Wildcat's 1st Rejection! Options

[wopacker1980]

By the 'hole criteria' Kentucky gets their 1st rejection.

Pitino 'too old' to bolt Louisville, won't return to Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Kentucky's search for its next basketball coach won't include Rick Pitino.

Pitino said Monday that while he enjoyed his eight years with the Wildcats, he's happy coaching Louisville and wouldn't consider returning to the school he led to the national championship in 1996.

"I would never ever leave (Louisville) to go to another college because they're my family," Pitino said.

Though Pitino said he was "shocked" by Tubby Smith's sudden departure last week, he sees too much potential in the Cardinals to consider leaving. Louisville went 24-10 this season and finished second in the Big East before falling to Texas NCSU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

While Pitino acknowledged leaving Kentucky following the 1997 season was a "mistake," he joked that at age 54 he's "too old to leave" Louisville, but understands why there's so much speculation about his interest in the job.

"It's a great job. I had eight years of Camelot, I've said that," he said. "It's the Roman Empire of college basketball."

Florida coach Billy Donovan, who played for Pitino at Providence and spent several years as a Kentucky assistant under Pitino, could be among the candidates to replace Smith. Pitino declined to speculate on whether Donovan is considering leaving Florida.

The defending national champions play UCLA in the Final Four on Saturday and are trying to become the first team since Duke in 1992 to win back-to-back titles.

"Billy is like a son to me and I stopped telling Billy what to do and what not to do in 1987," Pitino said. "He's got a great opportunity right now. He's not thinking of anything else."

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

[blueduke]

Billy Donavan will find this job too hard to turn down.

[Dread]

I would never ever leave (Louisville) to go to another college because they're my family," Pitino said.

We'll see.

[wopacker1980]

I heard that Donovan was 'unofficially offered $28 mill for 7 years.
Now that's serious money!

If the gators lose, some Gator fans will burn down Kentucky for fekkin with him before the season was over!

[Carlos the Jackal]

What's the over/under for Billy to bolt?

I say 80% to 20% he stays.

[staugiedoggie]

What's the over/under for Billy to bolt?

I say 80% to 20% he stays.

i don't think donovan goes anywhere. some would use the second fiddle arguement. football school, blah, blah, blah, but trust me, billy's not playing second fiddle to anyone down there

[Lee Corso]

i don't think donovan goes anywhere. some would use the second fiddle arguement. football school, blah, blah, blah, but trust me, billy's not playing second fiddle to anyone down there

I agree. I also think UF wuold give Donovan a raise if they were pushed.

[wopacker1980]

So you're saying Kentucky will get rejected by Pitino and Donovan, the A & M coach, Gilespy already fired a preemptive shot by announcing he wasn't interested in any positions.

It does kind of remind one of unx-xh's search when they hired doormatt, thinking they could get anyone they wanted and finding out different.

[crenshaw111]

I heard that Donovan was 'unofficially offered $28 mill for 7 years.
Now that's serious money!

If the gators lose, some Gator fans will burn down Kentucky for fekkin with him before the season was over!

Did you hear this from the same person that said Ty Lawson stole cell phones, quit going to classes, & sold his dook/unc tickets?

[jsc1973]

So you're saying Kentucky will get rejected by Pitino and Donovan, the A & M coach, Gilespy already fired a preemptive shot by announcing he wasn't interested in any positions.

It does kind of remind one of unx-xh's search when they hired doormatt, thinking they could get anyone they wanted and finding out different.

That job is a lot like Alabama football. You may make a lot of money, but you don't take it unless you have a really thick skin. The only way you can keep UK fans happy is to win every game you play and beat the point spread.

Donovan isn't going to leave Florida unless (and it is a possibility with that guy) that Gainesville isn't big enough for both his ego and Urban Meyer's. Money is not an issue. Florida can match whatever Kentucky can offer, and they're not going to want to fire him if he "only" goes 24-10 next season.

I'm not surprised about Gillespie. Texas NCSU is a pretty good place to be if you don't mind sharing the spotlight with the football team. It's a lot like coaching at Tennessee, where Bruce Pearl is doing the same things. They don't come out if you lose, but if you win, you get all the support you ask for.

UNC probably could have gotten just about anyone they wanted if they'd let Deano conduct the search and not dumbass Baddour. Baddour ought to be on Herb Sendek's Christmas card list for life.

[dukebluedevils05]

Gilespy already fired a preemptive shot by announcing he wasn't interested in any positions.

Not so fast....

At the end of another bizarre day in Texas NCSU's quest to lock down basketball coach Billy Gillispie, school officials delayed an announcement of a new contract agreement after receiving indications from Gillispie that he wants to keep open his options for the most tantalizing of current job openings — Kentucky.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories...b.130b409d.html

[wopacker1980]

Did you hear this from the same person that said Ty Lawson stole cell phones, quit going to classes, & sold his dook/unc tickets?

crenshaw, please link where I said I heard that.

AND I heard it on the Morning Sports Page, the morning show on Charlotte's sports talk station and a unx-xh affiliate. (but I'm sure they're dumb @$$es and you're not)

[lebo421]

It does kind of remind one of unx-xh's search when they hired doormatt, thinking they could get anyone they wanted and finding out different.

UNC ended up with the coach they wanted. This situation is more similar to NCSU's coaching search, where they offered every big name coach in America before they had to settle for Lowe.

[wopacker1980]

UNC ended up with the coach they wanted.

Oh really? When they hired doormatt?

[carolinarolls]

Provided Billy wins tonight, he has the best resume in college basketball and should/will act upon it.


Plus, what does he really have to look forward to for returnig talent next season?


sorry gators, Billy goes to a basketball school this offseason to start a legacy IMO.

[lebo421]

Oh really? When they hired doormatt?

Nope, when they hired Roy.

[wopacker1980]

The time I was referring to in my comments was the rejection list they suffered when they hired doormatt which was well documented on the board.

[carolinarolls]

I'm sure it was Count. Nobody wants to coach at UNC. Especially not men's basketball. What a no-name, career killing job to have your name associated with.

Now go lay back down. You can go mall-walking again tomorrow.

[SchoolZone]

Now go lay back down. You can go mall-walking again tomorrow.

"well documented".....at csux

LMAO

The only things well documented here are (1) ncsu's rap sheet is much worse than UNC's and (2) count peckerhead is a tremendous pussy.

Now, back on topic:

Matt Doherty was the second person to be offered the UNC job. Roy Williams being the first, obviously.

[Dread]

Kinda like how LA offered roy before K - right?

LAUGH.