Tubby Smith on his homecoming, jersey retirement, and actual retirement

Tubby Smith “couldn’t be more happy” Friday afternoon following his Rupp Arena homecoming for his High Point Panthers’ game against Kentucky. Smith spoke to the crowd before tip-off as part of his ceremonial jersey-raising into Rupp’s hallowed rafters. After the game, he spoke to reporters about what it meant to be back and how it feels to be the 44th jersey to be retired at Kentucky.

“It’s the No. 1 basketball program in the history of college basketball, so that’s why it’s such a thrill, an honor to be a part of the legacy of Kentucky by having your banner raised in Rupp Arena,” Smith told reporters on the postgame Zoom.

More from that conversation:

“I’d liked to have stayed here.”

It’s very clear Tubby Smith loves Kentucky. He lived in Lexington for 12 years during his two stints on the Wildcats’ bench, once as an assistant and again as the head coach for a decade. There were good times during his run at Kentucky (a national championship comes to mind as one) and there were difficult moments (his exit comes to mind), but he treasures it all.

“You treasure the moments that you have had,” Smith said. “When you’re in the midst of it, when you’re here you’re working so hard. That’s what I tell folks. It’s a 24/7, 365 days of the year, and the season never really ends if you’re a coach and a player. But this is a special place. This city, Lexington, the state, Rupp Arena. I spent 12 years. Spent. This is the longest I’ve served anywhere was Kentucky.”

He added, “I’d liked to have stayed here. Would’ve loved to have stayed here longer.”

15 years after he was pressured into a resignation, Smith has no ill will toward the program or the people who encouraged his exit.

“I don’t have anything that I can look back on and say this left a bad taste in my mouth,” Smith said. “Always been just a joy to come back to Lexington, to the state. Donna loves it here, as I said before. This is where my family probably calls home more than anywhere else. So, when it’s home, you will do everything you can and you’re going to help to make it as great a place as you can by serving people and being a part of it.

“We have family here, but the broader family of Kentucky fans, Kentucky administrators, on and on and on. It’s just good to be back and be honored this way.”

Emotionally draining

When asked about the emotions he experienced throughout his homecoming, Smith called the day draining, but a feeling that can’t be duplicated. After all, only 43 other people know what it’s like to be forever commemorated in Rupp Arena.

“It could be draining,” Smith said of the return to Lexington. “As you get older, you want to enjoy the moments, savor the opportunity that you have.

“But seeing how people responded, the ovation, that’s one thing you can’t duplicate. The only time is at Rupp Arena. The fans here are obviously very intelligent. They understand and they appreciate people when they’ve given back to the program, and I hope I’ve done it that.”

On Donna’s appearance as the Y

Rupp Arena saw Tubby Smith’s wife, Donna, raise her arms as the ceremonial Y during a break in the second half. It wasn’t her first time adding the final letter to K-E-N-T-U-C-K-Y, but it was still a special moment on the Smiths’ big day.

Tubby said, “She loves Kentucky like I do, and for her to have that opportunity it’s just–to witness her, I’m looking at it now, that’s a special moment for her because she’s been part of this journey now for 40, what, 46 years, 47 years.

“So, we appreciate Kentucky folks allowing her to be a part of that celebration, a part of the celebration.”

The “Y” today 🤩

Welcome back, Donna Smith! pic.twitter.com/NCesoNRbqR

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) December 31, 2021

“Get a haircut, Larry.”

The highlight of the press conference came when Tubby Smith spotted Larry Vaught among the participants in the postgame Zoom. Vaught covered Kentucky Basketball during Smith’s tenure as head coach, but he was almost unrecognizable to Smith with his new pandemic hairstyle.

“Is that Larry Vaught?” Smith asked. “Larry, man, what are you wearing? Is that a wig?”

Listen to Tubby’s infectious laugh:

Tubby Smith was having fun with @vaughtsviews during the postgame Zoom. pic.twitter.com/URUL77itqJ

— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) December 31, 2021

No decision on retirement

With 31 seasons as a head coach and his jersey now hanging from the rafters of Rupp Arena, how much is left for Tubby Smith? The tea leaves suggest this could be his final season in college basketball, but he did not indicate any intentions of hanging up his coaching shoes in the postgame press conference.

“Right now I’m having a lot of fun here at High Point,” he replied to a question about his future. “We just built a new arena; a new facility, the Qubein Center; so I’m excited about that. I hoped we had won some of these close games and we’d have a better record right now, but it’s a process so we want to finish this journey and then we’ll make a decision about retiring.”

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