Last week on the radio show Matt and Ryan briefly debated whether or not they would like to see UK fill their vacant home game with a match-up against Minnesota. Bringing the Gophers to Lexington may not be a marquee game everyone wants to see but it would provide an excellent opportunity to do something that should have been done a long time ago.  The time is right to put Tubby Smith’s name in the rafters.

Every Coach that won a title at Kentucky has been elevated to the top of Rupp Arena. Rupp, Hall, and Pitino hang side by side and I think it is safe to say that one day we will hoist Cals. With a little bit of hindsight and the horrors of the Gillispie era behind us we can look at all of the accomplishments that happened while Tubby was the head coach and recognize that his accomplishments can stand alongside his peers. Just compare Tubby’s records along side Coach Hall and Pitino during his time at UK:

Joe B. Hall 297-100 74.8% 1 National Championship, 3 Final Fours

Rick Pitino 219-50  81.4% 1 National Championship, 3 Final Fours

Tubby Smith 263-83 76% 1 National Championship, 4 Elite Eights

Smith may have only made it to one final four but he came very close three other times. He had the only team to go completely undefeated team in the SEC.  With an open spot this year in the schedule I would love to see UK take on the gophers. The time is right to bring Tubby back to Lexington and put his name up in the rafters.

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