Something I don't understand

[catfan043]

Is how so many people back in the spring said they were willing to go through the suffering, if the change would be made. The change was made and the suffering is upon us and everybody is freaking out like they didnt see it coming. Any time you are trying to rebuild a program, there are going to be tough times and even some humiliation (wed. night). Look at any top tier program that had to go through a rebuilding phase, it isnt pretty. The sooner everybody buys into to the system the quicker we get back to the top, until then we have to keep in mind where we are now and what has to be done for us to get back on top, causing a ruckus over an upset loss during very difficult times isnt going to get us back there. I have seen people comparing upsets and people responding by saying they're not Kentucky, right now we are not "Kentucky", thats where we are trying to go back to. Isn't there a saying that things get worse before they get better, hang in there we will be returning to glory very soon.

[nkycatsfan]

Is how so many people back in the spring said they were willing to go through the suffering, if the change would be made. The change was made and the suffering is upon us and everybody is freaking out like they didnt see it coming. Any time you are trying to rebuild a program, there are going to be tough times and even some humiliation (wed. night). Look at any top tier program that had to go through a rebuilding phase, it isnt pretty. The sooner everybody buys into to the system the quicker we get back to the top, until then we have to keep in mind where we are now and what has to be done for us to get back on top, causing a ruckus over an upset loss during very difficult times isnt going to get us back there. I have seen people comparing upsets and people responding by saying they're not Kentucky, right now we are not "Kentucky", thats where we are trying to go back to. Isn't there a saying that things get worse before they get better, hang in there we will be returning to glory very soon.

People are whining (like me) because this isn't exactly a rebuilding year. A rebuilding year was what Pitino had when he came to UK to coach. We were expected to have 3-4 wins his first year and we had 14. Yes, we had 14. We had a .500 season with a bunch of players that were not highly recruited studs. This current team has at least 3 McDonalds all americans plus other hightly recruited players. At NO TIME should a UK team lose and lose bad on their home floor to a Gardner Webb. NEVER. NO EXCUSES. This was a pathetic display of basketball by UK. They were out hustled, out COACHED, and out played from the tip off.

[KapitalCat]

KY will be fine, we'll win the next three and then have the showdown with UNC. That is the game Billy G is shooting for. A win or down to the wire loss and I think people will start understanding what he's trying to do. Gardner Web was an aberration, a big one at that, but if we played them 10 times, we beat them 9.5.

[catfan043]

People are whining (like me) because this isn't exactly a rebuilding year. A rebuilding year was what Pitino had when he came to UK to coach. We were expected to have 3-4 wins his first year and we had 14. Yes, we had 14. We had a .500 season with a bunch of players that were not highly recruited studs. This current team has at least 3 McDonalds all americans plus other hightly recruited players. At NO TIME should a UK team lose and lose bad on their home floor to a Gardner Webb. NEVER. NO EXCUSES. This was a pathetic display of basketball by UK. They were out hustled, out COACHED, and out played from the tip off.

Yes this team has alot of talent, but it's never been utilized and Coach G. is trying to get that out of them. I'm as upset as you about the loss, but it isnt the end of the world, we will be fine.

[ukwebfan]

Gardner Web was an aberration, a big one at that, but if we played them 10 times, we beat them 9.5.How can you state that? We lost on our home floor by 16 points. They're better right now, period!

We better get used to that until more bodies practice and the system is absorbed by our youngsters. Right now we are what we are, with much room for improvement and better health.

[Valhalla]

Although not exactly a rebuilding year,new coach and system.Billy G will turn this around,and for the ones that cannot see that,we have lost over 25 games in the last 2 seasons.Sure the freshman have some talent,but are still freshman.Lack of effort,hustle,and execution shows just how far we still have to go.Not sure how many L's we will rack up,but 3 months from now I highly doubt anyone will be questioning effort and hustle.I am going to have a :beer: and enjoy this season.The GW loss was a blessing in disguise.

[kateyes]

I don't think people were prepared to lose how we lost and to whom we lost.

[matt colvin]

Right now we are what we are, with much room for improvement and better health.

Yes, and hopefully this 2 weeks of uninterrupted practice will help out with both those needs (particularly Jodie's ailment). We have a long ways to go and a short time to get there, as Burt Reynolds once said :icon_lol: But I think Gillispie will get it done in time.

[ukwebfan]

Yes, and hopefully this 2 weeks of uninterrupted practice will help out with both those needs (particularly Jodie's ailment). We have a long ways to go and a short time to get there, as Burt Reynolds once said :icon_lol: But I think Gillispie will get it done in time.Don't forget Christmas break when the rules are relaxed. I agree with another poster, this could end up being a blessing in disguise.

[matt colvin]

I certainly hope so. This team can be pretty dangerous by March, but they have to get healthy as possible, get in shape, and buy into the system. If they don't do all of that well, it will a long long year.

Our momentum has been stifled some with this loss, but getting Singleton next week would so much of boost for not only the team in the near future, but also the fan-base.

[Gunsmoke]

We need an effective big man in the post or it won't get very pretty very quickly.

[KapitalCat]

How can you state that? We lost on our home floor by 16 points. They're better right now, period!

We better get used to that until more bodies practice and the system is absorbed by our youngsters. Right now we are what we are, with much room for improvement and better health.

I can state it because I'm patient and I think I understand what Billy G is trying to do.

[Got_Billie_G?]

You know, I all for the "transitional period", since the players are learning an entire new system on offense and defense...I'm certainly willing to give the chemistry between player and coach to form...but I have an extremely hard time believing that with the talent we have we couldn't beat, or at least STAY WITHIN 10 POINTS of a team picked to finish 8th in one of the worst conferences in NCAA division 1 basketball...no excuse for this loss, plain and simple...we lose to UCONN by 15, sure that in some way is acceptable if not expected at this point...but Gardner freaking Webb??

[wanderingcat]

In reality, we have traded morris and perry for patterson and coury up front, two experienced players, one an NBA player, for a freshman who will be great and a walk on who is doing the best he can. The rest of the team is pretty much the same although Legion is an addition. Bradley is the Bradley we know, Crawford is the Crawford we know. No knock on them because they are decent players, but decent players are a dime a dozen. Meeks is a talent in the making. As for the rest ????? Probably role and backups at best. Until we get a real point guard and some real good big guys we are stuck in the same scenario that caused us to lose 25 games the last two years. Morris, alone up front, and Patterson, alone up front, will never be enough no matter how much the supporting casts tries. Regardless of the system, patience will be the main task. We are closer to rebuilding than reloading.

[Got_Billie_G?]

I agree with wanderingcat...if you consider rebuilding still challenging for the SEC and making the NCAA tournament then yes, we are still rebuilding and at UK that is rebuilding until you have NCAA championship calibur talent...but there is still no justification for losing to Gardner-Webb that should never happen...

[wanderingcat]

Contending for the SEC and making the 65 team NCAA are not very lofty goals and certainly not UK goals. In my five decades of following UK I have almost always held out hope for a run at the National title, but this can come realisitically only when we are a nationally ranked team. We are so far from being a top ten team consistently that the NCAA championship is an almost impossible dream, but then to Gardner Webb beating us was an almost impossible dream. So we trudge on because deep down I think there will be that moment when Joe performs consistently and he is so close it is frustrating. He has the talent. I think there will be moment when Ramel will "get it", something he has done enough to make me think it is possible, but oh, so frustrating yet. I think at the same time Jodie will catch lightning in a bottle like the 7 for 9 in the Pikeville game. I believe Pat can be more than a freshman and play with anyone and that Mark and Perry and Ramon and AJ can battle an opponent at least to a tie. And so I think to be a Cat fan right now is to be a schizophrenic fan, one part of me feels the pain and dread of things to come, while the other me hope and anticipation of things to come. Maybe just not in the same year.

[reggis]

Although not exactly a rebuilding year,new coach and system.Billy G will turn this around,and for the ones that cannot see that,we have lost over 25 games in the last 2 seasons.Sure the freshman have some talent,but are still freshman.Lack of effort,hustle,and execution shows just how far we still have to go.Not sure how many L's we will rack up,but 3 months from now I highly doubt anyone will be questioning effort and hustle.I am going to have a :beer: and enjoy this season.The GW loss was a blessing in disguise.

You forgot to mention how many wins there was in those 2 years, give the whole story not just parts. The GW loss will become a dagger for BCG,

[ukwebfan]

I can state it because I'm patient and I think I understand what Billy G is trying to do.Oh really? Well for the rest of us dummies, is blowing games part of the equation? Because that seems to be what your suggesting and I have a really hard time buying into that.

[westtncat]

How can you state that? We lost on our home floor by 16 points. They're better right now, period!

We better get used to that until more bodies practice and the system is absorbed by our youngsters. Right now we are what we are, with much room for improvement and better health.
its one game..doesnt mean they are better...they were better that night. we beat lsu but barely in top 25 now in football and i would hate to play them again. its one game and its not the measuring stick for the cats. its a long season...

[Got_Billie_G?]

Saying "they're were better on that night but overall we're a better team" is OK if we just lost to Florida or Auburn...but Gardner-Webb?

[Wildcatcrazy11]

Saying "they're were better on that night but overall we're a better team" is OK if we just lost to Florida or Auburn...but Gardner-Webb?

exactly... Gardner Webb. Thats what upsets are. If the better team always won it wouldn't be worth going to watch. I can almost guarentee that was one of the best games GW has played in the last couple of seasons and will be one of the best this season. They were a better team wed. night, but in the grand scheme of things we are a much better team than they are.

[T75]

Yes this team has alot of talent, but it's never been utilized and Coach G. is trying to get that out of them. I'm as upset as you about the loss, but it isnt the end of the world, we will be fine.

I've got a few bucks that say that we lose to UNC by at least 25.

[sardiscat]

This is definitely a rebuilding year. The team has two seniors on it. That's not enough seniors, and it's particularly not enough seniors when you consider the fact that there are no juniors on the team. There are only two guys on the team that have more than one year's previous experience in college basketball. And, two of the key guys who have played at least one season previously are hobbled with nagging injuries, and another one is out altogether. That's the makings of a very disappointing season. That said, losing to Gardner-Webb is unacceptable any year. Joe Hall beat a Notre Dame team ranked in the top ten with four long-time NBA players on it using walk-ons Bo Lanter and Chris Gettlefinger in key roles. Gillispie ought to be able to beat Gardner-Webb with nothing more than his walk-ons anytime, anyplace, any year.

[countrycat]

Any time a team changes coaches its at least an adjustment pariod. Im not going to name names but anyone who watches knows there are some selfish players on this team. Unless these players, although they may be more talented, change they are not going to get there minuits until they buy into what the coach wants. As I have stated we are in for a lot more losses unless they change there attitudes. I believe there will be a huge change the 21st and things will start looking up. GO BCG GO UK.

[blewis18]

You know, I all for the "transitional period", since the players are learning an entire new system on offense and defense...I'm certainly willing to give the chemistry between player and coach to form...but I have an extremely hard time believing that with the talent we have we couldn't beat, or at least STAY WITHIN 10 POINTS of a team picked to finish 8th in one of the worst conferences in NCAA division 1 basketball...no excuse for this loss, plain and simple...we lose to UCONN by 15, sure that in some way is acceptable if not expected at this point...but Gardner freaking Webb??

Just needed to be pointed out that now there are 3 (countem three) teams from "one of the worst conferences in NCAA division 1 basketball" that have beat 3 BCS teams.

[Stucat]

How can you state that? We lost on our home floor by 16 points. They're better right now, period!

We better get used to that until more bodies practice and the system is absorbed by our youngsters. Right now we are what we are, with much room for improvement and better health.


I don't think Gardner Webb is better than UK. Yes they were better than UK on that night but they were fired up and playing with enthusiasm. We played like we didn't care who won the game so we lost. If our team had the same "want to" as Gardner Webb that night it would have been a different game. I think time will prove that Gardner Webb was playing with an enthusiasm that they won't be able to duplicate and that Kentucky was playing like the game was already theirs and we were just going through the motions. Now we know the folly of going into a game like it is already ours and on a given night anyone can beat you if you don't really want the game.

[Gunsmoke]

I believe that come SEC play we will at least be the most aggressive, well-conditioned team in the league. Now what that transcends into I don't know.

[Realist]

I believe that come SEC play we will at least be the most aggressive, well-conditioned team in the league. Now what that transcends into I don't know.

Every coach in the league thinks that conditioning is the one area that they CAN control so they will do everything under their power to make sure they maximize that variable. The actual difference between most teams in terms of conditioning is going to be a small factor. The only time you'll see a significant difference is if you have a team where several of the players are dogging it due to a lack of discipline on the part of the coaches, which seemed to be evident with some of Tubby's teams.

The real test is which coaching staff can bring their teams to a peak without burning them out. It's way too easy to get overzealous in terms of trying to be the best conditioned team and overshoot the mark. That's why so many teams crash and burn come tournament time for no apparent reason. The most common problem for basketball players is overtraining, not under.

[SamKat]

Jeanie and I are anxiously awaiting the UK basketball season. We look forward to each game and we want to be with our WCN friends in Catlanta to enjoy the SEC. We understand the admins are considering a different hotel and that is ok.

The only Rupp game we plan to attend is the Feb. 9 Alabama game and we are hoping to take our 11 year old granddaughter Tobey.

We are for UK and we are for coach Billy Gillispie!

Go Cats!

[caliparifan]

I understand what Billy is trying to do, but we have to look at the facts.
RB and JC have 3 assists to 6 turnovers each so far. Alex Legion has 3 assists and 1 turnover in less than half the minutes. You know something is wrong when your team leader for assists is a tie with Coury, Crawford, Legion and Bradley at 3. In 2 games no less. Billy's 'team ball' approach hasn't sunk in yet with the veterans and when it does we'll all be proud of what he's done. Until then, we'll just have to watch patiently and quit booing when they look like high-schoolers.

[WildcatMountaineer]

How could you not consider this a rebuilding year?


A new coach trying to install a new system with (some) players that aren't built for the system or they've been in a slower system and are trying to get in the shape they need to be in and trying to figure out what the coach wants from them.


I expect quite a few early losses. I'm not even concerned with the Gardner Webb game. I'm mainly concerned with the lack of buy in from some on the team. I think BCG will get rid of what he considers dead weight and then we'll see the transformation take place - including new recruits and players that will fit into his system.

[Wildcatcrazy11]

I agree, this is a rebuilding year. I feel like few people want to admit it but it is true. Even though we did not lose too many players we did lose an entire coaching staff. That is always going to take some time to grow into especially since Gillispie came in with a totally different mindset for what he wanted to do. Just because this is a rebuilding year does not mean its a waste of a season. Only at UK and a select few programs are we talking about sweet 16's and conference championships during a rebuilding year.

[ukwildcatsks]

I am disappointed with this loss, but I'm far from ready to hang in the towel at this point. Like a previous poster, I am more concerned with some of the players seeming to not buy into Billy's system.