All this talk about Kentucky firing Gillespie...
- Thread starter Coach34
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watching State come up here and beat the dog out of them. The Kentucky fans are lunatics, but they love their team) and I can tell you that noone likes Gillespie. He has made a name for himself by going out partying and hitting on women he shouldn't be (second-hand info). But, like anywhere, this would all be tolerated if he just won games. But the combo of those two things, off-court and on-court problems, plus lunatic fans as previously mentioned, equals me not being surprised if he did get booted out of town. Not a huge Kentucky fan, but I do root for them to become a national power again mostly to bring cred back to SEC (as long as they lose to State.) So if they got someone like those two, it would be cool to see. But I think anyone would do better than Gillespie.
I'm buying, because KY has endured losses no one would have expected, plus KY is not gonna put up with his ****, and the losses.
I thought he was doomed after his first 5 or so games at KY.
I thought he was doomed after his first 5 or so games at KY.
I say it happens in the next 48 hours, now that their season is over. They may wait until after this weekend to see if Calipari or Pitino are still coaching in the tourney, but I think the decision has been made one way or the other.
I think Gillespie, is gone, and if so I think we'll know within 48 hours.
Now, I'm not sure who will be hired...I question that Pitino, or Donovan will be the next coach at KY.
Now, I'm not sure who will be hired...I question that Pitino, or Donovan will be the next coach at KY.
karlchilders said:
I just listened to his post game comments and it's not going to take 48 hours. It's done. Radio guy asked him about his future. Said "It's not my decision. When you work for another man, it's his decision" I agree with 8. Somebody's going to get a helluva coach. If I'm Bama, I put Grant on hold, but I think he ends up at Texas Tech.
patdog said:
You're a numbers geek, so you should appreciate this. He's been a head coach for 7 years. He's been named COY in his league every year but this one and his first one. Edited to reflect his first season at UTEP.
But, I believe the Kentucky brass think they can get a guy of Pitino or Cal's caliber. They may have to wait out the weekend just to see if they can seriously perk the interest of one of those guys. Who knows, they may already have Donovan ready to take the helm. Just speculating....Either way, if Gillespie is out...we'll know very soon.
...I can't speak for anyone, but with probably the best recruiting class in the last 15 years of college basketball coming in, superior facilities, and built in advantages from their affiliation with Fed Ex, I can't see Calipari leaving Memphis for Kentucky.
...he was just going to snap his fingers and the McDonalds All Americans would flock to Lexington? Look at what they start at point guard for evidence of their talent level or lack thereof. It takes time to get things turned around. More than anything else, I see Gillespie as a guy who wants it done his way with no compromise, and he's not afraid to sacrifice W's in the short term to make that point. If that costs him his job, it's a damn shame.
That only means he was a great coach in those leagues. He got to the elite level, and couldn't hack it. When you snap a 30+ year streak of NCAA appearances (only interrupted by probation - and they would've made it those years too), you're doing something wrong. Kentucky should never be in the NIT. Ever. Especially when the guy you ran off took a ****** Minnesota team and got them in the NCAA's in two years. Maybe things had gotten stale with Tubby there, but they definitely downgraded. The unfortunate part is that UK will now probably figure out their error and will land an elite coach and be back atop the SEC in no time. Which sucks for us.
Gillispie is not a bad coach, but he obviously wasn't ready for the elite job.
Gillispie is not a bad coach, but he obviously wasn't ready for the elite job.
...are you saying you don't consider the Big 12 to be an elite conference? It's no less of one than the SEC.
Frances Drebin said:
You are pretty much spot on, except there are some off the court issues that are playing into this. They wouldn't be a factor if they were in the Sweet 16, but The Maestro himself couldn't have UK back in the Sweet 16 this quickly after the shape it was in. I hear the thing that upset the administration the most was when he was asked about being the ambassador for the UK basketball program he replied "that's not in my job description". I don't doubt that some of the stories about his carousing are true, but I also don't doubt that they have been blown out of proportion, too. I think UK is messing up because the talent is just now starting to line up. I also don't know how any University President in their right mind would sign off on a $6 million severance package in this climate. That tells me they have something on him.
...may be true, but it's essentially heresay at this point, unless he has an Andy Kennedy moment and it gets plastered all over the ESPN news crawler. Like you said, maybe UK has something on him, but firing him would be a big, big mistake at this point.
He's not the most lovable guy, and that's hurting him, too. But what message does this send to potential future coaches if they're willing to throw an accomplished coach like Gillespie overboard after two years? Kentucky's a great job, but it ain't the job it used to be.
He's not the most lovable guy, and that's hurting him, too. But what message does this send to potential future coaches if they're willing to throw an accomplished coach like Gillespie overboard after two years? Kentucky's a great job, but it ain't the job it used to be.
MSUCostanza said:
Not true. UK went 13-19 in Sutton's last year 88-89. They didn't go on probation until May of '89. The first year they were on probation they went 14-14 - RP's first year. His second year was the year they would have gotten in were it not for probation.
Frances Drebin said:
The only coach who left it in worse shape than Tubby did was Sutton. It will come back. Louisville is moving into a new arena in a couple of years. You can bet UK will have a bigger and better one within 5 years. The fan base is crazy, but it's part of what makes UK basketball what it is.
I believe Gillespie is a good coach too....they are well-coached, thats easy to see (except by Meo). They are just dont have the talent they are used to having. After Meeks and Patterson there is a big drop. Their PG has only made 32 3-balls all year- less than one a game, thats awful for a guard.
They arent getting Pitino, nor are they getting Donovan. And whomever gets Gillespie is going to get a damn good coach- hopefully not Bama or Georgia
They arent getting Pitino, nor are they getting Donovan. And whomever gets Gillespie is going to get a damn good coach- hopefully not Bama or Georgia
8Dog said:
Don't know what Pat Knight's job status is at Texas Tech, but BCG would be a nice fit there.
....but his lack of three point FGs isn't the reason. There are many, many PGs in college basketball that do not shoot many threes or score a bunch of points. Porter's suckiness is evident in his shaky ballhandling and poor decision-making. He essentially plays scared. All game.
Most people consider wearing an NBA jersey is much better than being shipped off to Italy playing for some obscure Italian team-
to help you understand better- its the difference in being a sports writer for the the LA Times or writing for the Tupelo Journal
to help you understand better- its the difference in being a sports writer for the the LA Times or writing for the Tupelo Journal
I'm saying UK is an elite job - one of the top 10 jobs in America, if not top 5. For whatever reason, it appears he isn't handling this job all that well. The guy they got rid of did a better job with these players than he did. And turned around Minnesota in no time. Just appears that he wasn't ready for a job of this magnitude. It's a little baffling, because he did do great jobs at other programs. He took A&M from one of the worst major conference programs out there and won a lot of games. But with the talent he has at UK, he shouldn't be in the NIT.
but nonetheless, out of the last 30+ years, they've only had 1 non-NCAA worthy season. And Gillispie inherited an NCAA team from Tubby, and has gone downhill, and still has NCAA talent on that team, yet they barely made the NIT this year. I don't see how you can't lay some of the blame on him, particularly, as I said, when you see what Tubby has already done at Minnesota.
Ol Blue said:
What Tubby Smith is doing at Minnesota is irrelevant to UK. What is relevant is what he did to UK. I like Tubby Smith - think he's a great guy and a good game day coach. I think he loathes the AAU influence on college basketball - most people do. But it is a necessary evil and he got to the point where he was constantly looking for diamonds in the rough. His last good class was Rondo, Morris, Crawford, and Bradley and he didn't do a real good job coaching that bunch. Out of his next three classes ONE player - Meeks - has made significant contributions - ONE. UK wasn't on Patrick Patterson's radar screen until Tubby left. Tubby knew where this thing was headed and he knew he didn't have the horses to get it turned around in the one year UK was giving him to do it so he found another job and bailed. All you had to do was look at the roster and you knew year two was going to be tough. The biggest fault I have with Gilliespie is that he panicked and pulled a Tubby with this last class and brought in 3 guys that have no business playing basketball at UK. But he started lining up blue chips for the next 2-3 classes - something Tubby was not doing.
SignedFrances Drebin said:
2002 UNC
2006 UNC
2006 Ohio State
2004 Florida
and others
You may end up being right, but until Cousins and company prove it on the court, they are just guys with stars, like 2005 Duke.