Billy Donavan

Howler__

Redshirt
Apr 7, 2024
19
44
0
I'm not sure Billy can handle the pressure. That's a big reason why he left Florida. Or so he said.
 
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mash_24

Heisman
Sep 26, 2011
9,224
26,989
108
The timing is perfect. Bring him home. And my guess that keeps Reed and Z here another year. Would love to see a Reed/Perry backcourt with Z. Then lure Thiero back to go along with them. See if Burks wants to stay. Fill the rest of the roster with transfers.
 

CrimsonCats_rivals

All-Conference
Mar 22, 2022
1,639
3,334
61
I honestly got the impression that he was sick of recruiting by the time he left Florida and much preferred the NBA lifestyle. I’d be surprised if he’s interested, but if he’s expressed interest, then he has to be at the top of the list. He’d be the exciting home run hire we weren’t sure was out there if this is true.
 

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,702
19,835
103
The timing is perfect. Bring him home. And my guess that keeps Reed and Z here another year. Would love to see a Reed/Perry backcourt with Z. Then lure Thiero back to go along with them. See if Burks wants to stay. Fill the rest of the roster with transfers.
Reed/Z/Theiro would really excite me with a real coach as the base to build on. Z could be an absolute monster in college next year with the right leadership and direction.
 

CatOfDaVille

All-American
Mar 30, 2007
6,173
8,100
0
I honestly got the impression that he was sick of recruiting by the time he left Florida and much preferred the NBA lifestyle. I’d be surprised if he’s interested, but if he’s expressed interest, then he has to be at the top of the list. He’d be the exciting home run hire we weren’t sure was out there if this is true.
Yeah but recruiting is different now in the NIL world. You don't have to beg kids to come if you are coaching at a blue blood with NIL money to throw around.
 

wildcat1515

All-Conference
Feb 7, 2006
5,412
2,895
113
I'm conflicted on Donavan... it's a new day and age of college basketball compared to when he last coached it.

I won't hate the hire but would be skeptical.
If he got some good assistants that have been dealing with this Nil stuff, I think that would be a good hire.
 
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TankedCat

Heisman
Nov 8, 2006
22,792
21,500
0
I would assume, unlike coaches locked in that Donovan has no buyout.

Hell, they should hit Brad Stevens up too.

I'd take Donovan in a heartbeat. But the downside is you have to set expectations. He won't have any players to bring with him
 
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Saven

All-Conference
Apr 24, 2012
6,269
1,278
0
I wouldn't be surprised. Bulls have been playing a lot of unfocused basketball lately and seem like they will be flaming out early in the post-season like last year.
 

Farsight

All-American
Nov 27, 2011
4,609
6,038
0
I'm conflicted on Donavan... it's a new day and age of college basketball compared to when he last coached it.

I won't hate the hire but would be skeptical.
I think Donovan would be an exciting hire. At the same time, it is a different landscape. Could be a major let down too. He's a wild card. Should be on the list.

I will echo this until we get a new coach.

1st call: Hurley
2nd call: Oats
 

notFromhere

Heisman
Sep 7, 2016
22,588
67,503
113
Yeah but recruiting is different now in the NIL world. You don't have to beg kids to come if you are coaching at a blue blood with NIL money to throw around.

Yeah. He was @UF as a basketball coach. He's done tons better than Pitino or CCC did in the NBA, and should be better able to prepare players for that league than either of them.
 

KyCatFan1

Heisman
May 6, 2002
30,867
31,594
113
I think Donovan would be an exciting hire. At the same time, it is a different landscape. Could be a major let down too. He's a wild card. Should be on the list.

I will echo this until we get a new coach.

1st call: Hurley
2nd call: Oats
I see it the same way. Donovan knows nothing about the new NIL environment that is in college now. I'd back up the Brinks truck to try and get Hurley first. That doesn't work then Donovan and Oats.
 

ukwildcatwildfan

All-Conference
Oct 17, 2008
1,358
2,215
18
I'm conflicted on Donavan... it's a new day and age of college basketball compared to when he last coached it.

I won't hate the hire but would be skeptical.
If anything he has even more recruiting weight (freshmen and transfers) than he did at Florida bc now he can say I’ve been in the NBA for a decade I know what it takes. And of course it’s Kentucky now vs Florida.

And as for playing style, the NBA is ahead of most college programs in terms of style of play. We’ll be right there with any school in the country when it comes to quality of basketball, coaching, game prep, analytics, you name it.
 

Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
28,911
0
It had nothing to do with pressure. Billy tired of the non-coaching aspects of college hoops- specifically, recruiting, boosters, etc.
He is not returning to this landscape.
Pro ball is no picnic either so I could see him going back to college for a new challenge. UK may not be the best place though bc he has no players pining to play for him. I’ll tell you though no matter the coach UK recruits without a coach. If reed were to return and they wanted billy d I bet he would do it. I think we are looking at oates though
 
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