Tubby Smith offers Mark Pope words of wisdom on replacing John Calipari: “Stay the course”
Tubby Smith offers Mark Pope words of wisdom on replacing John Calipari: “Stay the course”
Tubby Smith can remember sitting there with his wife, Donna, at Bridgestone Arena this past March for the SEC Tournament. The three-time SEC Coach of the Year was invited to represent the University of Kentucky as a member of the 2024 SEC Legends class, honored at halftime of the Wildcats’ opening-round matchup vs. Texas A&M in Nashville.
His joy quickly transitioned into uneasiness as he watched the clock hit triple zeroes with Kentucky falling by a final score of 97-87, sent home in a blink once again. Smith watched the fans hit the exits juggling anger, sadness and confusion.
“You could kind of see it,” the five-time SEC Tournament-winning coach told KSR. “I witnessed it. You could kind of sense it when they lost, there was kind of a hush over the crowd. I was there with my wife and was like, ‘Oh boy, this is (tough).’”
Meeting with Calipari and Pope before the coaching changes
That would be the first of back-to-back postseason losses for the Wildcats, the next coming against No. 14 seed Oakland in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. John Calipari wouldn’t coach another game at Kentucky, leaving for Arkansas immediately after the Final Four in April with conversations starting during the prestigious event.
Ironically, Smith was there with Coach Cal in Phoenix, the two having breakfast together one morning when a familiar face walked up to join them.
“I had just seen him at the Final Four and we spent some time together, just conversing and talking,” Smith said. “Actually, we were down in the concierge lounge one morning having breakfast and Mark Pope came in. So there’s Mark Pope, John Calipari and myself taking a picture together. So people later on said, ‘Tubby, did you know?’ Like I had something to do with Cal leaving! It was really interesting.”
Being in a similar position at Kentucky
Tubby Smith offers Mark Pope words of wisdom on replacing John Calipari: “Stay the course”
Tubby Smith coached at Kentucky until 2007. (Photo by Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio)
Tubby Smith can remember sitting there with his wife, Donna, at Bridgestone Arena this past March for the SEC Tournament. The three-time SEC Coach of the Year was invited to represent the University of Kentucky as a member of the 2024 SEC Legends class, honored at halftime of the Wildcats’ opening-round matchup vs. Texas A&M in Nashville.
His joy quickly transitioned into uneasiness as he watched the clock hit triple zeroes with Kentucky falling by a final score of 97-87, sent home in a blink once again. Smith watched the fans hit the exits juggling anger, sadness and confusion.
“You could kind of see it,” the five-time SEC Tournament-winning coach told KSR. “I witnessed it. You could kind of sense it when they lost, there was kind of a hush over the crowd. I was there with my wife and was like, ‘Oh boy, this is (tough).’”
Meeting with Calipari and Pope before the coaching changes
That would be the first of back-to-back postseason losses for the Wildcats, the next coming against No. 14 seed Oakland in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. John Calipari wouldn’t coach another game at Kentucky, leaving for Arkansas immediately after the Final Four in April with conversations starting during the prestigious event.
Ironically, Smith was there with Coach Cal in Phoenix, the two having breakfast together one morning when a familiar face walked up to join them.
“I had just seen him at the Final Four and we spent some time together, just conversing and talking,” Smith said. “Actually, we were down in the concierge lounge one morning having breakfast and Mark Pope came in. So there’s Mark Pope, John Calipari and myself taking a picture together. So people later on said, ‘Tubby, did you know?’ Like I had something to do with Cal leaving! It was really interesting.”
Being in a similar position at Kentucky
