UNC Candidate Deep Dive: Billy Donovan

(if Lloyd doesn’t work out)

Pros: elite X’s and O’s, ability to attract NBA talent, ability to fundraise (credibility with the fat cats) Cons: older, out of the college game for a decade, staff (would he be able to get college coaches on staff that understand the landscape?), and RoyW history. Seems like a very good option if the college guys don’t work out — we’ve seen this archetype (College —> NBA —> College) work very well recently (Pitino, Sampson, etc.)

tarheelcoach said:

Honestly, he’s not a bad choice. No one can say he hasn’t won titles in the modern era, just not in the NIL/transfer portal era. On those points, I really think that benefits BD more than it detracts from what he could do here. With a GM (Jim Tanner, or whoever it is) and the money backing, I’d say he could make some serious noise at UNC.

Jamison33 said:

Pros: elite X’s and O’s, ability to attract NBA talent, ability to fundraise (credibility with the fat cats) Cons: older, out of the college game for a decade, staff (would he be able to get college coaches on staff that understand the landscape?), and RoyW history. Seems like a very good option if the college guys don’t work out — we’ve seen this archetype (College —> NBA —> College) work very well recently (Pitino, Sampson, etc.)

He has Matt McCall and others he can pluck. He would probably keep big Shawn or grab Theo or some Tar Heel? Would stack leave Steve Kerr to be Billy's assistant?

In! Hard to not call it a win other than the minor age ding. I think he can give us a good 6-10y and his NBA pedigree should really boost recruiting

OutlawsHeels said:

In! Hard to not call it a win other than the minor age ding. I think he can give us a good 6-10y and his NBA pedigree should really boost recruiting

Agreed. With guys he had before (Noah, Horford, Brewer, Green), they all had games that would translate to the here and now as well. If he’s getting those type of players, we are sitting pretty in this current basketball landscape. I’ve come around big time to BD, and I was kind of opposed to it at the beginning of the week.

I still believe my personal Top 3(and lets be clear- NO ONE has asked me for my top 3) Would be Lloyd. May, then Donovan. But that does a disservice implying Donovan would be the 3rd choice. These THREE clearly stand above every other scenario (TJO, McCollum, Oats, McCasland) and all three would be some version of a homerun.

RIP Bret Bearup. Was a monster behind the scenes in the college basketball world, a great poster in this community (and attendee at the old annual community get togethers), and would have loved talking about this possibility. Been thinking about him a lot this past week. Controversial figure, but loved ball - that was the common thread. Would have been amazing. I know some longtime members of this community would agree (especially those that were at his famous lunches!).

I think Donovan would be an excellent coach. I'm confident of the following: - He knows how to navigate big time politics. - He knows the game better than anyone else on the coaching board. - His NBA pedigree will be a big recruiting advantage - He'll have his team playing hard, tough - His uptempo style of play will mostly be welcomed in Chapel Hill Questions I'd have - At 60 and a product of big time programs, will he fully fold into UNC culture and history? Or view it as an escape hatch from Chicago? - His style of play will need to evolve for college and college-level talent - how will it? And can he navigate such a swift change in philosophy? - Similarly, player management is vastly different in college (how hard you need to catch, professionalism in approach, build up vs tear down, etc. etc). Can he make that adjustment? Will it take time? - Will he fully attack the recruiting responsibilities (AAU tournaments, texting / calling recruits, in-home visits, etc) which he hasn't had to do in a long time - or will he outsource them to an assistant (which, on the whole, doesn't work). I think he'd easily be the best coach in the ACC from day 1 - but he might need a year or two to fully adjust and adapt.

Hubb29 said:

He has Matt McCall and others he can pluck. He would probably keep big Shawn or grab Theo or some Tar Heel? Would stack leave Steve Kerr to be Billy's assistant?

I think Theo would be an absolutely amazing recruiter. Would probably have to be a bit more professional than he's used to in the official coach settings. But man everyone loves that guy.

BenSherman said:

RIP Bret Bearup. Was a monster behind the scenes in the college basketball world, a great poster in this community (and attendee at the old annual community get togethers), and would have loved talking about this possibility. Been thinking about him a lot this past week. Controversial figure, but loved ball - that was the common thread. Would have been amazing. I know some longtime members of this community would agree (especially those that were at his famous lunches!).

i've been avoiding the boards and didn't know about Bearup. Did he pass away?

Jamison33 said:

Pros: elite X’s and O’s, ability to attract NBA talent, ability to fundraise (credibility with the fat cats) Cons: older, out of the college game for a decade, staff (would he be able to get college coaches on staff that understand the landscape?), and RoyW history. Seems like a very good option if the college guys don’t work out — we’ve seen this archetype (College —> NBA —> College) work very well recently (Pitino, Sampson, etc.)

I like this summary. i would move staff from Cons to Pros… his network is incredible, he’d have no problem putting a great staff together, and not just on the bench. I would add to Cons the question about where he is mentally. He’s been through a tough time personally, would he be locked in and ready to hit the ground running in a couple of weeks?

BHeel12 said:

Questions I'd have - At 60 and a product of big time programs, will he fully fold into UNC culture and history? Or view it as an escape hatch from Chicago? - His style of play will need to evolve for college and college-level talent - how will it? And can he navigate such a swift change in philosophy? - Similarly, player management is vastly different in college (how hard you need to catch, professionalism in approach, build up vs tear down, etc. etc). Can he make that adjustment? Will it take time? - Will he fully attack the recruiting responsibilities (AAU tournaments, texting / calling recruits, in-home visits, etc) which he hasn't had to do in a long time - or will he outsource them to an assistant (which, on the whole, doesn't work). I think he'd easily be the best coach in the ACC from day 1 - but he might need a year or two to fully adjust and adapt.

He’s one of the more adaptable coaches in basketball. He can’t control his personnel in the NBA so he has to adapt to his teams strengths. As for the college level style, these guys are plucking stuff from the nba, I have no worries about his style.

Good option 3, but is he ready to go fund raise in Saudia Arabia???

I sure hope we aren't out on LLOYD

CHnativeVB said:

Good option 3, but is he ready to go fund raise in Saudia Arabia???

Maybe I’m missing the joke, Saudi Arabia? Lost me on that one lol.

One thing is certain, Donovan can coach the heck out of a team. If he’s the choice, and he puts the right pieces around him to help navigating the new world of college basketball, Carolina will be in great shape.

Ehaus57 said:

i've been avoiding the boards and didn't know about Bearup. Did he pass away?

In 2018 at age 56. I remember this was a good obit: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/367618/2018/05/25/even-in-death-former-kentucky-forward-bret-bearup-remains-larger-than-life/

Did we skip May or am I blind? Deep dive Lloyd on Thursday. Closer look Lloyd on Thursday. Deep dive Donovan on Saturday. Closer look on Friday. Never mind I am blind. I see May got a deep dive yesterday. It's that no one posted in it lmao. Are we not getting any of these for below t2 prospects because the thought is we won't go below t2 (Donovan)?

BleedsCarolinaBlue said:

Maybe I’m missing the joke, Saudi Arabia? Lost me on that one lol.

It’s a Lombo thing

81_77 said:

Did we skip May or am I blind? Deep dive Lloyd on Thursday. Closer look Lloyd on Thursday. Deep dive Donovan on Saturday. Closer look on Friday. Never mind I am blind. I see May got a deep dive yesterday. It's that no one posted in it lmao.

The May deep dive has not arrived yet, no. That is next on my docket.

Headoverheeled said:

It’s a Lombo thing

I’m assuming something Lombardi said on the football side, ie recruiting?