Pete Thamel: Billy Donovan expected to say 'no thanks' to Kentucky, Scott Drew could be 'realistic' candidate

In light of John Calipari’s decision to leave Kentucky for Arkansas, a former Wildcats assistant has come up in rumors. Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan‘s name has been a hot one in the 24 hours or so since news broke of Calipari’s departure, but ESPN’s Pete Thamel indicated UK might not lure him away from the NBA.

Ahead of tip-off of Monday’s national championship between Purdue and UConn, Thamel said Donovan’s answer isn’t expected to change about returning to the college ranks since he got to the NBA. Add in the fact that the Bulls will play in the NBA Play-In Tournament on April 17, and the timing likely doesn’t work either.

That would then lead Kentucky to a list that could begin with someone like Scott Drew.

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“I think you have to start with an aspirational candidate list, and at the top of that would be Billy Donovan, who’s the Bulls’ coach,” Thamel said on College GameDay. “The early read there is that the answer from Donovan is expected to be the same as it’s been the last half-dozen years or so when college jobs have called and Billy has said, ‘No thanks. I’m happy in the NBA.’ The timing for Donovan, Rece, doesn’t work well. The Bulls are in that play-in game in the NBA to get into the playoffs on April 17. That’s a long time from today if you’re gonna wait to talk to Billy Donovan.”

If Kentucky was to wait on Donovan, who served as an assistant at UK under Rick Pitino, an answer likely wouldn’t come either way until April 18 at the earliest. With the transfer portal open, the Wildcats could opt for a quick search to replace Calipari, who spent 15 years in Lexington.

That’s where Drew could enter the picture, especially considering a pre-existing relationship with Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart and the fact he was rumored for a rival opening earlier this offseason.

“In a more realistic candidate list, I’d take a look at Scott Drew at Baylor,” Thamel said. “He and Mitch Barnhart have a relationship going back to the bubble NCAA Tournament. Baylor, obviously, won that 2021 NCAA Tournament. Mitch Barnhart was the committee chair, and he was in the Baylor hotel and he was assigned to the Bears’ team. So they spent a month together. Everyone remembers how much time you spent together in the bubble.

“I think because Scott Drew listened to Louisville, he’d give Kentucky a listen. And Kentucky has more financial metal, they have more resources and they have a better league moving forward. That’s something Scott Drew is likely to entertain.”