sportsjabber.net

Last year it was supposedly a fluke. It was first year coach Billy Gillispie taking over a Kentucky  program with the highest all time winning percentage in college basketball. It was a hiccup, with a new face running a new system, as Kentucky was upset by Gardner-Webb. It was embarrassing, and didn’t feel much better in December, when the Wildcats were beaten by the University of San Diego, a WCC program not named “Gonzaga”. But the team meshed and matured, finishing 2007 strong and having high hopes for the following year. But as the new year arrives, it’s Déjà vu in Lexington, with college basketball’s Goliath again falling to David, this time to the Virginia Military Institute 111-103.

The magnitude of this upset is nearly indescribable. VMI has gone 10 years without a winning season, finishing 14-15 a year ago. They pulled the upset in Rupp Arena, handing the wildcats their first home loss to a mid-major opponent since 2001. They scored the most points on a Kentucky team since 1989, which has to hurt the UK confidence, as they head to Chapel Hill to face the nation’s top ranked Tar Heels on Tuesday.

“I attribute this loss mostly to the lack of leadership”, said Gillispie about Friday’s game. With this being the second embarrassing loss in his two year tenure, wouldn’t the lack of leadership reflect upon him? Not a single player from Gardner-Webb, USD or VMI was recruited or offered a scholarship by Kentucky, but they can all say they’ve beaten one of the greatest programs in the long history of college basketball. There was a coaching hire in Lexington last year, and as it appears today, it wasn’t the right choice. Barely two years in, let’s add Billy Gillispie to the list of hot seat coaches.

Can Kentucky return to glory with Gillispie in command?  Add to the discussion and share your opinion.