Adams: Pearl SEC's best with Donovan, Tubby departed

Tennessee's basketball coach was referring to Billy Donovan, who led the Gators to consecutive national championships. Well, "he" isn't there anymore. And that will only enhance UT's chances of ascending to a power position in SEC basketball.

Kentucky traditionally has been able to recruit the best players in the country. Florida has only done that consistently with Donovan as its head coach.

So his decision to leave Florida for a head-coaching job with the NBA's Orlando Magic will have both a short- and long-term effect on the conference.

Sure, you can expect the Gators to hire another good coach. But they can't hire the best college coach in the country.

They just lost him.

After losing their entire starting lineup, the Gators were rebuilding next season anyway, albeit with one of the nation's top recruiting classes. The rebuilding process won't be the same without Donovan.

Based on its returning talent, UT already qualified as the favorite to win the SEC East. Donovan's departure solidifies UT's position.

But there's more to it than that. When Tubby Smith left Kentucky for the University of Minnesota two months ago, the SEC lost one national championship coach. Now, it has lost another.

Who does that leave as the conference's biggest name coach?

The SEC spring meetings offered a hint. At its awards dinner Thursday night, the conference treated its audience to a highlight video -- accompanied by inspirational music, of course -- of the past school year during which the league already has won eight national championships.

You saw Florida celebrating a national championship in football and basketball. Amidst the basketball celebration in the Georgia Dome, you saw Donovan surrounded by his cast of star players.

But as the faces flashed across the screen, one stood out. It was the one painted orange.

What did you expect? In a season of championship highlights, the conference still couldn't ignore Pearl, who painted his face and chest orange, then cheered alongside UT students at the Lady Vols' nationally televised game with Duke.

That's Pearl the promoter. Pearl the coach has taken the Vols to back-to-back NCAA tournaments -- heady success for a program that has been as dysfunctional as this one -- and had them within a last-second shot of reaching the elite eight this past season.

Pearl has worked as hard at promoting as he has at coaching and recruiting. He has painted himself orange, scheduled non-conference games with powerhouse opponents and appeared on national television as a color analyst.

Never mind that he has been at UT only two years. With the departure of Smith and Donovan, Pearl is the most recognizable coach in SEC basketball.

Recognition aside, who else in the SEC would you rather have for your basketball coach?

There's no national championship coach from which to choose. Instead, you have a bunch of guys trying to make it to the top.

And no one will try harder than Pearl.