Something is not adding up with the UK/ NIL rumors…

[TFCat11]

I’m not trying to stir any pot, but the 800# gorilla that is UK’s NIL budget needs to be addressed…

Do any of you actually believe that Pope/ UK had northwards of $22 million to build this roster, and still struck out on every single elite player in the freshman ranks as well as the portal?

UofL didn’t have that budget, nor did BYU, or Kansas, or UNC, or Duke, or UCONN, or UH, or Tennessee, or anyone else for that matter!

Fast forward to this current cycle and Pope/ UK have yet to land a single top target, pending a possible commitment from Christian Collins, who by all accounts is probably closer to a Plan B or C, and one has to ask…

In an era dominated by $$$, how does the most storied program, with allegedly the most $$$ to spend, not land a single Top 5 freshman or portal stud, when every other top program is landing these dudes left and right?

 

[chasingwildcat]

I’m not trying to stir any pot, but the 800# gorilla that is UK’s NIL budget needs to be addressed…

Do any of you actually believe that Pope/ UK had northwards of $22 million to build this roster, and still struck out on every single elite player in the freshman ranks as well as the portal?

UofL didn’t have that budget, nor did BYU, or Kansas, or UNC, or Duke, or UCONN, or UH, or Tennessee, or anyone else for that matter!

Fast forward to this current cycle and Pope/ UK have yet to land a single top target, pending a possible commitment from Christian Collins, who by all accounts is probably closer to a Plan B or C, and one has to ask…

In an era dominated by $$$, how does the most storied program, with allegedly the most $$$ to spend, not land a single Top 5 freshman or portal stud, when every other top program is landing these dudes left and right?

Hard to say Collins is plan B/plan c or Plan a

Only know Stokes/Holt are plan A

But maybe Pope always plans to take Collins regardless, and pair Collins with Stokes/Holt

 

[philstat]

You guys are in a fantasy world if you don’t believe teams are paying more than us for specific players and potentially across the entirety of their roster.

 

[Catphright23]

I think that's just speculation. Everyone is upset over losing but hell just cuz you spent a **** load on a team don't mean you won't get losses.

 

[Chris Mallory]

Pope prefers spending NIL on experienced transfers than on high school seniors

 

[loublue22_rivals308424]

These numbers are not public so anything you see or hear is just rumors and speculation.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Maybe other teams have more than us but choose to stay quiet and do their talking by landing big time players.

 

[Anon1759768907]

i personally think no pope has to overspend because he's not a good recruiter, aberdeen for us was 2 mil, but for like texas anm it would be like 1 mil max for him

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

The thing about NIL that is already getting annoying is people are using that as a strike against the team.

This team is being paid 22 million they should never lose a game.

At the end of the day, they are still the same players. I don't know why people think it would be any different now. Guys in the NBA get paid millions and can still have crap games.

 

[gbl97]

If the amounts were ever made public, wouldn't it be interesting to see each player's "salary" in a sorted table with other players around the country? "Why are we paying this dude $2 million when they got so-and-so for $1 million?!" Maybe the players deserve that kind of accountability and scrutiny though, like other professional athletes.

 

[jedwar]

No idea on who is getting what but I'll guess

4 Oweh
3 JQ
2 Aberdeen
1.5 Garrison
1.5 Diabaute
1.5 Lowe
1.5 Johnson
1 Chandler
1 Moreno
1 Jelavic
1 Noah
.5 Williams
.5 Hawthorne
.5 Potter

20.5 million. So if 22 mil is correct then I could see a couple getting a little more.

 

[BigBlueGuru]

Why cant the public know what each player makes? We can know the details of Mitch's salary or the coaches salary why not the players who are being paid?

 

[Artlaibesghost]

I think that's just speculation. Everyone is upset over losing but hell just cuz you spent a **** load on a team don't mean you won't get losses.

Ask the New York Yankees.

 

[BlueSince92]

I've always said emphatically we have not spent that much, there is no good reason to believe we have spent that much, and claims we spent that much insult our coaching staff because they obscure the great job our staff did putting together this roster with far less money than that.

 

[TeamAmerica]

Why cant the public know what each player makes? We can know the details of Mitch's salary or the coaches salary why not the players who are being paid?

Its not "salary" . We dont know how much Mahomes make in endorsements - same thing here.

 

[sk73]

These numbers are not public so anything you see or hear is just rumors and speculation.

I think most of us are relying on the numbers given to us by sources that have given us , mostly, accurate info in the past. Another source, the LHL, while not our favorite source due to years of Tipton, gave a very good breakdown of the numbers and suggested that we spent 22 million for this class. Other than that info from those guys, I know nothing about the numbers. It has been mentioned , in passing, by some sports radio programs.

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

It doesn't even matter the exact number. What everyone agrees, and Pope embraces, is that we are the highest nil team in the nation. In terms of specific figures, its reported by plenty reputable people but the exact number is a red Herring of sorts.

It isn't being held against the team. It is certainly a point of criticism to wonder why we pay the most but definitely dont have the most talent. Its not only a fair point, but a critical one that needs addressed.

Either by spending the most we need the most talent or if we don't have the most talent we shouldn't have the highest payroll. We're just not getting the same value as many other teams.

 

[NociHTTP]

i personally think no pope has to overspend because he's not a good recruiter, aberdeen for us was 2 mil, but for like texas anm it would be like 1 mil max for him

I agree. And for me it's not anything against him, he just talks on a higher level than most of these recruits want to listen to deal with. They just want their playing time and promises along with the bag, but he wants to talk the history of the UK programs and basketball in general. He's too nice and I think these recruits get the impression that he'll not play favorites and try and give everyone a lot of playing time, and some are just not okay with that.

 

[CrimsonCats_rivals]

I tend to think the reports are at least fairly reliable. Even if the exact number is fuzzy, it’s not too hard to think we’re spending at lesst close to the most on basketball.

If that’s true, I suspect a lot of difference may be that we’re spending heavily on the bottom half of the roster compared to the competition. We’re trying to get proven contributors (and thus more expensive NIL) 1-10 where I see a lot of other teams grabbing a few stars and then relying on either unheralded transfers or 3-4 star recruits who aren’t projected draft picks to fill out the end of the bench. It’s definitely a balancing act between having enough top end talent and enough depth, but I wouldn’t be mad if we shifted our focus just a bit more towards the top of the roster as it stands now.

 

[TFCat11]

You guys are in a fantasy world if you don’t believe teams are paying more than us for specific players and potentially across the entirety of their roster.

This is the only plausible explanation given the data that’s available

 

[TFCat11]

I think that's just speculation. Everyone is upset over losing but hell just cuz you spent a **** load on a team don't mean you won't get losses.

I get that argument, and I agree… But, why does other programs $$$ land the elite talent, and not UK’s $$$?

And for the record, I don’t think it has anything to do with the Head Coach’s religion, as others have speculated before.

 

[TFCat11]

Pope prefers spending NIL on experienced transfers than on high school seniors

Then why bother spending time, money, and program resources recruiting them? Any explanation for that?

 

[TFCat11]

These numbers are not public so anything you see or hear is just rumors and speculation.

I’ve stated before, I don’t believe the $22 million dollar rumor, but “if” it’s true, and it hasn’t been denied by UK or Pope, how is it possible to spend that much and miss on everyone when it’s $$$ that rules MCBB now?

 

[TFCat11]

Maybe other teams have more than us but choose to stay quiet and do their talking by landing big time players.

This is the obvious (and smart) answer!

 

[FitchandMurray29]

I think 5 things happened:
- overpaid for returnees
-paid some redshirt guys which literally offer nothing for this year alone
-overpaid Jasper due to recruiting pressure at the time and him being from Lex
-paid guys in creative ways to get them the money before the House settlement that included some 2026 season money
-paid too much depth due to being scarred from last year

Also don’t focus on our 22M just because that number came out in a story and makes some sense. A lot of teams are in the double digit millions and some are right in our ballpark even if it doesn’t get as public.

Many think St John’s is right up there with us, they have an all time great head coach, and they also just got ran by a team with great guards(at home)…it happens.

 

[TFCat11]

The thing about NIL that is already getting annoying is people are using that as a strike against the team.

This team is being paid 22 million they should never lose a game.

At the end of the day, they are still the same players. I don't know why people think it would be any different now. Guys in the NBA get paid millions and can still have crap games.

That’s also part of my point… This “rumor” going around was always going to be a double edged, damned if you do, damned if you don’t, sword.

 

[Rick Honcho]

Personally, I don’t care. I was asked by an AD and declined to make a contribution for NIL. I’m among those who won’t ever contribute money to pay a complete stranger to play college or high school basketball. To each their own.

 

[TFCat11]

No idea on who is getting what but I'll guess

4 Oweh
3 JQ
2 Aberdeen
1.5 Garrison
1.5 Diabaute
1.5 Lowe
1.5 Johnson
1 Chandler
1 Moreno
1 Jelavic
1 Noah
.5 Williams
.5 Hawthorne
.5 Potter

20.5 million. So if 22 mil is correct then I could see a couple getting a little more.

For $4 million, there were several players ahead of Oweh’s talent. I know he’s a returning player with lofty aspirations, but this is a cutthroat business. Dybantsa reportedly got the same $$$ as OO, if that’s the case, and I don’t think you’ll find anyone who would trade the 2 straight up.

 

[TFCat11]

I've always said emphatically we have not spent that much, there is no good reason to believe we have spent that much, and claims we spent that much insult our coaching staff because they obscure the great job our staff did putting together this roster with far less money than that.

Agreed wholeheartedly

 

[UKBB4Ever]

UK has unlimited money to go after players. This roster is not close to the $22 mil "rumor" anyway. But what does it matter if it is?

Many players for many teams don't pan out like expected. Some are even better than expected.


Does no one any good to count other people's money. The roster is what it is. If it cost $1 or $20 mil.

 

[TFCat11]

It doesn't even matter the exact number. What everyone agrees, and Pope embraces, is that we are the highest nil team in the nation. In terms of specific figures, its reported by plenty reputable people but the exact number is a red Herring of sorts.

It isn't being held against the team. It is certainly a point of criticism to wonder why we pay the most but definitely dont have the most talent. Its not only a fair point, but a critical one that needs addressed.

Either by spending the most we need the most talent or if we don't have the most talent we shouldn't have the highest payroll. We're just not getting the same value as many other teams.

Excellently stated! It’s rather confusing how every other Blue Blood, and Blue Blood Lite landed the exact type of player one would expect for having such a NIL pot, or heck, even half that much!

 

[CoffeeCat]

I believe the amounts are in the ball park but it’s not money alone that gets the best talent. IMO it takes money and an attractive coaching staff then after that the college history and geography. Which of those 4 things doesn’t seem to meet their expectations to you guys? Seems obvious to me.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Its not "salary" . We dont know how much Mahomes make in endorsements - same thing here.

So, that's not entirely true for this season. Come 2026, the rev share money kicks in. To which, I think, UK basketball will get another $5M.

 

[Forkman]

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

It doesn't even matter the exact number. What everyone agrees, and Pope embraces, is that we are the highest nil team in the nation. In terms of specific figures, its reported by plenty reputable people but the exact number is a red Herring of sorts.

It isn't being held against the team. It is certainly a point of criticism to wonder why we pay the most but definitely dont have the most talent. Its not only a fair point, but a critical one that needs addressed.

Either by spending the most we need the most talent or if we don't have the most talent we shouldn't have the highest payroll. We're just not getting the same value as many other teams.

I think this is fair. He basically said what Dan Lanning said in response to Mike Gundy's comments about buying his roster. Pope has essentially said the same thing. And, for the record, there's not a darned thing wrong with it. I want UK to spend more than anyone else, or at least try to. The concern exists when the talent and/or results aren't matching the money spent. For the record, it's not there. One game doesn't a season make. My worry, a bit, is he focused a little too much on the amount of depth. I'm more of the school of thought you go out and get the best 8/9 dudes you can get. If they're all healthy-ish for the season, you're probably golden. If not, you shorten the rotation and play #'s 10 & 11 what very little you have to to survive. Years like last, with all of the injuries, don't happen often enough to try to get 12 ridiculously capable players. It's almost like the saying, when you have two QBs you don't have one. I was never excited about the possibility of having 12 capable players. I want one or two absolute studs (I don't think we have any) and 6-7 guys capable of playing a role and accepting it. I'm concerned about the philosophy of how this roster was made.

 

[GoAndRunIsGoneAndDone]

No way in hell we have a $22 million roster. There is no way of knowing the actual amount, so there is no one that can give a factual answer. Pope may not even know! He should know what the school spent but the other money for actual NIL is between the player and the payer.

You guys are crazy if you think we have that kind of budget, even combined with outside money. And, Ky is a poor state relative to several others(most all). We have a competitive nil program but it's probably much closer to half of the 22 mill people spout off about. As others have alluded to, we shouldn't have to recruit at all with that much money...just hand pick and pay whoever we want. But that's not what's happening, is it?

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

I get that argument, and I agree… But, why does other programs $$$ land the elite talent, and not UK’s $$$?

And for the record, I don’t think it has anything to do with the Head Coach’s religion, as others have speculated before.

I think the poster above hit the nail on the head. Pope probably made entirely more than most for the bottom half of this roster. Right or wrong, that's what you get. I think what we have is 8-12 guys that are very capable, but absolutely no studs or superstars. I hated Cal as much as anyone at the end, but I loved his philosophy of just going out and getting the best damned players he could get. When one was a stud PG and elite rim protector, it typically worked out just fine.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

I've always said emphatically we have not spent that much, there is no good reason to believe we have spent that much, and claims we spent that much insult our coaching staff because they obscure the great job our staff did putting together this roster with far less money than that.

I mean, Pope has never given the total number...but when asked directly about it, he stated something to the effect that we have spent or will spend as much as anyone.

 

[Skyguyb27]

I’m not trying to stir any pot, but the 800# gorilla that is UK’s NIL budget needs to be addressed…

Do any of you actually believe that Pope/ UK had northwards of $22 million to build this roster, and still struck out on every single elite player in the freshman ranks as well as the portal?

UofL didn’t have that budget, nor did BYU, or Kansas, or UNC, or Duke, or UCONN, or UH, or Tennessee, or anyone else for that matter!

Fast forward to this current cycle and Pope/ UK have yet to land a single top target, pending a possible commitment from Christian Collins, who by all accounts is probably closer to a Plan B or C, and one has to ask…

In an era dominated by $$$, how does the most storied program, with allegedly the most $$$ to spend, not land a single Top 5 freshman or portal stud, when every other top program is landing these dudes left and right?

No, they didn’t close to that. I’d be willing to bet it’s closer to 12.

 

[kybassfan]

Here is a few things you have to acknowledge.

Nobody has a clue what the NIL payout is. The people claiming to know are nothing more than wannabes playing the old I’m an insider charade.

NIL is buying you zero performance. It’s not buying you effort or loyalty.

NIL comes with zero commitment.

We are a small market. The golden age of amateur basketball is dead. Our traditions and history are all dead. This is a new sport. The motivation to go somewhere is not the school. It’s SHOW ME DA MONEY!!!

Let all this sink in and you will realize that what we paid or didn’t pay in NIL is completely irrelevant.