Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
Not much you can say about today’s game. In one of the worst home defeats in Rupp Arena history (have we heard that phrase before?), the Cats lost to 7-8 San Diego, 81-72. Rupp Arena sat in stunned disbelief for the majority of the afternoon as the Cats watched a San Diego team that comes from the West Coast Conference with a losing record, control the glass, get every loose ball and hit wide open threes in order to pull off a stunner in Lexington. In actuality however, we need to stop referring to these games as stunners. This Kentucky team is not good…..whether it is epically bad is still up in the air, but a team that loses at home to Gardner-Webb and San Diego must be rationalized as being fairly awful. Rather than recapping a game that most of you saw and that none of you want to revisit, here are some tidbits from the postgame press conference that were VERY interesting.
(1) The game may be best remembered as the return of Derrick Jasper. Watching DJ warm up was an odd moment, as it was clear that he was favoring his off leg and each jump seemed very tender. While he looked a step slow on the court, he played rather effectively and didnt seem to be too rusty from the time off. However he grimaced often while running down the court and was limping in the post-game interview. I am not part of the medical staff for the team, so I cant question the decision to play him. DJ says he feels good and was ready. I certainly hope for his sake that is the case.
(2) The talk of the post-game media room was the odd playing decision on Jodie Meeks. During his postgame comments, Billy Clyde was asked by me about why Jodie Meeks didnt play in the first half but did in the second and his initial answer was “I thought that was when we needed him.” However the question was followed up and Billy Clyde was asked whether it was simply a coach’s decision and he said, “he played when he was available.” Alan Cutler followed that up by asking what “available” means and Coach said, “it means available. He played when he was available.” Cutler then asked if it was a doctor’s call and Gillispie said “yes”, which led to a follow-up question as to what changed at halftime. Gillispie simply said, “he was available” and then moved on. An odd exchange and one that left the media in the room baffled.
(3) Billy Clyde was asked what he would say to the fans who said this was a bad team and he said, “I dont have anything to say to them.” He then added that might agree with the sentiment based on the performance today.
(4) Ramel Bradley said that the team’s morale was still strong. “I am shocked with how we played. I thought we would take care of business, but we know we are so much better than we have played. Hopefully we will get it going before conference play.”
(5) Patrick Patterson said that he and the team are still upbeat, but that he doesnt like the losing. “I feel like we should win every game. I am furious to be honest. This has been an awful feeling.”
(6) Gillispie was not upset with the offense, but focused on the poor defense. “71 points should be enough to win. They ran the game exactly like they wanted to.”
(7) San Diego’s coach said this was the biggest win in school history. It was absolutely unbelieveable that a walk-on Freshman, Devin Ginty, who had only scored 5 points all season went for 18 points in this game.
(8) An odd substitution pattern for sure today. AJ Stewart started for the first time anthen took the role of Mark Coury, playing for five minutes and then not returning. Gillispie said that he “thought some other guys should be playing.” Michael Porter also only played six minutes today, showing that Jasper and Meeks will take his playing time going forward. Ramon Harris still played 26 minutes, so he looks to be the one role player from last year who will still see time this year.
I am really at a loss for words on what we saw. For the first time this season, the mood at Rupp was negative. A lot of people were questioning the effort on the floor and the coaching decisions, especially concerning the decision to play Meeks and Jasper in the way they did. It is hard to know exactly what to say about this team right now and it is hard to get a grasp on what exactly is going wrong. Unfortunately the answer may be “everything except Patterson.” I am not sure where this season is headed, but at this point avoiding a a complete train wreck may be the best that all can hope for.
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December 29th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Ahh F#$K
December 29th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Wow, at this point I think that UK might be rethinking their position with BCG. Patterson sounds very frustrated and that could lead to an exit. This team is a disaster (except for Patterson)
December 29th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Weird coaching decisions today and I’m confused by what he is trying to do on defense and offense. If - as people have suggested out athletiscm and talent is low - why don’t we pack it in and play zone some? Where is the help when people are getting beaten? Why is Perry Stevenson handling the ball up top? Why isn’t Stewart playing instead of Coury? If we get beat by a beter team that’s one thing but I really don’t understand what is going on with this team…..
December 29th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
- No way in hell Patterson bolts because he is frustrated. I’m sure he sees that it can only get better — he’s not stupid, I’m sure he sees that Crawford and Bradley don’t like that he’s the leader, and that they don’t know how to play fundamental basketball.
- I simply do not agree with the decision to play Jasper today. He should have sat out until he was 100% ready to go — clearly he wasn’t today. It could have cost him the SEC season.
- Gillispie needs to cut the crap and STOP PLAYING MARK COURY. It’s an embarrassment to UK and source of ridicule at this point. He is so God Effing Awful, can’t rebound, can’t guard his shadow, and there’s a reason he couldn’t even start for his HIGH SCHOOL team — one that wasn’t Oak Hill, people. Carter isn’t a savior, but he is NOT worse than Coury. I refuse to believe that, so don’t try to tell me otherwise.
- Unless and until we have a big man to complement Patterson in the high-low set, Gillispie is going to live hard times at UK. You can’t run that offense with 1 talented post man. Go the JUCO ROUTE and find a SERVICEABLE BIG MAN. Hell, find 2-3 guys who rebound like it’s their dying day. I’m talking gritty, mean, nasty rebounders. Our rebounding is a JOKE. It’s one and done EVERY F*CKING TIME DOWN …
December 29th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Stewart has got to play…..we are DYING for his athleticism. Jasper is going to risk his entire career as he is still clearly in pain.
Why Meeks sat the whole first half is a joke. I cannot figure out what BG is doing and I’m not sure he knows either.
Best quote I heard at the game was from the guy behind us…..”Put down the flask and Coach Billy”! Hilarious indeed and was the only thing I enjoyed about the game.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
What did Huggins have to work with when he came into UWV?
December 29th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Matt, do you think that Gillispie is starting to make the local media mad? If he gets the media against him, it will be very hard for him to survive in a place as small as Lexington.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Has Joe Crawford ever played a game at UK where he has not got called for palming?
December 29th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
It’s going to be a long season guys and gals but hey if you are at the bottom there is only one way to go….. GO CATS
December 29th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
in ‘89 i brought my first vcr because the cats games were taped delayed and i didn’t
want to stay up and watch them lose. i only taped them once.
this team isn’t worth taping.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Yes, all of our ignorant fans must be right. BCG is obviously worthless. He doesn’t know how to coach…can’t make an adjustment…blah blah blah. If you find yourself beginning to type that crap one more time… take a long look at how Texas A&M is doing this year…then shut your mouth. Give the guy some time. So sick of our fans. Grow up! Bad seasons happen (unfortunately for my blood pressure).
Things will get better if you just give it some time.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Do you want to see the quotes where they say they’re much happier running the new motion offense instead of “standing around waiting for Acie to do something”?
That one’s really disturbing. I’m not giving up on the guy or calling for his head but games like these should not leave one immune to criticism.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
12. Amen.
11. Did you watch the game today? We sucked.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
Michael Porter and Mark Coury should not be playing Division One basketball.
I get absolutely furious when I see Porter on the starting lineup.
Can BCG explain himself?
I DONT GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 29th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
We can give BCG all the time in the world, but time will not help him make better in game decisions, time will not explain how Jodie Meeks can play almost every minute against Houston and then play only the second half against San Diego. His substitution patterns are questionable at best and he seems to already be at odds w/the local media. This could be the beginning of a very long season.
BCG is at the D-1 level because he can coach, but at what level of D-1 seems to be the question . As good as Texas A&M has been and is this season, it still is not Kentucky basketball!
You can say what you want about the former coach, but I don’t think we lose to Gardner-Webb and San Diego if he was still here.
However, he is not here and we need to support BCG, his staff, and his players. They are making it very hard to do so, but I will stick w/them!
December 29th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Be patient. Be loyal. Be supportive.
UK was 10-10 in the middle of 1975-76 but finished 20-10.
With players MUCH worse than the current ones.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Givens, Robey, Lee, and Phillips?
Givens was All-SEC and an All-American as a soph! Phillips was All-SEC 2nd team. Put down the tainted haggis and come back to reality!
December 29th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
13, yes i watched the game today… or as long as said blood pressure would allow. I’m just sick of everyone calling for his head and questioning whether or not he can even coach or make adjustments when you don’t get to the point where he is without doing that.
Criticize him yes, that’s fine. But going overboard and saying he can’t coach and/or he needs to be fired is ridiculous.
Coaches need time to get the talent they like to coach. A lesson you would think Kentucky fans would have learned after our recent football success.
And #12, I don’t know many players who are going to say to the media “Ya know, I kinda wish we had our old coach back… this one just isn’t all that special” or something of that nature. You don’t bite the hand that feeds (or plays) you… Could you imagine our ‘98 team saying something of that nature about Tubby if they asked them something like that?
Comparing what OTS and BCG would do with this year’s team is exactly the same crap that OTS supporters complained about when OTS haters said he could only win with Pitino’s players. So if you can’t question OTS winning with Pitino’s players but you can question BCG with OTS’s players things are decidedly convenient. I’m not saying one is better than the other, but let’s at least keep things consistent here.
I hate losing just as much as the rest of us, but let’s not hit the panic button before one season is even complete. If it’s this bad next year, I’ll be worried…
December 29th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Scotland… well said.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
That was a very long way of saying absolutely nothing.
I’m trying to figure out how you took that the way you did. Let’s go over some of the points:
-TAMU likes the motion offense because it involves them more as opposed to 4 Guys and Watch Acie Law. Gillispie does not run a Motion Offense. He runs a set based on the 1-4 High with a lot of the Iso that you see in the NBA
-OTS is no longer the coach. Blaming him for every loss is assinine especially when those losses are coming, for the most part, from the bottom 200 of D-1 basketball. And not just beating us…drumming us in every facet of the game.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
What did Bobby Huggins have to work with at WVU? I would never want him as a Coach, but he is #12.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
not being a national contender this year is the fault of OTS, losing to GW, UAB, Houston, and USD is the fault of BCG.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
The only good thing today was that Dickie V was not commentating. I wish him no ill will. But, I hope I have to never hear him again.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
23 - amen to that!
December 29th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Emotion is driving most of you tonight……..if the fandom is patient, and I know that it is difficult right now, it will get better….LOOK, THE LAST 2 - 3 YEARS has been under UK standards in terms of talent, wins, you name it….the main reason we went 21 - 12 last year was because of Randolph Morris and Bobby Perry ( a Senior that played for his coach and system). To me, many of the guys that were on the time last year and now a part of this year’s team, are playing like they did last year. They said it today on TV….UK has been “soft” over the past few years and Coach G has to break them of it….to me, that will be with different players….I hate losing as much as the next guy….but the reality is that we are not that good and really haven’t been UK caliber for a few years…..it is not like Coach G was given the keys to a Rolls Royce…..he was given a Ford Pinto that he is trying to drive like an RR. Again, this is more than just one game…..Meeks and Jasper are playing and that is great…but they are not healthy……We just need more players and that won’t be until at least next year if not the year after…..I don’t see any other coach being very successful with this team. BCG is the right man at the right time….it is we, the fans, that must be patient and cheer. Finally, as bad as we played, our fans sucked today at Rupp………we must cheer even when we are not playing well…these young men will feed off the emotion…..yes, our team should pay better, but we need to be better fans as well.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
It can get better. You’re right about that. But people who don’t acknowledge the possibility that it could get worse, that a mistake could have been made, are the one’s living on Fantasy Island.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
#17 Robey was injured and OUT after 12 games in 1976.
Givens, Lee, Phillips. Patterson, Meeks, Crawford, Bradley.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/1975-76.html For those not familiar with the 1976 season.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
These losses remind me of our losses last season. No hustle, stand around, no grit, don’t play to strengths, lack heart, will accept defeat. Exactly the M.O. of last seasons losses, except Joe and Ramel don’t dribble as much or take as many ill advised shots and that we have replaced Morris with Patterson which gets triple teamed and we still can’t throw a rock in the ocean. I’m baffled by this team, just as I was baffled by them last season. Your not going to win the KY Derby by entering a jackass. If the losses weren’t so characteristic of our losses last season, I may be more eager to offer up some early season criticism for the ole’ ball coach but I don’t believe it is him.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
#25 UK averaged 22 W the past 2 seasons. UK averages fewer than 20 W per season (all-time).
December 29th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
#20… all I was saying is when have you ever heard a player currently playing for a coach (in college) call out his current coach? Of course he’s going to compliment them. Now, that being said, I can understand how they are more involved and thus enjoying playing more. But, it’s not like every team out there has an Acie Law… It’s a rare situation.
I wasn’t blaming OTS for the losses… I was just saying the people complaining about BCG already tend to be the OTS supporters…the same ones who were saying Tubby won on his own in ‘98. I just thought that was a double standard.
And for the record I think the possibility is that things will get worse. I, unlike most of the fans, DO NOT think BCG should yield to fans or the players. If he yields now, future players will see that if they don’t do what he says long enough, they will get what they want. It sucks… because I don’t think this team will gel and understand that, but then again I think that was a major complaint about the two prior years as well.
I think things will get better after this year… a year under his system and time for them to realize it’s his way or the highway.
December 29th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
No Crawford for first ten minutes and they pack in triple teams on PP and we have no outside shooting on the floor. Then they light us up from 3s, with our best defender on the bench. We get down 8, and can’t ever recover. Nice.
December 29th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
30. Not sure of what your point is…as for the all time average wins per year situation, it really means nothing as college basketball teams did not play as many games as they do in this era. Last year’s team had Morris/Perry who “sold out” to the system. Just shows how valuable Morris was to the team. This year’s team is relying on one heck of a Freshman (who is producing great numbers) and the same guys that were on last year’s team….PLUS two more injured players (one of which just came back today) who may not be healthy at all this year…Excuses, yes….but we are simply not a very good basketball team right now…and we haven’t been a UK caliber team in a few years….there is no disputing that….all that being said, I live and die with UK basketball, but I will never give up on this team, this coach, or this program.
December 29th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
So you can’t lose or win on your own merits? I don’t get that.
Is the talent where it needs to be? No. That’s why I can buy laying some of the blame on the past coaching staff for losses to UNC and IU. But Houston? UAB? Gardner-Webb? San Diego.
Our players looked poorly prepared today and lacked effort. Gillispie is making strange comments pre and post game (the one about “nobody on San Diego being able to beat us off the dribble” being extremely frustrating to me as I’ve watched San Diego and Brandon Johnson twice this season do that very same thing-one of those being against USC’s Daniel Hackett and O.J. Mayo) that leave me scratching my head.
December 29th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
you think the coach has a plan that we cant seem to see right now. It may turn out to be something that we will see over time. I still believe in the coach and think he is going to turn this thing around. I say that Jasper is favoring his leg right now. He may get more comfortable the more he plays. Seems like Meeks is compensating also. I say they dont want to get hurt again because they want to be on the court.
December 29th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Understand that as long as PS, Coury, Harris, etc have to get quality playing time we’re going to have a very hard time beating anyone. Question is, does BG have enough balls to run off the deadwood? But even the most ardent UK fan must admit BG’s lineup/sub pattern is puzzling.
December 29th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
#30) That may be true, but they didn’t always play as many games as they do now.
December 29th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Apparently #31 realized this as well.
December 29th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
#33, sorry.
It’s been a long day.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
you guys aren’t true UK fans…………give Gillispie time…………you guys freakin’ suck
December 29th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
i would love to have some definitive answers from BCG…it would be nice if he would actually provide answers that were explanatory…his dodging of the questions would be fine if what he was doing was working, but its not…at some point, buying into the system or not, there should be some improvement, or chances for improvement…why arent young guys getting more pt…aj stewart will pay big dividends next year if he gets 20 minutes a game…plus aj stewarts 20 minutes would be much more productive than mark coury’s…i understand sending messages, but playing time was always a big incentive in my basketball world…what incentive does aj stewart get by practicing hard? he has to play mistake free basketball? porter and coury might be willing to scrape their knees in practice, but does that mean they should play when they can commit turnover after turnover? i just dont get BCG at all, and i would love someone, whether it be BCG or anyone else, to provide an explanation for things such as substitution patterns and these inexcusable losses…
December 29th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Has anybody mentioned that we absolutely suck??
I’ll give them a few games to all play together. In the next 5 games, we’ll see if they’re
going to quit or go to the NIT. I’m not even going to watch the tourney this year.
I don’t understand anything he’s doing on the bench. One defense…..that’s it. No adjustments.
Players don’t know their roles…..there are no roles. I’ll give them 5 games to get better
and see some roles. My health can’t take a whole season of this. I wonder if Perry Stevenson got a
pair of pink paties for Christmas???
December 29th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
#40 Nobody is expecting a national title,we just expect a little more out of this team. I’am willing to give BCG time, but right now he has showed me nothing. We are worse than we where last year by far with the same talent.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Why are people getting upset at others for venting? What are you watching? This is
Kentucky. Plain and simple. With this coach or me coaching….this is unacceptable.
I don’t care how many injuries there are, there is no excuse for what is going on here.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
LOOK AT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!RE-FREAKIN-DICULOUS!
Date Opponent Result
Dec. 1 N. Carolina L 77-86
Dec. 8 at Indiana L 51-70
Dec. 15 UAB L 76-79
Dec. 18 at Houston L 69-82
Dec. 22 Tennessee Tech W 69-47
Dec. 29 San Diego L 72-81
Dec. 31 Florida Int’l 12:00pm
December 29th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Here’s my two cents…
Gillispie can coach, this team will get better, but…
For this team to win now, for this team to be consistent now, they need five guys on the floor that are playing their natural positions who are accustomed to playing with the other four guys on the floor. They will learn how each other move and how to pass to each other. The substitution carousel does not help consistency. Also, the players are having a hard time learning all of the offensive sets (we’ve all seen their offense) Maybe picking the handful that work most consistenly and slowly adding more would help.??
When (if) we get healthy, we need…
1 - Jasper 30-40 minutes, Porter - Backup
2 - Meeks/Bradley - I’d give Meeks 26-28 and Bradley the rest but Bradley is much better at the 2 than the one. If he ever gets to play one position he may be great.
3 - Crawford - 32 minutes, Harris - 8
4 - Stevenson - 25, Stewart - 10, Coury - 5
5 - Patterson - 37, Carter - 2, Williams - 1
These are just approximates for average minutes, but I believe this will be a good balance of offense and defense and provide a good chance for an at large NCAA bid (assuming we see a different team)
Am I dreaming? Could this lineup overachieve? Would they compete consistently?
December 29th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
#33 point was this. 1960. 1961. 1963. 1965. 1967. 1974. 1979. 1985. 1987. 1989. 1990.
ALl were worse years than 2006 or 2007.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
I’ll tell what gripes my ass as much as the losses, BCG’s attitude. He comes across as a smart ass in every response. I’ve got news for him, a loosing record “AND” a piss poor attitude and demenor toward the fans and the in state media is a very bad combination in BIG BLUE country. Either by themselves will be tollerated much longer than both at the same time.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
“(6) Gillispie was not upset with the offense, but focused on the poor defense. “71 points should be enough to win. They ran the game exactly like they wanted to.””
No joke!!! This San Diego team came in averaging about 60 points per game. We made them look like Loyola Marymount. Our defense is HORRENDOUS……
December 29th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
I’ve been reading this blog for a long time, but today’s game made me want to register and post.
When Jasper came in, it was great seeing the crowd’s response. It was the same response we gave Joe last week when he entered the game against Tenn Tech.
If you recall, Jasper came in after a free throw. They made the next one and Jasper looked at Bradley to take it out. Instead Bradley sat there until Jasper took the ball out of bounds, then passed it in to Bradley. I expected Bradley to pass back to Jasper - our true point guard - and nearly shat myself when instead, he took it up himself.
This is one half of the problems with this team. When Bradley can’t let anyone else have the ball, and Crawford has 40 more shots on the year than Patterson, it doesn’t take Kige Ramsey to see what’s wrong. Our Seniors are the most selfish players I’ve ever watched play the game. They have no interest in winning as a team. I hope Billy Clyde sits them every game from here on out and gives them mop up minutes because they don’t deserve anything more.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
#48 Gillispie is what he is. Not gonna change. He’s a good coach if you give him time. 11 games is not my idea of time.
Joe Hall was 33-21 his first 2 years. Eddie Sutton was 50-15. Rick Pitino 36-20. Tubby Smith 63-13. The first 2 years may not predict the ultimate “verdict” very well, based on that.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Basketball games are won with backcourt play and unfortunately we have none. I have never seen players at the college level, Bradley and Crawford, that refuse to work through picks and leaves jump shooters open like the Waffle House. This is why Billy Clyde is locking up future guards and looking at JC guards.
This year will be used to teach Jasper and Meeks how to play relentless defense and not much more.
Root for Memphis and hope that North Carolina or UCLA do not win another championship.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
we just lost to San Diego on our home floor. No way to justify this. Either we have the some of the worst talent in the country, A group of kids with bad attitudes or a coach who doesn’t know what he’s doing.
The second worst team in the SEC playing at home should beat San Diego and Gardner Webb.
Our talent may be lacking but in a high school game UK’s players would win. so I think it’s players who won’t cooperate or a stubborn coach who won’t make adjustments to give the guys a chance to win.
I doubt this group will ever be able to play the defense coach wants. If we could pack in a zone then guys like Stewart and Carter who get lost in the man defense would be valuable.
If Coach Gillispie is willing to sacrifice this year to put his system in he should say so and we can all take the rest of the year off.
Tubby with all his flaws scrapped like hell changing lineups and defenses looking for an edge. CBC just sits there and watches. there’s no rhyme or reason to what he’s doing that is obvious.
CBC having turned around UTEP and Texas A & M is due the benefit of the doubt but he needs to be more forthcoming as to what he is doing or dealing with in player attitude. Otherwise, the fans won’t stand for it and he can kiss Lexington goodbye.
Coach what’s the problem and what’s the plan? Or does the emperor have no clothes?
December 29th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
im still glad tubby has left the building as it was a time for change, but im just starting to question gillispies hiring. i know, i know , i was defending hi saying g.webb was the only one under the circumstances tubby would havewon, maybe uab. but i really wanted calipari. why didnt they inquire? i really wish he was here. the charisma, the style, it would be perfect
December 29th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
For all of you people doubting and complaining about this team, do you really think that this team would go that far
in the post season if they were to win a couple more of these games? What is the purpose for already writing of BCG? Obviously
this year will be painful. As long as it does not bother his awesome recruiting things will be fine. At least we haven’t seen
the bottom like the ND football program did this year.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
If Tubby Smith were here we’d be winning games instead of losing.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
NOT!!!!!!!!
December 29th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
the problem is unless CBC puts out the fire by explaining why we are struggling and what he’s going to do about it, recruiting will suffer. Arrogant answers at press conferences won’t wash with the fans. If a Pitino team struggles he always lets the fans know what is wrong and what he’s going to do about it.
gillispie needs to address all of this honestly. We all understand he’s been dealt a bad hand of middling returning talent and injuries but still we should be playing better and showing signs of improvement.
Otherwise, It will be very difficult to recruit as the fans will become increasingly negative.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
FIRE THE BUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 29th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
I called this loss the beginning of the “spiral of death”. Look at our schedule….trouble.
Every time I watch a game it is like someone shot my childhood dog.
I liked Tubby, but was not totally against the change.
Here is what I don’t understand. I may not be the “astute” expert Billy G. is, but I knew in the first 2 minutes of the game we were in trouble. Guys dragging ass, looking beaten…in the first 2 freakin’ minutes.
I just don’t get it. I am sick of hearing we don’t have the players…Patterson, Bradley, Crawford..would play a lot anywhere. We just lost to San Diego State..sorry I mean San Diego…for a lifer like myself it is surreal. San Diego at home……San Diego at home….there is NO excuse for that..Not Tubby, chemistry, players,injuries, there is NO FREAKIN EXCUSE NONE. With all the heat Tubbs took you have to question BCG. The guy does not mind losing. He is willing to prove points and sacrifice wins.
…now I know why BCG drinks so much.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
#54 I’m glad FOR Tubby that he left for a better opportinuity FOR HIM. Unless you hate him for some reason, I’d think you’d be happy FOR him, too.
Calipari is WAY too shady on NCAA rules (recruiting) for UK. Simply not possible at UK to do that ever again.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
it’s funny how when you look on the floor there is ONE and i mean ONE single entity on the floor who plays like he wants to win and that person is a freshman. it’s pathetic. so sad that patterson is the man who has made this team have some positive reinforcement. we have nothing else…don’t get me wrong, meeks and jasper are NOT healthy but still, i have a heavy feeling that even with them at 100% we are still CRAP!
December 29th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
THIS IS DOWN RIGHT SHAMEFUL. FOR THE FIRST TIME I AM A SHAME TO WEAR A UK LOGO.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
#60 methinks that HARD practices on game day (instead of shootarounds) are hurting THIS team.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
JASPIER AND MEEKS SHOULD NOT BEING PLAYING RIGHT NOW. BILLY G IS OING TO END UP HURTING THEM IN THE LONG RUN.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
yea i can’t ever remember seeing a squad like this. it’s quite embarrassing to be honest. i guess the only positive thing to come from being horribly humbled is that we can move in the right direction now. hopefully the leader understands how bad we are right now and that it’s totally NOT acceptable.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
I AGREE WITH #60
December 29th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
what sucks is that even mentioning “UK tradition” now is becoming embarrassing. it’s like, the past is the past…it doesn’t matter anymore. strong talent is everywhere and we simply do NOT have it. everyone else has caught up and passed us by while the past several years we have just sat and watched it pass us by. now we have what we have, and it isn’t much but NOW i’m worried that it’s the players AND the coach.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
IF BILLY G DOES NOT CHANGE HIS WAYS WE WILL NOT WIN 10 GAMES THIS YEAR.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Can’t help but feel that Next weeks game is going to be very ugly. If we should win, what does that say about the Cardzzzz?
December 29th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
How many of you guys have been D1 coaches? How many of you have been a major conference coach of the year? Face it that this
year is going to suck. At some point you have to laugh about it and realize that this will not be the end of this great program!
December 29th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
#53,,,,,,,,,Perfect analogy, I mean perfect! Could not have said it better myself. And #48, a turd is what it is, but that don’t make it smell any better. I ain’t one of these people who jump off the boat at the first sign of trouble, if you have read any of my previous posts, you’ll see that I have support BCG as much as anyone can under the circumstances. But it is becoming ever so obvious that the status quo is not going to win games with this team. You got to make the most of what you have, and he ain’t doing that. And more so, it’s because he is not willing to adjust. This team wouldn’t be a final 4 team if Rupp, Wooden, Smith, Pitino, Knight, and Dean Smith coached it collectivly, “BUT” they damn sure should ‘t be getting their tails spanked by Gardner-Webb, Houston, and San Diego Barber School for the blind. Film at 11:00
December 29th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
maybe it’s because he’s single! : )
maybe he has a strong WILL to do things HIS way and not listen to anyone else. is billyG too GOOD to change in any way? : ) i’ll bet if he let his hair grow out and get a wife beater haircut he could probably coach better!
December 29th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Another imposter (#73 was not me).
December 29th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
#73, get a life and realize i love Tubby Smith like all of my most secret fantasies.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
unbelievable, this is getting confusing now.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Yep #73 #75 and #76 are imposters.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
Tubby had the 4th Most W, 4th Most NCAA W, and 4th Best W-L (%) record of the past 10 years.
He did pretty well. Let’s see if UK is 4th (or better) the next 10 years. So far, not exactly.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
#78 copied and pasted that from a prior post of mine.
Imposter.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=135 7025 But I posted this.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
scotland- i dont hate tubby, i used to love the guy. i defended him when people said i want donovan. but that was before billy d. started to d up, i think with the help of coach schyatt. even tubby said something to the effect of, now they play d like us. uk used to laugh at florida for all there talent and nothing but the one billy d, final 4(not discussing lon kruger) but as floridas d got better to go with that beautiful, fun style, kentuckys offense and recruiting got worse. if tubby would have made at least a sweet 16 the last couple of years i would still be on board. all that being said, i am happy for tubby, and i have to beleive he would have done better, if only slightly than losses to fricken g.webb, and ron burgandy AT HOME. i think there may be only a few coaches that could handle the uk job, and while your right as to why they couldnt go after cal. i think he could handle it. im starting to wish they had went with pelphry. maybe later,i know he still loves uk. i wanted cal. or rick barns at 1st. barns probably wouldnt fit either. dammit. i know one thing you cant look at “on paper” but huggins inherited a worse team on paper and look what he is doing. you just cant have 2 losses like this at home. wonder what huggy bear would have done with this talent. im not even counting meeks and jasper who have been banged up. this sux.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:14 am
WHAT IF- pitiner comes in to rupp and runs up the score real big. what if tubby sits in the stands like nolan richardson did for uab that time and yells at the refs. im gonna shut up before i give myself nightmares.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:15 am
Is it too much to ask one of the highest paid college coaches in Amereica to play his top 5 players at one time? It’s one thing to lose when you’re playing hard with your best players, but when BCG consistently plays Coury, has 10 different starting line-ups in 11 games, and has the strangest substitution patterns in history, you’ve got to question his coaching ability.
By now, I don’t think it’s unrealistic to expect to see some improvement in the team. Yet, I’ve seen nothing but choas on both ends of the floor and BCG’s inability to make any changes to correct the problems. Either he is the most stubborn coach UK has ever had or he is the most inept!
December 30th, 2007 at 12:16 am
I think OTS was Coach of the Year in two different conferences (twice in the same one at different schools) and is currently working on his third in the Big Ten. That didn’t stop us from running his behind out of town on a rail.
The more I see the more I think people just want Pitino’s run back and have no real understanding of the history of this program. It’s why Joe B Hall got ran out the door. He wasn’t done but he didn’t want to deal with the B.S. Which, I might add, was 10X worse than what OTS got.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:22 am
Let’s be honest about what’s taking place here. That team looked totally clueless down the stretch of that game. Taking 2’s when they needed 3’s. Letting tons of time run off the clock without fouling. The only way this team will win in the BCG era is by recruiting players that are clearly better than the opposition. Whether it’s him or the assistants, they will never win the “strategic” battle. Do any of these guys even scout the opposition? I’m sorry, but I’ve seen enough to know he’s not an x’s & o’s type of coach.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:31 am
85- i have to agree. maybe thats what he does. gets the best guys he cand land, get em in great shape, and just have more talent and strength than the other guy. joseph jones is a beast. somebody in here was saying something about the article where the tamu players were saying ” standing around and waiting for acie to do something”. i read that somewhere and there is another in the latest slam magazine.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:33 am
bomani jones post- it talked about the terrible unc team. i wish this team had chris caple and kris lang. coury would still take there clock though.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:36 am
In this day and age talent is just not enough every time out on the court to count a W. Especially in the tourney.
I like Gillispie, I really do, and I think he can win here. But I do think, more and more, I’m seeing some flaws that I didn’t count on him having and it’s kind of shaken my picture of him a bit.
Besides if you’re biggest coaching accomplishment thus far is outcoaching Rick Pitino is that such a big deal? Christ, Kevin O’Neil did that.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:37 am
This season is officially a train wreck, the only question is how many cars come off the track and how many people get run over. BTW I didn’t know this but you can get ESPN radio on fm radio at 93.9. I love Mike and Mike in the Morning. Finally some intelligent alternative to clowns like Dave Ragone. It was tollerable until Rob left now it is just Ragoon stroking his own ego. If Ragweed didn’t play football at UL he would be a manager at Denny’s.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:40 am
Denny’s is way to high class for Ragone. He’s Waffle House all the way. I’ll take mine smothered and covered Dave.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:45 am
Gillispie is here to build the program back into elite status, but he’s also the coach of this year’s team, and he needs to actually try to win now. For some reason alot of people think that it’s ok to lose now, because everything will be better in a year or two. As the coach he is not putting his players in a position to win.
When 23,756 people come to watch a 5-5 team play San Diego you know they are expecting results. Gillispie should have to apologive to each of those people for the pathetic excuse of a team he’s putting out there right now.
As for the future, we’re going to be no better next year unless Gillispie somehow finds a forward or center that can contribute immediately. I know everybody likes to pick on Crawford and Bradley, but without them we have only one scoring threat. Even when Meeks is healthy he’s very inconsistant and doesn’t create his own shot. Jasper is a pretty good passer, but he’s not a threat to score very much.
So even with Miller and Liggins we will still struggle.
I’m afraid that the recruting will suffer when an opposing coach can tell a kid that UK is playing players like Porter and Courry over much righer rated players. Even a former McDonald’s All-American and 2nd leading scorer on the team isn’t even starting.
Gillispie has one more game vs. a nobody school on Monday. FIU is 294th in the rpi. If we lose that game, then he doesn’t need to even bother coming back to work. After Monday there is a chance that we won’t win again this year.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:50 am
#3 I agree completly with what you said. I just started reading sp I am going back to the top to see what the rest of you think. I just hope it gets better soon.GO CATS
December 30th, 2007 at 12:55 am
“Gillispie pointed out that 72 points would usually be enough ‘to win at home,’”
This is another thing that scares me because this is the exact line of thinking that got the last guy in trouble.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:58 am
I would like some insight from some of you( I cant claim to be to smart so help me out). Correct me if Im wrong(most of you have no problem with that)LOL BCG said he would play what ever style it took to win not just a fast tempo or his own style. All I am seeing is his style period, he dont mix it up at all, his offence is the same, his defence is the same, I aint no coach but I know most teams call deferent plays through the course of a game. Also dont tell me he hasnt had time to work with them on deferent stuff because everyone on the team should be able to play 2-3 and has been able to since the 7th or 8th grade.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:59 am
Say what you want, this team cannot be this bad. Something is bad wrong and it needs to be addressed. The players we have should beat the GW’s and SD teams and we all know that.
If you are not getting results with the players on the floor, it’s time to make some changes. Put Williams, Carter, Stewart, and even Mills in. What can it hurt? It gives all the players floor experience and we are losing anyway.
IM trying my best to support BCG and I do think he is a good coach. IM just having a hard time seeing it yet.
I don’t see adjustments, I don’t see substitutes. How many times in years past have we seen a UK coach bench the starters and play the subs. Oh wait, we don’t really have any clear starters do we?
I am not looking forward to next week at all. Red shirt Jasper and Meeks and let the losses keep coming in ‘08. And, pray that ‘09 will be better.
December 30th, 2007 at 1:01 am
I agree with letting them redshirt kyblue. We cant win anyway and everyone says we are playing for the future. I say redshirt and play for the future.
December 30th, 2007 at 1:28 am
In virtually all of our losses this season, there has been one player on the other team who has just had the game of his life and we were unable to stop him. Gardner-Webb had Grayson Flittner, UNC had Danny Green, UAB had Robert Vaden, and San Diego had Brandon Johnson. Our defense and turnovers are what’s killing us. This is the third game that I’VE noticed that we have shot over 50% from the field and still lost.
December 30th, 2007 at 1:36 am
If there is one guy on FIU to watch out for it is Alex Galindo. I think he originally signed with Kansas before transferring to FIU. He is a good talent and if anybody is going to go off on us, it’s him.
December 30th, 2007 at 2:31 am
Scotland, your argument about averages is worthless. UK has not consistently played the same number games over the years. Games do not count the same now as they did then. An NIT Champpionship was once considered just as, if not more, prestigious than an NCAA Championship. Adolph Rupp won 25 games in the 53-54 season and the 55-56 seasons. One was an undefeated season and one was a 5 loss season. A team can advance through six games of the NCAA Tournament where before there were only three games. They didn’t have an SEC tournament for UK to cake walk through for several years. Lastly, for anyone attempting to compare any other coach to the Rupp years, the body of work over the course of 40 years is in no way comparable to 7 or 8 or 9 years. There is no way to compare.
Adolph Rupp had a gold medal, 4 NCAA Championships, 1 NIT Championship (when it meant something), an undefeated season that ended with a defeat of #7 Louisiana and included games against the #8, #13 and #20 ranked teams in the nation. But wait! There’s more!
But I won’t list it all.
Bottom line is this. There were highs and lows of the Rupp Era. But each time, Rupp worked his way back up. When it was time to go, he was pushed out the door. Yes, even Rupp was pushed out the door. Hall came in and did a serviceable job replacing Rupp. Pitino rebuilt what was almost destroyed in the Sutton era. Tubby came in and did a great Job with Pitino’s team. After that, it was down hill all the way until 2007. A steady downward trajectory.
Now we have Gillispie. He may or may not have what it takes. We have to wait it out. I think that in the end, Gillispie will easily eclipse Smith. In two years, this season will be a bad dream easily forgotten by most. Firmly grasped in the bosom of the fans of the Minnesota coach and re-lived after every defeat.
We have no choice guys. Gillispie is here for better or worse. He’s here. He will not be let go until he has proven that he can’t repeat his performances at UTEP and TAMU. So we must develop patience. We should have plenty after living through the Almost era.
It’s enough for me that Smith is gone. If Gillispie is gone after 4 years, we’ll roll the dice and hire a new one. It may be meant to be. This may be the time that Pelphrey or Ford develop into great coaches. Gillispie doesn’t pan out and UK hires one of them after G fails out. Only time will tell.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:38 am
#99 my point was that 2006 and 2007 were subpar but not terrible.
Years like 1960-61-63-65-67-74-79-85-87-89-90 (all fewer than 20 W seasons) were worse.
And 1967-74-89-90 were terrible (by comparison).
From 1998 to 2007, W totals were 35-28-23-24-22-32-27-28-22-22. Hardly a straight line down, rather Up and Down like it has usually been at UK. Not in 1940’s or 1990’s (mostly Up) but every other decade was Up and Down.
Tubby Smith > Billy Gillispie as a coach right now. You know it. I know it. They know it.
December 30th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
100) I definitely agree with you. Tubby may not get the outstanding athletes like BCG does, but Tubby gets the right players for his system and he knows how to win. I was very dissapointed when he left and, although I’m not giving up on Billy, I would love to see Tubby back on UK’s sideline. Tubby is a much better in-game coach.
December 30th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
I think Tubby is a more experienced coach. More accomplished as a result of that. He’s better now. But Gillispie is a Plenty Good coach.
Tubby got outstanding athletes (most years) at Tulsa, Georgia, and UK - he landed 5 quality recruits this year at Minnesota. Gillispie recruited well at UTEP and TAMU, better at UK.
January 1st, 2008 at 11:56 am
anybody on this site that says they would like to tubby back should be banned from this site or any uk site
January 1st, 2008 at 1:59 pm
#103 read this
Myths and Realities of Tubby Smith.
Myth #1 – Tubby is just an ordinary coach who doesn’t measure up to the Best of the Best in his era or all-time.
Reality #1 – Tubby is 387-145 in his 16 year coaching career. That’s 24-9 (average) per season. Bobby Knight averages 22-9 in his career. Mike Krzyzewski averages 24-8 for his career. Lute Olson, 23-8. Jim Boeheim, 24-8. Rick Pitino, 23-9. Tubby measures up.
Let’s look over the past 10 years. The best coaching records from 1998 through 2007 are:
1. Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, 302-53.
2. Roy Williams of Kansas and North Carolina, 277-73.
3. Jim Calhoun of Connecticut, 264-78.
4. Tubby Smith (formerly) of Kentucky, 263-83.
5. Billy Donovan of Florida, 248-86.
6. Tom Izzo of Michigan State, 245-92.
Once again, Tubby Smith measures up quite well to the Best of the Best active coaches.
Myth #2 – Tubby has achieved good success in the regular season but not in the NCAA tournament.
Reality #2 – Tubby is 29-13 (all-time) in NCAA tournament games and 23-9 over the past 10 years.
He ranks 11th best (all-time) in W-L (%) record at 69% just behind Dean Smith and Jim Calhoun at 70% and slightly ahead of Al McGuire and Jerry Tarkanian. He ranks 8th best among active coaches. It is clear (again) that Tubby measures up to the Best of the Best in NCAA tournament results. He is one of only 11 active coaches who have NCAA championship ring(s).
Again, looking at the past 10 years, the best coaching records in NCAA games are:
1. Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, 28-9 in NCAA.
2. Roy Williams of Kansas and North Carolina, 25-7.
3. Jim Calhoun of Connecticut, 25-6.
4. Tom Izzo of Michigan State, 24-9.
5. Tubby Smith (formerly) of Kentucky, 23-9.
6. Billy Donovan of Florida, 22-7.
Myth #3 – Tubby Smith can’t recruit. He only wins when he coaches players recruited by someone else.
Reality #3 – Not exactly. Let’s look at several examples. When Tubby took his first head coaching job at Tulsa in 1991, the roster contained just 4 scholarship players returning. He went to work and recruited some excellent players for his system. After 2 seasons, he took the Golden Hurricane to consecutive Sweet 16 appearances (in 1994 and 1995) with 23-8 and 24-8 records. Those were the first NCAA wins ever recorded by Tulsa. Nolan Richardson coached at Tulsa but never won an NCAA game there.
Another example is Georgia. Tubby moved from Tulsa to Athens in 1995. His first team had 8 seniors and produced a third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance for Tubby. That team had 21 W and defeated #1 seed Purdue (my alma mater) in the NCAA tournament. His next Bulldog team was almost completely his own recruits but proceeded to set a school record with 24 W and defeated SEC champion South Carolina (twice) on the way to the first ever (and only) back-to-back 20+ W seasons at Georgia.
Tubby moved to Kentucky in 1997 when Rick Pitino left UK for the Boston Celtics. UK had experienced uncommon success (best since the 1940’s and 1950’s) during the Pitino era. UK averaged 30 W per season and won 81% of its NCAA games from 1992 through 1997. How can you top that?
Well, Tubby did just that. Despite UK losing 6 players to the NBA draft in the 2 seasons prior to his arrival, he finished out the 1990’s by averaging 31 W per season and winning 90% of his NCAA games. He took players that had never played a major role at UK and coached them to 35 W while defeating three straight 30+ W teams (Duke, Stanford, Utah) to earn the NCAA title in 1998. That’s never been done (before or since) in NCAA tournament annals.
Tubby recruited 6 (of 9) classes at UK that earned Top 15 or better ratings from the RSCI (recruiting consensus) Winners method. No other coach – not Roy Williams, not Billy Donovan, not Mike Krzyzewski, no one – signed more Top 15 rated classes in that timeframe. The RSCI process was created in 1998 by Jeff Crume and is a well respected recruiting website.
With 100% his own UK recruits the past 5 seasons, Tubby Smith won 77% of his games (131-40). From 2003 through 2005, he was 87-15 (85%) for the #1 record in Div I Men’s basketball. I’m reminded of the remark by ex-Houston Oilers’ coach Bum Phillips, who once said, “He’ll take his (players) and beat yours or he’ll take yours and beat his.” Tubby Smith wins with HIS players, whether they are his recruits or not.
Myth #4 – Tubby can’t develop players. His players never seem to reach their potential.
Reality #4 – Once again, not even close to being accurate. Tubby had 3 players at Tulsa drafted by the NBA. He had 2 players at Georgia drafted by the NBA. Collectively, he had 7 players make All-Conference teams at Tulsa and Georgia.
He continued that pattern at Kentucky. A total of 14 of his UK players either were drafted by the NBA or made it as free agents. And 16 of his Wildcats made All-SEC. Tayshaun Prince became the first 2-time All-American at UK in almost 20 years. His UK players dot the UK all-time best lists – Keith Bogans, 4th best scorer ever at UK. Chuck Hayes, 7th best rebounder at UK. Erik Daniels and Marquis Estill, the best lefthanded (Daniels) and righthanded (Estill) FG percentage shooters at UK.
Myth #5 – Tubby didn’t measure up to the lofty standards of Kentucky basketball.
Reality #5 – Yes, he did. He won 76% of his games there and 77% (with his own recruits) the past 5 seasons. That meets the UK average (76%) all-time. He won 72% of his NCAA games there. That exceeds the UK average of 69% in NCAA games all-time.
He won 1 NCAA title in 10 years there. UK has won 7 NCAA titles in the 69 years of the NCAA tournament (since 1939). He won 5 SEC titles and 5 SEC tournament championships in 10 years. Both meet UK all-time results in SEC history (since 1933).
Finally, Tubby is one of the Top 10 active coaches in Div I college basketball. He is universally respected (and admired) by his coaching peers. He won Coach of the Year awards in 1998, 2003 (unanimous), and 2005. His streak of 14 straight NCAA appearances and 14 straight 20+ W seasons are exceeded only by coaches like Roy Williams and Lute Olson. He is one of a handful of college coaches to have a winning overall record and winning conference record in every season of his coaching career.
January 1st, 2008 at 6:42 pm
thank you!! hes damn good and there was no reason for the uk fan base to treat him like crap. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE TUBBY BACK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.
p.s. I think BCG is gonna do well at UK, i would just rather see someone with integrity on the UK sidelines.