Gator Country

**GothamGator** · 01-18-2013, 03:04 PM

Kudos to Tubby Smith at Minnesota and Lon Kruger at Oklahoma, who both have their schools playing very well.

Minnesota is ranked #9 in the AP and although they've dropped their last two to Indiana and Michigan, there is no disgrace in those losses. They also have a win over Michigan State in conference play. Minnesota is not necessarily an easy place to win, but Tubby has done well there, winning 20+ games four of his first five years.

As for Lon, after rebuilding UNLV, he left to take on another project at Oklahoma. In his first season, they are 12-3, undefeated in the Big 12, and ranked 15th in RPI. We will know more about them after they play Kansas State this weekend. Not a bad year for a team that was 15-16 a year ago, including 5-13 in conference play.

tilly · 01-18-2013, 06:03 PM

Lon diserves a lot of credit for the state of Gator hoops.

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GatorLurker · 01-18-2013, 06:09 PM

Lon coaching against K State is interesting. Just like Spurrier coaching against UF.

HALLGATOR · 01-18-2013, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tilly

Lon diserves a lot of credit for the state of Gator hoops.

Totally agree with this.

tilly · 01-18-2013, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HALLGATOR

Totally agree with this.

He made it an appetizing place for a kid at Marshall.

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GatorLurker · 01-18-2013, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tilly

He made it an appetizing place for a kid at Marshall.

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I would think that Billy coming here from Marshall was a MUCH bigger factor. YMMV.

themistocles · 01-18-2013, 11:10 PM

Kruger was an excellent coach, but not a great recruiter, and he was trying to recruit kids to a football school, which was very difficult, which was the primary reason he left.

Tubby Smith was always an outstanding coach and remains so today.

Glad they are both doing well at their respective institutions.

lkldgator87 · 01-18-2013, 11:27 PM

Had Vince Carter come to UF, I doubt Lon would have left. Thus no Billy....thanks Vince!!

your_perfect_enemy · 01-19-2013, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkldgator87

Had Vince Carter come to UF, I doubt Lon would have left. Thus no Billy....thanks Vince!!

Completely unrelated but Carter just passed or is about to pass Larry Bird on the all time scoring list which is crazy comparing the impact between the two

And to the thread f tubby smith

**GothamGator** · 01-19-2013, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themistocles

Kruger was an excellent coach, but not a great recruiter, and he was trying to recruit kids to a football school, which was very difficult, which was the primary reason he left.

You know, I used to believe that about Lon, but based on his career moves since, I wonder if he was just ready to move on regardless. He never stays in one place more than a few years.

rserina · 01-19-2013, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GothamGator

You know, I used to believe that about Lon, but based on his career moves since, I wonder if he was just ready to move on regardless. He never stays in one place more than a few years.

I would say those two explanations are related. Kruger is a phenomenal defensive coach, and in general a good strategy guy who instills his system well, but his inability to recruit at a high level I think is sort of the writing on the wall in most of his stays.