Top 15 Players to Play for Head Coach Tubby Smith

NCAA Basketball: Top 15 Players to Play for Tubby Smith

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 17: Head coach Tubby Smith of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts in the second half while taking on the Butler Bulldogs in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PNC Arena on March 17, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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20 Mar 1997: Forward Scott Padgett of the Kentucky Wildcats cheers on his teammates during a playoff game against the St. Joseph”s Hawks at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, California. The Wildats won the game 83 – 68. /

12. Scott Padgett

Career stats: 10.3 ppg 5.3 rpg 2.0 apg

One of the key players for Smith’s championship team in 1998, Padgett held down the paint for Kentucky. During their title run in the Big Dance, he scored in double figures in all six games, before dropping 17 the beat Utah to win it all.

His overall numbers weren’t eye-popping, but he showed up when needed in the postseason, which is why Wildcat fans will always remember fondly. That’s also how he was able to have such a productive NBA career, by simply sticking to his role as a center.

11. Mark Morse

Career stats: 16.2 ppg 3.3 rpg 4.8 apg

Smith had some great players in the beginning days at Tulsa, including point guard Smith. He not only led the team in scoring, but also led the Missouri Valley Conference (Tulsa’s home at the time) in assists in his two seasons with the Hurricanes.

Despite being just 5’7, Morse was a force to be reckoned with. He was one of the best point guards of his time in college basketball, as well as one of Smith’s top ball handlers.

10. Randolph Morris

Career stats: 12.6 ppg 6.0 rpg 0.8 apg

Towards the end of Smith’s reign at Kentucky, Morris was the man who helped keep the Wildcats from sputtering. He averaged 16.1 ppg and 7.8 rpg in his final year before going off to the NBA.

The forward was one of the best big men in the SEC during that time and played great defense on that end as well. The amazing thing is, he wouldn’t even crack the top-10 forwards of Kentucky over the last decade, showing how big a change has occurred with the program.

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