Billy Gillispie Call-in Show Rundown 2/25/08

Here’s a recap of the Billy Gillispie radio call-in show from earlier this evening.

Tom Leach starts off with talk about the close wins the past couple of games. Mentions the ‘Cats finding ways to win close games.

Gillispie: Yes, so far they have. Don’t know how long it will last, but hopes a long time. Guys have been making clutch plays. The offense has struggled, but when you play defense, you have a chance to be in every game. Defense and rebounding continue to improve.

Tom Leach: The defense seems to be it’s best the last 5 or 6 minutes of games.

Gillispie: Defense has been good for the most part in conference play.

Tom Leach: Is there a mental or confidence aspect that comes into play when you’re able to put together a series of wins in clutch situations?

Gillispie: I would think so, these guys have made alot of big plays over the course of the conference season. Talked about various plays that players have made of late.

Tom Leach: Brought up Gillispie saying how he’s known Ole Miss coach Adam Kennedy for awhile on the recruiting trail.

Gillispie: He’s a great guy and had done a very good job. They compete hard, have very good players. Talked about them beating Florida, Vandy and Mississippi State. Every time they’ve been faced with a major challenge, they’ve risen to that occasion. It’s a very good team, will have to play our best to win.

Tom Leach: Brings up receiving email questions on the CBS telecast fiasco. Says it was a switching error out of the CBS home office/studio in New York. Cities throughout the south lost the signal.

One email questioned if Billy Packer had anything to do with it.

Caller: Wants to know if Jodie Meeks is coming back and if he’s getting any better.

Gillispie: He doesn’t know when Jodie will be back. He was able to practice today. He’s working hard at getting back, hasn’t given up. Hopefully, he’ll come back because they definitely need him.

Caller: Appreciates a coach who sticks to man-2-man defense. Wants to know before he took the UK job, did he have any interest in the Arkansas opening?

Gillispie: He had a heck of a situation at Texas A&M. He wouldn’t of left there for anything unless it was the absolute best. Kentucky gave him the opportunity to coach at the absolute best place in college basketball.

He’s proud of the way to team has played the defense.

Caller: What’s it gonna take to put Ole Miss away?

Gillispie: Going to try and do their best. Guard them, get back in transition. Coach went on about Ole Miss’ strengths. Coach said they are a blue collar team right now, rebounding and defense minded. They need to get better offensively. They’ve been good down the stretch, but need to be better in the first 35 minutes.

Caller: Thanked the coach, complimented him etc.

Gillispie: Thanked him for calling.

Tom Leach: Brought up Ramel Bradley mentioning how the crowd was starting to feed off their defense etc.

Gillispie: Thought the crowd was fantastic Saturday, probably the best they’ve been. They came to help them win, and did.

Caller: Tickled the way the players have played this season. Has seen a great difference from last year to this year. Wants to know how many players they will sign for next season.

Gillispie: Believes it’s going to be alot of fun to watch them when they get better offensively. He didn’t recruit them, but they are his players. He’s proud of those guys.

Not sure what they will do, have work to complete the roster. Talked about guys coming back. The future looks bright.

Caller: Mentioned how ironic it was that Ole Miss started off the season so good, while Kentucky stumbled.

Gillispie: They did start out really well. Mississippi hasn’t played as poorly as their record might indicate in conference. They are capable of beating anyone in conference.

Not using as an excuse…The diffrence at the start was the injuries.

Caller: Complimented the coach. Happy to see A.J. Stewart is coming along, playing some minutes.

Gillispie: A.J. is really improving, he’s a totally different guy than even four, five, six weeks ago. His maturity is like night and day. Fun to watch him continue to progress. If he continues to improve, has ability to be a very, very good player.

Tom Leach: Mentions Patrick Patterson being named SEC Freshman of the Week.

Gillispie: He’s happy to have him on the team. Continues getting better every day in practice, doesn’t have a bad day.

Caller: What can they do to keep Patrick Patterson around, rather then jumping to the NBA.

Gillispie: Help him get better everyday, whatever happens, happens. You would like to keep everyone for four years, but that’s not realistic in today’s world. He hopes Patrick stays, he’s having the time of his life. He’s going to have some opportunities in the near future that he’ll have to think about.

Caller: Mentioned the article on Billy Gillispie helping out the woman with funeral expenses etc.

Gillispie: He didn’t mean for it to become public, he was just trying to help out a lady who needed it.

Caller: Gave coach some compliments. Wanted to know the impact of the crowd at RUPP.

Gillispie: He’s been to just about every arena, but hasn’t seen anything like RUPP. It’s fantastic, every time they’ve given them the opportunity, they’ve been at their best. The fans got them over the hump on Saturday.

Caller: If Jodie Meeks can’t return this season, can he apply for a redshirt?

Gillispie: Hasn’t looked into. Hopeful he will return, but would look at it.

Caller: Happy with Stevenson’s play, Stewart’s progression.

Gillispie: Thought Perry played well Saturday, especially the second half. A.J. is getting better. Said…there will be a game where Jared Carter will get in there and people will say wow, he’s improved.

Caller: Asked about having Summer Elite Camp this year.

Gillispie: They will have an Elite Camp, not sure of the exact date. They’ll try to bring the top players in again. Talked about having other camps such as father/son, overnight etc.

Caller: Wants to know how many players can they recruit for next season.

Gillispie: Don’t know how it will exactly work out. Mentioned already signing DeAndre Liggins and Darius Miller for next year.

Caller: A teacher, admires the player’s attitudes on the court.

Gillispie: He’s proud to go anywhere with those guys. Told a story about how Patrick Patterson showed up with his family to eat at an restaurant. They were gonna let Patrick go to the front of the line, but wouldn’t hear of it, waited the 45 minutes etc.

Caller: Wanted his thoughts of the overall talent in KY High school basketball.

Gillispie: Haven’t been able to see all the teams, but thinks it’s good. Skill level is very high in general.

Caller: Asking about the point spread favorite in Wednesday’s game. How are you going to play Tennessee this Sunday?

Gillispie: Laughing…You’re asking the wrong guy. I think you called Lexington and you were trying to call Las Vegas.

We play Mississippi on Wednesday…period. When that’s over, they’ll get ready for the next one.

Caller: Thought the coach seemed giddy after the game Saturday. Wanted to know what he had said to Joe Crawford.

Gillispie: Doesn’t remember exactly what he said to him. He tries not to ever be giddy, he doesn’t like that term too much. He didn’t think the caller meant it badly. They were happy they beat a very good team. What he probably said to Joe was that he was proud of him.

Email Question: What are the skills of the guys coming in?

Gillispie: They are very multi-dimensional, can play different positions, very knowledgeable. DeAndre will need to continue work on his shooting. Darius will be able to produce points immediately, very good defender, competitive.

That concludes this week’s show. Enjoy!