Donovan says no to St. John's...nobody outside New York surprised

Sometimes we hear rumors or stories about this coach is under consideration for this job or that coach wants that job and we scratch our heads and say "Why?". Classify this story as one of those.

Florida Head Coach Billy Donovan, secure at one of the better basketball programs in the country apparently politely declined a job offer from an alum of St. John's University. The alum, a co-founder of Vitaminwater apparently offered Donovan over $3 million a year to move back to the New York area. Donovan politely declined.

The story from the New York Daily News RIGHT HERE

((Billy Donovan says "No Thanks"//Courtesy: SECSportsfan.com))

Ok, so here is our question. Why would Donovan even consider leaving Florida for St. John's? Yes, we know he grew up on Long Island, but aside from that...why? Does St. John's really think that they are held in that high esteem any more? They haven't been relevant in College Basketball really since the 1980's.

Donovan by contrast has a job that he absolutely loves in a part of the world, Gainesville, where he and his family are now very comfortable. Yes, we know that coaches get restless and Donovan hasn't been able to replicate the success he had directing the Gators to back to back Championships in 2006 and 2007. But, because of that, he has carte blanche. As long as the Gators continue to win, the made the NCAA Tourney this year, he can stay as long as he wants to.

It's funny that we read a story this morning that the folks in New York are shocked that Donovan wouldn't seriously consider them. Why? Do you really think that because it is New York City that everyone will come running? Sorry, got news for you...there is a pretty large rest of the universe out there and in a lot of cases, those teams and programs are far better than anything in the Big Apple.

Here is Donovan pumping up his Gators before the NCAA Finals in 2006. Thanks You Tube:

Buzz Talks To Billy... For The Last Time...?

((HT: WKYT-TV))

With everything going on in Lexington ((whether they want to admit it or not)), Billy Gillispie talked to Buzz Baker for his last time for the coach's show.

Whether it was the last time Gillispie actually talks to Baker remains to be seen.
Please enjoy this little piece of history...

Those of us at OSG HQ are still on the Billy Donovan bandwagon, but we also think that Travis Ford may have only spent one year at Oklahoma State by the time it's over with...

Gillispie Singing The Blues & Might Be Looking For Work

Kentucky's hoop season is over and the Billy Gillispie era appears to be coming to an end.

TrueBlueKentucky.com is already reporting that Gillispie has been fired by UK. Sources in Lexington have told OSG that their is nothing to report...yet.

Gillispie was asked after the Wildcats 77-67 loss to Notre Dame in the NIT quarterfinals about being judged after 2 years on the job he said "There's only one judgment that I will really ever be concerned about, and I hope I pass that judgment. That's the only one I will ever be concerned about, and I'm really proud that's the only judgment that will ever have a real effect on me, and I hope I pass that one with flying colors."

The Lexington Herald-Leader feels something is going down. John Clay from the Herald-Leader writes: The nearly foregone conclusion is that he hasn't passed UK's judgment with flying colors, that President Lee T. Todd Jr. and Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart will announce soon that a change is being made, that a 40-27 record and a differing interpretation of job description will cause the program to move in a different direction.

It is OSG's opinion that Billy Gillispie will be unemployed by this weekend. He never really won the hearts and minds of the blue bloods in Kentucky.

We will take our opinion a step further. Kentucky will offer the world and then some to Florida head coach Billy Donovan. I would bet Billy the Kid is ready for the Kentucky challenge. Donovan has probably realized that backing out of the Orlando Magic job was a mistake and he has maxed out the hoop program at Florida. You can bet Kentucky will come a callin'.

Photos Courtesy: Getty Images