Buzzmaster

  (1:07 PM)

Coach Gillispie will be here in minutes! Send in your questions!

Buzzmaster

  (1:08 PM)

We've got Coach!

Nick Moon (Fulton, KY)

Coach I haven't missed a game in years and I've noticed this season more so than last you rock back and forth in the chair as opposed to opposed to up being animated. Any reason for the change?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:09 PM)

I have no idea. That's not something I've spent a lot of time thinking about and probably won't in the future other than this question.

Jon (Phoenix)

Hey Coach, I flew in from AZ to watch the IU game, and came away very impressed with the effort. Do you feel this team is headed in the right direction?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:10 PM)

Yeah, I'm really excited about where we are and where we're headed. We're getting some guys some needed experience. I think it will be a real real good team before it's over.

Cory O (Lexington, Kentucky)

What is it like coaching in front of 23,000 every game?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:10 PM)

It's fantastic. The best part is when we get on a little role and playing some defense and rebounding and scoring on the other end to get the crowd into it. It's the largest mass of people in college basketball and it makes it fun to be in there.

Jeff, Madisonville, KY.

Hello Coach Gillispie. I am seeing a very unique sense of intense patience coupled with the extreme drive to put together a dominating team. This will take time and you know that but is it hard to ignore the extremely impatient fans and others, will you please comment?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:12 PM)

I think it's great. I think there are so many great things that have made Kentucky basketball what it is, but right at the top of the list is the passionate fans for years and years. I hear all the time about how difficult it must be, but I haven't seen any difficulty. I think they should get a lot of the credit for the success they've had over the years.

Brad (Gadsden,Alabama)

Billy, Who do you think is going to win the BCS Championship game?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:13 PM)

It should be a very exciting game, I would think. I have no idea, I haven't studied either team. Just look at their scores, it's been a lot of fun. I would think going into it, it should be the first or second most promising matchup since the BCS was created.

Jarrod (Lexington, Kentucky)

Any chance you'll record a Sportscenter commercial while you're in Bristol today?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:13 PM)

I could only wish.

Ryan (Chicago, IL)

Billy G - How are you addressing the turnovers? Securing the ball is going to be ultra important down the stretch...

Billy Gillispie

  (1:14 PM)

You're exactly right. We're trying to get better at it as we go. One of the things lost is that we're one of the leading assist teams. We've just had too many turnovers. We're getting better, if you can get better turnovers, with some of the turnovers on the baseline, and getting deflected out of bounds, instead of turning it over for a score on the other end. I think a lot of it has to do with experience and playing with the teammates. I'm concerned, but not overly concerned.

Adam, Louisville

How are we going to convince Patrick to stay one more year?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:16 PM)

I think we need to just enjoy him while he is here. He's been great almost every time out that he's played. We need to enjoy having a young person that's fantastic in every aspect. On and off the court he's been great. I think we should support him, whenever he makes his decision to go. I don't think he's going to make a decision based on anything other than the absolute fact. Hopefully that will be 10 years down the road.

Steiny (NYC)

How impressed have you been with DeAndre Liggins this season?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:16 PM)

He has a chance to be a very special player as he matures. I thought he was a good prospect and he's a better player than I would have imagined. He's getting better every time out and I expect big things form him.

Taylor Kentucky

How do you sit in the catcher position for such a long time during the game?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:17 PM)

I don't know.

Billy Gillispie

  (1:17 PM)

That's the least of your concern, if you're rocking or sitting or a catcher or first baseman. The only reaon I've ever squatted by the bench is that I didn't want to block anyone behind me from seeing the game.

Adrian, (Louisville KY)

Coach, What is your favorite restaurant and dish in Lexington?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:18 PM)

There are a lot of them and I'm not going to fall for that trick. There are a lot of great places to dine and a lot of great food to eat there. I'm a Texas boy and there's a lot of food prepared like when I was growing up in Texas.

David Jenkins (Vine Grove, Kentucky)

Just wanted to tell Coach that we're all behind him 100%. Keep up the great work.

Greg (Chicago, IL)

Billy, As a former assistant under Bill Self what is the morst important thing you learned from Bill Self and do you believe he is the most important person in your coaching career thus far?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:20 PM)

As far as the impact, if it weren't for Coach, I would be a high school coach, which would be fine. But without him I wouldn't have any opportunities. I owe everything to Coach. We're great friends, as much as I appreciate what he's done for me professionally, I appreciate the friendship. As far as the No. 1 thing I learned from him, I couldn't put one thing on it. He's absolutley one of the best and that's why they won the national championship last year.

Will Winchester, Ky

Coach, do you feel that pre conference play is considered preseason?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:21 PM)

Every game that you play is important and that's probably more important at Kentucky. But of the utmost imporantance is conference games. We're playing the best basketball as the season progresses. I don't want to struggle, but if we do struggle, I want to struggle early rather than late. Growing that particular team. But the most important games are the postseason games which are preceeded by the conference games that allows you to get to the postseason.

Eddie Atlanta, Ga

Hey coach I like the new uniforms they are a big change from years past. What made you go with the change?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:22 PM)

I don't think the team had much choice in it. I think it's based on one of our great sponsors, Nike. They spent a lot of time and effort into developing the uniforms. I think the players really enjoy them and I think they look great. I've heard nothing but positive feedback from the fans.

Ronnie O (Lexington Kentucky)

Even though kentucky is 7-3 why do you think people have been showing us little respect?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:23 PM)

I've always been one that believed that if you earn something you'll get it. If you're deserving of respect over time, you'll get it. I've never been a part of a situation that if you deserve respect that you don't eventually get it. In due time.

Justin (Nashville)

Besides the ability to recruit good players, what do you think makes good coaches into great coaches?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:24 PM)

No. 1 is always the players, believe me. It's all about the massing of a really good roster. You have to be able to develop players. You have to play a style that's condusive of championship basketball. Everything we do is based on winning the championship, not just putting bandaides on things. Byut the best way to win a championship is to have the best players.

kenny newport KY

hey coach... Can i get a preferred walk on LOL i can't jump or shoot BUT i will hustle like no other PROMISE YOU THANK

Billy Gillispie

  (1:25 PM)

No.

Brad (Louisville)

Hey Coach, I know its still a few games away, but are you guys looking at Louisville yet? There should be no reason this team can't beat them by 100

Billy Gillispie

  (1:25 PM)

I havne't had much time to see them play. I think they're a team that's a potential national champinship contender. We'll get to that when we get to it. IT's a little ways away.

Ryan (Glasgow, Kentucky)

how is our recruiting situation developing as you progress in making kentucky a supreme team again?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:26 PM)

I think we've done very well. I think we'll continue to do better. The best way to recriut players is to win games. The amount of exposure that Kentucky has, you should be in the mix for the best players.

Shane: Dorton, KY

Do you feel the SEC is down this year as a whole?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:27 PM)

I dno't feel that the conference is down, but I haven't studied the teams as much. We've been studying oursevles and the other teams we've played. I think the personnel is great in the SEC. Absolutely not do I think we're down.

Bryan (Louisville)

How's Razor Ramon doing? Will he be practicing soon?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:28 PM)

He's making improvments as far as the reports and those kinds of things. Hopefully he'll be able to make a return at some point. As far as when, I don' tknow when. When you're dealing with spinal injuries and concussion, you wnat to make sure those things are taken care of first and then basketball. No one knows how he feels other than Ramon. The doctors and Ramon will decide when and if he's able to return.

Criggs (Bluefield WV)

We are playing great on the defensive side of the ball this year so far...Do you think that we will see a little more full court pressure as the year goes on? We have the defenders to create some turnovers! LETS GO CATS!

Billy Gillispie

  (1:30 PM)

PRobably not I think our defense has been good when we get back and in the half court. We'll hang our hat on the half court defense. I don't think we'll change that, because I think our defensive team is really really solid. I don't see us pressing. I don't think we'll be out there playing pressure trapping defense, we'll play man to man.

Russ Hall (Pikeville, Ky)

Hey coach..... Besides the obvious, a national championship, what are your goals for the future of UK basketball?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:31 PM)

I want to get Kentucky back to a level that everyone wants to be, being a national title contender every single year. I want to be recruiting the best players. I want to be in the forefront of everyone's mind when they're talking about college basketball.

Michelle (Vine Grove)

What do you think this team's identity will be?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:32 PM)

Tough, hardnosed, defensive rebouding team. Efficient offensive team. Hopefully, we always try to play hard, play smart, play together.

Matt

Coach, do you enjoy anything outside of basketball? What are your hobbies?

Billy Gillispie

  (1:34 PM)

I love basketball. I have a sincere passion for it. I really enjoy horse racing, I always have long before I came to KEntucky. Those are the two things that I enjoy the most in life.

Billy Gillispie

  (1:35 PM)

We're really excited about our next contest on Saturday. That will be preceded by an open practice on Friday at 6 p.m. IT's a great chance to see the players in practice in a laid back atmosphere. Thanks for all the support we always get.