John Clay's Sidelines

Watching Louisville be blasted by Notre Dame, Bennie just sent me an e-mail pointing out something I noticed, as well.

Bennie writes:

John, I know you work for the Lexington paper, not the Louisville paper.  However, in the name of fair reporting, I would hope that you could find room somewhere in one of your columns to mention the fact that Rick Pitino flat out declined to be interviewed at halftime of the UL/Notre Dame game by Holly Rowe.  You might also mention that Pitino’s team just got the crap kicked out of them by a team that had lost seven in row.  Of course, knowing Rick like we all do, he’ll come up with some subtle excuse as to why his team didn’t perform well, and because he is such a media darling everyone will just buy the excuse and no one will criticize him for ducking out of the interview.

He’s right. Holly Rowe, ESPN’s sideline reporter for the game, mentioned that Rick turned down the halftime interview. In fairness to Rick, I have seen him interviewed at the half many times. I guess, down 18, this game he felt like had better things to do.

At this point, I’d rather Gillispie turn down the interview than leave the boorish impression he has been giving viewers. What bothers me more is that he doesn’t have to do it. By and large, Billy is pretty good with we media that cover UK on a regular basis. He has his moments, as all coaches do. And he sometime will tell you if he doesn’t like a question. But he does have a lot of interesting ideas and thoughts on the game. He studies it. I’m just not sure why he takes the attitude with the halftime interview, and with Edwards, that he does.

Here’s what I’ve heard (so far) from the local radio call-in shows:

• WLAP-630: Dick Gabriel says that, starting at 6, he will tackle the Billy Gillispie-Jeannine Edwards halftime soap opera. In fact, Dick has given a preview on his blog. The UK-Auburn women’s game follows at 7.

College basketball on the tube for Thursday, Feb. 12:

Calathes

Good, aggressive e-mail from Mike concerning a note in this morning’s column contending that Nick Calathes may be the best all-around player in the SEC:

Mike from Jackson writes:

Mr. Clay,

In what world of delusion is Nick Clathes the “best all around performer in the SEC”?

If you wanted to make the argument that he had the best all around performance in Tuesday night’s game, who could argue. But if you’re looking at the season as a whole, that’s a ridiculous contention.

Meeks is as good or a better shooter, as good or a better scorer, as good or a better free throw shooter. And Meeks does all this with MUCH more intense focus from opposing defenses. But if you go no further, the MOST you could claim is that it is a push.

But Meeks is so much better as a rebounder, and so VASTLY superior as a defender, that he leaves Calathes in the dust. Calathes is a very good player that any team would love to have. But I doubt you’d
find 10 coaches in D-1 that would take him ahead of Meeks on their team. INCLUDING Billy D.

Meeks

My reply:

Mike,

Thanks for the e-mail. I would debate you on one point — rebounding.

Going into the UK-Florida game, Calathes was 11th in the SEC in rebounding (conference games only) at seven per game. Meeks wasn’t in the top 30.

Meeks is the better scorer, even though Calathes did get 33 on Tuesday. And Meeks made the clutch shot at the end, while Calathes couldn’t knock down any of his three throws when Florida had a chance to send the game into overtime.

Calathes is the better passer. And you’re probably right, Meeks is the better defender.

Believe me, I love Jodie. I think he’s had a tremendous season, and he’s one of the better kids I’ve ever been around. I didn’t mean to knock Jodie. I’m just saying that I think Nick can do a few more things, even if his greatest strength is not as pronounced as Jodie’s greatest strength. (If that makes sense.)

It’s a fun debate to have, by the way.

By the way, the most recent nbadraft.net projections doesn’t list either Calathes or Meeks. It does have Patterson at No. 19.

As you may have noticed, I’ve taken down the poll asking you to grade UK’s football recruiting class.

Here are the results:

• A — 130
• B — 228
• C –  67
• D –   8
• F –   9

New question is: Which team do you think will win the SEC East in basketball? You can vote in the sidebar on the right.

Kentucky’s average points per possession in SEC games this year:

The points per possession formula is: Points divided by (Field goal attempts minus offensive rebounds plus turnovers plus (0.475 times free throw attempts)).

Updated with “Nancy,” which I had to include.

P. writes:

Why don’t you stop being a little Nancy.  How’s that for sexism.  As if Gillispie is the only coach to give a ditzy, field reporter a hard time in half-time interviews.  Urban Meyer comes to mind…I could go on and on.  Edwards asks long –winded, poorly delivered questions.  Questions should be short questions…their pointless anyways.  How about devoting your energy towards supportive articles about our Coach and team.

Time to open up the old e-mailbag, which finds the inbox full of Billy Gillispie:

Philip writes:

The only thing thats a tired act is your boring articles.  Billy G did nothing wrong, he didn’t hear the lady and he said he was sorry after he didn’t hear what she had said.

Rob agrees:

The only act that’s tiresome is people like you incessantly whining about Coach Gillespie’s halftime comments.  I wish you guys would get over it already.  It wasn’t that big of a deal.

R.S. writes:

One hail Mary a team does not make!

Russell writes:

John we had some good talks last year on Billy G,i defended him alot and i still think that he will win alot of games at UK but at what expense? For once im in agreement with you on his attitude,Mitch cannot allow this coach to belittle people on tv radio ect, i have lost alot of respect for this man, John i think if we go 32-3 we will still be unhappy because of this mans attitude and will still be asking ourselves is this the face we want representing this university!  It should be more than wins or losses.

Ed from Tulsa writes:

My vote for Billy G as a coach is still in the “undecided” category.  He can continue with is interview conduct but what goes around, comes around.  Some highly sought-after recruit’s Mom will let Billy G know in no uncertain terms why she doesn’t want her son learning basketball and life-after-basketball lessons from BCG.

So far as the current team is concerned, at halftime last night I told my wife Casey Stengel’s famous quote: “Can’t anyone here play this game?”  But with the performance of the underachievers in the second half — a more or less positive performance — I hope the worm has turned — or rather should
that be turned over.

Continue reading ‘E-mailbag: Debating Billy G.’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• My notes column for Thursday includes argument that Gillispie’s half-baked halftime shows need to stop.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes on Kevin Galloway unleashed.
• Herald-Leader has report of the passing of UK signee Daniel Orton’s mother.
• Brandon Chatmon has the sad details of Carolyn Orton’s death in the Oklahoman.
• UK update says Patrick Patterson is day-to-day with sprained ankle.
• Mark Maloney of the Herald-Leader writes from UK baseball’s media day.
• Doug Segrest of the Birmingham News puts the UK coaching job No. 1 in the SEC.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal also writes on Galloway.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes on Jodie Meeks’ game-winning shot.
• Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald reports that Antoine Allen, who decommitted from Providence and drew interest from UK, has committed to Miami.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Galloway makes most of his chance’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Gary Laney of The Advocate reports on LSU’s two-overtime win over Mississippi State.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger writes about the riveting Tigers-Bulldogs game.
• Veazey also writes that Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy is enjoying the respite.
• Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser reports on Auburn’s win over Arkansas.
• In the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Bob Holt writes on the Razorback loss.
• Also in the ADG, Wally Hall writes that Marcus Monk and the NCAA search for answers.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Mike Griffith reports on Tennessee’s drubbing of woeful Georgia.
• News-Sentinel columnist Mike Strange writes that Ryan Childress is a welcome addition for Tennessee.
• Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean writes that tougher tests await Tennessee.
• Michael Carvell of the AJC reports that Georgia is taking the high road with regards to criticism from Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin.