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'm very, very thankful. The NCAA Tournament to me, what's the lottery motto? You've got to be in it to win it.
We're just a basketball team that doesn't have a lot of depth right now. That's our biggest challenge.
We're right back to where we were before the season started. We've got to be able to prove ourselves. I think it's very, very evident, we're not a Top 5, Top 10, Top 15 team.
We're right back to where we were before the season started.
We're looking forward in playing in what is a great, great event. We don't know who our opponent will be, but we know it will be a very good team and we know that this is a one-and-done situation.
We've got a very quick turnaround. We're going to have to get a lot done in a very short period of time.
Whether or not we're deserving of all this, I don't know, ... I'm just trying to look at the bigger picture of my team.
We're sitting up here as national champions, but I don't necessarily believe we're the best team. In a one-shot deal like this, I've been on both sides. I've been heartbroken, and now we're national champions.
What this goes to show you is that in our league, coming in with a team that was 1-4 against a team that was perceived as being a top team, we were basically manhandled today.
What they've been able to do this year is great for basketball. Most teams don't get a chance to experience what they've been able to experience. In this tournament, they were able to inspire a lot of people. There was no resentment on our team for feeling like they got all the attention or we got slighted.
What they've been able to do this year is great for basketball.
We felt like Darrel Mitchell was the key to their team, so we tried to run at him and trap him as much as we could. When he gets his 18 or 19 points, everything else falls into place.
The one thing you've got to do with reading is it's something you've got to do every day. Anything you want to do in life, you've got to practice every day.
We are a different team. I don't know if it's a better or what it is, but it's different and it's different roles.