EUROTRIP!

What is this stolen image from Google Maps you might ask?  Well, this is the trip my wife and I are about to embark on.  Prior to staring my residency next year and beginning my 60+ hour work weeks, I figure I would Burn all of my vacation time on a 3.5 week trip around Europe.  Expect city by city updates and photo albums to be posted after we return back.  As posted on the map we will be visiting:

• Barcelona
• Brussels
• Amsterdam
• Prague
• Munich
• Paris
• Madrid
  

Coach Cal: The First 30 days

If you scroll back a few posts , you will see that I declared my man-love for none other than Billy Clyde Gillispie a mere 2 years ago. As it turned out, my man crush was possibly declared a bit too early as he won me over at his folksy press conference/pep rally. This has lead me to hold off on making any premature judgments as happened before. There's a lot of talk about President Obama and his first 100 days in office going around these days and that is important with our current recession and Mexican pigs about to rid the earth of its population with their evil plot, but it is not the only administration to be focusing on right now.  That's right folks, we are talking about the Coach Cal administration.  The first 30 days are up and we are passing out some grades as requirement as the Head Men's Basketball Coach at the University of Kentucky.

Task #1: Win the Press Conference

Grade: A+.  Within the first sentence, Cal referenced Billy Keightly and Adolph Rupp's Son Herky Rupp.  During the Q&A he referenced at least 6 former players, including Richie making a run at the governorship down the road.  He referenced the banners on the wall referring to the fact that his goal is to hang more of those. He absolutely knocked it out of the park during the presser, not much more than that can be said.

Task #2: Bring in Top Talent that Can Compete Immediately

Grade: B+.  Coach Cal did a great job keeping the commitments from top talents Daniel Orton and Jon Hood.  Adding to that, he brought in the #2 player in the country in DeMarcus Cousiuns and a solid Juco Athlete in Darnell Dodson.  I stick with the B+ right now because he has yet to land a commitment from a top PG, which is priority #1 right now.  If John Wall comes to UK, the Cats will be a pre-season final four pick.  In addition to prospects from this year, Cal has been on the recruiting trail for the 2010 class.  The Cats are heavily involved with about 10 5* talents for next season as well.  

Task #3: Win the PR Game

Grade: A+. Let's face it, many factors led to my former man crush's demise, but this was probably the biggest factor.  But this post is about the current regime, so let's not bring that up.  Cal has been a globetrotter on the talk show circuit over the last month.  From PTI to the Jim Rome show to the Kentucky Derby this past weekend, Cal his been killing it.  He realizes that his job description is more than that of basketball coach, but CEO of the program, and he is the most popular man in the state.

Task #4: Reconnect with the Program's Past

Grade: A. Cal has hired 2 former players as assisstants.  He is reinstating the players weekend where former players can come back to play pickup ball with the current players.  Former players are welcome to pop into practice.  Cal GETS it.  There really isn't another way to put it, and once again it is in stark contrast to our former head man.

I know what everyone is thinking: none of these tasks have anything to do with coaching basketball games (except perhaps the recruiting portion).  As stated before, that is just a portion of being the Men's Basketball Coach at UK.  No doubt about it, Cal has knocked it out of the park so far.  Do I have a man crush?  Perhaps, but I won't jinx this one again.

Return of the Roman Empire?

2 years ago, I was an advocate of this man John Calapari to come of the bluegrass.  At the time, he had yet to make his run to the championship game and cement his reputation as one of the best coaches out there.  Also there are rumors of possible NCAA rule-breaking that always seem to follow Cal.  It seems the tide may have turned.  Fresh off the firing of a coach hired only 2 years ago, it seems the administration is feeling the heat to make a big splash this time, and John Calapari is now the target.

Here is what is rumored (let me say that I have no direct sources on any of this info)

• Like I stated, the UK administration considered Cal too much of a risk 2 years ago and maybe even early on in this search process.
• Their stance on Cal has in the VERY least softened and they are now considering Cal as a candidate for the job
• Rumors are rampant that Cal reached out to UK to plead his case to take the job, and it appears now a conversation between Cal and the administration HAS occurred.
• Gotta love this: a facebook group has popped up to bring John Calipari  to UK.  Supposedly John's 2 daughters, Jodie Meeks, Patrick Patterson, Perry Stevenson, Ramon Harris, and DeMarcus Cousins (top 5 2009 recruit, committed to Memphis)

Will all of this come to fruition?  Remains to be seen, but there is quite a bit of smoke.  Maybe a little fire?

Ball's in your Court, Mitch

Losing at home to UGA in a must-win game is inexcusable.  The time has come for Mitch Barnhardt to make a decision.  Make the wrong one, and he loses his job as well.  Let us count the offenses.

• Despite being employed by the University of Kentucky since March 2008, he has yet to sign a contract.  The reason for the hold-up appears to be over a number of "personal conduct" clauses in his contract.  With the piss-poor performance over the last 2 years I think Barnhardt should write in some "performance clauses."
• 4 SEC home losses.  I don't even want to look up the last time this happened, but it's been a while.  It is also an embarrassment.
• 6 home losses in a season for the 2nd time in history.  10th home loss in 2 years.  Rick Pitino had 7 home losses in 8 years.
• EMBARRASSING losses at home the stalwarts of San Diego, Gardner Webb, and VMI.
• Loss on Senior Day for only the 6th time ever against one of the worst SEC teams to ever play at Rupp (not to mention UGA's first road win this season).
• Blowouts on the road against Vanderbilt, UNC, South Carolina, and Houston.
• First coach not to win an NCAA first round game since we were eligible for postseason play in 1992.
• Yet to win a postseason game
• Barring a UT collapse will have to play on opening day of SEC tournament for only the 3rd time ever
• Has been a complete ass on television to an ESPN reporter (see previous post) and UK's own Tom Leach.  The ESPN thing is not really a big deal to me, but to be short with Leach is inexcusable.

I will come out and tell you: I think Gillispie should be fired.  I am basing this opinion on the fact that UK will not make a miraculous recovery over the next week and a half to be playing in the big dance.  There is no excuse for a UK team to ever miss the tournament outside a rash of injuries.  Failure to make the Dance should call for an immediate dismissal.  BCG's "me against the world" attitude has not won over anyone in the Commonwealth, and he hasn't won enough games to win over anyone with his record.  

A side note to Mitch.  Making a mistake on a basketball hire will cost you respect.  Refusal to rectify that mistake will cost you your job.  As a whole, CM Newton was a failure as an AD.  Football probation, no progression in any of the other sports, and scandals that broke after he left filled his reign as AD at UK.  However, he is thought of as a success because he hired the man that rebuilt the basketball program.  We even put his name on the FOOTBALL FIELD due to this perceived success.  Dr Todd and yourself need to take note of this: it could cost you your job.

BCG vs. The Fans

This one has been brewing for a while. The last 4 years have not been up to UK standards and no one looks for reasons for reasons to complain more than UK fans. Couple this in with the fact that a lot of the fan base was divided on Tubby Smith to begin with, and you have a tough situation for Billy Gillispie. These events combined with some sub-par performance on the court has led to somewhat of a backlash against the Big Blue's Commander-in-Chief. I'm gonna lay out some of the points of contention of the last couple of months and how I feel about them.

Halftime Interviews

We've all seen them. From the "bad question" response to the "I didn't hear you"
Big Blue Nation (and some other media outlets) are not happy about the way BCG has treated poor Janine Edwards. Message boards have erupted over our coach being a jerk to the halftime reporter. It's predictable that the media has called him out on it, and the fans seem to be divided.

My Take: My first thought is that I don't really care if our coach is nice or not, and his time is better spent in the locker room making adjustments, but I also realize the bad press isn't doing us any good. Our head guy needs to be an ambassador at all times and sell the program to the media, fans, and recruits. The more the media likes you, the more coverage you will get. Billy needs to straighten his act out a bit, throw out some cliches, and get to the locker room.

Substitution Patterns

At times it seems like underachieving is rewarded under BCG. The fans are screaming for more of the likes of Harrelson, Galloway, Liggins, and Miller. There is one common theme among these players: they bring more to the table offensively. It is clear that defense is king in BCG's mind, and players not executing on that end of the floor have a VERY short leash. What is not clear, however is why 2 players averaging over 4 turnovers per 40 minutes played continue to get clock while providing minimal offensive output on a team that struggles at times to put the ball in the basket.

My Take: Seeing Ramon Harris dribble off his leg and Michael Porter get ripped at halfcourt over and over is getting somewhat old. Turnovers might be the main thing holding back UK from being a good offensive ball team and I think more of Miller and Galloway gives us a better chance to succeed.

I had intentions of putting up 3-4 more points of contention. However, it's game time and i must be making it to Rupp. However, let me say this. BCG has mopped the floor with Sweaty Bruce coaching-wise in their 3 career meetings. This one might take another Herculian effort by Jodie F Meeks, but with PPat coming back I think the Cats do it up big with a rocking house, 79-68.

Game Preview: Jean Shorts Edition

Florida's domination of us over the last couple of years cannot be argued.  This is what mostly fuels my hatred for the reptiles.  Couple that with the fact that UK would be on the outside looking in for the NCAAs with a loss, and we have a recipe for a must win game.  Despite the fact that Billy G and P Pat won't admit it, I think everyone knows this to be true.  Kick the Gators in the mouth today and the Cats are Co-leaders in the SEC East with the possibility of winning the conference.  The formula for success is pretty simple the rest of the way out:

• 40 + points from Meeks/Patterson every night
• Someone other than the "Big 2" must show the confidence to step up offensively
• Limit "drive and kick" jump shots
• Keep the other team off the offensive glass

I know this is obviously a biased opinion, but UK has not lost 3 straight home games EVER.  Billy G gets the boys fired out and we get a big contribution from an unexpected spot (Harrelson?).  Cats 75 Gators 67

An Update, Finally

Last time I updated the blog, I was preparing to run the Atlanta marathon.  I said that if I did not update in a couple of days, assume that I died.  Well I did not die.  I completed the marathon in a little over 5 hours and ate about 10,000 calories in mashed potatoes to make up for it.

That is not the point of today's post.  It is to say this: screw T-Will E5 and the rest of the filthy Cards.  It's time for Billy to reverse this terrible record we have against ranked opponents and bring the Ville to their knees.  Much like the football wins the last 2 years have decimated the Cards, A big win in Freedom Hall could cause the same damage for their basketball program.  The boys in Vegas have us 8 point dogs, but if Jodie can catch fire, this will be a spectacle to behold.