The Shape of Florida Basketball

[O-town Gator]

Moving in a different direction, Billy re-shaping the team, "mutiny on the bounty", or what?

With recent decisions involving some of the players on the 2008-09 roster (Calathes declaring for the NBA draft, Chaney nad Tyus transferring), and following two back-to-back losses in the NIT it seems our men's program is in a post-season state of flux following two back-to-back National Championships in 2005 and 2006.

Billy Donovan addressed the media on some recent happenings this afternoon: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2009/04/gators-basketball-welcomes-overhaul-with-or-without-nick-calathes.html#more

This is what Pat Dooley at the Gainesville Sun had to say: http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20090417/COLUMNISTS/904179950/1044?Title=Is-Billy-D-losing-control-or-taking-control-

Sounds like Billy either needs to "clean house" and rebuild, or hit the recruiting trail even harder if we want to get back to championship form. That, as well as hire an assistant to replace Shaka Smart who left to take Anthony Grant's place at VCU.

 

[gatorsfootball#1]

I guess that I am glad to hear that this is more Donavan cleaning house thean anything. I was thinking something might have been wrong with him. I didn't know if the players didn't like him ar if he was un-happy. I hope he knows what he is doing.

 

[O-town Gator]

Billy hired Rick Pitino's (his former mentor when he was at Kentucky) son Richard to take Smart's place on his staff: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2009/04/pitinos-son-reportedly-joining-gators-basketball-staff.html

As I mentioned once before, I didn't see the chemistry on this year's team that was obvious when we had our NC teams; that's one of the reasons why we couldn't come through in the end. There seemed to be a little too much selfishness amongst our platers; somewhat evident by Alex Tyus' quote on Facebook: "For everyone to know, I decided to transfer because I did not feel I was going to get the opportunity to become the best basketball player I can be, along with a few other basketball factors."

More emphasis on recruiting needs to be made in this off-season, more now than ever.

 

[leakbrewergator]

^^^ Tyu's Facebook status should have read, " For everyone to know, I decided to transfer because Vernon Macklin was going to eat all my minutes up."

 

[MahxFahn]

^^^ Tyu's Facebook status should have read, " For everyone to know, I decided to transfer because Vernon Macklin was going to eat all my minutes up."

An astute assessment!