Think our coach isn't determined to develop players?? Read this...

[lilproUK98]

"My responsibility as a coach to each individual is to motivate them," Gillispie said. "If Joe Crawford is not an NBA Draft choice, I'll take that personal. If a guy such as Patrick (Patterson) comes to you as a sure first-round draft choice, if after one year, he's not a lottery pick, if he stays two years and he's not top-five, I take it personally.

http://www.kentucky.com/276/story/325377.html

Coach G is a mad scientist when it comes to the game of Basketball.

Like Dick Vitale said recently while doing the UL/G-Town game..."Give Billy Gillispie 2 or 3 years to get his players in his system and it'll be scary how dominant they will become."

[BigBlue75]

Thanks for posting that.

Ya know, this is going to sound a bit silly because for a LOT of reasons it doesn't fit, but each time I read something like this and I start to ponder how much improvement the team has made (the first few games notwithstanding) and how hard they're playing, I keep thinking of that quote from one of the Japanese generals that led the attack on Pearl Harbor (and I'll paraphrase it just a bit so it'll make some sense..)

"I fear a sleeping giant has been awakened."

[IAM4UK88]

I think BCG is going to have the kind of success with UK that these type stories portend.

It makes the Nashville bomb so much more distressing, and it makes the Mills "firing" so much more understandable.

[countrycat]

BCG is going to be something speacial at UK. He will IMO be a great find. I believe if he had Crawford in entire carreer he would have been an all-american. Thanks for posting and GO BLUE!

[dougwhit]

"I fear a sleeping giant has been awakened."[/quote]


the giant may not be awake but he is starting to stir in his bed.

[UKKITTY]

I recently read a book about Adolph Rupp the other day written by a couple of his previous players. It is uncanny how much BCG resembles Rupp in his approach to coaching. In this book Rupp actually called his walkons turds. He was described as a drill sargent who had complete and utter control of his teams. Many a player was let go, kicked off, transferred, etc. because they could not play for the man or he did not want them on the team. We all know what Rupps accomplishments were.

IMO they have similar attitudes and they are tough on their players mentally and physically. :widcat:

[dhens7]

I recently read a book about Adolph Rupp the other day written by a couple of his previous players. It is uncanny how much BCG resembles Rupp in his approach to coaching. In this book Rupp actually called his walkons turds. He was described as a drill sargent who had complete and utter control of his teams. Many a player was let go, kicked off, transferred, etc. because they could not play for the man or he did not want them on the team. We all know what Rupps accomplishments were.

IMO they have similar attitudes and they are tough on their players mentally and physically. :widcat:

most impressive thing about that post is you read a book in a day. I haven't read a book in about 7 years!!!!

[lilproUK98]

I recently read a book about Adolph Rupp the other day written by a couple of his previous players. It is uncanny how much BCG resembles Rupp in his approach to coaching. In this book Rupp actually called his walkons turds. He was described as a drill sargent who had complete and utter control of his teams. Many a player was let go, kicked off, transferred, etc. because they could not play for the man or he did not want them on the team. We all know what Rupps accomplishments were.

IMO they have similar attitudes and they are tough on their players mentally and physically. :widcat:

I totally agree. I never did see Rupp coach or speak, but from what I've read, seen, and heard, Rupp and Gillispie have a lot in common in coaching styles and philosophies. Who knows if Gillispie's results will match Rupp's in any way, it is impossible to know that, but I see a very close resemblence in the 2 coaches in philosophy, discipline, dimeanor, and drive. And I think Coach G has put his own 21st century spin on all of that.

There is no doubt in my mind that by the time Coach G is done here he will have accomplished some very very special things.

[Blue Heaven]

I recently read a book about Adolph Rupp the other day written by a couple of his previous players. It is uncanny how much BCG resembles Rupp in his approach to coaching. In this book Rupp actually called his walkons turds. He was described as a drill sargent who had complete and utter control of his teams. Many a player was let go, kicked off, transferred, etc. because they could not play for the man or he did not want them on the team. We all know what Rupps accomplishments were.

IMO they have similar attitudes and they are tough on their players mentally and physically. :widcat:
He said turds

[UKKITTY]

Yes, he called them "turds." His players would even come to ask Rupp permission to get married in the off season. (Actually, he liked his players getting married because this cut down on "catting around" and those players were more settled and focused).

[UKKITTY]

Go Cats.

[UKKITTY]

Name of the book was "Both Ends of the bench"

Strongly recommend it to the nation

[Got_Billie_G?]

I remember when BG was first hired he talked about owning, and loving, one of Rupp's books. Said he's read it numerous times and it has helped him form his coaching style.

I love hearing quotes like that from a coach, the whole "I take your development personally." I think it really strikes a chord with young recruits and shows them their not alone, that the coach is right there with them, and the reason he is hard on them is because if they fail, he fails.

[DCWildcat]

From the article:

Acie Law IV wanted to transfer from Texas A&M more than once, even during his award-winning senior year of 2006-07.

Seriously? That's nuts.

[ShelbyvilleCathead]

He wasn't hired to baby these players he was hired to get the most out of them. If they (mills, legion) can't take some criticism how will they ever get better. I don't know who said it but i agree if he had JC and maybe even Smooth for 4 years they would be have been a ton better. I mean look at how much improved they are with just this season. They both have had their lesas than exceptional performances this year but both players have finally excepted the team concept. I don't care how hard he gets on his players the great ones will listen and try not to make the same mistake again. Even Mills said in that link that he was one of the best basketball minded coaches he had ever seen. He knows what he is doing and once all the players except that and play his style and listen to him we will hoist #8 soon after that.

[poodoo]

"My responsibility as a coach to each individual is to motivate them," Gillispie said. "If Joe Crawford is not an NBA Draft choice, I'll take that personal. If a guy such as Patrick (Patterson) comes to you as a sure first-round draft choice, if after one year, he's not a lottery pick, if he stays two years and he's not top-five, I take it personally.

http://www.kentucky.com/276/story/325377.html



I like Coach's words here. :thumbup::thumbup:.Too, I would not mind any talented high school (or juco, actually) basketball player's reading those Gillispie words. :)

[Will Lavender]

From the article:



Seriously? That's nuts.

I doubt that's true. It surely doesn't make a lick of sense.

Methinks the reporter just threw that in there for effect.

[matt colvin]

I doubt that's true. It surely doesn't make a lick of sense.

Methinks the reporter just threw that in there for effect.

Yeah, I would highly doubt that as well. Maybe prior to his senior season, but not during. If he did, he's crazy. He and Coach seem to have a great relationship now.

[UKSam]

He wasn't hired to baby these players he was hired to get the most out of them. If they (mills, legion) can't take some criticism how will they ever get better. I don't know who said it but i agree if he had JC and maybe even Smooth for 4 years they would be have been a ton better. I mean look at how much improved they are with just this season. They both have had their lesas than exceptional performances this year but both players have finally excepted the team concept. I don't care how hard he gets on his players the great ones will listen and try not to make the same mistake again. Even Mills said in that link that he was one of the best basketball minded coaches he had ever seen. He knows what he is doing and once all the players except that and play his style and listen to him we will hoist #8 soon after that.

I think we all agree that our seniors are playing the best basketball of their careers. The thing is I don't see any huge difference in their skill set from last year. Bradley is in better cardio shape. Crawford on the other hand has not been near as healthy as last year.

They both have made improvements because of their attitudes, decision making and understanding of "Team".

This is an attribute of good coaching.

[mobile2]

Very interesting article. Probably won't go a long way to change some people's perceptions about Tipton, especially with him only interviewing Mills and Legion from this year's team. At least there was some semblance of balance with the walk-on kid from A&M saying good things about BCG.

What strikes me is that the article seems to have an certain angle to elicit sympathy for Mills. I have none and if anything was chuckling at his whining. From what the article says, BCG reminds me of a man I worked for a few years back; he wanted you to succeed and cared about his employees but would cut you in half with the truth. If you can't handle it, you can't handle it.

Seems that Mills thought way too much of his abilities and couldn't handle the truth told in an unyielding fashion from a man that didn't seem to like him very much. I bet their personalities couldn't be more different. But the world's a tough place sometimes and little Dusty will figure that out eventually. Legion comes across as your typical modern day bball prima donna who wants all the praise & cash but none of the hard work.

Oh well, makes me like BCG more and wish, wish, wish that Crawford & Bradley would have another year to spend under the coach.