"We need people to fill their seats for Tubby"; Calipari urges fans to attend Friday's game

With Missouri and the SEC season opener in the past, we turn to Kentucky Basketball‘s next opponent on the schedule: the High Point Panthers and head coach Orlando “Tubby” Smith. More than a game, Kentucky will celebrate Smith’s time in Lexington with a ceremonial retiring of Smith’s jersey in Rupp Arena.

The 1998 national champion coach will be the 44th legend commemorated in Rupp’s rafters. Calipari spoke on the day’s significance and Smith’s Kentucky legacy following Wednesday night’s game versus Mizzou.

“We wanted this moment for him,” Calipari said of Friday’s celebration. “The job that he did, part of it is, you want guys like him and Coach Hall to really understand how appreciated they are by our fan base. What they did while they were here, winning national titles, doing it with class. Tubby deserves to be in the rafters.”

The fun will begin Thursday evening with a private event for Smith, his former players, and colleagues from his decade as Kentucky’s head basketball coach. Calipari may stop by at some point, he said, but wants Smith to have that moment with his old teams.

Then by tip-off on Friday, Rupp Arena needs a full crowd to show Smith the love he deserves. Calipari urged his postgame radio show listeners to find a way into the seats of any ticket holder who headed down to Orlando instead.

“We’re going to have a lot of fans that have left to go to Florida to watch our football team,” he said. “We need people to fill their seats for Tubby. He should leave this building and there should be no doubt that we all love him. There should be no doubt.”

Calipari added, “The biggest thing is, I want him and his wife and kids to understand that this place, these fans, this school, this state absolutely appreciates what he did while he coached here.”

Scouting High Point

While encouraging Big Blue Nation to attend the High Point game, Calipari also warned fans of the good non-conference opponent Tubby Smith brings to town.

“As always, Tubby’s teams are well-coached,” Calipari said. “You know they’re going to defend. They’re going to collapse and they’re making it hard. They have two guards. One averages 20 points a game and the other shoots 45 percent from the 3. It was a one-point game with Michigan State at halftime and they lost by 13.”

For fans expecting a pushover, Calipari said to get ready for good defense and physicality. You know, Tubby Smith’s brand of basketball.

“Now we’re going to try to beat him,” Calipari added to his postgame admiration of Smith. “Don’t think I’m going to say, ‘we’ll show him we love him by letting him win.’ No. But they may beat us because they can.”

It’s a noon tip-off Friday afternoon. Get in there.