Texas Tech University recently hired Tubby Smith as the 18th head coach of their men’s basketball program. After compiling a record of 124-81 record over the past six seasons at The University of Minnesota, Smith was fired. Smith has been a head coach that people tend not to appreciate until he leaves town.
For 10 years Smith was the head coach at The University of Kentucky. Over that time Smith won 263 games which included a national championship in 1998, but the fans in Lexington became upset with Smith as his team was never able to make it back to The Final Four despite making The NCAA Tournament each of his seasons. In 2007, Smith resigned due to mounting pressure from fans.
Smith took over at The University of Minnesota in 2007 to guide a Golden Gopher program that had only made The NCAA Tournament once since 1999. Smith posted five 20-plus victory seasons which included three trips to The NCAA Tournament, but it wasn’t enough as the people of Minneapolis became unrealistic of what The Golden Gophers should be in The Big Ten Conference.
Now Smith inherits a Texas Tech Red Raider team that hasn’t made The NCAA Tournament since 2007. The Red Raiders finished this season with an overall record of 11-20 while they placed ninth in the ten team Big 12 Conference. If there is one man that can get things turned around in Lubbock, Texas it is indeed Smith.
Smith owns 511 career victories which included stops at The University of Tulsa and The University of Georgia. Of The Red Raiders 20 losses this past season, 15 were by double figures which included two losses to Baylor University by a combined 61 points. Texas Tech will look to not only compete, but win in The Big 12 as Smith’s players are never in trouble off the court and they give maximum effort on the court. Smith rarely recruits McDonald’s All-American type players as his most talented recruit was current National Basketball Association player Tayshaun Prince who played for Smith at Kentucky. Smith recruits players who fit his system which is all about putting the team first. Smith also tends to recruit players who are not declaring early for The NBA Draft as he is developing structure within his team.
Junior forward Jaye Crockett was the only Red Raider to average double figures in points this past season (11.9), but Texas Tech only losses one player ( Ty Nurse) to graduation which bodes well for Smith.
It will be imperative for Smith to work with Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec and athletic director Kirby Hocutt to establish a winning formula in Lubbock, but it will take fans, alumni, and the school administration alike to have patience. Just like it was at Minnesota, this is a rebuilding job, but hopefully fans are more realistic this time around.
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