Kentucky Basketball has been chasing Billy Donovan for longer than a lot of you reading this have been alive. The obsession began when Donovan was an energetic grad assistant under Rick Pitino during the Wildcats' legendary run from 1989 to 1994, and it has lingered over the program like a ghost ever since.
Before Mark Pope was hired in 2024, the rumors (or, perhaps more aptly, hopes) ran wild online amidst a historic coaching search.
And just when you thought the ship had finally sailed, as a result of Donovan staying with the Bulls, the noise has come alive once more. This time, in an interesting change, a major national voice is pouring gasoline on the fire.
Cowherd's Bold Prediction
Speculation reached a boiling point this week thanks to radio host and hot-take specialist, Colin Cowherd. Discussing the NBA Playoffs on his show, Cowherd placed a massive bet regarding Donovan's future in Chicago.
"Now if Orlando beats Detroit in that series, I kind of got a feeling the Pistons are going to come back, blowout win … or keep your eye on Kentucky basketball,” Cowherd teased.
Shortly after, when Donovan confirmed he would be stepping away from the Bulls job, Cowherd followed up with a highly cryptic tweet: "Told ya. He’s moving to warmer and greener (ok, blue) pastures." But we have been here plenty of times before.
The History of the "White Whale"
If you're familiar with recent Kentucky basketball coaching hires, you know exactly why Cowherd's comment set the internet on fire. Mitch Barnhart's love for Donovan has spanned two decades. Back when Tubby Smith initially left Lexington, Barnhart immediately tried to lure Donovan away from Florida. Of course, Donovan declined. Strike one.
Following the disastrous two-year Billy Gillispie experiment thereafter, Barnhart went back to Gainesville to try again. Donovan declined once more, leading Kentucky to pivot to John Calipari. Strike two.
Then, when the Calipari era eventually soured, Barnhart again made his customary call to Donovan. But the Bulls coach refused to discuss college jobs until Chicago was eliminated from the playoffs. Believing he couldn't afford to wait, Barnhart moved on and hired Mark Pope. Strike three.
Normally, it's three strikes and you're out. But maybe one of those was just a foul tip?
A Crucial Third Campaign
The timing of Donovan stepping away from the NBA could not be more fascinating, to boot, or more terrifying for Mark Pope.
The Pope era is currently navigating incredibly choppy waters after one of the worst win-loss records in Kentucky history. Year three is off to a rough start on the recruiting trail, too, with the staff striking out on priority portal targets and scrambling to piece together a roster after two initially promising pickups.
If the incoming season spirals in the same way that the portal cycle has, could come under a new athletic director. The temptation to finally land the "White Whale" might be too much to ignore for a fanbase starved of relevancy, even in Barnhart's technical absence.
Kentucky has been chasing Donovan in spurts for three decades. Maybe this is finally the moment it happens. Or maybe it’s just another chapter in a saga that never quite ends. Though, that's only if Pope's era fully falls out; the passionate, blue-blooded coach certainly isn't ready to quit. And, at least until his third try is wrapped up, fans shouldn't yet bring out the plane tracker for Donovan.
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