Gillispie Tells Meeks “Don’t Shoot!” ???

Kentucky basketball has been less than ideal to watch during the last few seasons. It appears this offseason is shaping up to play out ala an episode of All My Children or As The World Turns.

According to Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley, who relays the story from Florida’s Ray Shipman, Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie told his leading scorer, Jodie Meeks, to stop shooting during the Wildcats’ loss to Florida on Saturday.

Dooley quotes Shipman as saying, “Meeks and I were standing there after the timeout and he said his coach told him not to shoot anymore.”

Another strange story, but strange is becoming the norm in the Bluegrass as of late. You can read Pat’s entire column here.

On today’s Southeastern Conference coaches’ teleconference, Gillispie responded to the accusation with a simple: “No. Absolutely Not. (Meeks) pretty much had the green light” to shoot the entire season.

A very odd story and one of many that are sure to develop in and around Lexington in the coming months. Is there any way this could be true? I don’t think so. However, some indications are Billy G is already on the hot seat, and stories like these sure aren’t going to help him cool off.