Former Kentucky star Chuck Hayes confessed that he’d never heard of Gardner-Webb until the Runnin’ Bulldogs beat UK Wednesday night. When he heard the name, he thought it was the name of a children’s book.
Here’s an interview The Associated Press conducted with Hayes on Thursday.
Q: How big a loss?
A: “It’s really bad, because in March, when they stack up wins and losses and who you lost against, this one is bad.:
Q: Is it as bad as Appalachian State beating Michigan?
A: “The only thing that makes the Michigan game a little bit worse than this one is Michigan was top-5. Still, the programs are the same. I’m going to make a phone call or two down to Lexington.
Q: How do you think the media up there will treat Gillispie?
A: “I’m pretty sure his e-mail is pretty stacked up. I’m pretty sure the guys didn’t want to go to class today. When you lose in Lexington, it’s like the whole world is looking at you and pointing the finger at you like, ‘How could you? You don’t lose at Rupp.’
Q: What was your worst experience?
A: “We lost to Louisville my junior year at Rupp. Me and a couple of guys went out to eat afterwards. The service was terrible. It went like an hour and a half just for like my appetizer. You lose at Rupp and we lost to Louisville, that was bad.
“A couple of guys probably didn’t go to class today. They probably did not want to show their face in that psychology class, because people are going to ask ‘em, ‘What happened? How could you?’
“It’s a long season. But it just looks bad. Man. If it could’ve been anybody else, I would’ve been fine with it. It just looks bad.”
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.
As Big Blue fans we must realize that the cupboard was left rare by Mr. Smith. The only division one players we have are the ones coach Gillispie recuited. The rest are NAIA material at the best. If we think this team is going anywhere then we are only fooling ourselves. We must be patient and let coach Gillispie get his type of ballplayers in Lexington and then see what he can do. I feel with the right players coach will take us to the next level. We must be PATIENT.
Too bad it wasn’t Minnesota
I would trade a thousand Ramel Bradleys and Joe Crawfords to have someone with the heart of Chuck Hayes again. His work ethic, competitiveness, and team-first attitude is a trait that appears long forgotten these last several seasons.
Remember Billy G., that mysterious “FOR SALE SIGN” could appear in your yard Anytime.
This will be frogotten in MArch when we advance deep. OH yeah—Chuck YOUR THE BEST!!!
is it just a coincidence, or have the last couple years, when uk teams have “looked lost and confused” been the same couple of years when crawford and bradley were depended on to be leaders? getting rid of those two would be addition by subtraction, in my opinion. at least the rest of the guys attempt to play within a team concept
Chuck who(lol)!