Oh Orlando

The Media are starting to notice the "Tubby" situation. Tony and Michael discussed it on PTI the other evening. Given the links above it's definitely on the mind of the 2 biggies, ESPN and SI. There were 2 articles in the CJ the other day as well, one by the columnist, the 2nd discussing how to turn things around...AGAIN, and today's one of Billy Donovan singing Orlando's praises. You can't fire Tubby b/c some of his numbers are grand: winning percentage, cleanliness of program (can't ignore that one), several high seeds in tourney ('03 very good but for Bogans' injury), etc. BUT he won with Ricky's players. He can't win the biggie or make it even to that level. He can't get real talent anymore. His teams are NOT at the consistent level of UNC, UCLA or Duke these days. (well, Duke isn't too pretty right now). I love the fact that UK fans have too high a level of expectation, but Tar Heel Nation doesn't seem to have to acquiesce to terrible teams. Is Matt Doherty still there? The most cogent comments for Seth Davis (Devil Dukie). He recognizes the expectations that arise from one of the top-5 historical programs, having come from one himself. The Nat'l media can bitch all they want about Cat fans, but UK isn't friggin' New Mexico State. It's Kentucky b'ball. The traditional historic powers are ranked as follows right now: #2 UCLA, #3 Kansas, #8 UNC, #14 Duke (before the Maryland loss- they're not any good either). Are the 'Cats going the way of St. Johns? As of 2004 they were #5 on all-time wins, but they haven't been a player since the days of Chris Mullins and Walter Berry, nigh 20 yrs. ago.

Frankly, this shit is unimportant but fun to discuss, as long as they aren't so damn bad. Another good find is this site about the 2003 team. (Junk) Food for thought.