link LEXINGTON, Ky. — Billy Gillispie out as Kentucky basketball coach. The Wilscats finished 22-14 this season -- the second-most losses in the 106-year history of the prestigious program -- and failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991. Kentucky ended its season with a loss to Notre Dame in the National Invitation Tournament quarterfinals earlier this week. Gillispie was 40-27 two seasons. He had five years remaining on his contract
This is just amusing but dumb on Kentucky's part. The guy has a bit of a strange system and a track record of success. It takes a few years to get the right players in place and get his system fully integrated. I think if you hire a Gillespie, you have to plan to give him at least 3 years to make it work.
You didn't have to watch them play this season. I really liked the type of program he intended to run, but it just didn't work here for some reason. Rumor is Billy Donovan is the possible replacement... http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/032709source_donovan_leaving_UCF Edit: they also said that the coaching staff apparently has until 5pm today to clear out their offices... sounds a bit harsh. Oh and you can watch the press conference live
I don't really follow SEC basketball, but if you're Billy Donovan, how do you not turn 2 consecutive national titles into enough recruiting to at least make the Tournament every year?
yeah, cause i'm sure it's really difficult to get 18 year old guys to commit to playing basketball and going to school in sunny florida.
Read this: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=4018869&sportCat=ncb. Apparently the dumb part was hiring him. Similar to Ty Willingham at Notre Dame, being Bball coack at UK is a lot more than X's & O's and Gillespie didn't have the personality for a job like this. I hope Billy Donovan doesn't go there. Growing up, Kentucky was the only basketball program I hated more than Notre Dame. Sorry hayesfan, I want their program to flounder as long as possible.
Ah the truth comes out... weren't you posting anti-chuck things?? Please tell me you aren't a Louisville fan!
I never realized it when he left but UK just wasn't the right fit for BCG. I hope he gets the Arizona job (he won't though), I don't wanna see my boy reduced to a mid-level program turnaround specialist. He is better than that. Top 5 college basketball mind IMO. Top 5 recruiter to boot. Top 5 public speaker, shmoozer, butt kisser, sound bite, he was not... Hes to busy worrying about basketball.
keep hearing travis ford name thrown around. i dont think thats a smart move. he doesnt seem proven enough.
I agree, but I think this time they are planning to do more than a quick search... so if they go through their long list of people and don't get someone who is proven enough... Travis is someone the entire UK community would get behind.
My mother grew up in Louisville. I liked Denny Crum, Darrell Griffith, Scooter and Rodney McCray, etc when the "Ville" came to the "Nap" and they snagged their first national championship. I was a diehard IU fan that ended up going to Purdue. I absolutely HATED UK basketball. One of my toughest days ever (regarding college hoops) was when UK beat IU 92-90. Unless you are too young, you know what I'm talking about. Conclusion: My dislike of UK isn't because of Louisville, but I've vascillated between neutral and very positive about Louisville over the years. I want them to win it all this year.
its all over the place. mentions of izzo, calipari, ford...then theres people complaining that they got rid of of gillipsie, there was a thread about getting izzo...theres people who said they dont want izzo. WHAT?! haha. some feel UK prob has someone lined up already..otherwise they wouldnt have fired gillipsie. just madness over there with a bunch of speculation. i guess that would be the case on every teams board..but it just seems over the top there
I never do. The insane people on those things gave me heartburn. I bleed blue and all, but that doesn't mean I'm a psycho about it. and A_3P0 I know what you are talking about, but I am too young to remember it... I was born in 1977
Man I don't like this move. I wish we would have given him another year or two to see how his OWN players do in his system. I don't know what happened behind the scenes but I'm never in favor of firing a coach after 2 years.
Should add that if we don't get Donovan,Calipari, or Izzo I will be even more disappointed. I want Pitino back but I doubt that happens.
