Official Kentucky Basketball Coach Thread

#2
#2
So Brian, who are you pulling for to land the job? So far, I've heard these as the main candidates:
John Calipari
Billy Gillespie
Billy Donovan
Jay Wright

Are there any others on the radar? Who would you prefer? Who is going to play post next year for ya'll?
 
#3
#3
Billy Gillespie or John Calipari will get it or maybe Jay Wright. There's no way that Donovan would leave Florida.
 
#4
#4
I don't think he would. I don't see anything that UK can provide that UF can't but you never know. I think Gillespie would be the best candidate.
 
#6
#6
Gillespie has done a great job in his 3 or 4 years at Texas A&M from being 0-16 his first year to 2 straight sweet 16 appereances.
 
#7
#7
TennesseeFan07 said:
Billy Gillespie or John Calipari will get it or maybe Jay Wright. There's no way that Donovan would leave Florida.
Click to expand...

Billy D. would have 3 million reasons to leave Florida.

Also,

His wife is also from Lexington.

He's gone on record to state that his years in Lexington as an assistant under Pitino were some of the happiest years of his life.

He's at a football school. Florida will never be a basketball school. Kentucky, however, is.

He will get a glowing recommendation from Pitino and Smith for the job - as if he needs it anyway.

Perhaps most persuasive is his decision NOT to emphatically deny any interest in the UK job. Maybe he's working to get Foley to ante up and write a new contract.

But, I would say that in Mitch Barnhart's mind, BD is the frontrunner.

And in my mind, I'd like to see him stalking the UK sideline next November.

I'm also hearing that BD to Kentucky is a done deal. We'll see.

Other frontrunning candidates:

Billy Gillespie, Jay Wright, Tom Izzo.

Dark horses:

John Calipari (kind of a shady past, to be honest)
Rick Barnes
 
#8
#8
Yeah, I just don't know if Texas AnM can grow anymore and Gillespie is a coach that likes to rebuild programs. This would be a perfect job for him. Not good for UT of course.
 
#9
#9
As a sidenote, only Billy D. has the power to bring Patrick Patterson and Jai Lucas to UK.
 
#10
#10
I just don't see Donovan leaving UF. He could stay another 20 years at UF without winning a title and they'd love him for what he has already did. If he doesn't win titles every year at UK, the fans and administration will be breathing down his neck. And let's face it, UF can pony up the dough if they want.
 
#12
#12
I just don't know why Donovan would want to leave where he is now. He's on the verge of winning 2 straight championships while Kentucky fans would put unrealistic expectations on him with a team that may be fighting to make the tournament next season. Kentucky fans expect to go to the final 4 every year and win championships. With so much parity in college basketball now that's not going to happen.
 
#13
#13
hvwarrior58 said:
I don't think he would. I don't see anything that UK can provide that UF can't but you never know. I think Gillespie would be the best candidate.
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Gillespie is a good coach; however, I would think it would be disappointing to most of the Big Blue fanbase if the hire's biggest qualifications are winning the WAC and finishing second in the Big XII.
 
#14
#14
hvwarrior58 said:
UF can pony up the dough if they want.
Click to expand...

IF they want. Fact is, the Gators are playing in a 13,000 seat gym. Say what you like, but that's not a school that's dedicated to building a top 5 basketball program.

Billy Donovan is much too big for those small potatoes.
 
#16
#16
TennesseeFan07 said:
Kentucky fans expect to go to the final 4 every year and win championships. With so much parity in college basketball now that's not going to happen.
Click to expand...

No we don't, actually. It's been 10 years since a FF appearance- way too long for the standards at an elite program like Kentucky. Even the most unrealistic, out-of-touch, knuckle-dragging Kentucky fan from Stick Throw Holler doesn't expect that.
 
#17
#17
We'll see. Antone Smith was also sporting UM slippers and picked FSU. Just because a kid is rooting for the team they are visiting, doesn't mean they are picking that school.

And right now, UK is the small potatoes. UF won the NC last year and is on the verge of winning another. Rome wasn't built in a day and UF is coming around.

They might not be happy with a Gillespie hire at first, but the guy is arguably the best program builder in the game.
 
#18
#18
hvwarrior58 said:
They might not be happy with a Gillespie hire at first, but the guy is arguably the best program builder in the game.
Click to expand...

The program doesn't need to be built; it needs to be a hair's breadth better. I'm reciting this from memory, so forgive me if I miss a percentage point, but in 10 years at UK Tubby had 5 SEC championships, 5 SECT championships, 4 Elite Eight appearances, and a national title, and he left under duress.

That is not a program that needs to be rebuilt.
 
#19
#19
Brian McCat said:
Billy D. would have 3 million reasons to leave Florida.

Also,

His wife is also from Lexington.

He's gone on record to state that his years in Lexington as an assistant under Pitino were some of the happiest years of his life.

He's at a football school. Florida will never be a basketball school. Kentucky, however, is.

He will get a glowing recommendation from Pitino and Smith for the job - as if he needs it anyway.

Perhaps most persuasive is his decision NOT to emphatically deny any interest in the UK job. Maybe he's working to get Foley to ante up and write a new contract.

But, I would say that in Mitch Barnhart's mind, BD is the frontrunner.

And in my mind, I'd like to see him stalking the UK sideline next November.

I'm also hearing that BD to Kentucky is a done deal. We'll see.

Other frontrunning candidates:

Billy Gillespie, Jay Wright, Tom Izzo.

Dark horses:

John Calipari (kind of a shady past, to be honest)
Rick Barnes
Click to expand...

kentucky hiring rick barnes would blow my mind as he might be the worst coach in college basketball. it would quite possibly spell the end of kentucky being considered a threat on the national scene for years upon years.
 
#21
#21
I just heard from a reliable source within the Alabama football program that Rich Rodriguez to Alabama is a done deal. Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
 
#22
#22
Brian McCat said:
IF they want. Fact is, the Gators are playing in a 13,000 seat gym. Say what you like, but that's not a school that's dedicated to building a top 5 basketball program.

Billy Donovan is much too big for those small potatoes.
Click to expand...
What's the seating capacity of Cameron Indoor Stadium? I'm pretty sure Duke is a top 5 program.
 
#24
#24
cotton said:
Gillespie is a good coach; however, I would think it would be disappointing to most of the Big Blue fanbase if the hire's biggest qualifications are winning the WAC and finishing second in the Big XII.
Click to expand...
If they would be disappointed with Billy Clyde being hired, UK fans aren't near as basketball saavy as I think they are.
 
#25
#25
hatvol96 said:
If they would be disappointed with Billy Clyde being hired, UK fans aren't near as basketball saavy as I think they are.
Click to expand...

My experience has been that they are not. In a state where 90% of the populous reportedly cares about college basketball, I am convinced that the overwhelming response to their opinion of Gillespie as a coaching candidate would be, "Who?"
 
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