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Florida basketball: Does Billy Donovan come back to Florida?

By Matthew Clark

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 04: Head coach Billy Donovan of the Florida Gators on the court as the Gators practice ahead of the 2014 NCAA Men's Final Four at AT&T Stadium on April 4, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 04: Head coach Billy Donovan of the Florida Gators on the court as the Gators practice ahead of the 2014 NCAA Men's Final Four at AT&T Stadium on April 4, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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DES MOINES, IOWA – MARCH 21: Head coach Mike White of the Florida Gators reacts against the Florida Gators in the second half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IOWA – MARCH 21: Head coach Mike White of the Florida Gators reacts against the Florida Gators in the second half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Former Louisiana Tech head coach Mike White took over the Gators’ program when Donovan left for the Midwest.

Since then, White has led the Gators back to the NCAA tournament for the last three years, including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2017.

He also led the Gators to the NIT quarterfinals in 2016.

But, White could be the victim of his own success.

Noah Locke is back after an outstanding freshman season and Andrew Nembhard is returning after electing not to enter the NBA Draft.

Couple that with the pickup of Virginia Tech graduate transfer Kerry Blackshear and the expectations for Florida basketball could not be much higher.

If the Gators don’t live up to those high expectations this year, expect White to feel the burn of the hot seat and the potential for athletic director Scott Stricklin to potentially make a change.

That would be nearly the perfect time for Donovan, if, again, he is let go from Oklahoma City.

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