Ouch.

 

In case you hadn’t noticed, the University of Kentucky basketball program is going to hell in a handbasket. It’s serious, folks, and Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart needs to take emergency measures right now to keep the slippage from getting worse – even if it means facing up to the fact that new Coach Billy Clyde Gillispie so far has been a disaster in every way imaginable.

 

Barnhart could send Gillispie packing without having to worry about tearing up a contract because Gillispie still hasn’t signed one. All he and Barnhart have is a memorandum of understanding. What’s that all about? Could it really be true that Gillispie won’t agree to any reasons for his dismissal except major NCAA rules violations or the commission of a felony?

 

That’s just one of the rumors out there on the street. The stories about Gillispie’s personal life have taken on a life of their own. It’s almost as if every time a group of Wildcat fans gather, their favorite game is, “Have you heard the latest Gillispie story?”

 

I’ve heard a bunch of them, and my sources are people whom I trust and believe. I’ve heard that Gillispie and his staff are rude and arrogant. I’ve heard that Gillispie almost has gone out of his way to insult many loyal supporters. I’ve heard that he’s not taking Van Florence, who has been the right-hand man for UK coaches for 31 years, on road trips this year.

 

And that’s not even the worst of it. Suffice it to say that if the stories are anywhere close to being true, Gillispie was absolutely the wrong pick to follow a class act like Tubby Smith. For 10 years, whether you liked his coaching or not, Smith was a gentleman who never did anything to embarrass himself, his program, or the university.

 

The rumors are so widespread that if they’re not true, I want Barnhart to say so. I want him to stand up in front of the media and state that he is perfectly happy with Coach Gillispie’s personal conduct. He doesn’t have to address the stories specifically. Just tell the public that the rumors are false and should not be believed, under any circumstances.

 

When Barnhart hired Gillispie away from Texas A&M, I complimented him for doing a good job. Gillispie was the hot coach du jour after his Aggies eliminated Rick Pitino’s Louisville Cardinals from the NCAA tournament in Rupp Arena.

 

But I also had some nagging problems with Gillispie that I probably didn’t voice as strongly as I should have. I didn’t like it that he had reneged on an agreement to take the Arkansas job. I didn’t like it that his head-coaching experience consisted only of three years at Texas-El Paso and two at A&M.

 

When I called Texas Tech Coach Bob Knight to ask about him, Knight said, “He’s a good coach, but the question is whether he can handle all that other crap surrounding that program.”

 

In retrospect, I’m even having doubts about his coaching ability. In fact, I’m wondering if he might turn out to be the basketball version of Charlie Bradshaw, the Bear Bryant wannabe who took over the UK program in 1962 and immediately ran off some 50 players with brutal mental and physical abuse.

Billy Reed is now a tool in my book. He's entitled to his own OPINION, though.

I disagree.....

He has his own opinion you know what if you dont like how he runs things don't watch UK play cheer for somebody else.

Reed's job is essentially to give people a reason to read his columns. He may not even agree with what he wrote - he's doing it simply for the controversy that will create readers.

The University of Kentucky was my school for 50 years before Billiy Clyde came and will be when he is gone. If, and I said If half of these rumors are true I do not have to support him. I can support the university and team without supporting every employee there. I do not have to leave and support someone else becauce we may have made a mistake and hired a jerk

Why should an athletic director have to defend his choice 2 months into the season?

 

Reed is doing a good job as a writer. He's writing controversial material on a hot topic; however, he's way off base, IMO.

 

BCG hasn't done such a great job thus far. But, these players weren't playing any harder under Tubby Smith. Give BCG a chance to get his own players into the system before we judge him.

 

"The Mysterious Injury That Just Won’t Heal" - It was announced that Jodie Meeks had a stress fracture and he was expected to be out 4-6 weeks. It's just over 6 weeks and he's expected to play tonight.

 

Reed's article is interesting & entertaining; however, it is far from accurate.

Since when did Billy Reed write for the Onion?

Billy has fallen on hard times, lost his job at the major newspaper outlets and a plum job at SI.

With that he is entitled to his own opinion.

There are a few things that I can pick apart in this.

Van Florence. Van has been right in the middle of UK athletics for 31 years. that is true. What is not really known as that Van was removed from fundraising activities by the Barnhart. He no longer holds that position. Wonder why? Van was sticking his hand in the kitty so to speak.

What is funny is that he is calling Bob Knight, who last I saw was Mr. Congeniality.

Knight has always been critical of "everything" surrounding Kentucky Basketball.

Hall and Sutton were usually at the end of his barbs. So much so he slapped ol Joe B. in the noggin.

As for the rumors, I was told this week that there are a handful of boosters that have been spreading things out there that are not true, including a state trooper pulling BCG over. This is a group who wanted John Pelphrey in after Donovan spurned them.

Why should Barnhart react to rumors? It would only give credence to them.

Coaching experience.

How many head coaching years of experience did Coach K have? John Pelphrey? Bobby Knight? That is out the window...if you ask me.

Billy Reed is entitled to his opinion, but I disagree with much of what he has said.

WHo cares if Billy G doesn't want to take Van Florence (Member of 101) on away games. What purpose does he serve going? Nothing other than getting a free ride.

 

Until Billy G violates the law, I dont care what he does. Just win and win as quick as possible.

 

As for Billy Reed who cares wat he writes. He is stuck in the past. Like what he writes means something????????

Very good points by Mr. Reed. Some things are tradition and a part of the UK program, like Van Florence. Being rude and arrogant really makes no sense to me by this staff, what do they have to be arrogant about?

 

In the end, BCG may win a lot games at UK, but along the way he is going to rub MANY people the wrong way! Then we will be able to see if winning trumps all, won't we?

If BCG was undefeated this season none of this would be going on, I said all along BCG would be the best coach Kentucky ever had untill his first Loss. We as Kentucky fans are the worst at diging up stuff on coaches to place the blame. For what it is worth give the man a chance let him get his recruits in there and let him get used to Kentucky before we start judging a coach on what he does and doesn't do..........

Does Billy still write for the Louisville Sports Report?

I'm sure that after reading this, Mitch will be ready to fire Billy G. tomorrow...

I love how these losers in the media offer up their advice or tell people what someone else should do. You're not the coach, you're not the AD.

Oh yeah, and nice "I should have said this earlier but I'll pile on now that the team is 4-4 and I don't like the coach."

Billy Reed IS a tool, Wireman.:thumb:

Very good points by Mr. Reed. Some things are tradition and a part of the UK program, like Van Florence. Being rude and arrogant really makes no sense to me by this staff, what do they have to be arrogant about?

 

In the end, BCG may win a lot games at UK, but along the way he is going to rub MANY people the wrong way! Then we will be able to see if winning trumps all, won't we?

Van Florence was caught taking money...very hush hush...

He has been demoted in the UK bureaucracy.

:sleep::sleep::sleep: