USVI-On-Line

My beloved University of Kentucky Wildcats (the most winningest program in NCAA history) is officially without a coach - again!

Qualified candidates please apply to Mitch Barnhart, Athletic Director.

Minimum Qualifications:
Ability to Win NCAA Tourney every year
Find a way to beat Louisville three times per year
Incredible ability to "suck up" to very rich and very generous booster population.
Very thick skin - rhino like quality is mandatory

Go Cats!

You can't have the 'Nova coach Jay Wright! Go Wildcats!! (Not your Wildcats!)

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I know that my boy Tommy Brennan (former UVM coach and now ESPN commentator) could be available.

If he can get Vermont to the Big Dance, he can do anything!

SJfromNJ wrote:Mr. Wright is Mr. Right! I have them in the finals.

Me too!

LOL ViLover. Principal Lee Todd expelled Billy Clyde Gillispie this afternoon. Oh, what will we do?

This has been a topic of conversation in our house for several days. We were in Lex tonight at PF Changs. Some there wanted Billy Donovan, others wanted Travis Ford, some say Rick Pitino will save us. Apparently, Billy D. is out. I can't imagine Rick P. would be invited or hired, although he would be my first pick. And Travis F. is too inexperienced and has the same problems (IMHO) that Billy C. has had in the past. It is causing much wailing and gnashing of teeth amongst Wildcat fans and will be a most interesting/entertaining story.

Who do you suggest?

I'm just relieved (again) that it won't be Billy D.!

But, amazingly, there's a segment of Gators' hoops fans with incredibly short memories that wanted him to leave!

Alabama just got a good one in Anthony Grant, but I don't think he has the resume yet to get the UK gig.

The short list on the rumor mill around here are:

Billy D
John Calipari
Tim Izzo
Rick Barnes
Jay Wright - (sorry bevm)

I'd like to see if Tom Crean is willing to leave that Indiana program yet.

My personal short list would be Calipari, Crean, Izzo and Wright.

It should be an interesting couple of weeks!

Who wants my opinion?

Why would Izzo leave? He's coaching in his 5th FF and has a ring.
Billy D: He's shown that he may be a weasel. Do you want him for only a few years before his itch to move on comes up again?
Barnes: Possible I guess.
Johnny Cal: Go get the jerk.

I'm a big UConn fan and dread the day (could be a week from tomorrow) when Calhoun hangs it up. I've heard Caliipari's name mentioned as a possible replacement.

Travis Ford could be your answer. He's got ties to the school of course. And, he could be plopped in there for a long while. Of course, you may need to deal with a season or 2 before you're back to a perennial 2 or 3 seed. And, at Kentucky, anything less than the Sweet 16 is unacceptable. Tradition does that to you.

I like UConn's model. Win a title every 5 years. In the other years, we (the fans) endure one season with no NCAA bid, and 2-3 horrible NCAA losses. Then...they go west and it's all better.

Reports that UK's hired Calipari. Wildcat's have a new lease on life, if he can keep it clean. GO CATS!

Just watched the press conference...Go Cats!!!

So...Coach Cal steps to the big time. He's still expected to field a team that will win the conference every year, only this time it's the SEC. that's a wee little bit harder than in the A-10 or C-USA.

I wonder if he's gonna bring his blue chippers with him AND get John Wall. I also wonder how the UK faithful will accept what's become a trend for Calipari: 1 or 2 year players. Is Kentucky ready to become a Pre-NBA factory?

Of course, Kentucy's been down for a while, so you guys will be happy to get to the Sweet 16 again.

Go UConn!

I think the Kentucky faithful are fully accepting the changes to big-time college basketball as being the "minor league" for the NBA and will have no issue with 1-2 year players - as long as the Cats win with them.

I am going on record as saying that I was a vocal supporter of Calipari 2 years ago and couldn't believe that UK didn't show any interest.

I'm a fan. I do believe he'll keep it clean (at least as clean as any other major sports university), and truly wants this to be his "legacy job". With that attitude he cannot risk scandal.

Talk radio is all abuzz over how many current roster Cats will have to lose their scholarships to make room for the transfers. It's certainly going to make for a great story-line over the next year!

pipanale wrote: I also wonder how the UK faithful will accept what's become a trend for Calipari: 1 or 2 year players. Is Kentucky ready to become a Pre-NBA factory?

Go UConn!

This has been a strength of Calhoun's for years...He never really went after the 1 and done guy, or before the new rule the 2 and done guy...Even stars like Ray Allen, Rip Hamilton, and Emeka stayed for three years...His players improve every year, and then by the time a group of players become upperclassmen, they are ready to challenge for a final four.

Hey pip - last weekend ESPN classic replayed the '99 championship game vs. Duke...Man, Kevin Freeman was a GOOD player...And at only 6'6, he really held his own under the basket. Loved that team. And in retrospect, it really shows that Rip Hamilton was the best player on the floor, even with Brand playing for Duke.

soxfan22 wrote: Hey pip - last weekend ESPN classic replayed the '99 championship game vs. Duke...Man, Kevin Freeman was a GOOD player...And at only 6'6, he really held his own under the basket. Loved that team. And in retrospect, it really shows that Rip Hamilton was the best player on the floor, even with Brand playing for Duke.

I always liked Freeman. He was from NJ and he and I were roughly the same age. Jeff Adrian kinda reminds me of him from time to time...as the forward who does the dirty work and just fills the box score.

I recently discovered that the NCAA sells old FF games. I've got my eye on the 1999 title game and the 2004 National Semis. Or, as I call those games, the 2 nights when Coach K became Coach Calhoun's bitch. As a sports fan, those may be the 2 best moments of my fandom. Because, I'll tell ya, the 2004 ALCS did NOT do it for me.