Gillispie's News Conference

[UFWildcat]

Let me first say that I love the Billy Gillispie hire. I think he has the passion and the focus that is needed to be successful at Kentucky.

I have watched the news conference a couple of times and came away impressed but here are some thoughts I was having.

I noticed that he had the right answer to every question. You know, the answer that "everbody wanted to hear." Especially the question about style of play. Wasn't his A&M teams labeled as slower paced, emphasis on defense? Not that there is anything wrong with that but he said he wanted to run run run with this team. I just got the feeling that he knew Kentucky fans were fed up with a slow, grind it out style and thats why he answeredthat questionthe way he did.

I just know he promised the moon and the stars...just hope it gets delivered.

I am not trying to jumpon the mans back, (he's been the coach for only3 days) but its just some thoughts I was having.

[Craig the Blueheart]

UFWildcat wrote: Let me first say that I love the Billy Gillispie hire. I think he has the passion and the focus that is needed to be successful at Kentucky.

I have watched the news conference a couple of times and came away impressed but here are some thoughts I was having.

I noticed that he had the right answer to every question. You know, the answer that "everbody wanted to hear." Especially the question about style of play. Wasn't his A&M teams labeled as slower paced, emphasis on defense? Not that there is anything wrong with that but he said he wanted to run run run with this team. I just got the feeling that he knew Kentucky fans were fed up with a slow, grind it out style and thats why he answeredthat questionthe way he did.

I just know he promised the moon and the stars...just hope it gets delivered.

I am not trying to jumpon the mans back, (he's been the coach for only3 days) but its just some thoughts I was having.

IMO, he ran a much more fluid, and up-tempo game than Tubby did. I don't think they were ever the "2006 Tar Heels", but they seemed to get up the floor pretty good the two times that I watched them.

[artie5800]

I was just looking at his schedule results from Texas A&M this past season..

Looks like his team did a lot of running



I know these are cupcakes, but look at some of these scores from Billy G's team this year, move over Mr nice guy(Tubby) and welcome the Terminator Billy G...

Praire View 81-49
Lamar 94-60
Arkansas -lr 75-35
Idaho St 74-44
Fordham 84-61
Jacksonville 97-58
Auburn 87-58
Grambling 101-27 yes the score is correct



Tubby played cupcake teams and we just barely won some of them games..

[UFWildcat]

artie5800 wrote: I was just looking at his schedule results from Texas A&M this past season..

Looks like his team did a lot of running



I know these are cupcakes, but look at some of these scores from Billy G's team this year, move over Mr nice guy(Tubby) and welcome the Terminator Billy G...

Praire View 81-49
Lamar 94-60
Arkansas -lr 75-35
Idaho St 74-44
Fordham 84-61
Jacksonville 97-58
Auburn 87-58
Grambling 101-27 yes the score is correct



Tubby played cupcake teams and we just barely won some of them games..



See, this is what I want the most.

I want the undermanned SEC/Non-Conference opponent crushed.

Tubby always let these teams hang around.

[UKhoov]

He did say all the right things, and there is nothing wrong with that, but some people will be dissapointed if we dont "run n gun".

I think Craig is right that his offense just runs smoother and that can give the perception of an up tempo because you are in constant motion and have a nice flow.

I like the fact he said " they will play the style that best fits the players" (or something like that). If you have the players to run, then by all means run your heart out, but if you have the players to run a more set offense then do so I'm fine with it. I just dont want to see 20-30 seconds of dribbling at the top of the key any more and dead spots in the offense.

[UFWildcat]

Lets put it this way...

His style is going to look light years faster than Mr. Smiths...whatever it is.

[UKWildFox]

You can have many different types of half-court offense. Tubby's was pretty lethargic and too 1 on 1. He ran a high post offense, which really reminded me of Denny Crum's offense in his latter tenure. That offense is sooooo easily defended and predictable.

I watched A&M play Texas twice this year and other than the Texas and Oklahoma St triple overtime game, both of those games were exciting as can be. The offense for A&M was different almost everytime they had a half court set. I kept thinking, and this is no joke, "man I wish UK had an offense like this that just flowed and moved around like A&M's"...I was already on the so called "bandwagon" even before Tubby left!!!...lol

Anyways, yeah BCG may not run and gun like we hope, but what I did like was that he let the players abilities dictate what he runs for offense. That my friend is what you call "player developement"...Play to the strengths of the players and not to what YOU believe what you can do, but to what THEY believe what they can do.

Guys, I've been playing organized ball for years and I'm telling you, this coach has got it. I just hope and pray we get him for many years to come!

Thank you Coach G for bringing the excitement back already to UK!!!

[eman484]

I liked how he said that they will play what ever style necessary to win the game. Tubby at times was stubborn, and was going to play his style regardless of the situation or the opponent. I don't think BG will be like that. I think he knows that in some matchups you want to get out and run, run, run; but in other you might want to slow it down. For example: I am sure in A&M's rout of Grambling, they were running all over the place. But when they played Kansas I am sure BG had his guys a lot more selective about getting into a fast paced game. I am excited to see what he can do.

[Scratch]

I posted this same thing several days ago and not many people bit. I guess its still honeymoon time right now.

I am of the belief that Gillisspie said what he thought UK fans wanted to hear. Not so much what he actually meant. Remember even Tubby claimed that the tempo was going to pick up before every season. We all know that didnt happen.

Gillespie averaged just a point or two more on the season then Tubby did last year. The only glaring difference is that Gillispie destroyed the cupcakes and Tubby let them hang around.

I think the difference we will see with Gillispie is the all out effort from the team on the floor. I would love to see some running but I have my doubts.

[t-rav4jesus]

I agree with the posts that talk about motion offense. There were times last season when one had the ball at the top of the key and everyone else stood there and watched. I think off the ball screens and moving without the ball creates eay baskets and scoring quickly. The fast breaks will come with good D, a moving offense creates a faster paced game, IMO.

[eman484]

Scratch wrote: I posted this same thing several days ago and not many people bit. I guess its still honeymoon time right now.

I am of the belief that Gillisspie said what he thought UK fans wanted to hear. Not so much what he actually meant. Remember even Tubby claimed that the tempo was going to pick up before every season. We all know that didnt happen.

Gillespie averaged just a point or two more on the season then Tubby did last year. The only glaring difference is that Gillispie destroyed the cupcakes and Tubby let them hang around.

As far as style of play is concerned I dont expect much of a difference in Tubby ball and Gillispie bal.

Don't you think he will unleash the players a little bit more than Tubby would? I mean you have to admit Tubby was pretty stubborn and played his style regardless of the situation.

[Scratch]

eman484 wrote: Scratch wrote: I posted this same thing several days ago and not many people bit. I guess its still honeymoon time right now.

I am of the belief that Gillisspie said what he thought UK fans wanted to hear. Not so much what he actually meant. Remember even Tubby claimed that the tempo was going to pick up before every season. We all know that didnt happen.

Gillespie averaged just a point or two more on the season then Tubby did last year. The only glaring difference is that Gillispie destroyed the cupcakes and Tubby let them hang around.

As far as style of play is concerned I dont expect much of a difference in Tubby ball and Gillispie bal.

Don't you think he will unleash the players a little bit more than Tubby would? I mean you have to admit Tubby was pretty stubborn and played his style regardless of the situation.

Ahh you caught me before my edit. :D

If by unleash you mean G will not yank a guy for making one mistake I think you are correct. But I do not think that translates to running and gunning.

[eman484]

Scratch wrote: eman484 wrote: Scratch wrote: I posted this same thing several days ago and not many people bit. I guess its still honeymoon time right now.

I am of the belief that Gillisspie said what he thought UK fans wanted to hear. Not so much what he actually meant. Remember even Tubby claimed that the tempo was going to pick up before every season. We all know that didnt happen.

Gillespie averaged just a point or two more on the season then Tubby did last year. The only glaring difference is that Gillispie destroyed the cupcakes and Tubby let them hang around.

As far as style of play is concerned I dont expect much of a difference in Tubby ball and Gillispie bal.

Don't you think he will unleash the players a little bit more than Tubby would? I mean you have to admit Tubby was pretty stubborn and played his style regardless of the situation.

Ahh you caught me before my edit. :D

If by unleash you mean G will not yank a guy for making one mistake I think you are correct. But I do not think that translates to running and gunning.

I think the in-your-face defense that he talks about will present opportunities to get out and run. One thing Tubby did leave behind is players who are sound defensively. I hope they can get out on the break after playing tough defense, but we shall see. Also, a half-court offense isn't always a bad thing. I just needs to be run properly and the effects will be greater.

[TransientAlum]

All of this stuff comes down to the coach's ability to motivate the players (leadership). Remember Rick's teams? Bodies running and flying everywhere. No one relaxing for even a second. In recent years, one or two showed it (Woo, Hayes) at any given time (at least in my opinion), under Rick everyone showed it.BCG has shown himself to have it at UTEP and A&M. If he can make burger boys play that way, the sky is the limit.

I am also curious ifJoe Crawford and Ramel Bradley might really blossom under him.

[UFWildcat]

TransientAlum wrote: In recent years, one or two showed it (Woo, Hayes) at any given time (at least in my opinion), under Rick everyone showed it.

Can't forget about Jodie! He is going to become a monster under the tutelage of Billy G.

I'm curious to see if Ramel meshes with Billy. I see them clashing at some point.

[RCS]

I look for Billy's teams to look a lot like Self's Kansas teams once we get the talent. They play pretty fast. I don't think we will be pushing the ball every possession, but I do look for him to play a faster pace as his talent improves. It is about the look of the offense as much as anything. UF was not really a fast break, push it all the time team, but they scored a lot because they had a really efficient offense and it almost always looked smooth. I doubt they had many more possesions per game than UK.

[TransientAlum]

UFWildcat wrote: TransientAlum wrote: In recent years, one or two showed it (Woo, Hayes) at any given time (at least in my opinion), under Rick everyone showed it.

Can't forget about Jodie! He is going to become a monster under the tutelage of Billy G.

I'm curious to see if Ramel meshes with Billy. I see them clashing at some point.

Yeah, I agree that Jodie might just have gotten a once in a lifetime gift. I think that Ramel and Joe are going to need that boot camp to be broken down and rebuilt. Why everything thinks that is a terrible thing,I have no idea. Went to OCS in 96 and still have very fond memories of the times there and the life long friends made.

[UKWildFox]

RCS wrote: I look for Billy's teams to look a lot like Self's Kansas teams once we get the talent. They play pretty fast. I don't think we will be pushing the ball every possession, but I do look for him to play a faster pace as his talent improves. It is about the look of the offense as much as anything. UF was not really a fast break, push it all the time team, but they scored a lot because they had a really efficient offense and it almost always looked smooth. I doubt they had many more possesions per game than UK.

My guess would be, push it every opponent's missed shot or turnover. Half court motion set when taking ball out of bounds...

[Tom Blevins]

If we wantour Cats to run more, the key is to become a better rebounding team. You can't run if you don't have the ball.

[BigBlue75]

artie5800 wrote:

Tubby played cupcake teams and we just barely won some of them games..




Yeah, the SEC really is a cupcake league, isn't it? :rolleyes:

Moving right along..

[KY Native in IN]

UKhoov wrote:
I just dont want to see 20-30 seconds of dribbling at the top of the key any more and dead spots in the offense.

Â*



i don't think we'll see that crap anymore, nor the useless turnovers nor the lack of good sound fundamentals...dribble dribble pass, dribble dribble pass.....you know....all that stupid crap we saw so much of the past 2 years....i have a strong feeling Billy G. will be as tenacious as a bulldog on the court as well as in practice....and that friends and neighbors is a wonderful thing and a wonderful change way long overdue in Lexington!

[BigblueDrew]

UFWildcat wrote: Let me first say that I love the Billy Gillispie hire. I think he has the passion and the focus that is needed to be successful at Kentucky.

I have watched the news conference a couple of times and came away impressed but here are some thoughts I was having.

I noticed that he had the right answer to every question. You know, the answer that "everbody wanted to hear." Especially the question about style of play. Wasn't his A&M teams labeled as slower paced, emphasis on defense? Not that there is anything wrong with that but he said he wanted to run run run with this team. I just got the feeling that he knew Kentucky fans were fed up with a slow, grind it out style and thats why he answeredthat questionthe way he did.

I just know he promised the moon and the stars...just hope it gets delivered.

I am not trying to jumpon the mans back, (he's been the coach for only3 days) but its just some thoughts I was having.
What is he supposed to say, "I think we will suck next year,". Did he tell our fans what they wanted to hear ,yes. Is he promising the moon and stars, yes. Is that what our fan base demands YES. I have no problem with anything he said. He seems to have a pretty good handle on the type of expectations we have here at UK and doesn't seem a bit afraid to embrace them. As for style of play he says he loves an attacking "style" but also said his teams talent would dictate the style we play. IMO Coach Smith has depleted our talent pool too much to run as fast a paced offense as most of us would like. Give this coach a couple of years to recruit here and then we will see his true "style".