College Basketball: Kentucky Blue | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS

College Basketball: Kentucky Blue

By the time you read this, Kentucky may have fired basketball coach Billy Gillispie. The Wildcats concluded their miserable season Wednesday night with an 77-67 loss to Notre Dame in the NIT. UK finished 22-14 this season, including losses to Ole Miss and Mississippi State (at home, no less). Worse yet, UK missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 18 years. That's probably grounds for firing right there.

But Doctor won't remember Gillispie for his on-court underachievements in two seasons in Lexington. Instead, he will remember Gillispie for his behavior in two halftime interviews with ESPN's Jeannine Edwards. Gillispie came across as smug, condescending and downright rude. Interestingly, sometime before these interviews, the coach reportedly asked the reporter (who's married) for a date. She declined. Not surprisingly, she passed on the chance for a third halftime run-in with Gillispie.

Previous Comments

ID
145133
Comment

Yup. UK needs a good coach. Gillispie ain't it. They gave up Tubby for this? And you should have heard the wailing up in Lexington when not only did Tubby's Gophers make it to the NCAA, but Louisville was number 1 seed and - the worst thing of all - Mississippi State got in. There were some that were livid over that. I love UK, but some of their fans are just childish brats.

Author
Lady Havoc
Date
2009-03-26T11:38:56-06:00
ID
145201
Comment

They did it. Gillispie is OUT. http://www.kentucky.com/818/story/741229.html This Wildcat fan is not surprised. Not disappointed either, weirdly enough. On to bigger and better.

Author
Lady Havoc
Date
2009-03-27T15:24:55-06:00
ID
145241
Comment

http://www.wlextv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10096463 "WMC-TV in Memphis reported Monday afternoon that Memphis coach John Calipari will accept an offer from Kentucky to become the men's basketball coach for the Wildcats. The report by WMC's Sports Director Jarvis Greer, which aired at 3 p.m., said that barring any breakdown in negotiations Calipari will take over at UK and will bring his coaching staff, as well as at least two current Memphis players, with him to Lexington." Let's see how long this one lasts.

Author
Lady Havoc
Date
2009-03-30T15:28:13-06:00

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