Barnhart, Todd discuss Gillispie’s departure

Mitch Barnhart and Lee Todd spent about 19 minutes addressing the media this afternoon, but the whole thing sounded like they were talking to UK fans moreso than the media, which was good.

Mitch Barnhart led off with a 5 minute opening statement in which he first extolled the virtues of the UK program, then tried to lay out the reasons why Billy Gillispie was not a fit for that. I did not antipate Barnhart discussing the reasons why the decision was made for legal reasons, but I was glad he did.

It was abundantly clear that Gillispie was not let go because of basketball. Barnhart praised Gillispie for his basketball passion and knowledge. What this came down to was a difference in philosophy between Gillispie and his bosses. He refused to embrace the ancillary parts of the job (remember the “that was not part of the job description” crack), and that was unacceptable. Barnhart said it was “not the right chemistry, right fit, or right direction”.

Based on the way the decision was laid out, there was no choice in the matter of whether Gillispie needed to go, no matter whether there is a successor in place.

For the last 14 minutes, Barnhart fielded the majority of reporters questions, with Lee Todd jumping in on a few. At the end, President Todd went out of his way to give Barnhart a complete vote of confidence. He defended Barnhart’s search process in 2007, and pretty much said, “he’s my guy”. Anybody who thinks Barnhart needs to go had to be discouraged by Todd’s words.

A few quick points to wrap up:

-All the talk of this contract issue have not been overblown. It played a role in the “philosophical difference” between Gillispie, Barnhart, and Todd.

-This contract issue is not going away either. No settlement has been on the amount of the buyout, but Barnhart did say when asked if it would be $6 million “Suffice it to say, it will be less than that.” Todd and Barnhart are taking the position that the Memorandum of Understanding was a “year by year” agreement, and said that the decision was made “not to bring Billy Gillispie back”. They also said that they are willing to reach a “fair settlement” with Gillispie representation. Folks, there’s a chance this part of the split could get ugly, even though both parties are looking for a clean break. If Gillispie asks for too much money in UK’s mind, it could drag on quite a bit. This is something to watch for sure.

-If Gillispie wanted to keep the UK job, he would still have it. He was steadfast in his unwillingness to accept the other parts of the job. If he had bent at all, I think he would be returning.

-Barnhart tried to make it sound like the search process can now begin. CoughcoughYEAHRIGHTcoughcough. They know how the next few days are going to go already. Barnhart may have even been lying when he said “no successor is in place.”

-Mike Pratt was mentioned by name to be a person who will act as a resource for Barnhart and the Athletic Department in the search for a new coach, and possibly beyond. Is this the first step in making Pratt Director of Basketball Operations, or “Basketball Czar” as people like to say? This is not a name that I had heard before this, but I think he is as good as it gets when it comes to understanding Kentucky Basketball.