Kentucky Basketball: Brad Calipari joining UK staff to coach not so bad

For the love of Tubby Smith and total frustration with Saul

Tubby Smith took over when Eddie Sutton left Kentucky and it was destined that son Saul would play for his dad. Saul drew the ire, ribbing, and ridicule of the Big Blue Nation almost his entire time as a Wildcat from 1997-2001.

He couldn’t shoot the ball but kept launching shot after shot. In four seasons, 143 games, he bombed away 400 3-pointers and canned only 128. He rang up a mere 730 total points or 5.1 per game yet rarely came out of games turning it over 228 times.

The only thing that made up for his lack of production on the court was an amazing talent surrounding him while his dad played Tubby Ball.

Thank goodness for Jeff Sheppard, Nazr Mohammed, Scott Padgett, Tayshaun Prince, Jamaal Magloire, and Keith Bogans. Plus he gets that piece of the net he cut down for winning the national title in his freshman year despite all zero’s in the stat line of the title game against Utah in 7 minutes.

Brother GG was much better playing for dad when at Georgia and more suited to start than Saul who was more of a role player.

Saul didn’t know what was about to rain down on him but initially took it in stride for the chance to play for his dad at Kentucky at media days before his first year.

"“I don’t know that I’ve braced myself. I just want to go out and not give them anything to complain about.”"

Tubby thought always took up for his son.

"“My job is to take the heat for any of the players – and I’ll probably do that pretty well for him. To be honest with you, I don’t see why it’s a big deal except in the minds of a few who may not understand what’s going on in basketball.”"

Saul has been an assistant at Minnesota and Memphis.