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Should have stayed at A&M. He could have been there forever.

RushStPony wrote:

mustangxc wrote:Why would they hire Billy Donovan? if going to the NIT is unacceptable hiring Donovan makes no sense!

You're joking, right?

No, I am serious! Florida has been in the NIT the past 2 seasons. If the NIT is unacceptable to the Kentucky fan base, they should go after someone that is able to deliver results more consistently. I am perfectly aware of Florida's back to back national championships under Billy Donovan. However, Tubby Smith managed to win one at Kentucky, albeit with Rick Pitino's players, and he was led out the door. Billy Gillispie is a great coach who just needed time, but the fans thought the NIT appearance was unacceptable so why would it be acceptable under Billy Donovan?

mustangxc wrote:

RushStPony wrote:

mustangxc wrote:Why would they hire Billy Donovan? if going to the NIT is unacceptable hiring Donovan makes no sense!

You're joking, right?

No, I am serious! Florida has been in the NIT the past 2 seasons. If the NIT is unacceptable to the Kentucky fan base, they should go after someone that is able to deliver results more consistently. I am perfectly aware of Florida's back to back national championships under Billy Donovan. However, Tubby Smith managed to win one at Kentucky, albeit with Rick Pitino's players, and he was led out the door. Billy Gillispie is a great coach who just needed time, but the fans thought the NIT appearance was unacceptable so why would it be acceptable under Billy Donovan?

Because Gillispie didn't have the pedigree that Donovan has. Donavan's NIT appearances are completely acceptable as they lost their entire starting lineup from the national championship year and they are still young as hell. Donavan is widely considered one of the top coaches in all of college basketball...Three NC appearances in 8 years and 9 straight tourny appearance until 2007-2008 and you're telling me that they need someone with more consistency?

mustangxc wrote:

RushStPony wrote:

mustangxc wrote:Why would they hire Billy Donovan? if going to the NIT is unacceptable hiring Donovan makes no sense!

You're joking, right?

However, Tubby Smith managed to win one at Kentucky, albeit with Rick Pitino's players, and he was led out the door.

I absolutely hate that argument. First of all, there's no guarantee that Pitino would have beaten Utah in 1998. Maybe he makes a poor decision in the Sweet 16 and they lose.

Second, Tubbs and the team had to adjust to each other. His style is more half-court than Pitino's trapping full-court press. I can't remember exactly if he had any role in recruiting some of those players regardless.

But there are no guarantees. And we don't have to look further than our own situation in late 1980s. Dave Bliss left John Shumate a roster that included Kato Armstrong, Eric Longino, Todd Alexander, Glenn Puddy and Vernon Perdue. That 28-7 second-round team went 13-16 the next year.

mustangxc wrote:No, I am serious! Florida has been in the NIT the past 2 seasons. If the NIT is unacceptable to the Kentucky fan base, they should go after someone that is able to deliver results more consistently. I am perfectly aware of Florida's back to back national championships under Billy Donovan. However, Tubby Smith managed to win one at Kentucky, albeit with Rick Pitino's players, and he was led out the door. Billy Gillispie is a great coach who just needed time, but the fans thought the NIT appearance was unacceptable so why would it be acceptable under Billy Donovan?

I'm going to assume that you really are joking because this argument is insane. Donovan is one of the best coaches in the country and UK would be thrilled to land him....but he's staying at Florida. If and when he decides to leave Florida he will be able to pick any job he wants.

Orsini seriously consider talking to Billy G....he is exactly what we need.

LA_Mustang wrote:

mustangxc wrote:No, I am serious! Florida has been in the NIT the past 2 seasons. If the NIT is unacceptable to the Kentucky fan base, they should go after someone that is able to deliver results more consistently. I am perfectly aware of Florida's back to back national championships under Billy Donovan. However, Tubby Smith managed to win one at Kentucky, albeit with Rick Pitino's players, and he was led out the door. Billy Gillispie is a great coach who just needed time, but the fans thought the NIT appearance was unacceptable so why would it be acceptable under Billy Donovan?

I'm going to assume that you really are joking because this argument is insane. Donovan is one of the best coaches in the country and UK would be thrilled to land him....but he's staying at Florida. If and when he decides to leave Florida he will be able to pick any job he wants.

Orsini seriously consider talking to Billy G....he is exactly what we need.

If Gillispie wants to come back to Texas, pick up the phone and call him.

I think what I read in the DMN today makes alot of sense.
Said he would probably sit out 1 year & return somewhere in Texas.
Great relationships in Texas both @ the HS, JUCO & AAU levels.

U of H & SMU come to my mind immediately.

papawasamustang wrote:I think what I read in the DMN today makes alot of sense.
Said he would probably sit out 1 year & return somewhere in Texas.
Great relationships in Texas both @ the HS, JUCO & AAU levels.

U of H & SMU come to my mind immediately.

That's what Doug Gottlieb said the other day. But if you're a forward thinking AD, you think about these things and put some things in place to be prepared if year 4 under Doherty blows apart.

Judging from the Jones coaching search, it appeared Orsini had Paul Johnson as Plan A, Jones as Plan B, and four others as possible Plan C. I suspect that he's keeping the lines of communication open without undercutting Doh. As I said, the problem with Billy Clyde is that he won't be satisfied staying here.

LA_Mustang wrote:

mustangxc wrote:No, I am serious! Florida has been in the NIT the past 2 seasons. If the NIT is unacceptable to the Kentucky fan base, they should go after someone that is able to deliver results more consistently. I am perfectly aware of Florida's back to back national championships under Billy Donovan. However, Tubby Smith managed to win one at Kentucky, albeit with Rick Pitino's players, and he was led out the door. Billy Gillispie is a great coach who just needed time, but the fans thought the NIT appearance was unacceptable so why would it be acceptable under Billy Donovan?

I'm going to assume that you really are joking because this argument is insane. Donovan is one of the best coaches in the country and UK would be thrilled to land him....but he's staying at Florida. If and when he decides to leave Florida he will be able to pick any job he wants.

Orsini seriously consider talking to Billy G....he is exactly what we need.

My point is that the fans at Kentucky are insane! I don't think they would even be happy with Billy Donovan.

papawasamustang wrote:I think what I read in the DMN today makes alot of sense.
Said he would probably sit out 1 year & return somewhere in Texas.
Great relationships in Texas both @ the HS, JUCO & AAU levels.

U of H & SMU come to my mind immediately.

If Kentucky settles for Rick Barnes, I could see them trading places this season. I also think Texas Tech and Baylor might open up after next season. Scott Drew moving on to greener pastures and Pat Knight being shipped out for his ridiculous antics minus the wins.

From a legal standpoint, can Gillispie get the 6 million dollar buyout even though he never signed a contract with Kentucky? UK people say no.

Here is the link:

http://www.kentucky.com/881/story/742213.html

Generally speaking "Memorandums of Understanding" are agreements to agree and are sometimes enforceable and sometimes they aren't. I guess Billy didn't want to sign a real contract because he figured that he would be able to bolt to the next job that offered more money. If so, he might be bupkiss which would be funny and make him more desperate to find a job.

AD said they never reached a long term contract after 2 years and it was a year to year deal. He said that 6 million would not be the buyout.

Check out the video (it's on the right hand side of the story) on the above link regarding the buyout statements.