The Lawson situation seems to have been baked into this equation for some time now. It might be that during the last search the "control" issue that caused at least one good name to decline our offer, was the Lawson issue. It seems to have been a prerequisite to taking the job.

From what I have read on this board it appears the Momma was the bigger problem, KJ & Chandler have a proven track record of demonstrating absolutely no respect for any of their coaches from early on. They have very foul mouths and absolutely no respect when talking to their coaches. Ask Penny, if the reports about what KJ said to him are true, they ought to be run out of town. I know I wouldn't take that crap after having paid my dues coming up through the ranks while building a solid reputation. Tubby earned the right to demand respect from his players.

The problem with many of these kids today is they have everything handed to them, they are not required to work to achieve their goals. When it doesn't pan out for them, blame is thrown at anything they think will stick. Sure these Lawson kids have some talent, but they never accepted their coaches role with the respect that is due them. They will be the ones to suffer in the end.

When local kids stay local they have all these clinger on characters in their ear and heads. This brought them into a head on collision with a coach who tried to work with them, treat them with respect, and help them develop their talents. What did Tubby get in return? When he started to press them 3/4 of the way into the season to prepare them for the stretch, they laid down. Didn't get it their way so they quit on the team. Calipari learned this lesson the hard way with the local kids, stopped recruiting them and built the team into the powerhouse that we now demand all subsequent coaches maintain.

So good riddance to the Lawson family circus, and whomever picks them up deserves what they get. I support giving Tubby the opportunity he deserves, I don't understand the Tubby hate here. He is the coach for now and isn't going anywhere, get over it and support the program. If he can't get the job done after 3 years, then start the conversation to review options. All the coach trash talk / drama on this board is fodder for opposition coaches to recruit against, and sours the opportunity to bring in a class act coach in when Tubby retires.

(04-05-2017 02:44 PM)OleManBlue Wrote:  The Lawson situation seems to have been baked into this equation for some time now. It might be that during the last search the "control" issue that caused at least one good name to decline our offer, was the Lawson issue. It seems to have been a prerequisite to taking the job.

From what I have read on this board it appears the Momma was the bigger problem, KJ & Chandler have a proven track record of demonstrating absolutely no respect for any of their coaches from early on. They have very foul mouths and absolutely no respect when talking to their coaches. Ask Penny, if the reports about what KJ said to him are true, they ought to be run out of town. I know I wouldn't take that crap after having paid my dues coming up through the ranks while building a solid reputation. Tubby earned the right to demand respect from his players.

The problem with many of these kids today is they have everything handed to them, they are not required to work to achieve their goals. When it doesn't pan out for them, blame is thrown at anything they think will stick. Sure these Lawson kids have some talent, but they never accepted their coaches role with the respect that is due them. They will be the ones to suffer in the end.

When local kids stay local they have all these clinger on characters in their ear and heads. This brought them into a head on collision with a coach who tried to work with them, treat them with respect, and help them develop their talents. What did Tubby get in return? When he started to press them 3/4 of the way into the season to prepare them for the stretch, they laid down. Didn't get it their way so they quit on the team. Calipari learned this lesson the hard way with the local kids, stopped recruiting them and built the team into the powerhouse that we now demand all subsequent coaches maintain.

So good riddance to the Lawson family circus, and whomever picks them up deserves what they get. I support giving Tubby the opportunity he deserves, I don't understand the Tubby hate here. He is the coach for now and isn't going anywhere, get over it and support the program. If he can't get the job done after 3 years, then start the conversation to review options. All the coach trash talk / drama on this board is fodder for opposition coaches to recruit against, and sours the opportunity to bring in a class act coach in when Tubby retires.

Very well said

(04-05-2017 04:18 PM)Unbreakable04 Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 02:44 PM)OleManBlue Wrote:  The Lawson situation seems to have been baked into this equation for some time now. It might be that during the last search the "control" issue that caused at least one good name to decline our offer, was the Lawson issue. It seems to have been a prerequisite to taking the job.

From what I have read on this board it appears the Momma was the bigger problem, KJ & Chandler have a proven track record of demonstrating absolutely no respect for any of their coaches from early on. They have very foul mouths and absolutely no respect when talking to their coaches. Ask Penny, if the reports about what KJ said to him are true, they ought to be run out of town. I know I wouldn't take that crap after having paid my dues coming up through the ranks while building a solid reputation. Tubby earned the right to demand respect from his players.

The problem with many of these kids today is they have everything handed to them, they are not required to work to achieve their goals. When it doesn't pan out for them, blame is thrown at anything they think will stick. Sure these Lawson kids have some talent, but they never accepted their coaches role with the respect that is due them. They will be the ones to suffer in the end.

When local kids stay local they have all these clinger on characters in their ear and heads. This brought them into a head on collision with a coach who tried to work with them, treat them with respect, and help them develop their talents. What did Tubby get in return? When he started to press them 3/4 of the way into the season to prepare them for the stretch, they laid down. Didn't get it their way so they quit on the team. Calipari learned this lesson the hard way with the local kids, stopped recruiting them and built the team into the powerhouse that we now demand all subsequent coaches maintain.

So good riddance to the Lawson family circus, and whomever picks them up deserves what they get. I support giving Tubby the opportunity he deserves, I don't understand the Tubby hate here. He is the coach for now and isn't going anywhere, get over it and support the program. If he can't get the job done after 3 years, then start the conversation to review options. All the coach trash talk / drama on this board is fodder for opposition coaches to recruit against, and sours the opportunity to bring in a class act coach in when Tubby retires.

Very well said

TRUETH ^^^ The disdain from them towards authority is/was too much of a cancer to sweep under a rug..... PROGRAM is BIGGER than the sum of its parts!

(04-05-2017 01:22 PM)HoopDreams Wrote:  @mgiannotto 4m4 minutes ago

Tom Bowen left Memphis basketball offices a little while ago. Declined comment on Lawsons. Was headed to meet w/ school President David Rudd

I don't understand the point of this. The only reason that I can see to post this is to insinuate that Bowen is heading to speak with Rudd about the basketball situation. It's insignificant otherwise. However, it's entirely speculation and, as posted anyway, gives no indication that is the reason for this meeting. Bowen leaving his office to go speak with Rudd (even if that's where he is going) is probably something that happens several times a week. It's no wonder that wild rumors sometimes get started during times of possible instability surrounding news of the day.

(04-05-2017 02:44 PM)OleManBlue Wrote:  The Lawson situation seems to have been baked into this equation for some time now. It might be that during the last search the "control" issue that caused at least one good name to decline our offer, was the Lawson issue. It seems to have been a prerequisite to taking the job.

From what I have read on this board it appears the Momma was the bigger problem, KJ & Chandler have a proven track record of demonstrating absolutely no respect for any of their coaches from early on. They have very foul mouths and absolutely no respect when talking to their coaches. Ask Penny, if the reports about what KJ said to him are true, they ought to be run out of town. I know I wouldn't take that crap after having paid my dues coming up through the ranks while building a solid reputation. Tubby earned the right to demand respect from his players.

The problem with many of these kids today is they have everything handed to them, they are not required to work to achieve their goals. When it doesn't pan out for them, blame is thrown at anything they think will stick. Sure these Lawson kids have some talent, but they never accepted their coaches role with the respect that is due them. They will be the ones to suffer in the end.

When local kids stay local they have all these clinger on characters in their ear and heads. This brought them into a head on collision with a coach who tried to work with them, treat them with respect, and help them develop their talents. What did Tubby get in return? When he started to press them 3/4 of the way into the season to prepare them for the stretch, they laid down. Didn't get it their way so they quit on the team. Calipari learned this lesson the hard way with the local kids, stopped recruiting them and built the team into the powerhouse that we now demand all subsequent coaches maintain.


So good riddance to the Lawson family circus, and whomever picks them up deserves what they get. I support giving Tubby the opportunity he deserves, I don't understand the Tubby hate here. He is the coach for now and isn't going anywhere, get over it and support the program. If he can't get the job done after 3 years, then start the conversation to review options. All the coach trash talk / drama on this board is fodder for opposition coaches to recruit against, and sours the opportunity to bring in a class act coach in when Tubby retires.

Beautifully written and powerful message! Let's throw our support behind Tubby! Go Tigers!

(04-05-2017 01:55 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 12:15 PM)MemphisFan95 Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 12:13 PM)Tigerbluesky Wrote:  Tubby can't recruit and that's 80% of everything these days. Tubby needs at the very least to bring in an assistant coach who can recruit and or has a top 10 player attached to stop the quick erosion of our relevance. Not just nationally but locally as well.

He just fired one

Yeah, right. Who has Keelon recruited besides his sons? And he didn't recruit them either, instead used them for his gain.

Team Tubby all the way!!!

(04-05-2017 01:53 PM)Tygrys Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 12:12 PM)memtiger1987 Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 12:09 PM)jlbphila Wrote:  I'm gonna side with a 65 year old HOF basketball coach over a couple of 18-19 year old kids.

I'm gonna side with a guy with a .667 winning percentage over 25 years of coaching over 2 guys who clearly quit on their team down the stretch.

I'm gonna give a guy who's been to NCAA tournaments at every school he's ever coached at more than 1 season to get there here.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm #TeamTubby all the way.

I'm with you. Sometimes you just got to get rid of the cancer to move forward. Keelon Lawson is definitely a cancer.

Bull. We heard the "addition by subtraction" theory for years with Pastner. It never turned out to be true. The Lawsons are not major program changers but next year is going to be horrendous.

We sure did and look how it turned out.... badly.

(04-05-2017 02:44 PM)OleManBlue Wrote:  The Lawson situation seems to have been baked into this equation for some time now. It might be that during the last search the "control" issue that caused at least one good name to decline our offer, was the Lawson issue. It seems to have been a prerequisite to taking the job.

From what I have read on this board it appears the Momma was the bigger problem, KJ & Chandler have a proven track record of demonstrating absolutely no respect for any of their coaches from early on. They have very foul mouths and absolutely no respect when talking to their coaches. Ask Penny, if the reports about what KJ said to him are true, they ought to be run out of town. I know I wouldn't take that crap after having paid my dues coming up through the ranks while building a solid reputation. Tubby earned the right to demand respect from his players.

The problem with many of these kids today is they have everything handed to them, they are not required to work to achieve their goals. When it doesn't pan out for them, blame is thrown at anything they think will stick. Sure these Lawson kids have some talent, but they never accepted their coaches role with the respect that is due them. They will be the ones to suffer in the end.

When local kids stay local they have all these clinger on characters in their ear and heads. This brought them into a head on collision with a coach who tried to work with them, treat them with respect, and help them develop their talents. What did Tubby get in return? When he started to press them 3/4 of the way into the season to prepare them for the stretch, they laid down. Didn't get it their way so they quit on the team. Calipari learned this lesson the hard way with the local kids, stopped recruiting them and built the team into the powerhouse that we now demand all subsequent coaches maintain.

So good riddance to the Lawson family circus, and whomever picks them up deserves what they get. I support giving Tubby the opportunity he deserves, I don't understand the Tubby hate here. He is the coach for now and isn't going anywhere, get over it and support the program. If he can't get the job done after 3 years, then start the conversation to review options. All the coach trash talk / drama on this board is fodder for opposition coaches to recruit against, and sours the opportunity to bring in a class act coach in when Tubby retires.

and meanwhile 5 years get wasted........

Tubby isn't a good fit for this program. Every year he spends on the job is a year wasted.

(04-06-2017 07:41 AM)Ttaylor Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 01:55 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 12:15 PM)MemphisFan95 Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 12:13 PM)Tigerbluesky Wrote:  Tubby can't recruit and that's 80% of everything these days. Tubby needs at the very least to bring in an assistant coach who can recruit and or has a top 10 player attached to stop the quick erosion of our relevance. Not just nationally but locally as well.

He just fired one

Yeah, right. Who has Keelon recruited besides his sons? And he didn't recruit them either, instead used them for his gain.

Name 1 Top 50 player Saul, who took Keelon's place, has recruited.....

I'm not even sure Tubby or any of the staff has landed a single Top 50 player since Kentucky.......

(04-06-2017 07:47 AM)bluebacker Wrote:  

(04-06-2017 07:41 AM)Ttaylor Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 01:55 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 12:15 PM)MemphisFan95 Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 12:13 PM)Tigerbluesky Wrote:  Tubby can't recruit and that's 80% of everything these days. Tubby needs at the very least to bring in an assistant coach who can recruit and or has a top 10 player attached to stop the quick erosion of our relevance. Not just nationally but locally as well.

He just fired one

Yeah, right. Who has Keelon recruited besides his sons? And he didn't recruit them either, instead used them for his gain.

Name 1 Top 50 player Saul, who took Keelon's place, has recruited.....

I'm not even sure Tubby or any of the staff has landed a single Top 50 player since Kentucky.......

Zero

Well, if top 50 kids are going to exhibit head cases, oppositional defiance, disrespect, selfishness, and disruption to team...I'm willing to take the hard nosed dive on the floor, eager to go through a brick wall to win mentality, play exceptionally hard and physically tough for 40 minutes, coachable, respectful, and proud to play for Memphis any day over the aforementioned.

(04-06-2017 07:59 AM)Ttaylor Wrote:  Well, if top 50 kids are going to exhibit head cases, oppositional defiance, disrespect, selfishness, and disruption to team...I'm willing to take the hard nosed dive on the floor, eager to go through a brick wall to win mentality, play exceptionally hard and physically tough for 40 minutes, coachable, respectful, and proud to play for Memphis any day over the aforementioned.

Then go root for Rhodes to get that fix. You'll love the atmosphere and that all the kids there are simply playing for the love of the game.

At the high D1 level things are a little different. Tubby hasn't taken a team to the S16 since 2005 when he was at Kentucky. To be really good and compete for / get to S16s it generally takes at least a few high level kids. I'm sure there are exceptions but I'd bet they are few are far between and probably just occasional flashes as opposed to consistent excellence.

(04-06-2017 07:49 AM)Easterwood Wrote:  

(04-06-2017 07:47 AM)bluebacker Wrote:  

(04-06-2017 07:41 AM)Ttaylor Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 01:55 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 12:15 PM)MemphisFan95 Wrote:  He just fired one

Yeah, right. Who has Keelon recruited besides his sons? And he didn't recruit them either, instead used them for his gain.

Name 1 Top 50 player Saul, who took Keelon's place, has recruited.....

I'm not even sure Tubby or any of the staff has landed a single Top 50 player since Kentucky.......

Zero

But you ignore the question & deflect to Tubby. Again who did Keelon ever recruit? Zero, no one. Instead Keelon used his sons to get a job, nothing else.

(04-06-2017 06:42 AM)oldmangrizz Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 01:22 PM)HoopDreams Wrote:  @mgiannotto 4m4 minutes ago

Tom Bowen left Memphis basketball offices a little while ago. Declined comment on Lawsons. Was headed to meet w/ school President David Rudd

I don't understand the point of this. The only reason that I can see to post this is to insinuate that Bowen is heading to speak with Rudd about the basketball situation. It's insignificant otherwise. However, it's entirely speculation and, as posted anyway, gives no indication that is the reason for this meeting. Bowen leaving his office to go speak with Rudd (even if that's where he is going) is probably something that happens several times a week. It's no wonder that wild rumors sometimes get started during times of possible instability surrounding news of the day.

Exactly, what is the freaking point other than to generate speculation and intense disdain for the program? Every move an administrator makes does not warrant media coverage.

(04-06-2017 08:09 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(04-06-2017 07:49 AM)Easterwood Wrote:  

(04-06-2017 07:47 AM)bluebacker Wrote:  

(04-06-2017 07:41 AM)Ttaylor Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 01:55 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  Yeah, right. Who has Keelon recruited besides his sons? And he didn't recruit them either, instead used them for his gain.

Name 1 Top 50 player Saul, who took Keelon's place, has recruited.....

I'm not even sure Tubby or any of the staff has landed a single Top 50 player since Kentucky.......

Zero

But you ignore the question & deflect to Tubby. Again who did Keelon ever recruit? Zero, no one. Instead Keelon used his sons to get a job, nothing else.

Again, clueless

We need a miracle at this point to revive the program. That would probably involve Tubby resigning, which all know won't happen.

Tiger basketball will be back, but it will be at least 7-8 years down the road.

(04-06-2017 08:09 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(04-06-2017 07:49 AM)Easterwood Wrote:  

(04-06-2017 07:47 AM)bluebacker Wrote:  

(04-06-2017 07:41 AM)Ttaylor Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 01:55 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  Yeah, right. Who has Keelon recruited besides his sons? And he didn't recruit them either, instead used them for his gain.

Name 1 Top 50 player Saul, who took Keelon's place, has recruited.....

I'm not even sure Tubby or any of the staff has landed a single Top 50 player since Kentucky.......

Zero

But you ignore the question & deflect to Tubby. Again who did Keelon ever recruit? Zero, no one. Instead Keelon used his sons to get a job, nothing else.

Keelon brought way more to the table than Saul Smith. Who Has Saul Smith recruited? What teams has Saul Smith ever coached to a championship at any level?

Again, Tubby and his staff have landed zero Top 50 recruits since the Kentucky job........

Are you good with Tubby giving his son a job on staff as one of his three assistant coaches?

(04-06-2017 08:07 AM)bluebacker Wrote:  

(04-06-2017 07:59 AM)Ttaylor Wrote:  Well, if top 50 kids are going to exhibit head cases, oppositional defiance, disrespect, selfishness, and disruption to team...I'm willing to take the hard nosed dive on the floor, eager to go through a brick wall to win mentality, play exceptionally hard and physically tough for 40 minutes, coachable, respectful, and proud to play for Memphis any day over the aforementioned.

Then go root for Rhodes to get that fix. You'll love the atmosphere and that all the kids there are simply playing for the love of the game.

At the high D1 level things are a little different. Tubby hasn't taken a team to the S16 since 2005 when he was at Kentucky. To be really good and compete for / get to S16s it generally takes at least a few high level kids. I'm sure there are exceptions but I'd bet they are few are far between and probably just occasional flashes as opposed to consistent excellence.

I'm not saying we don't need to recruit top 50 players. I'm saying we don't need to recruit the primadonna types, which typically have a "me" agenda as opposed to a "team" agenda.

(04-06-2017 08:09 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(04-06-2017 07:49 AM)Easterwood Wrote:  

(04-06-2017 07:47 AM)bluebacker Wrote:  

(04-06-2017 07:41 AM)Ttaylor Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 01:55 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  Yeah, right. Who has Keelon recruited besides his sons? And he didn't recruit them either, instead used them for his gain.

Name 1 Top 50 player Saul, who took Keelon's place, has recruited.....

I'm not even sure Tubby or any of the staff has landed a single Top 50 player since Kentucky.......

Zero

But you ignore the question & deflect to Tubby. Again who did Keelon ever recruit? Zero, no one. Instead Keelon used his sons to get a job, nothing else.

I can guarantee that Keelon is on a first name basis with far more coaches and recruits in the Memphis area.