I think we can compete in NIL

[crawfords corner]

Only an idiot or a troll would claim the greatest mf-ing college basketball program of all-time wouldn't have one of the best NIL coffers in college basketball.


I might not have known the number. It's not needed. Just uncommon common effing sense.

 

[bnewt]

But that's the problem. You went around the board acting like you DID know, spouting negativity about how we "can't compete with our NIL" and saying things like (these are all exact quotes from you):

"They must have an oil well as their NIL fund, while uk's is a dried up mud puddle that they can't even touch"

"disagree, UK can not compete"

"Agree, been saying this for a long time Nil funds are limited and must be used properly"

"Nil will hurt uk. Just not enough money in the state"

"Uk can't compete in the nil market, not enough boosters with large open pockets"

"the days of UK dominating are over, especially with NIL. Some of these other schools can buy titles like Ohio State did, UK does not have that type of $"

"The fans can not deliver a large enough nil to remain on top"

These are just some examples, there are more.

THAT is why you are being called out. You walked around like you knew for sure that we couldn't compete. When you had no clue.

Now that we know for sure that we CAN compete, and actually can DOMINATE the NIL landscape, you back-pedal and try to say "nobody knew for sure", yada yada.

Wow, glad you liked my statements, but there is not one example where I said I knew, not one. But I guess since I did not say "in my opinion" before each statement, but you didn't either. Is ky not one of the poorer states? Are there any large corporate sponsors like Tyson, Walmart or others in the state?
Your opinion is not greater than mine, just different. It's people like you that criticized the "insiders" that caused them to stop posting. Just keep on with your holier than thou attitude.

 

[Runnin'Ramel]

Seen a narrative from certain people on this board that we can't compete in NIL....

Sisk says we might be spending close to $20 Million.

Maybe that's true, maybe it's not, but one thing is clear...

NIL IS NOT AN ISSUE- we are clearly one of the best in the country in NIL, if not THE best.

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It will become "UK spent ____, the most in college basketball, and didn't win a title."

 

[bnewt]

Money has ALWAYS been there.

Pope wants to build a functioning ROSTER, not just grab the most expensive players imaginable.

For instance, I bet we got Lowe AND Aberdeen for roughly the same price that Donovan Dent cost.

I'd say we won that arrangement.

LOVE this roster.

How do you "know", the money has always been there? Have you seen the nil balance? If not, you "know" nothing!

 

[crawfords corner]

It will become "UK spent ____, the most in college basketball, and didn't win a title."

And if we don't win in the next 2-3 years it will be a fair criticism.

 

[TM2013]

Anyone who thought UK wouldn't be overflowing with basketball NIL was extremely ignorant. It's our passion. We care more than anyone.

I remember some goobers were on here proclaiming big city schools like USC, Rutgers, Depaul, etc and rich schools with large endowments like Ivy League schools would suddenly dominate in the NIL era because all the money yada yada.

It doesn't matter, no one has the passion for cbb like us.

 

[Supafuzz75]

How do you "know", the money has always been there? Have you seen the nil balance? If not, you "know" nothing!

You damn sure dont know shiit..

 

[Lightbringer12]

Funny how now it comes out Haggerty is asking for $4 million price tag and a guaranteed starting position at PG and that’s not his natural position. Glad to see Pope not just caving into the diva’s demands and now it’s what they can do for UK!

 

[bnewt]

You damn sure dont know shiit..

Maybe not, but at least I can spell

 

[sportspm]

No idea who he's talking about.. Maybe Mitch Potter? Or Jim Booth? Two of the richest coal guys I know of from Pike Co and Martin Co..

Its gotta be Booth.. He has a business degree from UK..

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Who is Oscar speaking about here?

 

[EliteBlue]

There is a difference between overspending for an elite player asking for the moon and spending wisely for the right team mix. UK is trying for the latter.

They are going to let other programs overpay for people like Haggerty. I don't have a problem with that.

100%

Ppl wanted us to dip 4m+ to get whoever they deemed a “must have”…. Pope wanted a true 12deep worth 1-3m each.

Maybe the “only truly pay big money for 3-5 elite guys and fill the rest out with mid level guys” strategy will work a year or two here or there…but I think the consistent 10 deep of legit CBB players and fringe NBA guys is the more consistent way forward

 

[Tampa_cat54]

Wow, glad you liked my statements, but there is not one example where I said I knew, not one. But I guess since I did not say "in my opinion" before each statement, but you didn't either. Is ky not one of the poorer states? Are there any large corporate sponsors like Tyson, Walmart or others in the state?
Your opinion is not greater than mine, just different. It's people like you that criticized the "insiders" that caused them to stop posting. Just keep on with your holier than thou attitude.

Apparently I did know. Because I was right, and you were wrong.

And you were wrong in a pretty loud and spectacular fashion.

It's been echoed by several in this thread, but anyone who actually thought we couldn't compete, which you went around the board declaring as "FACT" for MONTHS, is an idiot, plain and simple. Just completely lacking in common sense and detached from reality. And to declare it so confidently and matter-of-fact, so many times, just to be proven wrong on such a large scale, is tough I am sure.

Just eat your crow and move on.

 

[Tampa_cat54]

It will become "UK spent ____, the most in college basketball, and didn't win a title."

If Pope doesn't win a title in the next few years, that would be a fair criticism for sure.

I think this staff gets it done, though. Only time will tell.

 

[jwphelps]

Because people raise a ?, they are trolls! Come on get a grip. I don't think anyone knows which school has what amount or what they spend, except that school. I guess you could get the irs records and check....

Troll is a troll, and there are plenty of reports out there that talk about the amount of money most schools have to spent and who the main donors are.

 

[LmdCat]

It will become "UK spent ____, the most in college basketball, and didn't win a title."

If no one commented on how much Duke spent, why are you concerned about what someone might say about how much Kentucky spent?

 

[UKfan215]

I've never believed UK isn't at or very near the top when it comes to NIL $$$$ for basketball. We're a Blue Blood program, arguably the best in all of college basketball. We have rich history, tons of tradition, an enormous and widespread fanbase that is rabid like no other. Of course we are going to have the money to compete! It would be foolish to think otherwise.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

There is a difference between overspending for an elite player asking for the moon and spending wisely for the right team mix. UK is trying for the latter.

They are going to let other programs overpay for people like Haggerty. I don't have a problem with that.

This. Pope did a great job at finding value and walking away from bidding wars like Wilkerson. It helped too when we walked away from aments.

The only guy we really overpaid was jj imo.

We're never going to be duke or these other insane spenders, but we spent plenty and got great value. Hopefully that house settlement passes and everyone gets an even playing field.

 

[Supafuzz75]

Who is Oscar speaking about here?

Jim Booth.. He owned coal businesses since 70s,, from Inez in Martin co..

James H. Booth | Board of Trustees

www.uky.edu

 

[bigblueinsanity]

No idea who he's talking about.. Maybe Mitch Potter? Or Jim Booth? Two of the richest coal guys I know of from Pike Co and Martin Co..

Its gotta be Booth.. He has a business degree from UK..

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I know elmer Whitaker (of Whitaker coal and Whitaker bank) died but wonder if its his family? Oscar's family is from Perry county and so is this family.

Whoever it is, we needed it. One person couldn't fund every sport and athletics project.

 

[CashM03]

No idea who he's talking about.. Maybe Mitch Potter? Or Jim Booth? Two of the richest coal guys I know of from Pike Co and Martin Co..

Its gotta be Booth.. He has a business degree from UK..

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Joe Craft probably. Booth’s degree is from Morehead St

 

[Supafuzz75]

Joe Craft probably. Booth’s degree is from Morehead St

Possible.. Was just going off the one I would think was the closest guy to being a billionaire or being one.. If there is anyone around here with that much money it'd be him.. I'd say between Jim,, Mitch Potter and Whitakers,, they all 3 would have well over 2 billion between them.. Coal may be in decline but they're still mega rich coal operators still alive..

 

[WildcatsAndBourbon]

Central Bank is a Central Kentucky product and has deep pockets too. I can’t comment as to whether they are directly involved in UK’s NIL, but I would have to imagine so; they do a lot of advertising through athletics. Don’t entirely discount the spending power of automotive groups either; multi dealership automotive groups have a lot of financial power and some are pretty heavily involved in advertising through athletics.

(Speaking of the second one, is Mashburn still involved in ownership of the Toyota dealerships in Lexington?)

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Who is Oscar speaking about here?

I'm sure he's speaking of Jim Booth in that particular statement. But there's many others just like that. The general public will never know about their involvement.

But the real foundational money for UK athletics is the horse industry. Used to be the bourbon industry too. And still is to a lesser extent. Global conglomerates buying into the Ky businesses has lessened their impact locally. There's a core group of decision makers for the horse racing interests. But it's really one man than give the go ahead or kill something. There's a lot of Saudi money there too. And they defer to the decision makers.

 

[bnewt]

Apparently I did know. Because I was right, and you were wrong.

And you were wrong in a pretty loud and spectacular fashion.

It's been echoed by several in this thread, but anyone who actually thought we couldn't compete, which you went around the board declaring as "FACT" for MONTHS, is an idiot, plain and simple. Just completely lacking in common sense and detached from reality. And to declare it so confidently and matter-of-fact, so many times, just to be proven wrong on such a large scale, is tough I am sure.

Just eat your crow and move on.

what are you talking about??? Did I write in invisible ink? Where did I ever say anything other than my OPINION? Not ONCE did I ever say anything was FACT. NEVER that is when! Just keep blowing your own horn if that makes you happy. Don't say I said something when I didn't say anything other than my opinion.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

Boosters were clearly out on Cal and prioritizing the NBA, so that is why the money dried up. Its very obvious that they are flexing their muscles this offseason…love to see it!!

Absolutely. Glad to see it here with Coach Pope and he has done a great job assembling this roster.