Comments on: E-mailbag: More venting about the Cats

By: Sanda

Sanda — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:34:11 +0000

Now that nearly two full seasons have passed it\’s not too early to draw conclusions about the Gillispie era. Given that a team is a reflection of the coach i think it is safe to say that Billy Gillispie needs to be shown the door immediately. Barnhart needs to follow him out the door. What is happening at the school with the proudest tradition in college basketball history is a travesty. Gillispie is in over his head at the elite level. Yes he can recruit but he cannot teach, communicate or coach. Barnhart is clueless and surprisingly has looked the other way when asked for comments regarding some recruiting practices engaged in by the basketball staff that stray too close to the line especially given Kentucky\’s history. Barnhart is not the kind of AD that KY needs. Too bad that C.M. Newton is past retirement age.

By: cc on hhi

cc on hhi — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 06:44:03 +0000

Ditto TWB. Being a fan from a distance (SC for me) helps keep things in perspective. I think this year’s lack of progress in the middle to latter part of the season is a little troubling, but it’s not like teams haven’t done that before. I do wonder what BCG’s erratic substitution patterns do to the psyche of the younger players.

By: Hornbuckle

Hornbuckle — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 06:27:19 +0000

One thing those other coaches displayed that Gillispie hasn’t is signs of promise. All signs thus far for Bill point to big, big problems.

I suggest researching Matt Doherty re: UNC. Get this guy out of here NOW and let a real coach go to work.

By: Dr. Rick

Dr. Rick — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:38:13 +0000

John:

I agree with TWB. Billy Clyde Gillispie has never been anywhere more than three years. Coach Gillispie is very intense and very concentrated. His aloofness is his concentration and photographic memory. Coach Gillispie needs at least four years in the SEC. Come on now, UCLA crushed UK after the point shaving bookie scandal of Rupp. How long did it take Coach Joe Hall to land a National Championship? How long did it take Rick Pitino to land a National Championship? Coach Gillispie accepted the challenge when everyone else refused. Why is that so? This is what true Basketball Fans should research.

By: TWB

TWB — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:30:19 +0000

Hey John–
I’m now in IL, but love the Cats to death. I just can’t bring myself to blame this all on BCG. Tubby was a complete class act, but I was happy to see him leave for greener pastures–William wrote that we have settled into the abyss because Tubby has 2 twenty win seasons at Minnesota (while being .500 in the Big 10 for two years). I liked Tubby, too, but 20-win seasons won’t cut it at UK. Maybe distance has given me levity–although we watch EVERY game, I just don’t think the sky is falling. It’s really too bad we don’t have solid point guard play. I’ve never seen a great college team without solid to terrific guard play–it’s a guard-oriented game. I have faith that Billy will get things turned the right direction–let’s hope he gets the chance. My hunch is most of our arm-chair AD’s wouldn’t give it to him. My question to them is this: If Billy is fired after just two years–never even getting to have all his own recruits play together–who in their right mind would want to come to UK knowing what a bunch of knuckleheads we all ‘seem’ to be?

Keep up the good work, John. I enjoy reading you.