I don't recall Donovan ever being a terrible game day coach. His first couple of teams were just lacking in high-major talent.
It is true that his first teams lacked talent of later teams. And I (and several friends) often talk about Billy’s early struggles with timeouts, in bounds plays, responding to defensive shifts, etc. He was hired at less than 30 years old. Impossible to think he wasn’t going to grow as a coach and, in my opinion, he did. “Intelligence is not avoiding mistakes, but how quickly you learn.”
Let's see he had Mann, Lewis, Castleton, Johnson, Nembhard, and Fudge, some of them on the same team, and all who have either made or nearly made NBA rosters. Let's not talk about the Applebys, the Reeves, and the other players who transferred out because of sheer ineptitude. So what have you been drinking? That is the real ultimate question. Cal won the NC in 2012. And other than one back-door NCAA appearance White was barely able to get us into the NIT.
What exactly does that have to do with your post saying he was lucky to make it to the NIT seeing that White made it to the NCAA’s four years in a row after that. Try again….
Not my discussion, but if you’re listing NBA or borderline NBA guys in recent years ; DFS Chiozza Devin Robinson
Thank you. I neglected to include them as well. The magnitude of talent that White had here at Florida and did absolutely nothing with it is epic.
We barely got into the NIT his last year, and 2 of the FOUR YEARS IN A ROW we went to the NCAA tournament, we lost to lower seed teams including one year where we were a #1 seed (because of Donovan and his influence over the program). One of those losses was to a 15th-seed Oral Roberts team. Do you see where this is going? We were 9-9 and 9-7 two of the 4 years we made it to the tournament, and our seeding was largely based on the inconceivability that with the talent we had, we would fold so easily in a do-or-die situation. Mike White was AWFUL with talent. The players who moved on to the next level and had success at other programs only support that proposition. Beyond that Elite Eight aberration, White had a pedestrian 55% winning percentage in the SEC. If you take away Donovan's 3 best seasons, all of which he earned through his recruiting and development and not from his predecessor's, he still had a 62% winning percentage in the SEC. When White took over in 2015, Florida had won 3 out of the last 4 SEC Season Championships and 4 out of the last 10 SEC tournaments. Only 3 schools have won 4 out of 10 tournaments in any given period or measurement- Kentucky, Florida, and Alabama. Florida has been the most recent (in the most competitive era). We never even got to a SEC tournament Final under the 7 years of Mike White despite having dominated the tournament the decade before. In our 6 losses in the SEC tournament under Mike White, we lost 3 in the first game and two of those were to lower seeds. You talk about complete underachievement. In his 7 years as head coach, he landed two 5-stars. Donovan landed 14 in 19 years. And that was from taking a program that had never won an NC, had 0 SEC tournament championships, and 1 SEC Conference Title. While White is an EXCELLENT assessor of talent, he could not land the blue-chip players out of HS (other than Mann and Lewis), and he certainly could not develop them. Look at the production that Golden gets from Condon and Haugh. It is outstanding. Condon is averaging 7 rebounds and 8 points a game. Name one White freshman (not who was capable because many were), but who was developed to be that productive that early in his career. Most languished on the bench. Can you imagine what this coaching staff would have done with Jitoboh? . I am thankful for White
You need to win 6 to win the tournament. 2 of the 4 were losses to lower seeds. One time we lost when we were a #1 seed in the tournament (albeit with Donovan recruited and developed players). One year we lost to 15th seed Oral Roberts. Your resting on tournament appearances which ended up largely in debacle outcomes is laughable and only underscorese the indefensibility of Mike White. How many first-game exits did we have in the SEC tournament under MW? 3!!!!!! Two of those were against lower seeds also. Stop while you are behind. There is a reason why he is no longer coaching at Florida.
What year was that? Also you said we had only one NCAA appearance under White. You are allowed to have your opinion but you can't make up your own facts.
Good post…..all you had to do was post this instead of “White only made it to the NIT once” crap and all would be good.
Yes we were never a 1 seed in the White era I think highest in 2017 was 4 IIRC, b/c I’m pretty sure Wisconsin was a 4/5 game Last 1 seed ( and 1 OVERALL) was in 2014 , with Pat , Scottie, Yeguette, etc……..
You are looking at things without examining context. The real question is how many teams consistently make the tournament and win even a single game? There are only a handful. Yes, ideally a team would be a perennial Sweet 16 and above team, but I don’t think any team is doing that. What standard are you holding White’s record to? That said… we will rally around Todd Golden and play good football. I’m glad he is our coach and I believe in him.
Lol..we beat UK 40+ times in a row homie in football. They havent even sniffed an SEC lrt alone a national championship. Meanwhile Florida basketball has back to back championships and been to 5 final fours during that same time...lol..but I get the point you are making. Hey I cant help it..Im biased of course.
Based upon the teams he had, the tradition that had been entrenched in our program, and the fact that we were higher seeds on two of the losses, White grossly underachieved.
