Now that the most notable coaching positions have been filled (Michigan, Kentucky, Arkansas, Kansas St. and West Virginia) it is time to recap the off-season thus far.
Best Get: As for the high-major conferences, it is looking like one program got a coach that will instantly change the direction of the program. The first is Kentucky hiring Billy Gillispie. This guy is a winner and he will give everything he has to the Wildcat faithful. Gillispie, a lifelong bachelor who will have plenty of time to devote to the job at hand, coached an A&M program to the top of the Big XII without having a player given more than three-stars by Rivals.com coming out of high school. The best thing that he brings to the table in Lexington is his passion, and his attitude. Anyone who saw the press conference where Gillispie was introduced immediately noticed his excitement. He is in the middle of one of the five untouchable programs in the country and he will do what it takes to get Kentucky basketball back to the Final Four.
Iffy Situation: While it is obvious that Bob Huggins left KSU in a less than desirable situation, the administration needed to handle the new hiring situation differently. I'm not saying that Frank Martin cannot be successful in Manhattan, but I am saying that in two years, the program will be looking for a new head coach. The first scenario is one where Martin and Co. kept their recruits in. With Billy Walker and Michael Beasley coming to town next year, KSU should make a run at the Big 12 title. With that in mind though, say the boys get it done and have a great year; Walker and Beasley are gone for the NBA. Martin will be a hot commodity and will likely bolt for a higher profile job. What if the recruits leave or KSU has a disappointing year? That's when the administration will feel the heat and give Martin one more year to silence the critics, which he won't.
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