Gee. . . $27 million or $21 million plus shoe money and other benefits that won't be made public.

Big ego players vs. kids.

Rookie coach vs. king of his domain.

An exhibition season, 82 games, and playoffs vs. 30something.

Hmm. Seems like he made the wrong decision in the first place - unless he really wanted the NBA challenge as it would be the best players in his profession. I guess he didn't want that challenge.

Anthony,

There's a somewhat tongue-in-cheek school of thought that leaving now for the Magic was a no-lose proposition. His reputation can get no hotter as a college coach than it is right now, off back-to-back titles, and will inevtiably cool somewhat now that those studs are all gone. On the flip side, the likes of Pitino and Spurrier have shown that flopping in the pros doesn't tarnish your rep at the college level. If Donovan wanted to jump back to college in a few years, the schools would be lining up no matter how poorly he did in the NBA, because he would still be viewed as a college hoops savior. In the meantime, he would have $27 million to console him with the Magic even if things weren't working out.

If he did well in the NBA, on the other hand, he would be one of the first to conquer both realms, and he could write his ticket at either level. -- Pete

2006 & 2007 Fla. Gators:
"Remember us with the great teams."

USF, UCLA, Duke, North Carolina:
"We are the great teams, you guys can sit back there with UNLV."

I think the flipflopping could harm his reputation during recruiting - even with the 2 national titles.

does anyone else see the resemblence between BillyD and Kenny Banya from Seinfeld

Donovan would simply be nuts to leave Florida. An SI column nailed it correctly. Everyone wants to take a tep up, with Destination programs - Indiana, UNC, Duke, UCLA, Kentucky, Georgetown et al a pretty good ultimate destination. Not only if Florida on that list, but Donovan put it on the list. It seems to me that the only potential moves up, for Donovan, woudl be Duke, Kentucky, and Indiana - each because there is not football team to steal the headlines - and alumni dollars. And even Kentucky would be a tough call, because that makes Pitino his arch rival. Yes, life in Florida will not be all that joyous, losing 7 players. But in terms of reaching demi-god status, he is best where he is. Why go to the pros, and try to coach a bunch of overpaid whiners with automatic weapons?