Kentucky better get it right this time

By Jayson D. Henry

On Friday the University of Kentucky surprised no one by relieving head basketball coach Billy Gillispie of his duties. In two years on the sidelines of Rupp Arena the embattled head coach kept watch over a program that had slipped from the ranks of perennial NCAA contender to a team that couldn’t make it to the NIT semi-finals.

Of course, that downward spiral had already begun before Gillispie arrived in the ‘Bluegrass State’. Previous coach Tubby Smith had been so criticized that he opted for the bitter cold of Minnesota over Lexington.

The thing UK must consider very carefully is that they had better get it right with their hire this time around. Whoever they bring in to lead the Wildcat program better be a guy who will be willing to stay and who will be wanted to stay for several years.

Hard to believe as it may be, Kentucky could be on the verge of dropping to an also-ran status in college basketball. Just look at where they stand within their own conference, or in their own division in that conference for that matter.

Florida is within easy memory of winning consecutive national championships. Tennessee has made giant leaps forward since Bruce Pearl arrived in Knoxville. As it stands right now, Kentucky is only a good name away from being considered in the same class with South Carolina, fighting for third in the SEC’s East division.

That good name could be in jeopardy if this coaching hire goes badly.

Think of how Kentucky will be considered among the ranks of college coaches. Within the coaching ranks, Tubby Smith is well respected and he was essentially run out of town despite the fact that his teams were competitive and his players rarely got into trouble or embarrassed the university off the court.

Then, Gillispie was brought in to get UK back to the final four status fans in Lexington feel is there rightful place. He was only given two years despite the fact that Wildcat fans claimed the talent level had been allowed to slip below acceptable levels in the Tubby era. Two years is not very long to correct such a problem if such a problem really existed.

Also, many claimed Gillispie was not very sociable. In other words, UK fans have told any coach who might be considering taking the job that they might get rid of the him if he isn‘t likable enough.

Another short term coach and Kentucky may find itself scraping the bottom of the coaching barrel the next time around.

There will be plenty of names to surface over the next few days and weeks as to who will replace Gillispie. Travis Ford will be a name thrown around very soon. There will be those who will toss out a wish list with former UK coach Rick Pitino’s name on it. Who knows, perhaps Sean Miller or Jamie Dixon may even surface. And of course, former UK assistant and current Florida head coach Billy Donovan’s name has already surfaced in the rumor mill.

Again, whoever it is, Kentucky better get it right if they want to stay on the map of college basketball’s elite programs.

Think it would be impossible for a program with such history to fall into obscurity? Ask the fans of Alabama football if it’s possible. Which, by the way, made Billy Donovan’s ‘I’m not going to Kentucky’ declaration of Friday afternoon sound a bit Nick Saban like.

Contact me by e-mail at NeverEnoughSports@yahoo.com