Back to back national titles for the Gators, and they are rewarded with a coaching search in June. With the cupboard at Florida emptying itself via several early entries into the draft, Billy Donovan decided the opportunity to coach in the NBA was too good to pass up. Though he had compiled an impressive recruiting class for ‘07 and had maintained, following their title run, that he was happy at Florida and wasn’t job hunting (namely regarding the then vacant Kentucky head coaching position), Donovan found himself 27 and a half million reasons to make the change and move up to Disneyworld.

This isn’t a situation like what we saw with Saban in Miami, where a guy vehemently denies any thought of leaving, and then blatantly abandons his former employer. Many people expected Donovan to get a look at this job, assuming it opened, as he’d basically proven himself at the collegiate level. Upon beating Ohio State back in April, Donovan became the first coach since Mike Krzyzewski almost 20 years ago to win back to back championships. You’d expect that a guy in that position may want to try his hand at the next level.

For Florida, though, this could suck balls. The sentimental fave for the job is VCU headman, and former Donovan assistant, Anthony Grant, but he may not be ready for stepping into shoes that large. Calipari and Crean’s names will get tossed around a bit, as will Nova coach Jay Wright. Whoever steps in, though, will be basically in rebuildling mode. Florida has a couple talented guys still on the roster, but depending on who’s hired, the two McD’s kids they have committed could look elsewhere. Nick Calathes would be the best bet to stay, being a Florida native. But Jai Lucas, the 5′7 fireball guard, could opt to join Patrick Patterson at Kentucky with new head Billy Gillispie. If that scenario played out, Kentucky could hop into the picture with Roy Hibbert and Georgetown, Brandon Rush and Kansas, and Alex Stepheson (pictured above cuddling with a friend) and UNC culturing national title hopes. Either way, Florida will not be talking about a three-peat.