Billy Donovan
Billy Donovan
William John Donovan, Jr.is an American professional basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association. He previously spent 19 seasons at the University of Florida, where his Florida Gators men's basketball teams won two NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championships in 2006 and 2007. Donovan has more wins than any other coach in the history of the Florida basketball program, and he coached the Gators to more NCAA tournament appearances,...
ProfessionCoach
Date of Birth30 May 1965
CityRockville Centre, NY
I would say that our basketball team is totally different. Every guy on our team is playing a completely different role than they did a year ago.
I would say that our basketball team is totally different.
Jo has been great. Sometimes the margin for winning and losing is so fragile.
I think it's a great comparison. Bobby Jones was a great runner in transition, he was a great athlete on the floor. I believe as David continues to grow, his shooting will get better. He's a very versatile guy.
I think it probably means something to their players because they understand what they're representing. A lot of times, it's the past players that they know are watching them that gives them a level of expectation of the way they're supposed to perform. I think that's a good thing for a program.
I think in this tournament, they've been able to inspire a lot of different people, people that maybe are really, really in need. I heard Jim talk about some stories of some people and the letters he's gotten. To me, that's what his team has been all about.
I think in the SEC tournament if you can get a bye that's always a great thing. It's certainly very hard playing four consecutive games in a row to win an SEC championship.
I think they were really ready to play today and they were excited about playing. Maybe too excited.
I went off pretty good at halftime. I was getting frustrated watching balls go up from the 3-point line when guys are standing in the post with a 6-6 guy guarding them. They finally got the message.
I went off pretty good at halftime. It's hard if you're not making shots to get off to a good start. We could have very, very easily have been up 15 or 20 in the first half.
I was a little concerned with our foul trouble and our turnovers late. In the second half we did a much better job of taking care of the basketball.
I think the tournament is wide open. Is it any more wide open than in years past? It's hard to say, but I just think on a neutral site with the way this league is anything can happen on any given night.
Going into this game, we don't have any excuses. We have enough to get out on the floor and dress. We're not going to be playing five against four.
He's as good a shooter as anyone I've coached since I've been here. He can line up in shoot with anybody in the United States of America.