Tubby's Gone!!!

[Ksyrup]

I don't really follow basketball much, but now that I live/work in and around Lexington, I suppose I should share the joy of my co-workers that it has been confirmed locally and in Minnesota that Tubby's leaving to coach the University of Minnesota. At least those are the reports on TV here.

Yay! I guess.

[panerd]

Yeah. Who wants a classy coach that has won a national title? There is much better available out there. :rolleyes: Kentucky basketball should be winning the national title every year. They are the UCLA of the 2000's.

[Ksyrup]

I don't disagree.

It's funny how similar FSU's football program and UK's basketball program are right now. The only difference is FSU has a coach it can't get rid of and who can't go anywhere else.

[Lathum]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2808406

[panerd]

Yeah, my post wasn't directed at you. It is at the Nebraska Football/UK Basketball/Boston Red Sox fans of the world who have a overly inflated opinion of the value of their program to the whole national scene.

[Warhammer]

Aw crap. That means that UK is going to come after Calipari, and I don't see how Calipari turns that gig down. Not only that, but who would Memphis get to replace Calipari?

[Ksyrup]

Aw crap. That means that UK is going to come after Calipari, and I don't see how Calipari turns that gig down. Not only that, but who would Memphis get to replace Calipari?

You enjoy the name Calipari, don't you?

[timmynausea]

Who do Kentucky fans want to replace him?

[Young Drachma]

I didn't read this right at first. Wow. Good pickup for the Golden Gophers.

[Young Drachma]

Who do Kentucky fans want to replace him?

Umm..let's see. I know one major requirement.

[Logan]

You enjoy the name Calipari, don't you?

Maybe he's just averse to pronouns.

[GoldenEagle]

Aw crap. That means that UK is going to come after Calipari, and I don't see how Calipari turns that gig down. Not only that, but who would Memphis get to replace Calipari?

I would rather see him get fired this year than next year. I do not see Cal leaving with Derick Rose coming to town.

[Shkspr]

Umm..let's see. I know one major requirement.

We're talking Kentucky, so it can't be 'teeth'.

[rkmsuf]

How about that Pitino guy?

Denny Green, perhaps.

[Ksyrup]

Who do Kentucky fans want to replace him?

As far as I can tell, it's a bunch of reasons:

1. He only won like UK fans expect with Pitino's players (his first year, 1998).

2. He doesn't recruit well.

3. The style of ball he plays isn't what the fans want, and that is certainly not acceptable when they're not competing for championships.

People here just don't like him. Period.

[Warhammer]

You enjoy the name Calipari, don't you?

Kind of like Betelgeuse, you say his name three times and he'll appear. If he appears here in Memphis, he can't be in Lexington too!

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, my post wasn't directed at you. It is at the Nebraska Football/UK Basketball/Boston Red Sox fans of the world who have a overly inflated opinion of the value of their program to the whole national scene.

My opinion as an unbiased observer within the city is that this program is more akin to the Alabama football program than any other. I bet you hear that comparison a lot the next few weeks.

The thing is, Tubby got the ultimate 1-up on UK by doing this. He essentially told them, "You think this program is so great and you don't appreciate my contributions - I'm going to give you the ultimate fuck off and take a job that's a step down (or two) from the exaggerated sense of self-worth you seem to have about your program. Good luck."

And it'll only get worse if they don't carefully control the hiring process for his replacement, because if it gets out that a few guys have turned them down, then the Alabama comparison hits home even harder.

[rowech]

It's tough....he's a great coach and is classy but when you take over a program like UK, you better win more than just the first round of the tournament every year. If you build the program like Paterno and Bowden, you tend to get a little more room to work.

[JPhillips]

While I think the UK fans have overly high expectations, Tubby knew what he was getting. Really, it hasn't worked out badly for him. He made millions and now can move on to a lower stress job where just getting to the tourny on a regular basis will ensure job stability.

[Wolfpack]

While I think the NC State fans have overly high expectations, Sendek knew what he was getting. Really, it hasn't worked out badly for him. He made millions and now can move on to a lower stress job where just getting to the tourny on a regular basis will ensure job stability.

Gosh, that sounds familiar.... :)

[Warhammer]

While I think the UK fans have overly high expectations, Tubby knew what he was getting. Really, it hasn't worked out badly for him. He made millions and now can move on to a lower stress job where just getting to the tourny on a regular basis will ensure job stability.

But what are realistic expectations for UK, or any NCAA Basketball power?

I have always felt, regardless of talent, that the only thing you can really expect in the NCAA tourney is a Sweet 16 appearance. If you can get there, you have done well. After that, there are too many variables to really pin whether or not the season was a success.

Look at Memphis this year, they get Texas A&M in San Antonio! Regardless of how good Memphis is, Texas A&M is essentially playing a home game. In college basketball, that is a huge advantage.

Using the Memphis example again, their best player turned his ankle against Nevada. If Tiger fans had hopes for a Final Four run, should they run Calipari out of town if they lose to T-A&M when their star player is out?

What if the opposing team plays out of their mind, and hits a miracle three to beat your team? Or what if your team just has a bad day?

[Ksyrup]

"Smith's departure was first reported by ESPN.com."


BS, Mr. Katz!

[RedKingGold]

ESPN.com is reporting that Nick Saban has denied interest in becoming the head coach of Kentucky basketball.

[JPhillips]

Warhammer: I'm not getting into what is reasonable. The fact is that schools like UK, NC, Duke, Kansas and UCLA will only keep coaches that make legit national title runs every two to three years. Tubby knew what he was getting into when he agreed to be the coach.

[Neuqua]

The Big Ten is making some major moves in improving the coaches in their league over summer. As long as Izzo doesn't leave for UK, the B10 could well be on its way to be the top league in the nation in a year or few.

[JeeberD]

Aw crap. That means that UK is going to come after Calipari, and I don't see how Calipari turns that gig down. Not only that, but who would Memphis get to replace Calipari?

Hopefully not Tony Barbee... :mad:

[JeeberD]

Dola-

Teehee... :D


A New Coach for Kentucky?
By Pete Thamel

With the surprising news today that the Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith was headed to Minnesota, expect one of the big storylines for tonight’s game between Texas A&M and Memphis to be whether the A&M coach Billy Gillispie would jump to Lexington.

I talked to about a dozen people around Gillispie over the past three days, and I got the strong feeling that he’d consider the Kentucky job. Gillispie avoided a question I asked him about Kentucky with his typical homespun humility: “I think you have to try and be happy where you are,” Gillispie said. “The best job that I’ve ever had is always the one I currently possess.”

Indeed, Gillispie has transformed A&M from a college basketball sinkhole to a legitimate Final Four contender. But here’s a few hints that make me think he’d take a long, hard look at the Kentucky job.

1) The guy switched jobs 10 times in 19 years. He was quick to point out that all were upward moves of some type. Well, Kentucky basketball is a bit like Notre Dame football. There isn’t much going up from there.

2) Gillispie loves horse racing. It may sound silly, but when I asked him if he had any outlets outside basketball, he immediately brought up horse racing. Gillispie said he’s been to all the major tracks and that an A&M booster took him to the Kentucky Derby last year, which he said was a thrill like going to the World Series. Obviously, the horse farms in Lexington have a lot of influence on Kentucky. Don’t laugh. These things tend to come into play.

3) Gillispie is crazy. Kentucky fans are crazy. One of the problems that they had with Smith was at times it seemed like the fans may have cared more about things (such as recruiting) than Smith did. And while that’s likely not true, Kentucky fans would drool for someone with Gillispie’s work ethic.

4) Gillispie’s recruiting ties are strongest in Texas. And while that may work well at A&M, it can work even better at Kentucky, as he can compete for the state’s top players. Texas has produced a glut of great players in the last seven or eight years– Deron Williams, LaMarcus Aldridge, Ike Diogu, T.J. Ford, Chris Bosh, Bracey Wright, Kendrick Perkins, Acie Law IV, Gerald Green and there’s quite a few that are left off that list. Gillispie could definitely land a player or two from Texas each year

Sorry that I don't have a link...

[st.cronin]

zzzzzz, who cares about kentucky hoops, not me

[SFL Cat]

Good riddance. UK should have parted ways with Tubby years ago.

[JonInMiddleGA]

What if the opposing team plays out of their mind, and hits a miracle three to beat your team? Or what if your team just has a bad day?

As JPhillips pointed out, when you're at certain schools, part of your job is not allowing that miracle to cost you a game (be up by more than 3 & it doesn't matter a bit) and do not allow your team to have a bad day when it matters most.

Goes with the territory, along with the paycheck, the endorsement & commercial deals, the line of people waiting to kiss your ring & your butt, and the free car.

[Leonidas]

Who do Kentucky fans want to replace him?I believe Ashley Judd is on record as saying cloning technology has gotten good enough that they should be able to get an Adolph Rupp clone ready to go by 2030. Now if they could only find 11 white guys from Kentucky capable of going all the way. I suppose a Louis Dampier clone is doable.

[Warhammer]

As JPhillips pointed out, when you're at certain schools, part of your job is not allowing that miracle to cost you a game (be up by more than 3 & it doesn't matter a bit) and do not allow your team to have a bad day when it matters most.

Goes with the territory, along with the paycheck, the endorsement & commercial deals, the line of people waiting to kiss your ring & your butt, and the free car.

As much as I agree with you on other things, I completely disagree here. That is exactly my point, your job is to win games, if the team always executed perfectly and shot 100% and didn't turn the ball over, you wouldn't lose any games ever. There are nights where you are going to shoot under 35%, and your opponent is going to shoot over 50% regardless of what you do.

[albionmoonlight]

For people who are into following this, http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com is run by a guy who's pretty much on the pulse of what's going on with all things related to Kentucky basketball.

[Solecismic]

The local press is upset that Tubby chose Minnesota before looking at Michigan. They will not be satisfied now unless Dean Smith is lured out of retirement, or better yet, if Adolph Rupp could be lured out of his grave.

This column is so hilarously idiotic, it deserves linking:

http://www.mlive.com/sports/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1174633128281410.xml&coll=2

[wade moore]

The local press is upset that Tubby chose Minnesota before looking at Michigan. They will not be satisfied now unless Dean Smith is lured out of retirement, or better yet, if Adolph Rupp could be lured out of his grave.

This column is so hilarously idiotic, it deserves linking:

http://www.mlive.com/sports/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1174633128281410.xml&coll=2

Hadn't thought about this - almost any hire by Michigan now looks sub-par, nice play Minnesota...

[Ksyrup]

On Monday, Dick Vitale was all over this (unbelievably), imploring Michigan to go get Tubby. Sounds like Minnesota was already there, as the reports are this all started 6 weeks ago.

[Leonidas]

Why would anyone want to go for the train wreck that is Michigan Basketball? I'm hearing Lon Kreuger is innerested, but why leave a hoops crazy fiefdom like Las Vegas for another state of unattainable expectations? Chris Webber really did ruin that program. Sad, because before then it was great.

[Solecismic]

It's actually a good situation for a coach right now. Two solid freshmen to build the program around - all five starters graduated. A decent recruiting class if the new coach can hold on to them.

Amaker was hired to clean the program up. He got graduation rates up, he got the boosters away from the program (the one who paid the Fab Five died). He just wasn't a great coach.

The team hasn't been to the tournament since the days when FOF was just a baby starting to take shape on my old Windows '95 machine. Back when MFC was innovative and pleasing GUI.

It's actually a great situation for an up-and-coming coach. The blocks are in place and there's nowhere to go but up. I just hope they focus on someone who knows the high schools and the AAU coaches and don't get too wrapped up in finding someone with a national reputation.

[Wolfpack]

The blocks are in place and there's nowhere to go but up.

I would be to differ somewhat. You make it sound like there is absolutely nothing here and the Wolverines are coming off a 3-25 season instead of just missing the NCAAs (again). Of course there is room for improvement (like getting to the NCAAs) but there is also room to go down as well. The sad-sack state of the program after Ellerbe was let go, now that was nowhere to go but up.

Having gone through this when Sendek decided to go to Arizona State and then watching all his recruits go elsewhere, resulting in a five-man team with sparingly used substitutes which lead to a 5-11 ACC mark and an NIT berth after five years of NCAA bids (just barely in, where Michigan was always just barely out), I can attest that in all likelihood, next year probably will be worse than this year, particularly if the new coach can't hold on to the current commitments (one of whom is supposed to be big stuff). If they get the right guy, they'll probably get to the NCAAs in a couple of years.

What still amazes me about the Michigan situation is that everyone complains about the shambles that is Crisler Arena and complains that Bill Martin isn't doing anything to improve the facilities, but then you look at the money they continue to dump into Michigan Stadium. Clearly, the basketball program is living off the scraps that the football program tosses to the floor for them, but no one seems to want to acknowledge that other than indirectly by talking about whether Michigan wants to be something more than a football school.

[timmynausea]

A column in one of the Detroit newspapers endorsed WVU coach John Beilein for the Michigan job a week or two ago, so all the WVU fans have been going crazy. I think U of M will opt for a flashier candidate - possibly Izzo disciple Tom Crean of Marquette or someone along those lines. I don't think there's a better coach than Beilein out there, though. I hope he stays at WVU until he retires.

[DeToxRox]

A column in one of the Detroit newspapers endorsed WVU coach John Beilein for the Michigan job a week or two ago, so all the WVU fans have been going crazy. I think U of M will opt for a flashier candidate - possibly Izzo disciple Tom Crean of Marquette or someone along those lines. I don't think there's a better coach than Beilein out there, though. I hope he stays at WVU until he retires.

Beilein has been talked about here all year. Michigan need's an X's and Os coach and he is the guy. Whether he comes here or not remains to be seen but he would get a chance to work with recruits he wouldn't generally get at WVU.

[MylesKnight]

UK is receiving some serious egg in the face with things going down the way they have..

All of that Tubby Bashing from the Wildcat Faithful that have done so for the past how many years now, is coming back to bite them in the A$$. And if they can run off a Wonderful Person and Coach like Tubby Smith, what do you think that may say to people out there who they might contact to replace Coach Smith?

[TargetPractice6]

UK is receiving some serious egg in the face with things going down the way they have..

All of that Tubby Bashing from the Wildcat Faithful that have done so for the past how many years now, is coming back to bite them in the A$$. And if they can run off a Wonderful Person and Coach like Tubby Smith, what do you think that may say to people out there who they might contact to replace Coach Smith?I really don't see the egg on the face. I think things worked out for both parties as well as they possibly could have.

[JeeberD]

According to a poster at a UK board who has a "very reliable source", Asswhite A&M coach is on his way to Lexington to interview...

Edit: http://www.thecatsdomain.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=28;t=012580

[Neuqua]

That whole coaching tree under $elf is about as unloyal as they come. Unfortunatly Jeebs, after the way he left you, I'm sure you agree.

[JeeberD]

Absolutely.

[Ksyrup]

According to reports around here, Billy Donovan is all but assured of coming to UK for (reports vary) either $3.5M a year for 7 years, or $1.8M a year for 7 years with a $3.5M signing bonus. Apparently the deal is done, but for obvious reasons can't be announced.

[kingnebwsu]

Did you hear Billy Donovan on PTI yesterday? He dodged the question so well, not even denying that he had an interest in going to Kentucky. He pretty much said "I wanna focus on the here and now." After watching that interview, my first thought was that he's VERY interested in Kentucky. We'll see how things play out about 10 days from now...

[Ksyrup]

Not just the reports we're getting here, but the general lack of anything going on here is another clue. Calipari apparently signed an extension, Gillespie looks like he's headed to Arkansas, and Kentucky is just letting things happen around them without a peep or any suggestion they are actively contacting people. Who knows what's really going on, but people here were very skeptical last week that Donovan would consider it, so the reports are somewhat believeable.

[JeeberD]

Supposedly Gillispie signed a nice, fat extension with A&M. Of course, there's no telling what's the truth when it comes to that asshole...

[JeeberD]

Dola-

I still wouldn't be surprised one bit if he wound up at Arkansas or UK next week...

[miami_fan]

Looks like the price of coaching in the Big 12 will now go up.

Texas A&M appears ready to make Billy Gillispie the highest-paid men's basketball coach in the Big 12 Conference.

According to three high-ranking officials close to and within the A&M system, athletic director Bill Byrne and the third-year coach have reached a verbal agreement on a deal that would increase Gillispie's annual salary from $1.25 million to somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 million.

But the enhanced deal, which would run through 2012, still must be presented to the Texas A&M Systems Board of Regents for review in closed executive session today. It will be voted on and rubber-stamped for public view Friday.

That would leave Gillispie to sign the extension Monday, the same day ground is supposed to be broken on a $22 million basketball practice facility. If Gillispie signs the contract as expected, his annual salary would exceed the $1.8 million earned by Texas' Rick Barnes and the $1.6 million paid to Kansas' Bill Self.

Gillispie, 47, is 70-26 in three seasons in College Station and has taken the Aggies to three consecutive postseasons, including back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths. A&M advanced to the Sweet 16 this season for the first time in 27 years.

But with Arkansas still searching for a coach and Kentucky's courtship of Florida's Billy Donovan still far from a marriage, the road to Monday certainly has some potential twists with Gillispie headed to the Final Four in Atlanta.

A&M officials have declined to comment publicly about rumors Gillispie was being pursued by Arkansas. Frank Broyles, the Razorbacks' athletic director, was quoted in Wednesday's editions of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette as saying he has offered the job to one coach and was awaiting word, although he declined to name the coach. Gillispie was the only name to surface out of Fayetteville, Ark., hours after Broyles fired Stan Health on Monday.

Broyles backed off those statements when reached by the Chronicle on Wednesday.

"That's not true exactly," Broyles said of the quotes attributed to him in the Democrat-Gazette. "Part of it's true, and part of it's not. I haven't talked to any coach."

When asked specifically about his pursuit of Gillispie, Broyles became angry.

"I have no comment. I have not talked to Billy Gillispie," Broyles said.

But the lines of communication would still seem to be open, judging from what Arkansas Board of Trustees chairman Stanley Reed had to say Wednesday night.

"That's my understanding," Reed said of Gillispie's still being a candidate at Arkansas. "That's the last information I've got."

Reed said he heard Arkansas made a counteroffer, but he didn't know the specifics.

"As far as I know, he's still a candidate," Reed said.

Word broke Wednesday morning that Gillispie and Byrne had come to an agreement to sweeten the coach's current contract, which also runs through 2012. But Gillispie made some odd moves that could be seen as hedging.

All week, he had planned to fly to Atlanta on Wednesday morning with seniors Acie Law and Marlon Pompey. Gillispie, however, did not board that flight. He took a later one Wednesday night.

Late in the day, the Bryan-College Station Eagle posted a story on its Web site in which interim school president Eddie Davis indicated Gillispie would return. But Davis' quote was ambiguous at best.

"I talked to coach Gillispie this morning, and he told me that as far as he's concerned, he's the coach at Texas A&M," Davis told the Eagle. "That's the end of the story for me."

Davis did not return repeated phone calls from the Chronicle.

In another development, for the first time a firm date has been established for the beginning of construction on a 50,000-square foot basketball practice facility at A&M, which had been a sticking point in negotiations to keep Gillispie.

Ground-breaking for the facility that will house the men's and women's team will begin Monday.

"The fence will go up (at the construction site), and they'll get it rolling," a person close to an A&M regent told the Chronicle.

The practice facility had been beset with delays because of an expansion of the building plans. The school's regents are expected to approve SpawGlass as the new construction manager for the project and have received assurances the facility will be built on time.

The Chronicle's John P. Lopez contributed to this report.

[Northwood_DK]

Did you hear Billy Donovan on PTI yesterday? He dodged the question so well, not even denying that he had an interest in going to Kentucky. He pretty much said "I wanna focus on the here and now." After watching that interview, my first thought was that he's VERY interested in Kentucky. We'll see how things play out about 10 days from now...

I listened to the podcast of that show and didn’t get that feeling. I agree that Billy Donovan didn’t deny his interest in the Kentucky job. Instead he did exactly what Nick “lier-lier-pants-on-fire” Saben should have done when asked a similar question a few weeks back. He very nicely avoided to answer the question and still kept all his options open.

[Ksyrup]

That's exactly right. At the time of the Saban thing, a bunch of people were on here talking about how we couldn't expect him to do anything but lie, etc., but this is exactly what he could and should have done. It doesn't alleviate the questions, but then again, if there's smoke, the questions aren't going away no matter how you answer.

Things just seem too quiet here in Lexington for there NOT to be anything to this. Maybe they're waiting until Florida is done with the tournament before they even broach the subject with Donovan and nothing's a done deal yet, but I doubt it. I doubt they'd let Gillespie either sign an extension or go elsewhere without talking to him. There's got to be something to the Donovan/UK rumor.

[Ksyrup]

Heh. UK has hired a search firm to assist with finding the new coach...the same firm Minnesota used to hire Tubby last week.

[st.cronin]

They should go in a different direction and make Ashley Judd the basketball coach.

[Ksyrup]

To put into perspective how basketball-crazy this area is, there's a 2-column article in today's Lexington Herald-Leader detailing Donovan's post-game press conference, specifically focusing on the fact that he "accidentally" referred to Florida's Athletic Director in the past tense and wondering whether it was simply a mistake or a clue as to his intentions.

Apparently, in describing his relationship with Jeremy Foley, he said, "The relationship I have had with Jeremy...have with Jeremy...", and then went on. I don't even think that's necessarily referring to him in the past tense (it wasn't "The relationship I had with Jeremy"), it seems to be describing his relationship from the past to the present, but the fact that he quickly corrected himself might be more of a clue than the language he used.

Who knows. Point is, the world is probably going to stop on Tuesday in this town until this is decided.

[miami_fan]

Billy Donovan, three days removed from leading Florida to a second consecutive national championship, will remain the Gators' coach and will not interview for the opening at SEC rival Kentucky.

"After finally having an opportunity to sit down with my family, and with [Florida athletic director] Jeremy Foley, I've decided that I will remain at the University of Florida," said Donovan, who served as an assistant under Rick Pitino at Kentucky. "I have great respect for the University of Kentucky, its great history and tradition, and I had five wonderful years in Lexington. That being said, I'm very proud of what we've built here at the University of Florida and I look forward to continuing build on it."


Donovan told Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart early Thursday morning by phone that he wasn't interested in leaving Florida.


"As a former UK assistant, we wish him the very best," Barnhart said. "Obviously, finding the right coach is more important than finding the next coach quickly. Patience remains a priority as we continue to identify the best individual to lead the Big Blue Nation."


Foley told ESPN.com that he and Donovan also met Thursday, at which time Donovan said, 'This is my home, Jeremy. I love the University of Florida. I love you. I had a chance to talk to [my wife] Christine and I'm not going anywhere."


Donovan and Foley will discuss terms of a contract extension for the coach after Donovan returns from a planned week-long vacation to the Dominican Republic. Donovan will leave the country Saturday.

Meanwhile, the four Florida juniors -- Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green -- will announce at a 4 p.m. ET news conference in Gainesville whether they're remaining in school or leaving to enter the NBA draft.

Even before meeting with Foley, Donovan apparently had his mind made up. Donovan told some of his close friends Wednesday night that he would not be leaving Florida, according to a source close to Donovan.

Florida will release an official statement on Donovan's decision Thursday afternoon.

"Obviously we've been talking," Foley said. Donovan has two years remaining on his current contract. "Friday is about the celebration [for the title] and then he's [vacationing]. This is where he wants to be."


Donovan turned down a contract extension last spring after winning the 2006 national championship because he said he didn't feel right about it after four then-sophomores decided against declaring for the draft.


Barnhart left a message for Foley on Wednesday seeking permission to talk to Donovan, but Foley did not want a Donovan-Barnhart conversation to occur until speaking with Donovan himself.


Speculation has centered on Texas coach Rick Barnes as Kentucky's Plan B to replace Tubby Smith, who left the program in March for the job at Minnesota. Sources said Thursday that that speculation is accurate and that Barnes will seriously listen to Kentucky's pitch.


Scott McConnell, Texas' media contact for basketball, said there has been no formal contact between Barnes and Kentucky. McConnell said Barnes' schedule has him on campus Thursday planning offseason workouts, then flying to Los Angeles on Friday with Longhorns freshman forward Kevin Durant for the Wooden Award presentation. Texas' team banquet is scheduled for Monday.


Kentucky's search might also include Michigan State's Tom Izzo, Marquette's Tom Crean, Texas A&M's Billy Gillispie and Gonzaga's Mark Few.



Hopefully, someone can educate me if I am wrong but I don't see why Barnes or Izzo would leave their current jobs to go to Kentucky. I could see the possibilities with Crean or Gillespie. I wonder if Few would be comfortable in the pressure cooker that is Kentucky basketball. I think he would be successful but I don't know if he will be as successfull as the fan base would want him to be.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, people here are wondering where they go now. I guess the search firm they hired is going to have to earn its money. Rumor here is that UK hired that firm solely out of gratitude for taking Tubby off their hands. Still trying to play it off like they were the ones to break up with him, and not vice versa, I suppose.

[JeeberD]

Gillispie has said before (when he was at UTEP, I'm sure he was smart enough to never say this at A&M) that Texas is his dream job. If Barnes goes to UK, would UT pilfer their rival's head coach? That would certainly add even more animosity between the two...

[Klinglerware]

It's actually a good situation for a coach right now. Two solid freshmen to build the program around - all five starters graduated. A decent recruiting class if the new coach can hold on to them.

Amaker was hired to clean the program up. He got graduation rates up, he got the boosters away from the program (the one who paid the Fab Five died). He just wasn't a great coach.

The team hasn't been to the tournament since the days when FOF was just a baby starting to take shape on my old Windows '95 machine. Back when MFC was innovative and pleasing GUI.

It's actually a great situation for an up-and-coming coach. The blocks are in place and there's nowhere to go but up. I just hope they focus on someone who knows the high schools and the AAU coaches and don't get too wrapped up in finding someone with a national reputation.


Looks like Amaker is going to Harvard. It sounds like his wife will accept a university position there as well. So, looking at it from the husband-wife perspective, it could be a nice move for the Amaker family...