Classless banter by FIU Coach

[mrmeeks]

Did he really say these things as reported by Jerry Tipton and taken from his article?

Kentucky will enjoy big success under Billy Gillispie's guidance once "pampered" players adjust to a new coach, Florida International Coach Sergio Rouco said after UK beat his team 92-49 on Monday.

"You guys pamper your kids here," he told reporters in his post-game news conference.

Rather than blame Gillispie for UK's 6-6 start, Rouco suggested that fingers should be pointed at the players who were around when fans grumbled about former UK coach Tubby Smith.

"You've still got the same players, right?" said Rouco, who worked for a season as Gillispie's assistant at UTEP. "Quit mentioning the coach. Sometimes mention the players. What was not good enough last year is not good enough this year. Leave the coach alone."

Shooting surprise

Rouco expressed surprise at UK's solid perimeter shooting. The Cats made 11 of 22 three-point shots, which foiled a successful strategy to contain big man Patrick Patterson.

Rouco pronounced himself "very pleased" with Russell Hicks' defense on Patterson, who scored 20 points. "Probably Russell Hicks' best defensive game on the post.

"I would have thought (the game would have gone) the other way around. (Patterson) is going to get his, but the other kids are not going to make theirs."

In the Florida International coach's view, good perimeter shooting early (seven of the first nine from three-point range) allowed UK to blossom.

"There is a team that hasn't had much confidence get confidence early," he said. "We allowed them to. We were the team without much confidence. I thought that would be the other way around."


The FIU coach is classless. It is ok to support your former boss. I think it is admirable. He came into Rupp and was thrashed by 43 points. If he was paying attention he would know we have struggled with injuries all year. He should have kept his banter to himself. As a coach he has a responsibility to represent himself and his university. He basically said we have lost because our players are spoiled, and Patrick is the only player on our roster that is worth anything. Very disappointing to hear. He said Coach G's players are tough. What the heck does that mean? Does that mean playing with broken bones? Does that mean playing on surgically repaired knees? Does that mean playing with a fractured hand (Ramel)? Joe Crawford also had surgery this year and was available when the season started to play. I REALLY am disturbed by the banterings of this man and question EVERYTHING he has said. I support Coach Gillispie, and believe he will win many more games, but Batman has never needed the Joker to help him.

[BrassowFan]

Good post Mr Meeks. While I didn't see the game yesterday, it is clear that the difference was the return of a full roster.

While Patrick is one of the best players on the team, without the others hitting shots and playing well, UK is an easy team to beat for anyone. With the return of Jasper and your son, I think that we have an excellent shot at turning that around.

Happy New Year to you and your family!

[scfcats]

(Patterson) is going to get his, but the other kids are not going to make theirs."

Someone didn't scout your son very well. :icon_mrgreen:

[catszoom54]

I agree with the FIU coach, players were pampered, but not by the fans, by Tubby. And I really enjoyed watching Billy Clyde's post game interview when he could finally speak positive and it was funny how he said derrick was the dominant player and he only took one shot

[OldCatFan]

With Jodie and Derrick back in the lineup, this a completely different team. We now have 5 solid scorers on the floor at times. They brought 25 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists with only 3 turnovers in only in 58 minutes of play. What would the season be if they had been able to play in every game?

This is our team. I do not appreciate the comments of the FIU coach and believe it was in very poor taste for him to make these comments. I cannot ever recall a coach doing this in the past for any team!

[bowpro]

Comments from a man who didnt scout his opponent very well. He was unfortuate to have our best players at "almost" full throttle against him. Sounds like a guy who reads message boards.

Mr. Meeks, did the hard pick Jodie took at half court in the seond half leave him sore? He played a great game, and I thought all the guys played within the context of the offense. A little sloppy at the beginning of both halves, but nice flow for most possesions.

[catszoom54]

But, I do believe he found a bar in Lex. before talking about that he thought that we couldn't shoot and how he thought they could get enough confidence to beat us. Really though, you all know he said some things that was completely stupid but he said Gillespie will win here and it will take the players buying in to a new coach because lets face it, Tubby is alot easier to get along with it and the players know Gillespie will call them out on their mistakes

[BamaCat86]

For the first time this season we saw how good this team can be. When reserve players are playing reserve roles, this squad can blossom into a good team. As for FIU's coach, I think that it is best to let a coach address the issues on his own team and not someone else's team.

I have a good friend who is an assistant on Mike Anderson's staff at Missouri. He was back in Birmingham for Christmas and we ran into each other at the Galleria. I asked him about BCG and the problems that UK was having with the transition. The only thing that he would say was about how difficult it is to change the "style" of play when kids are not used to putting forth the effort.

I think the starting five we expected to see at the start of the season can make it happen.

[capcat]

It's difficult to imagine a coach saying such things...it's certainly not very professional. If he intended to show support his former boss, I'm thinking this wasn't the way his school or Coach G. would want him to do it. This will pass...the program, team and coach will rebuild and progress, and his point of view will continue to be odd.

[RP_McMurphy]

There are some players on the team that have a certain sense of entitlement to themselves. Billy G. is forcing them to be humble and work harder than they have ever had in their lives. This is why we are seeing different elements at work on this team.

Mr. Meeks I know your son is not one of them. He spent his off season humble and worked hard to improve the weaker areas of his play. He understands that the path to the NBA and success in any endeavor in life is paved with hard work and dedication to one's craft.

Until every player and future player completely buys into hard work and complete dedication to the Program, The Coach and themselves Kentucky will have disjointed play.

[mrmeeks]

There are some players on the team that have a certain sense of entitlement to themselves. Billy G. is forcing them to be humble and work harder than they have ever had in their lives. This is why we are seeing different elements at work on this team.

Mr. Meeks I know your son is not one of them. He spent his off season humble and worked hard to improve the weaker areas of his play. He understands that the path to the NBA and success in any endeavor in life is paved with hard work and dedication to one's craft.

Until every player and future player completely buys into hard work and complete dedication to the Program, The Coach and themselves Kentucky will have disjointed play.

I don't disagree with what you are saying, but this was not the point of my post. The FIU coach was way out of line, and IF he represents what our coach thinks we are in BIG trouble. I was very offended by what he said about our players. Not just for my son, but all of the kids. When you win you win as a team and when you lose you lose as a team. There is plenty of blame to go around for everyone.

[CatFaninChattanooga]

Here are the post game comments from the coach from ukathletics.com

Also a great quote by Jodie!

#23 Jodie Meeks
On his health…
“I feel better, but I am still receiving treatment for the injury. It does get stiff every once in a while. I can’t really worry about it much because I don’t play for me; I have to play for the team, and the team needs me.”

http://www.ukathletics.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=37&url_article_id=21282&change_well_id=2

Florida International Head Coach Sergio Rouco

On defending Kentucky…
“I know coach has been tinkering with different lineups and I guess he found one that works. The way they shot the ball early, they got on a roll. Once they get it going with their fans they get on a roll and play well. They got confidence early. It was a team that didn’t have a lot of confidence early and we allowed them to and we were the team with no confidence. I thought it was going to be the other way around after looking at the scores the other day in how we started our game and how they started their game. But it’s a different game every day. We saw the San Diego tape. When you prepare to play Kentucky, you’d say they are not a great three-point shooting team but they came out firing and making their shots. We didn’t play very well today.”

On the technical fouls on the bench…
“Well, I might have said something they didn’t like. I’m sure there’s more things said on the other side from Billy that they didn’t like. It’s just a frustration technical, that’s all it is. I thought we took a charge and they didn’t call it. It’s just me trying to spark up my guys. It’s frustration on my part. It’s not easy losing by so many. But I wasn’t going to allow them to throw me out on New Year’s Eve, that wasn’t going to happen.”

On expectations entering today’s game…
“I never expected them to beat us by 40, I will tell you that much, even when we were down by 20 at halftime. We did come out with fire and cut it to 15, then they hit two big shots. We thought we’d stay close. They played well today and played with confidence early.”

On his relationship with Coach Gillispie…
“We have a great relationship. We’re probably going to see each other later today. We’re professionals and competed hard. He’s a good friend and I admire what he does. He gave me a great opportunity. I respect what he does and his professionalism and work ethic. I don’t think anybody can out-work the guy. He’s got insane energy. We’re good friends. I appreciate him for allowing us to come here. It’s a great opportunity.”

[mrmeeks]

Comments from a man who didnt scout his opponent very well. He was unfortuate to have our best players at "almost" full throttle against him. Sounds like a guy who reads message boards.

Mr. Meeks, did the hard pick Jodie took at half court in the seond half leave him sore? He played a great game, and I thought all the guys played within the context of the offense. A little sloppy at the beginning of both halves, but nice flow for most possesions.

Thanks for asking. He has been sore all year :) He is fine, and is looking forward to Louisville. I hope he can stay healthy until then.

[CatKroboth]

Until every player and future player completely buys into hard work and complete dedication to the Program, The Coach and themselves Kentucky will have disjointed play.


Best quote of the week.

Mr Meeks, your son buys into this and that is why we love him.

Don't get me wrong though we love and support all the players, but you can see the difference in how some have a adjusted -Vs- others. Jodie is a special young man that when fully healthy can be a strong leader on this team.

As for the FIU coach, the way he said what he said may be classless. However his points are true.

1. The players, other than a select few were having a tough time buying into Billy G. Remember Rouco coached with Billy G, and has a good idea what the players need have to do for BCG. Work your butt off every day. Thank God for players like Jodie, Jasper, Patterson, that can show everyone else what it takes.

2. The team has lacked confidence. The good start to this game by our perimeter players allowed this team to get confidence. And it showed in how they carried them selves the whole game. THE WHOLE TEAM WANTED TO BURY FIU. No one let up.

3. Injuries. It is so nice to see Jodie and Jasper get back. I think we can all see now how much this has hurt us. We have true threats on the outside. And Bradley can now play the 2, Joe the 3, where they are comfortable. There are other scoring options, as evident by the inside out play we had yesterday. Patterson now has options when he gets the ball in the post.

GO CATS... GO BILLY G.

[mrmeeks]

I agree with the FIU coach, players were pampered, but not by the fans, by Tubby. And I really enjoyed watching Billy Clyde's post game interview when he could finally speak positive and it was funny how he said derrick was the dominant player and he only took one shot

Since I know what has gone on before Coach BG arrived and after I will tell you, you are incorrect. All High Major Div I players at schools like UK are going to have advantages. Once again this is something that pushes blame around. I will not criticize a coach, their jobs are just too hard. I will say this, I will definitely defend the players when no one else will. I am surprised that most of the fans aren't doing the same. If you only knew how hard these kids are working for this coach, you would be amazed.

[mrmeeks]

Best quote of the week.

Mr Meeks, your son buys into this and that is why we love him.

Don't get me wrong though we love and support all the players, but you can see the difference in how some have a adjusted -Vs- others. Jodie is a special young man that when fully healthy can be a strong leader on this team.

As for the FIU coach, the way he said what he said may be classless. However his points are true.

1. The players, other than a select few are having a tough time buying into Billy G. Remember Rouco coached with Billy G, and has a good idea what the players need have to do for BCG. Work your butt off every day. Thank God for players like Jodie, Jasper, Patterson, that can show everyone else what it takes.

2. The team has lacked confidence. The good start to this game by our perimeter players allowed this team to get confidence. And it showed in how they carried them selves the whole game. THE WHOLE TEAM WANTED TO BURY FIU. No one let up.

3. Injuries. It is so nice to see Jodie and Jasper get back. I think we can all see now how much this has hurt us. We have true threats on the outside. And Bradley can now play the 2, Joe the 3, where they are comfortable. There are other scoring options, as evident by the inside out play we had yesterday. Patterson now has options when he gets the ball in the post.

GO CATS... GO BILLY G.

That coach was disgusting with what he said. There is no 'truth' there. Remember this, I do know what is happening behind the scenes, and he should just keep him garbage to himself.

[CatKroboth]

That coach was disgusting with what he said. There is no 'truth' there. Remember this, I do know what is happening behind the scenes, and he should just keep him garbage to himself.

I understand why you say what you say. He has no tact in how he said what he said.

These players, I think yesterday were able to show how hard they have been working. What helped the most was Jodie and Jasper being back, and getting everyone at the correct position.

There was also a good substitution pattern. This helped a lot.

Mr Meeks. I do appreciate you taking the time to come here and post. You bring a good look at the other side of things to the board, with out over stepping the bounds of to much information.

[scfcats]

Since I know what has gone on before Coach BG arrived and after I will tell you, you are incorrect. All High Major Div I players at schools like UK are going to have advantages. Once again this is something that pushes blame around. I will not criticize a coach, their jobs are just too hard. I will say this, I will definitely defend the players when no one else will. I am surprised that most of the fans aren't doing the same. If you only knew how hard these kids are working for this coach, you would be amazed.

Your insight is appreciated. I don't think a lot of us could fathom the intensity and pressure to play or coach at a place like Kentucky. Its nice to have your perspective and us fans appreciate the glimpses of what that can be like.

What's better is the attitude you have about all the players and coaches current or past. I wish all of us arm chair coaches/players shared the same attitude. Just imagine how loud Rupp would be then.

Thanks for posting mrmeeks, you don't have to do it, but this fan appreciates it. :thumbup:

[Rockober]

Since I know what has gone on before Coach BG arrived and after I will tell you, you are incorrect. All High Major Div I players at schools like UK are going to have advantages. Once again this is something that pushes blame around. I will not criticize a coach, their jobs are just too hard. I will say this, I will definitely defend the players when no one else will. I am surprised that most of the fans aren't doing the same. If you only knew how hard these kids are working for this coach, you would be amazed.

Mr. Meeks has been spot on from day one and knows about what goes on internally than probably most here. I do believe that the kids have busting their butts off in practice and if this team can ever get healthy, they will be a tough out.

The FIU coach should have kept his mouth shut regarding our players. He probably forgot that our players can read English, his can not.;)

[Jeff Craddock]

Your insight is appreciated. I don't think a lot of us could fathom the intensity and pressure to play or coach at a place like Kentucky. Its nice to have your perspective and us fans appreciate the glimpses of what that can be like.

What's better is the attitude you have about all the players and coaches current or past. I wish all of us arm chair coaches/players shared the same attitude. Just imagine how loud Rupp would be then.

Thanks for posting mrmeeks, you don't have to do it, but this fan appreciates it. :thumbup:

I also appreciate what mrmeeks brings. Some of the things that have been said about some of our current players--particularly the seniors--have been inexcusable. It's one thing to criticize their play, but quite another to go after their character. These are kids who are still learning about basketball and life. These kids are busting their behinds in ways that most of us can only imagine.

As mrmeeks notes, he KNOWS what goes on with the team. His word should be gold. If a kid wears "Kentucky" on the front of his uniform, he has my unqualified support.

[OldCatFan]

Mr. Meeks has been spot on from day one and knows about what goes on internally than probably most here. I do believe that the kids have busting their butts off in practice and if this team can ever get healthy, they will be a tough out.


I agree. We do not have a clue how hard these young men are working every day to get better and to understand Coach's way of doing things. I believe that it will show up in a big way later in the season. I think we saw a little of it yesterday.

Mr. Meeks, thank you for coming on here and giving us your thoughts and insights. Please thank Jodie for all of us for being such a hard-working young man giving all he can to help the TEAM win.

GO CATS

[ukwebfan]

With great players like Jasper, Meeks and Patterson, it's a combination of things that attracts them to Lexington. Compared to much older players, some pampering is required when you consider what they had to endure in the areas of traveling, studying and athletic training. The era of Memorial Coliseum, the Internet and health advances over the past 30 years immediately come to mind.

We definitely had some catching up to do just to match the facilities in Florida, Texas and other places. Heck, look what an indoor practice facility had done for the football team!

Major college sports is a huge business that's only getting bigger and bigger. Not always for the good imo. Yet I'm confident that the combination of facilities, players and coaches will bring us many more victories AND more great players in the coming years.

[wanderingcat]

Mr. Meeks: Obviously you are spot on. Not a single poster here other than you knows and understands what is really going on behind the scenes. Bantered around here and other boards are the terms "buying into a new style," "pampered," and a litany of other cliches that are used when a team is not performing well. All speculation and entirely based on wins and losses.
Different coaches use different methods to motivate and prepare their teams. By the same token players, too, have different personalities and aspirations. For instance, Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley are very good basketball players, much better that average, and play at a level very, very few of us can understand. With that comes difficulties and overblown expectations and I don't think either one sees himself as the second coming of Michael Jordan despite their dreams and hopes. They may have been asked to play in a different way under Tubby, but to make the assertion that they or any other players were pampered is out of bounds, particularly from a coach at a fairly low level school. Those comments were an affront to the players, Coach Smith and Coach Gillispie.

[JWORLD]

What the FIU coach doesn't understand is that this is Kentucky basketaball and it's a little different than what he and BCG may be used to as far as the presssure and expectations go.I applaude all of our players for working there butts off and staying out of trouble.With there school work,practices,games,travel,and everything else that goes along with playing college basketball, i think the players do a great job .On top of that, mentally they have to deal with the daily pressure and expectations of being a UK basketball player which im sure is quite a bit more difficult than it was from where BCG and his goon FIU coach came from.

[golflender]

I agree with you Mr. Meeks,,I posted this on another board also,,I think it was a lame attempt to praise his buddy BG,,,I'm sure BG would not agree with him neither do I..I for one do not believe you separate coach and players ,,they are a team,,they win together and they lose together,,it is a group effort.

[bowpro]

I don't disagree with what you are saying, but this was not the point of my post. The FIU coach was way out of line, and IF he represents what our coach thinks we are in BIG trouble. I was very offended by what he said about our players. Not just for my son, but all of the kids. When you win you win as a team and when you lose you lose as a team. There is plenty of blame to go around for everyone.

I agree whole heartedly here with Mr Meeks. "IF" that is what the coach thinks, that would be inexcusable. It's obvious to see where Jodie gets his team first attitude. My opinion is that I dont think that BCG would direct those kinds of comments about "his players" (BCG's words) to this guy, at least not the way the FIU coach portrayed them. From his quotes I tend to believe that anything BCG said to him was exagerated in his frustration from getting his butt whipped and then again it may just be what he is reading. Anyone who has followed BCG knows he is incredibly attached to his players and I see no reason he wont be here as well. A public apology should be made by the FIU coach at the least.

On a second thought, some of our so called "bleed blue" fans can be pretty rough on our players. All the players and coaches will be better for this seasons experience regardless of the outcome (they dont give out trophys in December so dont give up just yet). Some on here need to take a lesson from this and take your frustrations out in some other fashion than getting on here and bashing some 20 year old young man when you only see the surface.

[TransientAlum]

1. No argument with Mr. Meeks

2. To support a friend and opposing coach is one thing, to do it by trashing anyone else shows a serious lack of maturity or self- control

[JOHN BLUEBLOOD]

Did he really say these things as reported by Jerry Tipton and taken from his article?

Kentucky will enjoy big success under Billy Gillispie's guidance once "pampered" players adjust to a new coach, Florida International Coach Sergio Rouco said after UK beat his team 92-49 on Monday.

"You guys pamper your kids here," he told reporters in his post-game news conference.

Rather than blame Gillispie for UK's 6-6 start, Rouco suggested that fingers should be pointed at the players who were around when fans grumbled about former UK coach Tubby Smith.

"You've still got the same players, right?" said Rouco, who worked for a season as Gillispie's assistant at UTEP. "Quit mentioning the coach. Sometimes mention the players. What was not good enough last year is not good enough this year. Leave the coach alone."

Shooting surprise

Rouco expressed surprise at UK's solid perimeter shooting. The Cats made 11 of 22 three-point shots, which foiled a successful strategy to contain big man Patrick Patterson.

Rouco pronounced himself "very pleased" with Russell Hicks' defense on Patterson, who scored 20 points. "Probably Russell Hicks' best defensive game on the post.

"I would have thought (the game would have gone) the other way around. (Patterson) is going to get his, but the other kids are not going to make theirs."

In the Florida International coach's view, good perimeter shooting early (seven of the first nine from three-point range) allowed UK to blossom.

"There is a team that hasn't had much confidence get confidence early," he said. "We allowed them to. We were the team without much confidence. I thought that would be the other way around."


The FIU coach is classless. It is ok to support your former boss. I think it is admirable. He came into Rupp and was thrashed by 43 points. If he was paying attention he would know we have struggled with injuries all year. He should have kept his banter to himself. As a coach he has a responsibility to represent himself and his university. He basically said we have lost because our players are spoiled, and Patrick is the only player on our roster that is worth anything. Very disappointing to hear. He said Coach G's players are tough. What the heck does that mean? Does that mean playing with broken bones? Does that mean playing on surgically repaired knees? Does that mean playing with a fractured hand (Ramel)? Joe Crawford also had surgery this year and was available when the season started to play. I REALLY am disturbed by the banterings of this man and question EVERYTHING he has said. I support Coach Gillispie, and believe he will win many more games, but Batman has never needed the Joker to help him.

UK players, compared to other schools, have always had some nice perks - now other schools are catching up with those things. I think BCG has no problems with kids like Jodie, Jasper, Porter, Coury, Patterson but there seems to be some that don't work as hard as coach would like. I do think the FIU coach went too far with his comments - seems he was taking up for his friend.

[Smarty Jones]

I also agree with mrmeeks. All though the FIU's coaches comments may have some truth to them he didn't need to throw our players under the bus.

It's one thing to defend our coach but he could have gone about it another way.

On a another note: I hope that we may have turned a corner. It was nice to see the Cats smash an undermanned opponent like they're supposed to do. Provided we stay relatively healthy the rest of the way, we could start to see some excitement build.

[UFWildcat]

I also agree with mrmeeks. All though the FIU's coaches comments may have some truth to them he didn't need to throw our players under the bus.

It's one thing to defend our coach but he could have gone about it another way.

On a another note: I hope that we may have turned a corner. It was nice to see the Cats smash an undermanned opponent like they're supposed to do. Provided we stay relatively healthy the rest of the way, we could start to see some excitement build.

Didn't realize I was logged in under my brother's screen name.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

I also appreciate what mrmeeks brings. Some of the things that have been said about some of our current players--particularly the seniors--have been inexcusable. It's one thing to criticize their play, but quite another to go after their character. These are kids who are still learning about basketball and life. These kids are busting their behinds in ways that most of us can only imagine.

As mrmeeks notes, he KNOWS what goes on with the team. His word should be gold. If a kid wears "Kentucky" on the front of his uniform, he has my unqualified support.

:thumbup: Thanks Jeff and I think most of our fans feel the same. Message boards give everybody a chance to express themselves without having to look the players in the eyes. Can you imagine what Coach Rupp would have thought if they existed in his day?

[DCWildcat]

You don't trash another coaches' players--period. Whether or not the coach was accurate is irrelevant; it was inappropriate and a violation of a basic unspoken rule among coaches.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

[quote=wanderingcat;372818]Mr. Meeks: Obviously you are spot on. Not a single poster here other than you knows and understands what is really going on behind the scenes.

:thumbup: And very few who post here ever coached basketball, myself included. I delivered the US mail for a living and not one of our coaches told me how to do my job and I won't tell them how to do theirs...GO BIG BLUE!!!

[catszoom54]

thanks to mr meeks i know now that he is right because if they didn't practice hard they wouldn't play, but its just hard to see kentucky lose and when something looks so easy to blame i go with that but i know thats wrong, so hopefully we can stay pulled together and beat louisville

[CatKroboth]

I don't disagree with what you are saying, but this was not the point of my post. The FIU coach was way out of line, and IF he represents what our coach thinks we are in BIG trouble. I was very offended by what he said about our players. Not just for my son, but all of the kids. When you win you win as a team and when you lose you lose as a team. There is plenty of blame to go around for everyone.


I missed this post in the thread MrMeeks. I wish I had seen it before I made my first post.

You are correct. I don't think BCG's opinions of the players are the same as FIU's coach.

Adjustment is adjustment. Billy G has had to adjust and so have the players.

Now that the injuries seem to be moving behind us, I believe we will see a vast improvement with the TEAM. Coaching and Players included.

[KYISSUPREME]

It's difficult to imagine a coach saying such things...it's certainly not very professional. If he intended to show support his former boss, I'm thinking this wasn't the way his school or Coach G. would want him to do it. This will pass...the program, team and coach will rebuild and progress, and his point of view will continue to be odd.

You are correct, Capcat. This is perhaps one of the most un-professional statements I have heard by a head coach in a LOOOOng time.

[Arkansas Cat Fan]

Mr. Meeks,

What an opportunity to get to say thanks to someone from a real wildcat family. Thanks for sending your son to Kentucky. He is going to be one of the great ones. Please pass the word along that most of us fans support this team and Coach G. It is so good to see all the guys getting healthy and on the floor again. I always expect great things from every team as I do from this one.

[The Goose Was Loose 78]

I have no problem with what the FIU coach said......

[Gunsmoke]

Let me preface this with reiterating what I said from day one with regards to Jodie Meeks. He is a special player who comes around not often enough. He has All-American written all over him. I hate injuries to any player especially ours. I feel there has been a tremendous amount of pressure, perhaps too much, put upon our players during this obviously highly publicized and difficult transition period. I sense this in the tone of Jodie's father's posts. I am glad he has skimmed the surface of what our players have been going through. I would like to know the entire story but then again would probably not be able to handle the feelings of frustration on everybody's part. Especially our players. Kinda been a sad situation here at our university.

[Chuck Taylor]

Thanks Mr. Meeks. Your posts always shed a true light on what is taking place.:thumbup:

[The Goose Was Loose 78]

First of all, I think that Coach G can take care of himself and I am sure that the thoughts of the FIU coach were his own. However, I really think what he was trying to say was that Coach G brings a more intense mentality and coaching philosophy to UK that is a great deal different than Tubby's regime. The team is having a hard time catching on because they are not used to it. He is simply implying that this is not always the coaches fault and the players need to take some of the responsibility as well. He could have used better words, but if you knew more about this coach (plus listen to him on the pre-game show), he is a character and a unique individual who speaks his mine. Looks like a guy who would run an Italian restaurant in Little Italy.

Outside of Mr. Meeks, other blogs have addressed these comments, and 90% of them agree with what the coach says.....I don't blame Mr. Meeks for his comments and I do agree with what he said.....however, I also agree with what that coach was trying to say.

Finally, Jodie Meeks, Derrick Jasper, and PPat ARE COACH G'S type of players.......unfortunately, there is only 3 of them on the team right now.....If you notice, those 3 guys are playing the best and producing the most......we need 10 more of those "types" of guys....

[bigsky]

Since I know what has gone on before Coach BG arrived and after I will tell you, you are incorrect. All High Major Div I players at schools like UK are going to have advantages. Once again this is something that pushes blame around. I will not criticize a coach, their jobs are just too hard. I will say this, I will definitely defend the players when no one else will. I am surprised that most of the fans aren't doing the same. If you only knew how hard these kids are working for this coach, you would be amazed.

I believe the players are working hard. I don't understand what is going on, but it's been weird so far this season. Sometimes a new coach makes a team MORE successful, building on what the last coach did. I see Mark Turgeon doing well at A&M.

Part of why fans criticize some of the players is that they see them making the same mistakes over and over again that they've made their entire careers.

I'll put this explanation out there because fans are unreasonable, yes, sometimes, and sometimes they try and reason out what is happening.

Jodie Meeks is just about everyone's favorite player around the interent. It's not just for basketball reasons that everyone wishes him well.

[boomdaddy]

Since the FIU coach is a so called friend and past associate of BCG, it would be nice to have Coach rebuke the man's comments in the press.

[The Goose Was Loose 78]

Since the FIU coach is a so called friend and past associate of BCG, it would be nice to have Coach rebuke the man's comments in the press.

I don't think the comments were important enough....guy has a right to say it.....who knows, maybe he will be asked about it on his call in show......it is quite obvious that Coach G answers to nobody in the press....he was that way at A & M......

[Longtime Fan]

Mr. Meeks,

Since you mentioned Jodie being sore all year, it made me wonder if Coach BG is requiring more in terms of physical conditioning this year than Jodie is used to?

By the way, I love the toughness and heart your son shows (in addition to being a great talent). I think he's going to be one of our all-time favorite players by the time he graduates.

[SamKat]

I am sorry Mr. Meeks to slightly misunderstand. Catrboth's report of the post game remarks by the FIU coach seemed more reasonable than our beat reporter's quotes of the coach for the LHL. I am happy that you recently gave Mr. Tipton an interview; however Jerry T. seems less the Kentucky fan that one might expect him to be. He also develops his own agenda.

I trust your posted comments are about the oposing coach's remarks as you personally heard them, rather than JT's quotes in the LHL.

Forgive the mistrust of the Lexington paper by this old fan, nevertheless, thanks for you and your son bringing much class to our basketball program.

[Minn]

I don't disagree with what you are saying, but this was not the point of my post. The FIU coach was way out of line, and IF he represents what our coach thinks we are in BIG trouble. I was very offended by what he said about our players. Not just for my son, but all of the kids. When you win you win as a team and when you lose you lose as a team. There is plenty of blame to go around for everyone.

I'm really not trying to be a troll here and bash BCG but I will mention these guys are friends. It's likely that he does feel that way about the players as I'm sure they more than likely spent some personal time together before this game was played. Not to really get into a conspiracy but it's also possible that BCG asked him to bring that up during his press conference to try and deflect a bit of heat for him. Human nature. Friends helping friends. Otherwise, very low class comments by the FIU Coach.

[jdeasy]

I'm really not trying to be a troll here and bash BCG but I will mention these guys are friends. It's likely that he does feel that way about the players as I'm sure they more than likely spent some personal time together before this game was played. Not to really get into a conspiracy but it's also possible that BCG asked him to bring that up during his press conference to try and deflect a bit of heat for him. Human nature. Friends helping friends. Otherwise, very low class comments by the FIU Coach.



I suppose if one is looking for a conspiracy, anything will work. You may even right, who knows? But, BCG doesn't appear or sound like someone that needs anyone to do his talking for him.

If you are truly a Minn guy, you will find out shortly how a coach uses others to speak for him and that he needs an interpreter to convey the things he really does say. Thank God those days are over at UK.

[Minn]

I suppose if one is looking for a conspiracy, anything will work. You may even right, who knows? But, BCG doesn't appear or sound like someone that needs anyone to do his talking for him.

If you are truly a Minn guy, you will find out shortly how a coach uses others to speak for him and that he needs an interpreter to convey the things he really does say. Thank God those days are over at UK.

I am a Minnesota fan. That should be evidenced by my few rebukes of other Minnesota fans dropping less than classy remarks here. I have no interest to argue, however, it's obvious to me, at least, that the coach is conveying remarks and impressions that he was privvy to by his friendship with your coach unless you believe he made them up out of thin air.

Again, I have no wish to argue so I'll leave it at. :)

[jdeasy]

I am a Minnesota fan. That should be evidenced by my few rebukes of other Minnesota fans dropping less than classy remarks here. I have no interest to argue, however, it's obvious to me, at least, that the coach is conveying remarks and impressions that he was privvy to by his friendship with your coach unless you believe he made them up out of thin air.

Again, I have no wish to argue so I'll leave it at. :)


It is "obvious" if that's what you want to see. What's obvious to me is that you want to see it as a conspiracy.

[wildcat74]

I am a Minnesota fan. That should be evidenced by my few rebukes of other Minnesota fans dropping less than classy remarks here. I have no interest to argue, however, it's obvious to me, at least, that the coach is conveying remarks and impressions that he was privvy to by his friendship with your coach unless you believe he made them up out of thin air.

Again, I have no wish to argue so I'll leave it at. :)



Or, it could have been the FIUs coach responding,in his poor way, to whats out in the media and on the internet.

[poodoo]

I support Coach Gillispie, and believe he will win many more games, but Batman has never needed the Joker to help him. QUOTE by mrmeeks
**********

Exactly, Mr. Meeks. Too, it's always good to hear from you. I continue to hope and pray for Jodie's full recovery and good health.

I also noticed that you stated in your post that there's enough blame to go around. How I strongly feel the same and so wish that ridiculous Blame Game would not be played!!!

Last night I wrote a long post of mostly support and see that it's no longer here today (which makes it seem to me that it deteriorated--from who knows, as I had mentioned that I hoped there would be no bashing or whining from those who want to put all the blame in one spot :icon_sad:). Ironically, I think you would have especially liked one line in that post--JUST LEAVE MY CATS ALONE!!! :) That is the bashing that troubles me far the most and is the main reason I have continued to visit the board at a time when the board is thus not at its best--to support and encourage our players. Last night I had written that they NEED us the MOST NOW, not less, as sadly seems to happen.

Finally, it should be obvous to every fan how HARD these players are working AND that players are trying to play through injuries FOR US. FWIW, I so appreciate that, and I so feel for what the players are going through right now. I just hope they are soon healthier and awarded with victories and start having FUN! Do let Jodie know how many fans DO appreciate the players' efforts

Thank you again, Mr. Meeks, and hang in there, Sir (and Jodie, too).

[TrueblueCATfan]

I suppose if one is looking for a conspiracy, anything will work. You may even right, who knows? But, BCG doesn't appear or sound like someone that needs anyone to do his talking for him.

If you are truly a Minn guy, you will find out shortly how a coach uses others to speak for him and that he needs an interpreter to convey the things he really does say. Thank God those days are over at UK.

please!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[poodoo]

It's difficult to imagine a coach saying such things...it's certainly not very professional. If he intended to show support his former boss, I'm thinking this wasn't the way his school or Coach G. would want him to do it. This will pass...the program, team and coach will rebuild and progress, and his point of view will continue to be odd.

OUTSTANDING post, capcat! :thumbup::thumbup: to you!

[ohctfan]

"I am surprised that most of the fans aren't doing the same. If you only knew how hard these kids are working for this coach, you would be amazed"

Mr. Meeks,
I realize this is an old post, but I just found it on the board. I have written my own hometown newspaper, TV station, ESPN and the Lexington Herald Leader over the past several months because I realized that the only fans getting referred to or quoted were the outrageous, negative people who have berated the coaches, the players and the AD all year. I figured that the more realonalbe and positive fans (the majority) just weren't making enough noise. What I now realize is that the press doesn't want to hear us. I really hate it that the players, the coaches and the families of both have heard mostly from these negative fans. The newspapers and TV stations won't quote us, and I'm afraid that the players don't hear from us. I think Jodie Meeks is a terrific talent and we're very fortunate to have him at KY. I have always thought Ramel Bradley was one of the gutsiest grittiest players we've ever had. He's always ON and he brings excitement to the game. Joe Crawford can do just about everything. He can shoot the three, he can penetrate, rebound and defend.

There are lots of us out here in Wildcat land, all over the nation. Cheering on the Cats, win or lose. Most of us know why we've struggled this year. It wasn't possible under these circumstances for us not to struggle. New coach, new staff, all kinds of injuries;

But these guys have stuck it out and are showing them all!

I love these Cats!