Lachlan McClean on Billy Gillispie

[Will Lavender]

I listened to a few minutes of Sports Talk last night on WHAS. Lachlan and his guest, Kyle Draper, rated the three programs in the area next season.

Unanimously, Louisville was #1. IU was #2. UK was #3.

That's pretty obvious.

What was interesting is that McClean didn't sound too excited about the Cats next year, and that's putting it gently. But perhaps the weirdest thing that was said in the whole segment was when McClean argued that Gillispie was going about the UK job in a strange way. He said that he thought it was odd for Gillispie to say that he wanted to "cut down the nets" right away, when what he should do is take a year's grace period. McClean said, "Gillispie should say, 'We're going to be rebuilding next year,' and that would protect him from the bashing he's going to get from UK fans."

First, UK will not be rebuilding. Both McClean and Draper said that Kentucky would not be better than they were last year, and that's wrong.

Second, Gillispie will get a grace period regardless--sort of. But if he loses consistently, he's going to get ripped, even next year. He knows that, UK fans know that. Why would he ask for a grace period when that would just be admitting a failure right off the bat? That would've been a HORRIBLE PR move, and I'm amazed that McClean would even suggest it.

That's what you call talking out of your patootie.

[freethrow]

I listened to a few minutes of Sports Talk last night on WHAS. Lachlan and his guest, Kyle Draper, rated the three programs in the area next season.

Unanimously, Louisville was #1. IU was #2. UK was #3.

That's pretty obvious.

What was interesting is that McClean didn't sound too excited about the Cats next year, and that's putting it gently. But perhaps the weirdest thing that was said in the whole segment was when McClean argued that Gillispie was going about the UK job in a strange way. He said that he thought it was odd for Gillispie to say that he wanted to "cut down the nets" right away, when what he should do is take a year's grace period. McClean said, "Gillispie should say, 'We're going to be rebuilding next year,' and that would protect him from the bashing he's going to get from UK fans."

First, UK will not be rebuilding. Both McClean and Draper said that Kentucky would not be better than they were last year, and that's wrong.

Second, Gillispie will get a grace period regardless--sort of. But if he loses consistently, he's going to get ripped, even next year. He knows that, UK fans know that. Why would he ask for a grace period when that would just be admitting a failure right off the bat? That would've been a HORRIBLE PR move, and I'm amazed that McClean would even suggest it.

That's what you call talking out of your patootie.

I enjoy Lachlan's program less and less. When he first started it was an OK program but now it seems he has become VERY infatuated with himself. In the earlier days you could get to hear a lot of call ins and get some varied opinions and now the show is usually 75-90% of Lachlan rattling on and on.

Though I often agree with what he has to say I also find that a good deal of his comments are based on what I call "superficial logic". In other words, he too often bases his comments on only the key factors that support his view and totally ignores other facts that may counter them. Again, he rattles on so much that no caller can ever get on to argue any point that he makes because the guy WILL NOT SHUT UP.

[surveyor]

I enjoy Lachlan's program less and less. When he first started it was an OK program but now it seems he has become VERY infatuated with himself. In the earlier days you could get to hear a lot of call ins and get some varied opinions and now the show is usually 75-90% of Lachlan rattling on and on.

A little perspective on this. McClain has spoken of this frequently of late. It happens every spring and summer. Local / regional call in shows get less caller traffic in the summertime. His show is no different. He's frequently said the only reason he's "prattling on and on" is there's no callers.
It won't start picking up until August, as we get closer to college / pro football season. Pro basketball isn't even discussed much because he's stated more than a few times that it doesn't draw sufficient numbers of callers to even discuss it much.
I noticed it last year and I noticed it when Paul Rogers had the show years ago. Summertime is just dull, dull, dull when it comes to Sports Talk.


Though I often agree with what he has to say I also find that a good deal of his comments are based on what I call "superficial logic". In other words, he too often bases his comments on only the key factors that support his view and totally ignores other facts that may counter them.

I'd do the same thing in order to initiate debate and incite someone to call. Why present all sides of the argument yourself? Joe Elliot often does that and I find myself asking, "why call in and merely agree with what he's said, because he's covered it all?"

[freethrow]

A little perspective on this. McClain has spoken of this frequently of late. It happens every spring and summer. Local / regional call in shows get less caller traffic in the summertime. His show is no different. He's frequently said the only reason he's "prattling on and on" is there's no callers.
It won't start picking up until August, as we get closer to college / pro football season. Pro basketball isn't even discussed much because he's stated more than a few times that it doesn't draw sufficient numbers of callers to even discuss it much.
I noticed it last year and I noticed it when Paul Rogers had the show years ago. Summertime is just dull, dull, dull when it comes to Sports Talk.



I'd do the same thing in order to initiate debate and incite someone to call. Why present all sides of the argument yourself? Joe Elliot often does that and I find myself asking, "why call in and merely agree with what he's said, because he's covered it all?"

Personally, I have only listened to his program a couple of times during the summer months this year so my reasoning is more based on during the seasons. I had not heard his comments about lack of calls. IMO, this supposed lack of calls is partly due to him going on and on about his particular take on a given subject and people getting as tired of it as I am.

I have tried to call in a couple of times without success. I suppose it possible that the topic was one that had many others calling in as well as the reason, but I recall feeling perturbed that he was yakking on and on without taking many calls at all from anyone and could not understand why.

I do agree that you can make a point that may be a bit controversial or short in order to keep a debate active. But IMO he just goes too far in that direction and he would get most likely more callers if he changed his approach. Quick comment, take a call, quick comment, take a call. As it is now, even during prime time season, it seems it is a loooooooooong comment covering all of the reasons he makes his point and then a rather short call, most of the time.

If he truly is getting too few calls it seems that he could at least draw more conversation,debate from the calls that he does take? I think if his program was more about the "fan" and less about Lach and he created a little more excitement by making it more urgent for callers to call and respond NOW it would be a much better program. If he keeps yakking too many will get frustrated like I have and switch stations.

[Will Lavender]

As to the point itself, though--don't you think it's silly?

I mean, can you imagine Billy Gillispie asking for leniency and a year to rebuild? That's just...unfathomable.

[surveyor]

As to the point itself, though--don't you think it's silly?

I mean, can you imagine Billy Gillispie asking for leniency and a year to rebuild? That's just...unfathomable.

I agree it's silly. But that would be one of those things where I can't imagine he would actually believe that. I'd gather he tosses that and similar stuff out to incite callers.

Heck, it's worked hereon, because it's being talked about. :icon_biggrin:

[Will Lavender]

I agree it's silly. But that would be one of those things where I can't imagine he would actually believe that. I'd gather he tosses that and similar stuff out to incite callers.

Heck, it's worked hereon, because it's being talked about. :icon_biggrin:

Good point. :big_grin:

I was also surprised that Draper--who admitted he didn't like Gillispie at first because he was a "Tubby Smith guy"--didn't sound at all hopeful of Kentucky's season, and he's usually pretty good. He and Lachlan mentioned the key players UK has returning...but they failed to mention Jodie Meeks. :shrug1:

[Littlemeyer]

...but they failed to mention Jodie Meeks. :shrug1:

Unbelievable.

I've never listened to these guys, so I may be way off-base with this comment. But...when you're doing an analysis of Kentucky basketball's '07-'08 season and fail to mention Jodie Meeks, that calls into question the analyst's credibility. BIG time.

[Mark Blueblood]

I rarely listen to talk radio and, when I do, as I'm in Northern Kentucky it's a Cincinnati based station or WLAP. I can get WHAS but, hey, it's Louvul, so who really cares? But anyway...

What's Gillespie supposed to say "I want to cut down some nets a couple years from now"?? What an idiot. So...he's slammin' the guy because he sets high expectations for his program? What does he expect Gillespie to say?

As is usually the case, he probably said it hoping someone was listening that would get upset and call in. Again...yet another reason why I don't listen to talk radio.

Music, or even the inside of my head, is so much more entertaining.

[ImForKy]

Lachlan McLean is a Cardinal "HOMER" plain and simple. When he first got the job he was more fair toward UK but has gradually become one-sided, though he denies it. All one has to do is check in to his program occasionally to verify that. We've exchanged emails a few times where I pointed that out. No matter what the subject matter is supposed to be each night, it usually turns into a UL lovefest. For quite a while the last 20 minutes (he says its the last half-hour but that doesn't allow for the bottom of the hour news and the fact that the show ends at 5 minutes 'til the hour) was suppose to be didicated to UL sports on Mondays and Wednesdays and UK on Tuesdays and Thursdays. As soon as the bottom of the hour news was over on UL's nights, he went immediately to Howie LIndsey or some other UL talking head and continued right up to the end of the show. On UKs nights, he invariably couldn't get in touch with Rob Gidel or one of the guys from The Cat's Pause or whomever was suppose to be on the show. He has recently changed it to "feature" IU on Tuesdays, UL on Wednesdays, and UK on Thursdays. Last night, Matt from The Cat's Pause came on at 36 minutes past the hour and Lach terminated the conversation at 42 minutes past the hour. That's a whopping 6 minutes of UK "update". As I said, he's a UL "homer" and we should take him with a grain of salt and just accept that fact.

Rant over.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Lachlan McLean is a Cardinal "HOMER" plain and simple. When he first got the job he was more fair toward UK but has gradually become one-sided, though he denies it. All one has to do is check in to his program occasionally to verify that. We've exchanged emails a few times where I pointed that out. No matter what the subject matter is supposed to be each night, it usually turns into a UL lovefest. For quite a while the last 20 minutes (he says its the last half-hour but that doesn't allow for the bottom of the hour news and the fact that the show ends at 5 minutes 'til the hour) was suppose to be didicated to UL sports on Mondays and Wednesdays and UK on Tuesdays and Thursdays. As soon as the bottom of the hour news was over on UL's nights, he went immediately to Howie LIndsey or some other UL talking head and continued right up to the end of the show. On UKs nights, he invariably couldn't get in touch with Rob Gidel or one of the guys from The Cat's Pause or whomever was suppose to be on the show. He has recently changed it to "feature" IU on Tuesdays, UL on Wednesdays, and UK on Thursdays. Last night, Matt from The Cat's Pause came on at 36 minutes past the hour and Lach terminated the conversation at 42 minutes past the hour. That's a whopping 6 minutes of UK "update". As I said, he's a UL "homer" and we should take him with a grain of salt and just accept that fact.

Rant over.

LOL....I say the same thing about WLKY's Fred Cowgill......talk about the biggest UL homer around as most of the sports related people here in Louisville are

[uklumpy]

The worst is the last two years on the eve of elections I have heard Lachlan rattle on about being a Liberatarian and the evils of two party systems. My take - you are paid to talk about sports, leave politics to NPR.

[ImForKy]

LOL....I say the same thing about WLKY's Fred Cowgill......talk about the biggest UL homer around as most of the sports related people here in Louisville are

As someone on this board pointed out previously, they don't call him "Cardinal Cowgill" for nothing. :thumbdn:

[RP_McMurphy]

He doesn't want his team to sluff things off and call it a rebuilding year. I fully agree that Kentucky should step on the court to win everytime and play like it. Too often in the last few years I thought Kentucky was defeated before the ball was tipped. It was very telling to see the body language of the team and the head coach.

[matt colvin]

He doesn't want his team to sluff things off and call it a rebuilding year. I fully agree that Kentucky should step on the court to win everytime and play like it. Too often in the last few years I thought Kentucky was defeated before the ball was tipped. It was very telling to see the body language of the team and the head coach.

Or even fans thought, "Well, if we give them a good game, that's all we can ask for." See UCONN '06 and KU '07 for two prime examples.

[JOHN BLUEBLOOD]

I listened to a few minutes of Sports Talk last night on WHAS. Lachlan and his guest, Kyle Draper, rated the three programs in the area next season.

Unanimously, Louisville was #1. IU was #2. UK was #3.

That's pretty obvious.

What was interesting is that McClean didn't sound too excited about the Cats next year, and that's putting it gently. But perhaps the weirdest thing that was said in the whole segment was when McClean argued that Gillispie was going about the UK job in a strange way. He said that he thought it was odd for Gillispie to say that he wanted to "cut down the nets" right away, when what he should do is take a year's grace period. McClean said, "Gillispie should say, 'We're going to be rebuilding next year,' and that would protect him from the bashing he's going to get from UK fans."

First, UK will not be rebuilding. Both McClean and Draper said that Kentucky would not be better than they were last year, and that's wrong.

Second, Gillispie will get a grace period regardless--sort of. But if he loses consistently, he's going to get ripped, even next year. He knows that, UK fans know that. Why would he ask for a grace period when that would just be admitting a failure right off the bat? That would've been a HORRIBLE PR move, and I'm amazed that McClean would even suggest it.

That's what you call talking out of your patootie.


That's what I like about Gillispie, it reminds me alot of the early Pitino days. Rick came in with the "win now" attitude and leave the gloom and doom to someone else. Gillispie is smart, he doesn't want to go out and "sell" UK as a "rebuilding" project. He goes out with the "winningest tradition" and "win now" approach to recruits. Take note- you haven't heard Gillispie talk of rebuilding, why would you want to say that word to 5-star kids???

[Caveman Catfan]

I am not so sure that UK will be better next season. I think it is likely that they will have a similiar record to last year's team.

[matt colvin]

I am not so sure that UK will be better next season. I think it is likely that they will have a similiar record to last year's team.


Better team/year and similar record are two different things. Unfortunately, they determined subjectively.

[Caveman Catfan]

Better team/year and similar record are two different things. Unfortunately, they determined subjectively.


Certainly those are two separate issues. I think that this year's team will likely be no better than last year's team.

The loss of Randolph Morris is huge, IMO. I also think that Woo was better than Williams or Carter will be this year. I do not expect Stevenson to be much better, as I think he will blossom in his junior year. Patterson is a future star, but to think he will fill the loss of the junior Morris is a difficult thought for me to fathom. I think Coury will get some time on the floor and am hopeful that he will surprise folks for a few minutes every game.

On the perimeter, Meeks should be better, but he will be a soph and will be a more known commodity to defenders. No more UL game surprises. Even so, he will be exciting and solid. Whether Jasper can come back from his knee surgery and be better is an unknown. Porter, IMO, should be playing shooting guard. I think he will be improved. I also think that Bradley will impress and that Legion will bring excitement. I believe the perimeter will be improved. However, I also think that this team will still lack a true talented scoring PG, but rather will have to fill that position with players who have talent, but are not the caliber of PG that we need.

The bottom line is that I think the loss in the paint will be huge. I doubt that this team will be better than last year's team.

[matt colvin]

I agree that the perimeter players will/should be better. Unfortunately the inside will be worse, but hopefully we'll be surprised by the likes of Stewart and Stevenson.

I think this team will be better through it's execution. It will be better through it's obvious efforts during the games. We won't have a game where we quit before the time is out. Our guys will play with inspiration, and at times, with desperation.

I would like to think that Ramel and Joe believe they have something to prove. Although they've been solid, Joe, in particular, has not yet lived up to his high-school prowess of the very athletic guard who can also light it up. This is the last chance they get to show their stuff.

Our record might be similar to last year, but I think this team will be improved in enough aspects of the game to be deemed better.s

[Will Lavender]

I am not so sure that UK will be better next season. I think it is likely that they will have a similiar record to last year's team.

I think we'll have a similar record, too.

But I also think we'll be better.

I don't want to sit here and call Morris's departure a blessing in disguise or anything like that. But this program needs athletes; it needs quickness. Morris hamstrung the offense a little last year because there were times when he seemed to be the only one who was getting it done. And with Morris, you had to wait on him to get down there, set up, make his move...

This team is going to be quicker, it's going to have more threats from the outside, and it's going to be more agile on the blocks. What it loses is a very deft offensive player, but I think it's going to be able to match up better with athletic teams.

That matching up against athletic (and also, let's face it, talented) teams is what has been lacking in the last two years. I'm going to guarantee, right now, that next year's Kentucky team beats at least a couple of good teams. Last year's team didn't beat one above average club.

[scfcats]

He said that he thought it was odd for Gillispie to say that he wanted to "cut down the nets" right away, when what he should do is take a year's grace period. McClean said, "Gillispie should say, 'We're going to be rebuilding next year,' and that would protect him from the bashing he's going to get from UK fans."

We are going to rebuild? Anytime I heard any team say that they plan on losing, and I don't care what your situation is "you play to win the game". I certainly don't expect next year to be cutting down nets, but I expect we will be competitive, especially with UL and IU.

Part of why Billy doesn't use words like "rebuild" or "expect to lose" and uses words like "cutting down nets" and "winning big" is because he wants to change the culture and fan base. If we get pumped about our team, who isn't expected to do so well next year, we'll win every home game. We could make deep runs into some tourneys next year depending on how many "Wildcat Wackos" show up.

Billy knows exactly what he is doing with the language he chooses to use. He's harnessing the power of the fan base. These radio guys just don't get that.

[poodoo]

As to the point itself, though--don't you think it's silly?

I mean, can you imagine Billy Gillispie asking for leniency and a year to rebuild? That's just...unfathomable.

FWIW, I agree that's "unfathomable." Setting low expectations is NEVER a good thing. Too, I happen to LOVE how Coach Gillispie is definitely NOT doing that. I LOVE his enthusiasm and talk about "cutting down the nets." Further, it seems to me the hosts lost all credibility if they did not mention Jodie Meeks.

Having said that, ironically, I had just posted on another thread that UK fans are going to need to be patient with Coach Gillispie and the Cats this first year, that we MAY go through an adjustment period, besides our not having an experienced frontcourt. As I said there, I LOVE how UK fans are LOVING Coach Gillispie (myself included), but I want UK fans to remain as supportive WHENEVER we lose games, which will happen.

I had been responding to Coach Gillispie's quote that he hasn't "lost a game" at UK yet. :icon_biggrin: Anyway, although I LOVE what Gillispie said about "cutting down nets," I do feel that we fans MAY need to be a little patient as Coach Gillispie takes over this squad. I think Coach Gillispie is doing a FANTASTIC job in this off-season, and I think he DESERVES that patience and continued report.

In no way am I supporting the comments made on the show (and quite to the opposite, KUDOS to Coach Gillispie's for both his attitude and his comments). In fact, I think we can have a fine team this year, and I look forward to the season. I AM saying, though, that I surely do NOT want any UK fans to be "bashing" Coach Gillispie in the event we lose to both Louisville and Indiana this season, just for an example.

As I see it, we fans cannot automatically expect on the court the same type of early success we have seen in the realm of recruiting. As I said in the other thread, though, I do not think there will be such a problem with UK fans. I think UK fans will be patient and realistic. I also believe we are going to be most happy with Coach Gillispie on the sidelines this coming season and even more in future seasons. :) GO CATS! GO BILLY G!

[Blue4ever]

I Googled Lachlan McClean and Kyle Draper and can't for the life of me find their coaching records or even that they coached. Can anyone help me with this?

[wildcatdon]

McClain is a clown to put it bluntly..I quit listening to WHAS long ago..McClain knows nothging about uk basketball..

[CaliUKFan]

Sure IU has White & Gordon but Wilmont is gone and i'm unsure what people see in them.

[surveyor]

I Googled Lachlan McClean and Kyle Draper and can't for the life of me find their coaching records or even that they coached. Can anyone help me with this?

I'd gather he's got the same coaching records as most all of us.................

Doesn't stop us from spouting our variably educated or not views. :icon_lol:

[Caveman Catfan]

I Googled Lachlan McClean and Kyle Draper and can't for the life of me find their coaching records or even that they coached. Can anyone help me with this?


LOL

That has never stopped anyone here from acting like an old coach!

[Will Lavender]

Sure IU has White & Gordon but Wilmont is gone and i'm unsure what people see in them.

Bassett, White, Ratliff, Stemler, Gordon, and the other freshman Eli Holman -- they're a six man team, essentially.

But White and Gordon are two hellacious talents. (If Bassett and Ratliff could play consistently, they both have the skill to be all-Big 10 good.) IU should be a top 20 team. Not too far ahead of UK on paper, but ahead nonetheless.

[chworld22]

I only listen to Lachlan when 1570 is having problems now. But when I do listen to you him I find myself either yelling at the radio in anger or completely agreeing with him there isn't a lot of middle groud with him and me. He trys so hard to stay in the middle of UL and UK but doesn't do a very good job. I guess it has something to do with the fact that the majority of the callers to his show are crazy UL fans or back woods UK fans. I seriously have never heard a show with more UK fans that sound like they have wind whistling through their heads in my entire life. I sort of think he plans it like that to make his UL callers happier.