Don’t bury Tubby as possibility for Cavs

The one thing I’ve learned about coaching searches during my career is that there’s a whole lot more misinformation circulating than information.

Perhaps it is the snooping, suspicious side of me, the journalist’s side, that tends to look past smokescreens, but I’m still convinced that the Tubby Smith door has not been closed in Virginia’s search process.

Ever since Dave Leitao resigned as the Cavaliers’ coach last week, the overwhelming fan favorite to replace him from the e-mails, phone calls, and personal encounters I have received, has been Smith. The vast majority of fans believe that Smith can return Virginia basketball to its previous winning status.

This columnist believes so, too.

A pivotal decision

UVa director of athletics Craig Littlepage is about to make perhaps the most important hire since Dick Schultz lured George Welsh away from the U.S. Naval Academy in December 1981.

There is a widespread belief that Tubby Smith could work the same wonders (if not surpass them) that made George a legendary figure in Wahoo lore.

Virginia has built perhaps the finest college basketball facility in the nation. Its fan base is starving for a winner. The state high school coaches are pining for a coach that will come in and put Cavalier basketball back on the map.

They all want to matter.

The support is here. The money is here. The enthusiasm is here. The thirst for a winning program is here.

The next guy that walks in the door at John Paul Jones Arena could walk on water in the eyes of Wahoo Nation.

Terry Holland won here for 13 seasons, Jeff Jones for six, Pete Gillen for four, and Leitao for two.

Winning the living room

Tubby Smith can win here. He can recruit this state, from Oak Hill Academy to Fork Union and Hargrave to Boo Williams’ territory and everywhere in between. High school coaches will roll out the red carpet for him because they want a winner in the state just as badly as anyone else.

While I think there are other coaches on UVa’s wish list, I truly think Tubby remains at the top regardless of media reports in Minnesota.

Why?

Deals in modern college athletics are done a lot more behind the scenes than many realize. Coaches aren’t going to stick their necks out publicly until the time is right.

When Smith left Kentucky for Minnesota, his agent handled the legwork, which I suspect is the case here. Minnesota, by the way, did not ask for permission to approach Smith until either right before or right after Tubby got on the plane to Minneapolis.

From what I have learned from various sources, Virginia clearly understands to make a “no-brainer” hire, the best coach it can get its hands on — and in my mind, and many of yours, that’s Tubby Smith.

I have been told that Virginia is going after one of the best coaches in America, and certainly you could pretty much count those guys on two hands and a few toes. Smith is one of ‘em.

This is just a sampler of some of the feedback:

“Shoot for the stars UVa ... Tubby should be our man!”

“Pay [Tubby] the big bucks and bring UVa back to where it belongs.”

“Kentucky looks like fools for letting Tubby get away ... he would be a perfect match for UVa. A true gentleman, well-liked in his profession, and, yes, he can COACH and RECRUIT.”

“UVa: whatever you have to do, do it to get Tubby!”

“Tubby is a living legend and the only one that can rank with Roy Williams and Coach K. None of the others [on the search list] are close. If there ever was a time we need a big move and a big-name coach it is now.”

“I think Tubby is perfect. He has presence, respect, reputation for recruiting.”

“UVa has the best basketball facilities in the ACC and a fertile recruiting base, not to mention a great nucleus of Landesberg, Scott, and Sene for the next few years. The time is now.”

Could it be Tubby Time?