Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
So its Sunday night and time to get ready for one of my favorite weeks of the year, the SEC Tournament. But rather than using tonight to recap news and views as we usually do, we will shift gears a bit. One of the common questions over the last few weeks has been what will happen with Patrick Patterson next season and will he still be at the University of Kentucky for his Junior season. There has been a great deal of speculation on the subject and rather than simply add to it, I interviewed his mother Tywanna Patterson, a wonderful lady who has always been good to Kentucky Sports Radio, dating back to Patrick’s recruitment.
With so much speculation making its way around the internet that Patrick had already made his NBA Draft decision, I asked her if this was the case and this was her response:
Patrick has not made a decision as to stay or to go. His goal is to win the SEC Tournament and that is all he is focused on. Patrick loves Kentucky and he still has hopes that we can win the SEC and make the NCAA Tournament and he really believes that we can.
I then asked her about how the decision would be made when that time comes:
He will first be looking at where this program is headed next year and what the status of it is going to be next season. We will also of course have to look at his draft status, whether he will go high or low, but he has no control over that part. At the end of the season, we will sit down and balance it all as a family and then make a decision as to whether it makes sense for him to return.
I then asked her about the report concerning her conversation with Mitch Barnhart after the Georgia game. She confirmed that they did have a conversation and when I asked her what they talked about, this is what she said:
I was just talking to him about the future of the UK program and where we are headed next year. I just want to know why he thinks we are losing games that we should not be losing. I am very concerned with how things have gone this year and the direction this program is going. So, I just wanted to talk to him and know where he thinks the program is headed because right now I don’t understand what is going on.
Patrick’s mother stressed over and over her son’s love for the University of Kentucky and she said to me that “the fans have been amazing to us for two years.” When she speaks about the UK family, you can tell how invested she is in it and it is obvious how important UK basketball is to her and her son.
We will have more all day as we get ready for a crucial week ahead…..
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March 8th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Patrick Patterson and his family are everything that is right with Kentucky basketball.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Not as bad as I thought but it doesn’t look good. If a coaching change occurs, he’s gone IMO.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
The Patterson and Meeks families are all great folks in my experience.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Oh no…
March 8th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
i think if billy stays, he is gone. but i think if we bring in a good coach with experience with big time players, he will stay.
i would love to bring in an NBA coach to try to right the ship for a few years
March 8th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
A NBA coach? Like who? I hadn’t thought of that.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
obviously the players are not digging coach right now. you know everything she was saying was out of frustration with the coach. she was saying what her son goes to her and complains about
March 8th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Awful NBA draft class, Patterson is going to the NBA. Hopefully the bulls get their chance with him and waive Noah.
Also what’s sad, is that I believe Patterson when he says he wants to win the SEC tourny and play in the NCAA. When BCG brings up the SEC tourny, I think it’s just lip service.
I think BCG quits for sure if a job opens up in Texas.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Pat Riley
March 8th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
He’s gone if Gillispie stays. So is Meeks.
Meeks and Patterson stays if Gillispie goes.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
I was hoping to read something with a little more confirmation on her part. Pretty general statements as to whats going on although I do find it tough to be optimistic about his return (and now our prospects for any type of season next year)
March 8th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Seems to me Mama P is implying that if things remain the same (coach), then Pat goes to the league. Gawd, I hope he stays.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
The part where she says “weather it makes sense for him to return” really sticks out to me.
It doesn’t make sense for him to return, leading me to believe he is leaning a lot more toward leaving, rather than staying.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Of course its the issue with the coach. Why else would she talk to the AD about it?
March 8th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
6- i can’t really think of any, but obviously an NBA coach that could bring the attention to UK….help the stock of Meeks and Pat, and help recruiting.
my buddy and I always wanted D’Antoni when we were looking last time, but I think he is happy in NY now. can you think of any possibilities?
March 8th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Mrs. Patterson, I love watching your son play for the University of Kentucky. Losing all of these games is killing me inside so I know it’s got to be hard on Pat. Just to let you know, the entire state of Kentucky and fans of UK are on your side. We all know what the problem is and we want Billy gone as well. The way he treats our kids is ridiculous and it’s time for him to move on. We have a great team with great players and a very sub par coach. Please tell Pat that we are all behind him and the other players and we too think they can win the SEC tourney and get into the NCAA! Go Cats!
March 8th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Well, I hope PPat is more optimistic than me about next years team, he is gone!
March 8th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
10 – I think just the opposite. Why would Meeks and Patterson want to play for a new coach for ONE year? Obviously Meeks would only be here for another year, and Patterson will definatly leave after his Junior year if he decided to come back at all. So at best both guys would only be here for another year – there is no way they come back under a new coach for one year.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Pea Scwerd
March 8th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
9. In the words of Ron Burgandy, “that’s just dumb.” Really, that is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. 63 year old guys aren’t usually hip to sitting in living rooms, especially if they’ve never done it before. You, sir are an imbecile.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
I feel like Ralphie when he got his little orphan annie decoder ring.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Patterson has plenty to complain about. The coach has no gameplan for them to win. When they win, his draft stock goes up. But they keep losing, and its not because of Patterson.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Alright then. Someone over there check if the “total garbage” was an accurate quote, or if he misspoke….Bejeezus this week has been total garbage, and you can quote me on that.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
My bad, the best response is 21
March 8th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
25. you bastard.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
so I think the obvious question now is – what was Barnharts response?
March 8th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Wow. I am almost speechless after reading those comments from Momma Patterson. All I can say is it is truly truly such a shame that the direction of this program isn’t going to get better at all next season, and that we have a completely and utterly incompetent athletic director who refuses to do anything about it.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
billy is a dumbass, just listen to him talk. he cant even finish a sentence without studdering or forgetting what the hell he’s talking about. i think uk needs jay wright
March 8th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I feel bad for Patterson. Dude is getting yammed on by things outside of his control.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
18- Because if they get a coach in here that can bring some POSITIVE publicity to the team, Patterson and Meeks will just see their stock go up. There is no way the practices will be as demanding, so why not? Their stock is at all time low right now, because they can’t lead their team to wins. They aren’t winners, atleast to the eyes of outsiders.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
BE SURE TO DRINK YOUR OVATINE
March 8th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
I’ll take David Hobbs! Remember the Hip text messages he sent.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
am I the only one that thought the chances of Billy G not being here next year were at like 10%, but now are around 75-80%?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Why would they not want to play for another coach? People are idiots if they think that if Billy G. stays then they stay. I would rather have Matt Jones coach the team then this “Cowboy”.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
we’ll we can already assume they know the players coming next year, which leads to the change they speak of as the coach?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Supposedly Nebraska’s coach is on the hot seat…which oddly enough is Billy G’s old asst coach. So maybe he will run back to the Big XII
March 8th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Gillispie is our man. When Meeks learns to pass, playmake, and include Patterson in the game and we are a much different team.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
and we can also assume barnhart completely lied to mama p. he probably told her we were gonna win the NC next year
March 8th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
yet another example of Frosty the addict being wrong about the KY fans!
March 8th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
UK’s Ideal Coach to me (even though it’ll never happen): Pat Riley
March 8th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Once players lose respect, etc. for their coach, it’s over. I think they have lost that and I don’t know if the players’ relationships with BCG can be fixed. I don’t think Ford is ready, but it would bring a lot of fun, excitement, energy, etc. to the program. Plus, I love his style of play, but what if he wouldn’t pan out? I just wish there was someone who played a similar style to Pitino with enough experience to coach at UK.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
33) I know what you mean, but I also thought Kentuckys chances of playing in the NIT at the start of the season was at 10%, but are now at 99.3%
March 8th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
37.
He hasn’t taught Stevenson to catch or box-out.
He hasn’t taught Patterson how to attack the basket without being rejected by smaller guys
He hasn’t taught Meeks how to look for the open person off penetration
He hasn’t taught Josh Harrelson to set a solid screen.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Yeah I don’t understand how people think they will stick around to play for a new coach. Sure they might if the coach is a proven stud/”players coach” but if they bring in another young up-and-coming hardass/stubborn coach…G-O-N-E.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
So basically if Billy is gone PATPAT will stay
March 8th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Not a total shock, but from what i have heard patterson and meeks have seeked the advice from a former UK player on how to go pro. Because ” Gillispie is crazy and we need out”
March 8th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Tyrone Appleton says he’s sorry he chose to sit the bench at Kansas and stare at the NC trophy all year instead of coming to UK to win one himself this year.
He still can’t get the glitter out of his cornrows that Bill Self threw on him when he entered their practice facility on his official visit.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=31602
March 8th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
does anyone else think that 37. is Billy G? or atleast his life partner?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
this offseason is gonna be crazy…when all is said and done landon slone will be our PG
March 8th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
bring in the General!!! No, seriously I thought we should have gone with Creen or Calippari.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Just speculation on my part. Is there any chance Pitino would return to Kentucky?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
47- he would have sat the bench with KG all season
March 8th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
51- no.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Well, if you believe Matt Jones when he says there’s a huge divide between the players and BCG and then read comments like this, the problem with BCG may be a lot bigger than just winning games. We all argue about strategy and talent but if they don’t respect him or aren’t willing to play hard for him, it doesn’t matter how talented they are or how great the gameplan is, we’ll still lose.
I think there really are only two possibilities. BCG making a dramatic change in how he coaches and interacts with the players or replacing him with someone else.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Any word on Patterson?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
#48 – ThetaChiUKfan – I back my coach like a fan should. It’s called support. You must know about it.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
10 2 and 4, arms of delk, and braddy are Gillispie’s assistant coaches (whom I cannot name).
March 8th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Coaches Kentucky Considered and the results they would have expected in year 2:
Billy Donovan – 19-12 with this group would have been luck being that he barely outperformed that with his 5 star recruits from his free “Florida 2 NCAA titles advertisment” who played a much weaker schedule this year.
Hmmm… how many Jr’s and Seniors does Florida have that are capable of contributing quality minutes? Sound familiar?
John Pelphrey – 14-14 (2-13 in SEC) With a bench of players that in many respects is better than KY’s current bench (Having 3 of the players KY recruited – Clark, Fortson, Sanchez).
How well would 14-14 have gone over here at UK this year?
OH BUT THAT DOESN’T MATTER. HOW HE HANDLES A BAD HALF TIME QUESTION, THAT’S WHAT’S IMPORTANT AT KY NOW.
Again, the reason Tubby was given as long as he got, because what’s important has been dilluted for “well did he at least let the players call their moms in between practice?” type reasoning.
When did mens college basketball become overrun by Ned Flanders? Why don’t you poorly aimed softies go eat cotton candy at the girls basketball media extravaganza and let “sports” remain as they once were?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
If UK comes out flat the first game in the SEC tourney the writing is on the wall. That would tell me they don’t care about playing hard for BCG.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
56- I have backed Billy G. since he got here. I gave up on him a couple weeks ago. It’s called being a realist, not a homer.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
58.
Players don’t like him. Media doesn’t like him. Fans don’t like him.
Gillispie needs to be run out of Lexington on a rail.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
If not Riley, Dan Issel. But Gillispie isn’t gone. The season isn’t over. It’s too early to talk coaching changes — but not to early to talk changes in the way BCG coaches.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
When I see Billy G fiddle with his fingers like a nervous crack head on the sideline, I want to punch him in the face. His nonverbal communication screams: “I’m screwed.” The only time I was confident in him lately was when we were up by 10 on LSU. But UK squandered another double digit lead. He just looks like the creep you would never leave your girlfriend around.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
62- Issel would run plays where Jodie doesn’t get the ball so he doesn’t break any of his records haha
March 8th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
A UK player should never have to worry about “where this program is headed”.
A recruit should never have to guess where the program is headed.
The players know more about what’s going on behind the scenes than we ever will. If they aren’t even sure what the direction of this program is… that’s a frickin’ bad sign.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
58 You hit the nail on the head.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I am confident not many people understand how Adolph Rupp won all those games. They just know he did.
Let me share a little something with you. I dated a daughter of one of Adolph’s starting players at Kentucky (he played in the late 1960’s) for 6 years through High School and a little bit of College and had plenty of discussions with him about Adolph Rupp and his “way”.
Rupp was the toughest whip cracking demander that every player was completely afraid of. They were over worked, over pushed, and over loaded. Soft players weren’t recruited by Rupp even if they were good since he knew they wouldn’t last. And even the tough ones who back talked were sent packing.
You can say it’s a different time. You can say there’s better ways. But you must accept BCG is not using an unproven strategy. He just needs to hand pick the right guys. We will love the end result. An army of Kentucky monsters.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
58 – Tubby wasn’t “given as longashe got”. He left on his own. It was time for him to go. But please, don’t compare this a$$ clown to Tubby, either as a coach or person. No comparison.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
58 and 66. Hows the koolaid? Also I have some beach front property in Wyoming im looking to sell.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
67- we get it, you’re old
March 8th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
The UniversityofJodieMeeks is on of the only guys on the internet making sense.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
What happens if this team comes out Cold as Porters jump shot on Thursday. I cannot imagine the OUTCRY..
March 8th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
71. It’s okay if you BCG supporters want to support one another, but you don’t have to be so romantic about it.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
58- Tubby Smith was given so much time, because he won five SEC championship, 5 SEC tourney championships, went 19-0 in the league in 2003, went to 3 elite eights, and won a National Championship. Sorry haven’t been updated on number of momma phone calls.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Koolaid? Maybe UCLA should’ve gotten rid of Ben Howland after 2 years. 11-17 and 18-11. Now look at him. You have to give him some time. Quick triggers on firing coaches make prospective coaches nervous to come here.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Not that I think it will happen, but what if they win the SEC Tournament?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
58- Take your viagra and go make use of it with yourself…if you catch my drift.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
yeah, like felton won it last year?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
76- if i was 6’10” and black….
March 8th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
#65 – BillyGIsNotMyLover – Kentucky should have never sat for 9 years without a Final Four.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
No way UK wins the SEC tourney. You can’t tell the players don’t give two shits about playing hard for Gillispie. I can’t wait for the national media to pick up on the story when 5-6 players leave this offseason.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Most of the mock NBA drafts have Patterson at the mid-to-late 1st round, going between 16th – 22nd.
Meeks is projected as high as 21st, and as low as mid-second round.
It is a possibility that BOTH Patterson and Meeks may go in the 1st round. If that were to happen, I would be willing to bet that this year’s UK team would be the WORST college team in HISTORY with 2 healthy first round NBA players.
More likely, however, I see Patterson staying as 50-50 right now. If he does stay, he is DEFINITELY gone after next year. Meeks on the other hand, in MY opinion, is DEFINITELY staying.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
76 – 1) Elvis comes out of hiding 2) Kentucky gets an automatic bid 3) we’ll undoubtedly win the whole fricking tournament, Billy Gillispie will win national coach of the year for the turn around, all of us Billy Bashers will admit our idiocy, and you Billy Lovers will be invited to his house for a night of oil wrestling with each other
March 8th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Pat Riley?? Dan Issel?? I swear.. if some of you ran the program we’d be a bigger laughing stock than we are now.. Billy isn’t going anywhere unless he’s fired, which won’t happen and he’s not walking away, get real.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
81. So you want UK to fail?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
75. And what was UCLA’s record the two years before Howland got there? Because it looks like he improved from the first season to the second whereas we’re going in the opposite direction.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
One phone call to Travis Ford and your problems would be solved. Ready or not he is the man for the job. We would not be worried about the NCAA tournament with him as the coach. He is definitely someone who knows a little bit about the point guard position. If the players and their families revolt in mass after the season, Gillispie will be gone. Your never want to piss off Mama!!
March 8th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
75. Look, I want BCG to do well just like the rest of UK fans. But this team has no Chemistry. Look at what John Clay wrote on his blog today about his gut feelings.
Ben Howland also didn’t have 2 of the best players in the Pac10/USA playing for him in those years.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
83. I did preface my post with Not that I think they will
March 8th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
All you guys are wrong…. Billy Clyde will be back, Meeks will be back and Patterson will be back. It will be business as usual, we’ll be better next year than we were this year, but we still lose eight games. Write it down…
March 8th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
87. We DO NOT want Travis Ford and for a number of reason he would never be an option..
March 8th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
90. yeah and the federal government is done bailing out banks…bahahaha
March 8th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
#86 – NashvilleCats – That’s all about having players with “Solid Fundamentals” in your Junior and Senior classes.
First year we had Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley, 2 seniors who worked together (very important point) and one who BCG was able to get to open up and try much harder than previously seen (Joe Crawford).
When you lose the upperclassmen who have solid fundamentals you lose the experience and leadership that holds the ship above water when the younger less experienced guys waiver in their consistency.
It’s real easy to figure out our issues this season.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
I spoke to PPat after the LSU game. This kid is a great kid. I am proud he wears UK on his jersey. He is very down about the team and its record. I think if coach stays he leaves, with Meeks, Liggins, Stewart, and some others. If coach leaves, I think PPat and Meeks stay. PPat said nothing bad about coach, but you could see his mother is not happy with coach.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
89 – I know… it was just a fun what if… and I’d love to see it happen (the serious part).
65 – I want final fours as much as anyone… but it’s one thing to have recruits told “your coach might leave for the NBA {but our coach… no NBA team wants him, so come here!}” or “those fans are so demanding, the sweet 16 isn’t enough {but if we make it into the tournament, it’s the biggest deal ever, and our two fans are so happy}”… it’s another for recruits to be told “Kentucky isn’t Kentucky anymore… they’re an NIT team, and who knows if they’ll even be eligible next year… and their coach might be gone after this year… to the NBA? oh, you’re joking, that’s a good one, kid”
March 8th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
I think if anyone says they want Pelphrey or Ford, they’re basically saying they’re willing to wait another 4 years before Kentucky will be a top 5 team again. I mean, we may have no choice on waiting that long either way, but if we hire a young, unproven coach, we have to commit to giving him plenty of time to get his act together and learn on the job.
Maybe that’s the problem with BCG. We all thought we were getting a much more experienced and proven coach than we actually got.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
85. No, I do not want UK to fail but all signs (losing 8 out of the last 11) point to them maybe winning 1 game in the SEC tourney.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Didn’t Pitino go to the NIT with Louisville? Am I wrong or are they doing pretty good since then?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
93. Yeah it is real easy to figure out our issues this season. We knew about them after the Miami game. How do we finish the season? By not fixing the problems.
TURNOVER
TURNOVER
TURNOVER
Force the ball to PPat.
BLOCK
TURNOVER
Meeks hits a FG.
Repeat.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Can anyone remember Jodie Meeks passing the ball the Patrick Patterson once this season?
ONCE?
They might have been on different teams. That’s not leadership or teamwork. And how on earth can you blame that on Gillispie.
I don’t blame Jodie, I just think he has a lot to work on to improve his game for the next level. Same with Pat. They should have “worn out” the inside outside inside outside passing between the 2 of them. But they just don’t completment each other on the court.
Something to work on.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
#91, What number of reasons?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
93- that doesn’t explain the lack of adjustments and offensive movement. yeah we are young, but we still have players on the team. there is no reason why we shouldn’t be in the tournament. If we would have won ONE of our last 4 games, we might be dancing, but we couldn’t even do that.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
93.
STFU about ‘solid fundamentals’ in our Jr. and Sr. classes. If Billy Gillispie wanted Jr and Sr classes with solid fundamentals, he would have taken some of the 2.5 years he’s had as our coach and taught them some damned fundamentals. He is the failure. Stop putting it on the players.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Billy Donovan went to Florida after only a couple of seasons at Marshall. How did that work out?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
100.
Who’s job is it to teach Meeks to pass to Patterson?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
102. What is the point of dancing when you aren’t going to be able to compete anyways?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
103 He hasn’t been the coach for 2 years yet
March 8th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
100- the coach could maybe tell jodie to pass the ball to pat
March 8th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
84) do you know anything about Pat Riley/Dan Issel and the connections they would have? or they kind of staff they could put together? or anything about UK basketball?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
107- yes he has
March 8th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
109- yeah i agree issel or riley would be dumb as hell
March 8th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
107.
Right. 23 months. He’s had 23 months with these players and so far he’s taught them NOTHING. He needs to go, he needs to go now.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
#99 – barefootpirate – The only thing that fixes turnovers is having personnel who has solid fundamentals and the experience and leadership capabilities to not get rattled when something bad happens. It’s the juniors and seniors of team that usually provide that however we have a buldge of juniors on this bench who lack solid fundamentals and don’t have any reason being in the position of UK starter.
We simply don’t have experienced veterans who you can rely on. It’s that simple.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
113.
Who’s job is it to teach his players fundamentals?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
100- how about the coach has a frickin game plan. The mississippi state game, south carolina, georgia at rupp, there was no game plan. And if there was one, I don’t know what film he was watching.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Pat Riley is 63 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!! Dan Issel got thrown out of the NBA for saying racist comments. How do you think that will jive at UK?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
113- liggins actually had one of the best asst/to ratio in the conf. a couple weeks back. with his limited playing time, i am sure it went down some
but liggins could have played all season and developed into a decent player
March 8th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
#105 – lexslamman – You honestly think BCG hasn’t asked Jodie to pass to Patrick? LOL
Jodie hasn’t passed gas since he was 3.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
93. I think you make a critical mistake in how you evaluate this team. You act like players don’t learn anything in college. They just come in with a ton of talent, the coach develops a gameplan to use those awesome skills, and they win. If they don’t have the skills when they get to college, you act like they can’t learn anything new, and that somehow absolves the coach of any responsibility.
This isn’t the NBA. College coaches have to develop players, and that sometimes includes teaching them the most basic basketball skills and fundamentals. When college teams and players don’t improve, that’s on the coach. His job is to “develop” these players. They’re still very young. It’s not like 35 year old guys out there, they’re kids or very young men still.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
How Willie Warren is rated in the top 10 and Meeks is #20 or higher is nuts.
I’ll say it again, Pat Patterson is not a lottery pick. So in my opinion I think he wants to come back however it seems clear by the points his mother made something will have to change for that scenario to happen. Buttface Barnfart needs to sit Billy down and tell him the way it is, period. If Gillispie complies then he needs to be kept on a short leash. Any deviation from the way and he needs to go that second. If Billy says he won’t bend then he needs to be fired and the program needs to move on.
Lets face it he has lost the team. The players don’t want to play for him anymore so something has to change that dynamic. Gillispie needs to go to the team and apologize, have a heart to heart, or something. He also needs to critically evaluate himself and admit his mistakes not only to himself but to his team. Only then can the healing begin. THen he has to prove to everyone he has a plan to make this team better. Anything short of these events and next year is a carbon copy of this year and we lose Patterson and Meeks becasue there is no way they are coming back for this nonsense.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Ford would instantly make it fun and players would love playing his style. It would be worth waiting 4-5 years to rebuild because it would be exciting during the process. I don’t see us getting there any sooner at the rate we are going.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
120- it’s all about potential in the draft. hansborogh is better than pat, but pat has more potential
March 8th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
For the record, I hope BCG goes and someone like Jamie Dixon is brought in to patch things up. My feelings on this are based solely on in-game performances. I could give a damn about BCG being snippy with sideline reporters, alcoholism, or whether the man walks around in Renaissance period Venetian masks in his free time and has Eyes Wide Shut-esque parties in Casa de Billy every Saturday night…only the records and on the court achievments matter–nothing else. Billy hasn’t gotten it done on the hardwood, and it certainly looks like things will only get worse before they get better. We need to cut our losses now and look to the future.
Having said that though, I find it highly disturbing that the parents of current players (who have “my child is special!” selfish agendas)are able to have meetings with the AD and talk about the direction of the program. The thought of soccer moms and drunk little league dads having any influence over the direction of the program–or letting them think that they have any influence over the direction of the program by entertaining them with Dr. Phil postgame counselling sessions–makes me sick to my stomach. When your child (who is over 18, and thus an adult, btw) signs the dotted line and commits to a school, shut up for the next four years and let those in the know take care business.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
#112 – lexslamman – 23 months now? What happened to your theme of overexaggerating… 2.5 years? LOL
March 8th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
123- if my son was possibly losing millions because of the way his coach handled things, i would say something too
March 8th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
113. I can’t believe you are putting this on the players. You just said you were a true UK fan, and true UK fans stand behind their coach. You praise Billy but rip on the players abilities. Dude, they learn fundamentals before college. You don’t get recruited and given a scholarship without knowing fundamentals. Experience, I can agree with. But as the season went on, all the same people are making the same mistakes from the beginning on the season. This team has regressed, I blame a coach for that. Not the players.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
#114 – lexslamman – Now your showing your knee deep in a subject that you have no business in talking about.
When a player reaches Division 1 college basketball, especially a program like Kentucky, unless your a 7’2″ “project” your not teaching fundamentals at that level.
That’s what Jr. Pro is for in the 4th grade, Jr, High School, High School.
You don’t have a fish in the pond.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
127. Then what are you teaching?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
127- i actually think it is the other way around. as a 7’2” freak, you have to be taught how to catch the ball, how to pivot, etc.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
I am not fond of Gillespie lately, but he will be our coach next year.
I don’t like his system and things about him, but I will support him and hope he turns it around. We are not going to get a “great coach” like Pitino, Calipari or anyone like that in here next year. It would be a “high riser”. That is not what we need.
I hate to say this, but our best bet is to stick with Billy for another year or two to see what he can do with players he brings in (Orton, Hood, Pilgrim).
Last year he was SEC coach of the year and now we want him out. We only had like 34 pts. returning from last year. I expected this year to be rocky and knew it would be rough. I told everyone I knew that we would struggle this year and I was curious if our fan base would rally behind him (thinking that last year). My assumptions was correct. We jumped off the wagon.
I am not trying to stick up for Billy, but if he is our coach we need to support him.
How bad does it look to recruits that he is trying to sign if we want him gone? Every coach will use this against him. Like I said, I am not a huge fan of Billy, but I will support him as long as he is our coach.
If Gillespie leaves, Orton probably opens up his recruitment. Hood will stay, but what about Ferguson as well? That would really set us back if Orton and Ferguson didn’t come because those classes are almost locked up already!
March 8th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
I have always supported Billy Clyde, but that loss to Georgia may have been one of the worst losses that I have ever seen. How do you let that happen with so much on the line? I tried so hard to be optimistic (wait till next year, more talent,etc.). Every game is the same thing; the opponents nail their threes right from the start and we turn the ball over. How can a coach not adjust to that? It’s so fu<king frustrating as a fan watching this debacle, I feel bad for the players more than anything. Especially Patrick, he doesn’t deserve this nonsense.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
what would you do if you were patrick patterson?
I would be watching a hell of a lot more NBA after a first round exit in the NIT.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
#117 – ThetaChiUKfan – Deanndre Liggins put himself on the bench with back talk.
He could have helped this team immensely and had he chilled out in December we wouldn’t have had this skid at the end here with BCG refusing to play him because he’s fed up with his behavior.
That’s one player that any coach could have to deal with.
BTW, Liggins Turnover % is ranking in the top 25 in the country (that’s turnover’s divided by possessions). That’s not a good result. Porter is 7th in the country (ugh).
March 8th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
86 and 88 ben howland inherited a team who had been to 3 sweet sixteens out of the last 4 years lavin had not won a championship with very good teams.so the fans expected more. he had bozeman ,farmar ,and affolo all mcdonald all americans the first 2 years .if you review the archives they thought they made a mistake also in the papers experts thought he should have stayed in the more physical big east. when his recruits became jrs and seniors things changed.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
134. So you would want Ben Howland to coach at Kentucky?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Come on BBN, we need to calm down and take a step back. Michael Porter is hard at work breeding the next generation of Kentucky NIT MVPs.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
136. Porter is going to bring back the one high sock for the NIT game in memorial.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
We can debate this until we’re blue in the face and the funny thing is no matter what way you lean towards Gillispie, you don’t decide if he’ll be the coach here next year.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Anyone else find it interesting that Patterson graduating was not mentioned … ?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
134. The problem is that any coach is going to struggle in his first year. What you have to hope for is improvement. Our team improved as last year went on, which I thought was a product of us getting through the coaching transition. Howland’s team was better in the 2nd year and the 3rd was his big break through. With us, you are seeing a regression this year and I will be shocked if you see that breakthrough next year.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
#135 – barefootpirate – I would have taken Ben Howland in 2007. But now we have a coach we must stick with for at least 4 years (unless he punches Tom Leach during an interview and then we can call it quits).
Basketball is a 4 year gig. 4 Classes to prove you can get it done (Freshmen, Sophmore, Junior, Senior). You win consistenly with seasonsed veterans (Juniors and Seniors).
Look at every championship team in the past and that’s the common theme. Seasonsed veterans = dependable when things get rough.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
123 – If your kid was on an academic scholarship at UK and majoring in anthropology (btw – why the heck did you let your kid major in anthropology? going to be tough finding a job)… anyway- you find out that soemthing weird is going on with UK’s traditionally excellent anthropology dept… Isn’t it okay for a parent to sit down with the chair of anthropology and ask why the heck they aren’t doing what they originally promised? I mean, geez, your kid could have taken different academic scholarships to study anthropology at other schools that aren’t so messed up, but you liked what the dang anthropology dept promised.
It’s one thing for parents and players to tell the AD they need to fire the coach, who to replace him with, make practices easier, etc. But it seems totally okay for a parent to talk to the AD to express her concerns.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
#140 – NashvilleCats – What part of we don’t have the personnel don’t you understand?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
When is the last time UK Men played an actual game at Memorial??
March 8th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
142. I don’t think anybody is going to argue with you there.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
141. Okay. So that’s two more years after this one and 2 more recruiting classes. Do you really think there’s enough talent in those two classes to turn this thing around and put us on the level of those UCLA teams? You really think we’re two years from the level of talent you think we need to make the final four?
March 8th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
1976??
March 8th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
It sucks that Pat’s UK career is going to end like this. He has to try to carry this sorry team every game, and he doesn’t even get breather. It is amazing that he hasn’t slapped Perry Stevenson in the face for not helping on the boards. He listens to Clyde irrationally yelling “be tough, or whatever” all the time. At the same time, he probably sees the dudes he grew up playing ball with in Huntington (Walker and OJ) making 7 figures in the Association. It has to be frustrating. …
March 8th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
143. I don’t know what you are talking about. Porter is a freakin stud. Surely, I jest. Imagine if Porter would have had one of his avg. type of games against UGA. Woo boy that loss would have looked even worse!
March 8th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
140 we lost our 3 best players from the end of the year,crawford ,bradley, jasper. we returned a freshmen with a broke foot,and a junoir who missed his soph. year who averaged 8 pts as a freshmen.i cannot believe any very knowledgeable fan would have thought this team would be very good .now if meeks cannot not throw at least 30 a night in we are going to lose a majority of games till someone or group of players can compensate.the worst thing that happened to bcg is meeks getting hot and starting 16-5 .there is no other gimmick or coach that can overcome the lack of talent we have.besides meeks and patterson we have a mid major squad. check out the players tubby recruited that left and they cannot even play where they transferrred too.williams at marshall is a perfect example.i am hurt also but tubby left us a worse rebuilding project than sutton left pitino.meeks had a freakish first half of the season or we would have been a 500 ball club. howland never had to start over each year.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
143. It’s not a matter of not understanding anything. I just don’t think that’s true. I think we do have the personnel to be much better than we currently are. Not final four personnel, but tourney caliber personnel.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
#140 – NashvilleCats – Ramel and Joe and Pat took every shot last year. Joe was a seasoned veteran and dynamic shot creator who could single handedly win a game with the entire team on his back.
When you lose that and have nothing to replace it you drop down a notch.
Jodie and Pat don’t naturally completment each other as players on the court. The chemistry isn’t there. You can’t just magically create it.
If you’d listen to BCG’s post game interviews he talks about how the players sometimes don’t run what he told them to run. When the balls in Jodie’s hands 90% of the time, who do you think BCG is referring to?
Jodie wants to make himself look good. He still hasn’t realized that happens when the team looks good.
Last game there was a fast break 1 vs 3, and Jodie refused to pass it forcing the shot over the defender who didn’t even think about guarding the other 2 players. Everyone knows his tendencies and that makes him stoppable now.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
# RunninRamelLeftTCP Says:
March 8th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Anyone else find it interesting that Patterson graduating was not mentioned … ?
March 8th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
148- oj played in ky first right?
March 8th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
153- not really, i doubt he cares about that, he can always come back and finish when he is done with playin nba ball
March 8th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
150. Well, since BCG is running off all his own recruits, we very well could be starting from scratch again next year. So we’ll be in year 3, no better off than we were in year 1. Then we’ll go into year 4 with a little hope, but after year 4 when Orton and Ferguson both leave for the NBA, we’ll be left with mid-major talent again (Villarino, Ross-Miller, Euton).
When exactly does BCG become accountable for the level of talent on his own team?
March 8th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Interesting baseless totally random name to chew on for those who are talking NBA coaches: Avery Johnson.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
157- host shiz i was seriously thinking the same thing. the dude is a basketball genius in terms on x’s and o’s. and he knows as much about the pg position as anyone alive
March 8th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
When this team eventually does have to look for a new coach we’re screwed again because Barnhardt doesn’t know what to look for in a basketball coach. He just doesn’t know what to look for.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
#156 – NashvilleCats – So now we go believe rumor and speculation?
That’s been the problem since the beginning. No one ever gave BCG a fair shake.
He was either gay, a drunk, a prick, or a slave driver.
Now he’s running his players off and everyone’s quitting.
I recommend people quit believing everything they read. Do you have conversations with any of the players?
Liggins had a head bigger than it should be. The kid needs to grow up. Every coach deals with that every year. Players want to play, some are ready some aren’t. Some grow up some move on. Legion sits the bench at Illinois.
We will be fine. We will not win a National Championship as long as people in Kentucky suffocate the program. That includes Matt Jones, Marc Maggard, and all the lexslammans that can fit into the Jr Pro Fundamentals Clinic being held at the Henry Clay Gym on Saturdays at 8am.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
156 that why tubby left he had used up pitino’s legacy for recruiting .then pitino moved next door with his flamboyant style of basketball.he knew his time was short .no matter who we bring in calipari,howland,donavon,self all took 3-4 years to get to the level the fans needed.bcg may not be the answer but he gets the same time limits the others did.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
141. What about florida? I believe they started one junior on that team and relied on sophomores for most of their production.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
142… okay… 4 yrs from now… our seniors are Liggins… nope, he’s gone. Darius Miller – okay, there’s a solid senior. Galloway… nope, he’s considered a Jr this yr due to USC & JUCO. Harrelson? he’s gone, burned up a yr in JUCO… maybe a walk-on will pan-out.
Juniors – Orton… will he still be here? (chance of NBA for a solid big man? chance of transfer w/ what looks to be a history of transfers). Hood – solid junior. Villarino – I don’t think anyone knows what to expect yet, and Gillispie hasn’t shown much ability to build players that I’ve seen.
Sophomores – Dominique Ferguson – great. Hopefully still around.
Dakotah Euton and KC Ross Miller… well, I’d say hopefully they can contribute a little…
Maybe Billy G can sign some studs, but it doesn’t look like we’ll have a lot of experienced veterans on the team… and if our problem this year is too young/not enough experience… won’t it still suck in 4 yrs?
March 8th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
KSR all over the news. WLEX 18 News.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
#159 – Goose_is_Golden – If your going to hate on BCG, this is the direction to throw it.
Why hurt the BBall program hating coach? Hate on the man who picked him.
The Goose is Golden. Good play.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
165- why hate barnhardt, UK athletics is the best it has ever been
March 8th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
BCG is a disgrace to the University. Besides the fact that he can’t coach, he seems to be a pretty crappy human being. It boggles my mind how there are people who still support this guy.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
162 he underachieved by most experts before that class.and he was under the gun for the years he had been there.find a coach who took over a down proram as an example who had been there less than 2 years
March 8th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
we HAVE to give the coach another year. getting on here and talking about how terrible he is can only hurt the program. at least wait til we see how they do in the tourney.
FACT: if Patterson and Meeks stay next year it doesn’t matter how boneheaded some of BGs coaching decisions are – Kentucky will be a force. our program next year will eitther be much better or much worse so everyone needs to focus on the positive until we know how it’s going to shape up.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Anyway that dude w/ the Santa Clause beard down here in the corner coaches us next season? Kentucky basketball has ruined my entire winter as if winter doesn’t suck enough.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
166 It’s not necessarily hating on Barnhardt. Of course the guy has elevated UK athletics across the board, but would you rather be good across the board or in basketball? The guy is a good AD but I don’t have faith in him to get the guy that our BASKETBALL PROGRAM needs.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
I think Meeks should stay based on the fact he has a shot and that’s pretty much it….and even that is in question as teams have shown that if they put a hand in his face constantly he’s not the sharpshooter he was earlier in the season. Patrick should stay based solely on the fact that he could actually play his position (4) next year w/ Orton coming in. He could really benefit from that dominating of a tandom down low.
However…the biggest wild card in this entire thing is the poor draft level this year. That could end up pushing them out the door faster then BCG in my opinion. If it is a normal draft talent year, PatPat is pushed down a few more notches and thus a borderline lottery pick while Jodie is second rd/possibly not drafted and they both stay.
Bottom line is if they stay, we stand the chance of being really good next year if we can get a PG to produce. I think that has single handedly been our downfall this year… b*tch bout coach all you want, but he’s proven he can win with his style if he has a decent PG. We’ve lacked that and will continue to next year unless Galloway figures things out or Liggins stays and figures it out. College game has so much to do with guard play and we are missing 1/2 of that equation.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
#162 – jezzy – What Florida team are you talking about?
This years Florida team we beat in Rupp and they beat us in Gainsville.
Walter Hodge led the way for them as a senior. They also have a bench full of high 4 and 5 start recruits they got from the aftermath of their 2 title runs in 2005 and 2006.
Florida also is not going to the NCAA tournament for the 2nd season in a row.
What about Florida???
March 8th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
171- we can have both. he made a mistake with billy g, he won’t mess up again
March 8th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
160 hits the nail on the head with the last comment some of you fools ought to read it.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
174 I like your faith, we’ll see, but I do think that going to the NBA is the wrong way. If those coaches have a good run they usually end up going trying to go back to the NBA again (see Rick Pitino).
March 8th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
#166 – ThetaChiUKfan – UKAthletics. You bring that up when people are wondering about our bread and butter basketball program? Another problem with UK. Forgetting your identity?
If you want to talk about people not qualified for the responsibility handed to them then it has to be Mitch Barnhart.
But anyone wanting to hate on BCG should aim at his boss. That’s the guy who picked him.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
176- yeah i see that, but i was thinking more of a quick fix until there is a clear cut decision because i dont think there is one out there right now
March 8th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
anyone watching espn2??? did that guy just say whining and bitching on live tv?
March 8th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
178 You’re right, the coaching market is still affected by two years ago when we went looking for a coach. Meaning most of the big names just signed huge contracts two years ago
March 8th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Who said they wanted good athletics across the board at UK?
You don’t see a UKAthletics blog drawing a crowd anywhere do you? Please don’t tell me if you know of one either.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
173- UofJM I was talking about billys first champ. team, 2006 I guess?
March 8th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
161. All those coaches you refer to in post 161 didn’t act like an ass in public, didn’t act like an ass on the raido and ESPN and they weren’t so stubborn as to only play one type of defense and run an offense that has a minimal amount of plays…it is an NBA style offense that he really hasn’t figured out how to run with players that have lesser talent or when traps or zone defenses are employed. Couple all that with the latest that Meeks and Patterson are off the BCG bus and he has big problems. Let also not forget his arrogance in dealing with his employer. Could you please tell me who is in this guys camp that really matters? Fans that want him to stay are in the minority. I would bet the Board of Trustees are going to exert some serious pressure on Barnhart to get a contract within 30 days from the end or the season or BCG is gone. He basically has thumbed his nose at the establishment. That is fine if he produces but not conforming to the job and then not producing usually results in a firing in the business world. You either produce or you do it the way your employer wants it done or you leave. It is that simple.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Who does Billy have lined up to solve our PG problems? I don’t see any Kentucky quality point guards available to sign (well, Wall, but we’re not on his list). And the next year… 6 of the current top 10 rnaked PG already committed… and only 1 of the 4 available has Kentucky listed, and only as “LOW”… you have to go to the 83rd ranked player in the class to get Medium Kentucky interest at PG… but hey, Tubby left the PG cupboard bare w/ a kid named Derrick Jasper… that kid was only ranked 38th overall, 5th for point guards, and only turned into a really solid college PG… but why settle for that when you can try to recruit over him, not let him rehab, and treat him like crap despite him turnign the team around and leading you to a coaching award? You wouldn’t – a sane coach would rush him out for players that are more his style… which, apparently, is a style that no ranking service understands.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Bottom Line: I would say goodbye to Gillispie right now if it would guarantee that Meeks and PPat would stay around for another year.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
185- I would anyway, because he obviously can’t win with both of them playing at their best
March 8th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
#183 – jezzy – Special Team. 2004 recruiting by Florida could be argued as the best recruiting class in the history of the game.
Starting 3 point ace – Senior Lee Humphrey
Backup Center – Senior Chris Richard (Florida Mr. Basketball of 2002) currently plays in NBADL.
2 Lottery Picks (Noah and Horford) a son of a former pro and solid PG Tauren Green along with too slow for Tubby Corey Brewer?
Yea, that’s a magical bunch that proves things can change very quickly. But all those players filled their roles and played what the coach demanded.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Commitment Lists: Florida 2004
SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT Pos Stars Ht Wt RR Video Hometown
Corey Brewer SF 6-7 174 5.9 Portland, TN 4 star
Taurean Green PG 5-11 165 5.7 Boca Raton, FL 3 star
Al Horford PF 6-8 211 5.7 Grand Ledge, MI 4 star
Cornelius Ingram SF 6-5 215 5.6 Hawthorne, FL 3 star
Joakim Noah PF 6-10 200 5.8 New York, NY 4 star
WOW. One class.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
#185 – Goose_is_Golden – You’d say goodbye to BCG right now to keep Jodie and Pat one year while losing the future:
Orton
Hood
Vilarino
Ross Miller
Ferguson
Euton
Zollo
Is there anyway I can make sure your not my financial advisor?
March 8th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
189- Hood wouldn’t leave, and Orton might not either, if we brought in a good coach. Ferg might stay too, never know.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:01 am
190 – have you watched Villarino, Ross Miller, Euton, and Zollo play? I’m sure they’re all really nice kids, but are they a step up from the Tubby years?
March 9th, 2009 at 12:01 am
I hope Coach Clyde leaves….then I get to be one of those “I told you so” Tubby guy’s while Travis Ford or whoever makes this program worse.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:05 am
#190 – ThetaChiUKfan – Jodie and Pat don’t play well together. I don’t see the benefit unless Jodie changes his game.
He has to work over the summer on:
passing (transition passing, feeding the post)
playmaking (setting up teammates with easy shots)
His handle while driving (it’s not an NBA guard handle)
defense (staying home)
March 9th, 2009 at 12:07 am
189 Orton can’t leave because he signed his LOI, Hood isn’t going anywhere, I would give up Ferguson to ensure that we could actually have a decent year and that class isn’t shaping up behind him yet, and i haven’t seen anything out of euton or zollo that would make me sad to lose them. However I get where you’re coming from
March 9th, 2009 at 12:09 am
#191 – BillyGIsNotMyLover – More rumor and speculation to base on why we burn BCG at the stake?
It’s really getting old man.
When Tubby was coach, we wouldn’t even have a class picked for next year at this point. Yes, it is a step up, but most important it’s Billy’s picks. His boys. He wants each of them for certain reasons.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:10 am
Jodie’s game wasn’t like that until he scored 54 against UT. Billy fed off of that. Don’t blame Jodie Meeks for anything.
Also, I am reading everywhere that Oregon is going to offer the bank to Mark Few, while we are stuck with mediocrity
March 9th, 2009 at 12:15 am
196 – I’m not sure what my rumor and speculation was.
Billy definitely wants them for a reason… player named after square midwestern state, check… player who might just maybe somehow grow to be a 7 footer, check… point guard who goes by two initials… double check…
March 9th, 2009 at 12:16 am
Big men have to rely on their guards to get them the ball. Seriously, do you ever remember Meeks passing to Patterson?
Ever? 1 time? Seriously?
March 9th, 2009 at 12:16 am
why do people keep referencing to me with the wrong #s?
March 9th, 2009 at 12:18 am
195.) Why did he want Liggins, Legion, Miller, Galloway, and Harrelson??? So they could set the bench and watch Tubby’s recruits play????
You have no point….
March 9th, 2009 at 12:20 am
196 I hear people throw his name around but he’s been at Zaga for so long, I think he’d have a tough time handling a big program. Look up his coaching resume, the only thing he knows is gonzaga basketball. Look for a good, up and coming coach who’s young and has been around success before.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:22 am
LISTEN…..WE CONSTANTLY BASH BILLY G…..BUT THEN SUDDENLY WE WIN THE FIRST GAME IN THE SEC TOURNEY AND WE LOVE HIM….Come on…..I’m a die hard UK fan…
We LOVE success. Look at us.. We are at a damn terrible time in the Big Blue Nation…Yes.. Hell I was at the FL game. I had to see it in person. But come on….all we are doin on her is running off recruits….we are a better program than this…YES.
But I want to make sure that the same people talking $hit on here are here when we are on the winning trail in 2 years with Billy G. We all Bleed Blue and want to win….damn. I’m just as pissed off as everyone….what the hell? We GOT SEVEN BITCHE$!!!!!!!!!!! GO PHUCKIN BIG BLUE!!!!
March 9th, 2009 at 12:22 am
those are kinda rare.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:23 am
203 references 201
March 9th, 2009 at 12:23 am
#197 – BillyGIsNotMyLover – Your prejudging these players abilities based on unqualified self named talent watchers. If you have seen them yourself you’d make sure you saw more than one viewing. They all appear to be excelling at their schools and their teams are producing.
If Marc Maggard was worth a grain of salt, he would be a full time scout for multiple colleges or a pro team who’s time would be way too valuable than to be running amateur hour on a web forum.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:24 am
201- he is from oregon, and he is friends with the AD, so maybe that helps
March 9th, 2009 at 12:27 am
206 Oh really? Cool I’ve wondered how he’d do in a power conference maybe now we’ll get to see.
204 Yeah I know but there are a couple out there, you just have to look around a lot, but any AD worth his salt already has a list of those guys.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:28 am
#200 – CAnTuckeeBoi – Either you can’t read or you have ADHD.
If you could read you wouldn’t have said what you said. Maybe you suffer from ADHD. So you can read, but you can’t pay attention to what your reading for long so you move on and miss what you thought you were reading.
One of the 2. No doubt about it. Those aren’t names or insults. It’s diagnosis.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:31 am
208- shouldn’t you be watching tape of ole miss instead of defending your job security to a bunch of fans
March 9th, 2009 at 12:37 am
#209 – ThetaChiUKfan – Again, the use of the word fans. Fans support their coach. You don’t. So your not a fan.
Your a member of a group of people who aren’t fans.
Now, you don’t have to have any knowledge in basketball to be a fan, but you are not only not a fan, but have no understanding of what is required to have a basketball team work.
Here’s some watered down Cliffnotes:
- Personnel + Determined Coach with tried and true methods who Actively Recruits = Successful team
- Fan = Team Supporter Win or Lose
March 9th, 2009 at 12:42 am
(SEC TOURNAMENT) BIG BLUE NATION….I KNOW WE ARE DOWN….BUT THERE’S ONLY ONE THING TO DO…..WIN THE WHOLE…PHUCKING THING!!!!!
March 9th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Yea Donna!!! You know your husbands no longer the coach, right?
March 9th, 2009 at 12:45 am
YEP….But I’m a Billy—ver!!!!
March 9th, 2009 at 12:45 am
210 While I agree with you that Gillispie shouldn’t be gone and he definately has the tools to succeed, I’m not sure that I buy your synopsis on the fans and their relationship with the team.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:46 am
210- i don’t support the team? paying money to go to the games, putting my health at risk by watching this team on tv, buying the jersey, spending my free time on here making you look stupid….what else does it take to qualify for a fan? i have supported billy g since day one, up until a couple weeks ago. i don’t know about team work? i used to coach high school ball, before giving it up to be a team manager, and then to work for an NBA team. anything else you want to be wrong about?
just because you are old enough to rail Rupp’s ugly a$$ daughter, you aren’t a genius.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:47 am
#213 – Hey tell your husband I’m sorry he lots the game for his team on Saturday.
What’s a Billy-ver?
March 9th, 2009 at 12:49 am
216…He didn’t LOTS it…he freakin L-O-S-T it!!!! And it means: I’m a Believer!!!!
March 9th, 2009 at 12:50 am
215 whoa whoa whoa, do you really work for an NBA team? BTW just because UJM supports BCG doesn’t mean he’s old. My Grandmother HATES BCG
March 9th, 2009 at 12:51 am
218- he said he dates rupp’s daughter, or something to that extent
March 9th, 2009 at 12:51 am
dated****
March 9th, 2009 at 12:51 am
Donna you add so much flavor to this site, and you were the best fan we ever had. Hope the gophers make it so we don’t have to play them in the NIT
March 9th, 2009 at 12:51 am
I just want to win and win big. Tubby had the potential to be better than Pitino, but got too comfortable. Gillispie has the potential to win big, but this season appears to be quite a setback. I really think he is just trying to have the team play his game but the players just aren’t capable of doing it outside of Patterson. It could work in the long run, but as we’ve seen this season, the short term results can be hard to swallow.
So, I’m ready to support the team and the coach, whoever that happens to be, regardless of what kind of roster turnover we see going into next season. If we see a mass exodous of players, we should treat it as an opportunity.
With that said, if Billy bolts for Texas Tech I will never forgive him.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:52 am
Baby….I want to see the men in Blue make it so bad….my heart aches..
March 9th, 2009 at 12:52 am
Way to go you bitching supposedly Kentucky fans. All I ever read is fire the coach, certain players that suck and all that stuff. Do you people not think the player read this shit. Would you play hard or listen to your coach if all you ever read is dogging the team and the coach. The whole UK program is down right now because of you nagging bitching fans. Do you really know what you all are doing to the program. Do you not think that the decision that Patterson and his family will make will be based a little on the atmosphere that surrounds the UK program. If they feel there is no hope because of things that are going on and all the Kentucky fans ever do is bitch and nag well then he is probably gone. But you see, there is really nothing going on. See look you have a coach that is in his 2nd year of coaching. Trying to fix what Tubby left us. You people that think that this can be done in 2 years need to get off the crack and come back down to reality. Think about it, what players on this years team are Tubby’s. What players are coming in next year if you bitching fans don’t make them change their minds. And when it comes to recruiting, what players do you think would want to come to a fan base that sucks this bad when their is all kinds of schools out there that would love to have them win or lose. And by the way Donovan didn’t make NCAA for 2nd straight year, Pelphrey didn’t make it, Tubby didn’t make it, Ford didn’t make it, this is for the fire the coach and get one of these. It would be hard to find someone that would come to Kentucky and coach, I know I sure the hell wouldn’t. You need to get off coaches back and support him, and quit making his job harder than it already is.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:53 am
219 LOL, oh man. In that case don’t the Old Folks homes have some kind of curfew? If he stays up any later he might lose his internet privledges
March 9th, 2009 at 12:53 am
I can never leave the Big Blue Nation….
March 9th, 2009 at 12:54 am
#215 – ThetaChiUKfan – That’s a hell of a resume. Head coach to team manager. That’s an intersting path.
Work for an NBA team. You know, I don’t think everybody is aware but NBA teams have janitors on their staff that can say the same thing. Interesting how there’s no mention of what you did for the NBA team and how that was left out. We’ll move on.
Since you don’t recognize there’s no veterans to rely on and that is the top issue with the team it’s easy to say you don’t know what it takes to make a team work in division 1 college basketball.
Do you suffer from the same illnesses as knee jerkin CAnTuckeeBoi? I never said I screwed Rupps Daughter. I dated a former player of Rupp’s daughter. That doesn’t make me old.
But it gives me insight into who Rupp was and how he accomplished his legendary career.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:55 am
Donna you know Billy is a single man… just saying
March 9th, 2009 at 12:56 am
Whitetailbuck01234: Read my posts baby….I hate to be away……throw me a pom pon!! (Ashley!!!)
March 9th, 2009 at 12:56 am
Whitetailbuck01234: Read my posts baby….I hate to be away……throw me a pom pon!! (Ashley!!!)
March 9th, 2009 at 12:57 am
someone else blaming the fans…….good lord
March 9th, 2009 at 12:58 am
Hey Goose….Billy G may be single…
But hun..I can’t draw up the x’s and o’s…
March 9th, 2009 at 12:59 am
Let’s just hope for a win for the men in blue and white….
March 9th, 2009 at 1:00 am
#231 – ThetaChiUKfan – Someone else hsa their head out of their ass and is looking around seeing what is corrosive and unhelpful.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:02 am
227- i coached hs, then went to be a team manager for the school i attended…and with that nba team i kept stats. not a janitor, good try. google harvey pollack, that guy knows his fair share about basketball.
experience is not the most important thing in the world. we have two of the best 15 players in the nation. we have one of the best scorers, well he was until billy g told him to just force shit. we also have the hardest working big man, he has the best hands of any big man in college basketball. seriously, there are 200+ d-1 coaches out there that could have taken this team to the ncaa tourney. no reason for us to go .500 in the conference, no reason at all.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:03 am
234- what’s not helpful is the way our team is playing. i am not going to sit back and accept the fact we might be the worst d-1 team in the state.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:04 am
235- and by school i mean college. because i am interested in getting into collegiate coaching
March 9th, 2009 at 1:07 am
224. good post, whitetailbuck.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:07 am
Harvey, you are one old dude to be on here so late.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:08 am
Liggins gone
Harrellson gone
Carter gone
P-Pat gone
Meeks gone
Galloway gone
Stewart gone
(and everyone forgets) Pilgrim gone
March 9th, 2009 at 1:08 am
Donna here
March 9th, 2009 at 1:08 am
239- haha, i know, i need to hit the sack
March 9th, 2009 at 1:08 am
UJM… You are just trying to pick a fight I think.
224 It’s not to much to ask that we beat Gardner-Webb, San Diego State, VMI, Houston, and Georgia on senior day with everything on the line? This no questions should be asked of authority is a bulls*^t answer to the criticisms some fans are posting on here. However I’m of the same opinion that it’s to early to bail on Billy.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:10 am
Hey 231 do you actually think that the fans are helping the team. There is nobody to blame. Why did anybody think this years team would be any better than last years team especially considering all the new players that came in. You won’t go out and get 2 or 3 five stars recruits to come to Kentucky when you have only had 2 years to do it. These players are being recruited when their freshmen in highschool. You can’t turn around a program in only 2 years. I don’t understand why Kentucky fans are bitching for, we haven’t done anything in over ten years. Why not give a talented coach the time to rebuild this program instead of making it harder for him.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:10 am
240) You really believe all of these guys are gone? A couple I could see, but all of them is rather difficult.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:12 am
244- because, to be honest, how has billy g showed he is talented since he got here?
March 9th, 2009 at 1:13 am
last year, all billy g did as a coach, was hand the ball to ramel and joe, say kill the clock and then iso the last 5 seconds and get a shot off. it doesn’t a phil jackson character to do that
March 9th, 2009 at 1:15 am
he was SEC coach of the year last year and won some big games without Patterson late in the season, Florida specifically.
but this year has been awful aside from the Tennessee games.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:15 am
and who are you disagreeing with?? 1 is a senior….1 is a PG that play behind Porter….2 are NBA players…..
Galloway..and Stewart? Stewart is going to go to a FL school…he’s from Jacksonville….Galloway…we’ll see.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:16 am
243. No one is saying ask no questions. Just don’t have it too loud and negative so it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy by making it impossible for Gillispie to achieve the success we’re all after.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:17 am
248- i thought florida beat us, cuz ramel hit a shot to send it to OT, and then they ended up beating us
March 9th, 2009 at 1:17 am
#235 – ThetaChiUKfan – We don’t have 2 of the best 15 players in the nation. That’s one place where your overexaggerating to make your point.
“there are 200+ d-1 coaches out there that could have taken this team to the ncaa tourney” This statement should be put up in the hall of fame.
Don’t take into consideration Liggins forced BCG to bench him with his behavior.
Don’t mention the clearly numerous skill deficiencies that plague all the other players on the team including the 6 other juniors on this bench.
Don’t add the unbelieveable matchup problems we’ve faced at PG and how without a PG it’s a lot like a football team without a QB. No one to distribute the ball.
It’s really sad that you can’t see.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:17 am
Pilgrim will stay. He’ll be coming into some serious minutes.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:17 am
248- no you are right, i remember the speech now after the game
March 9th, 2009 at 1:17 am
ThetaChuiUKfan: couldn’t agree with you more. last year all we had was the shot clock in our favor and 2 good three pt shooters that could create their own shot. this year… it’s 2 on 5….
March 9th, 2009 at 1:17 am
251, senior day last year we beat them.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:19 am
252- do you really think there are no tourney teams with a lack of pg? also, this team has way more than enough talent to make the tourney. there are coaches out there taking less talented teams to the tourney
March 9th, 2009 at 1:20 am
256- yeah i noticed that after i argued you. i suck
March 9th, 2009 at 1:21 am
No I’m not trying to pick a fight, I’m just trying to lay some facts out there. And try to get it across to some people what is going on. Liggins- hot head, won’t listen to nothing to busy running his mouth about how good he is. Stewart- just don’t get it, no basketball IQ, . People have dogged coach G. for not playing the 2. Let them leave it would be 2 more scolly’s. I’m just trying to get people to understand that they need to get behind their team and get the atmosphere back calm and cool at Kentucky. Patience is the key.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:23 am
#257 – ThetaChiUKfan – Name them. Good luck.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:23 am
257. that is 100% true. Lots of coaches could take this team to the tourney. This coach can’t. But, he’s taken other teams to the tourney.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:25 am
250 You’re right. I will say that I am, for now, still a Billy supporter. I see it this way, if meeks or patterson stay then next year he needs to produce AT LEAST 22 wins and a trip to the tourney. If they both leave then I’ll give him another year after that. I know people think this is a stupid thing to say but the thing that has me the most frustrated with the program is Billy’s inability to handle the media well.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:25 am
How would you perform if you had what felt like an entire state accentuating every negative and ignoring every positive.
It’s sad people treat each other this way and think it does something benefitial.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:25 am
Donna – Mainly, Harrellson (regardless of whoever the coach will be next year, he’ll improve and get more minutes), Galloway (UK is his third school and unless he transfers to DII, his playing days are over), and Pilgrim (why would he leave, when he’s never suited up? Besides, he’s from Cinci – not too far from home). I certainly agree with Stewart and Liggins. Patterson and or Meeks will most certainly leave.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:25 am
260- i am going to make a list for you
261- why can he take other teams in 2 years, but not this one? he just isn’t cut out for a big time job. our conference is too good….uhhh no wait, we shouldn’t have scheduled so many tough out of conf. games…uhhhh i mean….
March 9th, 2009 at 1:26 am
263- some people actually thrive under pressure. we need someone like that
March 9th, 2009 at 1:28 am
Make sure you name the teams who are in the NCAA Tourny this year who specifically:
If we had their point guard in place of Michael Porter how it wouldn’t make us a tourny capable team.
Let’s see the list.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:30 am
267- so you are blaming this terrible season on michael porter? we didn’t even win the game against the worst team in our conference when he dropped 15.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:31 am
262. Goose, the frustration by some over Gillispie’s interviews is understandable but also revealing. Gillispie is just being boldly honest with what’s on his mind. I figured when he was hired this would be a strength and would always endear him with fans, and it was at times last year and would be this one if we were WINNING.
I get that our basketball coach is the highest office in the Commonwealth, but it’s the losing which makes this a sticking point. If we were winning everyone would say that Coach is colorful or spirted.
Take Pitino, everything he said was contrived and slick. Tubby was a snoozefest, never had anything new to say and often mumbled, but that passed muster more than the inarticulate yet clearly genuine Billy Clyde. What you see is what you get. Stop for a moment and think why you need the Coach to tell you bedtime stories. It’s the fans who need toughness. I really had no idea people needed to be pampered to this level …But this can all change with WINNING.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:31 am
263 – No one’s debating the difficulty behind running this program, but like the old adage goes…if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Whether it’s this year or two from now, BCG will not be here long term. Guarantee it. Unfortunately, I think he’ll be here at least one more year for certain, but if next year turns out to be another step in a downward trend…he will get the axe.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:32 am
#266 – ThetaChiUKfan – I’m not talking about the coach. Gillispie can handle this. If he had a wife it might be different but a single man is perfect for pressure.
It’s the players. Even Patterson was rattled in the Georiga game missing gimmes wide open in the paint. You could tell he was just frustrated. You can’t tell me that all the nitpicking piled on doesn’t add up to corrosive and unhelpful misdirected passion that has a negative effect on performance. Meeks missing a lot of shots lately.
ESPN reports of how the fans are growing tired of Gillispie. It’s all overblown crap started by people like you.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:32 am
265. Different players?
March 9th, 2009 at 1:32 am
267. Even if the team is not in the tourney. And i hate to say it. But…….Nick Calathes.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:33 am
#268 – ThetaChiUKfan – Let’s see the list.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:34 am
#272 – BluesMan – LMAO. Wow, you answered his own question for him with the OBVIOUS ANSWER. Amazing how he wants to get into coaching and can’t figure that out.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:35 am
269 I’m agreeing with everything you’re saying, and actually i’ve seen him on PTI where he can be very (very, very, very) engaging. I think that he has the potential to be the answer no doubt
March 9th, 2009 at 1:35 am
And by the way all you bitching fans answer this one. If you were coach and this is the players that you were givin what would you do.
Porter- first year starter, not true point guard, plays the point because of Jasper transfer.
Meeks- is a bad boy, can’t score much with 2 on him all the time.
Harris- playing better here lately.
Stephenson- don’t know.
Patterson- not ready for NBA, been missing alot of close ones lately.
Miller- a freshman, gonna be real good.
Gallaway- basically a freshman, gets a little excited but gets things started.
Liggins- a freshman, turnover prong, won’t listen to coach, plays no defense.
Harrelson- basically a freshman, I like Harrelson I believe he will get better.
Stewart- no basketball IQ, but a lot of abiliy.
So, what would you do?
March 9th, 2009 at 1:37 am
#266 – ThetaChiUKfan – You ready for the waterboard again?
“some people actually thrive under pressure. we need someone like that” you said.
Why did Tubby Smith leave UK?
March 9th, 2009 at 1:37 am
274- i am working on it right now, it’s going to take a while to find every single coach, i can go ahead and give you one. their best player is a sophomore. point guard is a freshman. other best player is a freshman. there goes your experience factor you always bring up.
Butler’s coach would have us probably ranked in the top 15 or so. There is no way in hell they have more talent than UK. And they have NO SENIORS. So, there is my first example
March 9th, 2009 at 1:38 am
271 If that’s true then why does this post say:
Patrick’s mother stressed over and over her son’s love for the University of Kentucky and she said to me that “the fans have been amazing to us for two years.” When she speaks about the UK family, you can tell how invested she is in it and it is obvious how important UK basketball is to her and her son.
I don’t buy that the players care what the fans are writing.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:39 am
277) Answer me this question….when you lose 8 of your last 11 by failing to properly prepare for games or make adjustments during games and constantly throw your team under the bus, but refuse to shoulder the blame, what would you do?
March 9th, 2009 at 1:39 am
278- he couldn’t handle the pressure
275- i actually think he was guessing, not trying to make me look stupid
March 9th, 2009 at 1:39 am
274 Can I take a guess? Is that team Oklahoma? Are you talking about Blake Griffin and Willie Warren?
March 9th, 2009 at 1:39 am
* I meant 279
March 9th, 2009 at 1:40 am
Wake Forest and Clemson are both talented young teams.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:40 am
It doesn’t really matter so much if he can get THIS team to the postseason. It matters much more that he can get a team full of HIS players to the postseason and WIN in the long term.
I think lots of coaches could get this team to the postseason (including Tubby), but the idea is to have a team with better players who can do something once they get there.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:40 am
284- nope, Butler
March 9th, 2009 at 1:41 am
287 Damn
March 9th, 2009 at 1:42 am
Kansas is also a good, predominantly young team.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:43 am
I hate to say this, but Memphis is also good and young.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:44 am
#282 – ThetaChiUKfan – Right. He couldn’t handle the pressure. After 9 season with no Final Fours it built up pretty high and rightfully so.
Don’t transfer over that same level Tubby built up of a 9 year drought in Final Fours to BCG. Gillispie deserves pressure, when the time is right. By applying the same pressure towards Gillispie that people had for Tubby in 2007 after a 9 year build up is misguided and simply harmful to the program.
Gillispie deserves his own bench.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:47 am
291. Tubby took us dancing. I wouldn’t be saying a word if we were going dancing. Billy G has had a historically bad season. I have the right to hate him. did billy have his own bench in 2 years at UTEP or his 2nd year at A&M? no!
289. yeah they are very young, but they have a good pg
March 9th, 2009 at 1:50 am
Different players!!!
March 9th, 2009 at 1:50 am
Butler… dipping into the Horizon League. Big time. lol
I haven’t seen them play. Which guard is their PG?
March 9th, 2009 at 1:51 am
293- adapt to the players you have
294- a pg that went to school 3 miles from Rupp that Billy G didn’t recruit. he is a freshman
March 9th, 2009 at 1:51 am
To everyone saying BCG is a terrible man who cannot develope players and may leave for the XII here’s my two cents.
1. Gillispie is one of the nicest down to earth people I have met. I’ve talked to him once at Keeneland for good while and he couldn’t have been nicer. I was also at Dance Blue when he got on stage poured his heart out and wrote a check for $10,000 on the spot.
2. Has everyone forgot how Joe and Ramel developed under him last year? When the season was over JOe and Ramel had nothing but praise for the coach, there is now way it’s been a 180 on coaches attitude. Without senior leadership it is hard to run a program. This is still the coach that beat Slick Rick at Rupp Arena in the tournament as well; and he was Co-Coach of the year in the SEC last year as well.
3. “IF” all goes well and PPat and Jodie stay, with the additions of Hood, Orton, and Pilgrim… along with any new players that may come, the team will be back on the national landscape.
Gillispie won’t leave until he is forced out and I am one who hopes he doesn’t go. He doesn’t spend every waking moment of his day to lose games and “destroy” a program. Whatever has happened this year… and the year is not over, it will not happen again.
GO CATS!!! See You In Tampa!
March 9th, 2009 at 1:52 am
#292 – ThetaChiUKfan – Who wants to go dancing if you have no shot at winning the damn thing?
Your satisfied with going throught the motions. It’s not UK Basketball.
You haven’t been a Kentucky fan all your life. I know it now, that’s the problem with you.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:52 am
292 – Just trying to make the point experience and age are sometimes irrelevant. Also, pointing out teams with excellent pg play can overcome lack of other talent. UK seems to have the inverse of this problem. I am amazed that having two of the best player in the country equates to such a sorry finish in a terrible SEC this year. Disgusted, disappointed, disgruntled, you name it. Not out to bash anyone, just tired of the shortcomings. The same excuses will be made next year, as I have ZERO faith BCG can turn this around. However, I will still watch and cheer them on every game, as I have for the last 30 years.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:53 am
He’s not going to adapt to the players he has. He’s going to coach a style from day one and after a few seasons he’ll have a roster full of players capable of playing that style. Its worked for him in the past.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:54 am
#295 – Is he any good?
March 9th, 2009 at 1:54 am
296- i am sure he is a nice guy, so was tubby. who says hood and orton are going to play? they might not be “tough” or work hard in practice. also, matt mentioned earlier it is easy to love a coach who just hands you the keys to the offense.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:54 am
295 Shelvin Mack would’ve been an infinitely better fit for this team than Liggins. I said that on this site a long time ago, great minds
March 9th, 2009 at 1:56 am
281, Mayby coach had game plan and players didn’t carry out assignments, or got lost on defense, or mayby wouldn’t giving 100%, and mayby coach is also tired of the same players making the same mistakes. All coach G. can do is teach, it’s up to the players to come through with it. Mayby players are tight because of all of the negativity that the fans are saying. If they don’t read about you know damn good and well that they hear about from someone.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:56 am
299- no he has never had long enough to have his own bench. that is what i am saying. you keep saying wait til he has his own bench that knows his style, he has never had his own bench. he didn’t recruit acie law, he handed him the keys to the offense and he single handedly led that team.
300- yes. you have no point. you say they need senior leadership. they have no seniors. look at arkansas, beast freshman pg, and they suck. what is the reason there?
March 9th, 2009 at 1:57 am
You know people for get but we have lost three games to good teams on shots in the last 10 seconds this year. If we get one of those and win the Georgia and VMI games then alls well in Mudville
March 9th, 2009 at 1:58 am
303- if those players dont carry out assignments, why doesn’t he play other people then?
302- i was saying the same thing. i never understood why we didn’t go after him.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:59 am
304. that’s remarkable! what luck!
March 9th, 2009 at 2:00 am
#304 – ThetaChiUKfan – So would Shelvin Mack be a better PG than Michael Porter for this team?
How many games would it change? Losses to wins?
March 9th, 2009 at 2:02 am
#305 – Goose_is_Golden – Great point. Also, think of all the games we WON in the last minute last year that could completetly have gone the other way leading to our record being completely different then. Joe, Ramel and Derrick had a lot to do with that as seasoned veterans.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:03 am
I just wish all this negativity would wait until the season and postseason were over. The team doesn;t need us bashing the coach right now, what they need is support. We still need to keep our eye on the prize and win the SEC Tourny. If that doesn’t happen at least Memorial will be full of fans that will stand all 40 minutes and cheer their hearts out for the team. That’s what they really need right now.
Here’s to UK and still getting to 2,000 wins before UNC. That will be a milestone we will not soon forget.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:04 am
308- if he was actually given playing time, it would have helped us out alot. but this team losing is not porter’s fault. like i said earlier, even when he has a career night, we give up 90 points and lose. there are other pg options on the bench that weren’t given ample opportunities.
what is your defense to arkansas blowing? if you say seniors, are you saying you must have a good pg AND senior leadership to be good?
March 9th, 2009 at 2:05 am
308 There’s no tellin, but here’s his stats: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=42249.
You gotta admit that would be a benefit to this team. Plus he’s not really saying instead on MP but instead of Liggins. Liggins shot 15 times in the game against Miami, 16 times against Ole Miss, and refused to go into a game. There’s no measure on how much he’s hurt team chemistry. Oh yeah BTW that’s one of Billy’s boys
March 9th, 2009 at 2:05 am
Jasper, the glorious seasoned sophomore veteran
March 9th, 2009 at 2:05 am
308) Yep, Mack is outstanding and will only get better. Just guessing, but probably take 5 losses away and replace them with wins. Then we could play 3 on 5, instead of 2 on 5. Haha.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:06 am
303, who? what other players? You mean the one’s that won’t listen and don’t know how to spell defense. Don’t you watch the game? And if you do , your not paying attention then. Watch next game and pay attention. If you people don’t run meeks and patterson off , and next year we start looking like were heading in the right direction again I bet you will be giving coach G. praise then won’t you. That’s not a true Kentucky fan to me.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:06 am
#311 – ThetaChiUKfan – So your Butler boys don’t fit the bill then.
They have a PG who would have gotten us into the NCAA tourny. That was the list you were suppose to come up with.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:06 am
309 Exactly I believe that is the main difference between this year and last year. Seniors, Joe and Smooth were guys who loved the uniform, I think it’s the same for Jodie and PPat
March 9th, 2009 at 2:07 am
READ 312 cause porter ain’t the problem.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:08 am
See your post 257 and my post 206. Where’s the list.
Your 0 for 1 so far.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:08 am
316- yes they do. they are led by a freshman and a sophomore. they have less talent than we do. their coach could take uk to the tourney, EASILY
March 9th, 2009 at 2:08 am
Sorry my post #260 (not 206)
March 9th, 2009 at 2:09 am
316 I don’t think Duke has a true point guard. They’re playing Scheyer there but he’s really a shooting guard so I’d say that’s one.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:09 am
#313 – ThetaChiUKfan – Jasper was a seasoned PG who has tons of game experience as a freshman. He also came into Kentucky with a solid handle as a freshman and excellent passing abilities without risking turnovers.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:10 am
319- what is my criteria to work with according to your standards? is it experience, pg play….what is it? cuz uk has experience, so i guess you are saying pg is all that matters
March 9th, 2009 at 2:13 am
porter is averaging .2 more TOs per game than Jasper did as a freshman. and he is playing 3 more minutes per game.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:13 am
#320 – ThetaChiUKfan –
ThetaChiUKfan Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 1:19 am
252- do you really think there are no tourney teams with a lack of pg?
TheUniversityOfJodieMeeks Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 1:23 am
#257 – ThetaChiUKfan – Name them. Good luck
ThetaChiUKfan Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 1:25 am
260- i am going to make a list for you
No, sorry but Butler doesn’t fit the bill. Their PG would have made the difference for KY. You said so yourself in post 311.
Try AGAIN You know, with the list.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:14 am
The Jasper versus Porter argument is no good cause jasper could make a layup.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:15 am
ThetaChiUkfan (whisper) duke…duke…
March 9th, 2009 at 2:15 am
well let’s see, morehead’s leading assist guy has more turnovers that assists….i believe they are dancing
March 9th, 2009 at 2:16 am
328- he will argue back that they have a senior leader, there is no winning with this guy
March 9th, 2009 at 2:18 am
330, No in the thing UJM posted five minutes ago all it said was lack of point guard. Duke definately has a lack of pg
March 9th, 2009 at 2:20 am
ThetaChiUkfan Texas
March 9th, 2009 at 2:21 am
331- yep sure do
Xavier has no pg
March 9th, 2009 at 2:22 am
#325 – ThetaChiUKfan – What does Jasper as a Freshman have to do with anything? That reference was based on Jasper as a Sophmore last year with Joe and Ramel as Seniors. Those 3 made a big difference in us winning close games.
Porter is in the TOP 10 in the nation in Turnover %
http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/stats/turnover_pct?season=2008-2009
March 9th, 2009 at 2:22 am
team like purdue doesnt even have a true pg, just multiple ball handlers…hmmmm that’s a decent concept…
March 9th, 2009 at 2:23 am
you said jasper was a seasoned veteran who could handle the ball without turning it over
March 9th, 2009 at 2:24 am
334- wouldn’t you put it on the coach to come up with a different gameplan so you don’t have the ball in that guy’s hands atleast 2 or 3 times down the court every possession
March 9th, 2009 at 2:25 am
333 I was just thinking maybe X. I know this one sounds crazy, but Louisville I don’t see a true pg. T-Will makes most of the great passes and don’t try to argue Sosa cause he sucks
March 9th, 2009 at 2:26 am
i think UofL fits under the multiple ball handlers concept
March 9th, 2009 at 2:27 am
The only point where I think senior leadership plays a role is finishing games that are close. Sadly this year we ended up on the wrong side of many close games. Of games where the point difference was six points or less we went 2-6, meaning a lot could have gone our way as well as against it. This is where experience could have helped.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:28 am
creighton doesnt have one
March 9th, 2009 at 2:29 am
340- leadership doesnt stop louisville from hitting that 3, or stevenson guarding downey…….but i see your point
March 9th, 2009 at 2:31 am
341 That’s why this is tough I don’t have every team’s roster memorized. It’s tough to think of some. Too bad Davidson’s not going dancing cause they lacked a true point
March 9th, 2009 at 2:31 am
florida state doesn’t have one, and they only have one guy scoring over 9 points a game
March 9th, 2009 at 2:32 am
#335 – ThetaChiUKfan – Ball Handers and ball distributors.
We don’t have them. We aren’t in the tounry because of that. You said you could name plenty of teams who are in the tourny who don’t have PG’s.
The purpose of that discussion was to get someone who is lacking basketball observation skills (you) to see that solid ball handling and ball distribution without constant risk of turnover is a key to being successful enough to make it into the NCAA tournament. Not to see if you could find a rare team that is forced to do PG by committee because they lack a true point.
It was to find a team who lacks solid ball handlers and ball distributors as bad as Kentucky does who made it into the tournament. My point was you won’t find any since that is a main reason why Kentucky isn’t locked in at the moment.
Jasper – See post #323.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:33 am
Damn Spring Forward really messed up my schedule, ThetaChi good luck with the lack of point guard quest.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:34 am
345 DAMN IT DUKE, DUKE LACKS A PG
March 9th, 2009 at 2:34 am
#337 – ThetaChiFan – Are you seriously sober saying that? LOL He’s the PG. You have to have the ball in your ball distributors hands coming down the court. Why else play him? He’s all we’ve got?
March 9th, 2009 at 2:39 am
348- if your point guard is so bad like you imply, why don’t you let meeks bring the ball up the court and start the offense….
my whole argument to you is if porter is so bad, why play him? that is all in billy’s hands. if you don’t feel like you have a true pg, then you don’t need one. just let the team work as one in handling the ball.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:39 am
#347 – Goose_is_Golden – But Duke has solid ball handlers and ball distributors all over the court. They can get by without a true PG EVEN THOUGH PAULUS IS A TRUE PG but Coach K has him in and out of the game.
Kentucky doesn’t have solid ball handlers all over the court. Not on the bench, not on the court. They’re not there.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:40 am
TUJM, it is late, i gotta hit the sack. but you will get your list tomorrow. you and i always have late night tussles, i am sure i will see you on here tomorrow. take care man
March 9th, 2009 at 2:40 am
350- one last argument to you, why didn’t billy bring in solid ball handlers then with all the guys he brought in this year?
March 9th, 2009 at 2:41 am
#349 – ThetaChiUKfan – Because Meeks handle is suspect as PG. He would get picked by Downey.
That’s why.
You can’t see that?
March 9th, 2009 at 2:41 am
350 But you said lacks a pg, you are trying to escape on technicalities, BTW Paulus sucks
March 9th, 2009 at 2:43 am
353- meeks can bring the ball up the court. he can’t create a shot with the dribble, but he can bring the ball down the court
March 9th, 2009 at 2:44 am
353 porter got picked by Downey like 5 times in Columbia
March 9th, 2009 at 2:45 am
#352 – ThetaChiFan – He tried but the best ones were taken by the top schools for the 2009 year back in 2007 when they were Sophmores and Juniors in High School. Based on what was available:
-Liggins has an attitude problem
-Appleton was lured by Kansas trophy and sits the bench there
-Maze went to the Ferrari UT
-Galloway was a backup plan that has taken time to get right.
Good night and good luck with your list. I don’t mean to argue with you. I just appreciaite effort that has a benenfit. Not negative obsessors who’s goal is pushed for way too soon.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:47 am
#354 – Paulus was a McD All American 5 Star recruit coveted by the top programs in the country.
I agree he didn’t pan out like advertised.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:48 am
357- the example from before, shelvin mack, i am sure if we went after him, he wouldn’t have picked butler over uk
liggins might have an attitude problem because he was promised clock and didn’t get to play at the start. so when he does get in he presses and tries too hard
March 9th, 2009 at 2:49 am
358- he was an AA because he was going to duke
March 9th, 2009 at 2:51 am
#354 – Goose_is_Golden – The technicalities were the basis of the discussion.
Me: “the unbelieveable matchup problems we’ve faced at PG and how without a PG it’s a lot like a football team without a QB. No one to distribute the ball.”
ThetaChiFan: “do you really think there are no tourney teams with a lack of pg?”
Me: “Name them. Good luck.”
ThetaChiFan“I’ll make you a list”
So yes, the technicalities were the basis as I stated “No one to distribute the ball”
March 9th, 2009 at 2:53 am
#359 – ThetaChiUKfan – Tubby killed our arrangement with Shelvin Mack. I know the story well. Tubby didn’t pay attention to him and Shelvin and his coach were turned off. When BCG arrived Shelvin had already blacklisted UK. BCG even supposidly attempted to rekindle to no avail. Not sure if BCG would have offered but… We were burned by the previous noninterest.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:54 am
there is no way in hell that no one on the roster for the University of Kentucky can distribute the ball. you gotta have them in the right spots. if they can’t distribute the ball, don’t play them…pretty simple.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:57 am
#360 – ThetaChiUKfan –
Paulus was recruited and offered in 2005 by:
He was a 25 Pt, 8 Assist, 7 Rebound, 3.2 Steal, 50% FG player in HS
Duke
Florida
Georgetown
North Carolina
Notre Dame
Syracuse
March 9th, 2009 at 3:05 am
#363 – ThetaChiUKfan –
Porter:
-Turnovers
-Airballed Layups
Liggins:
-No Concept of Time in Game When He Comes In – He Must Not Be Watching the Tempo From the Bench
-Turnovers
-Too Risky with Ball
Galloway:
-Freshmen like mistakes in Passing – Shows signs of greatness then has a lapse
All these players had trouble on Defense. Porter always tried but athletically couldn’t keep up. Liggins wouldn’t always stay home on his man, cheating like Meeks does for the steal too often. Galloway up until the midpoint of the season didn’t play hard the entire time he was in there on defense.
So unless you want to go to walk ons no, Uk doesn’t have anyone who can distribute the ball without consequences that that you can’t afford from a D1 Kentucky PG.
If Meeks brought the ball up the court, teams would press him and who would he pass too? He doesn’t pass. Therefore, we would have even more turnovers since he’s lacking PG passing skills. I’m sure Meeks could pass the ball, but who’s going to catch it.
There’s serious personnel problems on this bench. Those will be fixed shortly.
March 9th, 2009 at 4:24 am
What a shame! Patrick Patterson is my favorite player to ever wear the blue and white. I love his motor, his attitude, his fundamentals, and his team-first attitude. He has an “old-school” personna about him that harkens back to the good old days of Ford, Pelphry, Feldhaus and the likes.
I really felt like he would come back for a third year until the last few weeks. I think the whole team has lost their respect for Coach G and that the players and the coach are just on different wave lengths. You can sense the frustration in Coach G when he talks. You can sense the frustration in the players as you watch their body language on the court. Coach G is probably a good coach, but just not the fit for Kentucky that everyone thought he was. I look for him to leave on his own at the end of the year if a job comes open.
March 9th, 2009 at 4:28 am
Leave now Coach Clyde….we are crazy, we will run you off just like Tubby. Go show us how its done with another team with less pressure. Come on John Pelphrey….yeah! All of our fans are idiots…..You are the problem, not the coach. That includes you Matt.
MM….
just kidding
Justin
March 9th, 2009 at 4:31 am
^^I meant Matt Jones has become a problem.
March 9th, 2009 at 5:13 am
142 – BillyGIsNotMyLover – That’s an awesome nickname! Hillarious!
March 9th, 2009 at 6:23 am
Of the 4251 scholarship basketball players in Division 1 college basketball we have 4 from Kentucky in the top 100 in turnover percentage. This stat can be calculated by dividing individual turnovers by possessions.
http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/stats/turnover_pct?games=1&conf=&season=2008-2009
2008-2009 Season
Rank Value Player Yr Pos Ht Wt Games
9 40.76 Michael Porter Jr G 6-3 198 31
31 35.43 DeAndre Liggins Fr G 6-6 202 29
74 31.81 Ramon Harris Jr F 6-7 218 26
89 31.01 Darius Miller Fr F 6-7 223 31
#24 Florida State(3) and #22 Butler (1) are the only ranked teams teams that have a player in this top 100 list. That includes the “Other Teams Receiving Votes” in the AP Top 25 for a total of 41 teams.
Last season Michael Porter ranked 1st in the SEC conference and 1st in the nation with a turnover % of 45.6
Last season Ramon Harris ranked 2nd in the SEC conference and 29th in the country with a turnover % of 36.1.
Michael Porter’s career turnover percentage leads the country for active players in Division 1.
March 9th, 2009 at 6:27 am
What a bunch of schizophrenics. I mean straight out of the Cuckoo Nest. Please take your meds and STFU. You are embarrassing your Mom’s.
March 9th, 2009 at 6:40 am
What’s this stat in post #370 tell us?
There’s a reason only 2 teams in the top 41 teams in the nation and no teams in the top 20 have a player in the top 100 turnover percentage list.
What’s the positive in this stat?
Both Michael Porter and Ramon Harris, although statistically proven to have consistent fundamental deficiencies in ball handling and ball distribution, they are both improving from 2007-2008 to 2008-2009.
This is a good trend and suggest they are learning and improving in Billy Gillispie’s system.
Being that Darius Miller and DaAndre Liggins are both freshmen and were expected to play significant minutes this year it is a bit less of a concern with their presence on this list as compared to the 2 juniors Porter and Harris. We can check DeAndre Liggins and Darius Millers stats next year to see if they have also improved ball handling and ball distribution fundamentals from 2008-2009 to 2009-2010.
March 9th, 2009 at 6:57 am
Now granted 2 of those players are Tubby Smith recruits and 2 are Billy Gillispie recruits however the fact that the experienced Junior players Kentucky must depend on most are not protecting the ball as Kentucky players of the past century have historically done.
Can you blame Tubby for this? Well he did recruit these players.
Can you blame Billy Gillispie for this? Well he is playing these players.
Does Gillispie have a choice? No.
So let’s take the pressure off these guys and let them play like they have nothing to lose. Let the coach run his program and prove how they have earned some wins in their hard work on the practice court. Let them enjoy themselves again. Let this Kentucky team finally be the ones who can suprise us and the world with excellence inspired by belief and resiliency. Go Cats!
March 9th, 2009 at 7:17 am
I’m just say’n…
Anthony Grant – VCU, former Florida assistant under Donovan for 10 years including the 2006 NC team and going back to the Marshall days. He knows the SEC, 43 years old, has proven to a winner at all stops and beat Duke in the NCAA tourney in 2007.
Currently at Virginia Commonwealth where they appear to be playing in back to back NCAA tourney appearances. Has won 93 and lost 31 giving a current percentage of 67% over four years. VCU plays tonight for their tourney championship.
March 9th, 2009 at 7:23 am
#374 – man-bear-pig – I like Anthony Grant.
I sure hope he would have been given more than 2 years before people called for his head if he had come here in 2007.
March 9th, 2009 at 7:31 am
530 A.M. shout out to KSR. Reported today’s post . Nice pub.
March 9th, 2009 at 7:32 am
My Coaching choices in order:
1. Rick Pitino
2. Pat Riley
3. Billy Donovan
4. Jay Wright
5. Sean Miller
March 9th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Here are some conflicting observations of mine:
BCG’s system seems to flourish with a bunch of long, 6’7″ athletes and a strong leader at PG. This system thrives off of defensive pressure, and willful attacking of the basket using athletes and basic, minimalist offensive sets. He may not have Acie Law sitting on the bench, but he should’ve made the decision in December to win or lose with Galloway (or maybe even Liggins). Porter is not why we are losing, but Porter cannot be successful as the player the University of Kentucky’s offense pours through, no matter how wreckless Galloway can be. Porter will not every be successful as anything but a backup PG. That is not a slight. He plays hard, is mature, and is a good backup at an elite basketball school, but him starting is a metaphor for all that is wrong with how BCG has approached this season.
I do not believe BCG has simply forgotten how to coach. He may not have ever been John Wooden, but the he didn’t go from spanking RP in the NCAA tournament at A&M (with or without Acie Law) to not even being able to beat Gardner-Webb.
Or San Diego.
Or VMI.
Or a winless-on-the-road-in-the-SEC Georgia team with a lame-duck coach.
Contradicting Observation:
BCG seems to have forgotten how to coach. As much as it bothers me to use him as a reference, he’s local, I see his comments constantly, and obviously there’s a history there: When RP talks about a practice or game, while he does call players out, he motivates them while simultaneously critiquing relevant skills and techniques. Players improve. He adjusts his offense constantly throughout a game to attack an opponent’s weakness, adjust to personnel in the game because of foul trouble, and consistently put players in a position they can be successful in.
RP-coached teams almost always, amazingly, seemed to improve when they lose. That’s a team with the right psyche. That’s coaching.
BCG can say all he wants that he enjoys the pressure of winning, and wouldn’t have it any other way, but clearly the mediocrity of last season, coupled with the looming historic failure this year (and yes, this season’s failure is epic and historic), and next year’s class looking to provide no immediate improvement over this year’s bunch undoubtedly has given the appearance that BCG is in over his head.
Bottom line (in my view): BCG is a tireless worker, great recruiter, and even a decent-to-good X-O coach, but did not have nearly enough experience to take over this program.
There simply is no way he doesn’t know how to run a double-screen for Meeks, or do anything but throw the ball in the post to Patterson with 3-4 people surrounding him. Pay attention this week to how many team’s offenses look as horribly predictable, one dimensional, and out of sync as ours. And it wasn’t much better last year–we just had guys who thrived in that kind of, ahem, “system.” If he knows HOW to make adjustments on offense, and knows HOW to attack an opponent’s weaknesses (and we have to assume he, in fact, does) than this is a simple matter of stubbornness, fear, a power-trip, or some other symptom of simply not having enough experience to take over the University of Kentucky basketball program.
Anyone that hasn’t read Eric Crawford’s article needs to read it:
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090306/COLUMNISTS02/903060460/1073
The sad part is, this all has the potential to somehow make the UK fanbase look very, very bad. We’re screwed if he stays, we’re screwed if he’s fired, we’re screwed if he quits. Somehow the media has equated “please don’t lose to San Diego, look lost on offense and defense, and be an a**hole to everybody you speak to during the season” with “we demand a national championship every year.”
March 9th, 2009 at 7:42 am
And by the way, while I will support my boys in blue no matter what, I have to go on record as saying that I am not “calling for BCG’s head” because of wins-and-losses. It is the spirit of the program, and a complete lack of willingness or ability on his part to make appropriate in-game adjustments, or to improve players in a significant way.
Play the right way, and UK fans will follow you through fire.
March 9th, 2009 at 7:47 am
i’ve supported & defended BCG from day one……….my take was give him3-4 yrs and then judge…..but if the players don’t respect the guy then a change has to be made……..take this email below for what its worth…….
News from Rich McCarty today on Kentucky , could be the answer to our prayers. How’s that for an opener?
He and Steve Higdon had lunch today at August Moon. Steve is a big UK fan and Steve used to be the head of Greater Louisville taking over after Doug Cobb left. They actually met a friend of Steve’s there for lunch who turned out to be none other than “THE KENTUCKY HAMMER” Darryl Issacs. The Hammer is a big Booster for UK it turns out and is big enough to travel with the UK football and basketball teams on many of their road trips and was even on the team plane and trip to the South Carolina game last week.
Well, the Hammer had a lot to say. He said that there was also a HUGE booster on the trip and that at no time did coach Billy G ever acknowledge any of them or thank them for their support and the boosters just hate the guy. He said that he talked to Jodie Meeks dad and he said that Jodie absolutely “hates the son of a bitch” and that all of the players hate his guts and it’s pretty well known in the inner circles that he’s hated by the players.
He said Barnhart also cannot stand him and that Barnhart is very afraid that Patterson and Meeks will leave along with some other players and we will be lacking bodies and be in an “ Indiana situation” next year. He said that last week Barnhart forced Billy G to take Stewart back on the team after he quit because he is scared to death of the many possible transfer/defections at the end of the season.
Hammer said “the wheels are in motion to get this guy out of here after this year” the only thing is just making it happen in a way that doesn’t make Kentucky look like they are bringing out the hook (hammer?) after just two years and have a media nightmare.
Rich asked Hammer if he was going to the game tonight and he said yes. Rich said “if you guys lose to Georgia tonight, the wheels are really going to come off”. The Hammer replied “trust me, the Wheels are already off.”
March 9th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Stop saying Pat Riley for Christ’s sake.
March 9th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Hammer is a few fries short of a Happy Meal himself. In his case, the wheels came off a while ago as well.
March 9th, 2009 at 8:00 am
And can we please let BCG dig his own grave or dig himself out instead of moronic and manic fans trying to do it for him?
March 9th, 2009 at 8:11 am
#383 He’s been doing that.
March 9th, 2009 at 8:14 am
#380 – Braddy – I would expect this type of carnival whisper to come from Marc Maggard, not here.
Darryl Issacs is a clown. He’s known amongst the Lexington Plumbing Community as the “Heavy Shitter” as everywhere he craps a call has to be made to unclog the toilet.
He will have as much to do with our coach coming or going as Jeannine Edwards.
March 9th, 2009 at 8:19 am
People like you are the reason this country is going down the toilet. I bet you are a liberal Obama loving, tree hugging democrat. I guess you think the best way to coach young players these days is to coddle them and let them make the rules?? Give me a break!!!!
Gillispie has made no bones about what he expects from his players. Furthermore, I think there is a lot more he would like to say in the interviews….but it would make a sailor blush. Credit to him for biting his lip.
Why don’t you join the other softies at the girls basketball media extravaganza…..here’s a quarter to buy some cotton candy you wuss.
March 9th, 2009 at 8:23 am
385 Dang, are you on 24/7 BCG Defender Watch? Or are you BCG?
March 9th, 2009 at 8:24 am
#386 – WildcatsOne – LOL. You borrowed some of my material but I think you used it well rotfl. You might consider addressing who your aiming the cannon at by referencing their post # and I recommend adding their name to it as well, since the mods delete occasional posts that are vulgar or make them look bad and it screws the numbers up (since all posts re-number themselves once on in the stack is deleted).
Carry on soldier!
March 9th, 2009 at 8:26 am
385 – i said take it for what its worth
March 9th, 2009 at 8:29 am
My vote for best screen name goes to BillyGIsNotMyLover.
I laugh every time I see it.
March 9th, 2009 at 8:34 am
This is to clear up UCLA/Howland comments above. The mis-information on here is almost comical.
The year before Howland arrived UCLA went 10-19 and Lavin was fired. The talent left was way less than Tubby left here. There were no Jody Meeks on the roster for sure. By year 3 Howland had UCLA in the Final four. Anyone want to take bets on whether BCG will have us there next year?
March 9th, 2009 at 8:35 am
#387 – I’m Just Sayin – I’m thinking I won’t get to watch much UK basketball after the next couple of weeks and decided to focus my effort during this time on the most productive thing possible for maximum benefit.
Getting ready to for Thursday to head over from the beach to watch the games at St. Pete Times Forum. It’s a perfect chance for a team who has worked harder than any other team to come prove they deserve the SEC crown. Should be fun none the less.
Save the future Bobby Knight. He’s live and in the flesh and will really be raging by 2012. Can you imagine the headlines then? This isn’t anything more than entertainment. Let’s get some value out of this.
Counter as many rabid fans as possible with solid factual information.
That way they at least appear to know what they are talking about when they hit the water cooler.
March 9th, 2009 at 8:38 am
I would say the fact she didn’t mention the coach or Patrick’s fondness for him indicates they wouldn’t mind a change. She talked of the love for UK, and the fans. No mention of the Coach at all. The talks to Barnhart revolved around a team underachieving, which again looks poorly on the coach. I think the train has left the station, and BCG is still sitting at the ticket booth.
March 9th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Another item to clear up some common misconeptions.
To defend Barnhart a little BCG was hailed as a great hire at the time by National media and was “Matt’s choice” as he stated on here several times. Hiring mistakes can happen to anyone in any business or profession. There are no “sure things”. The question is how will Barnhart handle the situation from here. You can’t even begin to compare Basketball with the Black Hole that has been UK Football throughout the years. The Basketball team should be re-loading every year a la UNC and Duke and with a great coach that can happen. BCG is not a great coach. Sorry UJM. A great coach can do it all, recruit, strategize, market, public speaking, handle parents, etc. and from what I see BCG can recruit a little and that is about it.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:06 am
393 – maybe she did…Matt has an agenda, if you haven’t figured that out by now I don’t know what to tell you. When was the last time Matt said something positive about the coach, players or team? Even when we were on our 11 -12 game streak, he did not once give credit to BCG.
The “LAW DOG” (that is about as corny as they come) does not like the coach, it is obvious…
March 9th, 2009 at 9:12 am
Also, I hope UK bball goes on a 5 year downward spiral. Then we can lose some of these irrational, delusional, crazy fans (and hopefully some of these media outlets) and they will turn into UWV football fans. Fans need to quit acting like they are “owed something” because they are UK fans.
Never seen such wacked out people in my life….
March 9th, 2009 at 9:20 am
377…Don’t be ridiculous. Ricky P as your 1st choice? And Billy D is worse than him. Don’t believe everything you hear on ESPN.
Pat Riley will never happen at this point, he’s not an option. I actually like Jay Wright and Sean Miller, but there is no guarantee
they are any better than Billy G. BCG had a similar resume’ coming in.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:33 am
There is one thing for sure… this basketball program needs to be addressed and there needs to be some sort of accountability. This team has not even came close to improving and the coaching has been about as poor as I have seen at this level. I would think you would give him one more year… but if KY loses before the semis of the SEC tourney and doesn’t do well in the NIT, there could very well be a lot of changes in this program (players & coaches).
March 9th, 2009 at 9:34 am
377 – you are the weakest link…….GOODBYE.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I just hope nobody does anything stupid here.
I like BCG compared to some of the Kragthorpes out there that Barnhart is capable of pulling the trigger on. I’m serious. He could royally screw us for the next 10 years.
People don’t get it. They think Gillispie is going to do that. Not a chance. He will win, it just won’t be like you want all of a sudden. Gillispie would take us to the promise land in 5 – 7 years. Final Fours would be at least every 4 years. Or he’d double them up with powerful classes.
But if this guy is canned this could get completely ugly. I have comfidence we in a lot of people currently involved (including BCG with his players) but Barnhart is only good at making lower hiring decisions like girls basketball and Potato Sack Relay Team Managers.
It’s just not the right time.
But you bring some
March 9th, 2009 at 9:39 am
392 you earlier admonished fans for being to hard on the players and then you followed with nearly every post of your own citing deficiencies in the players. As a matter of fact, that seems to be your go-to excuse, that we don’t have good enough players. So are you not part of the rabid fan base that has an impact on what the players, their parents, and recruits see and here (see your own post 365)?
You also mentioned several times that players don’t work on fundamentals in practice once they get to D1 level and scoffed and LOLed your point home as if it were not an opinion, but fact. I don’t think anyone complains about too many guys ability to dribble the ball. Of course we don’t have a Derrick Rose on the team. Though we do make dribbling-induced turnovers, the main problem is passing and positioning, and picking up the dribble. That is something that can be corrected and must be corrected over the course of the season. Getting players to the right spots and instructing them how to position themselves, their passes, and where to find their teammates under pressure is essential. They can’t focus on this if they are constantly scared to death. BCG himself said that the players are actin like they are afraid to make a mistake. HELLO! That has little to do with being able to dribble. It is about having confidence and faith in your teammates and what you are running (ala Greg Anthony’s comments). If you can instill a defensive philosophy of ball pressure (as inappropriate as it may be for this team) then surely you can instill a press offense or zone offense where the entire team doesn’t look lost. You really think coach “Baby Sadaam” (as he former asst called him) calls offensive sets in the last games of the season, and the guys just decide to go out on the court and run something different?
However, the fundamentals of offensive basketball, and small things in individual workouts, even a few minutes a day, would help our players immensely. Of course they do these things- but obviously the way they are practicing it and the types of things they, is not working- and I can only assume it is because of fear or confidence issues.
Oh, and after negating fundamentals development in D1 programs and players, you went on in another post to state that Jodie Meeks needed to work on fundamentals over the summer,and even made a list. I guess you will argue that there is no time to do that in the regular season. Right…
March 9th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Sorry must take power nap… the Knights Templar will keep watch on the Holy Grail until I return. Go Cats!
March 9th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Is it just me or do I remember Calapari passing on us two years ago? Is it just me or do I remember Rick Barnes passing on us two years ago? Isn’t Calapari the one that would get us in probation? Is Rick Barnes the one who has an unranked team right now…even though he has had plenty of time to produce and come up with nothing. Rick Pitino…that guy. Didn’t they go to the NIT a few years ago? It takes time….run Coach out of town….morons.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:41 am
401. I meant “see and hear” at the end of the paragraph.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:46 am
403 I think Barnes passed, but don’t know for sure about Calipari and maybe no one does. Matt Jones stated that our staff didnt’ pursue Calipari because of your same concerns. Don’t know what the truth is. I didn’t realize around the time of BCGs hiring that Izzo was in the discussion. At the time it was reported only that Billy Donovan, Rick Barnes, as officially contacted from what I remember. Come on, surely you can’t think people concerned about their team and program are morons, when there are so many coach related problems. Disagree, sure, but morons? Come on we are all fans hoping for the same results! GO CATS!
March 9th, 2009 at 9:50 am
For sure..not a negative nellie here (Flanders). Just saying the negativity helps nobody. Travis Ford is not the guy, neither is Pelphrey. Give Coach a year.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:51 am
I think the emotions of the anti–Gillespies get me over emotional.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:52 am
you must be smoking something if you think that meeks and patterson would stay through a coaching change. if you bring in another coach they are for sure done. you think meeks is going to want to have three coaches.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:53 am
405 is correct. Calipari waited to sign his contact until UK job was filled. HE ALMOST WENT TO N.C. STATE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. Pitino had minor trangressions in his past also. Hire Calipari and we can get back to winning again.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:55 am
And you don’t think PP and Meeks would stay to play for the best recruiter in the nation, Calipari. That is our chance at winning big beginning next year folks.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:55 am
i’ll give coach a year so long as players aren’t leaving b/c they do not respect him………you can not like him but at least respect his coaching ability……..if players are defecting b/c of him……a change must be made…….regardless of the perception
March 9th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Did he sign his contact? How long of a contact was it?
March 9th, 2009 at 9:56 am
#401 – chrimsun – “You earlier admonished fans for being too hard on the players…” you say? No sourced post #? What are you half-assin it this morning?
I’m not your guy. I’m not concerned with our players, their parents, and recruits reading anything I posted. They know why Tubby left. I aim to enlighten with a real view and optimistic look to the future based on sound decisions.
Recruits coming to Kentucky in the century we’ve been playing basketball have consistently has solid basketball skills instilled at an early age. Indivudal instruction certainly takes place with players but the fundamental flaws that exist in a number of the players on this team (see my post #370) are well documented.
You’ve decided to summarize what you think I said in your second paragraph as you continue to half ass your attack on me so I will do you a favor.
Learn to read, quote, source and angle a position if you have one… and while your at it, make sure you sharpen your sword next time.
Remember less is more.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:01 am
The sky is not falling, everyone needs to relax.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:03 am
He did, but I am sure he has escape clauses in it.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:07 am
As bad as I hate to say it, I believe we go into next season with Billy G and without Patterson or Meeks, which will translate into back-to-back NIT seasons.
Now if Billy G is not here, I do believe the best three ‘potential’ candidates (for righting the ship and sparking interest from fans and recruits alike) would be Ricky, Calipari, and Billy D….in that order….and I really don’t care for any of them on a personal level….but I’m ready to win again so be it…..
March 9th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I’m just sayin, why the heck would PPat and Meeks consider the recruiting prowess in a new coach with next year certainly being their final one? A coaching move like you want would make it more likely they would leave, as happens all the time when coaches are fired.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:09 am
It’s the end of the world as we know it and the guys at KSR apparently have the day off………….
March 9th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Alabama Football fans are no different than UK Basketball fans. They are both bat sh*t crazy and demand nothing but the best. For some reason we have the bad rap while Bama fans really dont. Trust me there is very little difference between the two. They would not be fine with two AWFUL years like we have had under BCG and we shouldnt be either.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Thank you..that is logical.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Says they guy who hearts a crack dealer.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:19 am
417 Calipari will re-recruit them to stay for one more run. That is my point.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:21 am
I agree…it shouldn take a guy this long to improve a program like UK. We havent improved under BCG, in fact we have gotten worse. It didnt take Urban Meyer long, didnt take Saban long, didn take Roy Williams long.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Jonah Hex: There is much more parity in college basketball than in football, and Roy Williams was gifted a STACKED UNC team after they dropped Doherty, so your points aren’t really valid. Look at the UCLA rebuild under Howden.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Matt~ go ahead and cut Dave Baker a check. He made reference to this post on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville this morning and mentioned the site by name.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:35 am
#423 – Jonah Hex – If you think BCG was left with the same personnel as Urban Meyer, Saban, or Roy Williams when they arrived at their respective school then I’m convinced that you have a walnut for a brain. Yes, that must be what we are dealing with here. A walnut for a brain I says.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:36 am
424 UCLA went to the final 4 in Howland’s third year and were a very high seed. Are we doing that?
Pitino won SEC regular season in his second year here. Did we do that?
If you match a great coach with a great program the winning comes naturally. It tells us all we need to know about BCG that he has struggled so much this year and the direction of the team has been a downward spiral.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I digress, but I cannot believe there are people that have actually stayed up all night to post on this issue. Unbelievable.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:37 am
To add to that. All we need to know is that BCG is not a great coach period.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Much more parity huh….lets see..
Duke, UConn, Florida, Kansas, Syracuse, Maryland,UNC, Michigan State- all won championships this decade with many of those teams plus UCLA being in mulitple final fours. These are upstart programs…lot more parity.
What was UNC’s record the two years before Roy got there?
March 9th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Anyone that thinks that based on Mrs Patterson statements that if we get a new coach Pat is gone is a complete idiot. I’ll bet you write your sentences backwards. It does not take a genious to figure out that she has no faith in what is going on at the present. Bottom line is this, Baring some dramatic, unlikely success the remainder of this season, if Clyde stays, Pat is gone. Now he might go anyway, but I honestly think if a change is made, and someone with huge credibilty is brought in, it greatly increases his chances of coming back. These are good people who want the best for their son, and it is easy to figure out that they see the same things that everyone else does. This ain’t rocket science.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Thank you im just saying- thats what Im just saying!
I never said we had the same talent, besides those guys won Championships right after taking over. I just said we should be getting better REGARDLESS of our roster which we arent. And last time I check we have two of the best players in the game. Also, who knows how good our roster might be if they didnt get yanked every time they made a mistake AND if they better players played.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:49 am
How does Michael Porter either make a wide open 3 or airball it. As a scholarship player in college.
It’s not like other teams guard him. Hell, they intentionally sag their defense away from him hoping he will launch.
Airballed wide open layups. Did some of you miss that part? Did you miss the airballed layup?
AIRBALL A LAYUP. No one is guarding you, you toss it up and don’t get any glass, don’t get any rim. No net. Just air. As a scholarship player. Not for Transy. For Kentucky.
Did anyone miss that? I wonder if Ty Lawson has ever airballed a layup.
Back to the beginning. How do you airball a wide open 3? OK, let’s just say the ball slipped. Honest mistake, it could happen. But then it happens in another game. And another. And then you make one. And then you airball ANOTHER. He must be having some serious issues. Like mini turbo seizures. That only last for 1/64 of a second. And only happen when the ball is in his hands and he has to do something with it.
OK, it’s BCG’s fault. (crock)
March 9th, 2009 at 10:52 am
How many layups has BCG airballed this season?
March 9th, 2009 at 10:54 am
It’s amazing how UK fans are. You are about to run off another coach without giving him a proper chance. It’s amazing you all think “well this is UK and it should be easy to snap your fingers and have another banner.” You don’t have any patientce at all and think you are better coaches than the one on the bench. I honestly don’t care either way anymore because the damage has been done as far as the perception of the program and it’s fans. I just wonder if coach is gone and whoever is brought in how long it will take to start bashing him because it will take longer to rebuild. And if it’s Ford or Pelphrey will you run them off when they’re losing in the first two years or probably longer. Will you support them like they do Crean at IU with six wins. I’ll bet you you would bitch about Crean if it was here with six wins no matter how bad the talent is and tell him how he could win more games. It is really sad.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Travis Ford
John Pelphrey
Sean Woods
Screw it….Kyle Macy, wait?
March 9th, 2009 at 10:57 am
I think I’m gonna start my own Pro BCG blog.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:59 am
It will be like Fox News….I’ll say it’s fair and balanced. Be for damned sure it’s not. I’m not jumping ship.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:59 am
434 Indiana is supporting because they had zero expectations, like we did in Pitino’s first year.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:59 am
429. To say he’s not a great coach PERIOD like it’s all wrapped up and tidy is ignorant. Coach was SEC Coach of the Year last year and Big 12 Coach of the Year in ’05 and ’07. Give it a rest, and show a little fortitude.
March 9th, 2009 at 11:05 am
434-
Improvement…i think we have all lowered our standards…we just want to see improvement. And if a guy is airballing layups he shouldnt be out there…Period. You dont lose with upperclassmen- coaching 101.
And yes, coaching at UK should speed up a rebuilding process as it does at other “elite” programs. I put that in quotes because we are no longer an elite program (which isnt totally BCG’s fault). Plus being an A-hole as one of the main reps for UK has nothing to do with X and O or Ws and Ls. They were talking about that very point on First Take this morning.
March 9th, 2009 at 11:08 am
IU plays with heart and emotion, something this team (sans PP) almost never does. Im sorry. Ive watched and coached enough sports to know when someones heart is in it and when its not and this team has very little fight in them.
March 9th, 2009 at 11:18 am
The man is so stubborn he can’t coach. I believe he knows basketball but he cannot coach talented players.
I think what PP’s mom is saying the man has got to go or PP goes. That would be a shame that we would lose him and probably 2 or 3 more players just because the man stays at UK.
There has got to be something done – if BG stays then someone needs to get a hold of him quick because recruits are now turning their heads saying why did I say I would go to UK and all of the others are looking in to say hey I don’t want to be a part of that.
Our talent is sitting on the bench and PP and Jodie know that. I believe they have shared that with the coach.
BG I am sorry but you have got to go!
March 9th, 2009 at 11:27 am
That is my point exactly. You guys sit here and say these things about other programs but if it was at UK it would be totally different. So you are telling me if Pitino’s first team played with heart and emotion but only won six games you would not bitch about them? You look with logic at other programs but here it is without logic.
440. Speed up the rebuilding process is totally fine to be expected, but you have not given him a chance. And no less than two years is not a chance. And all the “elite” programs have gone through rebuilding processes. UNC with losing records, UCONN and Syracuse with NITs, Florida and IU right now UCLA with Howland. Improvement is fine to expect but I think he did great with last year’s team. That team had nothing especially when Pat went down. And don’t tell me he it was all Bradley and Crawford and none of his coaching because then if that is the case why can’t Meeks and Patterson do it all this year since they are so great in your opinions.
441. So you are telling me you would not be calling for Billy’s head and wanting someone knew if this team had this same record but played with heart and emotion? I really doubt it.
Look I’ve said I don’t care if Billy goes or stays, I just want things to be better and I just don’t believe that running him off will help but only hurt more. I still believe that he can win and win big here if given the chance. That is what everyone was saying when he was hired but then have forgotten all of that now. There is no patientce and it is sad because it only hurts worse. There is no other coach who would have “succeeded” last year and this year with the personell that is here. I just think it is depressing that is all, because Tubby brought things down and people expected Billy to come in and magically win big all of a sudden. It will take time.