I’m giving an example of what it would be like IF UK did accomplish something like that and comparing it to the Gators basketball championship runs. It would be like UK fans suddenly claiming the football program was there with the Florida’s and the USC’s of the nation. It’s utterly ridiculous to think that 2 years in the spotlight automatically makes you a part of the elite.

What I’m meaning by this whole ordeal is that Donovan does have 2 championship rings given to him by the same exact team. In some ways it’s similar to the Tubby situation in 98 [only Tubby did not coach the team before]. The pieces were already laid in place, so how many stones did the coach himself have to re-polish? The team was already talented and they were bigger than the coach. They gave him his credibility and that’s what has bought him those years at Lexington [and what has bought him a spot in Minnesota now].

The class we’ve just seen at Florida is without a doubt one of the most talented teams I’ve seen recently. As I’ve said to others before, they’re the kind that comes around once a decade, if that (almost like the UK teams from 96-98). So I guess time will tell if Donovan has enough magic to produce a similar product.

But, my time here is up. I’m back to my UK boards, I don’t feel like vacationing in enemy territory anymore. Unless it’s Duke of course…I love making those punks squirm. It was good debating with you. In any case, good luck next season and it will be interesting when our two teams meet on the hardwood since they’ll both be talented this year. Peace!

There have been many attempts by Cat fans to “equalize” the disparity between Florida and Kentucky by comparing our basketball to your football and your basketball to our football.

The problem is, that’s not a legitimate comparison. Florida football is #1. Florida basketball is also #1. That has never been done before, not in the history of college athletics, anyway, and surely not in the midst of a back-to-back championship run in the latter. Kentucky isn’t within sniffing distance of making that happen (in fact, they’re not even within sniffing distance of a single championship in basketball right now.)

What you Kentuckians have a hard time grasping is this: It’s different at Florida. There is complete and total dedication to both sports. Gainesville has been called the Disneyland of college sports by Sports Illustrated and there is a reason for that. There is an expectation of excellence for both, whereas at Kentucky the *hope* is that the Wildcats can at least be competitive in football. Florida’s athletic department is either #1 or #2 in the country in total revenue, depending upon whom you ask (right now the income is rumored to be in the $100mil range but a conservative estimate puts it at $85-90mil) while Kentucky generates around $55mil. Kentucky couldn’t outspend Florida when it came to retaining Billy Donovan — even if had come down to money, which it hadn’t.

So there is really no comparison across both sports. In the last decade, Florida has accomplished more — far more — in both categories. By the way, Florida just wrapped up the All-SEC trophy again this year, which makes the Gators the #1 athletic program in the SEC for 17 of the last 20 years!

Them’s the facts, and there’s no way you can spin ‘em otherwise, m’dear.

Actually, since it’s the same team that won those 2 championships, it’s not. My big question is what can he do in the aftermath? That’s assuming he decides to stay there.

“Fact: Billy D. has grown Florida to new heights. Fact: to the college baskteball world — maybe not you, but the rest of the world including recruits — Florida is among the elite.”

Yes, he has brought Florida into the spotlight…a very bright spotlight. But 2 years of success…oh, my bad 3…does NOT qualify them as an elite program, despite how much you want it to be. Like I said in my other post, you had an elite team, but you are not suddenly an elite program. That would be like UK football winning 2 NCAA championships back-to-back with the same roster (love my Cats and I doubt if that will happen but just go with me there) and then calling themselves an elite football school. You and I both know that would be ridiculous.

“Suddenly you try to elevate yourself up there with the UK’s, UNC’s, IU’s, and even Duke’s…that’s laughable. You mock our history but history is what makes a team elite. Compare any of the schools I listed above to your program and you’ll realize where your place is.”

It might interest you to know that UK and UF are both in the Top 10 of NCAA tourney performances in the 64-team era of college basketball (starting in 1985.) UK is ahead at #3, but UF is not far behind at #7… well ahead of many so-called “basketball schools.”

And that is why the man that was mostly responsible for those years is gone.

“Billy Gillispie is no doubt an upgrade from ‘Da Tub’ but he is an alcoholic with no more than three years on the job at any Division I school. He hasn’t even built any momentum to lose yet.”

We got it…he’s had alcohol problems before. Why do people insist on bringing it up? Hmmm…perhaps it’s because they’ve run out of any other intelligent argument to give.

As for momentum, I’d definitely have to disagree. His few years at those schools look even more impressive when you see how quickly he turned them around. From the bottom of the barrel to beating a very good UofL team in the NCAA tourney…I’d call that one hell of a momentum swing. It’s only sensible that he upgrades to a tougher challenge at UK. He’s a rising coach in the NCAA’s and has all the momentum he needs right now.

Meanwhile the Cats only cracked the Elite Eight once in the same timeframe.

Explain to me again why he can’t keep up the momentum? And why Kentucky’s suddenly going to rear up and reincarnate Adolph Rupp? Billy Gillispie is no doubt an upgrade from ‘Da Tub’ but he is an alcoholic with no more than three years on the job at any Division I school. He hasn’t even built any momentum to lose yet.

What happens when Billy G. decides he loves the sauce even more than hoops?

I said virtually nothing, not completely nothing. With that appearance, you became a blip on the basketball radar but nothing more. It wasn’t until the last couple of years that the college basketball world really started taking your program seriously.

“However, Donovan has a history of excellence starting just a few years after his hire and transformation of Florida basketball, which has now become an elite program.”

An elite program? LMAO…you think 2 championshop years with the same team makes you elite? Suddenly you try to elevate yourself up there with the UK’s, UNC’s, IU’s, and even Duke’s…that’s laughable. You mock our history but history is what makes a team elite. Compare any of the schools I listed above to your program and you’ll realize where your place is.

You have to have consistent results throughout the decades, which your program has not. Here’s the thing you need to understand whether you want to or not: you had an elite TEAM, but you’re no where near to an elite PROGRAM. Now that team is gone…can your coach keep up the momentum? I’m not so sure.