Why Billy D?

[EJonesy]

I don’t understand the overwhelming desire here from our fan base.

The man has been out of coaching college ball for a decade. He has never recruited, dealt with NIL, held a college practice, held a college workout routine, held a college schedule in a decade people. His connections with assistants at the college level will be limited.

Times have changed people. I don’t think taking a guy who has been in the NBA now for a decade is the best choice.

If this was pre-NIL it might be the choice. But having someone come in who has never dealt with this new era seems risky.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

He knows how to coach on the college level, and he did a fairly good job of it.

4 Final Fours, two titles, tons of blue chip recruits. I think he would absolutely kill it in the portal, too, especially with his NBA insight.

He's been decent in both the NBA and college. That would make him perhaps the only college coach in American who could say that.

 

[TriCountyCAT]

NIL is basically like the NBA. Salary caps, paying players, evaluations of free agents. It’s not that different. Plus he has coached against the best coaches and players in the world. If anything the NBA has made him smarter.

 

[ThunderCat98]

I mean, why would we hire a guy that's been a successful basketball coach at both the college and pro levels? What a terrible idea. /s

 

[TortElvisII]

I want Norman Dale.

 

[jmw23712]

Everything the other posters have said so far plus he was an assistant at UK for 5 years so he has ties to the program and understands what he’s getting into. Which is probably why he keeps saying no haha

 

[Sportspm]

He’s good at getting the best out of players. He was one of if not the best college coaches before he left, I’m pretty sure he didn’t forget how to coach. Back to back championships at a football school. They’ve never been back to a final four since he left. They named a court after him. He was part of the rebuild here in early 90’s coming off probation. Recruited some of the great players we had. He’s the best coach available imo

 

[akaukswoosh]

I don’t understand the overwhelming desire here from our fan base.

The man has been out of coaching college ball for a decade. He has never recruited, dealt with NIL, held a college practice, held a college workout routine, held a college schedule in a decade people. His connections with assistants at the college level will be limited.

Times have changed people. I don’t think taking a guy who has been in the NBA now for a decade is the best choice.

If this was pre-NIL it might be the choice. But having someone come in who has never dealt with this new era seems risky.

Also pushing 60, and turned down UK twice. Can't see it.

 

[TigerMoving]

He is a total wildcard and far from a sure thing. He's still Billy Donovan but he hasn't won anything in college in 20 years and has no experience with the current landscape.

 

[4UK4life1]

There’s a coach out there that hasn’t coached a day of college basketball yet that will one day coach at a blue blood school and have to use the portal. What makes Billy Donovan different except we know he can coach in college. Is the portal extremely hard to understand? You find the kids you like, offer them money and coach them

 

[FitchandMurray29]

The Billy Donovan projection for 2024 is by far the hardest of the coaching options. You’ll have to wait for at least another week and then possibly more depending on the play in. Most of the other names you can put together a core group of guys they’d bring over from their other school and recruiting class.

I’m down with Donovan but in his case you’re really focusing on 2025 and beyond for him to get his feet under him and reestablish relationships. Only thing I’d see helping is if boosters/donors committed to massive NIL like they did for Cal/Ark.

 

[know1]

I'd be happy with Billy Donovan too, but I also don't understand why some are so crazy for him. He's been out of college for very very long at this point.

 

[Seth_C]

I'd be happy with Billy Donovan too, but I also don't understand why some are so crazy for him. He's been out of college for very very long at this point.

It really comes down to this: would you rather have Donovan or Drew?

 

[know1]

It really comes down to this: would you rather have Donovan or Drew?

I don't think it really does come down to that. Why do you say it does?

It's a toss up for me. There's no way to tell. Both would be huge upgrades over what we've had for a long time now.

 

[RoyKent]

I don’t think he will even be considered simply because Mitch cannot wait another 10+ days to make a hire.

 

[taiza67]

Donovan is an amazing X’s and O’s Coach. Was a great recruiter before his stint in the NBA. Has been here before and understands what the job is and is prepared for the spotlight (biggest problem with Drew imo).

We would be very fortunate to get Donovan and I would admit all I’ve said about this is wrong if we pull Donavan to UK.

 

[JonathanW_rivals]

Everything the other posters have said so far plus he was an assistant at UK for 5 years so he has ties to the program and understands what he’s getting into. Which is probably why he keeps saying no haha

The part I bolded can't be stated enough. It is what doomed BCG. And although I am not against going this route (if Hurley an Donovan actually say no to Mitch), it is what would concern me most taking a young up-&-coming coach.

 

[CincyUKFan]

Why EJonesy @Sejonesy?

 

[WildcatfaninOhio]

It really comes down to this: would you rather have Donovan or Drew?

For me it comes down to, who would 18 to 22 year old basketball players most want to play for? Donovan or Drew?

 

[JonathanW_rivals]

The only part where I think the OP has a valid point is on his connections to current assistant coaches. Perhaps his original mentor could suggest a couple.

 

[BBNinSC_rivals62411]

Some of this fanbase is delusional. We are not getting Donovan and 1997 Pitino is not walking through that door. The back to back championship coach is not leaving UConn to come here. The guy that just signed a new contract at Alabama is not coming and the retired coach who works for CBS is not coming

 

[frigimall]

NIL is basically like the NBA. Salary caps, paying players, evaluations of free agents. It’s not that different. Plus he has coached against the best coaches and players in the world. If anything the NBA has made him smarter.

With all the NIL, and portal schools will need to create a General Manager type position. I would think the NBA experience would be a plus at this point.

 

[truebluewildcat_rivals34254]

I don’t understand the overwhelming desire here from our fan base.

The man has been out of coaching college ball for a decade. He has never recruited, dealt with NIL, held a college practice, held a college workout routine, held a college schedule in a decade people. His connections with assistants at the college level will be limited.

Times have changed people. I don’t think taking a guy who has been in the NBA now for a decade is the best choice.

If this was pre-NIL it might be the choice. But having someone come in who has never dealt with this new era seems risky.

-2 titles
-1 runner up
-4 FFs
-4 SEC tourney
-6 reg season titles
- about a 72% winning percentage

4 of his last 5 years in CBB
-EE, EE, EE, FF

Billy Donovan was a track to be the next K. 467 wins in 2015 when he left. You figure 25 wins a season, he'd have another 250 wins by now. Most likely another couple deep runs, and at least 1 title if not 2.

People seem to forget those Florida teams. Everyone wants that gritty northeast, former old big east point guard ball that Hurley is running. Billy the kid was doing that and winning titles when Hurley was holding the clipboard in a high school gym.

Everyone is putting too much stock into NIL. He's been dealing with paid professionals, contracts, salary caps for 10 years, he'll figure it out.

Before Nate Oats was sniffing some basketball at a football school. Billy Donovan was building a basketball powerhouse at a football school.

 

[know1]

For me it comes down to, who would 18 to 22 year old basketball players most want to play for? Donovan or Drew?

That's thinking with the Cal mindset, though. Not one starter in the title game was a 5 star high school recruit. Great coaching trumps great high school talent.

 

[WildcatfaninOhio]

That's thinking with the Cal mindset, though. Not one starter in the title game was a 5 star high school recruit. Great coaching trumps great high school talent.

You still need talented players. And I wasn’t simply referring to only McDonald’s AAs. Hence the listed ages of 18 to 22. The new coach will immediately need to bring in a solid mix of HS seniors and upperclassmen college transfers.

 

[TigerMoving]

You still need talented players. And I wasn’t simply referring to only McDonald’s AAs. Hence the listed ages of 18 to 22. The new coach will immediately need to bring in a solid mix of HS seniors and upperclassmen college transfers.

Drew has been an excellent recruiter and I think Donovan will be again also. Not sure either has the clear edge. I'd happily welcome both with open arms tho to be clear.

 

[OmahaCats]

He knows how to coach on the college level, and he did a fairly good job of it.

4 Final Fours, two titles, tons of blue chip recruits. I think he would absolutely kill it in the portal, too, especially with his NBA insight.

He's been decent in both the NBA and college. That would make him perhaps the only college coach in American who could say that.

Completely different game now than it was then. I’m not convinced he’s better than Drew

 

[CELTICAT]

The obvious answer is he was a Pitino disciple and former assistant coach here. He knows the program, the campus, the city. He was an elite coach at this level, and would probably win a title here.