The Next K?

First, congratulations to the Gators on their second consecutive national title in basketball. Second, that now makes two championships for Donovan, who is still a very young man. He is 42. Coach K was 45 after his second national title. Unlike K, Donovan has virtually no chance at a 3-peat with most of his star players likely departing for the NBA or graduation. There are rumblings that he is considering the Kentucky job. I highly doubt he'll take that Kentucky job despite the $35 million practice facility the Wildcats have. I really think the only reason he isn't shutting the door completely on taking the job is to use Kentucky as financial leverage for a pay raise at Florida. To me, the only chance Donovan is not back in Gainesville is if he jumps to the NBA. I will say this, if he does, he's an idiot.

Donovan is sitting on a gold mine right now. He's built a powerhouse program that is more than capable of winning many more titles. Why leave? Your family lives in Florida, you just built a Catholic School in Florida that your son attends, and most of all, that court will be named after you. Go to Kentucky and you will never escape the shadow of Rupp and Pitino. Also, unlike Duke, Notre Dame, and even most of the ACC schools, you can get a plant into Florida so it's very easy to recruit the best players. Add that, with the fact they have the best looking girls, the weather is amazing, beaches, great athletic program, and there is no reason to leave. If he stays, I can't see him not landing Patrick Patterson either as much as it pains me to say.

Watching the winning press conference last year, I got really sad because it really feels like Duke is being shoved into the corner of the college basketball world. Teams with superior athleticism and strength are winning championships not the mediocre, cerebral athletes that Duke has used during their great run to national prominence.

There used to be a saying that went around that the only person who could hold Michael Jordan under 20 points was Dean Smith. To me, the only thing that can stop Billy Donovan from becoming an immortal collegiate coach is Billy Donovan. Will the riches of the NBA coupled with the possibility of a down year next year cause him to abandon ship? Only time will tell...