I think its time to trust Billy
by tenken on Feb 24, 2009 10:40 AM EST
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PrintI was lurking around this morning and found an article from the Chicago Sun Times talking about Alex Legion. I don't know how to link it but its from yesterday's paper. It basically talked about that Legion is in the same predicament as he was at Kentucky. He is going to have to prove himself at Illinois. Weber isn't giving him a free pass. He is sitting the bench. Weber said he would have to prove himself in practice. Does this sound famaliar? Grass is not greener on the other side, Alex, huh ?
My fellow Kentucky fans, its time to trust coach. All this lack of playing time, sub patterns, and such are at best maddening to us fans. Something is telling me though that its for the best of those kids with Kentucky jerseys on and its best for the overall Kentucky program. The one thing that I don't like is kids coming in and thinking that they are bigger then Kentucky basketball. Its never a good thing to feel that way. I have a feeling that Liggins felt that way. Hence starting Porter. Has Porter cost us some games? I do think he has GREATLY contributed to some losses at the beginning. If coach can get Liggins ego down a little then maybe just maybe Liggins can start and be what he is meant to be. That will never happen if coach doesn't take him down a notch. When you think that you are better then everyone else, you are selfish and often make stupid mistakes. It makes for bad team chemistry-on and off the court. I played with Stacey Reed(our starlet from Laurel County and UK womens bball player) and Stacey played varsity in eight grade. Helped us win state in EIGHTH GRADE. She was a phenom from the time I remember competing against her in tourneys. Stacey though was a team player. Everyone loved her. She encouraged the terrible players(yours truly). I am telling you it makes a huge difference.
Its important that coach has good chemisitry on his squad. Its good for Kentucky basketball. So when we question why our future stars are not playing then lets remember Alex Legion. Coach has a reason for it and we are just going to have to trust him. Its for the betterment of the team and the program. That is why I still to this day will say that when he answered Edwards question at Ole Miss, he wasn't being rude to her, he was saying to BBN and to his team "This is not University of Jodie", This is Kentucky and there is a team not just one player. Something tells me that there may have been some green eyed monsters on the team and some bad chemistry was going on and he took that opportunity to say WE ARE TEAM!!. Jodie was becoming a distraction(not brought on by himself, but by media) and it needed to stop. Its hard having a star/starlet on your team. Its important for the coach to nip it. So I say he has made good decisions. I am willing to trust him.
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I Think Legion Will Do OK At Illinois (Eventually)
The Illini have a senior (Calvin Brock) who struggled for a year or two but is now a reliable 6th man for them.
It’s time for Coach Gillispie to produce UK caliber results. There may be reasons why but he hasn’t produced them so far.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 10:49 AM EST reply actions
Oh
Yeah, Legion will be fine. I think he will do some great stuff for Weber. But he thought he was going to come in and just take over and do what Coach wouldn’t let hm do at Kentucky.
What is your theory on why he hasn’t produced? BTW, I say he has produced some good results, and with time we will be back to where we were five years ago and beyond.
Injuries And Transfers
UK underachieved in 2008 due to many injuries. The transfer of 4 players from last year’s team made 2009 more difficult. And (frankly) Gillispie really struggled coaching Uk early on last season.
He is 37-21 (64) so far. UK was 44-25 (64) the 2 years before he arrived. That (64%) won’t cut it at UK.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 11:14 AM EST reply actions
UK underachieved..........
hmmm. I am not sure about that. Its a hard transition for players to go from calm,cool and collected Tubby to hard butt , stubborn, cussing BCG. Yea, I would agree with you on the early season coaching. But I like what he did with Bradley and Crawford.
18-13 = Underachieved
UK should have been at least 9-3 rather than 5-7 in OOC play.
12-4 in SEC was good. 0-1 in SECT was not good. 0-1 in NCAA wasn’t good either – UK hadn’t lost 1st round NCAA game since 1987.
Last year’s team had 23 to 25 W potential.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 12:11 PM EST up reply actions
Cannot
believe that I of all people are saying this right now but……the win loss record last year is not indicative of how successful he was last year or if he underachieved. He was coach of the year for goodness sake. I will grant you it wasn’t the best year for us win/loss but I think back to how we came to celebrate Kentucky again. It had been a long time since BBN had done that. I call that achievement. Again your right about before conference. But after that he achieved better then most thought he would.
Indeed, It Is
UK had enough talent to have a better record than 18-13 in 2008. At least 5 more W, maybe more.
I “celibrated” Kentucky every year since 1966. I don’t remember 2008 as anything special.
OOC = F. SEC = B. SECT = F. NCAA = F. That’s how I’d grade the 2008 season.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 1:02 PM EST up reply actions
Most People "Celebrated" Kentucky As Recently As 2005 Season
I cannot imagine why anyone wouldn’t be please with 28-6 and Elite 8 in NCAA.
I don’t see 2005 as a long time ago.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 1:04 PM EST up reply actions
Ok
before we get on the Tubby banter that I am sick of. You and I know that BBN was at war with each other, even with the obvious success of the 2005 season. It was so stupid. I totally agree that Tubby Smith was the most underappreciated coach of the Kentucky basketball era. It was unfair and wrong. I don’t blame him for bolting. I would have done the same. His last two years here were kind of like the economy…..going through its normal ups and downs but people tend to panic. Still though BBN was at war. Tubby lost his desire to coach at UK and frankly as a fan BBN was no longer fun. Last year at the end of the year it was fun. Again…….your perspective is mathmatical and mine is emotional. I saw us ban together in adversity like never before(towards the end of the season). I call that success. Basketball is more then x’s and o’s to a fan. Its emotional. There is the bad part of it in the form of crazy expectatons and there is the awesomeness of it in that when we have the worst record in years-we ban together because we saw heart in the way they played. Not all people are like this but alot are. Its why we are fans. The psychology of fandom is the need to “feel good” about something. It comes in either wins or feel good stories. Last year was a feel good story for all of us. Just read ASoB from back then. I remeber some tear jerking post from back then.
And for your mathmatical brain please remember that BCG was voted coach of the year by his peers for that supposed underachieving 18-13 season.
2005 Results Achieved By Players
It was not A Long Time Ago. It’s silly to pretend that it was.
UK has had 3 straight subpar years and may be headed for a 4th straight, or maybe not.
SEC COY for 12-4 record. UK averaged 12-4 over the past 15+ seasons. So 12-4 is “average” at UK.
He was 6-9 versus other opponents (OOC, SECT, NCAA).
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
Its
quite silly to debate this point. Again its an opionion as you pointed out. My word is not gospel and not intended to be.
For what it's worth...
I have trusted and believed in Coach Gillispie from day one. I have not ever wavered from that even though many have. I am not the type to start in one direction and then go another just when the Cats lose.
I honestly believe that had Jodie and Patterson been without injuries last season, the outcome would have been totally different for the team’s stats.
I'm right there with you kykat!
I have been behind Billy even when it was a pretty lonely place to be. I have said this before and will say it again – I really believe that Billy is our guy.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Feb 24, 2009 1:59 PM EST up reply actions
He May Be BUT He Has To Show It With Results
The “cheerleading” is fine and dandy but it’s all about W and L at UK.
Gillispie is unproven. He’ll get 4 or 5 years to prove or disprove his worth,
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 2:16 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe So
No evidence of it (yet).
Have to wait and see.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 4:11 PM EST up reply actions
Hey Tink!
We may be two lonely people on this site at times, and tenken you are very welcome to join the lonely ladies club!
One prerequisite for the club…you can never have a quitting attitude! As a former athlete I am sure you understand. Right?
Go Cats!
Thanks
but you have to allow for my moments of insanity. Its just that blue blood running through my heart to hard :)
Hey tenken
I have blue blood too! And unfortunately it has invaded my hair, lips, makeup, and everything around me :-)
"underachieved"
Your bias not only for Tubby but against Billy is getting stale. Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say “UK overachieved in 2008 due to many injuries.”? The paranoia of any comment lending itself to rating Billy ahead of Tubby is almost laughable.
In any case, the constant presentation of stats is irrelavent when comparing the two coaches. You compare a coach with large representative sample to a coach with a small sample (< 2 years). Times at other schools should not be included due to the nature of UK vs other programs and variances within short time frames are also meaningless.
I do enjoy you many contributions to the forums but this portion is wearing thin. By the way, when are you going to reveal yourself to be the reincarnation of HAL?
I am not a BCG fan on or off the court.....
but that doesn’t really matter at all. If he wins I will support him, if he doesn’t the choice will be made for him. I will reserve judgment for another 2 years before I say he is the right man or not.
Slower Traffic Keep Right!
The schizophrenic nature of the fan base...
,,,is absolutely incredible. Tenken, it was only a week since you were standing on the edge with your toes dangling!!
Best of luck to you over these next few games. :)
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Do you mean this one?
With BG its like he doesn’t care about the ramifications of the lineup and the subs. He needs to understand that kentucky is sick of losing. SICK OF IT!
Or this one, right after the Vandy game?
I am so frustrated
with BG right now! I cannot believe the poor coaching job he did tonight. I have defended him many times but not tonight.
Just wondering…
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
thanks
here it is
"I just want to say that I was totally out of line to call coach out like that. I apologize for letting my anger come out on here because of a loss. It wasn’t fair to other Kentucky fans or Coach(even though I know he will never see this). Please accept my apology to all those who were offended.
Good post, tenken
Even though I have been critical of G at times, both this year and last, I do believe he will get the job done here.
But, that doesn’t mean that we can’t (or shouldn’t ) raise questions about some of his decision-making. That is part-n-parcel of being a fan, in particular a UK fan.
If he doesn’t burn-out I expect he’ll be in Lex for quite some time. Because of that, we should all be rooting for him, whether we disagree with some of his moves, or not.
Rooting For UK
I’ve rooted for the Cats from 1966 on, regardless of which coach or any other factors.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
I've never understood ...
… why some fans root against the UK coach (whoever it may be). It doesn’t make sense if you’re interested in UK doing well.
I don't really get that.
I think one should root like heck for the team. They are kids playing for a university. They are the ones on the court and playing. I certainly get that. I don’t get rooting for the coach. He is a hired employee…and usually paid well for it. I just don’t see where you are ‘required’ to root for a coach. I don’t think I have heard any school chant ‘Go coach go…win coach win’.
Can anyone name a professional team where the fans are expected to root for the coach?
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Boston Celtics 1998-99-2000-01 Or NY Knicks 1988-89
That’s one example.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 5:07 PM EST up reply actions
You really need to spend more time explaining your posts.
See, that way we can have a mutual & logical discussion. It kind of starts with me understanding your point that way.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Rick Pitino Sucks
It all comes down to that.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 9:39 PM EST up reply actions
hahahahahahahha
Hey, everyone WAS asking him to be a little less number-spewing and machine-like in his analysis. I have to say, I think that is about the most insightful and thoughtful I have ever found 40 to be.
by blue kentucky girl on Feb 25, 2009 12:34 PM EST up reply actions
Well played.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
--O.W.
Coaches
It precisely because of the money that people root for coaches. In college ball the coach is the face of the franchise becuase of the money he makes.
Once you get to the pros the even the worst players are making as much as the coach and the vast majority of players make more money than the man coaching them. That’s why the players have the power at the pro level unless you are one of the very very few high profile coache’s like Pop or Pat.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
Additionally
In the NCAA, the coach is the mainstay of a stable program. Denny Crum was the face of Louisville Basketball for decades. Players come and players go, but the coach remains.
In the modern NBA, you identify with a LeBron or a Kobe. It was all part of the marketing shift of the NBA in the days of Magic, Larry, and Michael.
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
Yea, I know.
I made comment to this on another post, and agree entirely. Yea, I get it…I just don’t like it. It has become worse (from my perspective) over the years given the earlier and more frequent departures of key & high profile players. It stinks for the college game.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
I think
its just healthy to want the coach of your favorite team to do well. I don’t imagine he means for us all to go to the game going “GO BILLY GO!”. I think he is saying you should root for the coach to do well because that means your team to do well!
Hoze...
Our Coach is an integral part of our Team! If we as UK fans cannot support our Coach, then what are the players to think?? Sometimes I hate the Internet and all the message boards when all the Coach haters come out of the woodwork.
Example: Poor Coach K at Louisville. Those UL fans have been disgusting with him only 2 years into his tenure and had to deal with the mess left by Petrino. He had a mess that was controlled by Petrino and Coach K would hear nothing of it. And now many of the UL fans are proposing boycotting the games?? Where else can you cheer for the players? Stupid.
Also
its like why I work so hard for my children’s PTO. First the teachers deserve it second if they feel good its gets passed on to my children. Same with coaching.
Yeah the PTO
A parent has to support the teachers.
I always supported the teachers when my kids were in school. I had this great assistant principal who I knew personally. He would call me at work any time that my kids would try to skip classes or school. Of course I was just across the street from the school at work. I would say…“Oh really?” I know where I can find them and they will be there shortly. I had a great relationship with that guy, even though he was kinda shy and funky. But he knew I wanted to know when my kids tried their tricks and he appreciated my support.
"Go Coach go"
You won’t hear that on the court, but the UK fans show up at games and support the team.
Just like Coach G has said many times…Our UK fans keep showing for games even when we lose.
Re: HZ -- You don't think it's reasonable for a fan to root for the coach to be successful?
Perhaps you have a different definition for “fan,” than I do.
Couple of points to explain my thinking...I hope:
1. Certainly I think fans should root for their teams.
2. I have grown a certain aggravation and disappointment on how the college game has become more centered on the coaches in general. Often on TV you will hear the announcers even say how ‘Coach K won this game’, or something to that affect. Unfortuneately the more the young players leave the worse it will get. Good players don’t stay around enough to have it be characterized as their team…too bad.
3. To that point, I think there is way to much conversation around coaches in general…I think this takes away from the team.
4. Please…I cannot accept the comparison of a $1.6M/yr coach to that of a grade school teacher…sorry. That is way out of whack…and I guess in part explains my position further.
5. Yea, one can root for a coach I guess….I just don’t see that it is a ‘requirement’ to be a fan of the team…so yes, perhaps we do have a different definition.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
From Before Day 1
I was an admirer and proponent of Gillispie months before he came to UK. Such a proponent that I organized and lead a group of UK alums to encourage Barnhart that BCG was the only real option to lead the program out of the years-long ditch and back up on the solid pavement of the Glory Road. Have not once doubted by decision, not to say that I haven’t been mystified by some of his decisions, mystified but not faithless.
2 Year Long Ditch, You Mean?
UK was 219-58 the 8 years before. UK was 219-50 the 8 years before that.
UK was #1 team in college basketball in 2003-04-05.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 5:11 PM EST up reply actions
opening
a can of worms I know but since no National Championship was won by UK, how can you say we were number one. We didn’t even make it to the final four. You are the one that talked about the importance of post season. You cannot hold one standard for Tubby and another for Billy G.
#1 W-L Record In 2003-04-05
87-15 for 85% winning record.
Two #1 seeds and one #2 seed.
7-3 in NCAA games.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 9:40 PM EST up reply actions
Gillispie 3-4 In NCAA Games And 5-7 In Postseason Tourney Games
Tubby 29-13 in NCAA games and 31-11 in postseason tourney games.
The numbers are stark. No one in their right mind can deny that.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 9:45 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly
I mean it precisely as I posted it: Those two years were the mere culmination, perigee, if you will, of a decline that began a few years earlier and typified by inept, futile and, worst of all, effortless recruiting.
The Current 2 Years Are Identical
UK won 63.8% of its games in 2006 and 2007.
UK has won 63.8% of its games in 2008 and 2009.
The 2003-04-05 years were hardly a decline. UK won 85% of its games.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 9:42 PM EST up reply actions
Let's just drop any comments to Forty
Regarding the Tubby era. I think we all know by now that he wanted Tubby to stay.
If we don’t comment, then it is moot.
Utterly False
He’s in a MUCH better spot. A better fanbase (for him). A MUCH better AD and University President.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 9:43 PM EST up reply actions
Coach G has had my support as well
I believe he is doing a great (not excellent) job. Considering what he has to work with he has met my expectations and in the case of last year he exceeded them. I have been frustrated with some of the nonconference losses but I can rationalize them as learning lessons. The first game with VMI this year should have been a good test for Jasper and how well he responded to ball pressure. He left and so that burden fell on a young man playing out of position and without the experience racked up by their guards. As ugly as the loss was I was encouraged by the fact that we were still able to put over a 100 points on the board.
That following games provided multiple styles of play designed, I feel, to teach how to play defense accordingly. The lineups he used were the ones he felt were playing the best defense at the time, since he knew that all of the kids could score.
I root for the coach as he is part of the team. Hell, I even rooted for Bill Keightley and he was the equipment manager! HA HA HA! Because of this I still root for Tubby and Spitino (grudgingly).They are forever linked to UK Basketball and as long as they don’t disgrace UK in some unimaginable way, I will continue to root for them. I root for the assistant coaches because they recruit, suprervise individual workouts and all of the other myriad of things that help the team grow.
“Once all struggle is grasped, miracles are possible.” Mao Tse-tung
We have many struggles but I believe Coach G is grasping them and “miracles” are to come.
GO BIG BLUE!!!
How Is 37-21 (With 8 Home L) Great?
Simply not even close to great.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 9:43 PM EST up reply actions
I am SO sick of this.
You constantly go around shoving your Tubby-love down people’s throats and refuse to let anyone express a negative opinion of him – even though that is their right EVEN if they dont back it up with statistics it is still their right not to like him and to be able to say so without a barrage of useless stats. THEN you go around here downing Billy and I totally dont care what you call it – you DO down him – sometimes much more blatant that others. THEN you (above in this very same thread) respond to someone (that just so happens to be a Louisville fan) that “Rick Pitino sucks.” If someone just came right out and said that about Tubby you would lose your mind. That is a total double standard. I am so tired of dancing around worrying what will send you on some sort of statistical rampage yet you are able to post whatever you want about whoever you want. I enjoy your information and you even know how to crack a few jokes, but damn, I am worn out with this. WORN OUT.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Feb 24, 2009 9:59 PM EST up reply actions
Sorry But 37-21 (8 Home L) Is Gillispie's Record
His UK results are subpar (thus far). Undeniable. Certainly NOT great by any measure.
And RP does suck.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 24, 2009 10:09 PM EST up reply actions
Im just saying
We are not even “allowed” to have Tubby discussions here because of your reactions now its getting to where we cant even talk positively about our own freakin coach because he is UNPROVEN. All of this is seriously starting to ruin this blog for me.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Feb 24, 2009 10:21 PM EST up reply actions
Passion Or Obsession
I fear that in Forty’s case there is little question:
"Passion is a positive obsession. Obsession is a negative passion."
by Wild Weasel on Feb 24, 2009 10:45 PM EST up reply actions
There's No Discussion To Have
Tubby > Gillispie in terms of coaching results in almsot every aspect.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 25, 2009 3:25 AM EST up reply actions
Tubby > all previous UK coaches right out of the box
As he won a NC his first year (and i do give him credit because i do not believe Pitino would have won it with that crew).
However, as much a fan as i was of Tubby, his stated goal was to win the SEC. by his own words, everything after that was gravy.
It may turn out that Tubby – on paper – is the best coach we ever had. i appreciate everything he did, but i want a coach who has a stated goal of winning NCs.
we may lose a few more games along the way and we may never win a NC, but at least we are reaching for THE brass ring……
by memphis wildcat on Feb 25, 2009 4:02 AM EST up reply actions
That's Not True Of Any Coach
Tubby and any other coach wants to win championships. SEC, SECT, NCAA.
Adolph Rupp is the best coach ever at UK. And he always will be that.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 25, 2009 7:56 AM EST up reply actions
wrong -
in previewing UK’s first round game in chicago against Villanova the HL wrote on march 16, 2007:
Kentucky enjoyed a “successful” season in 2006-07. Now comes the cake-and-ice-cream portion of the feast.
UK Coach Tubby Smith, whose job security lately has been the subject of increasing speculation, yesterday put that positive spin on the NCAA Tournament.
“I don’t look at this year as anything but a success,” Smith said at a news conference previewing Kentucky’s first-round game against Villanova tonight.
……
Kentucky has no reason to hide or cower in this NCAA Tournament, Smith said. And he didn’t embrace the notion that his players might feel pressure to win for him and themselves.
“No,” he said directly. “This time of year, you lighten up. It’s icing on the cake. I don’t see that at all.”
Maybe the FF is a more realistic goal that a NC BUT to say that everything after the SEC and SECT is “icing on the cake.” No, that is not UK basketball. Not saying he did not want to win NCs, but was content not winning them….
I would be willing to give Tubby the benefit of the doubt that he was trying to take pressure off his players. however, this was the second time i had heard he say winning SEC and SECT was goal.
Also, by your own measure (1st two years) – Tubby is the greatest coach ever as no other coach won a NC the first year.
That being said, we have been blessed with good coaches and to crown one the greatest is absurd. ironically, i always thought sutton was a great x and o guy, but clearly he would be at the bottom of any list ranking our past coaches.
by memphis wildcat on Feb 25, 2009 9:53 AM EST up reply actions
Every Coach Wants To Win Championships
Conference titles, conference tourney championships, NCAA titles.
Adolph Rupp is the GREATEST UK coach BY FAR.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 25, 2009 9:59 AM EST up reply actions
do not disagree with you on either statement
coaches want to win championships. but i think at uk – for better or worse – it probably takes a bit more drive than tubby had toward the end. personally, i believe tubby had a more well rounded approach (great wife and kids) to life than BCG or Pitino (pre 9/11). i even believe that is part of the reason donovan turned down the job (moving his kids at their ages)
my point is that, short of cheating and being unethical, i believe the UK job is one where one is expected to do whatever it takes. i am not always proud of that, but believe that is the nature of the beast.
also, RUPP was the greatest. he was the first and established UK as a bball power.
what i like about UK is that we have had 4 different coaches win a NC – no other school can say that – to me that is more important than having won more games in college basketball and makes us more successful than UCLA – over time
by memphis wildcat on Feb 25, 2009 10:41 AM EST up reply actions
Always will be?
I wasn’t going to weigh in here, but your stats don’t give you the ability to predict the future. There may be intangibles from Rupp that make him the “best coach ever,” but you yourself said that it’s all about W and L and tournament victories. It may not be Gillispie, and it may be 50 or 100 or 200 years from now, but another coach might come along and have more W and tournament titles than Rupp.
Or maybe not. Who knows? But you, 40, of all people, I would expect to not use the words “best coach EVER.” (Emphasis added).
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
--O.W.
I am confused.
I was under the impression that Forty was a grown man. I guess I stand corrected. Kgirl, I think I may be falling in ‘love’. :)
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
worn out
i’d agree with that. exactly how i feel, which is why i’vve gone back to mostly reading and commenting much less.
GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!
by UKWildCatFanatic on Feb 25, 2009 1:42 AM EST up reply actions
Don't let Forty make you down a forty
His way or the highway is the only way for he…fa la la la la! Nor should you let him dissuade you from posting. He’s an old codger that likes to take the piss and see what kind of reaction he can get. His mancrush for Tubby and Rupp is endearing but after a while reminds me of old dirty laundry in the bottom of the hamper that pushes you away rather than encourages you to wash it.
BTW Forty, my definition of what a great job is and yours differ and I can respect that. Pick a number any number and you win. But numbers don’t tell the whole story. Otherwise we’d all just read the boxscore afterwards instead of staying up late to WATCH the game on a computer screen, or listen to it on the radio, or get semaphore messages from a partner for the play by play as you sit in your room after being grounded by ma and pa.
Also, I agree that Spitino sucks. He pissed me off for leaving then really angered me when he came back to Louisville. I am happy for my dad who is a Louisville fan but I feel Spitino didn’t learn a damn thing his few years he was at UK. I guess he feels he’s above learning from the people he meets in his travels. If he did learn anything he would NEVER have taken the UL job. West Virginia, Cinci, Ohio St, any of those, but not UL. I don’t wish him well very often, but I will root for him as a coach because he did a magical thing at UK and hasn’t done anything to disgrace UK since he’s left.
Tubby was a great (maybe?) coach and a great (maybe?) man among men but he didn’t have great passion for UK Basketball. He reminded me of Muhammed Ali when he said, “Grass grows. Birds fly. I beat people up. It’s just a job.” That’s why he left. It was just a job that had gotten to big for him to handle and too demanding of his time. No big deal. It’s tough having to put up with expectations of a Final Four every year from your fan base. It takes a tough nut and Tubby was not that tough. I’m not suggesting that he wasn’t a tough person, who could forget that stare, I am saying that ten years of the expectations wore his ass out and the frigid boondocks of Minnesota were a better place for him rather than green pastures of the Lexington boondocks.
Finally, a little secret….Forty just likes to get people’s goat. He could give a rat’s ass about all those numbers, he doesn’t really believe most of what he posts. He just likes to get a rise out of you. It’s his way of dealing with morning wood.
Go BIG BLUE!!!
Sorry tenken
my sarcasm stick was drumming a bit too much there. sometimes i get carried away. it’s easy to do when you have a smart alecky mouth like mine.
Just Stating Facts
Undeniably, Tubby had a good 10 years at UK.
He left for none of those reasons you listed. He went somewhere where he would be appreciated, where he would have a good relationship with AD and University President, and where his family would be respected. None of those were true at UK any more, if ever.
I do indeed believe the facts that I post. You last paragraph is absurd.
by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 25, 2009 9:33 AM EST reply actions
I just
need to know how this turned into a Tubby discussion. Guys, this discussion is on the notioni of BG and how Alex Legion shows that he seems to know what he is talking about. We should give him a chance. What is everyone’s thoughts on this? Do you think that BG is right to sit some of these stars?
Its a fair discussion
But as it pertains to stars, I think the question is probably better expressed as what would be the best way to handle a star?
I would hazard to say that Tyreke Evans at Memphis has some star-struck moments as well (any 18 year old with that amount of talent would IMO) but Calipari is getting great results out of him. Could a Roy Williams or a Calipari get better results out of Legion than Gillispie or Weber? Who knows? (And is Legion a “star” at all?)
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
Folks ...
… these Tubby eruptions need to stop. I am sick of them, and others are too.
Any more discussion of Tubby Smith will be deleted, whoever the offender is. I’m tired of these endless debates, and I’m putting a stop to them.
For all you Smith detractors, please talk about something else. All you defenders, don’t take the bait — I am going to delete any and all such comments, and if that doesn’t stop it, I’ll take more drastic action.
I truly hope I have made myself clear.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Overdue, But Congratulations
Good decision, hope you’re experienced and proficient in reading between the lines.
by Wild Weasel on Feb 25, 2009 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
Welcome.
Sheesh, you’d think we could all find something else to talk about.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Hurray, Hurray
I want somebody to explain our offensive schemes and the philosophy/strategy behind them.
Simple
Play hard. Play smart. Play together.
That goes for offense and defense. If a team makes a curious adjustment with their scheme coming into the game, at halftime we make the following adjustment: “Play tougher.”
Gillispie Coaching Philosophy in a nutshell right there.
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
It frustrates me that I really do believe at times that this is our coach's entire knowledge of basketball.
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
Ah, frustration with BCG’s basketball knowledge?
I totally get the frustration part, but, for a different reason than you.
You are frustrated because you don’t think BCG has any real basketball knowledge, while I am frustrated because I think he has it, just not sure why he won’t use it?? I mean, hello, you don’t exactly get to be the Coach at The University of Kentucky by being a basketball novice, do you? The answer is certainly "no". The knowledge is there, he just needs to show it.
Back to the topic at hand...
I’m the type that thinks respect and trust should be given as an initial default to everyone. Once you’ve done something to lose that trust/respect, it is then considerably harder to earn it back. I did trust Billy. Some of that was shaken with a bad performance early last season, but then he earned it back and then some with the way the Cats stormed back through the SEC season.
This season started with much promise. But the curious coaching decisions have once again reared their ugly head and that has lead to some inexplicable losses. I think its fair for UK fans to question what is happening. Coach Gillispie routinely calls us the “best fans in the world” and I feel that it is up to us to earn that. Part of being the best fans in the world is to be knowledgeable about the game. With that knowledge comes a natural questioning of practices that seem to fly in the face of what we already know.
By no means should anyone be calling for the coach’s head, however to say that Billy has earned our trust again… I don’t agree there. Until he strings together some post-season wins and stops losing early games that he shouldn’t, he belongs right where he is.
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
I should also say that this opinion does not preclude me from cheering for the team and wanting Gillispie to succeed.
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
All I'm saying
is that there are those of us that have always trusted (and still trust) Billy. We have our right to do that no matter what the situation.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Feb 25, 2009 5:59 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks guys!
I am really not trying to be negative or hard to get along with here. I am just seriously frustrated that whenever anyone gives Coach any kind of praise we get hit over the head with all the stats showing how “unproven” he is. None of us are stupid. We know that he is still unproven here, but some of us dont care and choose to believe and trust and praise anyway. Its just really annoying – that’s all.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Feb 25, 2009 6:12 PM EST up reply actions
I will
say that I learned from the Pitino years. After the success of 92…….I expected a NC the next year……didn’t get it for three more years. I so thought Pitino was unable to win in the post season. I was wrong. Glad I was. So I have learned to trust.
Great thread tenken
Not really related, but — In the early to mid-90’s I had a friend who was a HUGE UK fan. He was an older fella and held certain, unfortunate, beliefs. He once told me about Pitino — “That damn Yankee will never will a championship.”
good point tenken
I agree. To me, as a fan, it just makes good sense to just go with the flow. I’m going to support the coach and cheer for him and my team, whoever that coach is, unless we are talking some kind of Sutton-like, program-hurting situation. I did it with Tubby—friends of mine who didn’t like him KNEW not to come around me with any coach-hating stuff, he was my coach and you better shut up with any trashing him in my presence—and I feel the same way now about Gillispie. I do not care one iota if you throw a million stats in my face as to why either one hasn’t “earned” the right to respect at Kentucky. Proven, unproven, or whatever, the coach is my coach—it’s an emotional response, yes, but isn’t being a fan an emotional thing? To me, it’s just more fun as a fan to not spend all my time bitching and moaning, especially when all all the bitching in the world is not going to have the least bit of an effect anyway.
by blue kentucky girl on Feb 25, 2009 6:27 PM EST up reply actions
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