NBA Reporter: NBA Executives believe Donovan could be intrigued with Kentucky
- Thread starter gtown965
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I'd rather see the headline "Kentucky fires Pope, lands Billy Donovan as next head coach"
Now is the time to lock him in, really
If he’s actually interested, back channels need to set it up ready to go the day Pope is fired. Can be the new AD’s big splash move. Have a GM, full staff, and tamper the hell out of a roster and all set to go.
BD can sit in a studio for a year. If this season goes south quickly then I could actually see Pope fired mid year but no way I think they do it right now. Would put any new coach in a terrible situation.
And I just want to reiterate this is a giant “if” mostly spurred by wanting to see UK be UK again. But right now would be my preferred resolution.
BD can sit in a studio for a year. If this season goes south quickly then I could actually see Pope fired mid year but no way I think they do it right now. Would put any new coach in a terrible situation.
And I just want to reiterate this is a giant “if” mostly spurred by wanting to see UK be UK again. But right now would be my preferred resolution.
Go into broadcasting for a year and then by next year we will have an AD and Pope will once again have proved he’s in over his head. Perfect. Please happen.
If, BIG IF, UK/ the boosters can guarantee the NIL will be there for him, and he has free rein to pay whoever, whatever he needs to get the players he wants, you give Donovan Stokes’ $$$ as head coach in waiting, to take the year off to enjoy a sabbatical with his family before he takes over the minute Pope’s season ends in 2027!
I wouldn’t wait a second before I would make the call and make the offer!
I wouldn’t wait a second before I would make the call and make the offer!
I don't quite get the infatuation with Billy D. Yes, he had a great run with Florida...that was back in the late 2000s! The college game has changed dramatically since then.
He's been a perennial loser in the NBA and out of the college game for years. I think we can do better but am open to counterarguments.
He's been a perennial loser in the NBA and out of the college game for years. I think we can do better but am open to counterarguments.
I would love for Billy D to come to UK! Don’t care how long he’s been out of the college game, it doesn’t matter. He would bring instant credibility and would kill it here!
I would love it if true. One of the reasons I am so depressed is that even though I think Pope needs to be gone, I don't know who would be any better. We have to accept that the shine has gone off the UK brand.
I don't disagree and I was arguing the same two years ago when fans were pining for him. But as our search two years ago and UNC's this year shows, elite college coaches aren't lining up for blue blood openings and to live in a fishbowl anymore. UNC fans will try to deny it but Malone was pretty far down their list. Why would someone like Oats leave Alabama where there's no pressure and minimal expectations? Same for Golden at Florida. Basketball is just entertainment to get to football season for a lot of schools. Plus several coaches got extensions, and presumably bigger buyouts, when UNC was contacting them.
Donovan wouldn't be my top choice but if he's "intrigued" by the job as that NBA reporter said, then he's a guy we should certainly have discussions with if things go south quickly next season. I'd hate to have another embarrassing search where we settle for the 5th option. Nor would we have to wait for the Bulls' season to end and get a late start on assistants and the transfer portal.
When is Mitchs last day as AD?
Assuming we can't get him at this exact moment, can we just name Donovan the head coach in waiting for next season? Pope's a Kentucky fan, he would understand lol.
Tell Billy D to take a few months off. Recharge the batteries. Have some quality time with family and friends. And starting early next year start thinking about the staff you'd need at UK. Hopefully UK will give you call.
Hey, actually taking a year off is great! Watch Pope & UK this season. New AD needs to put feelers out to Billy D not at the end of the season but during it unless Mark & UK are knocking it out of the park. Billy has time before showing his cards, to get all his ducks in a row.
Best case scenario is that Mark starts knocking it out of the park. True success this year: big wins, do well in SEC, single digit overall losses, Elite 8 post season....would really destroy the negative vibes with fanbase & nationally. It would snowball.
This would be the best without even having to think Billy D, but if it goes south at any point AD needs to make Billy D #1 priority.
Best case scenario is that Mark starts knocking it out of the park. True success this year: big wins, do well in SEC, single digit overall losses, Elite 8 post season....would really destroy the negative vibes with fanbase & nationally. It would snowball.
This would be the best without even having to think Billy D, but if it goes south at any point AD needs to make Billy D #1 priority.
Maybe but also I think media types like messing with UK fans to get attention
Some executives believe Billy Donovan could be intrigued by the idea of coaching the University of Kentucky, if he takes a year off.
A whole lot of speculation in one sentence. Please don't allow your hopes to get up over this, again.
A whole lot of speculation in one sentence. Please don't allow your hopes to get up over this, again.
Pitino didn't do well in pro ball but he sure as hell
has torn up the college game.
Two different animals
Another interesting thing is.. some coaches have said that the NIL era is actually easier in some ways than the past era of recruiting visits, no transfers, etc.
If you're Billy D, and you have the name (Kentucky) and the funds ($20m), you can set yourself up pretty nicely. I wouldn't thing the off season's would be very difficult with recruiting visits and such. Hed have his pick of almost anyone in the portal so long as the playing time is there. Now this could all be said about UNC as well.. but its possible that this new era of college basketball, wont be all that difficult if you have the financial backing, which Donovan would almost certainly have.
He was ours if we offered before Pope. Facts.
You can do a lot worse. Look at what we did when Cal left. Yes, it can, and is, worse right now. Plus a lot of dudes like a coach with NBA experience. I just don't know who you might end up with. Pope is done. Kentucky is so damaged at this point I am not sure you do better. Ask UNC.
How about Pope as the AD? He is a smart guy. CM Newton made the transition sucessfully. His first hiring can be Billy Donovan. This would help preserve Popes UK legacy.
So the idea is to see if Pope can recruit Billy D to be his direct report to the job that he is currently struggling with??
🫠
I would absolutely take him. He has huge name recognition and kids would be intrigued to play for an NBA coach. The game has changed but you don’t win back to back college championships if you can’t coach college ball.
I don’t necessarily think he’s the absolute number one best guy for the job, but I do think he’s about the best that we have a serious hope to get.
I don’t necessarily think he’s the absolute number one best guy for the job, but I do think he’s about the best that we have a serious hope to get.
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My two cents is the list of coaches who have won multiple championships is very small. The list of those same coaches who would be open to coming to UK would be even smaller.
It would not be risk free due to how long he’s been out of college, but I would say it wouldn’t be as risky as it was to hire Pope, and that has not panned out well yet. The college game has moved closer to professional at least in the sense of teams starting to build a pseudo “front office” even if that isn’t a perfect analogy to college game.
I like the idea of Lucas in about 5 years if he’s shown that he can win at a high level at Miami. Other guys as well, but I like the idea of seeing what BD could do here.
I don’t care about Pope’s legacy at this point. He was a role player on a brilliant title team. Great. But he’s not up to par as a HC. I care about the program now, not Pope’s “legacy.”
This is far too rational for this board. Let’s try:
Many Kentucky fans believe Billy Donovan is already looking at horse farms in Kentucky, while he takes a year off in preparation to become the University of Kentucky’s next head coach.
It would be great timing if Pope gets fired this coming season to try to make a move for Billy, if he still doesn’t have a job. I’d love to see him coach here.