Kentucky reporting they have hired A&M's Billy Gillispie as New UK BB Coach

EXCEPT that he's been consistent (i.e., been to one NC, a final four, and consistently gets into the dance). WHY? He's a master recruiter, and has a staff of great recruiters. Sure, he's arguably had a lot of talent and not yet won a national championship, but 1) he's been there, 2) when you can recruit like him, you're always going to be alright, and 3) he's got the support of a school with unlimited passion (and funds) to get him there. When you consider the fact that he took a completely new (albeit talented) team this year (no doubt DJ helped ease that transition... note, good point guard) of mostly freshman and still was competing for the Big 12 championship, I wouldn't discount his coaching. He's legitimately a program changer. He's also ALOT more player friendly and media friendly than Billy G. There's a reason why UK called Barnes before Gillispie.

 

Not sure how he "never really used him effectively" when Durant won almost every major individual award in college basketball. What would make him more "effective" ?

I don't know much about coaching college basketball and I'm not defending Barnes. I just don't think using Durant as an example of how Barnes can't coach is a very good one.

 

Durant is not just one of the best basketball college players this year, but arguably one of the best in recent memory. Too many times, Barnes didn't really exploit possible mismatches, namely with Durant. Durant is your best player, and yet Texas didn't run a lot of plays for Durant near the end of games.