Morning Newspaper for January 29th
by Truzenzuzex on Jan 29, 2009 9:14 AM EST
in News
46 comments
The big news this morning are all the upsets of highly ranked teams on the road in college basketball last night. The road is not only cruel to teams like Kentucky in the SEC, but to better teams in other leagues as well, including #1 ranked Duke. I know this isn't news, but from some of the reaction we saw to UK's loss to Ole Miss, you would have thought that it was a rarity.
All that and more in the news, after the jump.
Kentucky Basketball News
- The Daily Gopher merrily criticizes Billy Gillispie, assuring us that "This may be why many (with the exception of Kentucky fans) think he is an arrogant prick."
Two things I would suggest to our brother blogger -- First, did Lisa Salters' cosmetics make her look just like Jeannine Edwards, or was that just my aged eyes seeing things? Second, Gillispie may be an arrogant prick, but he's our arrogant prick. The question was unprofessionally naive and agendafied. Yes, he was rude, but he was also right, and it normally takes more than one such comment to qualify someone as a full time "arrogant prick."
It baffles me why Gopher bloggers seem to have the need to continually find fault with Gillispie. It is an ongoing issue that has frankly begun to get on the wrong side of my normally even disposition. It's as though they feel they have to tear Gillispie down in order to validate Tubby Smith, which is utterly preposterous.
For the record, John Clay also thinks it was a good question. He maybe even thought Giillispie was an "arrogant prick," but found the good grace not to say so. But even Clay should know that it is easier to stop one person than two or three or even four. The correct question was, "Coach, so far Ole Miss has been doing a pretty good job keeping Jodie Meeks covered up, he's only got six points. What adjustments are you going to make to compensate for that?"
That's a really good question, and one that Gillispie ultimately had no answer for. Look, ESPN spent the whole night talking about Meeks and almost nothing else. Watching Kentucky on the floor, you could tell that they were more focused on getting Meeks the ball than finding the open man (remarkably, even ignoring that other pretty good player named Patterson) and getting good shots. You think that all the media hyping of Meeks was partially responsible? We need a team, not two players and ten stiffs.
More here, and then there's this piece suggesting Gillispie was cranky because Erin Andrews wasn't the sideline babe du jour. Funny. - Cats lament lost perfection. Patterson explained that they didn't pay much attention to the scouting report. If they learn the lessons of this loss, it could turn a negative into a positive.
Kentucky Football/Other Sports News
- Kentucky is #1 in the SEC on the Academic Honor Roll. Congratulations to all! [Hat tip -- Matt Jones]
- Will Dermontti Dawson reach the NFL Hall of Fame?
NCAA Basketball News
- Wake Forest defeats Duke. Blogger So Dear (SBN Wake Forest blog) stakes a claim for Wake to be #1, whether they want it or not.
- Providence beats Syracuse at Providence.
- Villanova downs Pittsburgh.
- Cincinnati takes out Georgetown. The Hoyas are taking a beating lately from everyone.
- Tyler Zeller still out wtih the hand he broke against UK. For God's sake, Tyler, preserve the year of eligibility.
- Tubby Smith says he's not leaving Minnesota. Those of us in the know did not need him to tell us that.
- Weirdness in Maryland. Very weird.
NCAA Football News
- Rock Top Talk's hooper looks at football rivalries and team colors.
Other News of Interest
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Felton
As expected, sources close to the situation are reporting that Felton has been fired at Georgia. News conference at 11am. Perhaps the “Tubby” sweepstakes just got pushed up a notch?
by Clay Mason on Jan 29, 2009 9:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Evans: Felton firing a culmination of events
by OGETARTS on Jan 29, 2009 12:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I hate this. I have a lot of respect for Felton, and think he's a great coach.
He was simply never able to overcome losing so many recruits, and good players already in the program.
He’ll land on his feet, and have a solid coaching career.
by Ken Howlett on Jan 29, 2009 12:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Naivete!
Evans said that there’s no reason that Georgia can’t be known as a football school, as well as a basketball school.
Mr. Evans is incorrect. There are a multitude (too many in which delve here) of reasons why a university can’t known as a football school and a basketball school. Proof comes in comparison of schools that have won NC in one sport versus another. The duplications are scarce: Florida being the most prominent.
by Wild Weasel on Jan 29, 2009 1:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Gotta Disagree
If the sole criterion is winning a NC then 90% of the schools out there are neither basketball nor football schools. If the criteria is a little more broad, say going to bowl games in football every year and going to the NCAA tournament every year then there are schools that can be and absolutely are both.
Just off the top of my head: Texas, Ohio State, Florida, Oklahoma, USC, Michigan State are all schools that are known for football and basketball.
...when you let other people tell you what success is, you already have no chance of ever finding it. - Doug Glanville
by JLeverenz on Jan 29, 2009 3:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Known: Definition
In the idiom of Mr. Evans’ reference to the possibility of UGA being known as a basketball school, one can accept the definition of known to be: generally approved or compelling recognition. That being the case I would ask of your examples:
Is Texas known as a basketball school?
Is Ohio State known as a basketball school?
Is Florida known as a basketball school?
Is Oklahoma known as a basketball school?
Is USC known as a basketball school?
The obvious answer to all is: no.
Michigan State does not have enough national notoriety for a distinction to be made, probably to its detriment.
UGA has about as much a chance being known as a basketball school as UK does being recognized as a football school.
by Wild Weasel on Jan 29, 2009 5:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Depends on what group of people you're talking about
Basketball recruits are going to know all about those schools as quality programs. People who follow college basketball, even just a little bit, are going to recognize those schools as having good basketball programs. Heck, people who follow sports in general are going to know most, if not all, of those schools.
...when you let other people tell you what success is, you already have no chance of ever finding it. - Doug Glanville
by JLeverenz on Jan 29, 2009 6:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
erin andrews
bcg’s rudeness was defintely because erin andrews wasn’t working that game haha
by hummer11092 on Jan 29, 2009 11:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Missed Opportunity
Bootlegger missed an opportunity to educate the uninformed that Gillispie is Kentucky’s probably most eligible bachelor thus making the Erin Andrews absence more relevant.
by Wild Weasel on Jan 29, 2009 12:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
For those who listen to the UK pre-game and post-game ...
… interviews Tom Leach does with Gillispie, this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
When G is in a bad mood, for whatever reason, he is not a pleasant interviewee. He’s given our own Leach “down the road” more than a few times.
Erin Andrews — G would never date, marry … whatever, a Gator :)
by Ken Howlett on Jan 29, 2009 12:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
whats the big deal
a) who cares what the daily gopher thinks – i am sick and tired of everyone criticizing UK fans for running off Tubby. all we wanted was for him to get rid of a few assistants who would not help him recruit – everyone seems to forget that he took none of the assistants with him to MN that we wanted him to replace. that being said, i like tubby, i enjoyed watching him coach and i give him full credit for his NC because i do not honestly think Pitino would have won it with that crew. i also wish tubby would win the rest of his games – except the NC game vs UK :)
b) i just watched the interview – i did not see it as a problem – if an announcer is going to criticize a coach for coaching, it seems fair game for a coach to criticize a “journalist” for journalism. its not like he yelled at her and called her names….
by memphis wildcat on Jan 29, 2009 12:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Assistants = Red Herring
Dave Hobbs, Reggie Hanson, Scott Rigot. At UK during 2003 through 2007 seasons. 131-40 (77%).
Signed #1 recruiting class in 2004. Signed Top 15 class in 2006. Signed Top 20 class in 2003. Signed #1 JuCo player (over TAMU and Gillispie, his #2 choice) in 2005. And poised to sign Patterson and Lucas in 2007.
Tubby has 3 new assistants at Minnesota. 1 is Saul. Understandable. Another 1 in Vince Taylor, who has local (Minnesota) connections. Last 1 is Ron Jirsa, who has head coaching experience. Makes perfect sense in EACH case.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 29, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And. . .we're off!
C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!
by NYCCats on Jan 29, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
More Numerical Obfuscation
Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.
The anticipated and obligatory attempt at historical revisionism.
by Wild Weasel on Jan 29, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry
UK struggled (relatively speaking) in 2006 and 2007.
UK excelled (87-15, #1 record in college hoops) in 2003-04-05.
Same assistants, both timeframes.
Bright Red Herring!
by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 29, 2009 3:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Saul at UK
Given the way fans treated Saul when he played at UK can you imagine the grieve he would have gotten had he brought him in to coach…….
the only thing i will say on the recruiting is that while we had the #1 class in 2004, as i recall (and i do not want to be revisionist) but Rondo only came because Pitino “went in another direction” at UL and Randolph fell through the cracks (which is understandable given his work ethic).
Seems like some seasons Tubby woke up in january and “took” who was still left.
my biggest issue with tubby was his comment that his goal was to win the SEC each year and everything else is gravy. maybe i am living in the past and i know there is more parity in college BB, but that does not seem like it ought to be the goal of the UK coach……..
like i said, i give him credit for one of the banners hanging in Rupp and hope he does well….
by memphis wildcat on Jan 29, 2009 2:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
typo - should be grief
also, add chuck hays to the list of those that fell in our laps – i got sick of hearing the tv commentators say the only reason he came to UK was because KU gave “his” scholarship to another kid – i think even chuck endorsed the story. again, i do not want to be revisionist, but that was my perception at the time
by memphis wildcat on Jan 29, 2009 2:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
False
Hayes CHOSE UK over KANSAS.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 29, 2009 3:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Crawford Another Example
You didn’t mention that Joe Crawford was a relative gift to UK after a coaching change at his first choice Wolverines. And Joe wasn’t entirely pleased at playing for Smith:
The Latest: Crawford decides to leave Kentucky — 1/11/2005
After meeting with Kentucky coach Tubby Smith on Monday afternoon, Joe Crawford has decided to leave the program and intends to transfer to another school. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound shooting guard from Renaissance High…[details]
by Wild Weasel on Jan 29, 2009 3:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Actually Erik's Uncle Knew The Crawfords In Detroit
He is prominent Michigan (football) alumnus. The Crawfords asked his advice about both schools.
Not a relative gift by any stretch.
Unless Michael Bradley was a gift also???
by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 29, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Winning NCAA (Once Per Decade)
UK has won 7 NCAA in 70 years, or once every 10 years.
Rupp met that, Hall got close. Sutton didn’t, Pitino did. So did Tubby.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 29, 2009 3:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
and now the clocking is running on BGC
and that is the most important thing.
i do recall thinking Pitino would never get it done after the 92 regional loss to Duke – emotions mask the truth – afterall he had only been at UK since 89…
anyway, sorry to get off on Tubby. I am proud of what he did at UK and i wish him the best – i just get tired of uk fans getting blasted for him leaving. he left, lets all move on and wish each other well.
BGC is the coach now -
by memphis wildcat on Jan 29, 2009 4:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No Clock Ticking
Rupp won 1 NCAA his last 20 seasons at UK.
UK went 20 years (1958 to 1978) then 18 years (1978 to 1996) between NCAA titles.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 29, 2009 4:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Saul
Could not have come to UK to work for his father. UK has a strict nepotism policy that I dont believe would let Saul work under his relative. I may be wrong but I am under the impression that part of the move to Minnie was due to Saul being able to be an assistant.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
by davw83 on Jan 29, 2009 4:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Nothing To Do With Why
But only natural that Saul would be hired as 3rd assistant there.
The Why can truly be found in the relationships with AD and University President. Great up there, not great down there.
Everybody’s happy now.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 29, 2009 4:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm pretty sure I was the only MN blogger/fan to criticize the Saul hire on the nepotism angle
I think Vince Taylor is great. Ron Jirsa has head coaching experience. And many, including 40 year cat fan, harped on my to back off of Saul because he has the experience level of most #3 assistants.
Maybe so, but the real reason he has the job at Minnesota is because of who he is. That’s nepotism. I don’t like it.
But it’s over and it is what it is, and hopefully he turns out to be a damn good coach.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Jan 29, 2009 5:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Saul
He found Devoe Joseph at AAU tourney in Pittsburgh in spring of 2007.
2 years experience as NBDL guard. 3 years as Div I assistant at Tenn Tech.
Willing to work for $60K salary. Few, if any other Div I assistants at BCS schools make only $60K.
He IS a good assistant coach.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 29, 2009 8:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Is he as good
as Pitino’s son at UofL?
by Fortunatus on Jan 29, 2009 10:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Finally able to get my ASoB fix!
I was part of the fortunate 20% of customers of my power company that didn’t lose power at home, but my office where I have my internet connection was not so lucky… I was down from Tuesday early afternoon until about 10 this morning.
I have a lot of catching up to do with all the bitching from our loss!
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
by chirop1 on Jan 29, 2009 1:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Welcome back
My parents and sister (and her family) had to stay at a hotel in Cave City last night because they had no power.
by Ken Howlett on Jan 29, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Favors
Felton’s coaching death warrant was signed the minute Derrick Favors committed to GT. You can’t keep missing on your key in-state players (as Felton routinely did) and expect to remain employed at the state’s flagship university.
C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!
by NYCCats on Jan 29, 2009 1:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Gillispie
I LOVE the way Gillispie handles interviews.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Jan 29, 2009 2:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Just because I'm bored and restless...
I thought I’d share this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn8EQ0azXpQ
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
by chirop1 on Jan 29, 2009 3:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Oh, I like me so Turtleman
He was a motivational speaker for my alma mater Centre College’s football team. Quite the viral video.
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Jan 29, 2009 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Go Colonels
Home of Greg Mason, IMHO the best college coach in KY.
The ice storm has played havoc with all of those beautiful old trees on Centre’s campus. Sad day.
by Danvillecat on Jan 29, 2009 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'll disagree with that too
I’m just in one of those moods today ;-)
Bill Cronin, at Georgetown is the best football coach in the state. And he’s an even better person than he is football coach.
...when you let other people tell you what success is, you already have no chance of ever finding it. - Doug Glanville
by JLeverenz on Jan 29, 2009 5:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Good for him
Greg Mason is a basketball coach. Cronin’s probably a better football coach than Greg is but I kind of doubt he can match him in basketball.
by Danvillecat on Jan 29, 2009 7:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well
THM mentioned football so I thought that was the sport you were talking about. Yes, Mr. Mason would likely do quite well against Cronin in a basketball game. ;-)
...when you let other people tell you what success is, you already have no chance of ever finding it. - Doug Glanville
by JLeverenz on Jan 29, 2009 7:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
After the bowl games
My mind defaults to b’ball so I didn’t even think about it. I just saw the Centre connection. Centre’s football coach is Andy Frye. He’s a good one and is building a program but he’s not achieved the success Cronin has yet. Mason, the b’ball coach is an excellent coach and runs a great program. The highest compliment I can pay him is that he’s the type of coach I would have liked to have played for and will want my son playing for in a few years if he’s still at Centre. The way he’s going some bigger school will probably steal him.
by Danvillecat on Jan 29, 2009 9:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That's good
I visited Centre’s campus a few times in high school (it’s gorgeous) but other than that I don’t really know anything about them. That’s good to hear about the basketball coach – it’s always great when someone in that position is both successful and a great person.
...when you let other people tell you what success is, you already have no chance of ever finding it. - Doug Glanville
by JLeverenz on Jan 29, 2009 10:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Viral video
Indeed. And I think it represents well for all the people in the other thread who wonder where other people get their impression of Kentucky!!!
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
by chirop1 on Jan 29, 2009 4:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Tru
Just wanted to point out it wasn’t me that did the most recent TDG post. I’ve given myself a self-imposed moratorium on tacking whacks at Billy G!!!!
Did I smile at the post? Yeah, I did.
As to why Gophers bloggers blast Billy? I can only speak for myself, and we’ve been down that road. Is it OK if we just don’t like him? I’m personally no fan of Bob Huggins either. And I guess because of the Tubby-UK-Billy G. connection, there’s more interest in coverage of Billy than there is of Huggins?
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
by PJS on Jan 29, 2009 5:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hi PJS.
Yeah, I read the byline, I know it wasn’t you. You would not have gotten the sports babe’s name wrong. :-)
As to your other question — No, it’s not OK if you don’t like Gillispie. We of the Big Blue Nation demand that you (and everyone else, for that matter) abase yourself before him, speak or write his name only after properly sacrificing a field-mouse to the the Wildcat God and pouring out a Maker’sMark libation and then ONLY in reverent tones or words, on pain of N-th degree torture at the hands of the Masters.
The Big Blue Nation does not recognize your right to freedom of conscience, and we reject any and all criticism of our coach as the meanest and most loathsome form of blasphemy, the price for which can only be PAIN! :-)
Just kidding. Hope I didn’t scare you there. ;-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Jan 29, 2009 10:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sound familiar
That sounds like the crowd over at Wildcatnation…………..
by Danvillecat on Jan 29, 2009 11:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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