Wow. If this is true, this is huge. Not b/c it's not a good deal or bad deal for Billy D (let's assume it is at $6M per), but b/c it totally shifts the powers that be in the SEC. The east went from Billy D's playground to Billy G's play ground. From a recruiting standpoint, it really opens up FL which had essentially been locked up for the Gators, and LSU may now have a better chance there. Now, where do guys like Nick Calathes, Chandler Parsons, etc. look? The SEC East now is more of a level playing field, with Kentucky likely to make the biggest gains, with Vandy and Tennessee having a more even chance with the Gators. It's just this cruel irony. Success just attracts the pro opportunities. There just isn't any loyalty any more. At least we have Brady, right?
Actually, that's the case. Nick Calathes flat out said that if Billy D went to Kentucky, he would follow. That's where Florida is hurt the most. Billy D was a good coach, but he was an even better recruiter... Here's the latest. Not a $36M 6 year deal, but a $27.5M 5 year deal. Will be announced tomorrow at a 11 a.m. press conference in Orlando. Likely frontrunner for a replacement is VCU's coach Anthony Grant, a Gator family member... http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2888555
I respect Donovan. He ran a great program at UF and did it by preaching and teaching TEAM WORK. Yes UF had great players the last two years but they played unselfishly and that is rare on a team with 4 first rounders and I think it is a great tribute to his coaching. At least he has a stud center to build around in Howard, I wish him luck.
This is done if you talk to the higher ups around Orlando...the amount of his contract I have heard differing stories though! I will let you know any different!
Well, yes, some of this is true, but to be fair to his "coaching talent" he also was not too long ago (when the "fab four" hadn't signed yet with the gators) criticized by Gator fans as being a underachieving coach. Remember those years with Walsh, David Lee, etc.? Highly touted recruits who didn't play d, and got booted in the first round of the tourney. Back then people weren't that sure Billy could even coach. Then he brought on an assistant that actually knew how to coach defense, and then he signed Green, Noah, Horford and Brewer. Perhaps coincidence? And, halfway jokingly responding to Deek's post above, didn't Brady beat Donovan back in those days with less talented teams? :lol: Heck, he beat 'em this year! Seriously, it's often a matter of timing and perspective. Billy D is a good coach but a better recruiter, IMO. And, he definitely should leave for the money this year. He's going to more than double his salary and not have to leave his surroundings, and have the NBA on his resume, and he won back to back NCs. It's a great NBA gig for him, and good for us in the SEC to claw our way back up to the top. :geauxtige :bball: :champs: LSU IS A BASKETBALL SCHOOL. BE A FAN.
I'm looking forward to seeing how many of his recruits decide to ask out of their LOIs now that Billy has gone to the NBA. They can't follow him yet, so it'll be interesting to see what goes down. A bunch of those guys are expected to be major contributers next year, so Florida may be screwed if some of them leave.
Most of the time, college coaches failed in the NBA because they were coaching bad teams with no talent. Orlando is different because you have a budding superstar in Howard.
