Goodman: Donovan Will Accept OKC Job if Offered

[Wonderstruck]

https://twitter.com/Ian_OConnor"]Ian O'Connor ‏@Ian_OConnor [/URL]
Billy Donovan told a friend he consulted with this week that a losing SEC recruiting struggle with Kentucky was wearing on him

Gee, thanks friend for letting that one out.

[justafan]

It's official, he's gone.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12793263/billy-donovan-agrees-multiyear-deal-oklahoma-city-thunder

[justafan]

Ok, he's back at Florida.

Haha, j/k!

[J.Jennings]

Gee, thanks friend for letting that one out.

He should have taken the UK job when it was offered to him...........

[J.Jennings]

Glad for Billy D. I predict he coaches in the NBA for a few years and then returns to college and coaches in a conference that actually gives a rat's butt about basketball.

Like Kentucky,, can a perfect storm where Cal retires and UK goes after Billy D.

I have to be honest. It really irked me when Florida was on top knowing that Kentucky could have had Donovan a long time ago. When Rick left, Billy D was the one i trusted that could keep the system in tact and keep the Cats playing Pitino style up and down basketball. Sometimes it makes me wonder if Tubby was setting him self up for a payday at Kentucky playing Rick ball at Tulsa and Georgia. Once the Tubster got comfortable, he totally went away from the things he used to do that prior to Kentucky. He did a great job managing the game his Championship season but those players already knew what was up. Tubby's first year at Kentucky was comparable to what a NBA coach does now.

[J.Jennings]

I think that Rick Pitino has known for a while now that Donovan has been flirting with the idea of leaving college for the NBA. Not so long ago Rick was on Mike and Mike and when asked about college coaches leaving for the NBA, Donovan was one of the few that he thought could handle the transition from college to pro.

[Vinnie]

Well it does appear that Donovan has decided to give up college to try his hand at coaching in the NBA. Never thought that I would see this since I thought he had grown roots in Gainsville, Florida. It appears that I was wrong and apparently this past season grated on his last nerve.

[BobS]

Apparently you all are a lot younger than me, and you don't suffer from arthritis. About 6-61/2 months out of each year are miserable for me.

I have bad RA and the heat would be wonderful for me. I can put up with lizards and live away from hurricanes.

[Wonderstruck]

I really can't imagine that one bad season would cause Billy D to leave after all the success that he's had at Florida. I know it's ts a football school, and I know that he's brought two national championships to that university and they don't really seem to be all that grateful for it, but he's just built up so much of a legacy there, and I just can't see him leaving because of one bad year. I also don't think that he would leave because one guy, Calipari, was winning all these recruiting battles against him. I think the reality is that the Oklahoma City job is a really good job and they have a lot of good players and it was a wonderful opportunity.

We have to keep in mind that Kevin Durant was hurt this past season. He's one of the top two or three players in the NBA when he's healthy. Being able to coach a guy like that does not come around very often. Durant is young, he's hungry, he's an MVP of the league. This was just something that Donovan could not pass up. It really would have been insane had he passed up of this job.

And let's not forget about Russell Westbrook. He was in the MVP conversation this season with Durant out.

And obviously this hurts Florida, and it hurts the SEC. And in a time when the SEC has not been very good, the last thing the league need is a top tier coach bolting for the NBA.

[Vinnie]

I really can't imagine that one bad season would cause Billy D to leave after all the success that he's had at Florida. I know it's ts a football school, and I know that he's brought two national championships to that university and they don't really seem to be all that grateful for it, but he's just built up so much of a legacy there, and I just can't see him leaving because of one bad year. I also don't think that he would leave because one guy, Calipari, was winning all these recruiting battles against him. I think the reality is that the Oklahoma City job is a really good job and they have a lot of good players and it was a wonderful opportunity.

We have to keep in mind that Kevin Durant was hurt this past season. He's one of the top two or three players in the NBA when he's healthy. Being able to coach a guy like that does not come around very often. Durant is young, he's hungry, he's an MVP of the league. This was just something that Donovan could not pass up. It really would have been insane had he passed up of this job.

And let's not forget about Russell Westbrook. He was in the MVP conversation this season with Durant out.

And obviously this hurts Florida, and it hurts the SEC. And in a time when the SEC has not been very good, the last thing the league need is a top tier coach bolting for the NBA.

Yet that is exactly what the SEC got with the departure of Donovan for Oklahoma City. We are very fortunate I think to hold on to Coach Cal for a few more years.

[KevinHall]

Oscar Combs tweeted that he is thinking Florida is going to name Pelphrey head coach. No idea if he has any sources telling him that or if that is just an opinion.

[Matt Dillon]

Unless they feel they can't do any better, this would surprise me.

[boomdaddy]

I wouldn't move to Florida if I was paid a large sum of money. I don't understand why anyone would want Little Eddie Munster to coach in Lexington? I sometimes wonder about some of my fellow Kentucky fans who would rather have a coach from the Pitino tree, than choosing the best possible coach.


Another thing, sun worshipping causes skin cancer.

[KevinHall]

Unless they feel they can't do any better, this would surprise me.

Choices are limited this late in the year. Most of the better coaches who were willing to move have dones so already.

[boomdaddy]

Can an AD overlook the fact that Pelphrey failed miserably at Arkansas? Nothing wrong with being a career assistant. I remember when Kyle Macey got into coaching and some UK fans thought he would set the world on fire. That didn't happen. St Johns just hired a former player with no coaching experience. I don't see that working out.