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Around SBN: The Animated GIFs Of January

To everyone who doubts BCG after 1 year and 2 games...

A few important historical facts the fanbase needs right now (posted on Cats Pause by mbc82584 and I thought it necessary to post here too)

Three Exhibits:

COACH A:

-Has 3 coaching stops, here are his first two years at each school:

Year 1: 9-17
Year 2: 7-19

Year 1: 13-15
Year 2: 19-14

Year 1: 11-17
Year 2: 18-11

-In his THIRD SEASON, he improved at all three places, once reaching the NCAA tournament, once the Sweet 16, and once the FINAL GAME. Given two years of mediocrity, he was able to install his system, and win BIG, going to three consecutive final fours.


COACH B:
-This coach was in his first major coaching position, coming in for a team who had been to the final four just two years earlier, and replacing a coach who went to the NBA. Here are his first two seasons:

Year 1: 13-17
Year 2: 14-15

-In this THIRD SEASON, he was able to turn the corner and go 22-9, and finish in the Sweet Sixteen. He'd be in the final four just a year later.


COACH C:
-This coach was left with the cupboard ABSOLUTELY STACKED, returning many players from a team that had just lost in the NCAA NAT'L Championship game, and had the benefit of being led by a future hall-of-fame coach just before his arrival.

-In his first 3 seasons, he suffered losses to mid-major opponents in the FIRST ROUND of the NCAA tournament.

-Even with a healthy amount of talent, he went on losing streaks at the end of 2/3 seasons to sour the fanbase. He even broke a 31 game winning streak against Kansas State, losing to them (GASP) TWICE.

-Given time to install his system, however, and his team not only quit losing the games it shouldn't, but began winning almost all of them, culminating in the National Championship.



In case you're new to this college basketball thing, Coach A is Ben Howland (UCLA), Coach B is Billy Donovan (Florida), and Coach C is Bill Self (Kansas). All three coaches are final four caliber, top-notch coaches, and all three have histories of HUGE struggles while implementing their system.

These schools (especially Kansas/UCLA), likely had some SERIOUS griping fans after the first two years, some even wanting to get RID OF THE COACH. IF THEY HAD GOTTEN THEIR WAY, they would have NEVER ended up with the level of success those programs have achieved since.

In other words, if you are seriously bitching (in by best EBB voice) about Gillispie the SECOND GAME of just his SECOND YEAR, you need to get a grip and do a little HISTORICAL RESEARCH.

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FANTASTIC!

Best part, no UK coaches included in the illustration.

Changing how you think will change what you think.

by wilson452 on Nov 20, 2008 10:26 AM EST reply actions  

Something I never thought about...

Good points… Lets see how it all plays out

Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.

by vinceuk1 on Nov 20, 2008 10:27 AM EST reply actions  

Bill Self

Was one of Billy G’s mentors. So Self is an excellent example. Hopefully we will follow suit!

I still say next year and the following year are going to be a monsters for UK.

by EEWildcat on Nov 20, 2008 10:31 AM EST reply actions  

Nice!

But patience is not something the BBN has an abundance of these days.

Just sayin’.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Nov 20, 2008 12:06 PM EST reply actions  

Patience is not something that the BBN has ever had…which is why we tend to get a bad name at times…we have a select few that are just unreasonable and they speak out to the negative at EVERY opportunity

C....A....T....S CATS CATS CATS

by MartinGolf9 on Nov 20, 2008 12:24 PM EST up reply actions  

I think patience at this point is just a matter of keeping everything in perspective

C....A....T....S CATS CATS CATS

by MartinGolf9 on Nov 20, 2008 12:25 PM EST up reply actions  

I Think Gillispie Deserves LOTS More Time

But I also think he is nowhere near the caliber of coach than Howland, Donovan, or Self (yet). Each of those 3 are SUPERB recruiters. Each has a proven track record (overall, conference titles, NCAA games) that Gillispie doen’t have (yet).

Patience is needed. Unrealistic comparsions are not.

by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 20, 2008 1:40 PM EST reply actions  

And I completely disagree…I think he is a much better coach than Donovan and on the same level with Howland and Self. I think all you have to do to see that is look at his previous stops. If you take into consideration what he has done with UK, maybe I buy what you are saying, but if you look at the bigger picture I don’t think there is any way you could view it otherwise. JMHO though

C....A....T....S CATS CATS CATS

by MartinGolf9 on Nov 20, 2008 2:43 PM EST up reply actions  

Not Even Close

Donovan is one of the Top 5 in Div I basketball.

Self has won 8 CONFERENCE titles and 1 NCAA title in the past 10 years.

Howland has been to 3 STRAIGHT Final 4.

by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 20, 2008 3:25 PM EST up reply actions  

I don't like the implications

That we will have a down season for this entire year.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Nov 20, 2008 2:20 PM EST reply actions  

No One Should Imply That (Yet)

0-2 in a season that has 15 OOC, 16 SEC, 1 or more SECT, and 1 or more Postseason games does not (necessarily) mean a down season.

by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 20, 2008 2:39 PM EST reply actions  

Just Wait

Until he gets his recruting classes in. He is a recruting machine.

UL Football Fan/UK Basketball Fan ~ FOB Kalsu, Iraq

by The White Mandingo on Nov 20, 2008 2:50 PM EST reply actions  

Is he?

I’ve always thought so… but according to ESPN.com’s rankings this year’s class is the 19th best in the country and next year isn’t even the top 25. Hardly what I would refer to as a “machine.”

(Full disclaimer… this isn’t necessarily my views… I’m just pointing out an alternative view.)

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Nov 20, 2008 3:00 PM EST up reply actions  

I could care less about ESPN’s rankings, but the fact is we are getting the types of players that North Carolina, Memphis, Kansas, Oklahoma, etc. are going after. Time will be what will show, not the ESPN recruiting rankings.

C....A....T....S CATS CATS CATS

by MartinGolf9 on Nov 20, 2008 3:06 PM EST up reply actions  

We Got No Such Players From 1990 Through 1997

Not ONE UK recruit from the Pitino era chose Kentucky over Duke, North Carolina, etc. NOT ONE.

And yet, UK did VERY WELL in that era.

by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 20, 2008 3:28 PM EST up reply actions  

Best Recruiters

Roy Williams. Coach K. Ben Howland. Billy Donovan. Jim Calhoun. Bill Self. John Calipari.

Gillispie is not on their level (yet). He’s a very good recruiter but not great (yet).

by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 20, 2008 3:31 PM EST up reply actions  

Good list......

All have proven that they can consistently get great players, and good role players too.

by racercat98 on Nov 20, 2008 4:35 PM EST up reply actions  

Not So Far

He’s a good recruiter. Not a great one (yet).

by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 20, 2008 3:26 PM EST up reply actions  

Unrelated FYI

Our next two opponents are in action tonight…
Delaware St vs Ohio St
Longwood vs West Virginia

by cthom on Nov 20, 2008 5:13 PM EST reply actions  

Both

Ohio State and WVU won VERY convincingly. OSU won by 28 against Delaware St., and WVU won by 32 against Longwood. If we can’t take these teams by at least 20 points, I’ll be worried.

by blbskue on Nov 21, 2008 11:24 AM EST up reply actions  

Matta (OSU) And Huggins (WVU)

Both are experienced coaches with veteran rosters and highly regarded newcomers.

But yes, UK should defeat both of the next 2 opponents rather easily.

by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 21, 2008 11:33 AM EST up reply actions  

We said the same thing about VMI

You’ll have to excuse me if I take a “Wait and See” approach.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Nov 21, 2008 11:43 AM EST up reply actions  

No Excuses

UK must defeat both of the next 2 opponents EASILY.

by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 21, 2008 12:46 PM EST up reply actions  

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