Comments on: Billy D doesn’t rule out coaching in NBA

By: gatorsidney

gatorsidney — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 23:53:19 +0000

William Donovan is becoming an elite college coach. He has reached that level in his evolution. Originally he thought if he brought in enough three point shooters, regardless of their athletic ability the offense he designed would be successful in the NCAAs. Over time he learned the years he was successful in the NCAAs was when his teams were athletic and could defend and compete against good defenses. He went on long NCAA success droughts when he continued to try and put teams with just shooters on the court. I always stated publicly Billy Ball would have to give way to a team able to score in and around the rim, setting up timely shooting. More importantly, had enough athletes on the floor who could defend at a high level. His recruiting and the team has put out on the floor the last couple of years his great experiment of being Duke of the deep south is over. While he has grown in the college game and is recruiting athletes now, he is still not ready for the NBA. He was scared to death of it when he took the Magic job and he is still scared to death. The NBA is too big for Billy. He doesn’t have the crass and crustiness of a top NBA coach. They are hardened men with a way with urban athletes. While Billy is from Long Island, I never felt he connect well with the urban athlete. Rosario and Noah, withstanding. Over all his years at the former Long Island boy was never that successful at getting ballers from the northeast metro cities, Chicago, Detroit, or other regions that put out the top talent perennially. He is more comfortable with the suburban and southern kids, with a little less moxie than the urban players, who make up a good amount of the NBA rosters. College is home. The NBA would break him within 3 years.

By: Sam

Sam — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 21:14:18 +0000

Listen to the whole interview. If there was any indication that he was thinking about leaving I did not hear it. This article only includes a piece of the interview and i think its out of context.Really for a guy like Donavan why would he say “never” to going to the NBA when he is that young and you never know what you may be feeling years from now?? If he was 65 or older then he can shut the door!

By: VO2max

VO2max — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 11:54:08 +0000

I listened to the interview live. And the suggestion by this article, slight albeit, that he is considering the NBA, is LUDICROUS! He touched on a number of topics and was asked if he had ruled out the NBA and gave a very honest answer. He basically said that as a basketball coach it’s interesting that the NBA is all basketball. NOWHERE in the interview did he even remotely hint that he had an “itch” to give it a run. A BASKETBALL coach saying the NBA is interesting in no way, shape, or form suggests that he has an itch to jump. Further, Donovan works for the top Athletic Director in the country in Jeremy Foley. As long as Foley is at UF it’s a long shot that Billy D turns away from the arrangement he presently has.

I’m not suggesting that he will never go to the NBA. I’m just saying that his interview with LeBatard did NOT suggest that it’s presently on his mind.

I find Brockways story to be sensationalistic to a high degree.

By: gatorguy17823

gatorguy17823 — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 05:52:38 +0000

None of the comments here even touched on the relevant issue. Donovan’s quote “He (Foley) hired me and he’s still here. He’s wonderful and we have a great relationship.” Translation: when Foley leaves look for Donovan to leave. As a long time Gator, I would love to see him retire at Florida. However, for what he has done for Gator basketball he is entitled to follow whatever path he desires. And I also think he has earned whatever other accolades Florida might bestow on him, whether that is a statue or renaming the O’Dome, then so be it.

By: Lou Vales

Lou Vales — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 22:17:57 +0000

Great!!! Just when we get over the disasterous results accruing to his 4 day infatuation with the Magic—-don’t think every school he recruited against didn’t use his indecision as a weapon against him—we now start to hear more garbage just as the “best” recruit in America prepares to make his selection. is there a Death Wish somewhere??

By: Brent

Brent — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:08:55 +0000

Here’s another non-event turned into a news story by Brockway and Gator Sports. The last one was the story about Donovan not breaking NCAA rules. I’ve got a great idea, why don’t we start spreading rumors that Donovan is leaving for the pros, right after this season, and see if we can ensure he loses out on any future recruits and possible turn a few of the current commits. Then maybe we can cause infighting and dysfunction between teammates. I didn’t see anything in that interview that would lead us to believe he’s going elsewhere and, if he was, do you think he would hint to it in the middle of the season. Come on, please stop writing articles that could hurt the hometown team.

By: Max Bouknecht

Max Bouknecht — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:47:29 +0000

Billy coaches team basketball. He’s in charge. The NBA plays superstar basketball, with the players in charge. Why would Billy even think about going to the NBA? His endorsement was from Stan Van Gundy, who has a very similar coaching style to Billy, and look how long he lasted in the NBA.

By: william

william — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:31:24 +0000

The NBA is the classic example of the inmates running the asylum. Witness the Stan Van Gundy soap opera with Dwight Howard, Mike Brown with Kobe Bryant, Lebraun James with Cleveland and many more. Why any highly successful college coach would want to jump into that snake pit is beyond me.

By: Gary M.

Gary M. — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 11:54:23 +0000

Donovan is the most underappreciated coach in college basketball. Despite his fat contract. I wouldn’t be suprised if he left for greener pastures. That’s what successful professionals do who feel unappreciated.

By: brr-bon phil

brr-bon phil — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:54:55 +0000

What I don’t like is Brockway posting this non-news blog the day after Jabari Parker chooses a date to commit to a school.