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It might seem like decades because of all that's happened around Kentucky basketball, but Tubby Smith is getting ready to start his fifth season as the head coach of the Golden Gophers at Minnesota.

He was back in Kentucky Monday night to speak at Georgetown College. He showed up with that bright smile True Blue Fans remember.

"I'm wonderful. I'm doing great. It's so great to be back in an area where you have friends, familiar faces," said the former UK coach.

In 2010, Tubby was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He said he got an overwhelming show of love and support, but is now cancer-free.

"I'm one of the lucky ones."

Tubby says he's truly learned just how many people are affected by prostate cancer. He's now trying to spread the word about getting yourself checked out.

Last May, I'm at a dinner with Arnold Palmer at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida. He was talking about how he had prostate cancer and he came to Minnesota, to the Mayo Clinic and it saved his life. Three months later I'm in Mayo Clinic and they discovered prostate cancer," said Smith. "I was really fortunate."

He's feeling great and looking great. He's been in this business awhile and isn't showing any signs of slowing down. He compared himself to one day being the Joe Paterno of college basketball.

"As long as I can keep a job, I'm going to coach."

After four seasons away from Kentucky, Tubby said it doesn't get any easier. He said you don't catch a break from fans no matter where you are. You just have to learn to deal with it, and he believes Kentucky's current coach is a good fit for that.

"The outside forces, if you pay any attention to that you're not going to make it in this business. I've lasted 37 years and I know there's some people that wish I hadn't lasted this long, but it's been beautiful. John Calipari was under the same scrutiny at Memphis, Massachusetts and Kentucky and he's well-equipped for this," Tubby said.

After thinking it over, Tubby did agree that maybe things are a little tougher in Kentucky, where the heat is always turned up.

"It's a little bit different. I remember a guy who called me and said 'Coach, if you don't beat Louisville we're going to kill your dog.' I said I don't have a dog so the next day there was a little puppy on my step saying good luck," said Tubby. "That was a joke people!"