Post by christianv2 on Mar 27, 2009 18:51:22 GMT -5
Breaking: Billy Gillispie reportedly out at Kentucky
By Eamonn Brennan
(Update: UK denied the rumors that Gillispie had been or would be fired early this morning. The Sporting News' Mike Decourcy says that's because Kentucky wants to land Billy Donovan, and they want to be sure they can get the Florida coach before they let Billy G go. Good to know this is being handled delicately. Eeesh.)
It's late, Memphis is fighting for its tournament life, and the last thing most people are thinking about is the coaching circus at Kentucky. Alas, there is no restraining it: According to WHAS 11 in Louisville, Billy Clyde Gillispie is out as the head coach of the Kentucky men's basketball team. Farewell, fitness friend.
There are few details available in the TV station's report. They are, however, citing "multiple sources," and according to friends who have the privilege to live so perilously close to Big Blue Nation, they've been broadcasting as much all evening.
The tides have been turning against Gillispie for a while now. Kentucky started their SEC season successfully, building a 16-4 overall record by Jan. 24. February didn't go so well; Gillispie and crew went 3-7 down the stretch and lost in the second round of the SEC tournament, dooming them to an NIT berth. It was the first time Kentucky missed the NCAA tournament since 1992, a streak Kentucky fans were particularly proud of.
It's not just coaching woes, either. Many fans -- and apparently school officials -- doubted Gillispie's ability to be a Pitino-like ambassador for the team and university. When your head coach is angrily provoking ESPN sideline reporters, yeah, you know, that concern might be legitimate. (At the same time, this is who Gillispie is. Did UK people not know this going in? You can't change him, ladies! I'm sure that's in "He's Just Not That Into You," though I wouldn't know, because I would rather impale myself with a rusty ballpeen hammer than watch or read something with that title.)
But, anyway, yes. Unless something changes, Billy Gillispie has coached his last game at the University of Kentucky. OK. Back to actual basketball now.
By Eamonn Brennan
(Update: UK denied the rumors that Gillispie had been or would be fired early this morning. The Sporting News' Mike Decourcy says that's because Kentucky wants to land Billy Donovan, and they want to be sure they can get the Florida coach before they let Billy G go. Good to know this is being handled delicately. Eeesh.)
It's late, Memphis is fighting for its tournament life, and the last thing most people are thinking about is the coaching circus at Kentucky. Alas, there is no restraining it: According to WHAS 11 in Louisville, Billy Clyde Gillispie is out as the head coach of the Kentucky men's basketball team. Farewell, fitness friend.
There are few details available in the TV station's report. They are, however, citing "multiple sources," and according to friends who have the privilege to live so perilously close to Big Blue Nation, they've been broadcasting as much all evening.
The tides have been turning against Gillispie for a while now. Kentucky started their SEC season successfully, building a 16-4 overall record by Jan. 24. February didn't go so well; Gillispie and crew went 3-7 down the stretch and lost in the second round of the SEC tournament, dooming them to an NIT berth. It was the first time Kentucky missed the NCAA tournament since 1992, a streak Kentucky fans were particularly proud of.
It's not just coaching woes, either. Many fans -- and apparently school officials -- doubted Gillispie's ability to be a Pitino-like ambassador for the team and university. When your head coach is angrily provoking ESPN sideline reporters, yeah, you know, that concern might be legitimate. (At the same time, this is who Gillispie is. Did UK people not know this going in? You can't change him, ladies! I'm sure that's in "He's Just Not That Into You," though I wouldn't know, because I would rather impale myself with a rusty ballpeen hammer than watch or read something with that title.)
But, anyway, yes. Unless something changes, Billy Gillispie has coached his last game at the University of Kentucky. OK. Back to actual basketball now.