Thread: Favorite UK Basketball Coach of All Time?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I don't understand how Tubby has any votes.

True, but even worse Billy G and Eddie Sutton have votes. Must be loserville fans.

Originally Posted by lpool003

No doubt in my mind it's Rupp. Cal has the opportunity to get up there but for me there would be no Cal, no Pitino and no Joe B. without Rupp making the program one of the best ever to begin with. I'm only 25 years old and never got to witness the guy in action personally, but to watch film of the guy and see the legacy he left at UK I can't go with anybody else. Some of it has to do with that fact that Cal and Pitino both have not/did not spend alot of time at UK. Rupp was at Kentucky for roughly 42 years while combined Pitino and Cal have spent 10 years at UK. When and if cal hangs 4 banners then we can start the discussion between him and Rupp IMO.

I agree 100%

I'm going to go with Calipari. I'll probably take some heat for this, but I just think Cal offers the best of all worlds. Billy G didn't "get it". Tubby couldn't "get it done" as far as player development. Patino was great, but obviously he didn't "get it" until after he left for the big leagues. Rupp will always be one of the greats, but that was a different time in NCAA basketball. He was a great coach and could get the best recruits, but wasn't always the "ambassador".

I think Cal "gets it". He can get the job done on the court and with his players. He's obviously a great ambassador, though I don't always agree with his capitalization on the Big Blue Fascination Complex. I can't say that I wouldn't be milking it while I was there as well.

Only time will tell if Cal will retain this ranking in my mind and this year will be a good indicator. If he can get this team hitting on all cylinders and get them to where they need to be in March I think he can make a deep run into the tourney (with or without Kanter). If he fails at this I'll have to reneg on my pick. If Kanter ends up playing, there's no reason we shouldn't see a Final Four. If not, I think we should at least make the Sweet 16. Anything less and I think Cal failed at this year, either by player and team development, or by coaching.

Yes Kloma,but those were Pitino's boys that Tubby had recruited! Go Big Blue!

I grew up watching Pitino, so i would have to go with him. I do think that Cal has a good chance a surpassing Pitino in my mind.

What happened to the love for Tubby. Nicest coach anyway

It's really hard to pick just one!!! Each has theri own character that brought so much to the Kentucky legacy!! (Except for maybe one!!) Rupp started it all, Hall added, Pitino rebuilt and added, Tubby was the class act, and now Calipari has rebuilt from a BIG disappointment! Let's just hope Calipari sticks around for a good while and doesn't get wooed out like Pitino! Soooo glad it is BASKETBALL time in the BLUEGRASS!!! GO CATS!

I agree with you there, although, coach Cal is doing great things at Kentucky. If Cal keeps up with winning seasons and some championships, he will go down (BY FAR) as the best coach to ever coach at Kentucky.

I am going to have to go with the Baron of the Bluegrass! He started the great tradition that is UK basketball. He spent 40+ years with UK and had 6 final four appearances! And 4 NCAA championships! That is as good as it gets

Maybe to some new members who haven't voted yet, who is your favorite UK coach of all-time (Rupp to Present) and Why? Hope to see some more votes and comments. GO BIG BLUE!!!

i voted joe B hall the man who replaced rupp and kept UK in the forefront.. only one title, Hall is the reason Knight hates UK.. and one of my favorite all time quotes from a UK coach.. " my all americans should thank the bench that they are still playing" yeah we all know that it;s easy to rob one of joe b halls banks "cause he won't let the guards shoot" but dirk minnifield dicky beal jim lemasters kyle macy and jay shidler to name a few made some good names for themselves in his system.

Originally Posted by addicted2

i voted joe B hall the man who replaced rupp and lept UK in the forefront.. only one title, Hall is the reason Knight hates UK.. and one of my favorite all time quotes from a UK coach.. " my all americans should thank the bench that they are still playing" yeah we all know that it;s easy to rob one of joe b halls banks "cause he won't let the guards shoot" but dirk minnifield dicky beal jim lemasters kyle macy and jay shidler to name a few made some good names for themselves in his system.

I see what you mean about Hall but i would have to say Rupp, the man who taught Hall most all he knew about being a player and coaching.

no doubt in my mind Rupp is the greatest coach UK has had, that is a no brainer to me. I just like hall because not many people can be successful after following a legend. Hall was also paramount in getting UK integrated as a recruiter. he is also still involved with the program today. Joe B hall bleeds blue. Other than rupp who can u say that about on that list? Calipari may prove to be that way one day, but 2 years is an awful short time to put him at the head of the list.

Originally Posted by addicted2

no doubt in my mind Rupp is the greatest coach UK has had, that is a no brainer to me. I just like hall because not many people can be successful after following a legend. Hall was also paramount in getting UK integrated as a recruiter. he is also still involved with the program today. Joe B hall bleeds blue. Other than rupp who can u say that about on that list? Calipari may prove to be that way one day, but 2 years is an awful short time to put him at the head of the list.

I agree, i think if Rupp was alive he would be behind the bench at games too. I agree Hall was as close to Rupp as UK will ever get. He still helps Cal with suggestions on being UK coach. I think the reason why Calipari has the huge lead is because young people voted for him and they had no real clue who the other coaches are. They also have the success of Cal fresh on there mind and they have to read about the other coaches to get that info. I think when you talk about UK's all-time greatest coaches everyone knows it is Rupp. So you really would have to ask who was the greatest since Rupp?

I hated doing it but i voted for Pitino. He brought the program back up from the 80's. If i were older good chance I'd vote Rupp or Sutton though.