Billy G was in the hot seat for not caring about Kentucky tradition, and driving his player nuts. It’s not a secret that had he come back, 4-5 players were transferring. He threatened to kick Jodie Meeks off the team before the Notre Dame game because he was shooting too much. Even during his 54 point game, he told Meeks he was too selfish.
He basically drove his players nuts, drove his boss nuts, and drove everyone in Lexington nuts. And I actually liked the guy.
Well, I’ve always believed players will perform at a high level for EITHER a nice guy “players’ coach” or for a mean S.O.B.
What matters is, whether he’s a sweetheart or a prick, do the players believe he knows what he’s doing? Do they believe he gives them an edge? Do they believe that, if they buy into what this guy is telling them, they’ll win?
If they DO believe that, they’ll do ANYTHING for him, even if he curses them and treats them like dirt. If they DON’T believe that, they’ll tune out early, and won’t listen to anything he says. And once that happens, it’s pretty much impossible EVER to win them back.
Bill Belichick and Bobby Knight have NEVER been nice guys, by any stretch of the imagination. But their players have gladly endured cursing and mockery and humiliation, because they had good reason to believe a championship rign was waiting at the end of a long, hard road. What was it Steve Shutt once said of Scotty Bowman- “364 days a year I hated him, but the 365th day, I drank champagne out of the Stanley Cup.”
Billy Gillispie NEVER gave his Wildcats reason to believe that there would be a payoff.
Apologies. I thought you were singling out UK by implying that it was a hillbilly university or something.
I read that groups are trying find a way to pay Calipari 7 mill a year. That would mean the first 25 bucks for every single person that went to a basketball game would go to him. Too damn much.
I spend a fair amount of my time as an administrator for a UGA sports page, and most of the mention Izzo’s name has received has been closely followed by hysterical laughter. I don’t think any serious Dawg fan really believes that’s even a remote possibility.
It looks like we’re going guns blazing for Anderson, but I’m much less optimistic than everyone else at this point.
Well, MSU fans, breathe your sigh of relief. Calipari is the new Kentucky coach. Presser at 9:30am EST for the introduction.
All may not be well in Lexington, ESPN is reporting that three players verbally commited to Kentucky, have withdrawn their commitment following the hire of Calipari.
GJ Vilarino, KC Ross Miller, and Konner Tucker to re-open recruitment.
Sorry I cannot find a link to the story. I saw it on the ESPN2 scroll.
However, there might be some good news. Apparently Calipari recruited a legendary class to memphis, some of those players might follow him to Lexington.
Those guys are no big deal, though, and Ross-Miller is only a junior anyway. Meanwhile Calipari stands a good chance of bringing with him two top-5 recruits this year, and maybe another top 10.
As long as one or both of the Meeks/Patterson combo come back AND we get a couple blue chippers to follow Calipari from Memphis to UK, we’ll make the tourney next year. Beyond that, the sky is the limit.
I wonder if that eighth-grader Gillispie got to sign an intent letter is still coming…
What I wonder is whether guys like Darius Miller and Liggins are going to suddenly start looking like they can play basketball next year.
I wonder that too. Liggins was a turnover machine last season. I cringed every time he possessed the ball.
At least Miller had some tenacious D going for him.