Pelphrey Getting it Done

by EEWildcat on Jan 7, 2009 12:05 AM EST Comment 21 comments

Arkansas has now upset two top-10 teams, first Oklahoma, and now Texas today. It's going to be hard to keep them out of the top 25 with those wins and a 12-1 record.

Could it be our Nolan Richardson-era rival is rising again? Arkansas is now looking like the team to beat in the SEC West.

Maybe the SEC's not as bad as all the pundits think. The cats definitely need to keep their concentration up and not take the SEC for granted - it's going to be tougher than most people suspect.

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Yes, Pel is off to a great start at Arkansas

He did a nice job last year and he’s doing an even better job this year. He’s fun to watch on the sidelines. He’s very animated and very passionate. I think he’s in a good situation and the fans have really embraced him.

I didn’t like that red jacket he was wearing yesterday, but I won’t hold that against him. :-)

by OGETARTS on Jan 7, 2009 9:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I Was Surprised Pelphrey Didn't Get Much (If Any) UK Consideration In March 2007

Based on what I heard, the list was short. Billy was #1 on it but he said No after NCAA championship. Barnes was #2 but declined interest quickly.

Pitino let UK sources know he would be interested but it never got to the serious level.

Gillispie was #3 and promptly hired. Neither Pelphrey nor Travis Ford got considered seriously.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 7, 2009 11:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

He will retire from UK in the distant future.

Many of the same comments on the “Sloan transfer” post hold true inside of John.

When BCG and UK one day sit down to trade “Its not you it’s me” over a break up dinner possibly at the Olive Garden, a lovely evening out really with those limitless bread sticks and all, John will have PROVEN not to be a UNC/Dorty situation and therefor “worthy” of the spot. I think that is why he and Travs were not listed.

I also feel it will be John and not Travis one day. IMHO.

As for today, I am happy for him and pleased with our growth too.

Changing how you think will change what you think.

by wilson452 on Jan 7, 2009 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the argument there is that neither one had shown success on the "major" level yet

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

by chirop1 on Jan 7, 2009 11:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

Billy was a few years ahead and NOT a homer. If he screws up fine, in the mean time John and Travis are proving themselves.

The national spanking UNC got for going with the loved but unproven homer that wrecked Dad’s Aston Martin had to have been in the minds of UK. They did not want a busted Aston Martin and did not want to tarnish one of the kids forever.

Just a thought.

Changing how you think will change what you think.

by wilson452 on Jan 7, 2009 12:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Forty.... at the time

…. Pel had an 80-67 record at South Alabama in 5 years. He had no NCAA or NIT tournament wins, he had 12 or more loses in 4 of his 5 seasons and he was just 44-40 in conference play. Yes, he was a former player and he did work with Donovan for quite a while, but his record as a head coach was not very impressive. It was a risky hire for Arkansas (and he was not their first choice, btw) but it’s turned out very well so far and I’m really happy for him. I hope he continues to do well.

by OGETARTS on Jan 7, 2009 2:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not their first choice

Or their second…
Or their third…

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

by chirop1 on Jan 7, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Adolph Rupp Was UK's 2nd Choice In 1930

Rick Pitino was 3rd choice in 1989.

John Wooden preferred Minnesota to UCLA in 1948 and tried to leave UCLA for Purdue in 1950 (but they enforced the 3rd year of his contract).

by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 7, 2009 4:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Regardless

Surprised he wasn’t considered by UK.

Joe Hall had a weak record at Central Missouri St and Regis before he coached at UK.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 7, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One big difference

Joe B Hall was an assistant coach at UK for 7 years before he took over.

by OGETARTS on Jan 7, 2009 4:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And Started Out 33-21 His First 2 Years At UK

He was anything but a great coach when he took over at UK.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 7, 2009 4:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

well

a friend of mine has some inside info from Arkansas and it was said that they were waiting to see if Pel was offered UK so either they knew that Pel was on the short list or knew that he could be. On the South Alabama thing……………….Pel turned that awful program into a competive program. They loved him down there. Pel was listed as the top assistant in the country at Florida. He has had alot of good things going for him. Heath did a good job recruiting but just couldn’t coach as well, so John walked into a better situation at Arkansas then he did at South Alabama which I think won two or three games the year he came.

by tenken on Jan 7, 2009 11:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I posted this elsewhere

but Arkansas could be a solid contender for the SEC title. The W is weak overall again this year (weaker than the E I should say).

by blbskue on Jan 7, 2009 12:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He sure would look good in blue again

some day, maybe…

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

by vinceuk1 on Jan 7, 2009 12:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Blue again :-)

I agree…I detest that horrible red he has to wear. He would look so much better in UK blue.

Good luck John. We are all rooting for you!

by kykat51 on Jan 7, 2009 12:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Arkansas no longer a sleeper

and they remind me of the “surprising” Georgia team that won the SEC tourney last year; albeit, a stronger inside game.

by hoboat33 on Jan 7, 2009 6:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Joe Foley contacted the search firm

for Arkansas and told them that if Donovan went to the Magic they were going to hire Pelphrey and if Donovan stayed it would be in their best interest to hire Pelphrey. The rest is history.

Pelphrey has said that he doesn’t think he would want to coach at UK for the simple reason that if he didn’t succeed and was outed as coach he couldn’t bear with leaving UK with bad memories. He would rather keep his great memories of UK. Maybe he’ll change his mind in the future should the situation ever arise. It would be a hard decision I’m sure but he’s a stand up guy and whatever decision he would make would be the right one.

by bluecrip on Jan 8, 2009 10:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Same stuff that kept Roy Williams out of Chapel Hill for so long.

Doesn’t look like Roy will be leaving with any bad memories. He got his one and only NC after he returned. John should go to school on that.

by Ken Pomeroy on Jan 9, 2009 5:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Roy didn't sit in the big boy chair the first time it was offered

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

by chirop1 on Jan 10, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

you

hit it right on the head there blue…..As much as I would love for him to come to UK, I think that right there may keep him from coming to UK.

by tenken on Jan 8, 2009 11:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

One other comment concerning Pelphrey to UK

I have had a number of Razorback fans that are now rooting for UK to do well. They don’t want to see UK suck and try to lure Pelphrey away now that he has gotten their basketball jones on. As long as UK and Arkansas are faring well the SEC and especially UK prosper. Add some Razorback love, boy have they got a rabid fan base, to the Sea of Blue and you’ve got some potent fans cheering for UK success! :) Thank you Pelphrey!!!

Also, Dana Altman couldn’t be a more loved guy now too! His one day affair that left a spot for Pelphrey couldn’t be a bigger sigh of relief for them right now!!!

by bluecrip on Jan 11, 2009 1:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs