NCAA Basketball FanHouse

Billy Gillispie Has a Lot of Work to Do

Charles Rich — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 23:52:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky Basketball, SEC Basketball, Mid-Majors Basketball, Kentucky

After last night's opening win over Central Arkansas, Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie was less than thrilled with a 67-40 win.

Though he praised his players' effort -- as he had after a pair of exhibition victories -- he said the Cats continue to make too many mental mistakes. He wasn't happy with an offense that shot 40 percent in the first half, nor impressed with the defense even though the Bears made just 10 of 50 shots.

"Their 20 percent (shooting) wasn't enough us," Gillispie said. "It was more them."

Nor was he ecstatic about the mental mistakes he said are plaguing his team.

A 27 point win had him unhappy. Then the 16 point loss tonight to Gardner-Webb -- on his 48th birthday -- may have Gillispie popping Prozac like chiclets. Last year, Gardner-Webb was 9-21 and finished 7th in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

There are a lot of Kentucky fans canceling their trip to NYC for next week. It was expected that Kentucky would roll through the first couple home games tied in to 2K Sports College Hoops Classic before getting some nice early season challenges. Not happening.

The Runnin' Bulldogs led the entire game. They outshot, outrebounded and outplayed the Wildcats. Gillispie's disapproval of the team's defensive effort in the exhibitions and first game appears quite warranted. Gardner-Webb was able to run backdoor cuts almost at will for easy layups and higher percentage shots. This was not a case of a team that got incredibly hot from behind the 3-point line. Gardner-Webb shot over 56% on 2-point shots.

Kentucky, by contrast shot just under 36% in the game and looked shocked for most of the game. Stunned that they weren't winning. The fans were just as stunned. Heading out early and quietly. By the time the game ended, the stands were almost entirely empty.

After yesterday's game, Gillispie spoke of his goals at Kentucky for this season.

"I like to see great hustle and teamwork and execution, playing hard, playing smart and playing together. I want to honor this state and university with a little bit better play than we have so far."

The 84-68 loss was the first time the Wildcats lost to a non-BCS school on their home court since Western Kentucky in November 2001.

Billy Gillispie Has a Lot of Work to Do originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 07 Nov 2007 23:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kentucky Fan Buys Arizona Home to get '4KYCATS' License Plate

Ryan Ferguson — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Fans, Kentucky

Sometimes people ask why I write so much about Kentucky both here at FanHouse as well as at my personal blog, OrangeandBlueHue.com.

The answer is simple. There's never any shortage of fascinating things happening in the Big Blue Nation. From the absurd to the amazing to the awe-inspiring, you'll find it if you're covering Kentucky. Seriously, the stories write themselves.

In Gary Parrish's July 04 entry to his 'Parrish Thoughts' blog, he mentions a comment received by a Kentucky fan in response to one of his recent columns on Billy Gillispie. The commenter, 'David,' wrote that he bought a summer home in Arizona just so he could register his car there. Why Arizona? Well, it should be obvious, you big dummy! It was the only state with the '4KYCATS' license plate still available.

Parrish noticed the comment and emailed 'David' asking for more. His response (scroll to Parrish's July 04 entry) says it all:

A real estate agent told me how to go online and check the states' computers for personalized plate combinations. I was looking for a summer home and had tried other Rocky Mountain States for months to come up with a combination that would look cool on a red corvette, but everything is taken by all the wildcat fans. Found a home near Sedona, Arizona. Looked on the state's MVD computer, and lucky me there was 4KYCATS. Everywhere I drive that car I meet Kentucky bball fans. Bottom of Bryce Canyon national park: Ky fans. Top of the capitol dome in Denver: Ky fans. Ran out of gas on a charter boat in the mangrove swamp of the Florida Keys. Who comes to my rescue? Ky fans who saw my Ky jersey and towed me back, told me if I had been a Duke fan they would have left me there to die.

You just can't do any better than that. Thank you, David, for making the wacky world of college basketball fandom a better place.

Kentucky Fan Buys Arizona Home to get '4KYCATS' License Plate originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 15 Jul 2007 09:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Premature Hoops BlogPoll: No. 14, Kentucky

Ryan Ferguson — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:52:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball BlogPoll, Kentucky

This week, FanHouse is taking a way too early look at the top teams heading into 2007 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. It's a time-honored filler for the off-season, and who are we to buck tradition? Today we look at teams 15 through 11.

With Billy Gillispie whipping Kentucky fans into a frenzied elation over his masterful early recruiting strokes, some believe the Wildcats are poised for a return to national prominence in '08.

However, for that to happen, Gillispie will need to transform streaky and inconsistent seniors Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley into reliable and productive players who can lead both on and off the court. Last year Ramel Bradley's inability to distribute the ball, especially near the :38 minute mark, cost the Wildcats some games. This year he may be replaced at the point by incoming frosh Alex Legion (6' 5") but given Gillispie's track record for turning things around wherever he goes, expect to see a totally different look for Bradley, who will probably play a combination of point and shooting guard. Senior Joe Crawford needs to find his magic touch on the perimeter, while sophomores Derrick Jasper and Jodie Meeks need to take their games to the next level in '08.

Jasper started strong for the 'Cats as a freshman but lost his confidence midway through the season, never to return. Jodie Meeks was a star in the making for Kentucky, and stands ready to be a leader on the '08 team. Think of Chuck Hayes with more athleticism, but the same fierce determination to win.

The headline grabber for the '08 Wildcats, however, is obviously freshman Patrick Patterson. With the departure of Randolph Morris last year to the NBA, Patterson will be Kentucky's only real answer to "Where's the Beef?" The recruit whose services were eagerly sought after by Duke, Florida, and Kentucky, Patterson brings a widebody's attitude toward rebounding to the post. The main knocks against him are his height (a shade under 6' 8", which is on the short side for PF) and his offensive abilities. He's definitely got the talent; the question is how long will it take for him to develop into an SEC-quality power forward.

Why they should be ranked here: If Tubby Smith was coaching this team, they wouldn't be ranked. But a combination of Billy Gillispie and Patrick Patterson make Kentucky an easy Top 20 pick. The BlogPoll might have ranked Kentucky slightly higher than they will be by the college basketball polls, but that's a sign of respect for the abilities of Coach Gillispie.

Why they should be ranked higher: They probably shouldn't be -- yet -- and that's mostly a function of Billy Gillispie getting a chance to prove that the 'Cats are back. If Gillispie can take Kentucky's traditionally brutal pre-season and conference schedule and rapidly advance the 'Cats into the Top 10, they should stay there until March.

Why they should be ranked lower: The Wildcats have been in a Tubby-funk for two consecutive seasons. Their best player by far, Randolph Morris, left as a junior. Their incoming freshmen are talented, but they return no impact players. Jodie Meeks is probably the Cat who returns with the strongest combination of experience, talent, and drive, but he's only a sophomore. Senior Ramel Bradley has never been able to put together a consistent season. And finally, Billy Gillispie has yet to prove himself in one of the nation's toughest hoops conferences.

Premature Hoops BlogPoll: No. 14, Kentucky originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Claim: Kentucky Has SEC's Hottest Female Student-Athletes

Michael David Smith — Fri, 25 May 2007 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: College Sports, Women's Sports, Kentucky

This is a couple weeks old, but the Friday before a long weekend feels like the right time to post it. The Sporting Orange has carefully studied the relative attractiveness of the female student-athletes at SEC schools and pronounced Kentucky the No. 1 school in the conference.

The Sporting Orange looked at every female student-athlete at every SEC school, so this was an arduous task. Kentucky's softball, swimming, and golf teams are the ones that put the school over the top. Alabama came in second and Florida third. At the bottom of the list were Mississippi State in 11th place and Ole Miss in 12th.

Ashley Judd really has nothing to do with this story, other than, you know, she's hot and she's a Kentucky graduate. I am not aware of any such lists of the hotness of male student-athletes, but if I find one I will gladly post it.

Hat tip: Deadspin.

Claim: Kentucky Has SEC's Hottest Female Student-Athletes originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 25 May 2007 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kentucky Recruit Patrick Patterson Tells ESPN to Shove It

Michael David Smith — Mon, 21 May 2007 17:12:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Gossip, NCAA Basketball Media Watch, NCAA Basketball Recruiting, NCAA Basketball Rumors, Kentucky

I don't know much about Patrick Patterson, the high school power forward who committed to Kentucky last week. But I know I like him, now that I've read that ESPN gave him the opportunity to make a big deal of last week's announcement and he turned the Worldwide Leader down.

The cable network offered to televise the player's announcement if he would reveal the choice a half hour before the 3:45 p.m. news conference.
That way, ESPN gets a scoop to put on a crawl at the bottom of the screen, while Patterson gets national exposure.

"Thank you, but no thank you," the player's mother, Tywanna Patterson, said she told ESPN....

Patterson described his mother's reaction as telling ESPN, "You can come to the news conference like everybody else."

Although I'm not naive enough to think big-time high school basketball has any relationship to the ideals of amateurism in athletics, I'd like to think there are still a few teenage hoops players who haven't bought into their own hype. Patterson sounds like a good young man in addition to being a good player.

More at The Big Lead and Deadspin.

Kentucky Recruit Patrick Patterson Tells ESPN to Shove It originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 21 May 2007 17:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ashley Judd, Kentucky's Biggest Fan, Now a Graduate

Michael David Smith — Thu, 10 May 2007 18:43:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky Basketball, Kentucky

In the last few years Ashley Judd has probably garnered more attention for being a Kentucky basketball fan than she has for her acting. But now she's not just a Kentucky fan, she's also a Kentucky graduate. Judd, who attended Kentucky from 1986 to 1990 but left without graduating, has completed the last class she needed for her degree in French.

I'm usually cynical about celebrity sports fans -- how many Lakers games would Jack Nicholson attend if they weren't on TV? -- but Judd has always struck me as a real fan, not just someone trying to leech off the attention a sports team gets.

So even though I'm not sure what use Judd has for a French degree at this point in her life, I think this is cool. Congratulations, Ashley.

Ashley Judd, Kentucky's Biggest Fan, Now a Graduate originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 10 May 2007 18:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kentucky Looking to Buy Private Plane for Recruiting

Michael David Smith — Tue, 01 May 2007 05:50:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Gossip, NCAA Basketball Recruiting, Kentucky

The University of Kentucky athletic association board of directors has approved its 2008 budget, and that budget includes a $300,000 increase in spending on men's basketball recruiting. The reason? Kentucky is looking to buy a private plane so new basketball coach Billy Gillispie will have an easier time on the recruiting trail.

"Right now we're examining the ability to get around privately," athletic director Mitch Barnhart said. "We've found just in the last 2 ½ weeks ... how difficult it's been for (Gillispie) to get around. A lot of people have helped us with their planes in getting him where we need to go."

Kentucky officials say the $300,000 increase isn't enough to buy a plane, although it might be enough for a down payment. It's definitely enough to raise eyebrows and questions about the priorities of universities, and about the huge amounts of money spent on "amateur" athletics.

Hat tip: Sports by Brooks.

Kentucky Looking to Buy Private Plane for Recruiting originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 01 May 2007 05:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Billy Gillispie: Third Choice the Charm for Kentucky

Michael David Smith — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 06:16:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Fans, Kentucky

If you ask two girls to the prom and they both say no, the next girl you ask might say yes, but she probably won't feel great about being your third choice.

So it must be a little bit uncomfortable for new Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie to know that he was the school's third option. The worst-kept secret in sports is that Kentucky only offered the job to Gillispie after Florida coach Billy Donovan and Texas coach Rick Barnes said no.

But there's a growing consensus that Gillispie will turn out to be a great fit at Kentucky. My FanHouse colleague Ryan Ferguson said Gillispie is just what Kentucky needs and noted that Gillispie defused any awkwardness by joking, "As long as I'm not the sixth or seventh choice, I'm happy." Luke Winn of SI.com says:

Gillispie was not a typical third choice, in that the tireless, 47-year-old coach represented neither a significant drop-off in quality nor a questionable fit as the new Bluegrass band leader. This may seem ludicrous given what just transpired in Atlanta, and the goal of Plan A, but I genuinely believe the following statement: Billy Gillispie was the best coach for Kentucky.

I'm not willing to go quite that far - I still think if they could have gotten him, Donovan would have been the best man for the Kentucky job - but I do like everything I know about Gillispie. Unlike Tubby Smith, Gillispie will relish the pressure in Lexington. Winn is right about one thing: As Plan C's go, Gillispie is a good one.

Billy Gillispie: Third Choice the Charm for Kentucky originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 10 Apr 2007 06:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kentucky Fans Start FireBilly.com (But They Don't Mean It)

Michael David Smith — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 05:32:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Fans, NCAA Basketball Gossip, NCAA Basketball Media Watch, Kentucky

In the long tradition of web sites devoted to getting college coaches fired, some Kentucky fans registered the URL www.firebilly.com shortly after Billy Gillispie became the Wildcats' head coach. But they want to explain. They're actually supporters of Gillispie, and they registered the domain name to make sure some anti-Gillispie Kentucky fan couldn't:

Seriously, we do not want to fire University of Kentucky men's basketball head coach Billy Gillispie.

So why is the name of the site firebilly.com, you ask? To keep it away from some crazy UK fans, we answer.

Sounds like a reasonable bunch of fans to me. Of course, if Gillispie ends up with a terrible record at Kentucky, they might change their tune, in which case they'll be glad they already have the site set up.

Note: As of early Sunday morning, the site seems to be having technical problems.

Kentucky Fans Start FireBilly.com (But They Don't Mean It) originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 08 Apr 2007 05:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rick Barnes, Billy Gillespie Now Favorites to Coach Kentucky

Michael David Smith — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 12:40:00 EST

Filed under: Texas A&M Basketball, Texas Basketball, Kentucky Basketball, Big 12 Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, Texas, Texas A&M, Kentucky

With the news that Billy Donovan will stay at Florida, where will the Kentucky administration turn next in its basketball coaching search? Most likely, they'll turn to the state of Texas. The early favorites are Texas coach Rick Barnes and Texas A&M coach Billy Gillespie.

Gillespie's lack of actions -- specifically, declining to sign a contract extension -- strongly suggests that he'd like to look elsewhere. Gillespie is coming off a great season at Texas A&M, but can that greatness be sustained? I doubt it. This season was fueled by one Acie Law clutch shot after another. Law is done, and I can't imagine the Aggies being nearly as good without him.

Barnes seems somewhat less intent on leaving, but he, like Gillespie, is facing a 2007-08 season that will almost certainly be significantly less successful than this season was. (Unless you actually think Kevin Durant will be back next year.)

Most indications are that Barnes is Kentucky's first choice and Gillespie is No. 2. But Gillespie seems a little more eager to go than Barnes does. It's not clear what the next step will be, but all eyes are on the Lone Star State.

Rick Barnes, Billy Gillespie Now Favorites to Coach Kentucky originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 12:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Florida or Kentucky? Billy Donovan Won't Say

Michael David Smith — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:04:00 EST

Filed under: Florida Basketball, Kentucky Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Gossip, Florida, Kentucky

Florida coach Billy Donovan is up early this morning for the national title trophy presentation, and he's making the interview rounds. But he's avoiding the same question he declined to answer last night: Will he return to Florida next year?

"Right now I fully plan on doing that," Donovan said this morning on ESPN2's Cold Pizza. "I think a lot of the speculation has come from outside of myself. we were in the NCAA tournament and got asked a lot of questions about it." Donovan also said he wasn't sure which of his underclassmen will return to Florida next year.

ESPN's basketball analysts said they think Donovan will stay. Andy Katz said Donovan does not have a meeting scheduled with the Kentucky brass and that he's leaving soon for a family vacation in the Dominican Republic. Pat Forde said he sees Texas's Rick Barnes as a more likely candidate for the Kentucky job.

We won't know for sure until Kentucky hires someone, but it's looking increasingly unlikely that Donovan will be that someone.

Florida or Kentucky? Billy Donovan Won't Say originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gillespie is Waiting on Kentucky

Charles Rich — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 14:16:00 EST

Filed under: Texas A&M Basketball, Kentucky Basketball, Big 12 Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, Texas A&M, Kentucky

My fellow Fanhouser Ryan Ferguson is convinced that no Billies are going to Kentucky. He is convinced Texas A&M Coach Billy Gillispie is staying put. Ryan is also certain(ly hoping) that Billy Donovan is staying at Florida. I'm less certain about both.

Suffice to say, that this is a friendly disagreement. While Ryan takes Gillispie at his words, my gimlet eye views Gillispie by his lack of actions.

Gillipsie said he wouldn't sign until he returned from Final Four activities. Meanwhile, all of those major jobs -- Kentucky, Arkansas, Michigan and Iowa -- remain open.

Now, why would he do that? No doubt the Texas A&M Athletic Director is in Atlanta at this point. It seems like it would have been an easy thing to bring along the document for signing. Waiting to sign leaves the door open very conveniently open for escape.

It's all about the Big Blue. I don't dispute the lack of interest in the Arkansas job, and I don't believe Iowa or Michigan would offer enough. Kentucky, though, is the school on which he is waiting. The outcome with Donovan will decide his domino. Just about everyone knows that Donovan is the first choice and that Gillispie is the second.

Even if Florida gets to the Championship game on Monday and Donovan didn't reach a decision until Wednesday or Thursday, it would be very easy for Gillispie to put off signing the contract. The most convenient excuse would be a couple extra days on the recruiting trail before returning to College Station. Paying some visits and just doing more to help A&M basketball before getting home.

All the while, the contract remains unsigned. Waiting for Donovan's decision and maybe a phone call and a bigger offer from Kentucky.

Previously on Fanhouse:
Gillespie Is Staying Put
Report: Billy Gillispie Is Staying At Texas A&M
Kentucky's Hopes of Landing Donovan Grow Dimmer
Report: Kentucky to Offer Billy Donovan $1 Million Raise
Florida Has the Fans and Bucks to Keep Donovan

Gillespie is Waiting on Kentucky originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 31 Mar 2007 14:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vitale: Donovan Won't Coach Kentucky, May Coach Grizzlies

Michael David Smith — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 18:05:00 EST

Filed under: Florida Basketball, Kentucky Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Gossip, NCAA Basketball Media Watch, NCAA Basketball Rumors, Florida, Kentucky

On SportsCenter this evening, Dick Vitale said he talked to a source close to Florida coach Billy Donovan, and that the source told him that Donovan's attitude toward the possibility of taking over at Kentucky is, "he will listen, but he will not go."

However, Vitale said that doesn't mean Donovan will definitely return to Florida next year. Vitale said he thinks Donovan is a strong candidate to leave for the NBA, adding that the Memphis Grizzlies are "coming after him with a bushel of cash, trying to take him to the NBA, better than maybe 5 mil a year."

But Vitale said he thinks Donovan will turn down the NBA cash and stay with Florida. No matter what happens, this has become the story of the Final Four.

Previously at FanHouse:
Report: Kentucky to Offer Billy Donovan $1 Million Raise
Florida Has the Fans and Bucks to Keep Donovan
Donovan to Recruits: "I'm Staying at Florida"
Donovan to Kentucky Rumor Grows Wings
Donovan to UK Rumors Swirl

Vitale: Donovan Won't Coach Kentucky, May Coach Grizzlies originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 18:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Kentucky to Offer Billy Donovan $1 Million Raise

Michael David Smith — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:43:00 EST

Filed under: Florida Basketball, Kentucky Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Gossip, NCAA Basketball Rumors, Florida, Kentucky

ESPN.com is reporting that Kentucky has prepared its offer to Florida coach Billy Donovan, and it's a big one: A seven-year contract that would exceed his current salary by more than $1 million, guaranteeing him $2.8 million a year and giving him the possibility to earn $3.5 million a year with performance incentives.

Donovan will coach Florida Saturday and, he hopes, Monday, and the report says Kentucky will make its offer early next week. Donovan has five years left on his current deal, at $1.8 million a year, and will almost certainly get a raise from Florida if he decides to stay there, although it's not clear that he'll get a raise as big as the one Kentucky is ready to give him.

It's clear that Donovan is Kentucky's first choice, and although Donovan hasn't given any indication that he wants to leave Florida, he also hasn't said he'll absolutely, positively stay. Even if he did, of course, coaches don't always stay even when they promise they will. Bottom line, Donovan will make a decision next week that will shake up college basketball.

Previously at FanHouse:
Florida Has the Fans and Bucks to Keep Donovan
Donovan to Recruits: "I'm Staying at Florida"
Donovan to Kentucky Rumor Grows Wings
Donovan to UK Rumors Swirl

Report: Kentucky to Offer Billy Donovan $1 Million Raise originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Michigan State's Tom Izzo a Candidate for Kentucky Job?

Michael David Smith — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 10:17:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky Basketball, Michigan State Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Rumors, Michigan State, Kentucky

In East Lansing, folks seem a bit concerned that Michigan State coach Tom Izzo could bolt for the vacant coaching job at Kentucky. Neither school is talking about it publicly, but GoSpartans.net is reporting that Izzo is a top candidate, and the Detroit Free Press is assessing the chances he could leave. Jeff Goodman of Fox says Izzo would be Kentucky's third choice, behind Billy Donovan and Rick Barnes, but he says there's only a 10 percent chance Izzo would take the job if it were offered to him.

Although I wrote yesterday that I thought basketball coaches consider Kentucky an extremely attractive job, I'm not sure Izzo would want to leave. Michigan State pays Izzo a ridiculous amount of money (Izzo made more than $7 million in 2006), so it's hard to imagine he'd leave for financial reasons. And Izzo has turned the Spartans into one of the sport's elite programs. And the incoming recruiting class is strong. I understand why Michigan State fans are concerned, but I don't think Izzo is going anywhere.

Previously at FanHouse:
Ohio State AD Says Thad Matta Can Talk to Kentucky
How Nuts are the Expectations at Kentucky?
Why Did Tubby Smith Choose Minnesota?
Who Will Succeed Tubby Smith at Kentucky? Pt. I
Who Will Succeed Tubby Smith at Kentucky? Pt. II
Who Will Succeed Tubby Smith at Kentucky? Pt. III

Tubby Smith Jumps Before Being Pushed?

Is Michigan State's Tom Izzo a Candidate for Kentucky Job? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 25 Mar 2007 10:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ohio State AD Says Thad Matta Can Talk to Kentucky

Michael David Smith — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 12:22:00 EST

Filed under: Ohio State Basketball, Kentucky Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, Ohio State, Kentucky

If Kentucky really wants to shake things up in the college basketball world when it replaces Tubby Smith, here's a name: Thad Matta. Although he's obviously got more important things on his mind right now, Matta's boss, Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, said he will grant permission for Kentucky to speak with Matta if Kentucky asks for it.

Matta said exactly what every coach always says when asked if he wants to seek another job:

''That thought has honestly never crossed my mind,'' Matta said. ''I haven't had time, to be honest. But, no.''

Sounds a lot like what Matta said before he left Xavier for Ohio State. Matta still has nine years (!) left on his Ohio State contract at more than $2 million a year, but show me a college coach's contract and I'll show you a document that has about as much chance of being enforced as Anna Nicole Smith's husband's will.

Although Matta has done a great job turning Ohio State into a top-notch program, make no mistake: If you're a basketball coach, the Kentucky job is a better job. If Kentucky can entice a coach to leave the New York Knicks, it can entice a coach to leave Ohio State.

We're getting way ahead of ourselves, of course -- Kentucky hasn't started interviewing candidates, and Matta has at least one and maybe three more games to think about -- but Matta leaving for Kentucky sounds entirely plausible.

Previously at FanHouse:
How Nuts are the Expectations at Kentucky?
Why Did Tubby Smith Choose Minnesota?
Who Will Succeed Tubby Smith at Kentucky? Pt. I
Who Will Succeed Tubby Smith at Kentucky? Pt. II
Who Will Succeed Tubby Smith at Kentucky? Pt. III

Tubby Smith Jumps Before Being Pushed?

Ohio State AD Says Thad Matta Can Talk to Kentucky originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 24 Mar 2007 12:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kentucky's Big Man Now a Knick

Charles Rich — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:09:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky Basketball, SEC Basketball, NBA Prospects, Kentucky

Randolph Morris, formerly (like yesterday) a Junior at the University of Kentucky is now a member of the New York Knicks. Not in the near future. Not in some wink-nod deal. Not waiting for the NBA draft. Now. As in, he signed a free agent deal with the Knicks today.

Randolph Morris entered the NBA draft back in 2005 after his freshman season. He did not sign with an agent, and went completely undrafted. Morris was able to return to Kentucky -- after Tubby Smith happened to find the missing paper work a few months later in a desk drawer -- the NCAA had him sit out the 2005-06 non-con portion of the season but resume playing for Kentucky.

Morris played very solidly this past season, but an oddity of the latest NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement made Morris ineligible for the NBA Draft -- instead he was a free agent. He could have signed any time this season with a team and left Kentucky.

After Tubby Smith left Kentucky for Minnesota, Morris decided to leave for the NBA. The Athletic Director of Kentucky implored him to wait on that decision until the Wildcats had a new coach. Considering Kentucky has indicated that they are not going to rush the decision, Morris apparently saw no reason to wait around to see what happened. He took the money now, though it is not clear when he will be suiting up for games with the Knicks.

Previously on Fanhouse:
How to Beat the NBA Draft

Kentucky's Big Man Now a Knick originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tubby Smith: 'It's Who You're Working With'

Michael David Smith — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 09:08:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, Kentucky

New Minnesota basketball coach Tubby Smith gave an interview to ESPN Radio this morning, and although he was careful not to burn any bridges at Kentucky, he did have one interesting thing to say. When asked why he considered Minnesota an attractive job, he answered, "It's who you're working with, and that's the key here at Minnesota."

I don't want to read too much into a one-sentence answer like that, but it's hard not to see that as a tacit acknowledgment of what Smith won't say explicitly: He's leaving Kentucky because he knows he'll have more support from the administration and the boosters as the coach of the Golden Gophers.

And with good reason: The expectations at Kentucky are so high that anything short of an SEC title and a deep Tournament run was insufficient. In the same interview, Smith said he looked forward to doing some ice fishing in his free time at Minnesota. At Kentucky, they don't want the basketball coach to go fishing in his free time because they don't want the basketball coach to have any free time.

At Minnesota, Smith just needs to get to the Tournament to have the administration and the fans on his side. And that's why Smith's answer to why he wanted the Minnesota job ("We all need to be challenged") rang so hollow: there's no greater challenge than meeting the expectations at Kentucky. Smith fell short.

Previously at FanHouse:
How Nuts are the Expectations at Kentucky?
Why Did Tubby Smith Choose Minnesota?
Who Will Succeed Tubby Smith at Kentucky? Pt. I
Who Will Succeed Tubby Smith at Kentucky? Pt. II

Tubby Smith Jumps Before Being Pushed?

Tubby Smith: 'It's Who You're Working With' originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 09:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tubby Smith Jumps Before Being Pushed?

Charles Rich — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 15:39:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, Kentucky

Now this is an eye-catcher. Just as reports, that Tubby Smith was fired from Kentucky, Andy Katz of ESPN.com is reporting that the perpetually embattled Head Coach will bolt for the...

Minnesota Golden Gophers job!

According to the brief story, the highest paid college basketball coach will take a pay cut to only $1.8 million dollars.

This is stunning. Not that he would leave Kentucky at this point. Or that he may have been fired (or strongly encouraged to look elsewhere) but that he would jump to Minnesota without even giving Michigan a chance to woo him.

Previously on Fanhouse:
BREAKING: Tubby Smith Possibly Fired

Tubby Smith Jumps Before Being Pushed? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 15:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Four NCAA Tournament Games Simultaneously Tied Friday

Michael David Smith — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Florida Basketball, Villanova Basketball, Kentucky Basketball, Arkansas Basketball, March Madness, NCAA Basketball Video, USC Basketball, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky

I was wondering if anyone else noticed this. Although the first round of this year's tournament was characterized by lopsided scores and few upsets, there was a time on Friday night when all four games were tied at the same time:

The scores were:
Holy Cross 17, Southern Illinois 17
Arkansas 14, USC 14
Jacksonville State 21, Florida 21
Villanova 26, Kentucky 26

It was early in all four games, and they didn't turn out to be such great contests, but it was still kinda cool.

Four NCAA Tournament Games Simultaneously Tied Friday originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 10:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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