Home Runs:

John Calipari

Billy Donovan

Tom Izzo

Jamie Dixon

Jay Wright

 

Solid Hires:

Sean Miller

Rick Barnes

 

Bad Hires:

Bobby Knight

John Pelphrey

 

Kill the Program Hires:

Travis Ford

First of, I consider myself a true blue blood and will be behind this team no matter what the outcome. I stated in the past month or s I felt Gillespie deserved at least one more year before passing the verdict on him, but realizing then becoming offical he was out my mind has switched to support whoever the next front man may be. With that said heres how I truly feel about the names mentioned.

 

 

 

1) John Calipari. - I love John Cal. In my mind he is without a doubt the number one guy the Cats should go after. Not going to go into too much detail but you can read some of my posts in other threads to see how I really feel about Calipari. I feel he is the big time name the program needs, and I also feel he is the person who could get things turned around in Lexington the fastest. IMO hand him the checkbook, let him do what he pleases with it.

 

2) Billy Donovan.- Wouldn't be too bummed if Donovan comes in, but after repeated dismissals of the Kentucky program (including the 2007 situation), I do not feel confident that he would have the heart that would scream Kentucky. Money may talk him into it, but if anything in him truly wanted to be at Kentucky then he would not have acted the way he has, so why hire someone who doesn't feel passionate about getting things turned around. I will say that if Billy D does somehow become the coach, then long term the program will be in great shape. We will have a couple better than average seasons before we really get back on top of things, but at least Billy would do things the right way and build for a solid future, instead of pulling a Tubby and fielding a nice team for a few years, but a team thats going to screw you a couple later.

 

3) Tom Izzo. - Love Izzo. Great coach, great personality, and loves the game of basketball. He's still in the tourney this year and is doing so without the help of any superstar status prospects. Has a great eye for talent and guys who can play in his system. The man can coach, the man can win, and hopefully teaming up with Kentucky would also be able to reel in some big fish in the prospect pond.

 

4) Travis Ford. - Would be one of the last candidates I would want. Nothing against Ford, he is a Kentucky guy through and through and would give 110% to get the program where it needs to be. However, I just don't feel he is ready yet. Mitchy Poo needs to bring in a blockbuster name, not another budding guy on the rise. If it does happen I feel in time he will do okay, the recruiting aspect is just what worries me. Kentucky's a lot harder to sale to kids these days as lets say it was fifteen years ago. Thus, UK needs someone who can land some big name kids. Whether Ford can do this or not is unproven and we need "proven".

 

5) Bobby Knight. - Would more than likely never ever happen based on simply the past. But if the General did don the Blue and White I would love it. He would make kids feel proud to be wearing the Kentucky uniform and if you wasn't going 100% then more than likely you would be on the bench of perhaps even off the team. Coach Knight is another who would do things the right way and have everything lined out in a few years, however, when it comes to instant impact hes not the guy.

 

6) John Pelphrey. - Pelphrey, I like him a lot, but as with Travis Ford, I don't think he is ready yet. Again, Mitchy Poo needs to get the most proven guy he can, and Pelphrey is right there at the bottom of the list with Ford when it comes to that. However, I like what Pelphrey could bring to the table in that he is a Kentucky boy and he knows the importance of winning and the importance of Kentucky basketball in general. Its just I feel hes not ready yet.

 

7) Sean Miller. - would be okay for the long run, but like other guys mentioned, not ready to take on a job with the pressure surrounding it like Kentucky has right now.

 

8) Jamie Dixon. - If Cal, Izzo, and Donovan are out then if I were Barnhardt I would do about anything I could to get Dixon in. He has been a coach on the rise for a while now, and since he has finally broken his Sweet 16 jinx I think he is ready to do big things. I love the coaching style, and I love how he uses his players. Dixon is a solid eough recruiter and judge of talent for me and could bring quick success to Kentucky if he were named top dog.

 

9) Jay Wright. - Basically the same thing said for Dixon can be said for Wright. I really think he is a solid coach, and continues to put highly competitive teams on the floor. Likes to get up and down, press, and shoot the trey. Can recruit big names, however, what scares me is that he always seems to be one or two big men away from getting over the top. Even though fun to watch, a four guard lineup makes it tough to win a championship, and although this years team is not like that, they can still use another solid body in the paint. If Wright could come to Kentucky and consistently put a balanced team on the floor instead of just a team with some talented guards, then I would take the chance of winning a championship in the next five years for sure.

 

10) Rick Barnes. - Not as high on Barnes as some. Personally I feel he is very overrated. The big upside is that he can recruit and pull in some big names. Downfall is many of his guys leave early, and it frequently appears like his teams are not on the same page and their play shows. He has never won anything, and when under pressure he will lose more times than he will win. Like said, he will always have good players on the floor, but can he ever get them to win big. I haven't seen it yet, and I don't know If I ever will, Kentucky or not.

Another way I'd classify it:

 

Great Hire:

 

- Tom Izzo

- Billy Donovan

- John Calipari

 

Good Hire:

 

- Rick Barnes

- Jay Wright

- Jamie Dixon

 

Poor Hire:

 

- Travis Ford

- Sean Miller

 

What The Heck Were You Thinking Hire:

 

- Bobby Knight

- John Pelphrey

 

 

I would never put Sean Miller on the same level as Ford. Look at what he's done so far with Xavier. I would like that hire. The only thing I'm unsure of is his recruiting ability. I know he got Frease and Holloway but aren't the rest of his players still from Thad Matta?

In 5 words or less, how would you feel if a press conference is held and Barnhart says, "The new men's basketball coach at the University of Kentucky will be...

 

1) John Calipari."

 

2) Billy Donovan."

 

3) Tom Izzo."

 

4) Travis Ford."

 

5) Bobby Knight."

 

6) John Pelphrey."

 

7) Sean Miller."

 

8) Jamie Dixon."

 

9) Jay Wright."

 

10) Rick Barnes."

 

 

1.) YES!!!!!!!

2.) Finally!

3.) Pretty good hire!

4.) Ugh...:irked:

5.) What!? :confused:

6.) Ugh...:irked:

7.) Not a "bad" hire.

8.) Good coach...

9.) Hhow did Mitch do it?

10.) What!? Why?!? Please no!? :irked:

In 5 words or less, how would you feel if a press conference is held and Barnhart says, "The new men's basketball coach at the University of Kentucky will be..."

 

1) John Calipari." - not sure about his ethics, good recruiter but outside that I don't trust him.

 

2) Billy Donovan." - Good hire, does things the right way, IMO won't be a long term hire, I think he would bolt for the right NBA job.

 

3) Tom Izzo." - Should be the top of the list, no questions, does things the right way and probably a long term hire. He is the long ball they need.

 

4) Travis Ford." - Why?

 

5) Bobby Knight." - Indifferent.

 

6) John Pelphrey." - No way...

 

7) Sean Miller." - Long shot that might work out.

 

8) Jamie Dixon." - I think would be good, just not sure he's a long term guy either.

 

9) Jay Wright." - See Tom Izzo, 2nd choice.

 

10) Rick Barnes.- Please no...

1) John Calipari." Get some Recruits.:ylsuper:

 

2) Billy Donovan." Thank God.:dancingpa

 

3) Tom Izzo." Great hire, get some W's:ylsuper:

 

4) Travis Ford." Lord, potentially a Billy G. Attitude:ohbrother:

 

5) Bobby Knight." Start looking for a new coach in about 4 years.:ohbrother:

 

6) John Pelphrey." No, why?:isurrender:

 

7) Sean Miller." again no.

 

8) Jamie Dixon." I can't look at his hair.:scared:

 

9) Jay Wright." But seriously who is going to be our coach.:thumb:

 

10) Rick Barnes." Who knows:confused:

First of, I consider myself a true blue blood and will be behind this team no matter what the outcome. I stated in the past month or s I felt Gillespie deserved at least one more year before passing the verdict on him, but realizing then becoming offical he was out my mind has switched to support whoever the next front man may be. With that said heres how I truly feel about the names mentioned.

 

..................QUOTE]

 

.......in 100 words or less.:clap:

 

Seriously though good points.:thumb:

Oooops. Yeah I kind of missed the in five words or less thing, but on a board with many posters theres only so much you can say in five words or less that hasn't been said. My two cents I guess ended up turning into a dollar.

I want Rick P. back.

In 5 words or less, how would you feel if a press conference is held and Barnhart says, "The new men's basketball coach at the University of Kentucky will be...

 

1) John Calipari."No,don't trust him

 

2) Billy Donovan."Yes,hes the one

 

3) Tom Izzo."Great coach,but Kentucky?

 

4) Travis Ford." Needs more time to muture

 

5) Bobby Knight."He's 68

 

6) John Pelphrey."Not ready But well like

 

7) Sean Miller."Don't think so

 

8) Jamie Dixon."Who's that?

 

9) Jay Wright."Already coaching the Wildcats

 

10) Rick Barnes."

Not another guy from Texas.

1) John Calipari."Stay Clean, Great Hire

 

2) Billy Donovan."Satisfied, Hopeful

 

3) Tom Izzo."Winner, UK therefore, Winner

 

4) Travis Ford."Tears, not of joy

 

5) Bobby Knight."Probably Not Good

 

6) John Pelphrey."Not good

 

7) Sean Miller."Could be great

 

8) Jamie Dixon."Again, Could be great

 

9) Jay Wright."Happy

 

10) Rick Barnes."Not excited

1) John Calipari Give him a chance but be leery.

 

2) Billy Donovan."alright

 

3) Tom Izzo."great hire

 

4) Travis Ford." give him a chance

 

5) Bobby Knight. wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, I hope he doesn't hit Joe B again.

 

6) John Pelphrey." must have settled for him

 

7) Sean Miller." good coach over his head at UK

 

8) Jamie Dixon. intriguing choice

 

9) Jay Wright." intriguing choice

 

10) Rick Barnes. the guy couldn't recruit against Duke and UNC

[quote name=

 

1) John Calipari." Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

2) Billy Donovan." Yes!

 

3) Tom Izzo." Tubby again?

 

4) Travis Ford." Pitino wannabe.

 

5) Bobby Knight." God NO!!!

 

6) John Pelphrey." Too soon.

 

7) Sean Miller." Nice.

 

8) Jamie Dixon." Eddie Sutton again?

 

9) Jay Wright." Lets go!

 

10) Rick Barnes." Gillispe again?

 

Hope we give the next coach 3 years at least.

Hope we give the next coach 3 years at least.

 

 

As long as he doesn't do silly things, perhaps longer.

In 5 words or less, how would you feel if a press conference is held and Barnhart says, "The new men's basketball coach at the University of Kentucky will be...

 

1) John Calipari."

 

Well, God still loves UK.