Who's the next coach at UK now that Gillispie has been fired?
Billy Donovan has said he is committed to Florida. “In response to the rumors circulating about my interest in other jobs, I wanted to address this as quickly as possible," Donovan said in a statement. "I am committed to the University of Florida and look forward to continuing to build our program here."
Memphis coach, John Calipari is not interested.
Tom Izzo is staying at Michigan State.
So where does that leave us?
The popular rumor is Pitino. Seriously. Seriously? Not impossible, but if he is back in blue, call up that supermodel and tell her to pack a coat for your date, because the devil just felt a chill. I've heard the talk about how he said he should have never left for Boston, or his ego would love to take UK back to the promised land. No, his ego would love to tell everybody that he turned UK down for the coach position, again. Yes his run in Lexington was impressive in eight years, but he has not accomplished the same at Louisville in eight years yet. Will this Cards' team do it? It has the talent, but what about the brains? He has said that he is not interested and that Kentucky should pursue Ford or Pelphrey.
Billy Donovan gets a phone call, again. And while above is the quote and link of where he says he is committed to Florida, but you still make that call. Of course he has to say that until he knows for sure. He has recruits as well. But there is that clause in his contract that has the one month in it where there would not be a buyout, that is why you will know for sure about Donovan by Wednesday. I am not sold on him as a coach personally. One set of players won two championships. Other than that, Tubby OWNED him. Since then, two trips to the NIT, zero to the NCAAs.
Then there is the wish lists with Barnes and Izzo, but its not going to happen. Some are calling for Calipari, which I think is very interesting.
Will Barnhart turn to his West Coast ties and try for Mark Few from Gonzaga. While you admire his work and there is no doubt of his coaching abilities, he would fall in the same category as Gillispie, good coach but questions about his living in the fishbowl of Kentucky basketball. Sorry, coaching at Gonzaga in Washington does not compare to the pressure of Lexington and the SEC.
I think the same argument goes for Sean Miller from Xavier, great ability on bench, questionable ability of the pressure.
Jay Wright has come up in conversation around the water cooler as well. This one is intriguing. He always handles himself with class. He has coached in the Big East, which has proven itself this year in the tournament, so he knows how to coach and handle the pressure of the big games. His style would be welcomed at Rupp, as it is entertaining, his teams play hard and he gets the most out of his teams. Would he make the trip south? Supposedly, there were feelers sent out two years ago if you believe the rumors, but he said no thanks.
Travis Ford, John Pelphrey, and Darrin Horn were all mentioned as young coaches with ties to either UK or the state of Kentucky. Pelphrey did not have a good year this year at Arkansas, which may have doomed his chances for the job opportunity this year. Horn doesn't have strong enough ties and yet to proven himself enough for the job despite having a very good year this year in turning around the South Carolina team.
That's why when the dust clears, the job may be Travis Ford's to refuse. He has the ties to UK. His style of play in entertaining. Oklahoma State made a big turnaround to make the tournament. Also, don't downplay the fact that Daniel Orton highly considered Oklahoma State with Kentucky and John Hood is from the same hometown as Ford. Hood and Orton are UK's top two recruits next year. He is not necessarily an easy choice as he did not get any of his teams at UMass to the tournament and can have some attitude himself. Plus, the money at Oklahoma State can compete with UK's. So if he comes, it is loyalty to Big Blue.
Just to throw another name that had some rumors with it two years ago, how about Mike D'Antoni. Something just screams he is not happy with the Knicks. And if the Lexington and Kentucky press thinks it is rough, it would seem like your high school paper compared to that of New York. And you would think coaching college kids having fun would be more enjoyable that men playing for endorsements and money. Just a thought.
Who knows where Todd and Barnhart look for the next coach, but after making such a mess with Gillispie and Tubby, they had better get it right. Because the natives are getting restless. There are a lot of people to sort for the job. My money is on Ford if he wants it. But I am not in charge, I am just the mailman, and Barnhart and Todd have mail, with a lot of mailboxes to deliver.
Then there is the wish lists with Barnes and Izzo, but its not going to happen. Some are calling for Calipari, which I think is very interesting.
Will Barnhart turn to his West Coast ties and try for Mark Few from Gonzaga. While you admire his work and there is no doubt of his coaching abilities, he would fall in the same category as Gillispie, good coach but questions about his living in the fishbowl of Kentucky basketball. Sorry, coaching at Gonzaga in Washington does not compare to the pressure of Lexington and the SEC.
I think the same argument goes for Sean Miller from Xavier, great ability on bench, questionable ability of the pressure.
Jay Wright has come up in conversation around the water cooler as well. This one is intriguing. He always handles himself with class. He has coached in the Big East, which has proven itself this year in the tournament, so he knows how to coach and handle the pressure of the big games. His style would be welcomed at Rupp, as it is entertaining, his teams play hard and he gets the most out of his teams. Would he make the trip south? Supposedly, there were feelers sent out two years ago if you believe the rumors, but he said no thanks.
Travis Ford, John Pelphrey, and Darrin Horn were all mentioned as young coaches with ties to either UK or the state of Kentucky. Pelphrey did not have a good year this year at Arkansas, which may have doomed his chances for the job opportunity this year. Horn doesn't have strong enough ties and yet to proven himself enough for the job despite having a very good year this year in turning around the South Carolina team.
That's why when the dust clears, the job may be Travis Ford's to refuse. He has the ties to UK. His style of play in entertaining. Oklahoma State made a big turnaround to make the tournament. Also, don't downplay the fact that Daniel Orton highly considered Oklahoma State with Kentucky and John Hood is from the same hometown as Ford. Hood and Orton are UK's top two recruits next year. He is not necessarily an easy choice as he did not get any of his teams at UMass to the tournament and can have some attitude himself. Plus, the money at Oklahoma State can compete with UK's. So if he comes, it is loyalty to Big Blue.
Just to throw another name that had some rumors with it two years ago, how about Mike D'Antoni. Something just screams he is not happy with the Knicks. And if the Lexington and Kentucky press thinks it is rough, it would seem like your high school paper compared to that of New York. And you would think coaching college kids having fun would be more enjoyable that men playing for endorsements and money. Just a thought.
Who knows where Todd and Barnhart look for the next coach, but after making such a mess with Gillispie and Tubby, they had better get it right. Because the natives are getting restless. There are a lot of people to sort for the job. My money is on Ford if he wants it. But I am not in charge, I am just the mailman, and Barnhart and Todd have mail, with a lot of mailboxes to deliver.
No comments:
Post a Comment