Concerned Fans Press Release #1

CONCERNED FANS FOR

BASKETBALL

On December 2, 2006, Kentucky took it on the chin from North Carolina, 75-63, in a game in which Tubby Smith employed the classic slow it down, make it ugly, keep it close UNDERDOG strategy to avoid running with a very talented, fleet afoot, running group of Tar Heels. Tubby knows that the team he has assembled, the team he has trained, taught and coached could not compete with the 95 to 100 possession pace that UNC is accustomed to playing. Tubby knows that he neither wants his teams to play this way, and he knows that he is not able to even teach that style to them.

Tubby Smith knows all these things, yet he directs and leads his annual "We Want To Run" chorus from the likes of Dave Baker, Martin Newton, Rob Bromley, Tom Leach, the entire Lexington print press, and each of the "official" radio talk show hosts. For many years, fans, players, and recruits believed it, but no more.

Listen to UNC Freshman Brandan Wright explain the facts of life about Tubby Ball to the world of future recruits. According the the reporter, Rick Bozich, Wright delivered this message with a wink and a nod at Tubby Smith, UK Basketball, and all UK Fans. Afterall, Wright, a Freshman, posted 16 points, 5 rebounds, and a block in UNC's easy win over UK.

In high school I was a Kentucky fan. My mom was a big Kentucky fan. Everybody in the world thought I was going to Kentucky.

But once I stepped back and really thought about the situation, I knew this [UNC] was the best place for me. North Carolina likes to get up and down the floor. That's the style I like to play, and that's the style that's best for me to play.

Kentucky tries to slow it down like they did today. That's not the style I wanted to play.

Last month, John Clay wrote a direct column following the Maui experience pointing out that the worn out excuses for last year were not correct, and he exposed them for what they are, lies. However, Clay stopped short and allowed several other lies still lingering out there that Mr. Clay did not address including:

Tubby Smith is a Great Coach who knows how to win on the National Stage
Tubby Smith is a Great Defensive Coach
Tubby Smith is a Great Recruiter
Tubby Smith's problems are due to a few, loud malcontents that are not true UK fans, but only trouble makers, including and according to Mr. Mitch Barnhart, the members of Concerned Fans For UK Basketball

Now there are three, as Rick Bozich exposed #3 in his December 3, 2006 column in the Louisville Courier Journal.

Perhaps Mr. Clay will address each of the remaining lies in an objective straight forward manner soon becuase the excuses must end with this pitiful season and the root cause of these problems must be eliminated from Kentucky basketball forever.

Richard Cheeks, Concerned Fans For UK Basketball

Check Out What Tyler Hansbrough and Deon Thompson Had To Say

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Did you know that Coach Smith's best offensive team was no better than Coach Pitino's average? To learn more, CLICK HERE