Having coach Tubby Smith yell at him during practice or games has been no big deal for freshman Jodie Meeks. Smith’s glare and foot stomp might intimidate some new players, but Meeks was well trained to deal with his demanding coach.

“I try not to listen to how he says it, but what he says,” said Meeks after Wednesday’s win over Houston. “He’s tough, but I can handle it. I was used to it.”
That’s because Meeks’ father always demanded the best from him.

“My Dad, from the time I was little, trained me kind of hard. Dad always yelled at me to make the right pass or take the right shot,” Meeks said.
How old was Meeks then?

“He coached me from the time I was 5 years old until high school,” Meeks said. “It could be just little stuff, but he trained me for what to expect here. That’s why I have always had a strong mind.”

Others have noticed.

“It sometimes seems like he is the whipping boy for the entire team in practice,” junior Randolph Morris said. “He takes it and just keeps on going. He’s not afraid of anything.”

Meeks says his parents watch every game they can back home in Georgia and are proud of what he’s done. “Dad will still help me if I ask for his advice if I am doing something wrong. But he won’t say anything now if I don’t ask,” Meeks said.

Meeks has not done much wrong at Kentucky and seems totally comfortable even though it is just midway of his freshman season.
“Everything is new, but nothing has really surprised me or overwhelmed me yet,” Meeks said. “It might be a little surprising that all the freshmen are playing so well, but I think we are better players than a lot of people realized when the season started. Now we just have to keep on showing that.”