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Besides ushering in the off-season, the NCAA Tournament loss to Marquette highlighted Kentucky's most immediate recruiting need: a scorer.
"We have to be a lot more balanced," UK Coach Billy Gillispie said on Monday after noting that only three players made baskets against Marquette. "Our roster needs a lot of upgrading."
Speaking on the final installment of his weekly radio show, Gillispie said Kentucky needed more size and athleticism. Then he added, "We need more guys who can score. We really, really, really need a scorer right now. ... We need a guy who can make a major impact and change games."
Later in the program, a caller asked if Gillispie wanted to add a scorer in the low post or the perimeter.
"Yes," the UK coach quipped. "It doesn't matter where they (score) from. They have to put the ball in the basket and make a difference the first day on campus."
UK has signed two this recruiting year -- high school seniors DeAndre Liggins of Chicago and Darius Miller of Mason County -- and received a commitment from another: junior college wing Kevin Galloway. NCAA rules prohibited Gillispie from speaking about Galloway, but the inference seemed to be he did not see any of the three as a big scorer next season.
The UK coach likened Liggins, the most highly regarded of the three, as a playmaker/decision maker in the mold of Derrick Jasper.
"Somewhat similar ...," Gillispie said. "Tall. Great body. (Liggins) is going to have a great body. He's got an ability to dribble the ball better than anybody on the team. Great vision. ... He sees the play before he catches the ball. Very good defender and rebounder. The ball doesn't stick in his hands."
Gillispie spoke of the holdover players using this off-season to improve. He expressed an expectation that no player will transfer. He voiced a wish that the players become "gym rats" and spend time working on their skills.
Surgeries
Gillispie seemed to note the likelihood of surgery for Patrick Patterson (ankle) and Jodie Meeks (groin).
"No final decision has been made," the UK coach said before adding a moment later, "It's looking like it'll be that way with both of them."
Coach 'loves' UK
Amid speculation that Gillispie might leave, specifically to Oklahoma State, the UK coach repeatedly expressed his desire to stay at Kentucky.
"I hope they'll let me stay here a long time," he said before adding, "I love everything about it."
There is no opening at Oklahoma State, where ex-Cat Sean Sutton is currently coach.
Gillispie voiced only one complaint about his first season as UK coach. "The frustrating part was the injuries," he said. "Everything else was great."
Schedule in 2008-09
Gillispie noted that Kentucky will face challenges in the non-conference portion of the 2008-09 schedule.
The Cats must play at North Carolina and at Louisville. Plus there will be a home game against Indiana.
Gillispie also mentioned a two-game set in Las Vegas that will involve a game against Kansas State, plus, apparently anticipating a victory over Kansas State, taking on the winner of the West Virginia-Iowa game.
