On BCG cancelling B-W scrimmage...

by bluebloodtoo on Oct 3, 2007 1:17 PM EDT

I am not surprised at the reaction of some fans that want to whine about the cancellation. However, IMHO, BCG is doing exactly what he should be doing. He is trying to WIN GAMES. Isn't that what the BBN was screaming for at the end of last season?

Also, I'm glad to see that BCG isn't scared to upset the fan base. He is sticking to his guns and that is exactly what he needs to do in this situation. He didn't feel the need to over explain, or even really explain at all. He is the coach and those are the decisions that he is getting paid millions of dollars to make.

Honestly fans, would you rather see a B-W scrimmage game and finish the season with a 23-8 record or skip the scrimmage and have a 25-6 record? I'm sure you could argue that it won't make that much of a difference, and you are probably right.

The point is that this a college basketball team, they have absolutely no responsibility to the fan base. In all actuality, the University of Kentucky has spoiled it's fan base by bending to their demands way too often. The only time that the University owes the fans anything is when the fans pay for a game and the game doesn't take place.

This isn't professional sports or a theater. It's a bunch of kids playing for a college with a fan base that is spoiled by a rich tradition of winnning; a tradition which Coach Gillespie is attempting to maintain/rebuild by spending more time teaching instead of entertaining. Let's show him some respect, please.

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Agree...

100%
Some people just like to wine and complain.

I always look forward to the B-W game as I do with any event related to Kentucky Hoops, but I'm sure BCG has his reasons. The best reason I would think is the fact that we have several players trying to recover from injuries. The roster will be a little thin to split up into two teams. I'm a little disappointed, but I'll get over it. Only 10 more days!

by cthom on Oct 3, 2007 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

Well ...

UK does have a responsibility to the fans, because let's face it -- the fans pay the bills.

With that said, if Gillispie thinks it better serves his coaching purposes to cancel that scrimmage, I'm fine with it. The blue/white scrimmage never had that much attraction for me, anyway.

Bring on the ball games.

by Glenn Logan on Oct 3, 2007 5:56 PM EDT reply actions

i kinda agree

i agree that if BCG thinks this will help the team, that he should be free to cancel it. i don't agree about them having no responsibility to the fan base. we're the only reason they get full rides to play a game.

now i could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time) but the B/W scrimmage, like Big Blue Madness, is a free event. I think most of the fans are complaining about it's cancellation because it's one their only chances to see the team play live, either because of distance or money.

Also I don't think anyone has disrespected coach gillispie as far as i know. you may have read or heard something i haven't, but i haven't come across anything remotely disrespectful.

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on Oct 3, 2007 8:00 PM EDT reply actions

Great points....

and points well taken. I could debate the amount of responsibility that the University has to the fans, but I can see both sides of the coin.

The disrespect is implied in the fact of even publicly disagreeing. In my opinion, if you have respect for Gillespie as a coach, then you will take his decisions with a grain of salt and trust that he made the best one with the information and knowledge that he has. However, there is always the "free speech" argument... applicable or not. Honestly, the fact that the public outcry was so muted is a great sign of respect. You will always have some fans that will disagree with every decision you make. Even if BCG decided to sign a #1 overall, NBA caliber recruit, someone would complain that they wouldn't be there for 4 years and that we shouldn't have wasted the scholie on them.

I just wanted to be the one that supported him, and did it publicly with my own honest opinion. I'm quite cynical most of the time, I like to take advantage of the opportunities I have to pat him on the back.

GO BIG BLUE!!

by bluebloodtoo on Oct 3, 2007 8:59 PM EDT reply actions

i see your point

i guess i wasn't taking the "publicly" part of it into account as much as i should have. we shouldn't always be so vocal.

like you, i can be quite the cynic, but right i can say i believe coach gillispie can do no wrong.

i say we focus on the important stuff: the big blue madness countdown is under 10 days!

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on Oct 3, 2007 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions

NO B/W

All he did was take away an opportunity for someone to be injured, in what amounts to, a meaningless game.

by Ken Howlett on Oct 3, 2007 10:57 PM EDT reply actions

Sidebar

As a sidebar to the scrimmage cancellation: Instead of scrimmaging, if I were BCG, I would be working with Jasper on his dribble drive to the basket(When he's healthy). I am not advocating giving up on Jasper's J, but as a 1, he has the ability to create a myriad of mismatches, simply by driving to the hole.

At 6'6, he can take any guard in America to the rack. If Jasper can demonstrate a proclivity to drive, then coaches will be forced to adjust their defenses accordingly. The most likely scenario would be for the 3 to attempt to guard Jasper. If this occurs, the opponent will have at least 1 guard guarding a UK forward. This leaves open two great scoring options for UK: Jasper can outquick his man to the hole, or pass to the forward being guarded by the guard.

With BCG's history of getting the most of out of his guards, I am sure he will recognize how to best use Jasper. I feel though, he can be a major part of this team. He has the unusual combination of length, quickness, with point guard ball-handling skills.

by Ken Howlett on Oct 4, 2007 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed... in theory

I believe that Jasper does offer a myriad of options as well. I'm not sure that focusing too much energy on one player is the best option at this time, I think I would spend more time on "team" play, but I'm not making millions of dollars either...

GO BIG BLUE!!

by bluebloodtoo on Oct 4, 2007 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Blueboodtoo

My comment was simply related to an area of the game UK has an opportunity to take advantage of. I, of course, realize BCG can't spend hours with Jasper, but in the "stations" part of practice working on this aspect of Jasper's game would be beneficial.

by Ken Howlett on Oct 4, 2007 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions