Open Game Thread Continuation

A bad ending to a bad season, but the good news is that soon enough all of the stress and strain of not knowing the status of the program will be over. Regardless of the outcome, I hope next year will be much better. Here’s to us all coming together to talk about how great things are going this time next year. Cheers everyone.

Ramon Harris suffered mild concussion in that spill. We missed him in the second half.

Guys fought their brains out til the bitter, which I can certainly appreciate. Think it’s only fair for Billy to get one more crack, but I’m not counting on it.

a tough loss, but when a team shoots 12-25 from three you just have to shrug your shoulders and admit it wasn’t your night. Some of those threes were open, but most were well defended – give credit to the ND shooters.

It was good to see the return of the Jodie Meeks we all know and love, even if it was just for a few minutes.

and he is comparing BCG’s performance this year to past UK coaches:
“Is that with or without Mr. Wildcat?”

a quick turnaround to play another tough road game against a team w/ a 5 day break getting to play on their home court WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN DEADLY ALL SEASON.

after a 20+ win season and 2 winning seasons?

with this: if you have a mediocre season in the first or second year, you are gone.

averaging 9 pts, 6 rebounds in his past 6 games.

With 21 points, Meeks is now 33rd on UK’s all time scoring list (1246 points)

With 18 points, Patterson is now 54th on UK’s all time scoring list (1020 points)

I’m a new basketball fan….actually got into the game when Gillispie was at A&M when they went to the NCAA’s. That’s horrible on my part because I’m an A&M graduate!

He loves his players and they love him back. He tears up when he talks about them. I know exactly how he feels because I do the same when I talk about my students.

The offseason begins….I’ll miss the excitement of the game.

Someone made the point the other day, and I’ll repeat it: I think we benefited way more as a program from these 3 games than we would have if we’d taken a bludgeoning in the first round of the NCAAs. The kids played their hearts out and picked up two (almost three) really nice wins.

Here’s an idea…let’s replace a guy that got us into the NIT with a guy that’s been there twice in a row. There are NO realistically available coaches out there better than Billy. Period.

PP was very matter of fact, he would be back-even if there was another coach. However,
he thought BCG would return.

to me.

Needs to be held accountable.

You’re emotionally invested in Gillispie. I have to admit I don’t understand that. He’s not a good coach and is a person of questionable character. I will not miss him.

Pretty harsh. Billy was speaking to you in the post game presser when he suggested that the man upstairs will truly be his only judge

I couldn’t have done any worse. Goodbye Billy, and good riddance.

He says when you work for another man, it’s up to that other man. It’s that other man’s choice.
That doesn’t sound good (for his chances), does it?

He said (paraphrasing)
look at the Tennessee women
they have a great coach
everyone’s asking what’s wrong with them?
well they have young players.
it takes time.

But if I were him, I’’d be very concerned. Most rogues get religion when they’re going down. I don’t feel the least bit sorry for him. Good riddance. I know this is a pro-Billy site, but there is very little to admire in this guy.

first, I’d like to say that i do want billy G back. If however he does go,

We should get an NBA coach. Someone who has had success, but who is in the wrong situation. Recruits would flock.

Lawrence Frank? Avery Johnson? Jim O Brian? Jeff Van Gundy?

Billy D is not an upgrade.

Lee Todd is from west by god Kentucky, and I believe is related to Harry Todd who was a star at Western Ky U for Ed Diddle in the 1950s. Rupp snubbed him. Lee Todd got an engineering degree from UK and a PhD from MIT, got a bunch of patents and started his own company, which he sold to IBM for big bucks. He’s an engineer, a corporate engineer.

Mitch Barnhart is a sports management/marketing type. He an MBA corporate manager.

Todd and Barnhart are focused on managing and directing big enterprises — Todd is running the whole university (an academic institution) — and Barnhart is running all the athletic programs.

Managers at the level of responsibility that Todd and Barnhart work at are managing the reputation of the whole enterprise. The people who work for them have to support and fit into the big picture of the University of Kentucky as the flagship university in Kentucky, a top 20 national research university, a thoroughly professional institution. They do not condone behavior on the part of anyone that falls into the category of embarrassing the university.

Gillispie has violated that code repeatedly. He snubbed the Lexington Rotary Club, an organization of 400 of Lexington’s most influential people. He made a verbal commitment to an 8th grader, which caused the coach’s association to censure that behavior. He changed the date of Midnight Madness, which caused the NCAA to adopt a new rule. He was rude to a halftime reporter for ESPN — not once — but twice. He didn’t learn from his first mistake. And then he made a commitment to the ESPN open access team, and then did not fulfill his commitment. That is flat out dishonest.

Who do all the kids and players and coaches watch? ESPN. Who is going to be airing SEC games next year? ESPN. And here is Gillispie making an ass of himself repeatedly in dealings with ESPN reporters. The fact that all three are female raises another issue about Gillispie’s ability to relate to fellow human beings on a polite, professional level.

President Todd & AD Barnhart do not need to be dealing with the backlash from a coach who continually embarrasses the university and who has failed to learn any of the basic skills of how to behave decently toward other human beings.

or one incident. It’’s the sum of everything about this coach. We (the fans, media, innocent bystanders) know most everything, if you’ve been paying attention, are not in denial, are not Billy’s agent, or are not related to him.

I’m of the opinion that the whole coaching situation has become a circus due, in large part, to the infatuation with the program. Kentuckians have few, if any, other things they take more pride in than college basketball. It’s not a bad thing. I love it. I’m guilty as well. But you’re far more susceptible to drama when you’re emotionally involved. Think back to every one of you personal relationships. The more involved, the more dramatic.

I have been convinced that I would fire someone – however, a meeting could seriously change the situation.

If my employee was genuinely repentant and agreed to adhere to the proper standards of what the company’s policies are, then I would have no problem keeping them (albeit on a shorter leash)

Unless he has committed an unpardonable offense off the court or broken the terms of understanding that he agreeded to when he accepted the job, and that act is egregious enough to merit firing, the man deserves a chance to build his program.

Alright mourning time’s over. What are your predictions for next year?

Me:
28-6
SEC regular season champions
SEC tourney champions
NCAA 2 seed
Trip to Final Four

All we have is hope :)

I don’t know if the search has been on or not. I suspect not, but what do I know. Assuming the search hasn’t started, then Mitch needs more time to search. The only guy allowed to take the position at this point who ISN’T still coaching is Donovan.

a big front line like Patterson, Pilgrim, Orton, Stevenson and the others is what got him his 2 titles, all he needs is a point guard, he might have one up his sleeve.

Wonder if Pat summit’s job is at risk for requiring her team to practice “to get better” after they were eliminated from the NCAA tournament in the first round. Sounds harsh and kinda crazy.

Of course her job is secure because of wins and championships.

Official?