[Grassy Knoll Sniper]

This story has been making all the sports chat sites around the nation, including The CatsPause, KentuckySportsRadio, Dynasty Defenders and other major UK sites. Alan Cutler of WLEX just ran the story tonight on the 11 PM sports also. Seems as if UK boosters are set to donate whatever it takes to rid Kentucky of one Orlando Tubby Smith.


......from the article

As it turns out, the prominent Kentucky booster quickly wrote me, the boosters are furious and are willing to pass the hat to make it happen.

Whether Barnhart will actually listen and bow to boosters won't be known until later this month. That's because unless unranked Kentucky (20-9) reaches the Final Four, it will extend a drought to a school-record nine straight years. At 9-6 in the Southeastern Conference with a chance to finish fifth in the East Division, there is no run on Atlanta hotel rooms by Kentuckians for late March.


What's clear is that one of the premier coaching jobs in the land is in turmoil. Talking to prominent boosters and alumni this week, it's clear that Smith's fan base has eroded to the point of open hostility. A mob mentality is forming, and Barnhart didn't help Smith's nerves with Monday's vague statement that he understands the fans' concerns. He went on to warn fans not to evaluate the team until later this month when it "still can play up to its potential."

If I'm a coach, I'm not putting that statement on my résumé.

The complaints with Smith are numerous. Let's start with the numbers. Unless Kentucky runs the table and wins the national title, this will mark double-digit losses in a record five of the past eight years. This will also be only the second time Kentucky has finished third or lower in the SEC in back-to-back seasons.

The four consecutive losses to Vanderbilt mark the first time a Kentucky team has lost four consecutive to an SEC school since 1980. He has had 17 players leave in nine years. However, the intangibles are what are killing Smith. His current team is void of the kind of talent that has built Kentucky into the winningest program in history. It's last in the SEC in turnover margin, has no power forward and can't win close games.


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