We got the right Billy

[ukbob]

Never a Billy D lover here, but I fully understood the notion that we had to take a shot at getting him.

What we would have gotten is Pitino II. One that fans had to worry about NBA flirtations every year.

However, we got the right Billy, IMO.

Onward and upward for UK.

Is it time for Midnight Madness yet?

[Littlemeyer]

:thumbup: Agreed. And the Madness can't get here soon enough...

Good to see you around these parts, ukbob.

[JOHN BLUEBLOOD]

Never a Billy D lover here, but I fully understood the notion that we had to take a shot at getting him.

What we would have gotten is Pitino II. One that fans had to worry about NBA flirtations every year.

However, we got the right Billy, IMO.

Onward and upward for UK.

Is it time for Midnight Madness yet?


good post- seems to me our A.D.'s 5 minute convo with Billy D. was just to satisfy the UK fans and then he got the guy he wanted within hours. I can't help but think that Mitch had a hunch or a tip that Donovan had NBA eyes open- Great job Mitch, you don't get the credit you deserve.

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

:thumbup:

Good to see you around these parts, ukbob.

hey, it does seem like it's beem awhile...

yeah Bob, we sure did get the right Billy. but I've been thinking that the donovan to UK thing would never have happened anyway. Could this whole scenario have been in the works for awhile? the Magic could have known two months ago that hill was gone...talked to donovan's agent. Maybe billy knew where he'd end up all along. yeah we had to make the offer, a formality. but Mitch knew what he was doing, and a fine choice he made.

[crazzedcats22]

Never a Billy D lover here, but I fully understood the notion that we had to take a shot at getting him.

What we would have gotten is Pitino II. One that fans had to worry about NBA flirtations every year.

However, we got the right Billy, IMO.

Onward and upward for UK.

Is it time for Midnight Madness yet?

good to see you posting, bob:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

[Backrate]

Bob u may be right but I'd rather have B.D. myself. My guess is that in a couple years when he gets fired from the magic and if B.G. does not have us as a F-4 contender then he, B.D ,will end up at Ky

[Tom Blevins]

I'm glad Billy Donovan turned us down. Really I have been ever since Billy Gillispie was introduced at the pep rally, but now I've got another reason. Can you imagine if Billy D. had came here only to leave in less than two months? What a nightmare that would have been! The only down side is if Billy Gillispie is successful here at Kentucky, in a few years the pros are going to come after him.

[katfever]

Billy G is the better fit at UK. I also think Donovan was thinking NBA all the way and that is a big reason he would not consider UK seriously.

[Will Lavender]

Bob u may be right but I'd rather have B.D. myself. My guess is that in a couple years when he gets fired from the magic and if B.G. does not have us as a F-4 contender then he, B.D ,will end up at Ky

Not sure why you would want a coach who is freshly fired from the NBA.

What you want in a coach, most of all, is desire. A lot of them can coach; many of them, at the big schools, can recruit admirably. But what separates great from merely good is the passion.

Pitino, even with the Final Four, has been merely good at Louisville.

He doesn't seem to have the passion that he had when he was in Lexington. Maybe it was waxed out of him by his pitiful stint in Boston.

You get a coach who is coming off a soul-beating tenure for an NBA team, and what kind of desire can that coach possibly muster? Especially in this pressure cooker.

We got the right guy, as ukbob said. I said before Gillispie was hired that I would rather have him, and I stand by that. For evidence, look at what the man has done on the recruiting trail in seven weeks.

[WildcatRick]

I'm with Will on this. It didn't take today for me to feel like we got the right Billy. I was happy the day he was announced and I keep getting happier as we go along. How can you not be excited and thoroughly impressed every time you hear more recruiting news.

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

So you guys think if Gillispie has Donovan-type success, we won't have to worry about him going to the NBA?

Really?

[WildcatRick]

So you guys think if Gillispie has Donovan-type success, we won't have to worry about him going to the NBA?

Really?

Not sure who here said that.

Answer for now is.... Billy D wants to be in the NBA and is headed there as we speak. Billy G wants to be at Kentucky and is there now. Right now I'm not worried that Billy D is going to the NBA and I'm not worried if Billy G is wanting to go there. As the thread said, we got the right Billy. Really!!

[Terry L. Wildcat]

Never a Billy D lover here, but I fully understood the notion that we had to take a shot at getting him.

What we would have gotten is Pitino II. One that fans had to worry about NBA flirtations every year.

However, we got the right Billy, IMO.

Onward and upward for UK.

Is it time for Midnight Madness yet?

ukbob, I had all my eggs in the Billy D basket but being the squirrel I am I'm so glad my nuts are in Billy Clyde basket...keep posting!!!

[UKcat]

ukbob, I had all my eggs in the Billy D basket but being the squirrel I am I'm so glad my nuts are in Billy Clyde basket...keep posting!!!
:icon_mrgreen::icon_mrgreen::icon_mrgreen::thumbup :

[Tom Blevins]

So you guys think if Gillispie has Donovan-type success, we won't have to worry about him going to the NBA?

Really?

I think that would be a nice problem for us to have, NBA teams waving big bucks in front of Billy Clyde with banners 8 and 9 hanging from the rafters of Rupp.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Never a Billy D lover here, but I fully understood the notion that we had to take a shot at getting him.

What we would have gotten is Pitino II. One that fans had to worry about NBA flirtations every year.

However, we got the right Billy, IMO.

Onward and upward for UK.

Is it time for Midnight Madness yet?

could not agree more Bob.....I was never a Billy D fan and I never will be.....I am very glad we got the Billy we did

[Bob Day]

Yeah, I don't know 'bout ya'll, but I could just about kiss Mitch Barnhart. On another note, I haven't been able to get over and visit for nearly two months. It's good to see everyone.

[crazzedcats22]

So you guys think if Gillispie has Donovan-type success, we won't have to worry about him going to the NBA?

Really?

he would, but that would be many, many years (at least 5) down the road. You can't keep coachs forever. If Billy G leads us to the same succes Pitino does, I wouldn't be upset with him if the NBA came calling

[POEKLM]

Nice post Bob.
I wanted Billy D but didn't want him. I wanted him at first because I thought the recruits would come with him. Then I saw and read about our Billy and I wanted him. I just think some of the rumors about Billy D's "recruiting" in the past is something our program doesn't need. And his personality.....:icon_confused:

And Rick I am like you , I get more excited every day. When do we camp out for tickets?

[bleedblue79]

The bottom line for this UK fan is that Coach Billy G eats, sleeps, and breaths basketball. I have felt that way about college basketball ever since I was about ten years old. Coach G will not have trouble with the passion of the UK fans because he gets it. He understands how we feel about the game. The media doesn't understand, there are very few fans of any sport franchise that can equal the passion of the UK Basketball fan. It reaches down to our very souls, our existence. To other people who don't get it that seems to be very foolish. To Coach Billy G it is a way of life.

GO BIG BLUE!!!

[poodoo]

I was happy the day he was announced and I keep getting happier as we go along. How can you not be excited and thoroughly impressed every time you hear more recruiting news.

Same reaction here, beginning the first day Coach Gillispie was announced and continuing with each passing day, WildcatRick.

Too, it's good to see both ukbob and Bob Day here today. :) GO CATS! GO BILLY G!