Friday, April 6, 2007

Florida Coach Billy Donovan wanted to stay. His star players knew it was time to go.

Donovan spurned a chance to return to Kentucky and take over the tradition-rich program, saying yesterday he hopes to build the same in Gainesville.

He'll have to do it without Corey Brewer, Taurean Green, Al Horford and Joakim Noah. The four juniors will enter the NBA draft, saying they have accomplished all they could at Florida.

"I've never seen a group of kids grow the way these guys have grown," Donovan said.

Donovan and the foursome led the Gators to consecutive national championships, capping the coach's 11 years and setting the foundation for a program he hopes will someday be mentioned with the likes of Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, Duke and UCLA.

"It's all about where you're at in life and what's going to make you happy," Donovan said. "I'm happy here at Florida."

Donovan was the top choice to replace Tubby Smith, who left Kentucky last month to take the head job at Minnesota. Donovan spent five years as an assistant under Rick Pitino in Lexington.

Texas A&M granted Kentucky permission to contact its coach, Billy Gillispie, about the opening late yesterday. . . .

Bob Huggins resigned to become the West Virginia basketball coach after one season with Kansas State. Huggins, who was born in Morgantown, replaces John Beilein, who left the Mountaineers on Tuesday to become Michigan's coach.

Before arriving at Kansas State, Huggins coached for 16 seasons at Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to 14 consecutive NCAA tournaments and one Final Four.

Huggins's contract requires him to pay Kansas State $100,000 for leaving early. Kansas State went 23-12 this season, two wins shy of the school single-season record for victories.

· PRO FOOTBALL: As requested, the New Orleans Saints released place kicker John Carney, two days after trading for Olindo Mare. The 43-year-old Carney was the Saints' all-time leader in field goal accuracy percentage (83.3).

· PRO BASKETBALL: New Orleans forward Desmond Mason could miss the rest of the season after breaking his nose and cheekbone. Mason took an elbow to the face from Seattle's Chris Wilcox during the Hornets' 102-93 victory Wednesday.

· COLLEGE HOCKEY: Nick Sucharski scored the go-ahead goal off a rebound early in the third period and Jeff Lerg made 29 saves, helping Michigan State beat Maine, 4-2, in the Frozen Four semifinals in St. Louis. The Spartans will play Boston College, a 6-4 winner over North Dakota, in the final tomorrow.

-- From News Services