Billy Gillispie fired by UK

Post #1 » by **jman3134** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 8:24 am

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... kys_coach/

Is anyone really shocked by this? I knew that UK fans were livid that their team was not in the tournament. At the same time, they gave the guy virtually no time to build a program. UK fans have to be the most impatient group around.

GregB · Post #2 » by **GregB** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:22 pm

Just making a guess. But I think a logical choice might be Travis Ford. He has won at every stop in his young coaching career. He definitely seems to be working himself up the coaching ladder. He just has that IT factor. Plus, He played at Kentucky and is from Kentucky. I think he is with Iowa right now?? But He hasnt stayed more than a year or two at any program. Strikes me as a possible dream job for him.

Cammo101 · Post #3 » by **Cammo101** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 4:33 am

UK fans are like Notre Dame football fans were 8 years or so ago. They just will not accept that the landscape of college basketball has changed and they can't become a juggernaut just by snapping their fingers.

Gillespie is a good coach and they ran him out. Tubby was a good coach and they ran him out. I see why guys like Jay Wright and Billy Donovan want nothing to do with this job. They are likely going to have to go with a young coach and hope it works, because high profile guys aren't going there.

Post #4 » by **studcrackers** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:55 am

GregB wrote:Just making a guess. But I think a logical choice might be Travis Ford. He has won at every stop in his young coaching career. He definitely seems to be working himself up the coaching ladder. He just has that IT factor. Plus, He played at Kentucky and is from Kentucky. I think he is with Iowa right now?? But He hasnt stayed more than a year or two at any program. Strikes me as a possible dream job for him.

travis fords at oklahoma state and i pray he doesnt leave. i have a feeling he'd be a little far down the list since this year was his 1st at a major program. if they were to fire gillespie next year and ford takes us to the sweet 16 then i think he'd be perhaps the top candidate for the job. i think it'd be a bad hiring from an experience standpoint (not to mention as a student at okie state, i want him to keep rebuilding this program)

ManualRam · Post #5 » by **ManualRam** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:42 pm

calipari's in talks with UK and a supposed mega deal is on the table.
lets see how well coach cal does in a better conference. i also wonder what will happen to Memphis' recruits. i know d.cousins just made an oral commitment so he can follow calipari if he wanted to, but x.henry would have to be granted a release from his commitment. he's also recruiting john wall hard as well, and with kentucky in need of a PG, wall could very well sign with them.
possible lineup for the 'cats next yr:
wall
meeks
darius miller/ deandre liggins/ramon harris
patterson
cousins/ daniel orton (top 3 C recruit)

possible final four material.

i think calipari's a terrible x' and o's coach and is a poor teacher of fundamentals, but he sure can recruit and sell a program.

Post #6 » by **Atlanta Hawk Fan** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:07 pm

It is being reported that Memphis has asked for permission to speak with Mike Anderson over at Missouri so it sounds like this may get done.

Post #7 » by **Atlanta Hawk Fan** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:35 pm

Lots of different reports from different sources on this. It will be interesting to see:

http://www.amnews.com/public_html/?modu ... ormat=html

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/20 ... departure/

Many others...

Nothing certain at this point.

Post #8 » by **jman3134** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:45 pm

Cammo101 wrote:UK fans are like Notre Dame football fans were 8 years or so ago. They just will not accept that the landscape of college basketball has changed and they can't become a juggernaut just by snapping their fingers.

Gillespie is a good coach and they ran him out. Tubby was a good coach and they ran him out. I see why guys like Jay Wright and Billy Donovan want nothing to do with this job. They are likely going to have to go with a young coach and hope it works, because high profile guys aren't going there.

Don't hold your breath- it looks like Coach Cal is going to UK. According to ESPN, after a meeting with his players, it seems as though they believe he is gone.

Cammo101 · Post #9 » by **Cammo101** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:59 pm

jman3134 wrote:
Cammo101 wrote:UK fans are like Notre Dame football fans were 8 years or so ago. They just will not accept that the landscape of college basketball has changed and they can't become a juggernaut just by snapping their fingers.

Gillespie is a good coach and they ran him out. Tubby was a good coach and they ran him out. I see why guys like Jay Wright and Billy Donovan want nothing to do with this job. They are likely going to have to go with a young coach and hope it works, because high profile guys aren't going there.

Don't hold your breath- it looks like Coach Cal is going to UK. According to ESPN, after a meeting with his players, it seems as though they believe he is gone.

And then when he loses his first out of conference game UK fans will be calling for his head. If Coach Cal takes this job, he is making a mistake. He has to reason to leave Memphis.

Post #10 » by **jman3134** » Wed Apr 1, 2009 5:04 am

Oh, I certainly agree. Terrible timing for Coach Cal. This is going to be a nightmare for the Memphis program in regards to recruiting etc.

Post #11 » by **Atlanta Hawk Fan** » Fri Apr 3, 2009 12:45 am

UK did not run Gillispie off because of on-the-court issues. He was criticized for on-the-court issues but it was off-the-court issues that were the problem at the end of the day.

It is noteworthy that UK has fired two coaches over the last 50 years: Eddie Sutton and Billy Gillispie. Not exactly a history of quick trigger fingers. (Note that both of them had off-the-court issues in common as well).

Post #12 » by **Atlanta Hawk Fan** » Fri Apr 3, 2009 1:06 am

jman3134 wrote:Oh, I certainly agree. Terrible timing for Coach Cal. This is going to be a nightmare for the Memphis program in regards to recruiting etc.

I feel really bad for Memphis. They have much better facilities and higher profile because of Cal but it looks like none of their recruits came for the school and are jumping ship. I hope the program lands a good coach and rebounds quickly.

For Coach Cal this isn't bad timing, though. He likely will keep Patterson, Meeks, Orton and some others from UK. My gut says he will bring both unsigned studs, Walls and Cousins. The bar was set low the last 4 years so Cal will be strongly embraced and could have solid results very quickly in Lexington.

commadoor 64 · Post #13 » by **commadoor 64** » Wed Apr 8, 2009 5:49 pm

Calipari is a douchebag.