The Southeastern Conference tournament starts Thursday in Tampa and the Kentucky Wildcats are likely going to need a strong showing to earn a berth to the NCAA tournament for an 18th consecutive season.
Anything less than an NCAA berth is considered a high crime in Lexington, but Billy Gillispie's Wildcats are a pedestrian 19-12, including an embarrassing 111-103 loss at home to something called VMI.
This isn't what Kentucky fans were hoping for when Tubby Smith was run out of town two years ago. Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports wrote about the Lexington train wreck last week — before the dispirited Wildcats lost at Florida, 60-53.
Former Wildcat standout Mike Casey said of Gillispie: "First of all, I think he's in over his head. I think he has no clue as to what's going on in the game."
He added: "I just don't think he knows what it means to coach at UK. I hate to say it, but a change has to be made, and soon, or we're going to lose what UK is all about."
Jodie Meeks, who scored a team-record 54 points against Tennessee in January, and Patrick Patterson, one of the best big men in the country, haven't been able to lift Kentucky out of its funk. To make matters worse, Gillispie twice acted like an assclown with ESPN sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards.
"There was no reason to be rude or disrespectful," said former Kentucky player Bobby Perry, who is a radio analyst on the pre- and postgame shows. "That's what he was. It was uncalled for."
Kentucky president Lee Told said Gillispie's job status will be discussed after the season. That meeting could happen soon if the Wildcats don't turn things around in the SEC tournament.
I hope that billy gillispie is leaving after this year. UK needs a coach that knows more than one defense and that can recruit.
Posted by: newt | March 11, 2009 at 01:20 PM
agred all we know how to run is man to man and he thinks that were gonna win without a point guard.... not gonna happen i would lov eot have John Calliperi or however you spell it from memphis
Posted by: Bdav | March 11, 2009 at 03:43 PM
Billy G was a bad choice for us. If anything we need Travis Ford from OSU. He knows what it takes to play for KY and he is a great coach. It was a bad idea to get rid of Tubby. No, our record wasn't the best, but atleast he knew how to coach on the floor. Now that we have made that big mistake, however, we need to bounce back and get someone who knows what they are doing
Posted by: Katie | March 26, 2009 at 03:12 PM