$8 million for Stokes?

[BlueSince92]

Saw it where?

To me it's a sign of gullibility that people up to and including Jeff Goodman are willing to believe numbers like that.



$20 million is the new "everybody's cheating."



You're free to believe it and feel tough that you believed it and you know the real deal while everyone else is in the dark.

Personally I think that's all piss and wind. And if it were true in either case there would be hard evidence coming out of the woodwork.

Some programs were always going to cheat, at least back when cheating meant anything. And some people like the most connected Mormons and Duke supporters are always going to throw big money at players like Flagg and Dybantsa.

It's going take some really hard evidence to convince me anyone who thinks either case is or was the norm is anything but gullible.

 

[Kentucky15]

What’s the privilege to play here? Or anywhere? It’s a privilege to have top athletes imo. Sports is about championships. If the topic isn’t sports I might have a different opinion.

that privilege stuff is gonna turn us into Indiana

It’s a privilege in the sense that UK gives so much more than anywhere else. The lifetime support, fame for life, biggest national stage, you’re in a unique history here. Just look around at BBM compared to the rest, it’s Kentucky and everyone else. You can literally win political office if you wanted to after playing days here, with ease. It’s just something you don’t see in this sport so it is definitely a privilege to play here.

In this day and age it’s not what it was in 1992, but still. That’s not to say you can just walk in anymore and say “I’m from Kentucky so play for free and take what you get”. But big picture there’s a lot to be desired about playing here.

Indiana turned to Indiana because they retained an old coach who sucked 7-8 years too long, then neglected the program in favor of a clean image. They had their guy in Sampson who would have hung banners. They chose to focus on things other than basketball intentionally. We aren’t gonna do that, although Mitch has tried his best.

 

[Kentucky15]

Do you have some inside information? That’s just your opinion if not which is fine but kind of wild to say it in a matter of fact way.

I think what he’s saying is UK didn’t lose a player because we didn’t have the money, but we have lost players because we weren’t willing to pay what that player wants.

Again it cannot be said enough. Kentucky has to be methodical in its recruiting approach. These agents know Kentucky is loaded and wants to win. They’re going to try and handcuff UK and suck as much out as possible. We are going to lose players because we wouldn’t pay the 2 million tag when nobody else went 2 million either. They know we have it and know we want to win more than anyone. There will be “fine, then he’s going to NC State for 1.8”.

It also helps us weed out the players that don’t understand what it means to play for Kentucky. I genuinely believe mark doesn’t want those. But it’s not to say we aren’t going to try and get the players we want at the end of the day. We just want reasonable minded people who play a give and take game before this is Kentucky and we have leverage.

 

[Rick Honcho]

I’m still thrilled that Calipari is gone. Yeah, college athletics are spiraling to an implosion, but the good news is Calipari is gone…

 

[Dward13]

I’ll buy every title. I don’t care. Duke and UNC did it for years.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Here's the part I don’t like as a UK fan. If you believe what was said on KSR yesterday, and I do, SEC schools are spending 75/15/5/5 on football/MBB/WBB/everything else. UK is spending 65/25/5/5. So in the sport we are behind on we spend less. And the sport where it should be easy we spend more. They also went on to talk about this being a top 3-5 paid roster in the country at roughly $22M. If Pope were so good, why would UK need to outspend everyone? Shouldn’t it be easier to get players to come and play for UK BASKETBALL? There’s a bit of rhetoric and sarcasm to all of this, but also some truth as well. Everyone talked about how Cal always just went out and got the best players. They were correct. Here’s what I know, if we are spending top 3-5 money and don’t get the results (F4 or NC) it sure doesn’t seem much different than before.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Why not? UCLA did and that was 60 years ago.

lol. This is accurate.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

He’s been quoted several times saying this is the best time in history to be a college basketball coach and that he loves this.

He also said Trent Noah had a beautiful body last year when he was full of baby fat. Point? Pope is no different than Cal or any other coach that talks out of his arse, he just does it in a “wonderfully” positive way.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

It’s a privilege in the sense that UK gives so much more than anywhere else. The lifetime support, fame for life, biggest national stage, you’re in a unique history here. Just look around at BBM compared to the rest, it’s Kentucky and everyone else. You can literally win political office if you wanted to after playing days here, with ease. It’s just something you don’t see in this sport so it is definitely a privilege to play here.

In this day and age it’s not what it was in 1992, but still. That’s not to say you can just walk in anymore and say “I’m from Kentucky so play for free and take what you get”. But big picture there’s a lot to be desired about playing here.

Indiana turned to Indiana because they retained an old coach who sucked 7-8 years too long, then neglected the program in favor of a clean image. They had their guy in Sampson who would have hung banners. They chose to focus on things other than basketball intentionally. We aren’t gonna do that, although Mitch has tried his best.

Oh yea it’s definitely a privilege looking at it from our side of it. I understand Kentucky and everything that comes with it. But trying to see it from if I was the number one recruit in the country. I’ll probably go number one in the draft. I’ll make millions year after year. These new kids don’t see it like we see it.
I could literally go anywhere I wanted or not even attend college because I wouldn’t have to. I think the privilege part of it might play into factor way more with a player like Travis Perry. He could use the Kentucky benefits and privilege after playing ball.

A more thank likely NBA all star probably isn’t looking that deep into things for it to matter. We understand it all day but I do believe it’s different for them.

I do appreciate your breakdown of both post tho it helped me see it from a different side

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

I’ll buy every title. I don’t care. Duke and UNC did it for years.

Personally? I mean we can all try to pitch in and help ya out a little

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Here's the part I don’t like as a UK fan. If you believe what was said on KSR yesterday, and I do, SEC schools are spending 75/15/5/5 on football/MBB/WBB/everything else. UK is spending 65/25/5/5. So in the sport we are behind on we spend less. And the sport where it should be easy we spend more. They also went on to talk about this being a top 3-5 paid roster in the country at roughly $22M. If Pope were so good, why would UK need to outspend everyone? Shouldn’t it be easier to get players to come and play for UK BASKETBALL? There’s a bit of rhetoric and sarcasm to all of this, but also some truth as well. Everyone talked about how Cal always just went out and got the best players. They were correct. Here’s what I know, if we are spending top 3-5 money and don’t get the results (F4 or NC) it sure doesn’t seem much different than before.

Exactly. What I’m confused on…. And this is gonna make me catch hell on here… if our roster cost 22 million then where did all the money go to? This don’t look like a 22 million dollar roster. The biggest recruit Pope has ever gotten and the prize of this off season is coming off a major knee surgery and unsure when he is going to play his first game. Oweh is a nice looking peice that makes me think he can dominate his position in 85% of matchups this season…. Who else is dominating their position?

Ik I have to see how it plays out. We might kick *** all year who knows. But just off the eye test I don’t see where we have off the chart better players. I hate to say my opinion on this because it makes it sound like I’m crappin on our players before they play their first game but it’s just my observation.

22 million you better have more than a couple stand outs. If we are gonna just settle for players that fit certain criteria then why have all this money. I think we have a team full of good players and a ton of players with breakout potential. My thing is with that kind of money you need to be having stars lined up. Go buy some ballers. Work out the minor stuff later.

 

[yoshukai]

I’ll buy every title. I don’t care. Duke and UNC did it for years.

Those 2 are lightweights. Google UCLA Sam Gilbert connection.

 

[Goingfor9]

I agree I don’t think he is on the court. But what he can be is the “signal” that Wall and Mashburn were. The signal we are continuing to be the place of the pros. The signal that Mark and UK aren’t going anywhere, and the signal that we are back in full swing. It means a lot for perception.

Kentucky was never the “place of the pros” until cal came along. We won titles with great college players and never needed an nba star to succeed. Mashburn is more known for what he did at UK than in the nba. I feel like the 96 team had less nba talent than the 2018 team. Cal made that perception that we are the “place of the pros”. Rupp made it the place of the coaches. That’s what uk is. A place where coaches are made or broken fast.

 

[Artlaibesghost]

They are student athletes. They still have to maintain their academic performance to play. Just because a player makes 4 mil in nil doesn’t mean they are eligible. If they don’t make it in the classroom they don’t play. So the term “student athlete” still applies

You can't be that naive.Do you really believe a kid UK has invested 8 million dollars in is not going to " make it in the classroon". Do you honestly believe any of these kids will be forced to take classes they might flunked. Please grow up.

 

[Supafuzz75]

So if we have the highest payroll in the country and sign players like Stokes because of it, doesn't that increase the pressure even more on Pope to produce? If we pay out all this money and can't even get a SEC regular season, SEC Tournament, or FF out of it, what's the point then?

Pressure on him either way.. Before nil we expected final fours and titles every year.. With nil we expect final fours and titles every year..

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

UK is spending more than pretty much everyone on hoops. UK can afford it. Time to buy some titles.

Is buying him buying a title? If he's AD or flagg level elite, then ok. He isnt.

These basketball prices are insane. I posted last year that nil money was actually underreported instead of the opposite. Schools even pay top recruits good money to just visit. The money is underreported because its so insane.

I love Pope but my only complaint with his roster construction is massively overpaying for some guys. That, in and of itself, is driving up the overall market. It's especially insane to spend that much on freshman like had and Jasper imo.

Spend wisely. That's all i ask.

 

[Burly Peters]

Is buying him buying a title? If he's AD or flagg level elite, then ok. He isnt.

These basketball prices are insane. I posted last year that nil money was actually underreported instead of the opposite. Schools even pay top recruits good money to just visit. The money is underreported because its so insane.

I love Pope but my only complaint with his roster construction is massively overpaying for some guys. That, in and of itself, is driving up the overall market. It's especially insane to spend that much on freshman like had and Jasper imo.

Spend wisely. That's all i ask.

You think Stokes isn't as good as Flagg as a high school senior? I think it's closer than you think. AD? Nah, I agree on that.
And on overpaying, I think you're judging a bit too hastily. We haven't even played someone wearing a different jersey. Let it play out, then judge.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Whatever, you just want to argue when there’s nothing to argue about.

I’m not arguing. Nor do I see anyone else arguing.

I have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

You think Stokes isn't as good as Flagg as a high school senior? I think it's closer than you think. AD? Nah, I agree on that.
And on overpaying, I think you're judging a bit too hastily. We haven't even played someone wearing a different jersey. Let it play out, then judge.

We have the highest payroll in the nation. Do we have the most talent? No, we do not.

Pope shops for fit, which i love. However there shouldn't be a premium paid solely because they fit.

 

[Burly Peters]

We have the highest payroll in the nation. Do we have the most talent? No, we do not.

Pope shops for fit, which i love. However there shouldn't be a premium paid solely because they fit.

Which team does have the most talent? And what is the unit of measure? You've got to have a standard unit of measure to quantify it, right?

 

[Greatestalltime]

My buddy coached stokes in 4th grade and said he was a dog way back then. He plays with a mean streak like we all should.

He still sees him or saw him recently and his shot looks better than it did in his highlight stuff. His quote was “he’s changed his shot”

(We’re both older now, but still obsessed with textbook shooting as Kyle Macy taught us at camp)

 

[theBlues]

Since NIL began I have not got worked up about any high school recruits since only the very best are going to be as good or better than the best upper class players. But...

Stokes is not an ordinary player; he will be the biggest and strongest wing in college basketball on day one and likely will be a first team All-American. I want him.

 

[Dward13]

Those 2 are lightweights. Google UCLA Sam Gilbert connection.

Well i have a theory.

I think what UCLA did was different. They were just paying players directly. UNC and Duke imo, were more or less paying the NCAA in exchange for egregiously preferable treatment.

blatantly friendly whistles in important games, looking the other way when they got caught stepping out of line, etc.

But a few of the ncaa’s biggest sponsors/partners over the years were coke and espn and were both run by UNC alums for a long time. There’s no way that didn’t have an impact.

And we all know what Duke’s alumni base is capable of financially. I’m sure they’ve dumped tons of money into the ncaa over the years as well.

It’s also possible Duke was just an interest thing. Duke became the face of the sport after they upset UNLV in 1991. Seemed the ncaa and espn were all in on them from that point forward. The NCAA just felt it was better for business if Duke continued to be successful.

/ tin foil hat post

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Saw it where?

To me it's a sign of gullibility that people up to and including Jeff Goodman are willing to believe numbers like that.



$20 million is the new "everybody's cheating."



You're free to believe it and feel tough that you believed it and you know the real deal while everyone else is in the dark.

Personally I think that's all piss and wind. And if it were true in either case there would be hard evidence coming out of the woodwork.

Some programs were always going to cheat, at least back when cheating meant anything. And some people like the most connected Mormons and Duke supporters are always going to throw big money at players like Flagg and Dybantsa.

It's going take some really hard evidence to convince me anyone who thinks either case is or was the norm is anything but gullible.

I’m sure the numbers are high but that is a ton of money to get donated every year for a team. I can’t imagine the people donating it are getting any return on investment outside the legit deals which most aren’t. They wouldn’t see the limit for looking at deals at $600 if it crazy money for all deals.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Exactly. What I’m confused on…. And this is gonna make me catch hell on here… if our roster cost 22 million then where did all the money go to? This don’t look like a 22 million dollar roster. The biggest recruit Pope has ever gotten and the prize of this off season is coming off a major knee surgery and unsure when he is going to play his first game. Oweh is a nice looking peice that makes me think he can dominate his position in 85% of matchups this season…. Who else is dominating their position?

Ik I have to see how it plays out. We might kick *** all year who knows. But just off the eye test I don’t see where we have off the chart better players. I hate to say my opinion on this because it makes it sound like I’m crappin on our players before they play their first game but it’s just my observation.

22 million you better have more than a couple stand outs. If we are gonna just settle for players that fit certain criteria then why have all this money. I think we have a team full of good players and a ton of players with breakout potential. My thing is with that kind of money you need to be having stars lined up. Go buy some ballers. Work out the minor stuff later.

I think it’s because of quality depth. I still don’t believe it’s 22 million. I think Oweh probably got like 2.5. JQ 2, Aberdeen almost 2, Mo D 1.5, Lowe probably a million or so.

I’d say we paid more than average for the quality depth on the bench, but once you get past the 8th guy I don’t see many guys getting over 500k a year. You may have 7-8 million max for the rest of the roster. I believe the real number is 14-15 million including rev share. Makes way more sense to me.

There may be one or two guys who get 4-5 million a year. A Flagg even though he got reportedly 3.5. If you can get a talent like that with no rules in place why would coaches pay more for lesser players. I think Dybantsa types mate get a bidding war every once in a while for a school wanting to make a splash.

I honestly believe agents push these inflated numbers, maybe like 40% higher than what they get to make it so their clients actually receive the range they actually want to get. No hard numbers exist anywhere. Even the highest reported numbers I’ve seen in the last were All-Conference major players were 2.5 million to maybe 3. Starters were 1-2 million Max, 6th men were 750k-1 million, rotation guys 500k for P5 conferences.

 

[bgoad72]

Kentucks shouldn’t be offering anyone that much. The whole thing is ridiculous and disgusting.
We almost got the death penalty over supposedly giving Mills $2500. Looks pretty silly now, doesn’t it?

Sampson got fired for making recruiting calls during a “dead” period at Indiana.

Now teams are allowed to pay millions to players.

What‘s the point of winning, when you’re just outspending everyone? I don’t want Kentucky to become the Yankees.

You mean the dodgers?

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Kentucks shouldn’t be offering anyone that much. The whole thing is ridiculous and disgusting.
We almost got the death penalty over supposedly giving Mills $2500. Looks pretty silly now, doesn’t it?

Sampson got fired for making recruiting calls during a “dead” period at Indiana.

Now teams are allowed to pay millions to players.

What‘s the point of winning, when you’re just outspending everyone? I don’t want Kentucky to become the Yankees.

This is college basketball now.

If you don't pay up, your going to get left behind. And I'd really rather not have UK basketball which has been the only consistent team I root for to get left behind here lol.

 

[Vek96]

You mean the dodgers?

Ok. Doesn’t change my point. Zero reason to overspend on a player. I trust Mark to find players to fit his system, and are high character guys. Some of our fans seem to be suffering PTSD from Crapapari. He needed a loaded roster every year just to mask his coaching malpractice.

Rutgers spent a fortune on 2 players last season. What did that get them. Uh, a losing season.


I’m not concerned about recruiting anymore.

 

[Agent Redbone]

We are the Yankees and we have to spend to win. That’s the deal now. We may not like it but we wanna win. Spend away.

I totally agree. It is what it is as far as the way the nil era is concerned, and we want to be that program kids dream of coming to. I look at it as a win win. Get the best player, but just as important, use the optics for future recruiting.

 

[TFCat11]

A little OT but, what happened at BYU that they are on almost no one’s radar this recruiting cycle?

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

So is Stokes gonna wait a couple more months before he make a decision? I was thinking he was about to wrap it up. It would be nice to get him on board and send a message.

 

[Tprinceuk]

So is Stokes gonna wait a couple more months before he make a decision? I was thinking he was about to wrap it up. It would be nice to get him on board and send a message.

Pretty sure I saw somewhere that he said he wanted to commit before his high school season started, if that's the case he'll commit within the next few weeks.

 

[bnewt]

Saw it where?

To me it's a sign of gullibility that people up to and including Jeff Goodman are willing to believe numbers like that.



$20 million is the new "everybody's cheating."



You're free to believe it and feel tough that you believed it and you know the real deal while everyone else is in the dark.

Personally I think that's all piss and wind. And if it were true in either case there would be hard evidence coming out of the woodwork.

Some programs were always going to cheat, at least back when cheating meant anything. And some people like the most connected Mormons and Duke supporters are always going to throw big money at players like Flagg and Dybantsa.

It's going take some really hard evidence to convince me anyone who thinks either case is or was the norm is anything but gullible.

I truly hope that you are correct
20 million to pay kids to dribble a ball is ridiculous...........I understand paying a kid something, but millions of dollars a year??????

 

[bnewt]

Exactly. What I’m confused on…. And this is gonna make me catch hell on here… if our roster cost 22 million then where did all the money go to? This don’t look like a 22 million dollar roster. The biggest recruit Pope has ever gotten and the prize of this off season is coming off a major knee surgery and unsure when he is going to play his first game. Oweh is a nice looking peice that makes me think he can dominate his position in 85% of matchups this season…. Who else is dominating their position?

Ik I have to see how it plays out. We might kick *** all year who knows. But just off the eye test I don’t see where we have off the chart better players. I hate to say my opinion on this because it makes it sound like I’m crappin on our players before they play their first game but it’s just my observation.

22 million you better have more than a couple stand outs. If we are gonna just settle for players that fit certain criteria then why have all this money. I think we have a team full of good players and a ton of players with breakout potential. My thing is with that kind of money you need to be having stars lined up. Go buy some ballers. Work out the minor stuff later.

agree with you............not a 20 million $ roster, not even close
seems like much better players were by passed or under bid, what ever description you want to use that could have really helped. The forward that went to Michigan, the kid from Indiana that went to UConn, the kid that went to IU, are just a couple of examples.

Season hasn't even started and the point guard is out, and supposedly the most talented kid, are out due to injuries, with no one of equal talent available to replace them.

 

[CatFanMan66]

Well, it’s a pro league now. And for a pro league like basketball or baseball these are steals. What top anything in pro baseball football or basketball plays for 4 million?

I don’t like it either, the fact was they all had options to turn pro. University money needs to be for students and the institution but these institution went corrupt a long time ago so it is what it is. Nobody forced anyone into college basketball it was always play for scholarship and grow your brand using the stage. That was good enough for everyone until handlers and corrupt lawyers convinced everyone otherwise just like they do in everything else. It’s never going to be the same.

Pay them and hang the banners.

How did these institutions go corrupt a long time ago?

 

[bnewt]

You think Stokes isn't as good as Flagg as a high school senior? I think it's closer than you think. AD? Nah, I agree on that.
And on overpaying, I think you're judging a bit too hastily. We haven't even played someone wearing a different jersey. Let it play out, then judge.

I don't think Stokes is anywhere close to being Flagg's equal. Flagg dominated games in high school. Stokes does not, or at least in the3 games that I have seen. Flagg played hard, Stokes does not. Flagg played inside and out. Stokes prefers to stay outside and not mix it up inside. Flagg was a more complete player........rebounding, scoring, passing, defense, blocking shots. Just haven't seen Stokes do this

 

[CatFanMan66]

The game is ruined and while I will always love the Cats, it just doesn’t have the same meaning anymore. These kids should not be getting paid and that’s the bottom line. Give them a stipend because they don’t have time to work while in school and leave it at that. But we are so far past that, it’s ridiculous. Enough of my rant. I hate college sports now.

I am with you Sir. Kentucky will most likely win a title in the next few years but it won't make me feel good. Buying championships isn't very rewarding.

 

[CatFanMan66]

If Pope/UK let a player get away to UofL/UCONN/Florida/Whoever because we wouldn't pay it, and that player ended up torching us, this board would explode. There's money out there. Might as well use it.

UK gets torched by low value teams/players in the tournament. See Oakland.

 

[Anon1751561414]

We've seen this before...The longer this goes the less likely he comes here

 

[Kingslayer07]

Ok. Doesn’t change my point. Zero reason to overspend on a player. I trust Mark to find players to fit his system, and are high character guys. Some of our fans seem to be suffering PTSD from Crapapari. He needed a loaded roster every year just to mask his coaching malpractice.

Rutgers spent a fortune on 2 players last season. What did that get them. Uh, a losing season.


I’m not concerned about recruiting anymore.

gotta have a GOOD coach, which we do.