Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
I am not the type to usually question the decision of coaches on playing time. Yes, like all folks who watched the Cats earlier this season, I wondered why Porter was playing over Liggins, but then as the year went on and we learned some of what was happening behind the scenes, things became a bit clearer. But generally speaking, I think the coach sees what is happening on a day-to-day basis and if you trust the coach, you trust his decisions. But even with that said, I dont understand what is happening with Kevin Galloway. From the VERY limited action he has seen this season, Galloway has seemed to be exactly what the Cats need, a long, athletic player who can get in passing lanes, take the ball to the basket and drop a dime on Patterson or Stevenson. Specifically, he has looked like Razor Ramon without the ballhandling miscues. In fact, after the Tennessee State game, it occurred to me that the vast majority of minutes in which the offense has had the best flow, Galloway has been in the game.
But it is beyond bizarre how Galloway has been used all season. Going into preseason, much of the buzz was about the likelihood that Galloway would start. But from the get go of practice, the Galloway-Gillispie relationship hasnt been prosperous. At the open practice in which all the media was invited, more than a few of us noted that Galloway ran drills in practice early with the walk-ons and Matt Pilgrim, while the rest of the team worked out at the other end of the court. During the practice, Galloway faced the brunt of Gillispie’s ire and it was easy to see the frustration on his face. Then early in the year, Galloway was a non-factor and the assumption of his transfer was universally held. But then something strange happened…..all of a sudden Gillispie, who says starting minutes are based on practice, began starting Galloway. During his stints, the Cats got off to great starts. But still for the most part, Galloway was getting Mark Coury minutes….start, play hard, come out….start the second half, play hard, come out….and never see the floor again. The pattern then continued (after a two-game hiatus in which he played very little) against Louisville.
Watching the UL game, it is clear that this team plays hard, is mentally tough and is very strong defensively when it executes the gameplan. Louisville had to shoot 55% from three point land to win the game, and they wont do that again all year….sometimes its just not your day. But it is equally as clear that for the Cats to beat a team with a lot of talent, they must have more talent, specifically on the offensive end, in order to compete. We can all wonder about who the third scorer will be, but it is likely at this point that one doesnt exist. But right now the Cats have two guys that cant get their own shot (Porter, Harris), one guy whose confidence is shot (Miller), another who is a penetrator but has no outside jumper (Liggins), another who cant match up with athletic bigs (Harrellson) and another whose consistency is still lacking (Stevenson). And through it all, Kevin Galloway still doesnt see the floor.
To be fair, on Saturday his defense against T-Will early left something to be desired. But unlike the other players, Galloway is never allowed to play through a mistake. Meeks can turn it over 6 times, Porter can make bad decisions, Harris can dribble into the third row, but Galloway makes a mental error or misses a defensive assignment and he hits the bench….often not to return. The “bench is the best teacher” mentality is all fine and dandy if you are coaching the ‘96 Cats. But this team needs playmakers to hang with the elite. It needs guys who are athletic mismatches and who can hang with the other team’s best players on both ends. We have all seen the mental brain farts from DeAndre Liggins, the athletic limitations of Josh Harrellson and the confidence drained for Darius Miller. But what have we seen that is so awful from Galloway? Where has he shown that he cant or wont compete on a top level? On a team that needs one more big spark, is it not possible that Galloway may be it? I am all for playing Landon Slone from time to time and getting minutes for those who earn it. But for this team to be elite, it needs players who can be elite. Galloway may or may not be that player….but I sure would like to see more of him to decide.
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January 6th, 2009 at 11:25 am
agreed.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Its all in BCGs master plan. Similar to the Joe Crawford deal from last year. Trying not to show all of his cards before league play.
That’s what I’m hoping anyway……….
January 6th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Joe Crawford did not just play three or zero minutes
January 6th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Very well put MJ. I was missing Galloway something fierce last Sunday… especially on the offensive end. I know you’re big on Porter but I’m in support of a Liggins, Galloway, Meeks, Patterson, Stevenson lineup… talk about athletic. Let’em play through their mistakes and get better, together.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Amen, brother. I got a burning fever, and the only thing that can cure it is…. more Galloway! Or some cowbell. I thought the line-up that we ran, like once, with Liggins and Galloway both in the mix, was pretty tasty. Now Liggins might be regressing a little, but Galloway definitely adds a dimension that we are sorely lacking right now. Any inside scoop on just what the problem is?
January 6th, 2009 at 11:36 am
3. Relatively speaking.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Sometimes it’s tough with JUCO”s..However BCG is playing with “fire” trying to get inside the deads of quite a few players.
Example: Miller who was so smooth earlier can’t dribble 10 ft. without loosing the ball or traveling.(which he did twice
in UofL game and went ucalled) Coming out at the hint of a mistake is not working for Miller, Harellson,Liggins,Etc.
Galloway seems least unaffected because he keeps performing well in my opinion.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:38 am
#4 — Playing through their mistakes is for practice, though. Also, ‘playing through their mistakes’ is often coach-speak for ‘my substitute at his best is still worse than this star freshman’ or ’star freshman and his family/posse will get frustrated if he’s not averaging 30 minutes a night’.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Did anyone ask BCG this on his call in show last night? I missed all but the last last few minutes.
Let’s start a petition. I’m sure BCG would like that. Galloway would never even leave the locker room just out of BCG’s stubborness.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:39 am
UofL shot 55% from 3 point range because most of the shots
were wide open. Those are the best looks they have had all year.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:41 am
10) No kidding, every 3 they took was wide open!! I was also wondering why KG doesnt get more mins? He seems to be a much needed spark.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Agree with your assessment AND you could re-write the post inserting “Andre Liggins” at each mention of Kevin Galloway
January 6th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Matt…you are right on.
I missed the Pitino days when he would explain to the fan base why he was doing something. BCG never reveals his motives.
Maybe one day in the press room you can ask him why he is so silent with regard to these matters.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:43 am
I believe BCG knows what he is doing, Galloway isn’t much of a shooter and might be making mistakes on defense, I think in SEC play we will see him more, I would like to see him play more than Harris right now.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Well put. There is no comparison between the offensive flow when Galloway is at the three as opposed to Harris. Absolutely no comparison. I actually think Liggins would also benefit from some play at the three instead of the point. He is just not a point guard (square peg in round hole).
January 6th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Don’t you think Billy G has has seen enough of him to decide if he is that guy or not?
Also, it is easy to shoot 55% from 3 if nobody is guarding you. UK never rotated quick enough to cover that shot the entire game. Lucky for you nobody in the SEC can shoot, so the Cats should easily get 11 or 12 wins in the SEC. I smell a tight race between the Vols and Cats again for the East crown.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:44 am
#12….but Liggins does make a number of mistakes….3 turnovers in 8 minutes on Sunday and has had obvious attitude issues including a public insubordination. For Galloway the reasons are more mystifying in my view
January 6th, 2009 at 11:47 am
I agree. But it should be noted that if Sosa bricks that 3 (which he would do 9 out of 10) this isn’t even being discussed and BCG is hailed a genuis. Did KG not getting 20 mins really cost us that game? Do I want to see more of him and less of Harris? Yes, but its not crucial to us winning ball games. Limiting turnovers and opne threes are crucial.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:48 am
You cannot be serious #15!!! Liggins is just a freshman and is making freshman mistakes. But to say that he is not a point guard is absurd. He’s the most talented PG we have. He will be fantastic once he gets some experience
January 6th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Agreed! We need 20-25 min. of Galloway, each game!
January 6th, 2009 at 11:55 am
15.) We have had our disagreements on here, but I could not agree with you more about Liggins being a 3 rather than a point guard, I have said it since he stepped on the floor. Same thing with Jasper last year, to me there is no advantage to being 6′6 and playing point guard unless you can post your man up inside and dominate. I know you can see over the defense, but you still have to be able to make the right passes. How many 6′6 6′7 point guards do you see on the Top 10 teams, or in the NBA. The hybrid guard was good in theory for a while, but it has been disproven and we need to move on. Liggins should be second string 3, behind Galloway…..
January 6th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Agree 100% with this post.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:57 am
17-Yeah, I understand that. Ultimately, I would rather let the most talented players learn while playing rather than play some sort of cat and mouse game. When I played, insubordination of the coach would never have been tolerated—but Gillispie didn’t seem to blame Liggins much for that act.
Anywho, like your post and agree 100%.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Couldn’t really agree more, MJ. Pretty spot on. But remember, Coach didn’t start Joe Crawford or play him much at the beginning of last season either and we all thought that was ridiculous. Joe went on to have the most dramatic turnaround of any UK player I’ve ever seen. From his freshman year to the middle of his senior year he was considered a softie and a big disappointment; January-March of his senior year he was a warrior, mentally and physically tougher than anybody else on the floor. Maybe Coach is going to the same formula with Galloway. I hope so anyway, because like you, I think he’s got a lot of potential.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:59 am
19.) He is not a talented Point Guard, he is a very talented player, but his skill set is more of a point foward. A point guard should come right down and get us in the offense and look for his teammates first and if nothing is there then drive and make something happen. Liggins is the complete opposite, he forces it, and when he realizes nothing is open, he kicks it out usually for a turnover. He needs to play a more controlled position, and that would be the 3 spot…..
January 6th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Below are heights of 10 of the best PGs in the NBA
1. Steve Nash (PHX)
Height: 6′3″
Weight: 195
Years Pro: 11
2. Allen Iverson (DEN)
Height: 6′0″
Weight: 165
Years Pro: 11
3. Gilbert Arenas (WSH)
Height: 6′3″
Weight: 215
Years Pro: 6
4. Baron Davis (GSW)
Height: 6′3″
Weight: 223
Years Pro: 8
5. Tony Parker (SAS)
Height: 6′2″
Weight: 180
Years Pro: 6
6. Chris Paul (NOH)
Height: 6′0″
Weight: 175
Years Pro: 2
7. Chauncey Billups (DET)
Height: 6′3″
Weight: 202
Years Pro: 10
8. Jason Kidd (NJN)
Height: 6′4″
Weight: 212
Years Pro: 13
9. Mike Bibby (SAC)
Height: 6′1″
Weight: 190
Years Pro: 9
10. Kirk Hinrich (CHI)
Height: 6′3″
Weight: 190
Years Pro: 4
Overall Rating: 83
January 6th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Galloway is the only guy on the team that has a point guard mentality. THE ONLY GUY. He has to play more minutes. I don’t buy he is not showing his cards. A guy like Galloway needs minutes at this point and that non conference schedule was the perfect time. Galloway was well liked coming out of high school………even after USC and juco stint……
check out the offers
http://kentucky.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?sport=2&pr_key=78547
January 6th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I think Galloway should play more as well, but to compare his mistakes to Meeks’ mistakes is not right. Meeks gets to play through mistakes because he is our only perimeter scorer. You can not treat all players the same. Also Liggins got yanked quickly on Sunday when he messed up.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Great post, Matt. I’ve been asking this question all season, as the team seems to flow better and have more confidence during the (brief) times that KG is on the court. He’s very athletic, has made some of the best passes we’ve seen from our guys this season and shows the ability to make things happen. I’m trying to have confidence in BCG’s motives because he certainly sees these guys day in and day out, but there has to be some flexibility on his part as well. The same approach is not going to work for every person as we are seeing that Liggins and Miller are clearly responding differently to the “bench as a motivator” approach. Also, like the poster before stated, it would be great to have just a little more insight from him as to why he makes the decisions he does. I’m growing tired of the same “practice = playing time” and “he’s not available” answer to questions. Not trying to bash our coach because he has my full support, it’s just a completely different style that we as fans are not used to.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Galloway should definitely log more minutes. Ramon cannot dripple, shoot, jump and since the
injury cannot play D. If at his best I still think KG plays better D, can get to the rim and
is probably our best passer outside of Patterson. Ramon is just not that good in my opinion.
I think Porter doesn’t play bad, he is just not a great playmaker, but he sets the half-court
offense way better. I would like to see Patterson, Stevenson, Meeks, Galloway, Liggins in the
game and go back to the old 40 minutes of hell type press. We don’t press at all anymore and
when we do soon as the team gets the ball in we let them walk it up the court. I know we don’t
want Meeks and Patterson wore out but we have enough depth to give them some breaks here and
there. If the get taken out at the right time (like a dead ball before the tv timeout) they
will get even larger breaks. Porter, Miller, Harrelson, Slone Harris could be quality backups.
Not to mention AJ has a ton of upside but he is never in the game long enough for any of us to
see it or to get better.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
The Galloway thing is a little baffling to me too, but I’m not quite in the MJ camp that thinks KG is universally doing good things when out on the court. I love his length and, to a lesser extent, his athleticism, but I think he is just as limited offensively as Harris, and possibly an even worse outside shooter. I think it just may be as simple as his defense is just too poor (in Gillespie’s eyes) to stay on the court, at least for now. This is a big big opportunity for Gillespie though. He HAS to find a way to coach guys like Galloway and Liggins (I personally think Miller is a lost cause and question whether he has enough natural quickness to ever play for Gillespie) to get the absolute best out of them on the defensive end. Because those two guys, if they became absolute shut-down defenders, no team would even score 50 points on us.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
When Galloway does things the way Gillispie wants he will play. He obviously sees and loves his positive effects he brings when on the floor. That is why he starts. My guess is if he plays “the best defense in the SEC” he will get more playing time. Gillispie loves Defense and he will not play Galloway over Harris if there is a significant drop in D. Especially when Galloway is equally as capable as Harris to do so.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I now live in Cincinnati and have listened to their complaints for the past couple of days. UC does not play hard, they have no bench, and players don’t seem to know what is going on during the game. I heard a sports radio host say that Cronin does not have anyone on the bench athletic or talented enough to sub in for the players that are lazy, selfish, undisciplined, or just plain lost. This made me think of Gillispie. If you do not do all the little things right you do not see the floor. This causes players to fix things before they get playing time. The result is a tough disciplined team comes conference time. In UC case things just keep getting worse. In UK case things keep getting better. The reason is Gillispie will only play a player who is doing exactly what he wants and Cronin plays the best athletes who give him the chance to win a game. UC just keep repeating the same mistakes over and over because Cronin doesn’t have the guts to sit the great athletes.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
good Q&A with Larry Vaught and Mike DeCourcey
http://kentucky.scout.com/2/827682.html
January 6th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
I tried for 20 minutes to call in last night and give BCG a piece of my mind but I couldn’t get through. Galloway is not a shooter and we all know that………..BUT he is a defender, a penetrator, a good passer, a good ball handler and he brings much needed size and energy to our team. Gillispie can say what he wants but Galloway deserves more PT!!!!!!!
January 6th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
BCG just doesn’t make sense to me, Porter doesn’t play good D, Meeks is not a great defender, Perry gets abused by bigger players but they all stay in the game because they give us a better chance to win. Same goes for Galloway and Liggins. Liggins can score and get to the rim. Galloway plays better D the Ramon and his offense is way better, my 13 year old cousin has more offensive skill than Ramon.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Root for the team on the floor guys and quit the belly aching! We played with Heart on Sunday, and even though the team lost, I was pleased with how hard they played! If we can correct the turnover issue, then we will roar into the NCAA! I just wish PPat would stay for next year! Then it would be a legit Final Four team!
January 6th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Jesus. There’s nothing more disturbing to me than people saying they’d like to give Gillespie a piece of their mind. Ugh. “Yeah coach, I work in a factory but I played basketball in 6th grade and I’ve watched it ever since. Galloway should be playing more. Thanks Coach.”
January 6th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Isn’t it fair to say that Matt Jones, I, you, everyone on here
1) Isn’t at practice, doesn’t know what is going on behind the scenes,
doesn’t understand it is Galloway needs to fix, etc
2) Gillispie has worked his way up the basketball ladder and MIGHT, lol,
JUST GUESSING, MIGHT, NO A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT BASKETBALL THAN US.
So who are any of us to question that which we have no clue about?
January 6th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
thank you 39.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
39) Know, that’s not fair to say.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
#41 yeah it is, your just like me - we are two avg in the basetball world
don’t know really know as much as we think we do about basketball. So we
sure don’t know what is going on behind the scenes.
How many college basketball players have you delt with and coached day-in-day
out? Yeah, me neither but Coach Gillispie got in the position he is in now
because he might know a little more than we do, DUH!
So who are you to say Gillispie doesn’t know what he is doing with Galloway?
Please share your resume with us so we can compare it to Gillispie’s resume
and decide for ourself if your are qualified
January 6th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
26.
How about Rajon Rondo… You’re just stupid if you don’t throw him in the top 10
His jump shot is worse than Ramon Harris’s so I guess the Celtics have NO idea what they’re doing playing him at PG… lol
January 6th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
#37 I want some of whatever you are smoking…
BCG will be gone before the Cats make it back to the Final Four.
And what he is doing to Galloway is a crime of stupidity
January 6th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
I think Galloway and all us fans will benefit from the patience Gillispie is forcing upon us. By March we will have a team that gets great production from two or three guys of the bench. They may even be current starters coming of the bench. But in March every person that enters the game will know exactly what is expected of them and will try their best to do it. We are getting closer to that every game.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
I think Galloway and all us fans will benefit from the patience Gillispie is forcing upon us. By March we will have a team that gets great production from two or three guys of the bench. They may even be current starters coming of the bench. But in March every person that enters the game will know exactly what is expected of them and will try their best to do it. We are getting closer to that every game.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
#41 You know what #41 since you think you know so much, tell me
what the biggest problem with Galloway is right now?
I know but do you?
January 6th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
#39….that’s a fine point of view so long as you apply it across the board and question no coach at a top program about any decision. If u do that, the kudos. But my guess is almost no one does
January 6th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
#44 your a crime of stupidity because if you really look at your comment
you will realize how stupid you look. Who do you know it is a crime of
stupidity? How do you know Gillispie won’t be here before he reaches a
final four?
How do you know? How reliable our your sources? Do you have any? What
experience do you have on the subject?
What do you really know about Galloway?
Please inform us and share some of your inside knowledge with us avg fan.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
#48 true Matt but I am sure you know the biggest problem with Galloway right
now and it is an off the court issue. Will you please inform your members
(aka: future head coaches of great programs) what the real problem with Galloway
is.
Or do you think it wouldn’t be fair to Galloway if that information got out?
January 6th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
^ just keeps no shouting in the rain about Galloway..just keep on shouting oooo maybe coach will hear you.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I agree #38. These people have no idea what they are talking about. What I would like to see is Galloway do whatever in the hell it is he isn’t doing in order to get more pt. All of you complainers should read what #33 just said and you have your answer. Galloway and Liggins both are in the same boat. I would love to see Galloway play as much as the next guy and sometimes also think coach has a quick hook but guess what - he is the coach and knows everything there is to know about the game and players and I DON”T - so I’m going to go with coach and not myself. SOme of you guys should do the same. Its just like last year and look how it turned out - gracious, you guys sure have a short memory !! The guys has won how many coach of the year awards - no one on this board would ever sniff a coy award so lets just watch and hope like hell the players get it together.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
He’s knocked up half the vollyball team i’m sure that’s what it is.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
If Galloway had played Harris’ 23 minutes against UL, we likely would have won the game. We lost by 3 and Harris scored zero and was ineffective as a defender, passer, rebounder, ball handler. Did I miss anything?
January 6th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Which team/players don’t go through up’s and down’s during the season.
UNC just lost at home and were supposed to go undefeated. Do they say the sky is falling.
BCG could take this team to the Sweet 16 or Final Four and some would still question everything he does.
Get a life and enjoy the team.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
45. Great point. I live in Cincy too. I’ve been listening to all these sports radio guys on 1530 AM talk about how undisciplined UC is. I love BCG for how tough these guys are. I often long to see Galloway and Liggins play more, but I understand that BCG is teaching. He knows what these kids need to learn and he knows how to teach them. It won’t happen over night, but these guys are going to be 8 deep of good players come march.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
The Minnesota/UL was a clinic game on how to shut down UL’s offense. I guess BCG and his staff never got a copy of that game.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
#54, thank you richard vitale!
January 6th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
#54 Gillispie wants more out of Galloway than one win in early January (even if it is Louisville). He wants Galloway to be the best he can be and he is molding him into that. His methods may be crazy but from what I have seen they work come March.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
#54 maybe it isn’t about Galloway being a better player than Harris or
not
Why don’t you ask Galloway what it means to be a “STUDENT athlete” first.
Maybe if he made that comment to being a “STUDENT althete” first, he
would get yanked after making one mistake.
Ever think maybe Gillispie is trying to send a message to Galloway that he
is good enough to start and play but if he isn’t going to make a comment
to being a “STUDENT athlete” first then he will get yanked after mistake.
Some of you really have no clue about what is going on behind the scenes. Nor
do I but I don’t talk about things I have no clue on. I know Galloway isn’t
doing what he needs to do off the court to get the benefit of the doubt
from coach on the court.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I think the majority of the posters do enjoy the team but it’s only human that as fans we have questions about things. It doesn’t mean that we claim to know half as much as the coach does about the players and how he allots PT. It’s just a topic for discussion and maybe one day we will be enlightened. I guarantee there’s never been a coach at Kentucky who wasn’t questioned about the fans at some point, for something.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
KentuckyWildcats - I like everything you have said on here today. I don’t know the answers but I do know that the only thing causing these questions is losses and winning is the only thing that ever stops them. I’m onboard with CBG all the way and think we are extremely lucky to have him. ITs not hard guys - just give the man the time necessary to correct things (most notably an inferior roster when he got here) he has done wonders already but its young talent and it will only get better from here on out. I’m very happy with our direction and I’m willing to give the man his time without flipping out over every single issue and loss that happens in the process.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
2.) I think you had it right from the beginning. This may be Billy G way of getting to Galloway like h edid with Crawford last year.
And Matt..to compare Galloway with Crawford is crazy. Galloway was not our leading scorer from the following year. He does not have to have Galloway out there. And you can’t tell me that Galloway was playing better D than Ramon. Also you have to know that Coach G doesn’t have to treat every kid the same. Each Kid is motivated differently and some can take more than others. Coach did the exact same thing last year and everyone was crying out…”What is he doing?!?!?!..Why is he playing this guy…Why isn’t he playing that guy?!?!?!…and look how the conference season turned out. Just trust him!
January 6th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Well, 60, just how many unnecessary losses are you willing to accept so that Coach G can “get his message across . . . behind the scenses”, whatever the hell that means?
January 6th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
60….obviously Galloway is doing just enough or he would be academically ineligible by now.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
39.) So you were a big Tubby supporter?
That goes for everyone who says let Billy do his job, and that we dont know anything about basketball, you may need to take a step back and look at yourself. You have to be just as critical to BCG as you were with OTS or anyone else…..
January 6th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
26. That list is atrocious. Half of those players suck and the other half don’t even play for those teams anymore.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
actually i think ramon’s shot is worse than rondo’s lol
January 6th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
#63 your right you can’t compare Galloway’s situation with Joe’s.
Gillispie was trying to teach Joe the he could be so better than he
was putting out on the court. And guess what, GILLISPIE WAS RIGHT.
Gillispie is trying to show/motivate Galloway by starting him and telling
him that he is good enough to play but you have to make the comment
off the court to be a “STUDENT athlete” first.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
#26, what about perhaps the greatest pg of all time, Magic Johnson?
January 6th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Hey#47, don’t get you panties in a wad. All I was doing in post #39 was making fun of your stupid ass for not knowing how to use the word “no” vs “know” when you type your ignorance.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
60.) If being a STUDENT athlete first was important, then BCG would have never recruited Liggins or Galloway, or Flemings or Maze or half of the others that he recruited that didnt qualify until the last minute…..
January 6th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
#64 I am willing to lose as many as it takes. If you play a kid who is not taking care of things behind the scenes you may win now but you lose the kid for the future when he will really be a help. If “behind the scenes” is the problem.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
#64 the point is dumbass, is that it isn’t Gillispie holding Galloway back,
it is Galloway. If you want to point the finger at someone for Galloway
not playing more - POINT IT AT GALLOWAY
January 6th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
57: U of L had to make 11 of 20 threes (including a bunch from that truly gifted shooter T-Will), get the benefit of 21 turnovers from us, AND have a red-hot performance from their head-case point guard who averages 5ppg…all to beat us by three points. People can moronically complain that all the threes were wide open, but, just like has been said numerous times by Matt and others on here — that’s the gameplan against the filthy Cards. Give them open threes.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
57.) Did you even watch the UL/Minn game? Ky did the exact same thing Minn did. And UL had just as many wide open shots from the 3 as they did in the UK game. They just made them against us. Same thing as the Western Ky game. They were wide open on most of their shots in that game too but just plain missed them. Uk had 24 turnovers…UL shot 55% from the 3 and 85% from the free throw line and needed a 25 ft shot to beat us. We played a great game but you just don’t always win.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
HEY MATT,
Can we keep beating our heads against the wall with the pointless/crappy post. In a week or two are u gonna take this same story and replace galloways name with someone elses. Perhaps Jorts. Where art thou, Langdon Slone?
January 6th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Miller and harrelson will be the keys to SEC play and this team playing it’s best ball. Miller and slone look the best in the zone offense and harrelson is our only big body.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
#72 Maybe Gillispie wouldn’t have recruited them if we the fans
didn’t expect a quick fix to the UK program.
but regardless we fans just see UK as a sports institution, we don’t
see UK for what it really is.
If Gillispie let Galloway play just because he is better than the guys
in front of him with no incentative to take care of what is needed off
the court - Then there is a good chance Galloway might work hard to make
the grades to play next year. Then what was the point of preparing/coaching
a player who isn’t going to be apart of the team because he didn’t do the
things off the court he needed to do.
Why should Gillispie prepare a player, waste time, on someone who might
be able to help the team in the future because he isn’t going to class?
January 6th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Without a doubt, the coach is the one who knows what is going on with the team. Everything is his call.
I think the reason for this discussion is that all of us watching can see the discrepancy in talent level. If coach thinks what he sees overrides talent, so be it. We still have every right to our opinions.
Those who say they want to give Gillispie a peice of their minds would tuck their tails if actually given that chance. The internet makes a lot of people more bold than they actually are.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
When Galloway performs to the potential which has been determined by Gillispie’s evaluation, he will play the number of minutes many think he should. It’s up to Kevin alone.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
I just know that if many of you posters were a coach and let a player
play simply because he was better, eventhough that player is not
doing the things off the court that could become a problem down the road,
then you are playing a dangerous game. No wonder Gillispie is a head coach
and non of us are.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
75) I agree that UofL shot better than they usually do and it wasn’t because of all their “wide open” threes. But the game plan of giving open threes to UL doesn’t apply for guys like Sosa, Knowles, Smith, and the few other shooters that come off the bench.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
#81 No, when Gillispie can trust that Galloway is going to work
hard in the classroom and not take the risk of putting this team
in a tough position down the road (like next year) - Then he will
play more
January 6th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
79…he made the grades cause he would have been suspended by now…if he doesnt make the grades next semester, he can goto summer school to gain eligibility. I’m sure he is a communications major…those are all fluff classes. His hardest classes are prob his UNI classes that and he should be at least halfway thru those. And 75% of athletes that goto class just sleep in them anyways.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
84. He could make straight A’s and it wouldn’t matter unless Kevin attains the level of play which has been set by the coaching staff.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Last night on his call-in show, coach was VERY (very, very, very) high on D. Miller. He kept saying he expected very big things and very soon from him. That doesn’t sound like Galloway will be exploding onto the scene anytime soon.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
this a freaking message board full of mostly kentucky fans who care passionately about the cats. yea, billy g knows more basketball than us but, myself and others, aren’t clueless about the game. if we want to question his coaching it’s ok. it’s a freaking message board.
he should play galloway more. he should have played slone. slone may not be good enough but don’t stroke him for 2 games then not play him. i’m tired of everyone saying give him time. f**cking beat a ranked team and quit talking about heart and toughness.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
good article Matt Jones. i completly agree. Galloway is a better option than Harris lately, more consistent than miller but not as talented as liggins. Anyone have his JUCO stats?
January 6th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
84.) You keep telling us that we arent coaches, and that we do not know anything, yet you talk like your Red Auerbach. Give me a break, Galloway is better than Liggins, Miller, and Harris right now and he should play. If he becomes academically ineligible we can go back to the wa things are now. Besides, first semester is up and he is still playing, that can not be the excuse, the kid could take all zero’s and still play through March by NCAA rules, so please quit rediculing the rest of us, when you really have no idea what you are talking about…..
January 6th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
When Gillispie gets his players and has them here for 3 or four years there will not be this kind of presure on fisrt year players. We will not need them to contibute right away. We will have legit talent who know what Gillispie wants in our Juniour and senior classes. Jorts, Miller, Hood, GJ, Pilgram, and maybe even Liggins will be 3 to 4 year players. Then the newcomers will be icing on the cake and not expected to do so much their first year. Right now it is hard to watch a guy like Porter or Harris get playing time over much more skilled/talented players. Imagine being Liggins or Galloway who probably school Porter in practice everyday and he is getting your playing time. That has to be hard but right now Porter and Harris are the most Talented players at their positions who know exactly what coach wants. In the future there will be more talented players with that knowledge.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
hey 87 he also said over the summer carter could be a special player. he blows too much smoke up our ass.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Galloway
Meeks
Liggins
Stevenson
Patterson
Would love to see this starting lineup soon.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
92…lol…BCG has got a case of the Herm Edwards…WE CAN BUILD ON THIS!!!!
January 6th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
If you ever listen to Gillispie you know that he uses the preconference games as learing tools for his players. He does want to win every game but he won’t sacrifice his way for a win. He didn’t last year and he won’t this year. The players will either get it or leave. Crawford got it. Will Galloway?
January 6th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
92. In terms of blowing smoke up asses, he can’t touch Pitino. Noone can. I do like that he takes full responsibility when we lose. Compare that to Rick.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Matt, with all your connections, I find it hard to believe you haven’t uncovered ANYTHING on this issue. Doesn’t Bobby Perry hang out with the guys on the team from time to time? These kids talk. So just ask.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
91.) How can you say how difficult it is to watch Porter playing instead of Liggins?? Porter, next to Patterson, probably played better than anyone on the team. He was one of the olny guys who kept his cool and handled all the UL pressure. If anything you should be lauding Billy G coaching of Porter and the production he is getting out of him. If Coach played Liggins more than Porter Sunday then we lose by 10+.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
#92 Does that mean we will get colon cancer.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
99 second hand colon cancer
January 6th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
i regret talking about our asses now!
January 6th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
we digress
January 6th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I wonder if we can sue. Maybe I can get his house or at least some season tickets. Those press confrences and call in show should come with a surgeon general warning.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Big difference in a turnover mistake and letting you man score like crazy on you because you get lost on defense.
Turnovers equals points maybe 40% of the time?(probalby less) Missing your man on a rotation equals points about 85% of the time.
Huge difference.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I’d like to see Stewart more too. These guys get lost on Defense because they don’t get enough time and like Matt says they get yanked for that one mistake. he’s too hard on his own kids and not hard enough on Tubby’s. Galloway is slowly coming on though, we’ll see.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
19 Just because Liggins isn’t a point guard does not mean he can’t be a play maker. I think he can be a big-time play maker, but I think his game is better suited to the wing. Obviously, his shot will have to improve but he is not a winning college point guard in my opinion (and that and 50 cents will get you a cup of coffee).
January 6th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Billy did well with Crawford and Bradley because they were Seniors, they had no choice but to play balls to the wall or he was going to sit them on the bench and then they would have no shot at the NBA. All the rumors I have heard is the players hate this guy. To me he is not a great coach, he does nothing more than scare the players with playing time. If he was more of a X’s and O’s guy or just a great coach in general we would not have lost to VMI, Miami, Louisville, San Diego, Houston, Gardner Webb and other SEC games. I still do not see why we didnt take a chance on Pelphry or Ford when we hired him to begin with.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Pelphrey or Ford would be fine with me.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Both better coaches. Both better recruiters. Both Kentucky guys.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
107.) I am sorry but you are an idiot. More of an X’s or O’s coach??? Have you not seen the sets they run??? How we destroyed UL’s zone everytime they tried it. Billy had his guys ready. I have seen more offensive movement in the last 2 years that I saw in the last 5 years with Tubby. And let me add that I loved Tubby. Look at the way the guys improved last year and how well they worked as a team at the end of the year. I think most would agree that he could have won 2 to 3 of those games last year and maybe one or two this year but he is not going to compromise the season for the sake of one game!
January 6th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Compromise the heritage of the program, making us laughing stocks nationwide, making us wonder if we’re even going to make the tournament. That’s what losing to those teams has done to us. As one Alabama fan said about us Kentucky fans sarcastically when this whole debate started…”What a bunch of idiots…they want to win.”
January 6th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
dangit, #110, you just posted nearly all I was about to say.
I asked last year if we, the boosters, and administration will be patient enough with Billy G or see the travesties of GW losses as too much to cope with to trade for long term success. It does, however, frustrate me to ask the same question this year. Although I haven’t asked it since the UNC game.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
And as far as Pelphry and Ford being better recruiters and coaches then you are nuts as well. Arkansas beat a good team in Ok but they also lost to Missouri St and had to go into overtime their first game to beat Louisiana st. And Oklahoma has 3 losses and has lost to Washington. What makes you think they are better coaches?
January 6th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
OK make that since the Miami game. I have seen some of the best ball played by a UK team in a long time and some of the most excruciating and unwatchable crap ever in a UK uniform under BCG.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
111.) If anything we are rising back from the dead. Unfortunately the last 5 years or so with Tubby and his assistants the big recruits were not looking at us at all. Now we are on the lips of most big recruits.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
114.) Agreed but I think what a lot of people forget too is how young this team is still. We lost 2 Seniors and our starting point guard. He is starting a Pg that played sparingly in major games, a SG that was pretty much out all last year and couldn’t even run. And Harris who really should be considered a soph beacuase of his playing experience.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Yes I am being patient with the young team, and with BCG. But I will complain a bit(sometimes a lot) along the way.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
That is why we are Ky fans…..we are all crazy!!!!!!!!
January 6th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Been off the blog for a while - busy the last hour or so. I would like to ask KentuckyWildcats why he thinks Galloway is not taking care of things off the court? Do you have inside information?
January 6th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Does gillispie have a talk show?Is there a fire gillispie site?Has he sighned that contract yet?
January 6th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Matt, I really really liked this post!
Thanks,
CC
January 6th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Everyone who reads this site…. Well, almost everyone, is very knowledgeable about the Cats.I am surprised that no one has mentioned how much we miss Derrick Jasper this year. Heck, I even think that Alex Legion would have been a very productive member of the team. Derrick and Alex could have possibly been the crucial third scoring option that EVERYONE know we need. But that is just wishful thinking. Galloway/Gillespie are definitely a mystery.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
#70: There is and will only be one magic Johnson. The best gueards in the NBA are typically 6′2″.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
#70: There is and will only be one magic Johnson. The best guards in the NBA are typically 6′2″.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
I think we should give BCG atleast 3 years. I don’t agree with a lot of his unorthodox coaching decisions, but I feel we should give him a chance (not 10 years like Tubby), but 3 years to recruit and build up the program.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:26 am
Dude, you’re spot on.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:35 am
I would like to see more of Kevin, as well. I don’t know what goes on at practice, but, we seem to play more cohesively on the offensive end when he is in there.