Things Take a Decidedly Kentucky-ish Turn for Donovan

On Wednesday, less than 48 hours after his Florida Gators became back to back national champions, Billy Donovan continued his nationwide college basketball mindscrew by toying with the emotions of both the Big Blue and Gator Nations alike.

Despite making all the right comments about returning to Florida earlier in the week, Donovan introduced a new element to his "Drive Them All Crazy" campaign by admitting that he'd consider the Kentucky job if offered. I'll let Matt Jones from Kentucky Sports Radio handle the quotes so that I don't have to point you to any of the ten thousand articles written on this subject Wednesday:

"I have great feelings for Kentucky because of Coach (Rick) Pitino bringing me there, having a chance to work there for five years, seeing the tradition, seeing the passion, seeing the fanfare," Donovan said. "If there was ever a situation that I was contacted by them, that would be something I would have to think about."
"I know I'm getting asked a lot of questions, and I think eventually I'm going to have to give some answers for everybody to do their job and do what they need to do," Donovan said. "I have to come out and do something."

"I think people want answers, and I'm not at a point to give any answers, and as frustrating as that may be to some people, that's just the truth right now," Donovan said. "When I'm ready to do that, I'll do that. But I'm not going to make any statements without even talking to Jeremy Foley."

(Matt Jones:) Now if you are reading these quotes by themselves, you have to think things look good for the Cats with Donovan.

Why, yes, Matt... yes, they do, if the Gator does say so himself.

And here are a few more Kentucky swing votes from Donovan. From ESPN:

"If I was contacted by them, that would be something that I would have to think about," said Donovan, a former Kentucky assistant under Rick Pitino. "But I think because I've been going so crazy, haven't dealt with my phone, haven't dealt with that stuff."

And another, also from ESPN:

"I think [it's time] to take a deep breath, take a step back and do some thinking and some soul searching," he said. "People want things to happen quickly, but I need some time to decompress and take a deep breath."

Key phrases here are: soul searching, think about, and great feelings for Kentucky. But the one word which really gets my attention is the word "even," which Donovan uses in the sentence "I'm not going to make any statements without even talking to Jeremy Foley."

Without even talking to him?

That makes it sound like Donovan feels he is obligated to "at least" hear Foley out. That sounds like a guy who's lean just turned into a tilt. Like a Leaning Tower of Pisa tilt.

If Donovan were to take the Kentucky job, it would be unprecedented. Never before has a coach won one, much less two national championships back to back, with one school, and then bolted for the in-conference arch rival mere days after holding up the crystal ball.

Since Donovan has done such a good job of messing with the minds of all involved, who the hell knows what's next for Billy the Coy, er, Billy the Kid? If he stays on schedule, tomorrow he'll make a bunch of pro-Florida remarks and wig out the BBN.

Coach, I'm starting to get the feeling that, whether you stay or go, I just want you to get it over with and stop yanking our damn chains, already. Jesus wept.