RALEIGH — From watching Tubby Smith lead Kentucky to a national title in 1998, Butler coach Chris Holtmann has a great respect for the man that will be standing on the other side of the court from him Thursday morning.
So does his mother.
“You know, Tubby Smith is my mom’s second favorite basketball coach,” said Holtmann, a native of Nicholasville, Kentucky. “He’s her favorite Kentucky basketball coach. ... Anybody that has been around Coach Smith has great respect and admiration for who he is.”
Which is why Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt called Smith the day after he was fired from Minnesota about the opportunity to coach in Lubbock.