From UKAthletics.com
The University of Kentucky will hold a pep rally and a press conference today to announce the 21st head coach in UK men’s basketball history (6th in the last 76 years).
An introductory pep rally is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum. Fans are encouraged to come out and welcome the new coach. The ensuing press conference will be televised live to all fans in Memorial Coliseum wishing to view the event. Doors open at 11 a.m. and admission is free.
A press conference announcing the new coach will follow at 12:45 p.m. on the men’s practice floor in the Joe Craft Center. The press conference is open to media, athletics board members, board of trustees, and former UK basketball players.
April 6th, 2007 at 7:36 am
This is a Great Pick up for us KENTUCKY FAN i was so happy when TUBBY LEFT I HAVE BEEN WATCHIN UK SINCE I WAS BORN BUT BILLY G IS THE MAN HE RUNS A GREAT OFFENSE DEFENSE N CAN RECRUIT HAVENT HEARD THAT IN AWHILE
April 6th, 2007 at 8:01 am
I really like this selection, though I’m a bit worried about recruiting. He wasn’t at UTEP or A&M for more than 2 years, so I don’t think anybody has a real idea of how well he can recruit. That being said, I’m excited to have a coach that will push the ball up and down the floor. Billy ball will make Kentucky a fun to watch program and bring some spice back into Rupp Arena. On, On U of K!
April 6th, 2007 at 8:37 am
I’ve got a bad feeling about this hire. The guy has shown no signs of commitment in his past, and when you really look at it….WHAT HAS HE WON?
I can almost see this ending up like North Carolina, after Dean Smith left. After long-time-assistant-turned-interim-coach Bill Guthridge resigned, they went after former assistant (like Billy D) Roy Williams, who was tempted, but turned them down at the last minute. They then made a hasty hire in unproven, but former Tarheel, Matt Dougherty. 3 years later, Matt’s out….and Roy is finally ready to come home.
If Kentucky is lucky, Billy Donovan will be ready to return to the U.K. bench in 3-4 years. In the meantime, Billy G. will be sweating it out under the Big Blue Microscope.
April 6th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Please stop. How about supporting the new coach. He hasn’t even been introduced and you are already calling him a failure.
April 6th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Oh please….enough with the bleeding heart crap. Everybody, INCLUDING Billy Gillespie, knows he’s not who U.K. and the fans really wanted. How effective do you think he will be, when he’ll immediately be under the same…if not WORSE…scrutiny, that supposedly caused Tubby to run off to gopher country? I’m not saying he’s a bad coach…just not likely to be the long-term answer for U.K.
April 6th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Bleeding heart? I admitted a couple of posts ago that I had never heard of the guy until a year or so ago. I have no reason to take up for him. I’m just going to give him a chance. He isn’t going to “turn around” the program in one year.
The fans that want to get back to their happy place in one year are the problem. How long are you going to give him?
April 6th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Like I said, 3-4 years should be about right…..which is likely all Barnhart and company will give him anyway.
April 6th, 2007 at 9:05 am
That’s much more reasonable. I know your first comment said that but it was kind of canceled out by some of the other stuff. As long as people are willing to give him a shot, I would imagine that is all he and Barnhardt would ask. See we can all get along. Appreciate the comments.
April 6th, 2007 at 9:42 am
I think Billy G is a great choice…I think he has great character, good system and his players like playing for him. That can overcome a lot of recruiting woes.
April 6th, 2007 at 10:08 am
You see, there is goes already;a buckethead fan who’s already throwing bombs, I wonder did he or she played any sports while he or she was going to school?
April 6th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Since when does UK athletics director answer to the fans?
Who gives a rip if a supposed majority of UK fans “wanted” Billy D?
So what? Are any of these supposed fans qualified to make a decision about hiring a basketball coach?
I do not believe a majority “wanted” Billy D, anyway - just the loudmouths who really wanted Slicky P back, or some other cheater to win at any cost.
Three to four years is not a realistic goal, either, not these days … as I have said before, even hiring Phil Jackson and sneaking Kobe in as a freshman would not guarantee a Final Four within 3-4 years. That’s wack.
Let’s have another NCAA sanction or even a death penalty within 3-4 years, that’s more realistic given the public insanity shown by several who would pay serious money for any way to get UK on top … and that’s scary. Anyone who would gather $5 million to pay a winning coach to leave, instead of gathering that same money for some honorable cause at UK or in Lexington, is scary. That people will pass that information around as if it were a legitimate use of the money is scary. You could fund five endowed professorships at UK, or start a building, or endow a ton of scholarships with that kind of money … instead of trying to buy another NCAA banner for Rupp.
As the Webmaster has noted, the worst is yet to come - because the negativity and entitlement of evilsaying and supposed “rights” of a few sorry sad so-called fans, WHOEVER comes in here next is going to suffer.
And, as usual, the real True Blue fans - and the players - and the school - are going to suffer as well.
Thanks a lot, boohoos, for making Kentucky into a national joke and dissing the new coach before he even coaches a single game!
Watch for the “Tubby Come Home” posters soon at an arena near you…
April 6th, 2007 at 10:31 am
The only way that this coach and his team are ever going to feel any love around here is in their own locker room. There are so many different kind of fans in this state it is sickening. We all as a Big Blue Nation need to come together and support the team and its coach. He is Mitches choice and I am sure that the “Boosters” are happy with his decision. Donavan never wanted the job and we need to accept that. Tubby for many reasons felt that he needed to go and I wish him the best of luck. Unlike Tubby Billy G. is handed a program that needs some help in a major way, Tubby was handed a two time defending champion (I know they lost in 97 but if Derrick Anderson would have played that is a win) and he missed his opportunity as time went on. So lets show them some support and win recruits so we can go back to the Good Ol Days as my grandfather says. C A T S CATS CATS CATS
April 6th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Go BEARCATS!!!
April 6th, 2007 at 11:06 am
Way 2 Blue-I agree with everything you said except if Kobe and Phil were on a team together, they would win the final four that year. I never wanted Donovan in the first place, glad we got a coach with class. Donovon was blessed with players with great character, before the past two years he was mediocre at best.
April 6th, 2007 at 11:07 am
Cincy still has a team?
April 6th, 2007 at 11:20 am
yes they still do danny boy…you probably do not even know who the big O is anyway gillepsie is an alright choice…I still wish we could of snagged caliperi or huggins…recruits love both of them and they are also great coaches…o well i guess we should have gillepsie for at least two years before he moves on to duke, kansas or florida…
April 6th, 2007 at 11:35 am
I think way2blu is Saul, or G.G, or Donna…… WAY2SCORN is more like it. We will not miss Tubby…. BELIEVE THAT. Billy G. can recruit guys and keep them at the levell they play HS ball, or make them even better…..(acie law)…. 4 top 25 recruiting classes….. no players getting ripped out from under him obviously…no HS players ripping on his style of play….. Billy D can keep his hair gel collection in Florida…. We will be fine without Pitino, or ANY of his underlings. A new direction for UK!!! I am PLEASED….
April 6th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Big o no, they need stevie logan or something because they were horrible last year. I like Caliperi to and Huggins but they both have character issues(UMASS stripped of final four because of Camby, Huggins running the thugs r us clinic at Cincy)
April 6th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
I just found out about the new coach, and I for one say GO BIG BLUE!!
Let’s give this ole boy a good old KY welcome and look forward to him bring UK back to where it belongs. Can’t wait to hang # 8 up.
YEA!
April 6th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Before wy2blu corrects my spelling, it should have been bringing instead of bring
April 6th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Billy G resurrected UTEP! He resurrected Texas A&M. This is not Matt D. I think you will find out who will be more successful Billy D or Billy G. My bet is Billy G. And also I recommend that this website changes names too. I like to tell my friends about it but it sounds kinda negative even though its not a negative site.
April 6th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
I think this is a good hire.
C’mon guys, this is our new coach and he deserves at least and chance to do well here before we start bashing him.
We’ve been dealing with a Tubby that has lost his fire for the last 2 or 3 years and the bar isn’t set really all that high. The way some of you are bashing Billy G already makes me embarassed to be a UK fan. Tubby earned our disrespect over several years, lets give Billy G a chance.
Go CATS!
Luke
April 6th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
congrats kentucky on a great hire. Gillispie took A&M from a laughing stock to a top 5 team. Sure he will do great things at Kentucky.