NIT here we come! At least the Gators have a shot at winning some games in the NIT…
Too many missing pieces and youth on this year’s team (I was thinking the same thing last year…improvement anyone?)…

Can spring football practice come any sooner? Please?

By UFGatorDMD on 03.05.09 9:29 am

Looking at the teams we’ve lost to this year, none of them, save kentucky, have put together the level of recruiting classes these last two years that we have.

It’s time to start pointing the finger at the coach, folks.

Mississippi State does not have one single five star recruit on their team. Not one. We have four.

Remember that little Orlando Magic baulk??

Maybe Billy is the one who doesn’t know what he wants, maybe Billy isn’t trying hard enough, maybe Billy has lost something, maybe Billy is tired of working with kids.

In two seasons, why haven’t these players gotten more muscular, more confident, more clued-in about where to be on defense and in loose ball situations.

IT’S THE COACH!

Billy is the problem right now, no doubt.

By corey on 03.05.09 12:36 pm

If you guys ever feel depressed go to Aseaofblue.com and check the comments theyre. They’ve had people literally cry due to UKs bad play.

By Gator Boys on 03.05.09 1:38 pm

There*

By Gator Boys on 03.05.09 1:57 pm

Billy D is the problem? You’re kidding right? Go check out UF’s fine basketball tradition before the arrival of Billy-D. Call me in 5 years when you are still looking for it.

Also, please tell us who you would like to replace ole washed up Billy the kid with?!?!

Cut the coach a little slack please. We are not even 2 full seasons removed from back-to-back titles after which we lost our top 6 players and you want to axe the coach already?

Also, who are the four 5-star recruits on our roster? I know of only Calathes and Parsons. It should be noted that I go by the rivals.com ratings, as the others are less accurate.

I think all would agree that what this team lacks the most is a solid big man - which is what Speights (now a part time NBA starter) would have been.

Sometimes recruits simply do not pan out - who would have thought that Mr. Basketball for the entire state of New Jersey would turn out to be the one and only scrap of worthlessness we call Dan Werner?

We have a very solid class coming in next season which includes the #7 ranked player in the nation (Boykins) plus 2 more big men and Macklin. Better times are ahead Gator fans, let’s be a little patient and not jump ship just yet.

By skigator93 on 03.05.09 8:07 pm

oh yeah…if you are feeling really depressed like you just can’t wait ’til next season, just be thankful that, unlike Kentucky, we have a defending national championship football team with 11 returning defensive starters plus Tebow to help us bide our time until then….

By skigator93 on 03.05.09 8:10 pm

Can Billy do us all a favor and turn down the NIT? All that did for us last year is give us unearned confidence for beating a few more patsy teams. I say we forgo the post season this year and send the message to the team that anything less than getting into the tourney next year is absolute abysmal failure. It is so painful to watch this team right now.

By Andrew on 03.05.09 10:11 pm

Andrew : The idea is good but not happening when there is money involved. UF = money lovers

By Mr2bits on 03.06.09 10:11 am

well put SKIGATOR93. Corey doesn’t seem to be living in reality. I’ll take Back2Back titles then 2 years in the NIT any time as would most College B Ball fans. Next year this team is totally different- in a good way. Can’t wait to see macklin in Orange and Blue. In all kinds of weather Corey!

By Donny Young on 03.06.09 2:21 pm

Ok if i’m so wrong, please point to the last time Coach K went back to back NIT. And as far as that b-ball program before billy, no doubt he has been great. My only point is that hasn’t been at nearly the same level these last two years (and that with higher rated recruits than he took to three final fours). So add that to your assessment of my perception of reality. Thank you very much.

By corey on 03.06.09 3:26 pm

Hopefully a successful football season will dull out this years b-ball misfortune. Hopefully, Boykins is the missing ‘link’ we need to make a run next year.

GO GATORS!!!

By John on 03.06.09 5:40 pm

Okay. So Donovan isn’t as good a coach as Coach K - we’ll give you that. But since it is unlikely that Coach K is leaving Duke after 30 years to coach at UF, I’ll stay with Donovan for now thank you very much.

I have never heard a single Donovan basher suggest even a remotely possible coach to replace him.

In the real world, Donovan is the best we are going to get right now, so let the man finish out this season with his pathetic product (no argument that this team was recruited by him) and let’s see if he can rebound after 2 pretty bad years and take the Gators back to the NCAAs and respectability next season.

I think he can.

Does anyone have a realistic suggestion for a better coach to lead the Gators?

By skigator93 on 03.06.09 10:17 pm

Hey, let’s focus on how much slop FSU is going to have to take instead of our badly ours is!

By Peter on 03.06.09 11:53 pm

Have you written me a straw man argument in your own head?

All i’ve said is that BIlly has perhaps lost a little something. He’s not performing like he used to (ei, doing less with higher ranked recruits). When did I say I didn’t want Donovan to be our coach? Did I say that?

I said its time to point the finger at him! It is! If the coach can’t be held accountable . . . well . . . maybe that’s the problem! lol

By corey on 03.07.09 11:37 am

Corey, what I think you’re missing is that Donovan has accepted responsibility and has been remarkably eloquent, even forthcoming about the various ailments of this year’s team.

He gets it. Trust me.

No sane, rational fan believes this program isn’t in capable hands. We are on the right track. We have had two bad seasons. We are not lost in the dark, trying to find our way. We are going where we need to be, back to the top. We have the right coach to get us there.

Compare that to the struggles of Kentucky, whose fanbase is coming to the realization that Billy G is probably not the answer. Uncertainty and doubt constitute their future, as it has for the past 10 seasons.

Our future is bright, men. Florida basketball is on its way back even now.

By GatorPilot on 03.08.09 10:24 pm

I, also, think we are in very capable hands. Earlier, you conceded Coach K is better than Donovan, I actually disagree. But all great artists go through lulls in their game, peaks and valleys in their prowess. Coach Izzo, you may remember his from the finals in ‘00, he just went through the same thing, owned up to it, and now has his team back on track this year. It happens, it’s no knock on Billy, just a wake up call. Call it tough love, whatever.

Glad we beat Kentucky.

By corey on 03.09.09 12:51 pm

At least you guys have a pretty good Coach, At UGA we just had 2 players transfer, and no idea who our Coach is, I mean don`t get me wrong The UGA Basketball program has never been great consistently but, We would kill to have someone like Coach Donovan to turn it around.

By Jim on 03.20.09 7:02 am