Bracket or no, I'm rooting for MSU now.

[BoylenOver]

You mean like Donovan loves Kentucky so much he wants to leave Florida for it?

Boylen to Michigan State isn't going to happen this year. If it does, good for him, but it won't.

I doubt Izzo is going to Kentucky either, though.

Calipari will. A perfect match.

I agree, there's no reason Izzo would leave Lansing for Lexington. But Boylen's next in line, IMO.

The Donovan comparison is seriously funny, though. Other than Florida coming off of back-to-back titles, being able to match the money UK offered to Donovan, and being in the same conference as UK, the comparison to Boylen and Utah is apt.

[il Padrino Ute]

Billy Gillespie to Utah.

Why?

[myboynoah]

You mean like Donovan loves Kentucky so much he wants to leave Florida for it?

Boylen to Michigan State isn't going to happen this year. If it does, good for him, but it won't.

I doubt Izzo is going to Kentucky either, though.

Calipari will. A perfect match.

Tears are being shed in Memphis. Looks like Coach Cal is gone.

[il Padrino Ute]

Katy, I know you think Boylen's a clod hopper. You should ask yourself if that's because of his ingrained working class mannerisms.

MSU wouldn't hire Boylen now. It's too early. But he's shown me nothing but promise of success. That he's an Izzo protege says something.

Is Boylen really an Izzo protege?

They both started about the same time at MSU as assistants to Heathcoate, then Boylen went to the NBA for a long time. He came back to MSU for a couple of years under Izzo then on to Utah. I don't know if that makes Boylen an Izzo protege.

[MartyFunkhouser]

There are maybe 5 coaches that THEM cannot get and Izzo is one of them. No way he leaves a school where he has a life time contract to go to THEM. There is simply no incentive for going. It would be like THEM going after Coach K or Roy Williams.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Pitino to Arizona, Izzo to Kentucky, Boylen to MSU.

I can totally see Pitino going to Arizona. The Pac-10 isn't the Big East (e.g. crowded with too many great programs) and there's room out west for UCLA and Arizona to coexist as championship calibre programs. Arizona's got the name that attracts big time recruits- even more so than Louisville- and Pitino would be a perfect fit.

Izzo is staying put at Michigan State for the long haul. He can have as much success at Michigan State as he can at Kentucky. The only job that would be more attractive to Izzo would be UNC and that's never going to open up and UNC likes to stay in house. Plus Izzo is a Michigan native, so he's not going to leave anytime soon. Since Izzo won the championship back in 2000, Kentucky, UNC, Kansas (twice now) and UCLA have all opened up and he's never left. He's entered into the Donovan zone where he's happy where he's and high profile jobs aren't going to attract him away.

Calipari at Kentucky is a good fit. He can recruit with the best of them and he'll get them back to the final four within the next few years.

If Calipari goes to Kentucky and Arizona lands Pitino, then you're looking at most of the traditional powers (and other powers over the past 20-30 years) being great for the next several years: UCLA, Arizona, Kansas, UNC, Michigan State, UConn (if it's not put on probation), and Kentucky. Duke is fading until Coach K starts recruiting more one and done guys. Indiana has fallen off the map.

[Indy Coug]

If UNC and UConn win on Saturday and UConn wins on Monday, I win the Cougarboard bracket contest.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

If UNC and UConn win on Saturday and UConn wins on Monday, I win the Cougarboard bracket contest.

If I had to bet on it, UNC and UConn will both win Saturday and UNC will beat UConn, they've clearly been the two best teams in the tourney so far IMO.

I was surprised at how UNC handled Oklahoma and I think they'll be able to handle UConn's size. I don't want to sound like everyone else, but Lawson will make the difference for UNC.

[FN Phat]

I can totally see Pitino going to Arizona. The Pac-10 isn't the Big East (e.g. crowded with too many great programs) and there's room out west for UCLA and Arizona to coexist as championship calibre programs. Arizona's got the name that attracts big time recruits- even more so than Louisville- and Pitino would be a perfect fit.

I don't see Pitino lasting long in AZ, if even going there to begin with. He is an east coast guy. That east coast bravado doesn't go over to well anywhere else.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I don't see Pitino lasting long in AZ, if even going there to begin with. He is an east coast guy. That east coast bravado doesn't go over to well anywhere else.

I can see Pitino leaving on his own for another job because that's his history, but I don't see Arizona clamoring for his departure. Pitino wins wherever he goes in college and he recruits with the best of them. He would be successful at Zona and they'd love him.

But maybe Pitino is an east coast guy to the extent he wouldn't take a job as far out as Arizona. But his east coast bravado isn't going to be problem in being offered the job or keeping the job.

[TripletDaddy]

Am I the only one that isn't too high on Donovan? He had a great run with that one class of players. It was like a once-in-a-lifetime Fab Five thing for Florida. Since the last title, Florida seems to have become progressively worse, instead of maintaining some semblance of dominance.

And every time there is a coaching vacancy, his name comes up. He never denies it.

He seems like he is waiting around for something better and I have a feeling he will never come close to replicating what he had with that one class of Gators. I'm probably wrong, though.

[cougjunkie]

Am I the only one that isn't too high on Donovan? He had a great run with that one class of players. It was like a once-in-a-lifetime Fab Five thing for Florida. Since the last title, Florida seems to have become progressively worse, instead of maintaining some semblance of dominance.

And every time there is a coaching vacancy, his name comes up. He never denies it.

He seems like he is waiting around for something better and I have a feeling he will never come close to replicating what he had with that one class of Gators. I'm probably wrong, though.

You forget that he took the Gators to the NC game in 2000 as well. That is 3 National Championship game appearances in 7 years. Also the group of players he had, Noah was a 3 star, Horford a 3 star, Green a 4 star, the only Mcdonalds All-American was Brewer.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Am I the only one that isn't too high on Donovan? He had a great run with that one class of players. It was like a once-in-a-lifetime Fab Five thing for Florida. Since the last title, Florida seems to have become progressively worse, instead of maintaining some semblance of dominance.

And every time there is a coaching vacancy, his name comes up. He never denies it.

He seems like he is waiting around for something better and I have a feeling he will never come close to replicating what he had with that one class of Gators. I'm probably wrong, though.

He also made it to the finals back in 2000. Even programs like UConn and Syracuse miss the NCAA tournament sometimes. I would put Florida just a notch below UConn and probably a bit above Syracuse.

[TripletDaddy]

You forget that he took the Gators to the NC game in 2000 as well. That is 3 National Championship game appearances in 7 years. Also the group of players he had, Noah was a 3 star, Horford a 3 star, Green a 4 star, the only Mcdonalds All-American was Brewer.

Good point. I forgot about the championship game loss earlier on.

OK, Donovan is ok by me.

But I'm still going to keep an eye on him....

[TripletDaddy]

He also made it to the finals back in 2000. Even programs like UConn and Syracuse miss the NCAA tournament sometimes. I would put Florida just a notch below UConn and probably a bit above Syracuse.

holy crap dude! stop piling on, ok? I already said that donovan was ok!