November 20th: On this date...

... in 1997, Orlando “Tubby” Smith coached his first official game as the head coach of your University of Kentucky Wildcats, beating Morehead, 88-49. Brought in from the University of Georgia, Tubby Smith had an impressive record of turning around basketball programs very quickly, not to mention an impressive record in March. Matching this coach with a powerhouse the likes of Kentucky was sure to be a success. No one was complaining (yeah right) after Tubby led the 1998 squad to our seventh and most recent National Championship. Looking back on his time at UK, you have to think he was given a raw deal. Tubby was an outstanding coach, a man of great integrity, a pillar of the community, and a man with the greatest stare in all of college basketball. Smith ended with a record of 263-83 in 10 season as the Wildcat head coach. “Ten Loss” Tubby seems pretty good compared to the most recent debacle, eh?

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach