Admitting wrong is difficult for many of us. It takes a great deal of fortitude to so do and that is exactly what Kentucky did by firing Billy Gillispie and it was the right thing to do. As I mentioned previously, Kentucky is a shell of what it once was and Gillispie was the wrong coach in the wrong place to bring the consistent winning ways back to Lexington. He did not deal with the pressures, media, and expectations and, moreover, his teams underperformed on many occasions.
The speculation of who will be asked to retask the satellites of Kentucky basketball started before the press conference announcing the move. Billy Donovan from Florida is a name already surfacing in the rumor mill. Anthony Grant of VCU (and currently being courted by Alabama) may also be in the mix for either the Kentucky or Florida position. (Grant was set to take over for Donovan when he briefly left to take over the Orlando Magic). I think Mike Anderson of Missouri, Tom Izzo of Michigan State, and John Calipari of Memphis would be on any short list as well. All of that will play out in the very near future.
For Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart, there is no reason to rush this one. That mentality is what brought Gillispie to the Wildcats and that experiment has proven to be anything but successful. The right hire at this moment has the potential to set Kentucky up to dominate the SEC the way it did in the past. There are hurdles to overcome; namely, Florida, Tennessee, LSU, and Big East in-state foe Louisville, but the margin isn’t so wide that Kentucky can’t make it up in a hurry with the right coach and plan in place. The SEC is not the ACC or the Big East or even the PAC 10 in basketball right now. Kentucky takes basketball more seriously than any of its conference opponents. The support is there, the history is there, and talent is on the squad. It just needs the right leadership to guide it.
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Article comments
1 - Keith
This was an excellent opinion piece. However, I'm sure the Kentucky haters, who troll sites like this one, will come out in full force to disagree with Mr. Skipworth's comments.
2 - Jason Katz
No big name coach will to to UK they way thyey treated their last 2 coaches - Travis Ford will be the next hire
3 - Galen
I agree. Sometimes things just don't fit. It's better to go ahead and make a painful cut than to allow things to drag on and possibly derail the program.
A new guy, the right guy, will have Kentucky kicking much asso.
4 - AUTerp92
I think he is a good coach that wasn't ready for the "fishbowl" experience at UK...kind of like Mike Price at UAT without the hookers....
It will be interesting to see if UK will pursue Calipari as some are suggesting...so far three new coaches in the SEC...will there be more?
5 - Ghost #52
I just don't see Mike Anderson as a good fit at UK. He doesn't necessarily recruit super talented kids, but kids that fit his system. I'm not saying he's not a good coach, just don't think his style will play well with the Kentucky bluebloods.
6 - KYJurisDoctor
University of Kentucky "pulled a fast one" on Basketball Coach, Billy Gillespie.
7 - Lou
UK is taking the Foley (UF's AD) approach: if you can see your self doing something in 2 years, then you might as well do it now.
Gillispie's downfall was he only wanted to coach. He had no interest in being an ambassador for the team/athletic department/school.