If Billy Donovan Can Be Believed, He's Not Leaving Florida

Despite a Fox Sports Orlando report that his hiring at Kentucky was imminent, Billy Donovan said in a statement today that he's staying at Florida. We think.

Of course he has been known to change his mind. But in a statement that was reported by ESPN earlier today, Donovan indicated that he had no interest in the Wildcats job.

"In response to the rumors circulating about my interest in other jobs, I wanted to address this as quickly as possible. I am committed to the University of Florida and look forward to continuing to build our program here," Donovan said in a statement.

That's not a definite no, I suppose. But the pointy-haired Gary Parrish at CBS Sports is also reporting, citing an anonymous source, that Donovan is not interested in taking over for Billy Gillispie, who resigned or was fired earlier today.

This contradicts Gary Holden's Fox Sports Orlando report, about an hour ago, that Donovan and Kentucky had agreed to a deal in principle to coach the Wildcats. The Fox affiliate has since changed its headline and lead to reflect Donovan's statement. Holden blamed his source for the mixup.

A source close to the University of Kentucky athletic program told FOX 35 Sports on Friday that an agreement, in principle, had been reached between Donovan and Kentucky to be the school's next basketball coach.

Hey, just trying to stay fair and balanced. In a press conference today, University of Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart said that he did not plan to pay Gillispie a $6 million buyout, because it was part of a contract that was never formally signed.

Lane Kiffin nods knowingly.

Gillespie, Kentucky Part Ways [ESPN] Donovan Will Not Be A Candidate At Kentucky [CBS Sports] Donovan Says He's 'Committed' To UF [MyFoxOrlando]