Can I feel sorry for Gillispie..? You bet your a** I can.

My stance on Billy G. is no secret. I have felt for some time that he is not the man for the job. I’ve witnessed his rudeness, stubbornness and condescending remarks to the media, (some of whom I have great respect for). I’ve felt that some of his coaching moves have been rather bizarre and damming to the younger players. I still feel that the pregame practices, (if they do go full throttle), are zapping our kids of much needed energy; Jodie has spoken out that he was tired during the later stages of games.

I don’t think BCG knew quite what he was getting into at Kentucky. He thought he knew, he may have even tried to prepare, but just didn’t get it. Now, if he was winning 25+ games a year and was getting treated like a king, then yes, he would have adjusted well, but that has not worked out, (not yet anyways). He has shown the ability to bring in the recruits, (Patterson, Orton, Hood, Liggins, Ferguson), to name a few. Some would argue that Tubby had done most of the ground work for Patterson, and that Hood was a given being a home grown Kentucky boy, but BCG signed them none the less.

There are many reasons for fans to shy away from BCG. He’s not winning enough, he’s rude, arrogant, self centered, etc… hell, he’s just not one of us, (I’ve heard this one too).

But, taking everything in over the past few of days, reading all the “he said, she said”, watching BCG in interviews, (this will shock some of you), I have begun to feel sorry for the guy. I mean, here he is, doing the best that he can, working his ass off, putting in countless hours at the gym, office, film room, who knows what else, and folks that know absolutely nothing about what goes are calling for his head. (I know; hypocrisy right?). This guy has NO ONE up here… NO ONE… He is miles from his home, no wife, no children, no family, (that I know of), no one to turn to, talk to, console, nothing… it has to be a very lonely feeling. I can only imagine.

So, before we go bad mouthing him, calling for his head, Billy this, Billy that, let’s just remember, he is TRYING. He took the job when many other big names turned it down. I am not changing my stance on how I feel about BCG, good coach, just not right for THIS job, but come on people, can we ease up a bit? Can we go out and win the NIT, celebrate and then let the chips fall where they may?

I may not be a BGC supporter, but I do genially and honestly feel sorry for the man…