Just genuinely curious, not old enough to remember that kind of stuff. Tubby wasn’t the first choice was he? And who were you hoping to get at the time?
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That guy sure looks at farms a lotBilly Donovan was seen looking at farms in Versailles, mid 1997
Hard to believe Tubby was first choice, I guess hindsight is 20/20 thoughI think Tubby was the first choice. Pitino told CM that Tubby was the best option, and CM offered Tubby immediately. I don’t remember much time passing between the announcement that Pitino was going to the Celtics and the announcement that Tubby had been hired. If someone was offered before Tubby, I’ve never heard about it. If I remember correctly, Lute Olson and PJ Carlesimo were both offered the job and turned it down before Pitino took it. Hard to believe that Pitino was the third choice.
Why is it so hard to believe? He'd been an assistant at Kentucky already, after which Smith had taken Tulsa to two consecutive MVC titles and two Sweet Sixteens. He then spent two years coaching Georgia, leading them to their first ever 20 win seasons and another Sweet Sixteen. Not a bad resume.Hard to believe Tubby was first choice, I guess hindsight is 20/20 though
Just based off how his tenure ended and stuff. I wasn’t really old enough to remember that stuff either, i was only 2.Why is it so hard to believe? He'd been an assistant at Kentucky already, after which Smith had taken Tulsa to two consecutive MVC titles and two Sweet Sixteens. He then spent two years coaching Georgia, leading them to their first ever 20 win seasons and another Sweet Sixteen. Not a bad resume.
If only they had hired Billy DonovanPitino said he recommended Tubby after the fact. But like always, he was lying. CM said Pitino wanted Billy Donovan.
Pitino also tried to take credit for Cal being hired by UMass. But several on the committee said he argued for the opposite. They got the opinion he was jealous of the new wunderkind.
I hadn’t seen it before, sorryNot sure why this topic comes up every 3 months, but the only coach that got any real consideration was Tubby Smith. PR coup for CM Newton who ended up handing Tubby the National Championship trophy in San Antonio 10 months after he made the move.
That's the way most coaches tenure's end. Like someone (Bum Phillips?) once said, "The day a coach is hired, he's fired. The date just hasn't been filled in yet". You have to judge a coach by the whole body of work - in Smith's case, a .760 winning pct, an NCAA title, 3 elite 8s, 5 SEC titles, 5 SEC tourney titles, never missed the NCAA, never suffered a first round loss. A better record than most D1 coaches will ever sniff.Just based off how his tenure ended and stuff. I wasn’t really old enough to remember that stuff either, i was only 2.
Billy Donovan was not a good basketball coach in 1997 and would have been fired from the University of Kentucky well before he earned his reputation.If only they had hired Billy Donovan
Yeah you’re right he had a good record here. But don’t you think if Billy Donovan was hired he would have lasted more than 9 years?That's the way most coaches tenure's end. Like someone (Bum Phillips?) once said, "The day a coach is hired, he's fired. The date just hasn't been filled in yet". You have to judge a coach by the whole body of work - in Smith's case, a .760 winning pct, an NCAA title, 3 elite 8s, 5 SEC titles, 5 SEC tourney titles, never missed the NCAA, never suffered a first round loss. A better record than most D1 coaches will ever sniff.
Maybe, and I wouldn't have been upset if he had been hired. But, as SaguaroCat pointed out, it took Billy a few years to reach his potential. Might it have happened quicker at Kentucky? Possible, but would the fans have given him time if he wasn't successful from the word go?Yeah you’re right he had a good record here. But don’t you think if Billy Donovan was hired he would have lasted more than 9 years?
Different situations though, didn’t he have to build Florida up? He wouldn’t have had to build from the ground up hereBilly Donovan was not a good basketball coach in 1997 and would have been fired from the University of Kentucky well before he earned his reputation.
His first 9 years at Florida, he went to the Sweet 16 only twice. Only 5 of those 9 years did he win any NCAA tournament game.
Wasn’t Florida really bad when he went there?Maybe, and I wouldn't have been upset if he had been hired. But, as SaguaroCat pointed out, it took Billy a few years to reach his potential. Might it have happened quicker at Kentucky? Possible, but would the fans have given him time if he wasn't successful from the word go?
Yeah you’re right he had a good record here. But don’t you think if Billy Donovan was hired he would have lasted more than 9 years?
They had losing record in Lon Kruger's last year, but only two years prior he'd taken them to their first ever Final Four. His overall record at Florida (6 years) was 104-80 (.565). I wouldn't call that "really bad".Wasn’t Florida really bad when he went there?
I just think he could have gotten there sooner at KentuckyYou’re basing your entire Billy Donovan hypothesis off of his 2 title years. He wouldn’t have lasted long enough at UK to ever get to ever get to hear 9 and start winning titles.
Not it’s not really bad, but the program was nowhere near the shape Kentucky was in. He would have been handed a runner up roster hereThey had losing record in Lon Kruger's last year, but only two years prior he'd taken them to their first ever Final Four. His overall record at Florida (6 years) was 104-80 (.565). I wouldn't call that "really bad".
I don’t think olsen turned it down until zona beefed up his contract. he just used the uk offer as leverage for mo money from az.I think Tubby was the first choice. Pitino told CM that Tubby was the best option, and CM offered Tubby immediately. I don’t remember much time passing between the announcement that Pitino was going to the Celtics and the announcement that Tubby had been hired. If someone was offered before Tubby, I’ve never heard about it. If I remember correctly, Lute Olson and PJ Carlesimo were both offered the job and turned it down before Pitino took it. Hard to believe that Pitino was the third choice.
Probably but social media wasn’t crazy like it is now.Yeah you’re right he had a good record here. But don’t you think if Billy Donovan was hired he would have lasted more than 9 years?
Only a UK fan.... This is how you know UK is the greatest college basketball team of all time. When a fan says a 28 win season, a #3 seed in the NCAA, finishing Elite Eight and ranked #8 (AP) and #5 (USAToday) is evidence the coach isn't up to snuff. 😄...but it was his second year that you could see that maybe he wasn’t the best choice after all.
If only Pitino had stayed.If only they had hired Billy Donovan
I know, right!Only a UK fan.... This is how you know UK is the greatest college basketball team of all time. When a fan says a 28 win season, a #3 seed in the NCAA, finishing Elite Eight and ranked #8 (AP) and #5 (USAToday) is evidence the coach isn't up to snuff. 😄
Depends on how you look at it. Lon Kruger had a couple of good teams during his run but his last team wasn't good. Took them to the Final Four in 1994 and went 29-8 that season. His last team finished 12-16 and after that he left for Illinois.Wasn’t Florida really bad when he went there?
Right, I don't think anyone else was even considered.As I remember, Tubby was really the only one considered.. and I was actually happy with the choice. Color me chagrined!