Comments on: A dissenting view on playing at Memorial

By: tom

tom — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:35:11 +0000

We aren’t in the Big Dance. So we’re going to a sock hop. A lot of great basketball players played in that gym. Why not take it to Freedom Hall? Is Billy the kind of coach you want to remember walking the sides of the court when you think of Memorial?
But since we’re going to water down the schedule so we can praise Billy next year, not bury him, get ready. I believe Mitch we get as inventive as Billy is bringing down the program another notch.

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:57:33 +0000

I was at the final men’s game in Memorial and it was special. Many people left early thinking it was over, but I stayed to the end. I then went back to the dorm and watched the replay…no ESPN Sportscenter highlights in those dark ages.
You also left out another Kentucky coaching connection in your article today. Leonard Hamilton, former assistant to Joe B Hall, has his Florida State team in.

By: gilly

gilly — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:00:28 +0000

Wow the nit is becoming quite the SEC proving grounds. The two will soon be synonymous.

By: John Clay

John Clay — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:52:15 +0000

Ohio State beat Travis Ford and UMass in last year’s NIT final. Florida and Ole Miss were the other two teams to reach Madison Square Garden.

By: ed

ed — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:49:21 +0000

Does anyone remember who won the NIT last year?
UK is a mid-level seed in a field of 32 to decide the 66th best college team in the country.
I see Barnhart expecting bonuses for himself and everyone!!

By: Brian Shannon

Brian Shannon — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:33:26 +0000

100% wrong IMO. Personally I have thought for several years that we should scrap going to Louisville or Cincy for home game against a nobody and play at least 2 games a year in Memorial.

Yet I am not talking about playing High Point or Delaware State or some team we pay to get a practice in on but a good team. Like a Florida or Tennessee….how about North Carolina or Kansas someone like that. Let it be a game that is for the fans and not season ticket holders. Could you imagine the home court advantage we would have if the UK fans that actually enjoy cheering for the Cats got to seat close? Instantly it would rival just about any place in the country you can think of. I realize however that it probably will never happen.

But to say it is the worst decision Barnhart has ever made is off base to me. The hallowed grounds were ripped out a couple of years ago when they discarded the floor into a trash bin out back. It is a building with a rich history in it. One that we should be proud of and honor from time to time rather than let is sit only to see action from the women’s team. No it wasn’t the perfect out by saying the Sweet Sixteen is in Rupp we can’t play. For all the PR stunts that Billy has made, saying we are too good for the NIT this season would have thrown gas on a bonfire.

Face it we are where we belong. Once AGAIN in our history we have been humbled. Where you go from being humbled is how you are judged. It happened to Rupp, Joe B, the Sutton years and now again. What makes UK great is we have risen up from the low to greatness EVERY TIME. To not take our lumps and presume that we are above it all would only knock us back further.

Play in Memorial, get the win and start the rise to greatness again Tuesday night!

By: Joe D.

Joe D. — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:04:29 +0000

How much of a postseason bonus does Coach Billy Gillispie receive for “advancing” to the NIT?

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:22:46 +0000

IT’S FOOTBALL TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME IN THE BLUUUUEGRAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

By: JTapp

JTapp — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:35:36 +0000

Oops, I meant that the revenue won’t be nearly as much as a typical regular-season Rupp game (I don’t think you could get even 10,000 people at Rupp with a ticket price of $33).

By: JTapp

JTapp — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:34:17 +0000

The last games played on it have been women’s games, so the “hallowed ground” argument is kind of silly. And the old floor was recently ripped up and tossed in the garbage.

I think it’s purely a cost decision. A lot more expensive to use Rupp than Memorial, and the revenue won’t be near as much as it is at Rupp. In that sense, it was a no-brainer.