Florida Basketball Will Succeed Despite Billy Donovan Leaving For OKC Thunder

With multiple reports suggesting that a move for Florida Gators head coach Billy Donovan to the Oklahoma City Thunder is a “done deal,” most people are focusing on how well he’ll do at the next level.

But what about how well the Gators will do in the 2015-16 season without Donovan at the helm?

I recently wrote an article on how the Gators are a legitimate threat to win the SEC next season, and unless current players start jumping ship, not much has changed. Sure, the Florida athletic department has to find a competent head coach like the Dayton Flyers’ Archie Miller, but the team boasts enough returning talent that even if the four 4-star recruits Donovan had coming in choose to go somewhere else, the Gators should be a lock for the 2016 NCAA tournament.

Dorian Finney-Smith, Kasey Hill, Chris Chiozza, Alex Murphy and Devin Robinson all return for the team, while Brandone Francis, Schuyler Rimmer and John Egbunu should be eligible to play. This team may lose a huge portion of their starting minutes, but there is no doubt that the Gators boast some of the most talented players in college basketball.

The SEC is going to be much more difficult next season. The LSU Tigers, Vanderbilt Commodores and Texas A&M Aggies will all take big steps forward, while teams like the Arkansas Razorbacks, Kentucky Wildcats, Georgia Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels will continue to be strong. However, the Gators should be able to compete and even win the SEC, despite their coach heading to the NBA.

Florida may be losing a borderline elite head coach, but the future remains bright for the Gators.

Taylor Sturm is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.