John Clay's Sidelines

Tuesday notes and Big Blue Links:

THE CALIPARI CONTRACT EXTENSION – More money, more pressure. Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal writes: “Money will buy you headlines, such as the ones that the University of Kentucky stirred Monday by agreeing on an eight-year, $36.5 million contract with John Calipari. You’ll fly on more private planes, sign more recruits with five stars attached to their resumes and play in a Ritz-Carlton practice facility. You’ll have advantage after advantage after advantage. Then March will arrive – and Morehead State will outplay the University of Louisville and its $3 million-plus coach, VCU will thump Kansas and its $3 million-plus coach and Butler will outlast Florida and its $3 million-plus coach. It happens – and it’s going to keep happening.”

- If Calipari ever leaves for NBA, it won’t be about the money.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL’S MOST OVERPAID COACHES – Jason King of Yahoo Sports gives his list of the sport’s luckiest coaches in terms of dollar signs. Ex-UK guard and current Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford makes the list. Jason writes: “The former Kentucky guard is making $1.8 million per year in Stillwater, where he recently concluded his third season with a second-round loss in the NIT. Oklahoma State made the NCAA tournament the previous two seasons under Ford but failed to advance past the first weekend. From 2005-08 Ford was the coach at UMass, where he failed to lead one of his teams to the Big Dance. So tell me: Does two NCAA tournament trips in six seasons justify $1.8 million? I don’t think so either.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: As Calipari gets raise, Ford among most overpaid’

Trevard Lindley

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Herald-Leader columnist Mark Story writes that Rich Brooks is getting last laugh in UK-U of L rivalry.
• Chip Cosby of H-L reports that Trevard Lindley was named SEC’s defensive player of the week.
• C.L. Brown of the Courier-Journal writes that Louisville may offer some different looks against Kentucky.
• In the Oklahoman, Travis Ford says his favorite sports memory is UK’s Mardi Gras Miracle over LSU. (Hat tip Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel reports on UK volleyball winning its second tourney of the season.
• A Sea of Blue remembers Cawood Ledford.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Travis Ford’s favorite is Mardi Gras Miracle’

H-L photo/David Stephenson

Big Blue Links for Sunday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that Gillispie’s attorney expects big buyout.
• Tipton’s notes writes that Mike Pratt will help UK swing for the fences in coaching search.
• My column on Gillispie’s final press conference.
• You can find the video of Gillispie’s press conference at Kentuckysports.com.
• Mark Story writes that now is not the time to throw stones.
• Chip Cosby reports that Rick Pitino pushes Travis Ford and John Pelphrey for the job.
• Rick Bailey reports on UK baseball’s doubleheader split with South Carolina.
• Jay Mariotti of AOL calls Kentucky job the worst in college basketball.
• Gil Lebreton of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes that Gillispie’s dream job was more of a nightmare.
• Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press thinks that Tom Izzo would listen to UK, but not leave for UK. (Hat tip to Tom Leach.)
• Also in Free Press, Drew Sharp writes that Rich Rodriguez should take note of Gillispie saga.
• Thayer Evans of the New York Times writes that UK now spins the coaching carousel.
• Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News writes that hasty hiring of Gillispie hurt Kentucky.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Billy G. farewell and what comes next’

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’