2B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BIG 12 BASKETBALL
FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2007
Goodbye, Huggins K-State coach leaves unexpectedly
After just one season, Manhattan is no longer Huggieville.
Kansas State men's basketball coach Bob Huggins is leaving the Wildcats to return to West Virginia, his alma mater, according to media reports in West Virginia and Kansas.
In his only season coaching the Wildcats, Huggins led K-State to the postseason for the first time since 1999. K-State advanced to the second round of the NIT and finished the season with a 23-12 recording, including a 10-6 mark in Big 12 Conference play.
Huggins leaves behind the No.
1 recruiting class in the nation, according to numerous recruiting services. Those players, including highly touted prospect Michael Beasley, could be released from their national letters of intent by K-State.
A little more than a year ago, Huggins signed a five-year contract at K-State, which paid him at least $800,000 each season.
Huggins will replace John Beilein, who left West Virigina earlier this week to take over at Michigan.
Kansan Staff Report
Donovan passes on Kentucky, calls Florida home
>> NCAA BASKETBALL
BY MARK LONG ASSOCIATED PRESS
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Billy Donovan wanted to stay. His star players knew it was time to go.
Donovan spurned a chance to return to Kentucky and take over the tradition-rich program, saying Thursday he hopes to build the same in Gainesville.
He'll have to do it without Corey Brewer, Taurean Green, Al Horford and Joakim Noah. The four juniors will enter the NBA draft, saying they have accomplished all they could at Florida.
"I'm happy and I'm sad," Donovan said. "Happy because I've never seen a group of kids grow the way these guys have grown, and sad that I'm
not going to have a chance to coach them anymore... I do not expect any of them back here next year. Their commitment, their focus, is trying to further their careers in the game of basketball.
"When they put their minds to something they're usually very,very successful at doing it."
Donovan and the foursome led the Gators to consecutive national championships, capping the coach's 11 years and setting the foundation for a program he hopes will someday be mentioned with the likes of Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, Duke and UCLA.
The Gators became the first team to win back-to-back titles since Duke in 1992. But following Monday night's 84-75 victory against Ohio State, Donovan's future had become
the biggest question mark surrounding Florida.
Donovan acknowledged interest in the Kentucky job this week, saying he had a lot of admiration for the Wildcats. But he also said he intended to stay in Gainesville.
He proved it Thursday.
"It's all about where you're at in life and what's going to make you happy," Donovan said. "I'm happy here at Florida. I love the University of Florida."
Kentucky received permission to talk to Donovan about its coaching vacancy Wednesday. The coach and Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart spoke early Thursday morning.
Donovan then met with Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley and agreed to stay put.
"We want to put basketball on
the map here forever," Foley said. "And there's no question he's the key component."
Donovan was the top choice to replace Tubby Smith, who left Kentucky last month to take the head job at Minnesota. Donovan spent five years as an assistant under Rick Pitino in Lexington, quickly learning about Kentucky's unrivaled fan base and unrealistic expectations.
But he spent the last decade-plus in Gainesville, putting down roots with his wife and four children. He also turned a mediocre basketball program into a national power — at a place where football used to be king — and defied conventional wisdom held by his mentor, Pitino, his predecessor, Lon Kruger. Donovan has a 261-103 record at Florida.
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He has two years remaining on his current contract worth $1.7 million annually, but was expected to sign a long-term extension "later this spring." Foley said.
University of Florida president Bernie Machen and Foley have been working on a new contract for Donovan since last year.
athletics calendar
TODAY
Track at Texas Relays, all day, Austin, Texas
SATURDAY
Baseball vs. Texas, 3 p.m. Hoglund Ballpark
Track at Texas Relays, all day, Austin, Texas
Rowing vs. Kansas State, 10 a.m. Burcham Park
Baseball vs. Texas, 1 p.m. Hoglund Ballpark
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Softball at Texas, 1 p.m. Austin, Texas
SUNDAY
Tennis at Missouri, 1 p.m. Columbia, Mo.
Women's golf at Susie Maxwell Berning Classic, all day, Norman Okla.
Softball at Texas, 1 p.m. Austin, Texas
SAT7
SAT 7
KJHK'S
FARMER'S BALL
TUE 10
SEEPEOPLES Birdmonster
WED 11
JJ GREY & MOFRO*
Dubconscious
SUN 15
DAVID BAZAN*
(formerly of Pedro the Lion)
Will Johnson
www.bottlenecklive.com
www.myspace.com/bottleneck
Granada
SUN APR 8
GALACTIC*
Papa Mali
Granada
WED APR 11
YO LA TENGO*
David Kilgour & the Heavy Eights
Bottleneck
MON APR 23
TED LEO & THE
PHARMACISTS*
Love of Diagrams
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