Chuck Hayes: Gardner-Who?

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.”