Source: Wildcats to introduce Gillispie on Friday

[miami_fan]

By Pat Forde
ESPN.com

Kentucky has announced it will hold "a pep rally and a press conference" on Friday afternoon to announce the hiring of the program's 21st head coach. And according to a source at Kentucky, Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie is the man the Wildcats will introduce to Big Blue Nation.

Kentucky honed in on Gillispie to replace Tubby Smith at the end of a whirlwind Thursday that began with a rebuff from Billy Donovan and included Rick Barnes withdrawing his name from consideration. Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart asked for and received permission to talk to Gillispie on Thursday night, according to Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne.

"Coach Gillispie is one of the top coaches in the country, and we certainly do not want to lose him," Byrne said in a statement released by the school Thursday night. "At the same time, I don't want to stand in the way of anyone in the department who wants to explore another option if he or she feels it's in his best interest."

Gillispie was supposed to be en route Friday to Los Angeles for the John Wooden Award celebration Saturday. The Aggies' Acie Law IV is one of five finalists.

A source close to Gillispie told ESPN.com late Thursday night that Gillispie would accept the Kentucky job if it is offered.

Gillispie recently agreed to a lucrative contract extension with A&M after being wooed by Arkansas, but he did not sign the deal. His name had been on the "B" list of candidates from the beginning at Kentucky after Smith unexpectedly resigned March 22 to take the job at Minnesota.

Kentucky's clear first choice was Donovan, who would not consider the job until after his Florida Gators won the national title Monday night. Thursday morning, Donovan met with Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley, and the school announced around noon that Donovan would remain in Gainesville.

Later Thursday afternoon, speculation moved to Barnes as Kentucky's top choice. But by early evening he had withdrawn his name, saying he would stay at Texas. Sources have given conflicting information about whether Barnes decided he was not interested on his own, or if he learned that he was not at the top of Kentucky's list.

Gillispie has worked a swift makeover at Texas A&M, going 70-26 in three seasons at a school that had little history of success. The 2006-07 Aggies went 27-7, earning a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and reaching the Sweet 16. It was the school's first Sweet 16 birth since 1980.

Prior to that, Gillispie was the head coach at UTEP for two years, and he previously worked as the lead assistant to Bill Self at Tulsa and Illinois.

Other names believed to be on the Kentucky list were Michigan State's Tom Izzo and Marquette's Tom Crean.

Barnhart and Byrne have a long history together. Barnhart worked under Byrne at Oregon in 1983 and considers him something of a mentor. Byrne's son, Greg, worked under Barnhart at Kentucky for a couple of years, and Bill Byrne helped facilitate the hiring of former Oregon coach Rich Brooks as the UK football coach in 2002, after Barnhart had struck out on several other candidates.

Pat Forde is a senior writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. ESPN.com senior writer Andy Katz contributed to this report.




Should play well in Kentucky.

[Ksyrup]

Man, today's going to be a huge day in Lexington. Keeneland opens AND we get a new basketball coach. I'm probably going to be the only one at work!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I'm not sure Gillispie is an upgrade from what Kentucky had in Tubby, but he's probably the best available candidate at this point. Most in the B12 know that Gillispie hasn't had much success in recruiting thus far, though his incoming class for next year was at least ranked highly. The players that made him successful this year were recruited by Melvin Watkins before Gillispie ever got to A&M. It will be interesting to see how many of his recruits go to Kentucky with him.

[miami_fan]

I'm not sure Gillespie is an upgrade from what Kentucky had in Tubby, but he's probably the best available candidate at this point. Most in the B12 know that Gillespie hasn't had much success in recruiting thus far, though his incoming class for next year was at least ranked highly. The players that made him successful this year were recruited by Melvin Watkins before Gillespie ever got to A&M. It will be interesting to see how many of his recruits go to Kentucky with him.

The reason they will be happy is that Billy is not Tubby. He is going to be perceived as a upgrade because the team he coached last year was ranked higher and went further than the team that Tubby coached. Kentucky's fan base believes that the "Kentucky basketball program" will draw the top recruits as long as they have a good coach.

[Swaggs]

So, who fills the A&M job now?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

So, who fills the A&M job now?

They're in a bad spot. Their good recruiting class is likely to move on now with Gillespie leaving. It's going to be a rebuilding job for the new coach. The obvious answer would be Doc Sadler at NU, but I know he has family in Nebraska and may not want to 'pull a Huggins' and leave after he has set up some roots.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

The reason they will be happy is that Billy is not Tubby. He is going to be perceived as a upgrade because the team he coached last year was ranked higher and went further than the team that Tubby coached. Kentucky's fan base believes that the "Kentucky basketball program" will draw the top recruits as long as they have a good coach.

That's a really dangerous situation. I think you're definitely correct. Those same expectations are the reason Donovan stayed at Florida. Outside of winning a national championship, he'd be considered a failure by Kentucky fans. At Florida, he's got a lifelong setup at this point with all the money he'll ever need.

[miami_fan]

They're in a bad spot. Their good recruiting class is likely to move on now with Gillespie leaving. It's going to be a rebuilding job for the new coach. The obvious answer would be Doc Sadler at NU, but I know he has family in Nebraska and may not want to 'pull a Huggins' and leave after he has set up some roots.

Based on what you said earlier about Gillespie, will it be that big of a problem? If Gillespie was winning with Watkins's players and was not bringing in a great recruiting class, it seems like the team is pretty close to the same position they were in when Gillespie was hired. I am not saying he did not improve the program. He did a great job while he was there. The other question is about the recruiting class. I was under the impression that guys that went to A&M had more than a passing interest in the education that school would provide. Do you think that will make it more likely those players would stay or living in a fantasy world?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Based on what you said earlier about Gillespie, will it be that big of a problem? If Gillespie was winning with Watkins's players and was not bringing in a great recruiting class, it seems like the team is pretty close to the same position they were in when Gillespie was hired. I am not saying he did not improve the program. He did a great job while he was there. The other question is about the recruiting class. I was under the impression that guys that went to A&M had more than a passing interest in the education that school would provide. Do you think that will make it more likely those players would stay or living in a fantasy world?

They're losing some big time players off the current squad. Out of their top 4 players, only one will be left. Acie Law IV, Marlon Pompay and Antanas Kavaliauskas are all big starters for them that are graduating. So if they don't get the recruits to stay to replace those kids that are graduating, they'll definitely fall to the middle of the pack.

As far as the recruits staying, you never know until the coach actually leaves. They have a couple of very highly ranked kids coming in who I seriously doubt were there primarily for what they have to offer as far as education. I think they'd jump to Kentucky in a heartbeat if there were spots available and they could get a LOI release.

[JeeberD]

*giggle*

[miami_fan]

*giggle*

Took ya long enough!:D

[Wolfpack]

*giggle*

Dang it. I was going to post something along the lines of hearing great guffaws of laughter all the way from Lewisville, Texas, but you beat me to it. Not only that, but you only do a giggle? That's it? :p :D

[JeeberD]

:D

Poor, poor smug little Aggies...

[Turd Ferguson]

:D

Poor, poor smug little Aggies...

Now I know what you felt like 3 years ago. At least you all have a decent football program now. Billy really really fawked us... he should have told us 2 weeks ago he would leave if offered so we could talk with some people.

Anyway from credible A&M sources, DeAndre Jordan (center) and BJ Holmes (PG) the two big name recruits will probably leave with him or sign elsewhere.

[Neuqua]

: Shakes Head :

[Ksyrup]

I can't really judge the level (or existence) of excitement here because 90% of our office is out today at Keeneland. The consensus of those who are around is that he'll probably not be any better than Tubby, but that they hope he recruits better and plays a more exciting style of basketball. That was really an issue here - they didn't just want to win, they wanted to win playing a more uptempo style than Tubby had them playing. The fact that he wasn't winning enough to satisfy them just made it even worse.

[JeeberD]

Gillispie's (I guess I can go back to his real name now that we're not the most recent team he's double-crossed) teams play play tough defense. He pushes the ball to an extent, but they don't run like Memphis. I haven't watched UK in a few years, but I don't know that I would expect much more offense out of a BCG team than Tubby's teams...

[MrBug708]

Good hire for Kentucky. I think this was their "first" choice all along

[JeeberD]

Man, Gillispie reminded my of Cush's dad from Jerry Maguire.

What did he say in the movie when Jerry was trying to get him to sign a contract? Something along the lines of, "What you do have is my whole word, and it's stronger than oak." And of course, we all know what happened there.

So during the press conference, a reporter asks Gillispie if he or any of his representatives had been in contact with UK before the past 48 hours. Gillispie's response?

"I don't have any reps. I'm just an ol' country boy. I'm a handshake kind of man."

Yeah, sure, after releasing this quote last week:

"I am thankful for the commitment Texas A&M continues to make to allow us to do the things we need to do, to achieve our ultimate goal—winning a national championship,” Gillispie said. “The commitment has been there since day one and continues to grow stronger still. While it’s embarrassing to me to be compensated so well to perform my passion for a school I love, I am sincerely appreciative of the efforts of Bill Byrne, our university administration, the board of regents and everyone associated with Texas A&M for their personal support they continue to show. We will continue to do our best to try and make the Texas A&M family proud.”

And of course, there's what he said when he was at UTEP and was asked about A&M coming and sniffing around...

"I'll be here as long as you'll have me."

What a slime...

[miami_fan]

I can't really judge the level (or existence) of excitement here because 90% of our office is out today at Keeneland. The consensus of those who are around is that he'll probably not be any better than Tubby, but that they hope he recruits better and plays a more exciting style of basketball. That was really an issue here - they didn't just want to win, they wanted to win playing a more uptempo style than Tubby had them playing. The fact that he wasn't winning enough to satisfy them just made it even worse.

A&M wasn't an up tempo team in the games that I saw them play this year. Maybe if he recruits better athletes at UK they will play that sort of style.

[Ksyrup]

OK, this is a bit too much for one afternoon...new basketball coach, horse racing started up, and it just started SNOWING!

[IMetTrentGreen]

I'm not sure Gillispie is an upgrade from what Kentucky had in Tubby, but he's probably the best available candidate at this point. Most in the B12 know that Gillispie hasn't had much success in recruiting thus far, though his incoming class for next year was at least ranked highly. The players that made him successful this year were recruited by Melvin Watkins before Gillispie ever got to A&M. It will be interesting to see how many of his recruits go to Kentucky with him.

outside of acie law, this is 100% false. joe jones, ak, josh carter, donald sloan, etc. were all gillispie recruits, and three of them were nobodies when they committed. he found them and coached them into excellent players, all of whom will be drafted somewhere. and acie never would've been anything without gillispie.

he is one of the 3 best coaches in the game, he's dirty as shit, and he's going to be huge in kentucky. he a drunk and a cheater, so he's basically like a younger, better eddie sutton.

i am happy as hell he's gone.

[JeeberD]

Hey, idiots on Around the Horn...the Miners didn't win 6 games before Gillispie got there and then 24 his first year. It was 6 wins his first year and then 24 his second. Get your facts straight... :rolleyes:

[sterlingice]

Hey, idiots on Around the Horn...the Miners didn't win 6 games before Gillispie got there and then 24 his first year. It was 6 wins his first year and then 24 his second. Get your facts straight... :rolleyes:

You'll have to forgive them. In general, the guys on Around the Horn are idiots.

SI

[JeeberD]

Yeah, I understand. But I was hoping for better from PTI, and Wilbon said the same damn thing...

[sterlingice]

I've always thought the guys on PTI were idiots, too, but that's just me.

SI

[SackAttack]

You'll have to forgive them. In general, the guys on Around the Horn are idiots.

SI

Especially Plaschke. He's something else I won't miss once I finally up and move out here.

[Karlifornia]

I would make a "Nick Saban Hired as TAMU Basketball Coach" joke here, but I'm afraid I just did.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

outside of acie law, this is 100% false. joe jones, ak, josh carter, donald sloan, etc. were all gillispie recruits, and three of them were nobodies when they committed. he found them and coached them into excellent players, all of whom will be drafted somewhere. and acie never would've been anything without gillispie.


Carter and Sloan were Gillespie recruits. I was referring to the current class that just graduated. They were all Watkins recruits. Also, Jones may have come to A&M when Gillespie was there, but Watkins was the one that made the major inroads to land him. Jones was all but committed at the end of his HS junior year by the time Gillespie took over.