Billy Donovan didn't mince words.
After his Florida team beat Alabama 69-61 Thursday in the SEC Tournament, I asked Donovan what he would say to anyone who thinks Anthony Grant should not be retained as the Crimson Tide's coach.
Donovan spoke for three solid minutes on the kind of man and coach Grant is.
In conclusion, Donovan started to say that firing Grant would be "the biggest mistake," then said this: "Let's put it this way. Alabama better hope he comes back. That's what I would say."
It's not unprecedented for one coach to beat another and then speak out on his behalf. Donovan was especially strong in that way, and his words resonated as especially heartfelt.
"I don't think I'm biased," Donovan said, even though Grant served as his assistant at Marshall and Florida. "I don't think people have any idea how great of a coach Anthony Grant is. I saw it first-hand.
"He took over a very challenging and difficult situation. He had a couple of very talented players that really went through some disciplinary problems."
See Tony Mitchell and JaMychal Green, who had a bit of knucklehead in them.
"He's obviously battling with some injury problems right now."
See Ricky Tarrant and Shannon Hale, out for the year.
"He had a really good player that transferred out."
See Trevor Lacey at North Carolina State.
"I think that Anthony has been playing catch-up a lot," Donovan said. "I think that in terms of Xs and Os, coaching, recruiting, all those kinds of things, he's phenomenal. He's one of the best coaches I've ever been around."
When I asked Grant if he'd thought about the future and expected to return to Alabama for a seventh season, he said, "Haven't given it any thought. ... As I always do at the end of the year, I'll evaluate as we move forward."
Donovan heard those closing comments from Grant.
"I understand where he's coming from from the perspective that he wants to digest and take everything in himself personally to evaluate," Donovan said. "Anthony's always been a very, very well-thought-out guy as it relates to that."
Donovan then echoed something I reported before the game Thursday, that the feeling inside the Alabama athletic department is that AD Bill Battle doesn't want to fire Grant and likely won't.
"I do know that there's a lot of support internally in their athletic department for Anthony," Donovan said. "I think those people understand the man that they have."
Donovan said it bothers him that "it's never talked about what coaches do to develop these guys into young men. As a parent, there's not a coach in the country I'd want my son to play for (rather) than Anthony Grant."
And so the second chapter in Alabama's season ends, and the Tide must wait until Sunday night to see if it receives an NIT bid. Grant said he thinks the team is worthy.
Donovan said the same thing about Grant. As a coach and a man.