John Clay's Sidelines

AP Photo/Ed Reinke

Big Blue Links for Saturday starts with Herald-Leader coverage of Friday’s events:

• Jerry Tipton and Ryan Alessi report on the firing of Billy Gillispie.
• My column saying that this was the right move at the right time.
• Mark Story’s column on how Mitch Barnhart’s task at hand.
• Chip Cosby writes on the national reaction.
• Mike Fields reports that recruits will wait-and-see.
• Jennifer Smith and Jerry Tipton write that players just want some rest.
• Jim Warren gets the UK fan reaction to the Gillispie ouster.
• Ryan Alessi and Valarie Honeycutt Spears report that UK intends to settle for less than the $6 million buyout.
• Alessi and Tipton report that Mike Pratt will be part of search team.
• Gillispie timeline.
• Press conference video.
• Billy Gillispie in pictures.

Elsewhere:

• Jodie Meeks tells Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel he thinks firing “was a good decision.”
• Andrea Cohen of the Oklahoman reports that UK has not asked for permission to speak with Travis Ford.
• Bill Haisten of the Tulsa World writes on Ford rumors with Kentucky.
• Brandon Chatmon of the Oklahoman quotes Daniel Orton’s father as saying they have not decided yet about coming to Kentucky.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that it was demeanor that got Gillispie in the end.
• Vaught talks to Orestes Meeks, who doesn’t seem a Gillispie fan.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that Billy Donovan says he’s not interested in UK job.
• Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal writes that this is Barnhart’s pivotal decision.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Gillispie dismissal links’

SEC links for Saturday:

• Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News reports on Alabama’s hiring of Anthony Grant.
• News columnist Ray Melick writes that again Bama gets its man.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Bama’s new staff could have a VCU flavor.
• Cecil Hurt and Tommy Deas of the Tuscaloosa News report on the Grant hiring.
• Mike Organ of the Tennessean writes on Vandy guard Jennifer Risper.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate reports on LSU baseball’s loss to Ole Miss.
• David Showers of the NW Arkansas Times reports that Arkansas is determined to build an offensive line.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC writes that Rennie Curran wants to lead Georgia’s defensive revival.
• Joseph Person of The State writes on Carolina wide receiver Tori Gurley.
• Drew Edwards of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes on Tennessee’s move to zone blocking.

This was quite the topic on tonight’s Livechat:

As a glutton for punishment, and because of some requests, we’ll do another “Livechat” tonight about this momentous day in UK basketball. We’ll start it at 9 o’clock, or just after the Louisville-Arizona game. Hop on board if you can. Thanks — J.C.

Billy Donovan has issued a statement saying he’s not a candidate for the Kentucky job.

Here’s the link.

Statement:

“In response to the rumors circulating about my interest in other jobs, I wanted to address this as quickly as possible. I am committed to the University of Florida and look forward to continuing to build our program here.”

I’m here at UK’s press conference to announce coaching change. I’ll be liveblogging during the press conference.

• That’s the end of the press conference.

• Dr. Todd is talking about Mitch Barnhart, saying he has never doubted his integrity. Says that he talked to top candidates two years ago and that no one knew about it. Says he really respects his opinion and his evaluation. Says it is a hallmark program for this university and is in very good hands.

• Barnhart says he visited with the players and says he thinks they were tired from the season and ready to get a rest. He said he didn’t ask for an emotional reaction from them.

• Todd says that it is a 1-year contract. Our point at that time was that we have a one-year contract.

• Todd is asked what makes him think they won’t owe the $6 million buyout and he says it is a year-to-year contract, and that were issues that were mentioned that were never completed because the contract was never completed.

• Mitch says the firing of Coach Gillispie happened this afternoon.

• Mitch says conversations didn’t factor into the decision. It was more about the general climate and fit.

• Mitch now talking about the search progress, and says he does know about the Kentucky basketball program and questions about that with the process.

• Mitch says there is no successor in place, and they are working on the process.

Continue reading ‘Liveblog: UK press conference on coaching change’

WKYT is reporting that Billy Gillispie has called a press conference of his own at 11 a.m. Saturday.

UK has sent word that there will be a 4:30 p.m. press conference “to announce a head coaching change.”

Gillispie met for 18 minutes with Lee Todd and Mitch Barnhart.

Hearing reports that UK may be holding its press conference, or announcement, as early as 4 p.m.

Media trucks and personnel are outside Craft Center right now, as most think Gillispie and UK officials are meeting.

Stay tuned.

Updated with Kevin Brockway’s two blog posts.

Not buying rumors that Billy Donovan is in town. I can’t believe that the Florida coach, even if he was interested in Kentucky job, would come to Lexington before the Cats had made an official announcement about the status of  its current head coach.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel writes on the Donovan rumors in his Swamp Things blog. He also writes:

Speaking of contracts, Donovan can walk away from his contract with a written notice before April 1, no strings attached except losing out on his $400,000 loyalty clause. After April 1, he would have to pay a $500,000 buyout — chump change to Blueblood money factory in Lexington.

Also, Fowler writes:

Stay tuned on this…I don’t think Billy will jump. But when schools make their fancy pitches to coaches, things can change that quickly.

Meanwhile, Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun has a couple of posts on his blog about Donovan, once citing speculation that Donovan has agreed in principle with UK, and another post sort of shooting that down.