As Billy Gillispie himself said Friday after UK’s 67-58 loss to LSU, “I got married one time, that honeymoon didn’t last long either.”
The honeymoon is long over for the Kentucky coach. That’s what happens when your team goes in the record book as the first in 17 years not to make the NCAA Tournament. That’s what happens when you refuse to sign your contract, rub a few people the wrong way, and have a different view of your job descripton than does your athletics director, and maybe your president. In other words, your bosses.
So what now?
Something will happen, and maybe soon. Don’t be surprised if that year-end meeting is pushed up on Dr. Lee Todd’s calendar. The guess here is that the school will act quickly, and there are plenty that believe a decision has already been made, and they know where it’s headed. I had an extended discussion with Mitch Barnhart on Thursday — a good bit of it about my column that morning — and believe me he is keenly aware of how the fans feel. (So, too, Dr. Todd.) And Barnhart has solid beliefs about the job expectations both on and off the court. We can second-guess the way the Gillispie hire was done, and I have, but I do think Mitch gets the importance of the position and the gravity of the situation. It’s a tough choice either way. Is two years long enough to judge a coach? But if things aren’t going well, on a number of fronts, do you risk a third?
Back to the marriage analogy. If it’s been a rocky two years, you ask yourself how much do you want to to make this work? Is it worth saving? Will things improve? Or is it best to admit the mistake, correct it, and move on, before there are kids and a mortgage and all kinds of other complications? Is it best to cut your ties and get on with your life?
And yes, it could cost as much as $6 million to make that cut. Just because there is no signed contract doesn’t mean UK can skip out of the union free of charge. The Memorandum of Understanding calls for $1.5 million for each year remaining on the deal. But, as in life, almost all things are negotiable. It’s that great phenomena known as billable hours.
Meanwhile, back on the floor, there’s this thing called the NIT that Kentucky will apparently play in for the first time in 20 30 years. Those selections are made Sunday night. There is speculation that UK could play Tuesday night in Memorial Coliseum. But don’t totally discount the Cats opening on the road, where their name would be a good draw for a school with a bigger gym that might help the NIT’s coffers. Even if that name isn’t what it used to be.
Mitch gave him a SEVEN YEAR contract??? Nice job opie.
2009-1979=30
John,
You sound like BG is set to be fired? Are you holding back or just adding fuel to the fire?
Some around the program are positive he will be fired. Others are not so sure. There will be a meeting and I think some demands will be made. We’ll see what happens from there.
John, didn’t you just say a couple weeks ago that it would be a mistake to fire him after only 2 seasons?
As always, John and Jerry are doing what they do best – adding fuel to the fire. There just ALWAYS seems to be a negative slant in every article, and has been since Coach G came to Lexington. In most cities the local paper SUPPORTS the local teams. Hummmmm????????
I haven’t made up my mind on Billy although I have my doubts. With that in mind I offer these two thoughts
1) Reasons for Leaving – Typically a coach is fired or leaves under pressure due to a poor record or scandal; however, it is legitimate for a coach to leave honorably if he just isn’t the right fit (regardless of win/loss record).
2) A Rushed Hire – It seemed that three of the biggest knocks on Tubby was a) recruiting drop-off w/ poor tournament runs, b) style of play, and c) Barnhart’s desire for Tubby to cultivate a higher national profile. So one would assume that Barnhart would hire a coach who is a “fit” that addresses those areas. It seems to me that Barnhart should have spent more time talking to Billy about expectations related to style of play and his public profile. Recent reporting seems to suggest a real disconnect and Billy really seems to be an improvement in recruiting.
That said, I’m open to Billy returning and hoping for the best next year; however, I hope he shows a greater willingness than Tubby to address his own shortcomings as well as those of his staff.
Hey UK Fan Tom Seaver, I noticed you never mentioned you are a basketball fan, just only a UK Fan. Well Tom Seaver you told us all you are not a Billy Gillispie fan, but we would like you to predict how many points will Tubby Smith defeat Billy Clyde in the NIT? Come on girly man make a prediction and answer a question for once. Oh and one other question Tom Seaver, will you be touring the Joe Craft Center with the rest of the UK Alumni in April? Just remember, I the big gray haired guy in the K Mans Jacket.
Justin, I wrote that it was too early to draw conclusions. And yes, under normal circumstances, two years is not enough time to judge a coach. But I’m not sure these are normal circumstances. And if Billy is let go, or ends up leaving, it will be for off-the-floor differences not on-the-floor. Jerry’s story in Friday’s paper about the differences in how Billy sees the job and how Mitch sees the job is the crux of the problem.
I totally agree, there are things that are forshadowing big changes coming.
I consider myself to be a pretty level-headed UK fan and I think in general, it takes more than 2 seasons for a coach to really get things turned around at any program. It’s not like a coach has ever taken over a program that was down in the dumps and turned them around in 2 years or less before, right?
Like UTEP for example. They were 6-24 in 2002-03 and then 24-8 in 2003-04. Or Texas A&M. They were 0-16 in the Big 12 during the 2003-04 campaign. They hired the coach from UTEP prior to the next season and proceeded to go 21-10 in 2004-05, 22-9 in 2005-06 and 27-7 in 2006-07.
I mean, if that coach can go into those basketball “powerhouses” and get things turned around in 2 years time, then one would think that a coach could do that at UK. Especially if he had two All American caliber players like Meeks and Patterson.
Maybe if Gillispie leaves or gets fired, we could hire that coach? What was his name again???
In all seriousness… I like Gillispie and think he can get things turned around but I would like to see him do a better job of how he represents the University with the media. I also think the loss of Jasper had a bigger impact than people expected. It doesn’t matter how good everyone else if you don’t have someone to “captain the ship” out on the court.
I hope you’re right, John, in your inference that the decision has already been made to send Billy Clyde packing. If he were an amicable guy, more willing to embrace the fans and the media and face the criticism he’s receiving instead of snarling at it, I think people would be more willing to give him a third year to work things out. But he isn’t and is never going to change, like you said, so he needs to go and go soon so the school will have ample time to find a better fit as quickly as possible.
Dr. Rick, I want to commend your progress. You did not focus on my bowel movements. Good job, buddy. As a gray haired man, I know it is difficult to focus on more than one thing at a time. Given that you spouted the same stuff last year about Tubby and BCG meeting in the NIT and were wrong then, I would like to point out that you are wrong again this year. I know that does not matter to you, you know, being wrong and all. But again, you are wrong two years in a row. I will answer your questions, if you will have the decency to answer a question of mine.
The answer to your first question is that Tubby won’t beat BCG and BCG won’t beat Tubby as they are playing in different tournaments for the second straight year. Second, no, I will not be touring the Craft Center. I have coaching commitments this summer the prevent me from traveling to Lexington, but thanks for asking. In my neck of the woods, we actually focus on other sports, like baseball and football. Again, that is progress from your last comments focused on my bowel health.
Here is my question, Dr. Rick, King of the Gray Haired Eunuchs: Is being a UK basketball fan a bigger feather in your cap than being a fan of UK athletics? Now that we have gotten the insults out of the way and you are scrambling to look up the definition of ‘eunuch’, stay focused on the question. I anxiously await your erudite response. Thanks again for not focusing on my backside. That’s just creepy, especially from a gray haired man.
I hope Billy does not get custody or visitation rights once the divorce is final.
Dear Tom Seaver,
This is the least trollish you have been so far. I know you are a steer from Texas. I am busy with baseball for now. I still like the Mets Tom Seaver, hopwever your crap posts do make us all laugh like Dusty Mills. Oh well, the BCG and OTS will meet one day. This year things are reversed. Last year BCG did not deserve the Big Dance and was one and done, and OTS lost in the NIT. This year OTS does not deserve the Big Dance and will be one and done, and BCG will lose in the NIT. Sorry about you and Howard Tom. Keep repeating the obvious. See ya at the sidelines.
Dr. Rick,
Yawn. Good that you actually kept your thoughts out of my pants. Again, creepy old guy. Sad that you cannot answer a question, a simple question. Good to know that you talk to everyone here and know that my posts make them laugh. That’s funny. I will throw my question out there again, in another paragraph even, so it will be easier for you to follow. Here it is:
Is being a UK basketball fan a bigger feather in your cap than being a fan of UK athletics?
That can be answered in yes or no. Knowing you, you won’t limit it to something that simple, but hey, humor me. I will admit to having always, sadly, being a big UK football fan. For what reason, I could not tell you. My favorite player, until recent years, was #38 Steve Mazza. But I am sure you have been around since Bear Bryant and Blanton Collier and have always been close to the program. The inane ramblings of a gray haired eunuch in a K-Man jacket always gives me a big, hearty laugh. I can’t speak for others on this site. I would not be that presumptuous. You, on the other hand, well, your previous post speaks for itself. Just for giggles, I will post my question one more time.
Is being a UK basketball fan a bigger feather in your cap than being a fan of UK athletics?
Hey Tom Seaver, my predictions come true. Tubby was one and done and Billy Clyde lost. Guess I do not know crap about basketball, but hell Adolph Rupp’s bookies do. Sorry that you as an assistant coach of Billy could not get the job done. As always I have answered every question. Since you are only a UK Fan and not a sports fan, read your posts and my posts, I somewhat pity you sad a$$. Anyhow, I do not wear a cap, and I do not kill endangered birds for their feathers.
To quote your sad a$$, “Is being a UK basketball fan a bigger feather in your cap than being a fan of UK athletics?” Gee we are still awaiting your in depth state the obvious analysis. Thanks for the laughs. Please continue to take your meds, especially the Phenadoz.