March MADness:Cats Miss NCAA's; Get First NIT Bid Since 1979

After watching with some anxiety and hope on Selection Sunday, Patrick Patterson realized that UK's name was not going to be called, for the first time in 17 years. UK had to settle for the second rate torunament known as the National Invitational Tournament(NIT), where they drew a 4 seed and a first round matchup against UNLV. The Cats will play at Memorial Coliseum, where they have not played since the 23,000-seat Rupp Arena opened back in 1976. They have also not played in the NIT since 1979, back when a young Kyle Macy still played for the team and Joe B. Hall roamed the UK sidelines. The results of not being in the NCAA Tournament will have some effects on UK in the offseason. It is being widely speculated that BCG is on the hot seat, by both the local and national media. Many fans have contributed to the madness that is going on in Lexington by proclaiming through message boards that Gillispie might already be on his way out. AD Mitch Barnhart said he will have a meeting with BCG and evaluate the season and then they will move forward and a decision will be made. This could possibly effect incoming recruits and transfers, but only time will tell.