Official Kentucky Basketball Coach Thread

#102
#102
GAVol said:
I don't think that's necessarily all that surprising since the season is still going for them.
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I'm hoping that's what's going on, i.e. that Billy's agent told him to never say never, not sign his extension (offered last year and gatheirng dust like a magic fax on Tubby's desk) and then lo and behold UF finds an extra 1.5 mil to add on to what he makes now.
 
#105
#105
StunnA N' Orange said:
Don't be condescending like the rest of your fanbase Brian. You seem to be one of the oddities possessing sensible reasoning.(Can't say that for the majority of UK fans I've come across)
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Sorry, you misinterpreted my post. :) I was trying to inject a little levity, thus the "crazy" emoticon, certainly not trying to condescend. I'm sorry if that came across wrong.

That said, Donovan is definitely my hope for UK.

At this stage of the game, I'm staying away from all UK basketball forums. It's become rife with ridiculous rumormongering and speculation. Not to mention a gathering place for non-Kentucky fans to start their own threads, like, "I'm hearing Pitino to Kentucky", "Eddie Sutton back in the Bluegrass," and "John Brady- UK Coaching Candidate." :eek:lol:

So, let's get through this week, I'm rooting for the SEC to do well, then may the deepest pockets win in the Billy D sweepstakes. It's hard to envision him leaving UF, but crazier things have happened.

Another reason to come: The new 30 Million$ practice facility that just opened for men's and womens' basketball:

Basketball Practice Facility
 
#106
#106
Better practice facilities seems to be the in-thing right now. Perhaps they will promise that at UF next week.
 
#107
#107
I cannot imagine UF getting outbid for Billy D. The Gators got plenty of dough if they need to spend it on him. I cannot see them settling for anything less than the best they think they can have there, and that is definitely Donovan.
 
#108
#108
lawgator1 said:
I cannot imagine UF getting outbid for Billy D. The Gators got plenty of dough if they need to spend it on him. I cannot see them settling for anything less than the best they think they can have there, and that is definitely Donovan.
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It's not always about dough, though.

If you compare facilities and historical program prestige (albeit the Gators will have 2 NCs by Monday), the Kentucky job is certainly one of the top 2 or 3 jobs in the nation.

Question is....what motivates Billy D? Money? Prestige? Loyalty to his current employer/players? The only person that can answer that question is Donovan. And right now, he's a little too busy to answer all of that.
 
#109
#109
Brian McCat said:
It's not always about dough, though.

If you compare facilities and historical program prestige (albeit the Gators will have 2 NCs by Monday), the Kentucky job is certainly one of the top 2 or 3 jobs in the nation.

Question is....what motivates Billy D? Money? Prestige? Loyalty to his current employer/players? The only person that can answer that question is Donovan. And right now, he's a little too busy to answer all of that.
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Those are attributes are accurate about the programs, but that doesn't make the Kentucky job better in today's environment. Think of it this way: at Florida, Donovan can become Adolf Rupp. At Kentucky, he can restore the program to the levels where Rupp and Pitino had it. Which situation is more prestigious?

And that only looks at the upsides. In Gainesville, the worst case has Billy D putting competitive teams on the floor, making NCAAs regularly, and never quite reaching the championship level again. The school would respond by placing a statue of him in front of the gym and renaming streets in his honor. In Lexington, a series of SEC championships and Elite Eight appearances gets you Tubbied.
 
#110
#110
cotton said:
Those are attributes are accurate about the programs, but that doesn't make the Kentucky job better in today's environment. Think of it this way: at Florida, Donovan can become Adolf Rupp. At Kentucky, he can restore the program to the levels where Rupp and Pitino had it. Which situation is more prestigious?

And that only looks at the upsides. In Gainesville, the worst case has Billy D putting competitive teams on the floor, making NCAAs regularly, and never quite reaching the championship level again. The school would respond by placing a statue of him in front of the gym and renaming streets in his honor. In Lexington, a series of SEC championships and Elite Eight appearances gets you Tubbied.
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Cottonnash losing 6 in a row to Florida and 4 in a row to Vanderbilt will also get you Tubbied.
 
#112
#112
Lexvol said:
Cottonnash losing 6 in a row to Florida and 4 in a row to Vanderbilt will also get you Tubbied.
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While losing 6 in a row to a Florida team with 3 SECT titles and at least 1 NC isn't that big of a disgrace even for the Big Blue, those reasons are better than the ones I most commonly hear, which range from the final four drought to a half-court style of play that recruits don't like.

Personally, I just don't see why Donovan would leave his nice comfy position at a football first school for a place where 26 wins a year and a conference title every two has the fanbase up in arms.

EDIT: that all assumes, of course, that the money in both places is equivalent.
 
#113
#113
cotton said:
While losing 6 in a row to a Florida team with 3 SECT titles and at least 1 NC isn't that big of a disgrace even for the Big Blue, those reasons are better than the ones I most commonly hear, which range from the final four drought to a half-court style of play that recruits don't like.

Personally, I just don't see why Donovan would leave his nice comfy position at a football first school for a place where 26 wins a year and a conference title every two has the fanbase up in arms.

EDIT: that all assumes, of course, that the money in both places is equivalent.
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Growing up in south Georgia, I can tell you why. People in Florida only pretend to care about BBall, and Billy knows it.

I also wonder if recruiting would be easier in KY, or if he could in fact have an even more "stacked" team. There is something very special about Rupp when it is packed. I can vouch for the fact that it is more unique than just about any sporting venue out there.

I don't know if Billy will come, but people certainly care and appreciate the sport ( infinitely more) in Lex than they do in Gainesville.
 
#114
#114
Lexvol said:
Growing up in south Georgia, I can tell you why. People in Florida only pretend to care about BBall, and Billy knows it.

I also wonder if recruiting would be easier in KY, or if he could in fact have an even more "stacked" team. There is something very special about Rupp when it is packed. I can vouch for the fact that it is more unique than just about any sporting venue out there.

I don't know if Billy will come, but people certainly care and appreciate the sport ( infinitely more) in Lex than they do in Gainesville.
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exactly.......great point. if he can get the recruits he has at FL, what could he get at KY.......scary.

i had never thought of it that way lex......very good point.
 
#115
#115
Lexvol said:
I don't know if Billy will come, but people certainly care and appreciate the sport ( infinitely more) in Lex than they do in Gainesville.
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My point is that this, while overwhelmingly portrayed as positive, may be the biggest negative to the job.
 
#118
#118
I think Donovan is leaving. If he wasn't, I think he would have dismissed rumors by now with where UF is in the tournament. It sucks that UK would get away with running Smith out of town. Them and Bama caught huge breaks this year. (assuming BD does leave)
 
#119
#119
tvolsfan said:
It sucks that UK would get away with running Smith out of town.
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UK is a top 2 or 3 job in that profession. With the seat comes the heat, so you better produce if you want to stay there. Surely even demanding UT football fans can relate to that.

That said, I think that Tubby just got burned out on the high expectations and pressure. It's natural.
 
#121
#121
Expectations are very high at UK in part because, relatively, it is easier for a traditional basketball power to dominate in basketball than it is for a traditional football power to dominate in football, especially in the SEC. The same is true for women's basketball.
 
#122
#122
Update: Judging my Coach Donovan's comments in the Gainesville Sun, it appears he is staying at Florida. He said his intentions are to stay at UF and denied any contact with UK about the opening. He also really downplayed the significance his time at UK has on his decision.
Donovan addresses UK speculation | Gainesville.com | The Gainesville Sun | Gainesville, Fla.

The UK fans on catspause.com have not given up hope. In fact, many people still expect Donovan to show up in Lexington tomorrow for a press conference at UK. Donovan could certainly change his mind, and nothing is offical until the ink is dry, but it would be an extreme low blow to UF to suddenly show up at UK. All of the "insiders" with "sources" about Donovan going to UK may have major eggs on their faces very soon. At this point, I seriously doubt Donovan will become the first head coach to hoist a championship trophy, hand it to his A.D., and bolt to coach an arch-rival and start tearing down the program he built. I also found a link to a very silly website called billydonovan.com. http://www.billydonovan.com/ Donovan is also scheduled to speak at the celebration at the O'Dome on Friday night.
 
#124
#124
Another intelligent UK poster

Let me say this. Bruce Pearl OUGHT to be on Mitchs radar, the guy has proven he can take Florida. HE is one hell of a coach, and a pretty nice fellow, and not only that he can flat RECRUIT.

Finally and not last by any means. He would JUMP at the chance to take the job.
If I am Mitch, I WANT SOMEBODY WHO WANTS THE JOB!


Right, Bruce wants to leave a program that is on the way up with expectations that are nowhere near as high as UK
 
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