The coaching rumor mill will really heat up now that Billy Donovan's Gators have finished their season. Personally, I think he's about to use the Wildcats like a $2 whore.The Gators have the cash to match anything UK offers, and they will. It's simply a question of who UK calls next. I would love to be wrong, but I don't see it.
(Image: Dana Altman. Although, if I was lying would you really know any better?)
Other Coaching News:
- -- Iowa to hire Butler's Coach - ESPN
-- Stan Heath named USF Coach - The Morning News
-- Dana Altman named Arkansas Coach- USAToday
-- Calipari: "I was never offered Hogs job" - GoMemphis
-- WVU's Coach Tops Michigan's List - ESPN
Compare that to Arkansas' press conference (hypothetically): "Our new coach has 2 NCAA tourney wins in 18 years. He was a failure at Kansas State, but he won big in a conference that could very well be co-ed for all you know. However, he is.....white...and stuff." Obviously, they're focusing on his 20 wins per year for the past 9 years. Did we mention that it's probably a co-ed league?
Personally, I think Iowa and USF upgraded while Arkansas treads water....at best.
See Also
-- Florida to win an Oscar this year - DeadSpin
-- UM Blog Thinks WVU's Beilein is already in Route -- MgoBlog
PWD
4 comments:
That's my theory on Billy D., too -- that he'll let UK run up the bidding, and then stay at UF, where the livin' is easy and the athletic big men grow on trees.
And when that happens, it will be a good thing there aren't any tall buildings in Kentucky, because otherwise they'd be jumping off the roofs.
I agree with Stick and Paul...why would Billy D leave Florida?
It wont be for money. UF can cash whip him as well or better than UK can, and why wouldnt they? He's done the almost impossible. History for 18 year old kids is what happened two years ago. To the current crop of high school players, Billy D is John Wooden, Hank Iba and Coach K all rolled into one. You think there's a McDonald's AA in America that gives a rat's ass about what Rick Pitino did at UK 10 years ago? If there is, wouldnt he just go play for Pitino at Louisville? I'd be amazed if any of them care about the Eddie Sutton era, the Joe B Hall era, or the Adolph Rupp era.
UK has a great, rich basketball history. Unfortunately, the most important part of it is 10 years old. During that time, Billy's got a nice little dynasty in the building, and noveau champion Florida fans and administrators will give him whatever he needs or wants to keep it rolling. They'll be a LOT more understanding in those years where he doesn't actually make the Final Four, too.
The weather's better in Florida. There's more money in Florida. He's closer to more interesting stuff in Jacksonville and Orlando. Why in the world would he want to make a lateral (at best) move to UK?
This isnt like Pitino trying to upgrade from a midmajor to a major, or from UK to the NBA. It isnt like Nick Saban or Spurrier coming back to collegiate glory after flaming out in the pros. Billy is playing the UF folks like Eric Clapton plays his guitar. At the end of the day, he'll have a better deal than any coach in America, and everyone in Florida will worship him in a way that nowhere else could.
What attachment does he have to UK? None. He was an assistant there for a couple of years. Big deal. He's making his own way at Florida and winning spectacularly. He'd be stupid to ditch that for Kentucky....and if there's one thing Billy D has proved, it's that he isnt stupid.
Now, if the Heat comes calling...it's no bet. NBA money and the NBA challenge could appeal to him, like it did to Spurrier, Saban, and his own mentor, Pitino. It's a fool's errand (except for the money), but who am I to judge?
Maybe the UK people should wait 3 to 5 years for Billy to bottom out in Miami, THEN hire him when he realizes he never should have left the college game. By then, UK should have eaten whoever the new guy they hire this spring alive, anyhow.
Dana Altman has backed out of the Arkansas job.
http://x.go.com/cgi/x.pl?goto=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2824653&name=FPT-2824653-040322&srvc=sz
speaking of upgrades, new mexico's hiring of alford is a good one for them. he was being mentioned as possible iu coach not too long ago.
as for billy d, right now i think there's more of a chance he ends up in the nba then in uk.
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