If college basketball had a gossip magazine, Tubby Smith and Lawrence Westbrook might make the cover as the subjects of breakup rumors.
There would be Photoshopped images of Westbrook sporting another team's jersey. And pics capturing Smith in a "secret meeting" with the senior co-captain's potential replacement.
While they clearly need each other to achieve their goals -- an NCAA tournament berth and, potentially, a Big Ten title -- their up-and-down on-court relationship seems worthy of a sports tabloid.