The NCAA Basketball Tournament is right around the corner, and for the fourth straight year, the University of Kentucky Wildcats sit squarely on the bubble.
This level of mediocrity is unacceptable from the college basketball program with the most wins in NCAA history.
As most of you probably remember, Tubby Smith was run out of the University of Kentucky following the 2006-07 season. Although Smith officially resigned, we all know what happened.
Enter Billy Gillispie.
This is Gillispie’s second year as the head coach of the Wildcats, and the program is not in any better shape than it was when he got to the University of Kentucky. As a matter of fact, it is worse than it was in the latter years of Smith’s tenure.
Smith left following two straight seasons in which the Cats bowed out of the NCAA Tournament in the second round as an eight seed.
Last year the Cats lost in the first round of the tournament as an 11 seed. In Smith’s 10 years as the University of Kentucky basketball coach he never lost in the first round.
In his time at the University of Kentucky, Gillispie has proven he is a more than capable recruiter, but not a very good in-game coach.
I have never seen a coach so stuck in his ways that he never makes any adjustments. He plays pressure man-to-man defense in every game and has stated he will never play a zone.
This is disturbing to me.
Basketball is a game of matchups and there are times when a team’s personnel just does not allow them to guard their opponent man-to-man the whole game. A zone defense is an effective tool when a team is trying to guard a quicker, more athletic opponent.
Another thing that bothers me about Gillispie’s coaching tactics is it is the end of February, only five games [at the time this column was typed] remain in the season and the University of Kentucky basketball team still does not have a consistent rotation in place.
One glaring example of this is Kevin Galloway. A huge problem with this year’s team is the lack of a point guard who is talented enough and smart enough to run the team.
As I watched Michael Porter and Deandre Liggins struggle throughout the season, I wondered to myself, why doesn’t Kevin Galloway ever play?
When the Cats played the University of Florida on Feb. 10, Galloway played what was at the time a season-high 25 minutes and responded with six points, eight rebounds and a team-high nine rebounds in the 68-65 Wildcat victory.
Galloway’s performance against the Gators warranted him more playing time, but in the Wildcats’ next game against the University of Arkansas Galloway played a measly three minutes and scored two points and grabbed one rebound.
Many Gillispie supporters say Smith left the cupboard dry at the University of Kentucky and that is why the Cats have struggled through the first two seasons of Gillispie’s tenure.
I do not think this is the case. I will admit Smith left some duds for Gillispie, but he also left some very capable players who are underachieving in a big way under Gillispie.
Let us not forget Jodie Meeks, the nation’s third leading scorer, and Patterson were both Smith’s recruits, although Gillispie did close the deal in the recruitment of Patterson.
I do not believe Gillispie will be fired after this season, so more than likely he will return next season. Maybe, I am wrong and he will turn things around at the University of Kentucky. Only time will tell.
By ERIC McGUFFIN
Editor
demcguff@ius.edu