzut who are non-contributing players. Perry and Thomas are no shows when it came to scoring and Orbzut only comes in to spell Randolph Morris and brings nothing as far as offense to the court other than setting screens and fouling. The freshmen like Harris and Stevenson and Coury can bring more to the table but they set on the bench rarely used while the seniors go out and do nothing. Loyalty is one thing. Bad coaching is another.
I have said for many years now that Tubbyball is not the style of play Kentucky fans are use to and its time for him to be relieved of his coaching job and someone brought in with a fire in them like Rick Pitino did back in the 90s and Billy Donovan is doing with Florida right now. If a change isnt made soon UK will find itself as an also ran against the likes of Florida and will end up becoming only a mediocre team at best in the SEC. The up-tempo players (like Rajon Rondo) do not want to play deliberate Tubbyball so they go elsewhere or transfer out of UK.
So far Tubby has brought records to UK alright. Things like the longest drought in UK history in making the Final Four. Losing to a team 5 games in a roll (soon to be 6 at Gainesville) since the 1970s. All kinds of records that show a program going in the wrong direction. Sure he wins 20 plus games a year but that isnt good enough for a storied program like UK (most NCAA wins, National Champions, and so on).
And when Tubby goes the AD Rich Barnhart should go as well. Anyone who would hire a coach for football who was originally hired to find a football coach isnt doing their jobs. Rich Brooks is making almost a million a year and he was originally hired to find a head coach. Instead of finding one he took the job himself. Doesnt sound like he tried too hard to find one.
I want to see UK get back the swagger it had before. The kinds of players Tubby Smith is recruiting is not going to get the job done. We have a coach who doesnt lead or inspire a team but uses intimidation as motivation. Hence "The Stare". If a player makes a mistake he is instantly benched. If they dont change coaches UK will never win the SEC crown again. It will be Florida. And the Big Blue Nation will turn green with envy.

