HOW seriously could we take the Kentucky Wildcats in the midst of March Madness if persuasive hints weren’t being dropped on all the right doorsteps that their coach is leaning sharply toward turning pro after the season, win or lose? Especially when the DNA of Tubby Smith’s confidants can be traced to the whispering.

Like old times, just as Rick Pitino repeatedly diagrammed it throughout the Linen Land, Smith is sending strong signals the time is ripe to try the NBA while his stock is peaking . . . and before commissioner David Stern decides to ban college coaches from further sullying his sidelines.

Lon Kruger, Leonard Hamilton, Tim Floyd, John Calipari, P.J. Carlesimo, Jerry Tarkanian and Pitino were unsuccessful in the league for various reasons: unacquainted with the pro game, terrible talent, lack of rapport, poor work ethic, whatever.

“Those coaches were flawed, but it was as much the players’ lack of trust and confidence in them that was to blame,” an Eastern Conference team president underlines. “The first bump in the road and the players said, ‘What does he know? He’s from college.’ It’s too convenient an excuse.”

“I think Tubby wants to test himself at the next level,” a friend in the professional ranks says. “I’m not so sure he feels the fans fully appreciate what he’s accomplished [capturing an NCAA title right out of the box and having a 26-game winning streak after last night’s 63-57 victory over Wisconsin] in Kentucky since replacing Pitino in ’98.”

From what I’m told by those with a need to know, Smith’s superiors are receiving those same perceptible vibrations. Consequently, they’ve begun to covertly feel out some highly qualified and respected coaches to gauge their receptiveness should there be a sudden vacancy.

“Kentucky doesn’t want to get caught in the same position as Carolina when it quickly ran out of options and appointed Matt Doherty, basically by default,” attests the source, overlooking the fact a fairly formidable and ardent applicant by the name of Larry Brown got rejected by the administration.

As far as Kentucky is concerned, come on, how hard could it be to recruit the best in the profession to fill such a desirable opening? As far as Smith is concerned, there’s no doubt he’ll be widely recruited by NBA teams should he decide to take that route – though a couple, like the Clippers and the Hawks (pursued him way before Kruger), are committed to hiring people with some kind of pro experience. You can quote me on that.

On the other hand, the 76ers would be all over Smith should Brown decide coaching the US Olympic team this summer (and next, when it qualifies) would be too stressful. Most likely, chairman Ed Snider would allow Brown, who has two years left on his contract, to remain in management if that’s what he preferred.

Meanwhile, there’s no secret that Brown and GM Billy King flat out revere Smith. If not Philly, the new Charlotte franchise is said to be acutely interested, though I have a sneakin’ suspicion owner Bob Johnson is waiting to see whether the Knicks give Don Chaney another extension.

Truth is, I can’t see Johnson investing the kind of money ($4 million per or thereabouts) it’ll take to get Smith to forsake Kentucky in a coach who can’t possibly be competitive for years to come and won’t even have players for another season.

“If Doug [Collins] leaves, Tubby would be someone M.J. would almost definitely reach out for, in spite of how deficient Hamilton was,” projected someone with a pulse on the situation.

Who knows, maybe the idea is for Smith to do miserably? How else is he eventually supposed to get the Louisville job?

Hold up, we can’t graze Michael Jordan’s Wizards without applauding for taking temporary custody of eighth place in the Easter Conference thanks to road kills in Portland and Seattle. In an emotional gesture, they’ve dedicated their late-season playoff push to Walter and Susan O’Malley.

For those not keeping score, ever since Jordan tongue-lashed his teammates (following being disgraced by the Suns) for not bearing their fair share of the offensive load and vowed his nights of carrying them were history, His Airness has led them in scoring three straight times, averaging 25. For whatever it’s worth, Jerry Stackhouse led Washington in scoring the previous four prior to Phoenix.