The bovine excrement has impinged upon the rotary oscillator

by Glenn Logan on Dec 29, 2007 11:28 PM EST in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball

I just returned from a holiday function at the home of my wife's new boss. It was a pleasant affair, with lots of food and nice, mature people willing to talk about virtually everything except sports. We drank a few adult beverages, and the host had seven or eight fine whiskies which he opened, and allowed us to taste. Four Bourbons and four Scotches. Even though I am of Scottish descent, I have never acquired a taste for the national whiskey, although tonight I tried a 12-year old Glenmorangie that I think I could develop a liking for.

You will notice that I have not mentioned the Kentucky Wildcats in nearly 100 words. That's because I have no words for what I saw today. It made me very angry, and I can only thank God that we had the function to attend so immediately after the game that I had no time to stew in my juices and write words that I would regret later. Now I am home with a comfortable Maker's Mark, thinking about what I can write that would cut through the woebegone morass of turnovers, missed shots, ineffective defense, and white-hot opponent shooting that doomed Kentucky to it's fifth loss in six games.

This game was a horror, a freak show. It featured a completely hapless team that dismantled our storied program like a Leggo skyscraper, and left the once-proud Big Blue Nation shaking their heads, or rushing to the liquor cabinet for comfort, or venting violently on the Internet yet again. It is becoming a ritual, almost.

I am reminded of the 1984 Robert Redford movie, "The Natural," where the team psychiatrist tries to treat the team's losing ways:

Team psychiatrist: The mind is a strange thing, men. We must begin by asking it,"What is losing?" Losing is a disease, as contagious as polio ...

[Cut to the next game, same scene] Losing is a disease, as contagious as syphilis ...

[Cut to the next game, same scene] Losing is a disease, as contagious as bubonic plague ...

[Cut to the next game, same scene]... attacking one...

[Cut to the next game, same scene]... but infecting all.

[Cut to the next game, same scene] Ah, but curable. Now, I want you to imagine you are on a ship at sea, on a vast ocean, gently rocking. Gently rocking. Gently rocking. Gently rocking ...

I feel like that. Like I am on a team where the psychiatrist, played by Billy Gillispie, tells us over and over after every loss "We'll get better. We'll get better. We'll get ... "

Will we? When, exactly, will we get better, coach? What did we do better today? C'mon, we are all adults here -- we know what good basketball looks like, and lately we know a lot more about bad basketball than we have in a long time. Explain to us how a team with Patrick Patterson, Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, and an assortment of other players loses to a rag-tag group of two-star players and allows a walk-on to light us up for 18 points. Explain to me how a team who averages under 30 percent from the 3-point line can embarrass our man-to-man defense, supposedly taught by a man who eschews all other defenses on the basis that the man-to-man is always the right answer, by shooting an other-worldly 56% from the arc.

Tell me, coach, what the hell is wrong with our team? I don't want to hear about injuries -- even with one arm tied behind our collective backs, we should be able to beat teams like San Diego at home in oh-so-storied Rupp Arena. Tell me, coach. I will believe you, if you will only stop repeating platitudes and start being honest with us. I don't know how it was at Texas A&M, but I do know how it is here in Kentucky, and we don't need coddling and are damned tired of banal B.S. Give us the straight dope, the real stuff. What is our problem, and why are we losing at home to teams ranked in the bottom third of college basketball? You have started everybody on the team but Mike Williams and the walk ons. What is up with this ... process?

Now, some of you will accuse me of getting negative on Gillispie. I'm not. He has only been here a few games, and he is absolutely going to be here for many more. But I am damn sure I have the right to know what the heck is wrong with this team. I am sick and tired of seeing this ... "offense" that is offensive to the very concept of team basketball. For God's sake, coach, just let the players shoot the frigging thing before they can make turnovers. I have never, ever seen such feckless offensive basketball anywhere, and if this is what you are coaching, in my humble opinion, you're doing something wrong. Nobody in the entire universe of college basketball coaches could do less with this team than you have so far, and of that, I am absolutely positive. Is it something you're doing? Is it just the price we have to pay to get where we need to be? What? What is it? We don't lose games like this ... E V E R!

All I am asking for is a little honesty. Tell me this is just what has to happen, that you have to break them down and build them up. I'll believe you. Tell me that you have two seniors who just won't work with you. I'll believe you. Tell me that the team is just having difficulty implementing your system, and we can expect more such debacles before it gets better. I'll believe you.

Just stop telling me, "We'll get better," because if that's true, this team is making almost no progress. This team is exactly the same team that lost to Gardner-Webb, and blew the second half to UAB. I have seen this team before, and I don't like them at all. How many more times am I going to have to watch them? I don't need precision -- a round number will do. Can I expect improvement this year, or must I wait until next? I'm a big boy, and the Big Blue Nation knows that sometimes you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. We can live with defeat, but we can't live with hypnotic bromides.

Tell us anything -- but tell us something.

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Comments

Great post

I watch games like these, and think "damn, this nobody kid sure caught on fire against us. Tough break I guess." And then it happens again and again. I don't think it's bad luck anymore.

by GregJ on Dec 29, 2007 11:43 PM EST reply actions

It does happen ...

but I'm a big believer in "you make your own luck." It just bums me that every answer out of Coach is effectively "I don't know ..."

He's supposed to know, or at least have a clue. I want a little reassurance that the program isn't heading into a septic tank. This is ... not good for us, and if I'm a recruit, I'm wondering if this coach knows what the heck he's doing.

Gillispie needs to assure us that he does know what the hell he is doing. I'm willing to put up with lots of pain, but I need to feel confident that the pain is a means to an end, not an end in itself.

by Glenn Logan on Dec 29, 2007 11:48 PM EST up reply actions

I wonder

I wonder why they kick the ball out for three's the whole game, and then when we are behind by 7 to 9 points in the last minute, they take it to the basket. Don't they realize the other team is letting them take the easy 2 pointer? Why isn't the coach screaming at someone to take the 3? I am a life long UK basketball fan and am hopeful that there is a plan, but I sure can't figure it out.

by markmmla on Dec 29, 2007 11:56 PM EST reply actions

This whole season ...

has been a mystery.

I hope to wake up one day and discover that it was all some kind of master plan by Coach to motivate the team.

I must warn you, I also hope to wake up one day as Orlando Bloom.

by Glenn Logan on Dec 30, 2007 12:04 AM EST up reply actions

This bothered me too

Why were we continuously trading a contested 2-pointer for 2 free throws? Yeah, we're abyssmal at 3s, but maybe there's a time to live by the sword. (And practice some rebounding.)

by EEWildcat on Dec 30, 2007 12:07 AM EST up reply actions

depressing...

it truly is. I fear BG won't make it to next season. But a win next saturday, however far fetched it may seem, would sure cure a lot of our blues

by spork on Dec 30, 2007 12:06 AM EST reply actions

Oh ...

he'll be here, nobody would fire a coach after one bad season. Even Alabama and Florida didn't descend to those depths.

Yeah, a win against Louisville would help, but at this particular moment, it would look like an aberration.

by Glenn Logan on Dec 30, 2007 12:24 AM EST up reply actions

Maker's Mark leaves its

Natural only has 1 u.

8')

by EEWildcat on Dec 30, 2007 12:09 AM EST reply actions

Great questions

Tru,you have asked some questions that will never be answered because we seem to have a coach that is a comedian.If you saw his post game comments,you will know what I mean.It would really be great if Gillispie would speak with honesty,and leave off the cute stuff we've been hearing since the season started.Even in those games UK won,he could'nt say anything constructive about the team.
The most difficult thing to accept is Gillispies lack of adapting to what the other team is doing on either offense or defense.It seems that he has an agenda,and if it does'nt work,there's no other alternative.
So far this has to be the worst basketball team in UK history,and the coach does not seem to be willing to do anything,or is incapable of doing anything about it.

by UKats on Dec 30, 2007 12:20 AM EST reply actions

I just ...

want to be treated like a UK fan, not a TAMU fan.

I can understand why you might spoon-feed the Aggies. They are a football school through and through.

But UK is different. It's time Coach recognized that fact.

by Glenn Logan on Dec 30, 2007 12:25 AM EST up reply actions

Nice bit of writing, Tru.

I am glad you're mad about this. I'm mad. I watched this game like you, I could not believe what I was seeing.

I admit it, it got me upset, and Kentucky isn't even my team... but they're conference brethren and I desperately want this not to be the horrific train-wreck it has become.

This just isn't acceptable. The "sunshine pumpers" of past eras are still out there, but they're selling a new, modified version: trust the coach! He's infallible! He knows what he's doing!

Well, maybe. At least on that last bit. But he's demonstrating either sheer genius or utter ineptitude; time will tell which. There's no grey area, it's all or nothing.

I'm hoping it's the latter, but Gillispie isn't doing much to help himself in making believers out of his public.

Orange & Blue Hue http://www.orangeandbluehue.com

by Gatorpilot on Dec 30, 2007 12:24 AM EST reply actions

I think ...

that Gillispie must come out of this shell he has put himself in. Kentucky fans deserve more, and quite frankly, will get more one way or another.

This isn't TAMU. This is the big time. The sooner Coach gets the difference, the better.

Look, we at Kentucky are comfortable with being a long-suffering football team, but basketball is different. We are surely willing to put up with short-term pain for long-term gain, but the coach does need to deal honestly with us. We can take bad news, but we can't take any more bromides.

Good piece on Fanhouse, by the way. Fits my mood.

by Glenn Logan on Dec 30, 2007 12:29 AM EST up reply actions

Whoops.

I meant, "the former," not "the latter." Heh.

Orange & Blue Hue http://www.orangeandbluehue.com

by Gatorpilot on Dec 30, 2007 12:40 AM EST up reply actions

this season...

getting to the point where i don't care about it......seems like a lost cause at this point even though i'm still holding out a little hope. This can't help recruiting at all, assuming we keep the 2 guys that have already commited who is gonna wanna play for him. Except maybe Hopson who is just a Kentucky boy.

As far as teaching them lessons with losing and not backing down from his scheme. He's never done that before, if I'm not mistaken he turned things around very quickly at his last 2 stops. And I'm sure he had much less talent there, maybe not quite as bad a schedule but still. BG has lost 2 games that are unforgivable and I'm sorry if I'm a little too spoiled but we shouldn't lose to UAB and Houston. I can forgive one but both?

by spork on Dec 30, 2007 12:45 AM EST reply actions

losses

I'm okay with losing to UAB and Houston... I'm not okay with losing to Gardner-Webb and San Diego. (Which I think is Spanish for "A Whale's Vagina.")

by chirop1 on Dec 30, 2007 12:51 AM EST up reply actions

OMG

thanks for that....LMAO

by spork on Dec 30, 2007 12:56 AM EST up reply actions

Bad loss

Hey Tru... from now on, could you not put things in your pre-game analysis like "This team is even worse than Gardner-Webb at the moment, and if the Cats lose this one, it will be the biggest upset in Rupp Arena history."? The whole game, I kept thinking about that.

Sadly, every game we seem to be coming back here and rehashing the same complaints. Yes, Tubby left the cubbard bare... but Gillispie has to be doing one of the WORST coaching jobs I have ever seen in my 29 years. Is this the quality of coaching that wins you Coach of the Year three times in the Big XII? If so, I'm sure glad we didn't get Barnes and it sure makes the coaching in the SEC the last few years look damn good.

There is no offensive plan to speak of. Our problem doesn't even seem to be lack of execution... its just that there's no offense there at all. Now I understand why he promised Patterson 20 shots a game... that's all he knows to do (or so it would seem).

There does seem to be a defensive plan. Unfortunately, when it doesn't work... there's no adjustments to be made.

Last week, my dad commented at lunch that he was afraid we could go oh-fer the month of January. Looking at the schedule I didn't think I could disagree... after this game, I'd say its almost a guarantee.

Every week, my wife starts to look a little smarter when she said Gillispie was in over his head after his introductory press conference. "The captain of the chess team taking the prom queen to the big dance" she said. I scoffed... she's getting the last laugh. Or as close as can come to laughing this year in a house that cheers for the Cats.

by chirop1 on Dec 30, 2007 12:50 AM EST reply actions

Yeah ...

I think you're right. I'm not gonna do that anymore. Mainly because I hate being right about it. Believe me, I kept thinking about it, also.

I'm not ready to abandon Gillispie, but I'm fed up with platitudes. Gillispie needs to come clean with us, and tell us what the hell is going on here.

by Glenn Logan on Dec 30, 2007 12:54 AM EST up reply actions

Take it Easy Folks.............

Stay away from bridges, ropes, guns and sleeping pills. By the time the year ends, you guys will be in an insane asylum.....look, we aren't that good.....but we will be in the future........stop killing yourselves with every game this year......love the passion, but you have to get past the fact that we will struggle mightily all year long........ALL year long in every game.

Kentucky fans deserve more? Are you serious? What makes us entitled to anything? It is up to the coaches to recruit and coach the players THEY bring in. Coach G has one guy on the team he recruited..ONE guy...and he is the best player on the team.

We did get a glimpse of what Jasper can do....4 assists in what 14 minutes? That equates to about 10+ a game when he is healthy. Future is bright.

Stop dribble penetration and rebound. Outside of Patterson, we don't have a good rebounding talent. And Bradley took the blame for not stopping their point guard today. Coach G can't do it for them. But, he can bring in players that can do the job....but that has to wait until next year.

Coach got dealt a tough hand on his first go around.

These blogs are for you guys...but you really think that we have the wrong coach here? Gotta think long term.

Happy New Year everyone.

by Chuck Alexinis on Dec 30, 2007 12:51 AM EST reply actions

I don't think we have the wrong coach ...

but I do need a little reassurance after today.

Happy New Year, Chuck. And thanks.

by Glenn Logan on Dec 30, 2007 12:55 AM EST up reply actions

Tubby..

I bet if he was here we would be 7-4 or even
8-3.....this makes you realize how great he was with x's and o's....he's had great records for some of the teams he's had....but it still doesn't change the fact that he wasn't a great recruiter and thats what matters....but still, were Tubby's players that spoiled, so uncoachable that BG can't do anything with em? He didn't have this problem in Texas. But I'm sure the recruits down there didn't feel like they were entitled to certain things either.

by spork on Dec 30, 2007 1:03 AM EST up reply actions

Getting over Tubby

Tubby left us. We gotta just get over it.

Maybe if we exercise some restraint and give our current coach a chance to rebuild the program, we won't get turned down by marquee coaches the next time there's a vacancy.

by EEWildcat on Dec 30, 2007 10:15 AM EST up reply actions

Reassurances from Chuck

You will probably get one on Monday.... :). Just look at his previous record and his ability to turn around programs...that should be reassurance enough. We just don't have enough healthy horses to compete right now...

It stings real bad....it really does.....kinda embarrassing.....but no one feels that more than Coach G. What else can he say?

by Chuck Alexinis on Dec 30, 2007 1:08 AM EST up reply actions

Don't get me wrong.....

I don't want Tubby back but I just believe if he was here we would be in a much less miserable situation.....but no matter our record still end up without a championship which is what matters

by spork on Dec 30, 2007 1:13 AM EST up reply actions

Tubby Comment

Maybe less miserable this year, but more miserable for the future....he lost his touch with recruiting....I would rather go 10 - 18 this year with Coach G out there recruiting.....

I loved Tubby.....It was time though.

by Chuck Alexinis on Dec 30, 2007 1:15 AM EST up reply actions

agreed

by spork on Dec 30, 2007 1:17 AM EST up reply actions

Bad Loss Response

Wrong....dead wrong. The Baron himself would have a hard time winning with this current group.

We make every adjustment possible....we just don't have HEALTHY players that can execute the plan.

Yep...bad loss....and there will be others....let's discuss coaching "jobs" when the season is over.

Please provide details as to what you would do differently if you were the coach.....keep in mind that your team has two selfish Seniors that have yet to "sell out" to your philosophy, two significant 2007 starters that are injured the first 10 games (+ a 3rd year player in Carter that is coming back from double shoulder surgery)....and the fact that the rest of the team are Freshmen, Sophomores and walk-ons with very little college game experience. Oh, and you recruited NONE of them.....except for Patterson (who happens to be the BEST player on the team...but you don't get credit for recruiting him when you really did close the deal).

Lastly, your team plays for the largest fanbase in college basketball history, yet they sit on their hands during the best years and in years like this when we need 40 minutes of cheering....

Add all that up and tell me what you or any other coach would do better than the coach we have. Suffice it to say I believe that we would have a similar record if Tubby was still here (and Tubby was a great man and coach).

Look, I get aggravated as well with some of the coaching moves, but heck, he is a lot more qualified than me to make those decisions...he is the right man at the right time (there was little to no criticism for his hire).......patience will prove me right....

Again, Happy New Year...and Go Cats.....You have my total support.

by Chuck Alexinis on Dec 30, 2007 1:05 AM EST reply actions

Lastly..............

If Coach G left or was forced out after one season, it would set our program back at least 5 years....So, don't even go there....Yep we are struggling, but the fans are what is embarrassing....we will have a nice recruiting class next year and 2009 will be a very nice class....If Coach G leaves, it will because he wants to leave and he will tell us all to shove it!

by Chuck Alexinis on Dec 30, 2007 1:13 AM EST reply actions

Chuck you are right..

it is amazing that UK fans cannot accept how woeful the talent level is on this team. They think that just because we are UK that we deserve to win against teams like San Diego. We deserve nothing. UK has to earn every win like any other team.

Billy G. has not reached this level by forgetting how to coach or build a team / program. He is unwinding a failed program and building for the future. UK fans need to realize UK is a rebuilding project. Rebuilding from the pathetic recruiting program of the past 10 years.

UK fans need to remember the previous regime never recruited a single player that has played in a Final Four. They are to blame for this talent level and unathletic team. Billy G. is at UK to clean up the mess left at UK and he will do it.

by BeatUL on Dec 30, 2007 5:05 AM EST reply actions

The former regime ...

is not to blame for the debacles against Gardner-Webb and San Diego. That goes on our current regime.

We out-talented those two teams 2-1, and that is a fact. North Carolina, Indiana, even Houston -- yeah, some of the blame for those could be ascribed to Smith for not leaving better players behind. But no way are out players not better than G-W and San Diego.

No way.

by Glenn Logan on Dec 30, 2007 8:42 AM EST up reply actions

So true...

I am definitely in the crew that felt it was time for a change in Lexington. I'm also firmly of the belief that any coach deserves 3-4 years (excluding NCAA violations) to show what they can do at a school.

That said... I'm convinced that our record with Tubby would be 8-5 with the current team. Make Gardner-Webb a win and add two losses to UConn and Memphis. Then take out the loss to San Diego and either UAB or Houston. (Well... and we might have to add in a loss to UMass if he was still here.) That's where I feel this level of talent should have us.

Yes, Gillispie closed the deal on Patterson, but at this point I think Tubby might have too.

by chirop1 on Dec 30, 2007 9:17 AM EST up reply actions

Errrr... need and edit button

Just realized that if we had lost to UConn, our next loss would have been to Oklahoma St not Memphis.

by chirop1 on Dec 30, 2007 9:22 AM EST up reply actions

I agree....to a point

I agree that Tubby is not to blame for losing to GW and San Diego as he did not coach the team those days...but he is to blame for recruiting the players that we have (outside of Patterson) currently on the roster. They are all role players will little to no Basketball IQ. We obviously lack a floor leader that the other players can look to...that is why Coach is begging PPat to be that guy as a freshman.....so, Tubby was and is an excellent coach...however, he is directly responsible for the players that we do have....

by Chuck Alexinis on Dec 30, 2007 11:25 AM EST up reply actions

Biggest Positive Game After Game

Caught up in all this negativity is the phenomenal talent that is Patrick Patterson.

I just want to say that I love this kid. I hate seeing him get triple and even quadruple teamed every time he touches the ball. I love how he passes. I love how he catches the ball. I love how he has a soft touch on his turn-around baby hook. I love how he can step out and shoot from near the top of the key. I love that he can shoot free throws. I love that he can rebound. I love that he SAYS he'll be here four years. That at least makes me feel like we'll have him next year.

One other positive I want to point out is that despite all the horrible stats we have compared to the rest of the SEC (only team with a losing record right now... ugggh) we have the highest free throw shooting percentage in the league. I'm not sure how we went from struggling with free throws the last few years to being so good at it, but I'll take it. (Can it really be so simple as trading Morris/Perry for Patterson?)

by chirop1 on Dec 30, 2007 9:21 AM EST reply actions

Why Can't I question the coach??

Tell me why I can't question the coach? How much does he make? Yeah, I thought so...so he better have some tough skin and an ability to explain what is going on and why...

Meeks is available...what does that mean? What is he trying to prove?

And again, I will question whether or not he can coach...there has been NO EVIDENCE so far that he can coach X's and O's...and against SDU you don't need 'jimmies and joes'...St Jude's High School Team here in Montgomery would have looked better than UK did yesterday...

I am beginning to really wonder if Billy C G can truly coach a team...

OK enough is enough...what will Pitino do against this team next week? I hate to see that ....also, how can UK go through the SEC and win 8 games? I don't think so...

JMT

by JohnMarkTrent on Dec 30, 2007 9:24 AM EST reply actions

Questioning the Coach is fine........

No problems with questioning the coach......I have my own concerns as well...however, it is completely obvious to me that we just don't have the level of basketball IQ needed to compete at a higher level. I wish Coach would do things like start Crawford so he won't be a cry baby like he is, but that is 180 degrees opposite of what Coach G stands for....plus injuries, etc.

I think the effort is there....but it just looks like these players have the inability to implement the adjustments that are made. We can all see adjustments that we are trying to make during the game....the players are simply not doing it.

I still think that we can make a difference THIS year....but it will be painful.

by Chuck Alexinis on Dec 30, 2007 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

Great Post

Tru -

I love this. Great post. He's gotta show some honesty, throw the media a bone or something at this point. It's gotten way out of hand.

www.billygsucks.com

by BillyGsucks on Dec 30, 2007 9:47 AM EST reply actions

I hate it ...

I hated writing it and I hate saying it. I want to write happy things, things that make me proud, and I want to write them about this coach and this team.

But I will not ever hide my head in the sand.

Never.

by Glenn Logan on Dec 30, 2007 9:58 AM EST up reply actions

Hang in there Tru..........

What happy things to write about? UK football! Let's bring it home tomorrow!!!!!! This school (UK) needs a doubleheader of UK victories....I think we get it!

by Chuck Alexinis on Dec 30, 2007 11:31 AM EST up reply actions