The rumors are continuing to swirl throughout the media and Internet regarding the future of Kentucky Wildcats head coach Billy Gillespie. UK President Lee Todd has confirmed that he has met with Coach Gillespie already regarding the future of the program and all indications are that we should know something by Friday of this week. From evaluating the demeanor of Coach Gillespie post game of the Notre Dame loss, my best guess is that Kentucky will be searching for a new men's head basketball coach.
What will this mean for the future of the Wildcats program? Four star recruit Daniel Orton has stated that he wants to play for Coach Gillespie and will consider other offers if the Coach leaves. The problem is Orton has already signed his Letter of Intent, so the University would have to let him out of that letter in order to go elsewhere. I don't think if Gillespie leaves it will impact the current roster of Wildcats. The two most important components would be Meeks and Patterson. Meeks has been projected to be a late round NBA pick or even a free agent so he will more than likely be back to improve his draft status. Patrick Patterson is currently projected as a late first rounder, a solid junior season would help that status so I look for Patterson to return as well.
It is somewhat troubling that Kentucky will be so quick to pull the trigger on Gillespie. He has been very dynamic on the recruiting trail and has brought in some big time players to Kentucky. Billy G just hasn't seemed to get them to gel together and play against different styles of basketball teams. Perhaps the pressure of Lexington and the Kentucky program inhibited Coach Gillespie from the start. It takes a special kind of person to be able to handle the expectations at the University of Kentucky which isn't always fair. It takes more than two years to install your program at this level. I don't blame Tubby Smith either, the problem was Tubby's style and Billy's style are very different so the personnel didn't match up well.
I think part of the problem the Big Blue Nation has with Billy Gillespie is his attitude the the persona that he projects publicly. Throughout the state rumors run rampart about him drinking in local bars and chasing college women throughout the city. I don't believe any of those rumors but think that Coach Gillespie didn't help dispel those rumors by his sarcastic comments to the media and overall attitude. I hope that whomever is tapped to be the next coach at Kentucky will be able to win over the hearts of the Big Blue Nation and get the program back on track to be another National contender.
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6 comments:
You say you don't necessarily believe the rumors about his drinking habits and chasing college women. I've been an eye witness to that and know a girl who.... well.
All hail Travis Ford... he would be welcomed with open arms and already knows about the pressure at UK and in the state at large... AND he's a class act, unlike sleazy Billy G.
The problem with all of the Kentucky rumors are there are just so many it's hard to decifer which ones are accurate. I am hearing more and more of his indescrections being valid. I completely agree with the Travis Ford, he would be very solid for Kentucky.
I, also, know a girl who...when she was dating A.L.
Ok I honestly do not know where everyone is getting at with the whole Billie G. thing. I really think that UK puts way too much blame on the coach.
First of all i want to say this UK is to demanding and they want a final four every year well guess what that's not going to happen. Yeah everyone wants to win but no matter what a coach does there it is never good enough. Too much pressure is put on the coach. Look at Tubby Smith he won twenty something games every year and several sectional titles and an NCAA title (some say Pitinos guys) but you can have all the good players you want but if you cannot COACH you won't win,sorry!! I have never seen such immaturity in a place. They don't give anyone a chance to do anything and he had some good recruits coming and if i were them i would not go to UK. Grow up Ky people.
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