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
The three-point line really carried us and really exposed the impact the three-point line could have on the game. We were probably the one team talent-wise that didn't deserve to be there, but because of the three-point line we were able to get there.
The thing that's so shocking of his 37, he only took 14 shots. He got to the free-throw line tonight. That was the difference.
The thing that gave me the most enjoyment on the bench is that I've never seen so many players at one time wanting to see him do it, wanting to see him grab a rebound or get an assist or score. I've never seen anything like that.
So much of it right now has nothing to do with the talent level. It has to do with their makeup. It has to do with what they're about.
Sometimes when you win, people think it's all easy. Our guys have had to grind out games. Our guys have had to find ways to make plays in games.
Sometimes when you lose, a player has to evaluate himself. I think that's what Al did.
Sometimes, in the NCAA Tournament, the best team doesn't always win. Sometimes it's the hottest team or the luck of the bounce or a shot going in or something happens. Why not give every kid an opportunity to create some type of magic for themselves?
Tennessee has been hardened by all those losses in the past, and now Bruce has brought in hope.
Sometimes there's things that are out of your control in these games.
Sometimes it's crazy what these games come down to. It's a play here, a bounce of the ball there. I've been on both sides of it.
Sometimes, it's about players. The makeup of these guys, they've come into the season and played unselfish. We're fortunate to be 12-0 but at the same time have done the things that we needed to do offensively and defensively to win those games.
Self-inflicted wounds, you know. It was all just self-inflicted.
Self-inflicted wounds. I knew it was going to be this kind of a game. I told our team we're going to have to grind it out and win ugly.
Self-inflicted wounds. All just self-inflicted. We contributed to them getting back in the game with our mental errors.