With all the doom and gloom that has overtaken the Big Blue Nation recently, I thought it would be interesting to look at where we are now and compare it to where Billy Gillispie thought we would be. I dug out my copy of The Cat's Pause 2008-09 Kentucky Basketball Yearbook and did a little research. I have pulled Coach Gillispie’s preseason quotes on the team and regular players, displayed their current season stats and then added my two cents.
On the upcoming season:
“I don’t know how it’s going to work out right now but it’s a work in progress. I don’t want to play the style we played last year, but if we have to do whatever we have to do to win games then I’ll be OK with it.”
“I think we’ve got a really good high-low possibility because of our versatility at the ‘4’.”
“It comes down to every game in the conference is decided by how well you execute in the final two minutes and half court defense and that’ll be the big question for us – how well will we play in the final three or four minutes?”
Team Record: 19-11, 8-7 SEC
My Thoughts: My first thought after reading those quotes is wondering where all the versatility at the “4” has been. That, along with point guard, has probably been one of the team's biggest weak areas throughout the season. Stevenson has not been playing well at all, Harrellson rarely plays any and we never really know what is going on with Stewart.
As far executing in the final two minutes and how we’ll play in the final three or four minutes – well, we are 6-8 in games decided by 10 points or less, including 4-5 in SEC games. Many of those losses where games that could have easily gone either way and we squandered the win away in the crucial moments of the game.
On Patrick Patterson:
“Pat has worked like a beast all off-season long to rehab himself and, I mean, he’s just working like…I don’t know, with a hunger that I don’t know if you get a chance to see very often in your coaching career. Hopefully he’ll be able to remain injury free because he’s got so many special qualities.”
The Stats: 33.3 Min, 18.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.0 BPG
My Thoughts: Gillispie was spot-on with his thoughts on Patterson. He took off a little slowly, based on Patterson’s standards, but has turned into the go-to guy down the stretch. Patrick has All-American potential if he stays in Kentucky next season.
On Jodie Meeks:
“Jodie has been by far this fall three, four, five or 10 times better than I’ve ever seen him and hopefully that continues because it’s all based on him being healthy. I don’t know if he was ever healthy last year and I’m talking about this time of year when we first started because he doesn’t look like what he looked last year. He’s in phenomenal condition.”
The Stats: 34.5 Min, 25.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, 105-253 3PT
My Thoughts: He has been 3, 4, 5 or 10 times better than we’ve all seen him, as well. He is definitely in phenomenal condition. He scored 54 points at Tennessee, averages 25 PPG and he should be an All-American this season.
On Jared Carter:
“Jared has been a little bit up and down but I think he’s finally starting to see the hunger he is going to need to play with to be what he can be. We need him. He needs to be like Perry Stevenson was last year when nobody might have expected for him to be able to produce what he did but he kept getting better and better.”
The Stats: 3.3 Min, 1.0 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.4 BPG
My Thoughts: Carter has had a very disappointing career. I’m not sure what “he can be,” but he hasn’t reached that level.
On Ramon Harris:
“Ramon had a very, very good year and this year I think he will build upon that. He’s a quiet leader, a hard-hat guy that brings it every day and goes to work. He leads by example and he’s growing into a third-year player.”
The Stats: 21.4 Min, 5.0 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.3 APG
My Thoughts: Harris has been somewhat of a disappointed this season. He has his moments, but I haven’t seen that he’s progressed any since last season. If anything, he may have played a little better last season, especially on the defensive end. I do think Harris plays a very important role on the team and if they are to make any kind of tournament run, he’s an integral part of the plan.
On Michael Porter:
“I’ve never been more excited about Michael. He’s working into a leadership role and I think he’s always had that ability but he’s deferred to others, but I think he’s taking more leadership responsibility than he ever has. He looks 100 times more comfortable out there to me.”
The Stats: 22.5 Min, 4.1 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 26-76 3PT. 2.5 TO
My Thoughts: I’m not sure I would say he has looked 100 times more comfortable on the court. Many times this season, I have thought that Porter looked very uncomfortable and almost timid. Most of Porter’s problems, however, are due to the fact that he would be better suited as a role player that comes off the bench as a shooting guard. He is probably out of position in terms of a lead guard in the SEC.
On Perry Stevenson:
“He’s a totally different person. It used to be you’d see him and to walk a block from the Lodge to the corner it would take him about two-and-a-half weeks, but now he’s got it down to a week. He walks differently, he talks differently, he looks different and he’s a very, very confident person.”
The Stats: 27.1 Min, 7.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 2.0 BPG, 2.0 TO
My Thoughts: Stevenson might be the biggest enigma on the team this season. There were several games early in the season where I thought Perry was going to be the perfect third option behind Meeks and Patterson. As the season went forward, though, it almost seems like Stevenson’s play has digressed. I would have to say that I expected more from Stevenson this season. I’m not sure what it means to go from a two-and-a-half week walk to a one-week walk, but it seems to me like Stevenson is far from a very, very confident person on the court.
On A.J. Stewart:
“A.J. is a guy that has to continue to grow up. He’s a good athlete and we’re hopeful he’s going to be able to give us something. I thought he played well toward the end of the year but he’s got to continue to grow and continue to get better skill-wise and those kinds of things but there not too many athletes like him.”
The Stats: 6.1 Min, 2.2 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.6 BPG
My Thoughts: I keep hearing how Stewart is a great athlete but it never seems to translate to effective playing time. Stewart has shown a lot of potential, but he rarely plays and one might think he lives in Gillispie’s doghouse rather than the Wildcat Lodge.
On Darius Miller:
“I think he’s one of the most mature incoming freshmen, as mature as any freshmen I’ve been around and hopefully that equates into being the type of player I think he’s going to be. We’ve always thought he has tremendous upside and tremendous ability and I think he has all the intangible things that will make him a special player.”
The Stats: 21.2 Min, 5.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 15-46 3PT
My Thoughts: I agree with Gillispie that Darius has the potential to be a great player for Kentucky. He showed some freshman jitters throughout much of the season and his shot was lacking confidence, but he has picked it up lately. I expect really good things out of Miller in the future.
On DeAndre Liggins:
“Liggins has been much better than I thought he would be and I thought he would be really good. When they play pickup they say his team always wins and that means a lot, especially in the position he is going to attempt to play.”
“He’s shooting the ball much better than I thought he would probably shoot it at this point.”
The Stats: 18.1 MPG, 4.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.5 TO
My Thoughts: If Liggins has been much better than Gillispie thought, I’m not sure what has happened to him. I haven’t been very impressed with his shooting and he seems to have some issues with staying under control. DeAndre’s attitude has been questioned several times throughout the season, as well (Las Vegas?). The jury is still out on Liggins, in my opinion.
On Josh Harrellson:
“Josh has probably been better than anyone could have ever imagined. I really liked him when we recruited him because he has great hands and great skills and the ability to post up with his back to the basket and the ability to face up and shoot.”
“He’ll be a very important part of the puzzle.”
The Stats: 10.0 Min, 4.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.7 BPG
My Thoughts: He actually hasn’t been an important part of any puzzle, especially in SEC play. Harrellson has played in a few key situations, but we haven’t seen him nearly as much as expected. He has shown a nice touch on his jump shot, but has had trouble keeping up with the athletic SEC big men.
On Kevin Galloway:
“He’s been exciting for us. He’s more athletic than I had imagined and I think he’ll grow into being a really good guard for us out there. He’s done nothing but win pretty much for his entire career, even last year they only lost twice.”
The Stats: 9.3 Min, 1.8 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 TO
On the upcoming season:
“I don’t know how it’s going to work out right now but it’s a work in progress. I don’t want to play the style we played last year, but if we have to do whatever we have to do to win games then I’ll be OK with it.”
“I think we’ve got a really good high-low possibility because of our versatility at the ‘4’.”
“It comes down to every game in the conference is decided by how well you execute in the final two minutes and half court defense and that’ll be the big question for us – how well will we play in the final three or four minutes?”
Team Record: 19-11, 8-7 SEC
My Thoughts: My first thought after reading those quotes is wondering where all the versatility at the “4” has been. That, along with point guard, has probably been one of the team's biggest weak areas throughout the season. Stevenson has not been playing well at all, Harrellson rarely plays any and we never really know what is going on with Stewart.
As far executing in the final two minutes and how we’ll play in the final three or four minutes – well, we are 6-8 in games decided by 10 points or less, including 4-5 in SEC games. Many of those losses where games that could have easily gone either way and we squandered the win away in the crucial moments of the game.
On Patrick Patterson:
“Pat has worked like a beast all off-season long to rehab himself and, I mean, he’s just working like…I don’t know, with a hunger that I don’t know if you get a chance to see very often in your coaching career. Hopefully he’ll be able to remain injury free because he’s got so many special qualities.”
The Stats: 33.3 Min, 18.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.0 BPG
My Thoughts: Gillispie was spot-on with his thoughts on Patterson. He took off a little slowly, based on Patterson’s standards, but has turned into the go-to guy down the stretch. Patrick has All-American potential if he stays in Kentucky next season.
On Jodie Meeks:
“Jodie has been by far this fall three, four, five or 10 times better than I’ve ever seen him and hopefully that continues because it’s all based on him being healthy. I don’t know if he was ever healthy last year and I’m talking about this time of year when we first started because he doesn’t look like what he looked last year. He’s in phenomenal condition.”
The Stats: 34.5 Min, 25.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, 105-253 3PT
My Thoughts: He has been 3, 4, 5 or 10 times better than we’ve all seen him, as well. He is definitely in phenomenal condition. He scored 54 points at Tennessee, averages 25 PPG and he should be an All-American this season.
On Jared Carter:
“Jared has been a little bit up and down but I think he’s finally starting to see the hunger he is going to need to play with to be what he can be. We need him. He needs to be like Perry Stevenson was last year when nobody might have expected for him to be able to produce what he did but he kept getting better and better.”
The Stats: 3.3 Min, 1.0 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.4 BPG
My Thoughts: Carter has had a very disappointing career. I’m not sure what “he can be,” but he hasn’t reached that level.
On Ramon Harris:
“Ramon had a very, very good year and this year I think he will build upon that. He’s a quiet leader, a hard-hat guy that brings it every day and goes to work. He leads by example and he’s growing into a third-year player.”
The Stats: 21.4 Min, 5.0 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.3 APG
My Thoughts: Harris has been somewhat of a disappointed this season. He has his moments, but I haven’t seen that he’s progressed any since last season. If anything, he may have played a little better last season, especially on the defensive end. I do think Harris plays a very important role on the team and if they are to make any kind of tournament run, he’s an integral part of the plan.
On Michael Porter:
“I’ve never been more excited about Michael. He’s working into a leadership role and I think he’s always had that ability but he’s deferred to others, but I think he’s taking more leadership responsibility than he ever has. He looks 100 times more comfortable out there to me.”
The Stats: 22.5 Min, 4.1 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 26-76 3PT. 2.5 TO
My Thoughts: I’m not sure I would say he has looked 100 times more comfortable on the court. Many times this season, I have thought that Porter looked very uncomfortable and almost timid. Most of Porter’s problems, however, are due to the fact that he would be better suited as a role player that comes off the bench as a shooting guard. He is probably out of position in terms of a lead guard in the SEC.
On Perry Stevenson:
“He’s a totally different person. It used to be you’d see him and to walk a block from the Lodge to the corner it would take him about two-and-a-half weeks, but now he’s got it down to a week. He walks differently, he talks differently, he looks different and he’s a very, very confident person.”
The Stats: 27.1 Min, 7.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 2.0 BPG, 2.0 TO
My Thoughts: Stevenson might be the biggest enigma on the team this season. There were several games early in the season where I thought Perry was going to be the perfect third option behind Meeks and Patterson. As the season went forward, though, it almost seems like Stevenson’s play has digressed. I would have to say that I expected more from Stevenson this season. I’m not sure what it means to go from a two-and-a-half week walk to a one-week walk, but it seems to me like Stevenson is far from a very, very confident person on the court.
On A.J. Stewart:
“A.J. is a guy that has to continue to grow up. He’s a good athlete and we’re hopeful he’s going to be able to give us something. I thought he played well toward the end of the year but he’s got to continue to grow and continue to get better skill-wise and those kinds of things but there not too many athletes like him.”
The Stats: 6.1 Min, 2.2 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.6 BPG
My Thoughts: I keep hearing how Stewart is a great athlete but it never seems to translate to effective playing time. Stewart has shown a lot of potential, but he rarely plays and one might think he lives in Gillispie’s doghouse rather than the Wildcat Lodge.
On Darius Miller:
“I think he’s one of the most mature incoming freshmen, as mature as any freshmen I’ve been around and hopefully that equates into being the type of player I think he’s going to be. We’ve always thought he has tremendous upside and tremendous ability and I think he has all the intangible things that will make him a special player.”
The Stats: 21.2 Min, 5.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 15-46 3PT
My Thoughts: I agree with Gillispie that Darius has the potential to be a great player for Kentucky. He showed some freshman jitters throughout much of the season and his shot was lacking confidence, but he has picked it up lately. I expect really good things out of Miller in the future.
On DeAndre Liggins:
“Liggins has been much better than I thought he would be and I thought he would be really good. When they play pickup they say his team always wins and that means a lot, especially in the position he is going to attempt to play.”
“He’s shooting the ball much better than I thought he would probably shoot it at this point.”
The Stats: 18.1 MPG, 4.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.5 TO
My Thoughts: If Liggins has been much better than Gillispie thought, I’m not sure what has happened to him. I haven’t been very impressed with his shooting and he seems to have some issues with staying under control. DeAndre’s attitude has been questioned several times throughout the season, as well (Las Vegas?). The jury is still out on Liggins, in my opinion.
On Josh Harrellson:
“Josh has probably been better than anyone could have ever imagined. I really liked him when we recruited him because he has great hands and great skills and the ability to post up with his back to the basket and the ability to face up and shoot.”
“He’ll be a very important part of the puzzle.”
The Stats: 10.0 Min, 4.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.7 BPG
My Thoughts: He actually hasn’t been an important part of any puzzle, especially in SEC play. Harrellson has played in a few key situations, but we haven’t seen him nearly as much as expected. He has shown a nice touch on his jump shot, but has had trouble keeping up with the athletic SEC big men.
On Kevin Galloway:
“He’s been exciting for us. He’s more athletic than I had imagined and I think he’ll grow into being a really good guard for us out there. He’s done nothing but win pretty much for his entire career, even last year they only lost twice.”
The Stats: 9.3 Min, 1.8 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 TO
My Thoughts: The Galloway/Gillispie situation has been a hot topic most of the season. He has been the subject of questionable substitution patterns throughout the season and more than a handful of fans feel that he should be playing big minutes. I personally think the offense flows much better with Galloway in the game. He is an excellent passer and he plays very hard. It’s hard for me to understand his lack of development during the “developmental” portion of the schedule. It seems to me that many of the minutes that Galloway and others should have received were given to other players. One has to wonder why Galloway has had such a difficult time earning playing time.
Final Thoughts: It has been a bizarre season in Wildcat land. We opened with great expectations, only to lose to VMI in the first game of the season. Then, we picked up big wins over West Virginia and Kansas State and appear headed in the right direction. We did lose to Miami (FL) and Louisville, but we seemed to be rolling. Then, we laid an egg at Ole Miss and the train has been off-track ever since. Since that Ole Miss debacle, the Cats have won 3 games and lost 7. They went from apparent NCAA locks to apparent NIT status in a matter of 5 weeks. I am left scratching my head with this team and this coach. Each game, I feel that they will turn it around and right the ship and each game I am disappointed and left with more questions.
We have had major issues at the point guard position and have shown no source of scoring outside of Meeks and Patterson. That being said, however, I still feel that this team is talented enough to win more games than they’ve won. All I know is that we have “just been whipped…” a few more times than I can deal with as a true blue fan. As I prepare for the Florida game this afternoon, I am starting the cycle of hope once again.
My favorite sets of Gillispie quotes come when he states something along the line of the tougher things get, the more he likes it. One thing is for sure – if the Cats continue playing a losing brand of basketball, it is going to get very tough for Billy Gillispie.
Image: Ed Reinke, AP
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