Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
I was pulling for the boys from Western tonight, but they couldnt get it done (and yes they deserved the timeout and yes Seth Davis is a goober). That means that all of our state’s energy can now be focused on making sure that Louisville loses. Come together people, its imperative!
Two quick notes…
— As I wrote earlier today, a meeting on Gillispie’s future did take place on Friday. Those of you who are on this site regularly know that I dont speak in absolutes very often, but I am certain it did take place. As I stated earlier in the comments section, I dont have that same level of certainty about the results of the meeting, and either way even if I get that certainty, I wont write about it until the season is over. All will be known soon enough….and as I have said multiple times, it would take only a few words from Mitch to end all speculation and rumor mongering. That isnt being done and it is either telling (that he is gone) or is a mistake of epic proportions in judgment (if he stays). We shall see.
— WKYT did a report tonight in which they interviewed the families of all 2009 recruits. The basic gist of what they said was that they would all re-evaluate their commitment to Kentucky if Coach left. That should surprise no one and is the standard answer for all recruits. When a coach changes, the school usually enforces the LOI to the degree that they require the kid to meet with the new coach. 90 percent of the time that kid stays at the school (like DeAndre Jordan when Gillispie came here). This process will likely be similar if a change were to be made.
Interestingly Daniel Orton’s father said he had called Mitch Barnhart to find out what is going on, but had received no return phone call. Like all the rest of us, the recruits’ families are in wait and see mode. If Gillispie is coming back, leaving them hanging by not supporting the Coach is a mistake by Mitch. If he is not coming back, then not talking to the recruits may be Mitch’s only choice.
Gillispie has a 2 pm press conference tomorrow that is regularly scheduled to preview the Creighton game. We will let you know what he says about the big matchup and anything else.
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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March 21st, 2009 at 11:46 pm
BCG is gone!
March 21st, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Yup. He’s gone.
Next?
March 21st, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Cats are Top 15 with Mendez-Valdez (see above) running point.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Goober is too nice…..Seth is an idiot! The loss was a tough one, but I couldn’t prouder of the way guys battled through the whole game. I think the program continues to grow. Love Coach McDonald and his mind-set to get the team on the level of other mid-majors who have found a way to get automatic bids. We’ll be back! Go Toppers!
March 21st, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Watched the report on WKYT and none of the 3 fathers seemed too happy with the thought of Billy Clyde leaving. Orton and Villarino seemed the most disturbed.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:54 pm
anyone want to go after Mitch on this one? I mean he was essentially the supervisor over the recent collapse of our prized program, yeah, he built the others up, but he has done nothing for our Basketball program (sans Craft Center b/c that was coming anyways from the boosters) except allow Demoss to leave the women’s team.
Keep Rich, Ditch Mitch
March 21st, 2009 at 11:55 pm
All the Gillispie haters better temper their fervor. When he’s back, you’ll have hard feelings and next year spend the whole season wallowing in a cesspool of your own bitterness. That’s no way to be friends.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Matt…IF BG is gone, do you expect a mass exodus? Or conversely, he goes?
March 21st, 2009 at 11:57 pm
How odd is it that Mitch hasn’t given BG any words of confidence to the media or recruits??
March 21st, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Conversely, he stays rather…
March 21st, 2009 at 11:59 pm
I don’t see the point of having the meeting while there are still games to play if they were going to fire him. It seems like they would just fire him before the game and start their search for a new coach. Unless of course Gillispie asked for the meeting and said “I need to get out of here”.
All mindless speculation from me, of course.
Matt Jones, I think you’ve played this one perfectly.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Last time Mitch gave encouraging words, our coach bolted for the northern country.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:59 pm
whats the point in saying a meeting took place and providing
no information? Wouldnt it be better just to wait until there
might be facts to post? When there is no meat to a story
there is no story.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 am
Really, there’s nothing to discuss. Nothing has happened. Mitch’s silence speaks loud, but it may speak for other reasons we’ll find out later. I can’t believe Gillispie would be gone after 2 years. It may be PR russian roulette for UK.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:01 am
Why would anyone be worried about losing GJ Vilarino? Heck, BCG is recruiting his position in HIS class – not once BUT TWICE.
Orton and Patterson are very close – in fact, their moms became good friends before Orton’s mother passed. If PP comes back, I bet Orton will be here. It is unlikely that Hood bails on his home state – he’d be remembered for that forever.
I think BCG is gone. If not, Mitch is making a huge mistake like MJ said – which is sadly noy outside the realm of possibility.
Is it confirmed that BCG was not at the meeting..?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:01 am
14 – There is a lot of meat to the story if BG was not there and no comment of support has come out. Face it, you’ve been comltely wrong in your assessment that BG will be back.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:02 am
15 – UNC fired 2 coaches in a row after only 2 years. Why is it so bad if UK does it?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:02 am
14) No. We appreciate Matt keeping us in the loop re ALL news. Thanks Matt.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:02 am
IMO The national media is waiting for the WORD and then it will be lights out UK. Either way we get reamed!
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:03 am
The media seems to be on board with getting rid of Gillispie so im not concerned about any back lash. What i want is Calipari,Donovan or Pitino. If that happens we are in better shape for the future and we will keep 3/4 of our roster and recruits and be just fine.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:03 am
20 – Wrong. The national media hates BG and would love to see him fired.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:04 am
Who was the first? Guthridge retired and Dougherty was fired.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:05 am
GRRR BCG is a nazi who wants us all to fail..GRRR
HATERZZZ
Gosh Matt I hate it when you give us as much information as you deem possible (sarcasm). If he lets too much out, it can cause disaster for the program. Good call
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:05 am
I have no clue as to whether Billy will be back, but neither
does anyone else.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:05 am
If Gillispie returns, I don’t see how that necessarily makes Barnhardt’s silence a mistake. It may only confirm what Matt has been saying for a while now: the decision has not been made. Barnhardt has real concessions he wants to get from Gillispie about being the face of the program, and he can’t get them if he gives up his leverage by saying that the coach is being retained. Plus there’s the whole business of Mitch giving Billy a vote of confidence, and then Billy bolting a la OTS.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:06 am
23 – Guthrie retired is like Tubby upgrading his career at MN. Either way, they fired a coach after 2 years and it seems to be working out pretty good for them.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:06 am
For us to get an elite level coach/top notch will take big time money.
Probably around 4mil a year. The fans who don’t like Gillispie didn’t
even give him two years. How are you going to justify giving an elite
coach around 4mil/base salary when it will take at least 4 years to turn
things around? You didn’t even give Gillispie two years, eventhough we
lost our two PGs from last year and another experienced elite guard/SF.
So your going to give an elite coach making around 4mil a year more than
two years? Yeah right!
Or we could give Gillispie, who has proven to be a very good coach, a
year to turn things around with a possible very good team with lots of
talent. If things don’t get better next year, then UK fires Gillispie.
Then at least our 09 recruits are already here, Ferguson already signed,
giving a new coach a much better chance of keeping them here.
Giving Gillispie one more year is the safest bet in my opinion. We
are going to suck next year if Gillispie is fired. We might be really
good if he stays or at the least we will suck, which would anyways if
Gillispie was fired after this season. Then we could just let him go.
At least the 09 class would already be here and Ferguson signed. That
would give a new coach a great chance of keeping them.
Best thing for UK is to give Gillispie another year and see how things
go next season. What could it hurt? Nothing. Letting him after this season
is taking a big risk. Things could be okay or things could really get bad.
Giving Gillispie one more year is the best option.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:06 am
7)I’m in the BCG’s gotta go camp, but I have already come to the realization that I may not like next year’s coach and if that happens I’ll cheer for them and him just the same.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:06 am
22 – We both have opinions. All may hate but some have supported him having more than 2 years at UK. We shall see.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:07 am
The fans had nothing to do with this. Gillispie caused all this on his own and now Todd and Barnhart will deal with it. The fans did nothing but support him and sell out a home NIT game. We are suitting by and watching this unfold.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:09 am
#27….something to remember is that if Meeks and Patterson both leave (and that is possible, regardless of what many fans think), then the Cats will not be good next year…..and I dont know if Gillispie can survive that.
Just another things to remember in this complicated mess
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:09 am
my version of (someone on the inside who definitely knows what’s going on) informed me today that the decision was made by Todd & Barnhart to fire Gillispie and that they’ll let him know after Monday’s game, adding, be careful how you circulate this as “these things have their way of unraveling” – let it be known that my contact’s connection with UK is/was purely media driven and that they deeply despise Billy Clyde, and have from the start…
I wasn’t able to ask them but here are my questions, for which no answer exists: What if we win on Monday? Who will coach the next game? What if we win the NIT Tournament?
If Billy Clyde is fired Tuesday morning, I hope Patterson & Meeks declare for NBA that afternoon. And I hope every single recruit decides to go elsewhere, this is an absolute disgrace
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:09 am
What a convuluted ridiculous mess. Mitch inpsires almost zero confidence in me. I honestly have no idea how any of this is going to turn out. If I had to guess I’d say 60% chance he is gone, and if he is gone, 99% chance Mitch amateuristically stalks/begs/blows Donovan again.
And unfortunately (for me at least), I consider Donovan at most a 1-2% upgrade from Gillispie. The thought of him as our coach honestly makes me sick to my stomach.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:10 am
I don’t want Billy Donovan. He has been in two straight NITs. He can’t
get his highly recruited players to play good enough right now.
Calipari be stupid to leave Memphis with a good young team returning next
year and maybe the best recruiting class of all time coming in. Plus he
wouldn’t have Fed-Ex to back him up anymore.
Who will we get?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:10 am
27. What was the deal with the press conference thing from Thursday?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:10 am
27 – You are not giving UK fans the credit they deserve. Everyone loved Pitnio’s 1st year team because we could see that the future was very bright even though we were 14 – 14. We don’t need anymore time to see that BG is an awful coach.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:11 am
ethan, sorry I didn’t see your post. If I had to pick between Shaun and Monk, I would go with Shaun. Monk just has to many habits that would piss me off
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:12 am
How the hell do you bring back Pitino when he may be playing for two more weeks? Isn’t that too long to wait an anouncement? You can’t have this out while his team is playing.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:12 am
“Don’t speak unless you can improve the silence.”-Adolph Rupp
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:13 am
Donovan needs a change it’s as simple as that. Once he gets here he will win a third title.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:13 am
Rick Pitino is not walking through that door! Is that one okay big brother?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:13 am
Pitino will not be the coach at UK
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:14 am
39. thats BS dude that was my facebook status earlier today
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:14 am
“Gillispie caused all this on his own…”
FALSE
and I don’t think Calipari’s recruiting class would be much of a reason for him to stay in Memphis. That’s a one and done class and he’d be here for many years.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:15 am
39. and…its “Boys, we have a rule here. You don’t speak unless you can improve upon the silence.”
don’t misquote the Baron
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:16 am
People saying they don’t think Calipari would come here make me laugh. The guy can win 2,000,000 games in Memphis and no one will really remember it. And no one in their right mind would turn down a better job because they had great recruits coming in the next season. And, make no mistake about it, more than any other school in the country, these kids choose Memphis BECAUSE of Calipari. He can pull in kids like that ANY year at virtually ANY school.
The only problem is…well, back to my Zero Confidence in Mitch thing. I doubt Calipari will even be considered. Again.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:16 am
42 – Can you say the same about Calipari? I can’t see that happening either.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:17 am
Matt,
Assuming Gillespie is gone (whether or not thats true…) what do you think of these odds:
Donovan 60%, Ford 25%, Calipari 5%, other 10%
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:18 am
Jones – Orton, Pilgrim, Stevenson, and an older Harrellson is better
than Patterson and Stevenson. Liggins still has star potential.
If we can put two good ball handlers on the court next year who
don’t turn the ball over, then we could be a better team with
an older Miller, Pilgrim, Orton.
I know that is a big IF but I still say next season comes down to the
development of Liggins/Galloway, how quickly GJ/Hood/Tucker develop, and
if we can get Bledsoe and/or Armstead.
lets not forget that how good Meeks is and lossing him means lossing a lot
of points but we also would get rid of of Meeks turnover problems, horrible
passing, horrible handles, and get rid of his inability to beat people off
the dribble and shoot over them.
Next year comes down to guards. The only thing holding us back this year
were turnovers. We were a good offensive and defensive team, at least
good enough that those things didn’t cost us games.
Turnovers did, the same turnovers we didn’t have last season when we had
Ramel, Joe, and Jasper and we came out on the winning end of close games
instead of the lossing end of many close games this season.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:18 am
34
FedEx backing Calipari – what does that mean? I know they pay the bulk of his salary but UK will pay top-dollar as well.
I think the top-notch recruits he is signing is the bigger issue. Also, MJ has mentioned that Donovan is probably option #1 and I think thats how far Mitch will have to go this time.
I think Caliapari would bring instant credibility but it will be hard to get him.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:18 am
46 – Mitch couldn’t even get a face to face meeting with BD last time. I agree that he won’t be able to get Calapari.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:18 am
So are you saying Billy Donovan will be the new coach in 4 weeks?
Thanks and I’ll hang up and listen to your answer.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:20 am
49 – We came out on the losing end of a 1st round NCAA game. Is that your measure of success?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:20 am
48. Who is Gillespie?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:20 am
52. Don’t hold your breath
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:20 am
45. Its the best I could remember out of some book I don’t feel like looking for right now lol
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:21 am
Yes it will be Donovan.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:21 am
50. FedEx employs a few parents of current/past players as well as maybe a recruit or two. Its an NCAA infraction waiting to happen
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:22 am
Maybe we can get UPS to hire some people for UK?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:22 am
So, little Eddie Munster is coming to UK. lmao
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:22 am
The true irony is that Tubby would have been on UK’s short list if he hadn’t coached here before… HA!
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:22 am
53. Billy Clyde was awarded SEC Coach of the Year, in my book – which is titled “Reality” – that qualifies as a measure of success…hanging another banner in Rupp Arena (2009 NIT Champions) would also fit into that category
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:23 am
57) I hope so, I bought one of those damn Got Billy G shirts 2 yrs. ago, that way I can mark out the G and put a D and save a shirt.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:23 am
I really don’t want Billy D. Those players won the back-to-back titles, sorry.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:23 am
If you honestly think this team will be better next year without Meeks and Patterson, then I have no idea what to tell you. Live in that dream world all you want.
If Gillispie were not to be the coach, I would suggest that the short list includes these five coaches:
Donovan, Calipari, Dixon, Ford, Matta
The first two are the favorites of most…..Donovan would be the first call….opinions vary on what would happen. Calipari is the favorite of a significant part of the decisionmaking apparatus but there is also a significant roadblock as well. He wasnt even considered last time….but I think it would be reevaluated this time. If he was asked, he would crawl here.
The next three are on the second level. I think one of those three would be the next coach although opinions vary as to which one would be the favorite.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:24 am
So we are going to fire Gillispie, take a chance of lossing a lot
of players for Billy Donovan who Gillispie has beaten twice with two
totally different looking teams at UK and has just has been to his
2nd straight NIT.
I rather take a chance with Gillispie for another year than start over
with Donovan.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:24 am
49 – Orton, Pilgrim, and Stevenson are not better than Patterson by himself. Orton has been injured, Pilgrim is an unknown, and Stevenson is consistantly inconsistant.
We have no ball handlers coming in that will unseat Porter. Our best option for next year is Galloway/Liggins, but we already know Billy won’t play them.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:24 am
56. was it laughing with uncle adolph? cuz i just read that one last week
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:24 am
58 wow, thats bad if true. We don’t need that at UK. Lexmark/Toyota employing recruits parents or something, LOL
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:24 am
62 – NIT banner will not happen. Please don’t base your opinions on futures.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:24 am
64 did those players get him to the other Final he went to?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:25 am
Isn’t Dixon basically YOUR favorite, Matt?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:26 am
Lol #64…when you like the coach it was him, when you dont it was the players. Billy D went to three title games in 11 years at a program with no basketball tradition. The man can coach….even if we dont like it.
As for SEC Coach of the Year award, that is good….but Tubby won that four times and National Coach of the Year twice. Do you think he is a great coach? Billy D has NEVER won the award, even after three title games. Those awards are popularity contests and a “did you meet expectations” award. I wouldnt use that to determine if a coach should or shouldnt be at the helm.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:27 am
“What we need is some payin’ gigs. Amen, Johnson”-Slingblade lol
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:27 am
I don’t know why Calipari isn’t the top choice…..
UMass got in trouble because they had an amazing talent in Camby and he took money from an agent…That is not Calipari’s fault.
He is the best recruiter in the game, and based on the results of this year, one of the best pure coaches.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:27 am
No coach could keep the current roster or recruits like Donovan,Pitino,or Cal. Anyone else and we would be IU all over. Todd/Barn will get one of the three.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:27 am
I give up. I have zero power. I wish this site and tens of thousands of UK Nation would rise up and scream for Calipari and express their collective nausea at even the prospect of Donovan…but that isn’t going to happen. Mainly because everyone seems to feel differently, and a ton of people sound like they would be overjoyed with Donovan…but also because even a site like this doesn’t have any true power.
You want to win multiple championships over 10-15 years and have a true legend on your sidelines, one that would eventually do more than Pitino ever did — then you bring in Calipari. If you want more frustration and inconsistency, and players that everyone hates like Matt Walsh and Joakim Noah, as well as prissy little bitch teams that play little to no defense and underachieve virtually every season, then go ahead and get Donovan.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:27 am
I think it would be a mistake to swap BCG with Dixon, Ford or Matta. Just a fans opinion.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:28 am
I could only imagine how good UK could have been with a PG. If they only had a Slaughter/Mendez-Valdez running the team.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:28 am
I dont know if he is my favorite or not….I havent really thought about it. I am not in favor of Ford yet, but just because I want to see him win some more. Besides that, I need to learn more about the guys who are the second tier choices.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:28 am
Donovan is getting good recruits and sucking right now. If he can’t make his own team play good how is he going to coach this team any better then BCG would? I’d wait on rolling the dice.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:28 am
75. Calipari didn’t know about Camby, like Eddie Sutton didn’t know about Chris Mills. wink wink
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:29 am
65 – Crawl? I hope you are right but I don’t see it at all. Why would Calapari crawl to UK?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:29 am
#77 you hated those players because they played for UF. Just like you hate Duke. Donovan has been to 3 Fional games. Are you reading this correctly? 3, he laso played in a Final Four anmd was a coach at UK for another Final Four. He knows what winning in the tournament is all about.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:30 am
Yeah, but do you REALLY know first tier and what the hell are we talking about anyway, Gillispie is not gone.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:30 am
#83….because at Memphis he can be a good coach, at UK he can become a coaching legend. He wants to play on the top level and I am almost certain from talking to people who know him well that he would come here if asked
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:30 am
I didn’t say we would be better without Meeks and Patterson. I am saying
it comes down to guards. Good guards make all the difference. I think
Meeks and Patterson stay anyways if Gillispie stays, so that really wouldn’t
matter.
Donovan – two straight NITs with players that made up two highly ranked recruiting
classes.
Calipari – dream on! No way he leaves the situation he is in next year at Memphis
Dixon – Well if you don’t like Gillispie style you won’t like Dixon’s. It is slow
and Dixon won’t have the luxuary of building a team like he wants to. You
all will destroy him everytime he took a 3star over a 5 star.
Ford – hasn’t landed an elite player yet. YOu all like recruiting, so if that is
still the belief of many then you don’t want Ford who hasn’t proven anything
in recruiting yet.
Matta – Now that does intrigue me. Great Recruiter already and now put the UK name
with it. Good coach and the media loves him.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:30 am
Matt: what is this “significant roadblock” to Calipari? See, that is why I wish these morons like Barnhart who live in their own little bubble would have to be made accountable to the masses. Don’t just sit back there in your backrooms and make decisions based on…God knows what information.
Ugh. Donovan. I’m literally about to throw up in my mouth.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:30 am
You will rest now but when you awake you will have the image of Joakim Noah in a UK uniform…
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:31 am
lets all admit that we at some point have thought of Cal as slime…but he could be our slime this time around
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:31 am
To be fair we should hire the new coach for 1 year with a one year extension and if during any year he wins less than 25 games we can his ass.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:31 am
I just can’t see him coming back next year if Barnhart or Todd won’t give a straight answer on the question. I would imagine the day or so after we play our last game they will have a press conference to announce his departure. I don’t really want this but I don’t see how he stays at this point. Just please no Donovan. Please god.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:31 am
Matt, can you explain more on the roadblock for Cal? Is it the fear of NCAA violations?
In any case, it feels like it’ll be Donovan to me.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:31 am
77 – Good point. I hope we don’t have to cheer for Walsh/Noah types.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:31 am
According to Matt Jones uncle, Jerry Tipton, the Arkansas AD has voiced his support for John Pelphrey. Wonder when this will happen for BCG?
http://ukbasketball.bloginky.com/2009/03/21/ad-voices-support-for-pelphrey/
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:32 am
#85, if you dont trust what I say, that is fine…..then dont read it. You ALWAYS come on here and just write “I dont believe you” or “You dont know what you are talking about.” Thats fine….you are entitled to your opinion….but if you dont trust what I say, why even come here?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:32 am
Matt, do you use the “you’re living in a dreamworld” argument in court? And as a follow-up, does it work?
I think Tubby and Billy G are both excellent coaches. One walked after he inexplicably stopped doing a major part of his job that he was actually pretty good at (recruiting), and one may be fired because he inexplicably stopped doing a major part of his job that he was actually pretty good at (public relations).
Can we just find someone who just does his job?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:32 am
Calipari will come to UK, is the best choice, and brings the best recruits immediately…he just needs the money.
Ford is the favorite of the locals and the parent’s of the players.
Donovan is the likely choice for a reason unknown to me.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:33 am
Meeks and Patterson stay no matter what happen I think. They wouldn’t transfer anywhere and they would be making a mistake by going when they aren’t ready yet IMO.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:33 am
91 – You’re missing the point again. Results are secondary to seeing improvement and a future. Point back to Pitino’s 14-14 team his 1st year. We loved them!
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:33 am
#98 is being a part of winning 34 NCAA tournament games and going to 5 Final Fours not good enough for you?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:34 am
What if Mitch Barnhardt came out and said, “I’m putting Jeremy Cox as an interim coach for 1 year. Dr. Todd and I have agreed to look for a basketball coach for one year to put the perfect coach in the best basketball program in America.” That would be nutty, huh?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:34 am
71) Did he win it? Kruger got them to a final four 6 years earlier.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:35 am
UK fans put the heat on Joe B. Hall and forced him to retire then
you got Sutton.
Not saying Gillispie is Joe B Hall. What I am saying is be carefull what
you ask for when saying you want Calipari.
Calipari can get away with things at Memphis and he has Fed-Ex helping him out.
All eyes would be on him at UK and I don’t know if having Calipari with
all eyes on him is a good thing.
You all got what you wanted when you asked for Sutton (or when your fathers asked
ask for Sutton, for those who are young), you might just get what you ask for
if Calipari comes here
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:35 am
The Calipari roadblock is what you think it is.
Again, if Patterson and Meeks dont return (which is VERY possible), then Kentucky will suck next year….if that happens, then Gillispie cant survive in my view. So what does bringing him back do?
For Gillispie to succeed here, he needs Patterson and Meeks back and that is why comments from Patterson’s mom and Meeks’ dad are so crucial
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:35 am
101 – being part of…….. yeah that means NOTHING to me
winning championships means a lot, and Donovan has 2, but he turned us down once, and is underachieving as usual since.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:35 am
96. When have I said, “I don’t believe you” and you don’t know what you’re talking about?”
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:36 am
103 – You are really grasping now and showing your ignorance.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:37 am
#99….that is FAR from certain…for a variety of reasons. The tough thing for Mitch (and the reason I dont envy him) is that in addition to deciding on a coach, you have a roster in total flux. That makes his final call very difficult
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:37 am
104. With Fed-Ex, Calipari has faster shipping options for packages to recuits ughh…friends ughh..guess he’s going to get caught red handed.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:37 am
We loved Pitino’s first year because they were blue collar KY boys (most) that stayed because they were at home with UK.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:37 am
How about somebody explain why Gillispie doesn’t get 3 years or even a full class of his own recruits to prove he can do something? No PG to a basketball team is like no QB to a football team and we all sat thru that.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:37 am
I can’t imagine the uproar at Rupp next season with no Meeks or Patterson and the team possibly losing a lot of games. No way he would withstand the pressure from the fanbase..Hell he can’t stand the pressure from Jeanine Edwards halftime interview.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:38 am
dk96 – You must have mistaken me for someone else.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:38 am
Matt, I just can’t see why they would leave NOW, it doesn’t make sense to me. Anybody else I can see, but not them too. I don’t think I’m wishful thinking though.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:39 am
111 – That’s not why I loved them. I loved there style of play. Don’t you remember the press and screaming “3.” What are you excited about now?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:39 am
What is this Fedex garbage?
Who cares who the boosters are? The NCAA doesn’t. Ok St gets 40mil from an oil billionare. Oregon gets the same from Nike. Fedex can’t hide cheating, because Calipari isn’t cheating.
He is just the one of the best.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:40 am
If Gillispie is gone I doubt we ever see Tucker in a Kentucky uniform. Villarino may leave, but where’s he going to go? He’s not a higly rated recruit. Hood will be here no matter what. Orton’s situation could go either way. Another big name team would snag him up in no time, but if Patterson comes back then he might want to play with him.
One thing that hasn’t been talked about is the impact of the rumor about 5 players leaving if Gillispie comes back. If that’s true and Gillispie knows it, then it might cause him to leave “on his own.” If those 5 players include Patterson and Meeks, then he will have a losing season next year and he’ll get fired. If he knows next year’s going to be worse than this year he might rather leave on his own terms instead of being fired.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:40 am
Mitch better come out soon and say something either one way or the other it’s getting out of hand now, one things for sure if he does decide Billy has to go he better make damn sure he brings in a big name who can get the job done or he will be the next to hit the road.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:40 am
dk96 – My wife and kids.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:40 am
Matt Jones 73) Kruger got them to a final four 2 years before BD arrived. No basketball tradition then either. Where’s Kruger now?
Actually, it’s 3 final games in 13 years for BD. Not bad but not great either when you have the team he had for the 06 and 07 teams. That team had chemistry and not many Coaches can “coach” chemistry.
Sorry dude, you can LOL if you want but you’re usually the one blaming a coach when he is losing and crediting the players when they are winning. See your LAST 2,000 posts on this site.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:40 am
116) We get to scream now in Rupp when the clock is down to 6 seconds and the Offense is trying to setup something…lol
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:41 am
#117 your right and then UK gets negative press for text messaging,
moving midnight madness up a week (which was within the rules), etc.
What goes on at other schools is one thing. It going on a UK would be
a totally different thing.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:41 am
120 – I’m happy for you then. Anything from BG make you happy besides a bunch of recruits that could end up like Legion and Liggons?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:42 am
112: after this season do you really need to ask that? Good Lord. If he was even moderately competent at the totality of this incredible job then of COURSE he would have been given time, and plenty of it.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:42 am
I envy Mitch. He makes $500K a year and still has a secure job despite totally blowing the coaching search in 2007.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:43 am
123 – We would get a free pass on this one. BG has been such an A-Hole that even the media would let us slide on this one. Besides, who cares what the national media thinks?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:44 am
126 – He didn’t just blow the search, he blew $6M!
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:44 am
Matt, I am hearing that many of the high-dollar boosters are actually pushing for Pitino … what have your heard?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:44 am
I will take 3 title games in 11 years…as for “underachieving” that goes back to his early years when he STILL brought in top classes…he is one of the top 4 recruiters in America and I think UK would boost his energy. That team he took to back to back titles was not full of high school talent…and honestly except for Horford, they havent had much NBA success. It was a great team and he coached them VERY well. Chemistry is developed and he did that.
Having said all that, we are way ahead of ourselves. Still need to see what happens with Billy G
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:45 am
dk96 – I support the CATS and I’m an optimist. Time does great things. Not saying Billy should leave or stay.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:46 am
The lunacy of not even considering Calipari last time, and probably not this time either just furthers my belief that Barnhart is a complete and total amateur. If Calipari was cheating he would have been caught many times over by now. That perception of him isn’t new. After UMass it essentially was stuck to him, and tons of people have already for years now just assumed he was cheating his ass off to get these players at Memphis. Again, if he had cheated, even a tiny bit, at Memphis he would have been caught by now.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:46 am
123…..any team in the final 4 is closely scrutanized. Period. And Cal has been there and will be there again.
The biggest thing to me is that his kids LOVE him, and they are AWESOME to watch.
Can you imagine seeing a team running up and down the floor for the first time since 2003 (or 1997)?
Thats what Cal brings. Plus he probably brings John Wall.
Everyone should think about this lineup:
Wall, Meeks, Pligrim/Miller, Patterson, Orton
That team is a preseason number 1
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:47 am
Leftover sushi is actually pretty good
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:47 am
131 – What did time do for Tubby while you were probably being optimistic for 10 years?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:47 am
I like leftover clams.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:48 am
134 – never tried it
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:48 am
UK lost two senior guards last year Ramel and Joe (eventhough he did play SF,
he was really a guard in a 3 guard lineup). We also lost Jasper who started
for two years at PG (even if he stayed he wouldn’t have played this year due
to his injury).
That is like lossing our QB, back up QB, and star runningback.
What did you all expect from a team with a guard like Porter, turnover
master and weak ball handler in Meeks, a JUCO transfer, and a freshman?
I try to tell you all before the season started we would struggle this year
because of no quality guards and turnovers would kill us but if we just
get through this season, then those guard troubles could become a strength
the season after. I was dead on because turnovers is what killed us this year.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:48 am
138. If he is gone it’s 5% coaching 95% off the court issues.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:49 am
dk96 – You have hated for too long (12 years). Must have been tough.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:49 am
139. Off the court issues? I’m still wondering what they are? Bad interviews? That’s it?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:50 am
138 – What I expected was a team that overachieved, played inspired, and looked well coached. I did not get that did you?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:51 am
140 – I wish I would have been wrong but unfortunately I have been proven right.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:51 am
Matt, do you still think the hardcore Billy Clyde supporters are few and far between?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:51 am
Matt,
I think Donovan would be a fine coach at UK, but he has an awesome talent base in Florida. He can miss with the big name recruits and still find random walk-ons that can contribute.
UK used to be able to do that, but the in-state walk-on talent is not there. It was there 15 years ago with Pitino, but it isn’t now.
UK is a hard place to recruit to in general. You have to get a hit with your big swings, and get steals with your walk-ons. That isn’t easy.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:52 am
17 and 26… wrong. Doherty was fired after year 3 at UNC. He went 8-20 (EIGHT AND TWENTY!!!!) in year 2 and was BROUGHT BACK for a third season (finishing something like 17-16) afterwhich he was fired.
Clyde needs a third season to right this ship and redeem himself. After the job he did last season and the finish we had, he’s earned a third year AT LEAST to see what he can do with our program. Being so rash with our judgment and making hasty decisions of this magnitude is unwise.
On the bright side… it doesn’t get any worse than what Doherty did at UNC… and they won the title two years later. We think we have it so bad in the NIT, but we have no clue.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:52 am
Okay, If UK knows for sure that Calipari would come here without a doubt,
Wall would come, no one on the current team who matters will transfer, at least
one stays between Meeks and Patterson, nobody in the 09 class goes elswhere,
then I say go for it.
Now can anyone tell me that anyone would know that answer right now?
You think Calipari can promise that by coming to UK?
You sure all those things will happen if Calipari comes to UK?
If so, then I say bring in Calipari
If those things for sure will happen
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:53 am
142: EXACTLY. And I would add: to me, the ESPN all-access thing was a borderline fireable offense. Go watch the video of when ESPN did that with Memphis last year. It was basically a 3-minute infomercial for coming to play there. For a guy who allegedly eats, sleeps and breathes recruiting, seeing Gillispie botch FREE PUBLICITY like that was horrifying.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:54 am
Matt, for the record, this is BD’s 13th season at Florida. Of course, we’d all take 3 title games too but my point is that team had all the pieces to the puzzle (mainly solid play at all 5 positions AND chemistry AND defense) and I wouldn’t start giving BD all of the credit for those two runs in 06 and 07. He’s fizzled out early in the tournament several other times with better talent.
How do you explaing the last two seasons for BD? Most on this site including you would be calling for his head by now.
Matt, 5 (56%) of BD’s 9 NCAA appearances resulted in 1st or 2nd round losses. He’s missed the tourney 31% of his seasons at Florida. Yeah, he’s tops on my list.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:54 am
#142 you expected a young team to do all that? Do you even know
a little bit about the game of basketball?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:54 am
138 – Dude man, you are one persistent ^&%* and I really respect you for that (no pun intended)
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:55 am
Folks, as far as UK has gone with this smoke and flame mess without asserting that BCG is coming back, they HAD better be letting him go and bringing in a top coach (Calipari, Donovan, Pitino). I know some want to argue that BCG should get another year based on this or that factor, but for UK (Barnhart / Todd) not to support him now – or in the last two weeks – when all of these rumors from every angle have swelled HAD BETTER indicate he is done. If he comes back, he will have a near impossible task to deal with, and a splintered fanbase and media attention that he certainly won’t handle well at every turn.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:55 am
Gillispie has been a disaster overall. Can’t win at home. Loses to no name teams. Recruits 8th graders,Euton,Ross Miller,Zollo. Acts horrible to our local media and does not play the best players and will not adjust one bit with a possible zone. He will not change and i would love for him to go to another institution.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:56 am
149: thanks. I just threw up in my mouth all over again. Ugh. It’s amazing to me that amateur Mitch could very well can a guy after just two years and bring in someone who is at best a marginal upgrade…when there is a friggin legend who would “crawl” here.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:57 am
IF Gillispie is gone, perhaps UK is doing the PC thing of not saying anything to keep pressure off a coach still coaching in the NCAA tournament?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:57 am
150 – I think that IU looked well coached this year. Looking inspired and well coached has nothing to do with experience.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:58 am
#153 – I couldn’t have said it any better.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:59 am
#153 You will eat your words on Zollo and Avery. Avery played against
very good competition on a team with very balanced scoring, and was
still the best player on the team as a freshman. Avery is good
Zollo at the least would be a very good roll player at UK.
Euton – I give you that
Ross Miller – we just don’t really know how he will workout or have any guess
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:59 am
Just heard that Todd, Barnhart and G were all wearing brown suits standing in a circle around a corpse chanting something incoherent, The corps was said to be none other than…… may he rest in peace.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:59 am
#155 – That would be the sensible thing to do, I would think. It would be a very classless move by UK to mention coaches that still have a team that is alive in the tournament.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:00 am
I bet hiring Digger Phelps would please many of you. We’d lose 20 games a season but you would be placated by THE ZONE–that magical defense that solves all defensive ills, especially the one that plagued our team this year: too many shots. Oh wait, I guess that goes back to turnovers and not having a point guard.
Gimme a break people, you whine about the most insignificant things. If Gillispie doesn’t return, it will be 99% due to the fact that he can’t handle the non-coaching pressures at UK. It has nothing to do with on-court stuff.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:01 am
158 im going to eat my words on a roll player. Hell Gillispie actually cried when he landed this kid. he may be ok but come on. Avery is way too young to give a scholly.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:01 am
Matt,
while i normally support you on almost all things, i have to take exception with your constant cardinal bashing. last time i looked louisville was still part of ky. and deserve our support except when playing our beloved cats.
my lifelong dream has been to see the cats and cards for the ncaa title and it nearly happened except the wizard of westwood getting in the way. my pride is kentucky pride for all things ky, but you are showing yourself to be a hater of something the whole state should be proud of, a ky. team making a run for the title. wake up son and smell the roses.
for the first time since i started coming to this site i am ashamed of you.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:01 am
158…chances are Zollo and Avery will never play here…
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:02 am
160. Kind of like when Alex Rodriguez released during the World Series while the Red Sox were winning it, his contract with the Yankees.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:02 am
#162 You say that now about Avery but you will see. Just wait!
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:03 am
163 – Nobody likes the Cards. Louisville is a terrible city. I throw up when I think of their campus. Go Matt, keep hatin on the Cards!
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:03 am
158 listen to yourself….you gave me one roll player(Zollo), one your right on with Euton, one 9th grader, and one guy who we don’t know yet and his father is a headcase(Miller). COME ON. Dude get a grip on what UK is all about.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:03 am
163. If you go against King Matt, he’ll go Eric the Midget on you or say you “always” disagree with him, when you’ve actually never done it.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:04 am
#163 – Do you think Carolina fans cheer for or support Duke when they aren’t playing each other, or vice versa?
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:04 am
Patterson
Miller
Hood
Orton
Ferguson
in less than two years on the job
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:04 am
138: i agree that we weren’t playing with a full deck of cards this year, but there is NO EXCUSE for the complete collapse that this team exhibited. for christ’s sake we were 16-4, 5-0 in conference, nationally ranked, and touting our junior guard as a NPOY candidate. then we finish the regular season 3-8? we lost to GEORGIA on senior night! we never lose on senior night (we’ve lost something like 3 times in the last 75 years on senior night), and yet we lose to the worst team in the SEC when our season is on the line?
i have never seen as comprehensive a failure as we had in the second half of the season. ever. we’ve never had a non-winning home record in conference until this year. the team got worse, and worse, and worse.
this was one of the worst coaching jobs i’ve ever seen in my life, in any sport. i don’t know what i want to happen, but i can’t stand seeing a team with all the wind at its sails flounder like we have.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:04 am
and Pilgrim
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:05 am
161 – If is is the off court stuff that gets him fired then so be it. I personally want him fired because his style of play / offensive game plan is horrible. UNC scoring 90 points a game is a big reason they get the recruits.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:05 am
171 – that’s 3 players that have never seen an NCAA court and 1 player who is a 1st round draft pick who might be gone.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:06 am
You can convince Texas A&M players who are for the most part 2 or 3 stars to buy in but its’ harder when you get to UK and get a roster of 3,4,and 5′s to be broke down like mules and want to win for you. That’s part of his problem as well.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:06 am
172 – I agree. 2 of the best scorers UK has ever seen and we choke away an NCAA Tourney appearance. Sad.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:07 am
170) thats a good enough reason not to live in carolina. we are kentucky and our standards are not carolina standards.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:07 am
163. Get a clue. Louisville is the smegma of Western civilization.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:07 am
#174 Gillispie runs more offensive set probably than any other coach.
Look at what he ran at A&M, even last year as the year went on we ran
more offensive sets and got better because of it.
But we didn’t have that senior leadership this year to run many offensive
sets. The guards we had couldn’t even run basic offensive sets without turning
the ballover 20 times a game.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:07 am
171 – Stop betting on futures and base your opinions on what you have seen up to this point.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:08 am
what’s up with all this “throwing up” tonight? aspenmurphy has thrown up at least 6 times and now Kuen. Y’all need some avomine or something
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:08 am
180 – we had one set this year – the high post – and it was an EPIC FAILURE
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:09 am
Matt, do you even remember the year before they won the title in ’06, the fanbase was calling for Donovan’s head because of too many early exits?
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:09 am
174. If it weren’t for turnovers (which, incidentally, are NOT part of the gameplan), this team might score closer to 90 points a game. We had the best FG% in the SEC.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:09 am
I thrown up in my mouth when I think of UL dominating UK in EVERY sport….unfortunately over the last few years, they do that in everything but baseball
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:09 am
CatSmitty – I anonamously post that I would love to see the Cards win it all.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:10 am
175… the point is that is how you build a year-in year-out great program… that’s 5 outstanding players in 4 straight classes.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:10 am
180 – HAHAHAHAH! He runs more offensive sets than any other coach??? Listen to Dykstra call our games and how he continuously calls our offense simple (3 around 2). You just proved your knowledge of bball.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:12 am
We have papa Brooks coined would it be ok from now on that we call Barnhart UCNLE FESTER for letting all this fester on in the media without a statement. OK Uncle fester it is.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:12 am
188 – name them – Patterson was a Tubby recruit from our backyard. Miller was from our backyard. Almost any coach would have kept them here.
I haven’t seen Ferguson play in the NCAA, but I think he will be good. I am not sold on Orton because he missed almost his entire senior season and was not even eligible to be a Mcd’s All American. Hood is from Kentucky, and I hope for the best.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:13 am
186. Did you just awake from a coma? Steve Krathorpe coaches UL football now.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:13 am
180 – 50% of the time BG does not even call a play! Porter looks over to the bench and he just stays in his stupid squat / smirk position. Watch the rest of the tourny and see how many coaches don’t even call a play from the bench in a half court set.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:13 am
191. Yeah, Patterson liked Tubby so much he wouldn’t sign for him.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:14 am
179) so you say but small minds beget small thoughts and you are not a big picture kind of guy!!
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:14 am
One of Billy’s plays is the crack your knuckles on the sidelines like you don’t know what your doing.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:14 am
I still remember the look on Donovan’s face back in ’03 when we were running the Gators out of the gym. He had no answers. No thank you.
Clyde needs more time. This season was disappointing. That is all. Not the end of the world. The fanbase needs to chill out and have some patience.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:14 am
#181 what I seen so far is a program that had fallen during Tubby’s last
year and I said then I bet that things get worse sometime in the next
couple of season before they get better.
I have seen a team last year under a new coach, not with a whole lot of
talent and injury problems, do good under Gillispie with senior guards and
another experienced guard.
I seen Gillispie this year struggle without any senior leadership but
I have seen a big man develop into a great player under Gillispie. I
also seen a guard (Meeks) who can shoot real well but can’t handle the
ball real well, turn it over a lot, and not able to create his own shot
anywhere on the court, become a star under Gillispie.
So I seen two guards do really good under Gillispie (Ramel/Meeks) unfortuntley
one of them only had one year then graduated. I seen a SF have a great year
under Gillispie (Joe). I seen another SF, not as highly ranked out of HS as
Joe, start showing signs of who he can be under Gillispie (Miller), I seen
a Big Man (Patterson) have sucess under Gillispie.
What I haven’t seen yet is what a Gillispie team with experienced guards and
quality big men can do. I think he deserves that chance.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:16 am
197 we aren’t making the decisions.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:16 am
179. haha, but I DO see the big picture. The big picture is that I still have to interact with Louisville fans for the next year, and that is not the case with any other team!
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:16 am
192 – Look at our record against UL in the last 6-7 years in every sport. We suck.
194 – Patterson waited until the second semester. So what? Tubby was here until March of 07 and the signing period is BBall is in April.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:18 am
196… that’s actually the main thing that bugs me about Gillispie, that nervous hand-wringing he does… did he do that at A&M? Can anyone confirm? Maybe it comes from the fact he knows he has to rely on Porter to run his offense… I’d be a nervous wreck too!
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:19 am
198 – Crawford and Ramel took over last year, because Gillispie gave in and let them run the team. Joe Crawford is an NBA talent and he didn’t even start some games last year. Gillispie is nuts.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:19 am
Seriously, I mean does anyone here remember when Louisville sucked at basketball? You couldn’t have found a Card fan with a search warrant. Now its getting that way with football.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:20 am
203. Was Tubby “nuts” when Rondo was coming off the bench?
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:20 am
198 BRAVO!! (except for all those “seen”s)
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:20 am
#191 there are great things we all debate and discuss on here. I like
it because I am aruging with others who also have good knowledge. If they
don’t they at least have a basic knowledge of the game.
You don’t even know the simple facts. We don’t know if Patterson would
have come here with Tubby here. We just don’t know.
Miller was not coming here if Tubby was here, Tubby didn’t even recruit him.
Nor did he recruit Hood. Both Hood and Miller have said publically they wouldn’t
be at UK or coming to UK if Tubby was here. At least get your basic facts
straight
#189 You laugh about what I said but I said basically what Pitino said
after playing A&M two years ago in Gillispie’s last season there.
Funny how you want Pitino back at UK but you don’t even listen nor believe
the things he says about coaching.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 am
bluesman you are a sore loser and a bad sport and do not represent a true ky. fan. go back to the state you were born!!!
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 am
I keep reading about how no word from MB means BCG is gone. Why is that? They’re not obligated to hold a press conference because the fans want some news.
I’ve been watching the news and ESPN and there’s no bad press about UK on TV. They’re mostly talking about the NCAA, they’ve got other stuff on their minds. The only people tore up are the people on this site and perhaps other blogs. Last official word we got was they would evaluate the season- at the end of the season and it’s not over yet. So the folks saying MB should put the brakes on all the gossip are just grasping at anything they can point to at getting rid of BCG.
I don’t want Ford, I don’t think Calpari would leave what he’s got and I don’t want Billy D. So, for now, I’m supporting BCG.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 am
In my heart of hearts i don’t think Gillispie could win 6 straight tournament games and truthfully we need a man who can. Some of his losses make me question that long a tourney run against top notch competition.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:23 am
I think you’re the one outnumbered here. Go to a Cardinal blog.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:23 am
205 – Rondo was a freshman, not a senior. and if you want my honest opinion, Rondo should have started every game.
Rondo was TOO good. Tubby has said that since. Fatty-Patty Sparks just held him back.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:24 am
Coach Gillispie has not forgot how to coach…. Dammit… these comments are crazy…. We had a few teams this year shoot out their asses against us,sinking late shots ect. DONT TRY TO GIVE ME TRY THE ZONE THING.. think about how stupid that is when teams are draining threes. Sure i dont agree with some coaching decisions he made but Damn we just had some very bad luck this year…. If PP and Meeks come back next year with the returning players and the incoming class… Do you Gillispie haters think that he can SCREW THAT UP… IF YOU DO.. YOU ARE TOTALLY OFF THE WALL CRAZY….. He needs next year at least and the results will be amazing. Our fans are alot of cry babies that think that they know all the answers.. HE CAN COACH.. SHUT THE HELL UP.. If he comes back and then loses then vent… until then.. GROW UP… I watched him a few years back at A&M, those teams were tough and he did not have the talent except for Law.. Who was the last team to beat kansas at Kansas???? SHUT UP.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:24 am
#203 Your a complete idiot. Can’t you see we all argue and have different
opinions but we all at least bring basic knowledge to the arugments. That
is what makes it fun.
Your just an idiot. Gillispie didn’t give in to Ramel and Joe, even those
who really hate Gillispie will say that. Gillispie refused to play Joe until
Joe played the way Gillispie wanted him to play. Joe grew up and became a
better player. His shot selection got better, he was more comfortable, and
he became a better leader and positive example to his teammates.
At least bring the basics to the arugment, LOL
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:25 am
So was there a meeting or not? Some say yes and some say no????????
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:25 am
I love this notion that Billy “gave in” to Ramel and Joe. This coach doesn’t give in to players who won’t do it HIS way.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:25 am
211) make me, you pig bastard!!! MEOW!!!
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:25 am
213 – he didn’t forget how to coach….he just never was good enough to coach at UK
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:26 am
212… how did benching Joe work out in the end? He got better. Thank you. Next.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:26 am
IMO Finding a new coach would be like picking the best turd from the sewer. The ones out there right now that might come to UK are all tarnished in some way.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:27 am
The turd we have now needs to be flushed.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:27 am
217. I didn’t know they let patients use the Internet at the psych ward.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:27 am
IF PPat and Meeks are gone, then next year will definately suck, and IF Gillispie is allowed to coach that team, the fan reaction to him next year losing numerous games will get VERY ugly. So the question is, do you hinge all of the hopes of PPat and Meeks returning next season and let Gillispie get it going with a good class comeing in, or do you cut ties and bring in somebody like Calapari and build for the future. If PPatt and Meeks do not come back, then getting rid of Gillispie is the only option IMO. The fan base would accept a bad season next year knowing that a coach like Calapari is running the program and can recruit like nobodys business, but if BCG has a shitty season (which is very possible) then the University has wasted a full season.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:28 am
219 – he got better? give me a break. Did Liggins get better this year? I doubt it.
How bout AJ, or Galloway, or any number of talented guys we had on our bench this year. You get better by playing. You don’t get better by sitting on the bench the first semester of your senior year.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:29 am
I think the point is that he got better when he listened to Gillispie.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:29 am
I do agree that Gillispie could have done better this season if he
adjusted and I wish he would have. Gillispie stuck to his style and
system which I didn’t agree with for this season. However, I do think
he is a very good coach with his type of players, when most have at least
one year experience.
I do fault Gillispie for not doing as good of a job with the team he had.
That I agree with many of you on.
What I think you all are not realizing is that Gillispie is a very good
coach, coaching his style with his players, who are experienced, doing it
his way. Heck, Tubby was a great coach with a very good style, he just couldn’t
recruit the players and awhole team that fit his style. If he did, he still
be our coach.
Give Gillispie a chance to showcase his true style and fully implenment
his type of system with his players and you all will see a very good
coach and a very good team.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:29 am
remember folks, that if we drive coach off, that will be 3 out of the last 4 coaches run off for whatever reason. that would make a wonderful conversation piece in a recruits home!!!
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:30 am
#218… In the fans minds.. neither was Hall, Sutton or Pitino or Tubby…. he just deserves more than two years.. After next year we may all be singing his praises. We have to be rational here and give him a chance, that is all i am saying.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:30 am
1 year contract fire his ass if he wins less than 25. LMAO
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:30 am
Did the meeting even happen folks????????????
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:31 am
223 has a good point. Gillispie has failed. If we was loved by the fanbase, the NIT would be tolerable. But he isn’t. He skips appearances. He is an a$$ to reporters. He sleepwalks through post-game interviews.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:32 am
Yes, the meeting occured and they all wore brown suits.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:32 am
230. Is someone now saying that the meeting didn’t happen? Why do you ask?
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:33 am
209… I agree. No word from Mitch means nothing. The fact Matt Jones (god love him) keeps spouting off about that being “not good news for Gillispie” shows (I’m sorry to say) his bias… oh I’m sorry, his opinion. Mitch and Lee were probably meeting (if they were in fact meeting) to discuss the situation, not make decisions about it. Or they might have been meeting to discuss any number of other important things that ADs and University Presidents get together to talk about. Get a grip people. We have a game to win on Monday. The fact Lex media is picking at this scab of a story so feverishly is pathetic. Fans speculate. We worry. We repeat rumors. Media are supposed to be better than that.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:33 am
233 yes someone has mentioned now that no meeting happened at all. Sounds legit.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:33 am
who?
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:34 am
#224 I say Liggins is better now than he was most of the season. He refused
to do anything any coaches or his teammates told him to do for most
of the season. That is on Liggins not his coaches or teammates. But he doing
those things now and last game he looked much better, under control, and only
had 1 turnover. Liggins held his own development back. Any basic knowledge UK
fan, Gillispie lovers and haters alike, know that.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:35 am
236 id raher not mention that but it’s true that he said he had heard of no meeting tonight.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 am
218 – I wasn’t a UK fan when Sutton and Pitino were here so I can’t comment on them. I was here for the entire Tubby tenre. I loved that guy. I was fine with 25-10. I could even handle his lack of recruiting (although Meeks and Jasper were awesome finds IMO).
This is different.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 am
My friend had a really good point. Not my view on things but:
We have a great Coach, a coach forced out/under appreciated, a dud ( he used the term drunk.),a great coach, under appreciated Coach, and according to him we are just on our drunk.
Rupp,Hall,Sutton,Pitino,Tubby,Gillispie.
–Just thought this would lighten the mood.
Even though I support Gillispie.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 am
I will apoligize to everybody if I am wrong.. but they have not had no meeting. The season is still on going and if they had had a meeting now, it would make no sense. And if Coach Clyde was told he would not be back next year, as nasty and hatefull as some fans say he is. He would hold a press conferance and tell us all to stick it up our asses. The meeting will take place after the season. This is all just a bunch of bull.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 am
Is this a source of yours or another site?
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 am
If the meeting didn’t happen then Matt will pull a Maggard.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 am
#231 Being an ass to reporters is a cool thing according to ESPN and
in fact they will hire you for having a career being an ass to reporters.
signed Bobby Knight (who himself went to many NITs)
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 am
mine
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:39 am
“KentuckyWildcats” is BY FAR the sanest and smartest person posting here right now, and that includes Jones. Firing Coach is program disaster, we will NEVER recover, UNLESS Calipari is gauranteed but he is a cheater. The JOBS recruits get at FedEx are absolute cheating in my book. People don’t go to Memphis because of prestige or playing in the spotlight or even for getting to the pro. Its Pro-Am ball there.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:40 am
243. Matt has been pulling Maggards for a while now.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:40 am
We all need to be concerned on how we are going to get the filthy Cards out of the tournament.. lol
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:40 am
237 – if Liggins got better, it was because he is a year older, not because BCG helped him. “Any with basic knowledge UK fan… know that” BCG and Liggins have the weirdest relationship in coach-athlete history and it’s not weird in a good way.
Liggins is the perfect example. He is a HUGE talent. He can get to the basket at will. His passing is very similar to Rondo’s.
Chances are great that (1) he will transfer and (2) he will make the NBA.
The fact that BCG couldn’t figure out how to get him to contribute meaningfully is on BCG, not the player.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:42 am
I said it once and I will say it again.
I will jump on the Calipari bandwagon and get rid of Gillispie bandwagon
If Mitch/Todd know for sure they can get Calapari, no one who has good potential,
on this current team leaves, Either Patterson or Meeks stays, all the 09 signees
stay, and Calapri can promise Wall to UK.
Then go for it
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:44 am
Look if people don’t want to blame part of the “collapse” on being young and immature, then you’re just not paying attention. When you have a young team and loses mount up, it’s hard for them to break that losing mentality. There’s no legacy of success brought in by senior players.
And everyone who wants to worship at the alter of Billy D. Didn’t his team completely quit on him last year? And didn’t two of his players have an altercation about “who’s the man” on the team?
This is the guy you want coaching here? Yeah, he won back-to-back championships with a roster full of NBA players. But let’s not forget had the PLAYERS decided not to comeback, he’d only have one.
And for anyone looking at Pitino. Well, that’s the equivalent of taking back you EX after she slept with the man who shot your dog.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:45 am
Kuen – Don’t compare Rondo to Liggins and expect to have any creditbility.
Rondo didn’t turn the ballover like Liggins did all year. Rondo also
didn’t refuse to do the things and run the plays his coached asked of him.
Liggins flat out refused for most of the season and told everyone on his team
and coaches he was going to do things his way. How can you expect any coach
to play that kind of player?
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:47 am
250 I’d love that scenerip, roster wise, I just wonder if he could recruit like that UK consistently?
But I also know you won’t be on that bandwagon bc you know its impossible for Calapari to have Wall in his backpocket bc he might flat out commit to Baylor if he knows Calapari is off to UK and not deal with the mess.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:47 am
Rondo had a coach that was hard-headed, but is universally respected. Liggins has a coach that has universally made a laughing stock of UK
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:47 am
251. You forgot to add the fact he locked his team out of the gym and they were not allowed to wear gator apperel for a while, talk about being a jerk towards you’re players
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:48 am
This post and especially the comments by made its chief in this thread continue along the vein of this site being used as a platform for ratcheting up pressure on the administration. He’s saying “a mistake by Mitch” in dealing with recruits’ fathers based on tidbits of info. The criticism of our AD is not new here. After the Georgia loss, when Mrs. Patterson and Barnhart spoke this site went far out of bound in trying to embarrass Mr. Barnhart, as demonstrated in this post: http://new.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=15218
Since then on live blogs and now here, they’ve lobbied hard for Donovan. This has gone on and on. Matt was asked if Gillispie is gone does he think Donavan is the first choice? Matt answered “I know he is the first choice”…Really? How can he know? Now we are hearing it’s “not good news for Gillispie” but there’s NO NEWS. Take what is said here going forward with a grain of salt. I’m really surprised I’d ever seriously think this site would involved itself in such shenanegans.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:50 am
No one’s laughing. They’re not even talking about us. That’s on OTS.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:53 am
256-Have you seen Slingblade? Watch the seen where Doyle goes crazy and replace those lines with quotes about UK basketball. “We don’t got no damn band! We don’t need to f-in practice Randy!” hahaha
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:54 am
256-I agree, it is just one rumor after another right now, making a news story out of nothing.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:55 am
the billy clyde legacy, so far, is more embarrassments on and off the court, real or imagined than all the previous coaches combined.
having made that statement and considering the negative publicity uk would receive if we run coach off he still deserves one more year but only if he’ll quit acting like a petulant child.
like it or not, he is the flagship of kentucky basketball so while players come and go, the coach is where the fans pour their adoration.
let this be his wake up call and if he doesn’t get the message then we can all escort him to the state line.
one truth is self evident, the coach is not bigger than kentucky basketball and holds sway only if he respects the pride and tradition of the program.
of course, he also has to win!!!
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:56 am
Also no ones pointed out the obvious problems with Ford’s attitude toward his players and others that almost got him fired mid-season this year.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:02 am
If UK can get Donovan or Caliapari, get it done.
If not, stick with BCG and hope for the best.
If they fire and pay BCG $6M, and then hire Grant or Ford, it will be a catastrophe.
I hope Micth knows what he’s doing… even Dr. Todd may be on the line on this one
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:28 am
#262 Actually Grant might be a good get. For many reasons but I will
get more into that if the time comes to start discussing that.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:55 am
Firing BGC is dangerous.. Let’s get real, what started as banter on some blog sites ended up making national headlines. A couple weeks ago I turned on ESPN and they were speculating on “whether or not Gillispie is on the hot seat” and now they are saying “BCG IS on the hot seat” So it’s us, the fans, that made this escalate so quickly. It’s insane. But let’s get down to the brass tax here; we are a highly judgmental group of fans, we think we know all the answers (and sometimes we do damnit!!).. but we don’t need to have this kind of power. I think we need to just chill out, let them finish out the season, then we’ll step back and see what happens. Whatever the outcome is, I’m sure as Sunday it’ll be the best one.
March 22nd, 2009 at 3:02 am
262. The university president’s job will not be on the line b/c of a basketball coach. Promise. Obviously UK basketball is the school’s staple, and that is why it is up to him to hire a good AD. The AD is much more expendable than the university president.
Todd is working to make UK a top 20 public university – which I hope he does, to make my resume look better, but that is a tad ambitious in my view. Make no mistake, though, this will be Barnhardt’s last hire of a basketball coach if Billy G does leave. You don’t get to hire THREE unsuccessful coaches at Kentucky – again, going with the assumption Bill G is fired.
All we can do is wait and see, which SUCKS b/c we all care so much. And for all the great things about our fan base, which like Matt says, IS the program, patience is not on our list of virtues, but that is an inherent byproduct of our fanaticism. Go Cats.
March 22nd, 2009 at 3:05 am
Everyone who says “Gillispie needs one more year to prove himself!” are missing the point. He isn’t embattled because of his on the court performance. His off court conduct COMBINED with the sub-par season have put him in hot water.
If he was doing the PR side of things with the class and ability we expect out of the UK coach, I don’t think we’re talking about firing him. Coach would get another season easily. But some of his behavior with the media has just been…bizarre.
March 22nd, 2009 at 3:14 am
256. You’re wrong. But if you don’t like it, then quit visiting…
March 22nd, 2009 at 3:18 am
264. My general inclination is to agree with you, and it is in my nature to say that a fan base doesn’t need to have that kind of power, but it just isn’t true for us. We’re a small state, Lexington is a small city – like South Bend, like Lincoln, NE. This fan base makes the program – and we have to take the “good” with the “bad.” If “bad” is a fan base that is too quick to judge and impatient to a fault, then so be it. The second that the more rabid sect (probably more likely a majority than a sect) becomes relaxed about the state of the program is the second we begin to fade into irrelevance. Lester Bangs would say it is the start of our “way back to the middle.” Or something to that affect.
Some would say that the problems in football of the cities I mentioned (South Bend and Lincoln) are the fault of overeager, overzealous fan bases. I would posit that their problems began with bad hires – Willingham and Davie are great comparisons to Gillispie. They are coaches who hadn’t won big on the national stage, but had the potential to. Didn’t pan out.
That being said, I would LOVE to see Calipari here, even Donovan. However, I’m not saying that leaving Billy G here is a guarantee that we will fall into the traps that Nebraska and Notre Dame football have fallen into. I’m just comparing the situations.
We WERE spoiled by Pitino’s stay here, but moreover, we live a tad too much in that past. Pitino is like James Dean. He did great things here – GREAT things. Things people my age (27) hadn’t ever seen as UK fans, things we’d only heard about. Then he left, and Tubby won a championship, which unfortuately for Tubby only added to Pitino’s legend instead of helping build Tubby’s legacy. Pitino’s legend had been growing ever since. Please don’t misconstrue that into me downplaying Pitino’s accomplishments here b/c I’m not. Sorry that was so long, Go Cats.
March 22nd, 2009 at 3:34 am
I think Matt makes some good points. We didn’t make the tournament with Meeks and Patterson on the floor. If they leave do we really need to go through the exercise next season? We know the team will be really bad- and even the biggest Billy supporters will be calling for his head. But Mitch has to be very careful- if they leave most will say it is because of a coaching change.
To be honest with you- if we are getting Calipari or Donovan- then fine fire him. Anyone else- I say let’s give the guy one more year- maybe just maybe we keep Patterson and Meeks and put something together.
March 22nd, 2009 at 3:42 am
269. That’s the fine line. I wonder if such a pivotal moment for a program (one as hallowed as ours or not) has ever hinged on the decisions of a two kids in their early 20′s – Patterson just turned 20. It is an ominous and most unenviable position Mitch finds himself in…
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:27 am
The next UK coach will have Kentucky ties …. (dont fret think about it for a second) and Dan Issell will make the hire ….. mark it down. Now that is not saying that Gillispie is gone for sure, it is saying that if/when the time comes to have a coaching change those will be the circumstances. Personally though I have heard a ton about him being gone and nothing to the contrary, and I have a ton of sources some good and some bad but sources none the less……
Now tell me how stupid I am in 3 2 1
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:45 am
Calipari should probably be asked first, but Jamie Dixon is my top choice. His kids overachieve so much. He is a great motivator and Xs and Os coach. He has had all his success at Pitt with players with talent similar to our’s this year. He could get much better talent at UK and is a terriffic guy. He would be a great fit.
Jamie Dixon
Jamie Dixon
Jamie Dixon
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:51 am
I think we will be hiring a new basketball coach — either now or this time next year. I think Mitch failed to do his homework on Gillispie and hired him mostly because he was “the flavor of the month”. That won’t happen on the next hire.
There is no perfect choice for our coach. Pitino was (and still is) the closest thing to it. But I think the chances of him coming back are very, very, very slim. I would be OK with the new coach being (in this order): Calapari (never thought I’d say that), Donovan (never thought I’d say that), and either one of the top coaches from the Big East (Dixon or Wright).
An intersting rumor I have heard is that Dan Issel will be hired as Assistant AD – Basketball Operations and lead the search for the new coach and spearhead the fundraising for the proposed new arena. Now that I could handle.
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:58 am
273. I’ve heard the same things about Issel. Somebody called me yesterday and told me they had heard, on the radio, that Billy was gone. He said he thinks he was fired, but the report was sure that he is gone. I found it odd that he would hear news like that on the radio and immediately forget all the details, so its probably bullshit.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:03 am
Here’s the problem with firing Billy. Meeks and Patterson leave, Miller and Liggons could transfer, and our LOI players change their minds. Stewart could transfer and have 2 years remaining on his scholarship. That would leave us with Harris, Porter, Galloway, Harrellson and Stevenson. They stay because they’ll be seniors.
The new coach will be hindered in recruiting. Most of the top kids, have already signed on the dotted line. I think Mitch and Mr. Todd had better consider the thier decision.
How long has it been since Kentucky missed the big dance 2 years in a row. One last thing there is a silver lining. We’ll be back in the Nationla news.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:16 am
Calipari !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:21 am
Cal Now!!!
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:22 am
275) That is the worst case scenario. I am a little more optimistic. Billy is gone and we get Jamie Dixon. PPat and Meeks stay. GJ may never come, but Hood will come for sure. Orton would be up in the air. Miller will definitley stay. Liggins and Stewart may transfer, but that just makes more room for Vee Sanford. I think we will be just fine.
And if Calipari comes, I think he brings John Wall with him. Orton will come for sure if Wall does. I also think PPat and Meeks stay if Calipari comes. Why not get this over with now and stop the bleeding.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:24 am
We have to hit a home run with our next hire, and Jamie Dixon is far from that! Calipari !!!!
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:28 am
Calipari by Mornin.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:29 am
I agree. Calipari would bring the program back at a much faster pace. I am just not sure about getting all the one-and-dones you can. I like the way Jamie Dixon runs his program. I think he could recruit alot better at UK and he is one heck of a coach.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:30 am
Matt left off the only real meat to the story which makes me believe that he wants Bill G fired. If no news is good news then why did Billy fly to Alabama after the meeting if he was getting fired? Either the meeting had nothing to do with next year or Billy’s coming back.
Also didn’t Mitch say the same thing about coach Brooks back when all the fans wanted him fired? He would evaluate at the end of the season. I think bringing Brooks back worked out pretty well.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:31 am
What is in Alabama?
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:33 am
Cal has gone over 60 wins and just 4 losses in the last two years with one and dones.
Cal got a 2 seed after nearly going undefeated last year, losing his starting 5 to the NBA, and is sitting in the sweet 16 this year.
Cal has the best recruiting class in history coming in next year.
Cal wants a program that will fit his accomplishments and cement him as one of the greats.
UK wants Cal, Cal wants UK.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:34 am
282, yeah, Brooks has worked out great, but we are satisfied with the football program going to NIT level bowl games. The BCS is the NCAA Tourney of college football.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:35 am
I just hope he never passes on a hard working 4 star Kentucky kid who isn’t in the top 150 nationally.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:35 am
283, Birmingham and nothing else.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:36 am
So, why was he going to Alabama?
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:36 am
286, you mean like Gillispie and Tubby have signed Pettigrew, Mack, Daniels, and Lofton?
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:37 am
288- Well, they are in a coaching search themselves, ya know?
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:41 am
They were two and three stars
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:42 am
275–i think you have that exactly opposite of the way it will work. all the current players you mentioned are MORE likely to STAY if bcg is gone. forget what they are saying to the press. almost nobody on the team likes bcg. now i dont necessarily think you should let the inmates run the asylum, but like it or not, uk basketball is about money as far as todd and barnhart are concerned. patterson and meeks will have an indirect say in what happens to bcg.
guys, the reason bcg is gone after this season, and he is gone, is not because he wasnt a good coach, its because of his attitude. he and barhnart do not get along. cbc does not return mitch’s phone calls, does not talk to him in person, and is just generally a jerk to him. cbc is also a jerk to the boosters and has been from day 1, which is even a much bigger no-no.
go ahead and bash me saying it is all rumor and i dont know any of this for sure. whatever. but i will say for those of you bashing matt about playing sides–matt knows a lot more than he is saying. he could be doing a lot worse damage but is holding back. this is a pseudo-news site and matt has done a great job not fanning the flames and definitely not “reporting” on all of the rumors he has heard.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:43 am
292) good post
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:44 am
Thanks for the site, Matt
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:45 am
291- Oh, so thats why they didn’t come to UK. So who cares how many stars Calipari’s recruits are?
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:47 am
All five stars would be great, but we need to get some to graduate. I just don’t like getting every one-and-done you can. I don’t think it is good for the program.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:51 am
look 2 years is to early to judge a coach taking over a team of domesticated cats that ol’ tubby left behind. barnhart isnt going to hire coach cal, because all barnhart cares about is UKs graduation rates. give billy some time to work, like both howland and williams got. and if it doesnt work, fire both coach g and barnhart.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:52 am
297) It’s not all about coaching
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:53 am
I almost positive that Memphis has three kids that will graduate with a degree. Thats what coach Calipari said last week before the selection show
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:55 am
They don’t even have any Seniors on their team
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:56 am
BCG may be gone, but it will make no sense to me. When they could just be quiet on the subject, the players support him. We will also lose most all of the recruits we have lined up. I was in Madisonville the other day, and some of the people I was talking to there said (1)We may well lose Hood if we do this and (2)Ford won’t come (for those who want that). You can guess why.
Calipari would be great, but I see no reason for him to subject himself to this place. Donovan might, but I don’t see why..plus I don’t think Pitino would ever give that his blessing. That is what stopped him last time more than anything else.
We also kiss Ferguson off next year, and will wreck anything else in the works.
Not to mention the economic cost that will have to be justified to those who are concerned about that stuff. While we know that won’t come out of university funds, the general populace doesn’t and that will cause an uproar. Even when explained, they won’t get it and will list hundreds of ways the money could be used.
I think no matter who we get in here (I like Lorenzo Romar for the job, BTW), it will set us back 4/5 years in recruiting, and just make us irrelevant except for being a joke due to poor administration and a fan base that has a 10% segment that can’t ever be happy….
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:58 am
We won’t lose Hood
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:59 am
If we don’t get Calipari, stick with Gilliespie. I don’t want see any tuition increase.
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:10 am
Gun shy with Tubby, but trigger happy with Gillispie. Makes no sense.
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:23 am
Matta or Calipari if there really has to be a coaching change. Otherwise, give BCG another year withe the new recruits.
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:25 am
An uncommitted 4-star point guard was in Alabama.
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:26 am
BCG will be here for one more year, MB doesn’t want to talk now because the team is still playing. BCG will have to make some changes on how he’ll conduct himself and the expectations for being a coach at UK. However, he does not have the personality required for this job, nor does he have the ability to overcome stubbornness. In the end I feel Mitch will keep him on, but place him on a performance improvememtn plan–BCG will eventually leave UK, just not this year. Billy is not a good fit for the program, sometimes you don’t know if a position is a good fit until you bring someone on…a Calipari-type or Pitino-type personality fits best here.
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:38 am
For all the fans that think they know as much — or more — than Mitch, consider this scenario:
If you are UK’s AD,
If off-the-court problems with BCG are 100% worse than the public knows or can imagine – and the program is not being run in a manner consistent with UK’s high standards,
If you know that Patterson and Meeks, plus (at least) 3 other players with significant time this year will definitely be gone if BCG stays because of the off-the-court issues (leaving us with BCG in place and an Indiana situation),
If you know that major contributions to UK Athletics will be almost zero if BCG stays – which hurts not only basketball, but all sports, and the University in general in terms of funds,
AND if you know you can get a top notch replacement,
What would you do? The decision was/is not based on this year’s W’s and L’s.
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:44 am
For all of you who think Calipari is the man for the job should Mitch make the monumentally stupid move of forcing out Gillispie now maybe this will open your eyes:
http://billyreedsays.com/2008/04/07/memphis-has-worldwide-wes-to-thank/
How bout Marcus Camby admitting he took $40K from an agent along with several other members of the 95 Final Four (stripped by the NCAA) team with Caliparis’ knowledge? How many titles has Calipari won with all of the talent he has bought?
How long will the NCAA let his leash get once he goes to a real power program in a real power conference like UK? Heck, they didn’t even really go after Tark until he won the title?
C’Mon. That’s just what we need more sanctions to bolster our recruiting.
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:49 am
50% of this thread – ‘ok, Gillispie is probably gone, who/what is next?’
20% of this thread – ‘I don’t believe Gillispie is going anywhere’
30% of this thread – ‘Oh noes, we lost our Gillispie! Oh the humanity! What a world, What a world!’
UK fans rock. We’re some funny people.
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:55 am
All of this hoopla about what will happen if he stays or goes is silly. Unless you really know the climate with the team “Behind the scenes” no matter what you say it’s pure speculation. All those vowing that if he goes “Patterson and Meeks leave, none of the incoming recruits will come here”and on and on have no idea what you are talking about. You may be right, but if you are, it’s blind luck. The same case for those saying that if he comes back, that Pat, Meeks, and whoever else won’t be back. The truth is, nobody on here knows, including me. There are possibilites either way. I’ll just be glad for the drama to end, so this program can move on.
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:28 am
Gillispie’s Potential Replacements: http://biggamer54.blogspot.com/
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:56 am
Understand, Matt Jones is a Gillispie hater! He obviously wants what is best for the team, of course in his opinion. I guess that Matt thinks that not having our (at worst) top 15 recruiting class come to help bolster the talent level on this team is what’s best. Then again, he is also the one who is in good with Woo and Bobby Perry, two guys who should be thanking their lucky stars that UK let them wear their uniforms. But, as Matt will tell you that they deserved to be there for 4 years, he won’t give our coach who already has won a SEC Coach of the Year Award more than 2 years. I for one am getting really tired of all the Gillispie bashing on this site. It’s no wonder he was such an Obama supporter. You see him reporting just like the national media did during the election.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
313, you label Matt a Gillispie hater and then go on to spread hate around to Bobby and Woo yourself. Hipocracy is a bitch, and so are you.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:14 pm
peace and love….peace and love
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
314, in your blindness to my point you failed to realize that I was saying Matt needs to stop being bias and playing favorites. I wasn’t saying that after 2 years of doing nothing that Woo and Perry should be stripped of their scholarships was I??