As The Basketball Spins ...

[WildcatRick]

By Alex Abrams
The Morning News/Razorback Central


FAYETTEVILLE — If things had gone according to plan, Billy Gillispie would be preparing for his first season as Arkansas’ basketball coach.

Billy Donovan, meanwhile, would be the most popular man in Kentucky.

And as for John Pelphrey, it’s uncertain where he would be right now — had a few breaks not gone his way.

No one can predict how coaching vacancies in the Southeastern Conference will shake out, but there was a possibility a few months ago that things could have looked a lot differently than they do now.

Consider that Donovan was offered Kentucky’s coaching job after he led Florida to its second consecutive national championship. Around the same time, Gillispie was believed to be the top candidate to replace Stan Heath at Arkansas.

Neither of those things happened, though.

The dominoes instead fell in such a way that Gillispie is now at Kentucky, Pelphrey is at Arkansas and Donovan is again the coach at Florida — after having a change of heart after briefly taking the Orlando Magic job.

Oh, what an odd tale it has been.

http://arkansas.scout.com/2/659121.html

[CATHEAD]

By Alex Abrams
The Morning News/Razorback Central


FAYETTEVILLE — If things had gone according to plan, Billy Gillispie would be preparing for his first season as Arkansas’ basketball coach.

Billy Donovan, meanwhile, would be the most popular man in Kentucky.

And as for John Pelphrey, it’s uncertain where he would be right now — had a few breaks not gone his way.

No one can predict how coaching vacancies in the Southeastern Conference will shake out, but there was a possibility a few months ago that things could have looked a lot differently than they do now.

Consider that Donovan was offered Kentucky’s coaching job after he led Florida to its second consecutive national championship. Around the same time, Gillispie was believed to be the top candidate to replace Stan Heath at Arkansas.

Neither of those things happened, though.

The dominoes instead fell in such a way that Gillispie is now at Kentucky, Pelphrey is at Arkansas and Donovan is again the coach at Florida — after having a change of heart after briefly taking the Orlando Magic job.

Oh, what an odd tale it has been.

http://arkansas.scout.com/2/659121.html

Odd, yes. But I LOVE the way it all unfolded.

[UKS2H]

Yeah, I really like that article. Everyone definitely got what they needed in the whole ordeal. Donovan should have his entire career at Florida, and Gillespie will hopefully be a long-term coach at UK. Pelphrey is right where he belongs, at a place where they will give him time to grow, and where fan support is great and best of all: playing in the SEC.

[Dwight Schrute]

I said this in another thread a couple weeks ago, but I'm REALLY glad we got Billy G. I would hate to have to go up against Billy G at a place like Arkansas where he'd have support and resources that rival that at UK. He'd make a monster of that program.

I think (hope) John Pelphery will succeed at Arkansas, but I think Billy G would succeed there in a short amount of time.

[poodoo]

I said this in another thread a couple weeks ago, but I'm REALLY glad we got Billy G. I would hate to have to go up against Billy G at a place like Arkansas where he'd have support and resources that rival that at UK. He'd make a monster of that program.

I think (hope) John Pelphery will succeed at Arkansas, but I think Billy G would succeed there in a short amount of time.

FWIW, I think you have made an excellent point, Dwight. I, too, am glad that WE are the ones who have Coach Billy G. :)