Donovan To The NBA?

[GatorGrad]

The Orlando Magic have offered Billy Donovan a $36M contract for 6 years. Wow. We were offering him up to 3.5M which would have made him the highest paid coach in college basketball I believe. Hard to compete with 6M a year though. This could be a sad day in Gator Country.

[yhcdawg]

That's what I was hearing on the radio all day. They said that the Magic expect to sign him by the end of the week. I think Florida's program will be fine... but it still sucks to lose a coach that good...

[GatorGrad]

I am hearing that the Magic have a press conference scheduled for tomorrow to announce. This is almost as sad of a day as when Spurrier resigned after the 2001 football season. Donovan put us on the map and built us into an elite program...

11 Seasons:
9 NCAA Tournament Appearances
3 SEC Tournament Championships
3 SEC Regular Season Championships
3 Final Fours
3 National Championship Game Appearances
2 National Championships

Thanks for the memories, Billy D!

Wish you nothing but the best in Orlando.

[yhcdawg]

OT: Welcome aboard, yhcdawg. Always good to have an ally. But do you really think it's our time in '07? I'm still thinking '08, but I'll be there 9/1.

Thanks! Ha... I always try to keep on the bright side of things. So let's just say that I hope it's our time this year. I certainly think the schedule sets up a little better than it does in '08 when we have to take a trip to Baton Rouge... :)

[copycat]

OT: Welcome aboard, yhcdawg. Always good to have an ally. But do you really think it's our time in '07? I'm still thinking '08, but I'll be there 9/1.

Re Donovan, I don't know if it'll have a huge negative impact on Florida's program (I can hope). At the very least, it could help with UGA's near-term recruiting, depending on how quickly UF gets a replacement and who that replacement is.

I know GT is fighting for a couple of recruits that have Florida high on their list, so I can say I'm pleased too. Looks like UGA has a few, but most appear to be long shots...

[GatorGrad]

UGA just landed a verbal from Thompkins...one of the best big men in the country. And yes, GT is in on some good ones as well.

[yhcdawg]

UGA just landed a verbal from Thompkins.

Yeah, that was huge for our program. He will be able to contribute right away for us next season, as so many true freshman do in college basketball today. Still, the SEC is as tough as ever and it will be a challenge to make the tournament. I just hope for Felton's sake that he is up to that challenge. Something really needs to be done about our (non-existent) offense...

[jeff4bucks]

[QUOTE=GatorGrad;2768]Donovan put us on the map and built us into an elite program...



QUOTE]


Donovan has done great things at UF, for sure, but it was Lon Kruger who put UF on the map. He took them to the Final Four in 1994, the first time UF got there....

[GatorGrad]

[QUOTE=GatorGrad;2768]Donovan put us on the map and built us into an elite program...



QUOTE]


Donovan has done great things at UF, for sure, but it was Lon Kruger who put UF on the map. He took them to the Final Four in 1994, the first time UF got there....

True - the 1994 Final Four team was special. But Kruger was not able to build on that momentum and keep it going. Billy D recruited on a consistent basis and took the program to elite status with 9 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, 3 Final Four appearances, and 2 National Championships.

[jeff4bucks]

I think if Kruger had stuck around, he might have. He wound up having success at UI after Florida.

[GatorGrad]

Kruger was a great X's and O's coach. He just was never the best recruiter. You need talent. Once Vince Carter, a Florida native, chose UNC over Florida back in the 90's, I think Kruger was convinced that basketball could never sustain long-term success at a football school like Florida. Obviously, Donovan proved that it was possible. Both coaches were definitely part of building the program though and I respect them both.