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Photo by Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Texas A&M Basketball

The Coach: Billy Kennedy and the art of proving the doubters wrong

March 9, 2016
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See also: Billy Kennedy named SEC Coach of the Year, five Aggies make All-SEC teams.

As Billy Kennedy finished cutting down the nets in celebration of Texas A&M’s Southeastern Conference basketball championship on Saturday, I kind of expected him to turn the crowd and flash the “No. 1” sign.

I just wasn’t sure which finger he’d use.

That’s a joke, of course. Kennedy has way too much character and is much too classy to resort to such gestures.

But could you really have blamed him if he’d addressed his detractors among the A&M fan base by asking: “How do you like me now, witches?” Or, something like that.

There is no doubt Kennedy has heard and/or read the critics that have called for his dismissal and questioned his abilities as a coach.

That was clear in the press conference following the Aggies’ 76-67 victory over Vanderbilt when he gave thanks for the support he’s gotten at A&M.

“The support has been tremendous from the administration, most of the fans and a lot of loyal supporters,” Kennedy said. “We’re really thankful to be part of a special run.”
 
Most of the fans have been supportive. Still, there has been a very outspoken group that has relentlessly bashed Kennedy.

Matt Sachs, TexAgs Kennedy's tasks upon arrival included overhauling a roster that lacked the athleticism to compete in the SEC and was suffering from APR issues. {"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"Kennedy\u0027s tasks upon arrival included overhauling a roster that lacked the athleticism to compete in the SEC and was suffering from APR issues.","MediaItemID":65365}
They’ve accused him of destroying the program. They attacked him for having a mild-mannered personality. They’ve suggested he’s incompetent. They’ve maintained he cannot win at a high level.

When he proved them wrong by delivering A&M’s first conference championship in 30 years, they gave credit to assistant coach Rick Stansbury for A&M’s rise.

No matter what Kennedy does, some Aggies just won’t give him the respect for a job well done.

He took over a declining program in 2011. He had health issues. He had to rebuild a minimally talented roster. He had to dismiss players. He had bad luck with injuries.

Last year Kennedy appeared to have won over most of his detractors. The Aggies were 20-8 and appeared destined for the NCAA Tournament.

Then, Danuel House broke his left foot. A&M suffered three straight losses and had to settle for the NIT.

That added fuel to the 'fire Kennedy' crowd.

It’s not that uncommon for a team to collapse when a star player is injured. It happened at A&M in 1994. The Aggies were tied with Texas for first place in the closing weeks of the Southwest Conference race. Then, Joe Wilbert sustained an eye injury in a loss to SMU. Losses to Baylor and Texas Tech followed. The Aggies eventually ended up in the NIT.

It happens at other places, too.

Cincinnati was ranked No. 1 in the nation in 2000 when Kenyon Martin broke his leg in the first game of the Conference USA Tournament. The Bearcats were eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by Tulsa.

After last season, Kennedy vowed A&M would reach the 2016 NCAA Tournament. He’s made good on that promise.

Kennedy’s team could win a game or two in this year’s NCAA Tournament. That would be a remarkable accomplishment considering A&M has reached the Sweet Sixteen just twice in school history.

Speaking of accomplishments, on Tuesday the SEC named Kennedy Coach of the Year. It marked the fourth such award in Kennedy's career — one in the Southland Conference while coaching Southeastern Louisiana, two as the coach at Murray State in the Ohio Valley and now one in the SEC.

Other programs surely have noticed what Kennedy has accomplished and are likely impressed.

Matt Sachs, TexAgs Now, Kennedy is the architect of Texas A&M's first conference title since Shelby Metcalf roamed the G. Rollie White sidelines. {"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"Now, Kennedy is the architect of Texas A\u0026M\u0027s first conference title since Shelby Metcalf roamed the G. Rollie White sidelines.","MediaItemID":67632}
If LSU opts to make a coaching change would Kennedy, a New Orleans native, be a candidate for that job? If so, would he take the call?

He should, but probably would not.

Kennedy strikes me as being more loyal to A&M than maybe some Aggies are to him.

Yet, the main reason I think he would stay is that he worked so hard to recruit freshmen Tyler Davis, Admon Gilder and D.J. Hogg.

That trio, along with sophomore Tonny Trocha-Morelos, should form the nucleus of a talented team for the future.

And as Kennedy continues to recruit well, he could be flashing that No. 1 sign again and again.

He’ll be using the index finger, of course.
Discussion from...

The Coach: Billy Kennedy and the art of proving the doubters wrong

38,075 Views | 156 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by Player To Be Named Later
zooguy96
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Should have read "the art of Rick Stansbury's recruits making Billy Kennedy look better".
Deputy Travis Junior
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This story has aged about like store-bought cheese. Moldy after 3 weeks and ****ing repugnant after 3 years.

I still can't believe Olin wrote this. Of all the people on whom he could stake his journalistic rep, he picked Billy Kennedy??
Steeple
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It is an art
greg.w.h
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AG
The gift that keeps on giving...
DukeMu
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Steeple said:

It is an art

Maybe it's a guy named Art that keeps proving the doubters wrong...because it sure ain't BK!

20+ point turnaround for Michael White and Florida.
Double Diamond
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The finger waving is what always cracks me up. We knew it was foolish than. And have been proven we were correct.
Steeple
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ebag02
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AG
Is the article about the people who doubted Kennedy was a terrible basketball coach being proven wrong?
zooguy96
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I freaking wish BK would prove us wrong.

But he never will.
greg.w.h
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AG
ebag02 said:

Is the article about the people who doubted Kennedy was a terrible basketball coach being proven wrong?


To TexAgs credit they didn't pull the article and now are left defending the hometown slant that produced it. And they're not really saying much. Hop has made the best of a difficult circumstance by focusing on discussion of meaningful information. I missed the Florida game but I think when the game threads focus on what is actually happening on the floor they're more interesting (at least I find myself more engaged.)

We deal with what is until something changes and to me that was the gist of Olin's article. It represents the special relationship they have with the school with respect to access.
expresswrittenconsent
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I dont give them credit for leaving it up. Especially when Olin was still defending the story 5 days ago on the premium thread version of this story and responding to criticism by asking for posters real names.
AgsNguyen
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AG
Yeah I bumped it on that main board the other day. Olin finally came around and after saying I probably hated watching the aggies go to the sweet 16 he asked for my name in email. I kept thinking doesn't texags already have my email and name?

I was off the site the next day and just let it die. I don't think Olin is a bad writer. Its not about an I told you so thing about a coach that's about to be fired. As Bum Phillips said the only types of coaches that exist are the ones that have been fired and will be fired.

But when you write an article like this that was so far out of bounds you should be held accountable. Was the aggie fan who had sat thru loses to north texas rice and southern wrong to doubt? Even with winning the sec co championship bk was still 6 games under 500 in conference play when this was written.

As much as I like Danuel comparing him to the number 1 pick and college player of the year is just silly.

Was the prospect of BK going to LSU something just pulled out of thin air?

BK took over a declining program? If it was in decline compared to the teams that made 6 straight dances I can assure you it wasn't losing record 4-14 conference record level decline.


BK is more loyal to a&m then aggie fans are to him? Do we really think if a blue blood school called up and offered BK a job and more money he wouldn't take it? BK is only not looking around because this is the best job even a healthy BK was most likely to ever get. Its like giving praise to some ugly dude for not cheating on his super model girl friend that he never should have gotten in the first place.


sharpdressedman
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Poor Olin. It's like getting a very bad tattoo.
Steeple
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sharpdressedman said:

Poor Olin. It's like getting a very bad tattoo.
Double Diamond
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Trust me if Kentucky or Maryland came a calling Billy Kennedy would be gone.
Player To Be Named Later
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AG
AgsNguyen said:

BK is only not looking around because this is the best job even a healthy BK was most likely to ever get. Its like giving praise to some ugly dude for not cheating on his super model girl friend that he never should have gotten in the first place.



 
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