If you have been keeping up on the Pinkie lately, you know that Wink and I worked overtime to keep you caught up on the craziness that was the UK coaching search. Even Bobby E has moved away from UofL and helped out with it. As this whole thing transpired, I kept track of all the posts we did about the firing of Billy Gillispie and the subsequent search for and hiring of the new UK coach, John Calipari. Below you will find links to every one of these posts so you can go back and reflect on just how crazy it was for a week and a half and think how much better of we are now than just 10 days ago.
Monday March 23:
UK overcomes long layoff, rumors, and game Creighton team to advance in NIT-UK refuses to let their season end and they got maybe their best win of the season.
Wednesday March 25:
Ridiculous rumors abound-Crazy rumors about Donovan, Izzo, Calipari, Gillispie and Rick Pitino. Turns out the Donovan and Calipari rumors weren’t so crazy after all.
UK’s season ends in South Bend, but the craziness was just beginning-UK loses pretty much the same way they have all year, allowing the speculation to start in earnest.
Thursday March 26:
Wink and Guy Smiley discuss the situation before the decision to fire Gillispie is announced-Of course Tubby Smith’s name was brought up.
Crazy rumors continue-Rumor mongering continues, including a mention of Avery Johnson.
WHAS11 breaks news that Gillispie is out as coach-Infamous premature report that Gillispie has been fired.
UK halfheartedly denies WHAS11’s report, Billy Donovan rumored to be in Lexington-UK says Gillispie is not yet fired, but stops short of endorsing him. Billy D is supposedly spotted at a hotel in the Bluegrass.
Friday March 27
Friday morning calm before the storm-Gillispie not officially gone, but that doesn’t stop speculation about who the next coach will be.
Gillispie all but gone, rumors of Pitino replacing him
Media points to Travis Ford as favorite-Apparently getting wind of Donovan’s rejection of UK, many assume Ford will be next choice.
A welcome diversion: Not So Obvious UK Candidates-Wink’s breakdown of some guys who could do the UK job that you wouldn’t probably think of right away.
News breaks of an afternoon meeting with Gillispie, Barnhart, and Todd
ESPN reports Gillispie’s departure; press conference set for 4:30-Many wonder whether the presser could also be an announcement of the next coach.
Alan Cutler embarrasses himself by chasing Billy Gillispie into Craft Center-Now infamous incident which Cutler has apologized for…unfortunately for him, this will live on.
MYFOX Orlando reports Donovan to UK-This was probably true at this point.
Barnhart, Todd hold press conference-ONLY announce Gillispie’s departure.
Donovan commits to Florida, is he being honest?-Speculation abounds that Donovan is not out of the picture yet.
Saturday March 28
Tom Izzo a candidate?-Some say Izzo is candidate number one.
Sunday March 29
Mike Pratt spells out his role in the search process-Talks about ‘homerun’ hire that UK needs to make…was he already talking about Calipari?
John Calipari, Sean Miller implicated; UK reportedly meeting with Cal Sunday afternoon-First substantial mention of John Calipari in connection with UK.
Calipari to UK Facebook group emerges-Up to 17,000 members.
ESPN confirms mutual interest between Calipari, Kentucky-ESPN hops on the train a few hours late.
Monday March 30
Monday morning update-Summary of Calipari news from Sunday. Word comes out that Billy Donovan again balked on UK, Tom Izzo still a possibility, Sean Miller rebuffs UK.
Andy Katz: Calipari considering UK-Katz says the Kentucky job is “on his plate”.
Calipari meets with Memphis players-Reportedly gives the impression that he is gone.
Jerry Tipton reports UK, Calipari near agreement
UK belatedly gets permission to talk to Calipari-Unreal contract numbers start to get tossed around
Memphis signees…what will they do?-Speculation that they could follow Calipari if he jumps to UK.
Larry Vaught reports Calipari to take UK job-I probably read this about 15 times throughout the ordeal to reassure myself.
Bozich: Don’t hold your breath for announcement-Could come as late as Thursday
Hilarious Photoshop work-Lee Todd also says that negotiations will happen quickly
Memphis signee Nolan Dennis in Derby Festival Classic-More smoke
Tuesday March 31
Calipari sleeps on UK offer-Gets some rest while no one else can.
Memphis Roar: Calipari 99% to UK-Why was everyone more sure than me?
Calipari says he will decide Tuesday afternoon-Could Pitino leave too?
WREG Memphis: Calipari to UK-This is what, the 29th time the deal has been confirmed?
Courier-Journal cites Joe B. Hall, calling the deal done
LEX18 refutes reports of done deal-C-J relents on report
UK sends plane to Memphis-Everybody crosses their fingers that Calipari gets on
Commercial-Appeal says Calipari is gone-Becomes 293rd different outlet to report this, and it’s not even official yet
It’s finally official-ESPN reports and UK announces, thank goodness
Wednesday April 1
Calipari introduced-Calls UK his dream job and Wink breaks down the madness of the search.
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