A Sea of Blue’s Ken Howlett has an interesting interview with former Wildcat great Mike Casey, the former Shelbyville star who was the state’s Mr. Basketball in 1966 and went on to be the 13th all-time scorer in UK history
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Casey is not very complimentary of Billy Gillispie, however.
“First of all, I think he’s in over his head. I think he has no clue as to what’s going on in the game.”
“I just don’t think he knows what it means to coach at UK. I hate to say it, but a change has to be made, and soon, or we’re going to lose what UK is all about. Ask (Richie) Farmer, or (John) Pelphrey, or (Deron) Feldhaus what it means to play at Kentucky. Ask them what that “Kentucky” across their chests means. Somehow we’ve let that go. If we lost we came out fightin’ mad; we weren’t going to lose two in a row. It’s beyond me why (Mitch) Barnhart and (Lee) Todd put up with it.”
The interview also has some interesting memories of playing for Coach Rupp.
I agree. I think Mike Casey knows a lot more about UK basketball and basketball in general than Mitch Barnhart. If Billy G was a football coach, I would say he needs more time. Football is more of a numbers game and it takes a few years to get enough quality recruits. Basketball programs can be turned around more quickly and I don’t think Kentucky was in too dire condition when Billy G took over. He has 2 of the best players in the SEC and nation. He has several players that he recruited. If he did not think they were good enough to help he should have saved the scholarships. He has not developed the players brought in nor given them valuable playing time throughout the season.
Everyone keeps saying we are lacking an experienced point guard. We should have had one this year. I felt last year that both Jasper and Meeks should have been redshirted because of their injuries.
I keep saying it, any team with Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks should not be 19-10. People can scream about Point guard play all they want, but a single person would not make/break uk’s season. Gillispie needs to figure out how to be Goliath rather then David (although he’s stated on numerous occasions he prefers the being the latter). They simply aren’t utilizing their assets in the most effective manner. Can you imagine if Jodie and Pat were on UNC’s, Duke’s or Uconn’s team? Those teams would be a force, and their supporting casts are not that dissimilars to Kentuckys
I don’t think that Mr. Casey’s criticism is particularly fair. It seems to me to be more the stuff of emotion than of reason. People get upset about the way Gillispie reacts publicly to losses, saying that he isn’t angry enough or not proud enough or whatever. I think that anyone who pauses to think about it for a moment can agree that the smile Gillispie puts on when talking about negatives concerning the team is a facade. You don’t get dubbed “Baby Saddam” by not being mad about a loss. Likewise, you don’t get SEC Coach of the Year honors when you “have no clue as to what’s going on in the game.”
In speaking with a friend about it, I suggested that if Gillispie were simply more predictable in his coaching methods, he would be cut a lot more slack. Instead, people see differences and decide to try to expose them as weaknesses, when there isn’t always a clear correlation. Billy G got, in my estimation, every possible drop of performance out of last year’s team. This year has been a rocky road, to be certain, but people don’t seem to give him any credit for what he’s already done, and instead divest to questioning his competence. It all has a feel of knee-jerking to me.
We really could use a Kentuckian as the coach!
Mike of course UK never lost 2 in a row before the last two years………….. in your imagination.
Where were you Mike the last two years of Tubby’s debacle???
BG is not going any where and only the irrational and ignorant are judging him with a complete grade at this point.
He deserves 3 full years before a real grade can be given.
I have a ton of respect for Mike Casey, a former Cat and a good one. I must, however, disagree with Mike’s assessment. To judge the ability of any coach based on not even two years at the helm seems a bit of a stretch to me. I’m been watching UK basketball since the 50′s and I’ve seen all the up’s and down’s of the program. The very least you can do is give Billy 4 recruiting classes before you judge him. I agree that we have two of the best players in the country on this team, but sometimes that’s not a real advantage. Answer me this, outside of Patterson and Meeks, would any of the other UK players start for any of the current top teams in the country. Right now teams know they only have to control those two players and the Cats will struggle. Give the man a chance. I know the expectations of Kentucky fans, I’ve been around it for 65+ years and I wouldn’t have it any other way. But, reason tells me it’s too early to to judge our coach, I for one will support him until he has a legitimate chance.
After the Point Shaving Scandal of Adolph Rupp, UCLA crushed the ancient eras of basketball. Mike Casey ignores the fact that every decent coach in America Turned Down the Kentucky Program under AD MB and Pres.LT.. Even “It’s a done deal Billy Donovan” spurned UK head coach position. Why would that be??? Enter Billy Clyde Gillispie who has never been anywhere more than three years. No Contract BCG needs at least two more years, then pass judgement. I hear Dan Issel, Bob Knight and Dick Vitale are still available.
“….It’s beyond me why (Mitch) Barnhart and (Lee) Todd put up with it.”
Mike,
They “put up with it” because they (especially Barnhart) don’t have a clue either!
BCG is the best coach in the SEC. Despite so many people looking for anything and everything to complain about, he is getting the job done. With Billy, we will be on top again very soon.
Those who defend BG are satisfied with mediocrity, and that may be too strong a word.
This guy is a greaseball who slams women reporters and gets technicals that are not calculated to fire up the team but simply the result of infantile whining or worse. I don’t want this guy representing my state school nor its basketball program.
Face it, these kids are playing for their own pride; they are not being inspired to play for Kentucky by their coach. And they are frustrated because the team is not progressing. Most of the losses I’ve seen were due solely to his being out coached and his inablity to adapt.
What are you going to say when Patrick and Jody transfer at the end of this year?
Or better yet, if you were a blue-chip high school senior, would you select Kentucky’s program over any of the other storied basketball programs in the country? I wouldn’t.
It’s sad to see the UK basketball program deteriorate as it has. Gillispie is NOT the guy, and unfortunately those who hired him and would be responsible for finding his successor are as much to blame.
Mike Casey’s right in his assessment, he just didn’t get all those who are to blame.