Is Billy Donovan underrated?

#28
#28
Hardwood_fanatic said:
I could've sworn that this was a thread about billy Donovan. Pearl mania is discussed ad nauseum around here.
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#30
#30
Yes. He's underrated. He's a top 5 coach in the country and one of the best all time IMO.
 
#31
#31
Hardwood_fanatic said:
Billy had a stretch of mediocrity after the two titles that caused many to attribute his success to one good recruiting class. He's always been accused of having "soft" teams during that stretch. But there's no denying the last 3 years have been at a very high level. If he wins a 3rd title I don't see how he is kept out of the conversation of the elite.

He is already better than Cal, should he win a 3rd he is above self, Williams and boheim IMO. Not many better x/o guys.
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If titles are the measuring stick, he should already be ahead of those you mentioned and on par with his mentor Pitino. Boeheim only has the wins and that's because he's coached for 80 yrs. He's greatly underachieved in the tournament IMO. Billy D already has three F4's under his belt and six elite 8's. That's one less than Boeheim on F4 and the same on Elite 8's in half the time frame.
 
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#32
#32
bowlinggreenvol said:
If titles are the measuring stick, he should already be ahead of those you mentioned and on par with his mentor Pitino. Boeheim only has the wins and that's because he's coached for 80 yrs. He's greatly underachieved in the tournament IMO. Billy D already has three F4's under his belt and six elite 8's. That's one less than Boeheim on F4 and the same on Elite 8's in half the time frame.
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I agree with you 100%. The point I was trying to make was that those names I listed, many people consider him to still be behind, and that in their eyes a third title would help change that.

National titles aren't the only measuring stick, but in my mind he is already better than those I listed.
 
#33
#33
Hardwood_fanatic said:
I agree with you 100%. The point I was trying to make was that those names I listed, many people consider him to still be behind, and that in their eyes a third title would help change that.

National titles aren't the only measuring stick, but in my mind he is already better than those I listed.
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I got what you were saying no worries. My rebuttal was more just pointing out the "facts" for those who believe he's behind some of those others. Boeheim chokes yr after yr he just happens to coach a team that is consistently top 15-20 every year (at minimum). Based on regular season success and records it's almost shocking to see his tournament resume.

Donovan's lack of recognition is the result of being the bball coach at a football school in a football crazed conference. I just don't think the general population sees UF and thinks basketball.
 
#34
#34
Freak said:
Seeing some of 99gator's posts today made me think of this. It seems like he gets overlooked a lot. Considering what he's accomplished, does he get the credit he deserves?
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He really doesn't and its a shame because he is a fantastic coach...Plus he seems to be a heck of a good guy as well...Really hard to not like the guy even tho he's a gator...It's pretty obvious the players sure love playing for him.
 
#35
#35
Top 5 in the country right now. IMO and I'm not even sure what 4 of put ahead of him. Calipari depends on freshman sensations to bail him out and when they don't, he's screwed. CBD coaches his guys up and get better every year. Pitino is a great coach, Coach K is a great coach, and Roy at NC is a good coach
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#36
#36
Voltrapnbama said:
Top 5 in the country right now. IMO and I'm not even sure what 4 of put ahead of him. Calipari depends on freshman sensations to bail him out and when they don't, he's screwed. CBD coaches his guys up and get better every year. Pitino is a great coach, Coach K is a great coach, and Roy at NC is a good coach
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The only thing Calapari is better at than the guys you mentioned is he's a better recruiter. Other than that, he's not even on the same level as Pitino, Coach K, and Roy Williams coaching wise.
 
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#37
#37
He's a gator so I despise him. That being said, have to respect what he has done as a coach, he's very much underrated IMO.
 
#39
#39
Voltrapnbama said:
Top 5 in the country right now. IMO and I'm not even sure what 4 of put ahead of him. Calipari depends on freshman sensations to bail him out and when they don't, he's screwed. CBD coaches his guys up and get better every year. Pitino is a great coach, Coach K is a great coach, and Roy at NC is a good coach
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Agreed completely.
 
#40
#40
Voltrapnbama said:
I'm not even sure what 4 of put ahead of him.
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Not 4, maybe 2. Coach K, and Pitino. Pitino was his mentor and hugely responsible for molding billy at UK. Not to mention they have the same amount of titles, but Rick has done it with multiple programs.

And not saying they're better, just saying that he can't be listed above either.
 
#41
#41
Yeah, Coach K and Pitino are definitely 1 and 2. Donovan has to be top 5 though just based on the fact that we were dookie squat before him.

Edit: Imagine if Pitino had never left UK in 97...
 
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