What else could Mitch do?

[JOHN BLUEBLOOD]

You can't approach a coach the week before the final-four, what evil bastard would do that? That would've turned him off and embarassed UK nationally. Mitch waited for the tournament to be over and spoke "personally" with Billy even before their celebration. Billy wasn't interested and that is that.

How do we know Mitch hasn't interviewed Plan-B and Plan-C, he said today that he's had productive talks with others.

We will be happy in the end, the big dog was approcahed and turned us down, what else can we do but get the best guy left?

[BigblueDrew]

The question is why didn't we do that a week ago since there was never any REAL indication that Donovan had the slightest interest in coming here. We look bad and our second choice will be that much harder to hire. Mitch could have done MUCH BETTER.

[Houstoncat]

BigblueDrew wrote: The question is why didn't we do that a week ago since there was never any REAL indication that Donovan had the slightest interest in coming here. We look bad and our second choice will be that much harder to hire. Mitch could have done MUCH BETTER.

If Barnhart had not interviewed or spoke with Donovon everyone would be gripping. He had indications....in the end it was more then likely a happy family situation.



WE DO NOT LOOK BAD...you don't become the best unless you strive to be the best.

[yitbos]

everyone is an armchair AD and thinks that they know better and can do a better job.

[TrueblueCATfan]

we would reaaly look BAD is Mitch had contacted Donovan right in the middle of the NCAA tournament..he was right to wait

[emily8]

I think some fans are acting like Mitch could have made BD come. Well, he cant. He cant make anyone come. As for me, I do not want a coach that is not honored to be at Kentucky.

So, like so many posts have said...just have patience.

[Freydaddy]

“We have had productive conversations with various individuals over the last two weeks..."

Just have to take Mitch at his word for now. I'm just glad I'm not hyperventilating over Billy anymore. I think that Mitch hired the search firm so he could try to keep a few candidates close by and interested while we waited for Billy to declare his preference for second fiddle status.

[tedukcat]

TrueblueCATfan wrote: we would reaaly look BAD is Mitch had contacted Donovan right in the middle of the NCAA tournament..he was right to wait
I agree totally,,, MB did what was right and not contact BD while he still had important games ahead of him!!! We Are KY,,, We don't beg anyone to come here, I'M sure there are coaches burning Mitch's phone up right now!! I think he needs to sit back and see what could happen, in the next 2 or 3 days,,, who knows,, old buddy Pat Riley may come calling!!! LOL LOL,,, But seriously i think BG would love to be our new coach,, At least i hope so!! Altho i said the same thing abot BD too!!

[Clam]

1) Given that everyone would have *destroyed* Mitch if he had hired someone before a definite answer from Donovan, and 2) given that Donovan was busy winning the NC until early April, there is little that Mitch could have done. Being patient and inquiring about Donovan's interest after the tournament is the only thing he could do. To be bitter towards MB is to not understand the logistics of the situation.

[BigblueDrew]

Other than wishful thinking and hubris what actual indications did Mitch ever have that Donovan had the slightest interest in the job.

[phoenix]

And what did Barn actually DO during the two weeks following Tubby's leaving? Nothing?

[BigblueDrew]

phoenix wrote: And what did Barn actually DO during the two weeks following Tubby's leaving? Nothing?
Thats actually a DARN good question. I would love to see some evidence he did something beside sit around with his thumb up his backside waiting for King Billy to come down from Mt. Olympus and talk to him.

[RedandBlackATTACK]

Thats actually a DARN good question. I would love to see some evidence he did something beside sit around with his thumb up his backside waiting for King Billy to come down from Mt. Olympus and talk to him.
Agreed. There is no indication that Mitch spoke to anyone other than his statement.

Rick

C-Bus

[Will Lavender]

RedandBlackATTACK wrote: Thats actually a DARN good question. I would love to see some evidence he did something beside sit around with his thumb up his backside waiting for King Billy to come down from Mt. Olympus and talk to him.
Agreed. There is no indication that Mitch spoke to anyone other than his statement.

Rick

C-Bus



Don't buy it. I think there have been interviews, albeit informally.

I read last night that Rick Barnes had been contacted. I've read that Izzo has been contacted. And Gillespie. And perhaps Tom Crean. And maybe even Mark Few.

The idea that Mitch had "all his eggs in one basket," as the saying goes, is simplistic and wrong.

(In my opinion.)

[DCWildcat]

I agree with the original post here.

What was Mitch to do? Pretend like we had no interest in Billy Donovan? No sane person would believe that was the case. Hell, the people angry at him now for "messing this up" would've been angry at him instead for being dishonest. Those that would believe that we weren't pursuing Donovan would want to castrate Mitch for not going after him.

No, Mitch did the only reasonable thing--let the interest be known, be turned down, and walk away disappointed but not distraught. The whole situation has been handled with dignity...except by us fans.

[RP_McMurphy]

Done the right thing after last year and fired Tubby. Instead we have wasted millions of dollars on a coach who spent most of the year looking for a job. We have now wasted another recruiting year and have the least talented roster in almost 20 years. He should run Tubby last year taken the bad pub and moved on. Instead he wasted a year and now we are being made laughingstocks of the college basketball world.

[katfever]

DCWildcat wrote: I agree with the original post here.

What was Mitch to do? Pretend like we had no interest in Billy Donovan? No sane person would believe that was the case. Hell, the people angry at him now for "messing this up" would've been angry at him instead for being dishonest. Those that would believe that we weren't pursuing Donovan would want to castrate Mitch for not going after him.

No, Mitch did the only reasonable thing--let the interest be known, be turned down, and walk away disappointed but not distraught. The whole situation has been handled with dignity...except by us fans.

I agree. IF Mitch did not pursue BD, there would have been a public lynching of Mitch. He contacted BD the right way. BD played it dirty in my opinion and do not underestimate the part RP played in this thing. I hope Mitch pursues Billy G, he decides to come here and we whip BD's *** for the next 10 years.

[CatKroboth]

Dick Gabrial was just on WHAS up here in Louisville. He said that every thing he was told, that mitch was working with Donova's agent the whole time. That should tell you something, because Barnhart does not like working with agents. (See the Guy Morris situation for evidence on that.) But Mitch reconizing Billy Donovan still had games left did the right thing to not contact him directly. Every indication according to Gabrial is that the Agent and Mitch had worked out details that were agreeable, and the only thing left was for Mitch to contact Billy, which happended today. Billy said "You know what i am staying"

Billy did not want to leave Florida, he is happy with his Job and life there. More power to him. I for one have a bit more respect for Donovan, for making a decision like this not about money.

[Will Lavender]

RP_McMurphy wrote: Done the right thing after last year and fired Tubby. Instead we have wasted millions of dollars on a coach who spent most of the year looking for a job. We have now wasted another recruiting year and have the least talented roster in almost 20 years. He should run Tubby last year taken the bad pub and moved on. Instead he wasted a year and now we are being made laughingstocks of the college basketball world.
If you do that, then there's not going to be a coach worth his salt who even approaches this job. Mitch villifies himself if he does that. You don't villify yourself if you want a good coach to work for you.

[RP_McMurphy]

Certainly didn't hurt Jeremy Foley when he fired Zook. I don't buy that theory at all.

Will Lavender wrote:
RP_McMurphy wrote: Done the right thing after last year and fired Tubby. Instead we have wasted millions of dollars on a coach who spent most of the year looking for a job. We have now wasted another recruiting year and have the least talented roster in almost 20 years. He should run Tubby last year taken the bad pub and moved on. Instead he wasted a year and now we are being made laughingstocks of the college basketball world.
If you do that, then there's not going to be a coach worth his salt who even approaches this job. Mitch villifies himself if he does that. You don't villify yourself if you want a good coach to work for you.

[cnice11]

I just dont know what else he couldve done. He threw a lot of money at Billy D, Billy knew about the history,attendance of Rupp, the fantastic practice facility, and the fan base. Really money was the only thing he could offer, Billy D knew about the rest. BD has found his home and his happy there, just like we are happy in Kentucky.

[colonelcatfan]

CatKroboth wrote: Dick Gabrial was just on WHAS up here in Louisville. He said that every thing he was told, that mitch was working with Donova's agent the whole time. That should tell you something, because Barnhart does not like working with agents. (See the Guy Morris situation for evidence on that.) But Mitch reconizing Billy Donovan still had games left did the right thing to not contact him directly. Every indication according to Gabrial is that the Agent and Mitch had worked out details that were agreeable, and the only thing left was for Mitch to contact Billy, which happended today. Billy said "You know what i am staying"

Billy did not want to leave Florida, he is happy with his Job and life there. More power to him. I for one have a bit more respect for Donovan, for making a decision like this not about money.



I agree, as much asI wanted Donovan here, I really respect him for staying where he and HIS FAMILY are happy and not chasing prestige and dollars--he has plenty of both already, and just how much do you need?

[colonelcatfan]

BigblueDrew wrote: phoenix wrote: And what did Barn actually DO during the two weeks following Tubby's leaving? Nothing?
Thats actually a DARN good question. I would love to see some evidence he did something beside sit around with his thumb up his backside waiting for King Billy to come down from Mt. Olympus and talk to him.
OK, since when does the UK AD answer to you guys? He did his job, thats what he did. We're the fans, not the BOT or Univ Pres. We do not need to know every behind the scenes move that is made.

[phoenix]

RP_McMurphy wrote: Done the right thing after last year and fired Tubby. Instead we have wasted millions of dollars on a coach who spent most of the year looking for a job. We have now wasted another recruiting year and have the least talented roster in almost 20 years. He should run Tubby last year taken the bad pub and moved on. Instead he wasted a year and now we are being made laughingstocks of the college basketball world.

Yes RP, that IS what he should have done. Fired his coach the year after missing the final four by an overtime period, and after the coach went out in the second round of the NCAA. Of course the national media and sports fans would have fried us and Barnhart for being idiots, and rightly so. BTW it would have cost us about 5 mil to fire him last year, I think. Cheaper this way but whats money when you have an axe to grind, right?

As for having the least talented roster in 20 years? Your opinion only. I think we have a pretty decent group on the floor myself.

As for being made a laughingstock? I doubt that is the case for the reasonable portion of the fan base at KY, even the rabid but reasonable portion of the fan base. I don't know about your portion of the fan base though, you might have something there...:rolleyes: