Kentucky fans are so bitter right about now.

http://sports.espn.go.com...id=2826756

Donovan will stay put as Florida coach
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com

Billy Donovan, three days removed from leading Florida to a second consecutive national championship, will remain the Gators' coach and not make himself available to interview for the opening at SEC rival Kentucky.

Donovan told Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart early Thursday morning by phone that he wasn't interested in leaving Florida.

Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley told ESPN.com that he and Donovan also met Thursday, at which time Donovan said, 'This is my home, Jeremy. I love the University of Florida. I love you. I had a chance to talk to [my wife] Christine and I'm not going anywhere."

The two will discuss terms of a contract extension for the coach after Donovan returns from a planned week-long vacation to the Dominican Republic. Donovan will leave the country Saturday.

Meanwhile, the four Florida juniors -- Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green -- will announce at a 4 p.m. ET news conference in Gainesville whether they're remaining in school or leaving to enter the NBA draft.

Even before meeting with Foley, Donovan apparently had his mind made up. Donovan told some of his close friends Wednesday night that he would not be leaving Florida, according to a source close to Donovan.

Florida will release an official statement on Donovan's decision Thursday afternoon.

"Obviously we've been talking," Foley said. Donovan has two years remaining on his current contract. "Friday is about the celebration [for the title] and then he's [vacationing]. This is where he wants to be."

Donovan turned down a contract extension last spring after winning the 2006 national championship because he said he didn't feel right about it after four then-sophomores decided against declaring for the draft.

Barnhart left a message for Foley on Wednesday seeking permission to talk to Donovan, but Foley did not want a Donovan-Barnhart conversation to occur until speaking with Donovan himself.

Speculation has centered on Texas coach Rick Barnes as Kentucky's Plan B to replace Tubby Smith, who left the program in March for the job at Minnesota. Sources said Thursday that that speculation is accurate and that Barnes will seriously listen to Kentucky's pitch.

Scott McConnell, Texas' media contact for basketball, said there has been no formal contact between Barnes and Kentucky. McConnell said Barnes' schedule has him on campus Thursday planning offseason workouts, then flying to Los Angeles on Friday with Longhorns freshman forward Kevin Durant for the Wooden Award presentation. Texas' team banquet is scheduled for Monday.

Kentucky's search might also include Michigan State's Tom Izzo, Marquette's Tom Crean, Texas A&M's Billy Gillispie and Gonzaga's Mark Few.

Information from ESPN.com college basketball reporter Mark Schlabach and ESPN.com senior writer Pat Forde was used in this report.

$$$$$ lotsa bucks about to get thrown around....I can't wait to see how much he's getting for staying, especially since Kentucky was about to break the bank to get Coach D.....

.....I wonder how far they'll fall if everyone breaks for the NBA.....

Well said. What happened to your comment?

reneGade20 said:

20 wins and I'll be happy. Lots of talented younger guys playing next year. Then again, they won with a bunch of younger guys last year.

live4lust said:

I think they'll challenge with Vandy for the East top spot, because UT doesn't really give me a warm and fuzzy as a championship contender.....I can only hope that LSU doesn't have such a bad season, but without Big Baby, its going to be tough.....

bloop
[Edited 4/5/07 13:07pm]

I was holding out a microscopic hope that the juniors would shock the world (again) and come back. But I can't fault them for leaving. I still think Green will be back, though. He's probably not a first-rounder.