Does the name on the front of jersey mean much?

[maysvilleky]

Just wondering if the name on the front of the jersey is as meaningful as it used to be?

It used to be UK, UNC, KU, IN, etc meant a lot to players. Now you see them going to places like Boston College, BYU, St. John’s, etc. I know the players on this year’s team bought in for Pope and UK. But can you get the top talent to do that now? Or is it pretty much highest bidder for one year and then on to the next paycheck?

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Just wondering if the name on the front of the jersey is as meaningful as it used to be?

It used to be UK, UNC, KU, IN, etc meant a lot to players. Now you see them going to places like Boston College, BYU, St. John’s, etc. I know the players on this year’s team bought in for Pope and UK. But can you get the top talent to do that now? Or is it pretty much highest bidder for one year and then on to the next paycheck?

To some people it matters. To most kids it’s just bag

 

[bbncal02]

Just wondering if the name on the front of the jersey is as meaningful as it used to be?

It used to be UK, UNC, KU, IN, etc meant a lot to players. Now you see them going to places like Boston College, BYU, St. John’s, etc. I know the players on this year’s team bought in for Pope and UK. But can you get the top talent to do that now? Or is it pretty much highest bidder for one year and then on to the next paycheck?

There will still be guys that want to play for those schools. Especially if they’ve got a big name connected coach.

But no overall it doesn’t mean jack. People don’t value history anymore. Which is why you see so much crap being repeated.

 

[ChicagoCat1990]

If BYU offers a player 3 mil and UK offers 2 mil, the name on the front of the jersey isn't going to make up the difference. If both schools offer the same amount, than the name on the front might tip the scale in our favor.

 

[DraftCat]

Highest bidder for the most part.

You'll have Kentucky Kids or a recruit that grew up liking UK here and there. UK will also get kids that stay for 2-3 seasons who will grow to love the University.

$$$ is the root of all evil...

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Highest bidder for the most part.

You'll have Kentucky Kids or a recruit that grew up liking UK here and there. UK will also get kids that stay for 2-3 seasons who will grow to love the University.

$$$ is the root of all evil...

Love of $$$ is root of all evil

 

[UKhoopCat]

Not only does the name on the front not mean much…an NCAA championship doesn’t either.

It’s all about the money, boys.

 

[WeWant9]

I don’t think it has mattered that much for a while now. It’s all about NIL, playing time, and usage. Very few guys are willing to wait their turn, and they’re going to where they can get paid and play.

While exposure is better at a blue blood, we also live in a time where basically every game is on tv and the NBA is always looking for prospects.

 

[MrHotDice]

To some people it matters. To most kids it’s just bag

Ask Noah what it means to him.

 

[jbne222]

I think people can still make a business decision to maximize money (which is probably the smart thing to do) but still lock in, play hard, and love the school/program once they get there. We saw this last year. I really don’t care if a guy wants to get paid as long as he locks in once he gets here

But in short, no it’s probably not like it used to be but things change

 

[docholiday51]

Only if that name is D U K E it seems

 

[9timeChampion]

to maybe in state kids. Sometimes players come to a program and they start to love the name on the front of their jersey, I think this year's group did. They I'm pretty sure loved our fanbase, right when a player gets their maybe not but down the line yes.

 

[Jgrass34]

I agree. And I think that is a gap between Pope and what he's trying to sell here. In his day, it was about the front of the jersey, tradition, and the pride of the program. That culture is a hard, hard sell today because money has drowned all of that out now. Win or lose they gettin PAID. The bank account culture is what we have now. I'm really hoping the courts reel some of this back in and regulate as much as they can. Pope being the type of man he is, I don't know that he succeeds in the current landscape and environment we have now.

 

[WeWant9]

I think people can still make a business decision to maximize money (which is probably the smart thing to do) but still lock in, play hard, and love the school/program once they get there. We saw this last year. I really don’t care if a guy wants to get paid as long as he locks in once he gets here

But in short, no it’s probably not like it used to be but things change

This is my feelings, too. I don’t expect all the portal guys to have deep love for UK, but I do expect that they will give it their all. The fans will give them appreciation, and then a lovely relationship can form.

But if the goal is to only find guys with a deep love for UK, well that isn’t going work out very well for us.

 

[ChicagoCat1990]

Only if that name is D U K E it seems

I guarantee it's because when players hear the name Duke they know they're getting paid top dollar. If UK wants to compete they'll have to pay market value for top talents. It takes elite skill, athleticism, and coaching to win it all. The same way good coaching doesn't come cheap, neither do skillful athletic players.

 

[ChicagoCat1990]

I agree. And I think that is a gap between Pope and what he's trying to sell here. In his day, it was about the front of the jersey, tradition, and the pride of the program. That culture is a hard, hard sell today because money has drowned all of that out now. Win or lose they gettin PAID. The bank account culture is what we have now. I'm really hoping the courts reel some of this back in and regulate as much as they can. Pope being the type of man he is, I don't know that he succeeds in the current landscape and environment we have now.

I think AJ Storr pretty much sums up the new era of college basketball. Including high school, he's about to be at his 8th school in 8 years and it's probably a safe bet that this is going to be the new norm across the college landscape.

 

[Jacket4]

To your highest level kids, with the exception of a select few. The name of the school is nothing but something to help grow THEIR brand/exposure. Too much money to be made in a short amount of time to worry about stuff that happened 20 years before you were born.

Yes, I believe kids do grow to love their school more once they are there. But these kids are here for one main reason and that’s to secure as much money as possible in a short amount of time.

 

[Jgrass34]

Im all for kids making money. The deserve a share. However I want to find, albeit the vast minority, the percentage of kids that desire to be coached by an honorable man and mentor. I think Pope does a great job instilling in these players that money is great, but it's not everything. He has a big job trying to appease this fanbase while still staying true to himself, and the program.

 

[Wildcats1st]

Just wondering if the name on the front of the jersey is as meaningful as it used to be?

It used to be UK, UNC, KU, IN, etc meant a lot to players. Now you see them going to places like Boston College, BYU, St. John’s, etc. I know the players on this year’s team bought in for Pope and UK. But can you get the top talent to do that now? Or is it pretty much highest bidder for one year and then on to the next paycheck?

It matters when you’re winning. The tradition and power that we have at UK aren’t recognized if we are average. When we have a team that is favored to win the SEC then we will have more exposure. More prime time games, more talk about our greatness. Hell yeah UK in a final four would bring non stop talk about winning number 9 and it would be jump started. We’ve been bad for too long. This season was ok but as long as we are mid tier sec no Kentucky on the chest doesn’t mean much KIDS WANT TO PLAY FOR A WINNER NOW. Not because of 15 years ago

 

[docholiday51]

I guarantee it's because when players hear the name Duke they know they're getting paid top dollar. If UK wants to compete they'll have to pay market value for top talents. It takes elite skill, athleticism, and coaching to win it all. The same way good coaching doesn't come cheap, neither do skillful athletic players.

No argument here, the Duke dark money is off the charts but that is what the name means.

 

[UK90]

It certainly does not matter as much today as it used to.

 

[westerncat]

$$$$$$$$ This is all most players care about today. It is gotten out of hand and needs some changes made.

 

[OliverSimmonstwinbrother]

We haven't won a title since '12. That drought almost spans Chad Baker Mazara's entire college career.

 

[Old_Head]

It means more than the chicken littles around here will lead you to believe.

 

[blue cincy]

Times have changed. Sure the name on the front does mean something. That being said, the marketing and branding that universities use now means as much. Of course we are a currency driven country and that has the final say. Like others have said, to most guys in the portal, KENTUCKY means Kentucky. But $$$$ means I can buy mom a car and continue to hone my craft anywhere that will pay the most $$$$. If UK is up against say UCONN and both are going to put up 3mil for a PG, then that guy will tell both coaches he has always been a fan of x or y, but x is offering 3.1 and you are at 3. If you are like what I would be like I have a top dollar figure, no matter if we are talking the next LeBron or Jordan or the next (name player that failed).

If you have a roster of 13 guys, and you pay 12 of those guys say average of 750k to 1.25 mil and then you have a guy coming in at 3.5 mil you are going to have roster issues. You have to balance out how you handle things. If you get LeBron and no one wants to play with him then you got the name but lost the game.

This is truly a science now. And I do not have the equation to figure it all out. Hopefully Pope and staff have enough of the equation to make UK a final four contender each and every year. Just got to wait and see.

 

[CrimsonCats]

I don’t think it has mattered that much for a while now. It’s all about NIL, playing time, and usage. Very few guys are willing to wait their turn, and they’re going to where they can get paid and play.

While exposure is better at a blue blood, we also live in a time where basically every game is on tv and the NBA is always looking for prospects.

I think this is the most important factor. I’m honestly not sure that tradition for tradition’s sake was ever quite the driving force that we’ve made it out to be, nor am I actually certain the motives of the players have actually pivoted from noble to self serving as much as sometimes gets played up. It’s just that the blue blood schools used to have distinct advantages in helping the players further themselves that advances in technology and the influx of money into the sport have eroded. Players no longer need to go to one of the same handful of schools in order to have access to top of the line facilities and support staff, to get seen on TV, or to be noticed by scouts. They’re now more free to let other factors like staying close to home, playing for a coach they like, or most recently how much NIL money they can get influence their decisions. I don’t see things ever completely going back to how they used to be in that regard.

 

[HalHR2500]

No the color green trumps all

It’s a new era

 

[Bleedin Blue in Ohio]

Not as much as the number on the check.

 

[rick64]

 

[drawing_dead]

Just wondering if the name on the front of the jersey is as meaningful as it used to be?

It used to be UK, UNC, KU, IN, etc meant a lot to players. Now you see them going to places like Boston College, BYU, St. John’s, etc. I know the players on this year’s team bought in for Pope and UK. But can you get the top talent to do that now? Or is it pretty much highest bidder for one year and then on to the next paycheck?

No, it does not.

 

[bucsrule8872]

If we only got kids that cared about the front of the jersey, then Perry and Noah would be our top players and Max Green would be our top portal target. LOL!

 

[rivercatinfl]

Not only does the name on the front not mean much…an NCAA championship doesn’t either.

It’s all about the money, boys.

What the NCAA has allowed college basketball to become is criminal!
I dont want to begrudge a kid a chance to get paid but this is just a farm system for the NBA.
There should be some way to harness this system without making it completely about $$$$. Last time I looked they get a free education. That used to be worth something.

 

[wardlow]

I think I’m following UK basketball out of habit at this point. The state of college athletics disgusts me almost as much professional sports.

 

[megablue]

Just wondering if the name on the front of the jersey is as meaningful as it used to be?

It used to be UK, UNC, KU, IN, etc meant a lot to players. Now you see them going to places like Boston College, BYU, St. John’s, etc. I know the players on this year’s team bought in for Pope and UK. But can you get the top talent to do that now? Or is it pretty much highest bidder for one year and then on to the next paycheck?

Only to Kentucky fans and In-State kids who get enough minutes to keep them happy ...

 

[Deli owl]

It's the picture on the currency that means the most now.

 

[AbbieLex]

Just wondering if the name on the front of the jersey is as meaningful as it used to be?

It used to be UK, UNC, KU, IN, etc meant a lot to players. Now you see them going to places like Boston College, BYU, St. John’s, etc. I know the players on this year’s team bought in for Pope and UK. But can you get the top talent to do that now? Or is it pretty much highest bidder for one year and then on to the next paycheck?

$$$$$CASH$$$$$

 

[LineSkiCat14]

If BYU offers a player 3 mil and UK offers 2 mil, the name on the front of the jersey isn't going to make up the difference. If both schools offer the same amount, than the name on the front might tip the scale in our favor.

That's probably the best way to put it. People just have to realize that's where the game is.

 

[NociHTTP]

I don't think name on the front of the jersey is the issue here. Anyone believe Pearl riles up his team with "Now let's go show them University of Auburn basketball!"?

 

[bbncal02]

If BYU offers a player 3 mil and UK offers 2 mil, the name on the front of the jersey isn't going to make up the difference. If both schools offer the same amount, than the name on the front might tip the scale in our favor.

Dent for example. Both UK and UCLA offered the same amount. UCLA was closer to home. So he chose them.

I mean if a Job A and Job B offer the same amount of pay and Job B is a 10 minute commute and Job A is a 60 minute commute. You’d be stupid to take Job A.

Other factors at play all the time.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

I don't think name on the front of the jersey is the issue here. Anyone believe Pearl riles up his team with "Now let's go show them University of Auburn basketball!"?

Sure, I don’t see a reason why not?