Orange and Blue Hue » The taste of Big Blue Euphoria turns slightly sour

The taste of Big Blue Euphoria turns slightly sour

Since it was such a popular topic (mostly with Kentucky fans though) I couldn’t help but post this little tidbit from a Kentucky paper I stumbled across.

Recruiting analysts and college coaches aren’t the only people who have noticed the many commitments Billy Gillispie has picked up in his three months as Kentucky coach.

So, too, have the committed players and other prospects being wooed by Kentucky.

For Willie Warren, a senior-to-be from Fort Worth, Texas, the commitments are off-putting.

“It’s going to be tough for Kentucky now,” Warren said yesterday after playing his first game in the LeBron James Skills Academy.

Warren was one of the first prospects mentioned as a possible UK target after Gillispie became coach. They shared a Texas background, and Gillispie had already established a relationship while coaching Texas A&M.

But now that Gillispie has gotten commitments from such guards as DeAndre Liggins (Class of 2008), G.J. Vilarino (Class of 2009) and K.C. Ross-Miller (Class of 2010), Warren is cooling on Kentucky. (Kentucky.com)

OMIGOSH!!! What a shock? Who, pray who, could have expected this??? Warren was a top target for the 2007 class. But then again what’s the harm of losing some top 2007 kids when UK could be great in 2011 right? Good thinking!!!

Some recruits are a little braver. Why look at this fearless and confident comment from 2009 committed guard G.J. Vilarino.

Vilarino, a native of McKinney, Texas, and the first of the guards to commit to Kentucky, acknowledged that he shared Warren’s misgivings when UK piled up commitments. After a while, Vilarino accepted the additional commitments.

“I have to trust he knows what he’s doing,” said Vilarino, a 6-1 left-hander. “I know my talent. I know I’m good enough to play. It doesn’t matter who’s there playing.”

Wow, that’s sure a bold statement of loyalty. I’m guessing the thoughts running around the back of Vilarino’s mind are called “second thoughts”. Recruiting too far ahead is a risky move. Thad Matta has made a living (and killing) at Ohio State by being among the first to fill his classes, often getting half his class a year ahead of time but even he doesn’t dole out multiple offers several years down the road.

Again . . . The Gillispie Gambit continues . . .

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You do like to poke the stick right into the hornet’s nest, don’tcha? :)

Good stuff as always, KG…

This is something that has been in the back of my mind. Practically every day that I come to a UK site there is a different player expressing some interest in UK or vice versa, particularly guards. Personally, I would love to see the recruitment of more post players. I just have to trust in the men that are getting paid to do this. In Vilarino’s case, it just means he needs to step up his game as much as possible. I’d say they’ll get their fair share of PT, but there will always be competition on a team for a spot in that starting 5. Adios!

[…] Orange and Blue Hue comments on the situation […]

Willie Warren had his chance to commit to UK in MAY but his mom wanted him to wait. We dont have ORLANDO now who would wait on eeveryone and end up with other team scrubs, there is a new coach in town ,you get on the train early or you get left behind

About Thad Matta — I don’t know if you’re aware or not, but UK is ranked 2ND for the class of 2010-2011, that’s 2nd only to Ohio State! So apparently Matta DOES “dole out multiple offers several years down the road.”

Oh no too many great players are commiting to UK I guess I should go to Baylor so if I dont produce I cant be substituted for.

I for one could care less about Warren. He wants to be a one and done and is worried about his minutes. He belongs to a Baylor.

Nice job trying to find something to gripe about UK. Cant wait till basketball season starts.

It’s nice to know that you guys have so much to write about at UF that UK comes up so very often. Have fun.

screw the orange and blue hue
and bleed the kentucky blue cant wait till the season starts so we can kick you alls A$$ on the court

This website is such trash. Nothing like listening to the peanut gallery from fans of a fucking Johnny Come Lately school.

“I don’t know if you’re aware or not, but UK is ranked 2ND for the class of 2010-2011, that’s 2nd only to Ohio State!”

Oh. My. Gosh. 2010!?!?! REALLY!?!?! HOORAY!

They look to the past, they look to the future, only to realize they still suck in the present.

PS: Ohio State doesn’t impress me, in anything. Being second to them sure as heck doesn’t impress me.

Ohio State impresses me . . . or more specifically Thad Matta. That program was on sanctions and in freefall. Now just a few years later and they are looking at two regular season conference championships, one conference tournament championship and a Final Four in the past two years. How does that compare to the rest of the elite teams in the country? Pretty well I’d say. Only UCLA and UF could put together better resumes in the last two years. UK, Duke, UNC, Kansas, UConn, etc, can’t match that.

Kentucky fans are nothing if not utterly predictable.

You’re right KG, to an unbiased person…they’re very impressive.

I’m just too much of a UF homer. lol

But…I can’t bring myself to be impressed in something that can’t even be validated for 3 more years.

sounds like the sleeping giant is beginning to wake up! :)

come on, if you want to be ass, at least have you facts straight. warren is a 2008 recruit.

Florida has a couple good years and all of a sudden you want to talk trash. There is no doudt UF caught lightning in a bottle and delivered in an amazing way. Kentucky has been doing this for sixty years. No one could what UF did every year. Tradition is what keeps teams coming back from down years. Thing is, UK’s down years will be second and third round exits. UF’s will be not making the dance at all on their down years. Why do you think UF can recover and win the title in football. TRADITION! Maybe UF will establish tradition in hoops down the road.

doubt, sorry

I smell fear in the GatorNation. They worry that UK might take away their rightful place atop the SEC…
wait, they never were and still aren’t no.1 in the SEC.

Well, never mind that ‘07 SEC championship, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07 SEC tourney championship, and several other (shared) SEC championships dating back to Billy D’s hire… Davis here says the Gators never were and still aren’t #1.

Even though they finished the year that way in conference, and finished nationally #1 two years in a row.

Davis, are you sure you understand how college basketball works? Perhaps you ought to start over with “the ball must go through the hoop to score.” Jeez.

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