The State of Kentucky Basketball
It’s been quite a while since I’ve written about UK basketball. I don’t think I’ve written a single post about the current season. Better late than never.
What a frustrating season! A season-opening loss to VMI, of all teams. After an expected loss to North Carolina, the Cats sat at 0-2 and I wondered if we’d see a repeat of last season’s struggle to finish with an above .500 record. Gillispie loaded the pre-conference schedule with cupcake teams, aside from Louisville and a decent West Virginia team.
UK started its SEC slate with an 11-4 record, proceeded to win five straight and earned a Top 25 ranking. Then, the frustration commenced. Over the next eleven games, UK would only win three of them. One thing became very apparent during this stretch – Billy Gillispie’s stubborn nature.
Two things frustrate me the most about Gillispie. First, whom he decides to play and when he decides to play them. Certain players have had great games and barely touched the court in the next game. Other players have played poorly and continued to log minutes in bunches. Second, Gillispie refuses to ever consider playing a zone defense. I am far from a basketball expert, but let me say this clearly – few teams, if any, in the NCAA can successfully play man-to-man defense for 40 minutes game after game. It may work against Delaware State, but it does not work against North Carolina, Louisville, or many other teams that are much faster and stronger than UK. I’m not asking for a zone for 40 minutes against these teams, but at the very least, give them a different look from time-to-time. Who knows? Maybe you shut them down for several minutes and you pull out a game or two that you shouldn’t have won because you were smart on the defensive end.
It doesn’t help that Gillispie’s stubbornness has been on full display to the media for the last few weeks. In the fishbowl of Kentucky basketball, we don’t need a coach that is perceived to be a jerk. Especially when he can be nice, fun and likeable when he wants. No reason to be a jerk to people that are just doing their job.
With this said, I still say we give Gillispie one more year to get on the right track. Patrick Patterson has already said he is coming back next year. I would think we’d see Jodie Meeks back as well. Patterson will get more help next year in the post with the additions of Matt Pilgrim and Daniel Orton. Darius Miller will continue to mature and contribute. There is plenty of talent on this team to win 20+ games.
I write this on the day that UK plays LSU in the second round of the SEC Tournament. I am hoping the Cats can pull one out, continue to win and earn an NCAA birth. Hoping.
