So Who Gets the Kentucky Job?

L45B · Post by **L45B** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:28 am

Thought I'd start a different thread on this, even though some of you have briefly discussed this right after the Tubby move.

After Memphis lost over the weekend, I figured it was Calipari's job if he wanted it. Just saw that he extended his contract at UM. Pitino is not interested, and I think UK pulling in Donovan is a long shot. Gillespie now possibly to Arkansas? Or as Indy claims, he will stay in College Station. I've heard Tom Izzo's name getting thrown around as well. What's up with that? Why the hell would he leave Michigan State?

Anyways, wondered what you guys thought about this. If Calipari doesn't take it, I predict UK goes with Jay Wright at Villanova.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:32 am

Izzo was mentioned on local radio...I really doubt he leaves State. I know he was mentioned a few times to coach the Pistons when that job opened up. He's got a great thing going at MSU and he'll eventually become the AD there and someone like Tom Crean will take over for him when he decides to quit.

L45B · Post by **L45B** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:40 am

I just always thought MSU was one of the higher tier jobs out there. Even if UK is considered more elite a program (is it?), I just can't see how Izzo would leave for anything other than the NBA.

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:55 am

If Gillespie stays at A&M and Donovan doesnt bite I dont know if anyone they hire will be good enough for the Kentucky faithful. Wright from Nova is an option but I bet the Boosters are hoping they can bring in a bigger name than that.

Is there any chance that a Steve Lavin gets an interview if Donovan and Gillespie stay at their schools? I dont even think he would make everyone happy either.

the_ouskull · Post by **the_ouskull** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 3:39 am

He'd make ME happy. I love that "coach."

Sin,
Seer

T REX · Post by **T REX** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:46 pm

Our president has gone on record saying Coach D will be a Gator as long as he remains coaching. He is not leaving Gainesville. We have the pockets to keep him.

Terry in Crapchester · Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:06 pm

T REX wrote:Our president has gone on record saying Coach D will be a Gator as long as he remains coaching. He is not leaving Gainesville. We have the pockets to keep him.

I think Donovan might have something to say about that. And money isn't everything.

Not saying he's leaving, just that you can never talk in absolutes about a coach like that.

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:10 pm

I heard 3.5 Mil for 7 years was offered to Donavon for the UK job. It will be on the table for a week following the final four.

MuchoBulls · Post by **MuchoBulls** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:42 pm

Terry in Crapchester wrote:I think Donovan might have something to say about that. And money isn't everything.

Money is a highly important factor even if a coach won't go on record as saying that. UF will match anything that UK would offer. UF has a brand new practice (correct T REX). The only thing that might pale in comparison is the size of Rupp Arena to the O'Connell Center.

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 3:13 pm

Never underestimate the ego of the person involved. I don't know Donovan from Adam, but if he has a large ego, the opportunity to jump from a program he built (UF) to a program that is a traditional "Holy Trinity" job and rebuild them, especially a place where he has some history, isn't something to overlook. Will he jump? Highly unlikely. Would it surprise me? Not it the least.

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:35 pm

Donovan will always be second fiddle to whoever is the football coach at Floriduh. That's where ego comes in. At UK, he'd be BMOC.

Allt he same could be said for BCG, but in the end, he's a Texas guy.

T REX · Post by **T REX** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:40 pm

This has been debated ad nauseum:

1. Donovan IS Rupp right now at UF. He is making history and tradition as he goes along. He is a god in G-ville.

At Kentucky, if he has two losing seasons the cooker is on. He's just another Tubby Smith. If he wins, he should anyhow because its Kentucky. The expectation is to win and win big and often.

2. Money. Any money UK can throw at him we can throw more.

3. Facilities. UF has upgraded everything except the O'Connell Center.....one day its the Donovan Dome?

4. Fans. We have em.....UK has more. Basketball is everything in the hills.

5. Donovan donated HEAVILY($3 million) to help build a private catholic school in Gainesville. He's not going anywhere.

6. UK Head Bball Coach is a premier job in all of college athletics. Its a so-called destination job. Donovan has turned the Uf into one. Donovan now recruits NATIONALLY for the best of the best. Weather, beaches, year round athletics are all minor plays.

What would YOU do?

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:44 pm

I wouldn't call the UF job a destination job just yet. Kentucky, UCLA, UNC, Duke and even Kansas are "destination" jobs for a reason. Richardson didn't turn Arkansas into a destination job, nor did Fisher turn Michigan into one. You present all the reasons why he would say. I would factor in the reasons why he wouldn't. Even then, no one can get into the man's head.

buckeye_in_sc · Post by **buckeye_in_sc** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:45 pm

These are all good points for staying at UF or moving to UK...but unless we are in the Donovan household and or getting into Billy D's head...we will never know...

streaming rome today over the net and I guess Tom Friend from ESPN (just for the record I hate that fucker cuz of the OSU story)...but he mentioned that Billy might be in line for the Heat job because Riles might step down...now I do agree with Rex in that I don't think the Billy D/Pitino style plays in the NBA...but now that it seems to have moved to a Guard/Forward league with all the high flying teams like Phoenix, Dallas, etc...that perhaps it might play for a short time...but my money would be on Billy staying in College at the very least...

chances of staying at UF 85%
chances of taking UK job 15%

just in my opinion, but again very good points on both sides...

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:54 pm

Who's Jim Rome?

Q, West Coast Style · Post by **Q, West Coast Style** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:30 pm

Imagine the athletes Ernie Kent could recruit to Kentucky. And his teams play with the flash the folks down there dig.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:33 pm

Ernie is either a god or a joke of a recruiter, depending on which week it is.

But few will argue that he isn't a horrrrrrible in-game coach...which Florida seems to have appreciated.

Ernie isn't going anywhere...since nowhere else would put up with his "I do my job once every 3 years" mantra.

Shine · Post by **Shine** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:57 pm

Killian wrote:I wouldn't call the UF job a destination job just yet. Kentucky, UCLA, UNC, Duke, Indiana and even Kansas are "destination" jobs for a reason. Richardson didn't turn Arkansas into a destination job, nor did Fisher turn Michigan into one. You present all the reasons why he would say. I would factor in the reasons why he wouldn't. Even then, no one can get into the man's head.

FTFY

Shine · Post by **Shine** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:59 pm

One other thing nearly everyone seems to be overlooking in the Donovan to UK talk is this:

Donovan and Pitino are close, so why would Donovan go into the same state his pal coaches in to his buddies arch rival school to compete year in and year out with him for the same in-state/region recruits and have to play him once a year?? All other valid points aside IMO that is enough for me to say Donovan is staying put.

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:48 pm

Shine wrote:
Killian wrote:I wouldn't call the UF job a destination job just yet. Kentucky, UCLA, UNC, Duke, Indiana and even Kansas are "destination" jobs for a reason. Richardson didn't turn Arkansas into a destination job, nor did Fisher turn Michigan into one. You present all the reasons why he would say. I would factor in the reasons why he wouldn't. Even then, no one can get into the man's head.
FTFY

Obviously, that is one that I overlooked. Not bad for a CFB troll.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:59 pm

Just heard on the local radio here....(Tampa station) they expect Billy to sign with UK sometime early next week.

It's all about ego as stated above. UF is football first. Urban is the newly annointed king of G-ville, Billy had a run while Zook took over for the Visor, but it is now and will always be a football first environment. UK is obviously hoops first, I say he's gone.

At least he'll leave the cupboard full for the next guy.

King Crimson · Post by **King Crimson** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:02 pm

Nick Saban.

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:03 pm

WolverineSteve wrote:At least he'll leave the cupboard full for the next guy.

After they bolt for the NBA or the incoming recruits?

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:04 pm

Steve, I didnt realize you lived in Tampa. WHat station did you hear it on? Sometimes I have a hard time believing some of things 620 or 1470 says.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:08 pm

It was 620...not the Big Dog or any host but the sports attack update (Whitney ?).

I'm not a big believe everything I hear guy, but usually the markets close to the home team know what they're talking about.

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:29 pm

Reports are starting to trickle in from a bunch of different stations. Right now, it appears most of it is comming from a UK fans blog. No idea how true it is, but I'd take it with a grain of salt right now.

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:33 pm

WolverineSteve wrote:It was 620...not the Big Dog or any host but the sports attack update (Whitney ?).

I'm not a big believe everything I hear guy, but usually the markets close to the home team know what they're talking about.

I'd believe Whitney Johnson before I would believe Dumig or Silio. Who knows if it has legs? Like Killian said, I wouldnt be surprised if he left even though I doubt it will happen.

T REX · Post by **T REX** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:53 pm

From Andy Katz:

Let's try and bring some sanity to the current coaching carousel, starting with one Mr. Billy Donovan.

You can stop reading this if you're convinced that Donovan is going to Kentucky. That's fine. That's your right. But this is what I have corralled through various conversations with Donovan throughout the season, as well as his family, friends and employers at the university.

First off, any report that said Donovan authorized his representative to negotiate with Kentucky is simply not true, according to sources close to Donovan, Florida and Kentucky. Donovan is focused on playing UCLA and nothing else right now. Think about it: Why would he even be thinking about Kentucky the week of the Final Four? Any thought that he would be looking at Kentucky now shows arrogance by the person floating this rumor. Donovan is about as loyal as they come, and if he were going to have his rep do any such thing, then he would tell his boss, athletic director Jeremy Foley. Foley has done everything Donovan wants and he hasn't been told of any negotiation. Kentucky is making it clear that AD Mitch Barnhart isn't about to go behind Foley's back and initiate contact with Donovan.

Read it as you will......

Q, West Coast Style · Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:09 pm

If there's anything adding a little spice to the EK possibility, remember that Mitch Barnhart was the former AD at up Hwy 99 at Oregon State, and the UO football team plays on a carpet named after UK coach Rich Brooks.

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:25 pm

T REX wrote:From Andy Katz:

Let's try and bring some sanity to the current coaching carousel, starting with one Mr. Billy Donovan.

You can stop reading this if you're convinced that Donovan is going to Kentucky. That's fine. That's your right. But this is what I have corralled through various conversations with Donovan throughout the season, as well as his family, friends and employers at the university.

First off, any report that said Donovan authorized his representative to negotiate with Kentucky is simply not true, according to sources close to Donovan, Florida and Kentucky. Donovan is focused on playing UCLA and nothing else right now. Think about it: Why would he even be thinking about Kentucky the week of the Final Four? Any thought that he would be looking at Kentucky now shows arrogance by the person floating this rumor. Donovan is about as loyal as they come, and if he were going to have his rep do any such thing, then he would tell his boss, athletic director Jeremy Foley. Foley has done everything Donovan wants and he hasn't been told of any negotiation. Kentucky is making it clear that AD Mitch Barnhart isn't about to go behind Foley's back and initiate contact with Donovan.

Read it as you will......

They said the same thing about Roy Williams when he was at Kansas. He was busy taking them to the title game, all the while silently sending signals that he would take the UNC job.

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:20 pm

We'll see whenw e see. It's a coin flip to me at this point...same for the rest of you, even you trex no matter what Donavan's brother's cousin's dog you personally walk every day tells you.

Sky · Post by **Sky** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:13 pm

T REX wrote:6. UK Head Bball Coach is a premier job in all of college athletics. Its a so-called destination job. Donovan has turned the Uf into one. Donovan now recruits NATIONALLY for the best of the best. Weather, beaches, year round athletics are all minor plays.

What would YOU do?

I question this line of thinking for a couple reasons. When Donovan loses 4 of his 5 starters (which will happen this year) Florida could see a few mediocre years. Not that the SEC is an extremely strong CBB league but he has four guys who carry his team. Losing those pillars could bring this "destination job" back to the ground. I look at Matta, JTIII, and Donovan in the same light--guys who have had some recent success but no where near the "gods" of CBB. Knight, Smith, Kzschiefsky, Pitino all proved it year after year. For the three mentioned coaches I think they all have things to prove over the next few years before they bring their program or recogonition up to that level.

On the "recruits NATIONALLY for the best of the best" issue I think you need to look at your current team. You aren't sporting a roster full of 5-star All-american recruits. You have a few, but really most are just players who fit into Donovan's scheme. Don't tell me Noah or Humphrey were very high on anyone's list. Still, they work in the current setting (obviously). But this all comes back to what happens in years 08-10 when we see how his recruiting outside of the '04 class performs.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:33 pm

If it was TRULY about ego, Donovan would stay in G'ville and try to turn UF into a Kentucky, rather than going to a place that's already established as a legendary program.

T REX · Post by **T REX** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:03 pm

Sky wrote:
T REX wrote:6. UK Head Bball Coach is a premier job in all of college athletics. Its a so-called destination job. Donovan has turned the Uf into one. Donovan now recruits NATIONALLY for the best of the best. Weather, beaches, year round athletics are all minor plays.

What would YOU do?
I question this line of thinking for a couple reasons. When Donovan loses 4 of his 5 starters (which will happen this year) Florida could see a few mediocre years. Not that the SEC is an extremely strong CBB league but he has four guys who carry his team. Losing those pillars could bring this "destination job" back to the ground. I look at Matta, JTIII, and Donovan in the same light--guys who have had some recent success but no where near the "gods" of CBB. Knight, Smith, Kzschiefsky, Pitino all proved it year after year. For the three mentioned coaches I think they all have things to prove over the next few years before they bring their program or recogonition up to that level.

On the "recruits NATIONALLY for the best of the best" issue I think you need to look at your current team. You aren't sporting a roster full of 5-star All-american recruits. You have a few, but really most are just players who fit into Donovan's scheme. Don't tell me Noah or Humphrey were very high on anyone's list. Still, they work in the current setting (obviously). But this all comes back to what happens in years 08-10 when we see how his recruiting outside of the '04 class performs.

Sky: Maybe you should go check out rivals....UF has FOUR of the top 55 recruits coming to G-Ville with patrick Patterson all but sewed up at 11. You are just another hater. Noah and Humphery WERE highly recruited. Dude, your whole second paragraph is full of shit! Donovan has ALWAYS been a great recruiter even at freaking Marshall. Come back after you do some research and not spit out a bunch of crap.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:08 pm

Anyway, this debate is pointless. Everybody knows Steve Alford's taking the Kentucky job.

T REX · Post by **T REX** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:29 pm

Donnell Harvey - Highly rated
Christian Drejer - Highly rated
Anthony Roberson - Mr Basketball IN MICHIGAN!
Mike Miller - Highly rated
David Lee - Highly rated
Matt Walsh - Highly rated
Mario Boggan(transfered to OSU) - Highly rated
James WHite(transfered) - Highly Rated

Billy D has always recruited well......it was his coaching that was knocked on until recently. He changed his recruited tactics to players more suited to his style. It has paid off as these guys aren't leaving after one or two years like in years past.

Come stronger than that.

buckeye_in_sc · Post by **buckeye_in_sc** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 6:06 pm

My personal opinion is that Billy will more than likely stay in G Ville or perhaps in the future...bolt for the League...

if not then he stays at FLA...although in some respects Billy will never eclipse what Urban has done and will do...Football is king at UF and that's the way it always has been and will be...

granted schools like FLA, tOSU, etc are starting to make waves in the basketball sense much like Texas and OU were in the early 00's with very good football and basketball programs. It will be interesting to see what happens if Billy loses those 3 or 4 guys and say Matta loses Oden...granted both have very good recruiting classes coming in next year...tOSU is #9 and FLA #10 according to Scout.com proof will be in the pudding...Billy has done a masterful job at UF but I do agree a few more years of consistent winning and perahps you can call UF a destination job...again not flaming just offering my opinion...

Shine · Post by **Shine** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 6:40 pm

T REX wrote:6. UK Head Bball Coach is a premier job in all of college athletics. Its a so-called destination job. Donovan has turned the Uf into one.

Sorry, but when a team wins the national title and then brings back their entire starting 5 but only manages to sell out 8 of their 18 home games it is NOT a destination job. EOD.

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 6:55 pm

T REX wrote:Donnell Harvey - Highly rated
Christian Drejer - Highly rated
Anthony Roberson - Mr Basketball IN MICHIGAN!
Mike Miller - Highly rated
David Lee - Highly rated
Matt Walsh - Highly rated
Mario Boggan(transfered to OSU) - Highly rated
James WHite(transfered) - Highly Rated

Billy D has always recruited well......it was his coaching that was knocked on until recently. He changed his recruited tactics to players more suited to his style. It has paid off as these guys aren't leaving after one or two years like in years past.

Come stronger than that.

You trolling espn.com or you just down with the bruthaspeak?

http://myespn.go.com/conversation/story ... ion=tennis

Jcp2009 (3/28/2007 at 12:59 PM)

LENNIS 420 FLY A KITE!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE A JOKE TOO....IT STILL HAPPENS TODAY!!I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND I SEE ALL THE REDNECK CRAP THAT GOES ON..1 WHITE GUY SAID HEY NICE BIKE WHERE DID YOU STEAL IT FROM!!!!tHEN HE GOT BEAT DOWN IN FRONT OF ALL HIS REDNECK FRIENDS AND THEY DIDNT DO A DARN THING LIKE YOU SAY,, THEY SAID HE DESERVED IT...SO THATS HOW THINGS WILL BE AND I ACCEPT IT TO THE FULLEST YOUNG BUCK... LOL YOU GOTTA COME HARDER THAN THAT!!!!

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 6:56 pm

Shine wrote:
T REX wrote:6. UK Head Bball Coach is a premier job in all of college athletics. Its a so-called destination job. Donovan has turned the Uf into one.
Sorry, but when a team wins the national title and then brings back their entire starting 5 but only manages to sell out 8 of their 18 home games it is NOT a destination job. EOD.

Bingo.