Should we use all 15 scholarships?

[AJG-15]

Against arguments:
- since there only 200 minutes to be divided most coaches prefer only 12-13 scholarships that allows 5 on 5 practice and extra players to cover injuries or penalties.
- it will cost the program more money to pay NIL to more players
- some players that don’t get to play and will get unhappy


Pro:
- it will provide nice continuation to the program by having a larger pool of players
- could allow to get allocate 2-3 spots to best Kentucky HS , with the understanding they will have time to develop , not leave the program because it’s there dream to play for the wildcats. In time they could become contributors or replaced by better Kentucky players. These guys will not cost as much.
-provide a better cover in case of injuries. Case and point , last year we had 12 scholarships but 3 of them were developmental players, 3&4 stars and injuries pilled up on the core of 9 experienced players , our team production decreased and to same degree the final accomplishments.
- going forward the players will be younger ( the COVID eligibility is gone) so they will not be as last year to be plugged and go. Having more players gives coaches
- we could use a very tempo press, in case we have 15 equally talented players, and have 3 platoons that could ware down any opposition.


What’s your take on this?

 

[Cuello Azul]

Agree with all of the cons.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Hope so. Injuries the way they are, get all the best players you can. Can have better scrimmages also with plenty of scholarship players.

 

[UKfan215]

NIL has created an opportunity to have a 15 man roster where everyone can be happy, even if the bottom tier of players don't get much PT. The last 5 are probably gonna mostly be sitting on the bench wherever they are anyway. I think UK has the sort of NIL to at least make the bottom 5 guys happy while they wait for their turn.

 

[Rideordiewildcat]

13 real scholly players and I'm happy. Past that maybe a project big, foreign player or high 3 pt shooter maybe only has us or div II.

I felt like this year and the past going way back to DA shows we rarely have too many players and too often are looking at 8-9 dressed before the first foul.

 

[Bluegrassking]

No, not unless we are bringing back the JV squad.

Guys don't improve that much sitting pine and being reserve practice players.

They will rot around for a year or two and bounce because the reality is their time is never likely to come because instead of depending on unknown, little used "cigar" guys they will be recruited over because you have little choice but to because they haven't shown anything and pretty much by definition are comparatively marginal talents at this level.

If you can do the JV thing though it presents an opportunity to grab some really developmental types and get them some experience and game conditioning while occupying their minds on the next contest rather than itching to matter and becoming disgruntled.

 

[bthaunert]

No…more spots of guys that will never/rarely play equals less revenue sharing for guys on the roster.

 

[KMKAT]

When injuries hit your team, as we saw this year, and what seems like the last 5 years, if you have 15 scholarships, you should use them and you have an opportunity to develop 3-4 players.
With NIL, we may never see a dynasty type roster with all the money that changes hands and mindsets.
I like the thought as being as deep as possible.
No reason you can't get 4 guys from mid-tier programs that can come in and learn and fight for playing time Year 1 and if patient enough, earn that playing time Year 2.
I know many Kentucky kids would accept these types of roles, but if you can find a couple of 2 stars that have lots of upside, that would be the secret sauce to be able to have that kind of depth.
Also, since we saved so much from Cal's salary, why can't we be the NIL leaders?

 

[JonathanW]

NIL has created an opportunity to have a 15 man roster where everyone can be happy, even if the bottom tier of players don't get much PT. The last 5 are probably gonna mostly be sitting on the bench wherever they are anyway. I think UK has the sort of NIL to at least make the bottom 5 guys happy while they wait for their turn.

When most people talk about going 12-13-14-15 deep, they are talking about guys who could contribute, so decent quality players, not walk-on level players. Decent quality players, better than walk-on level, can get PT at mid-majors (EKU, WKU, Morehead, Murray St) if not at lower end P5 schools (like the bottom half of the ACC).

Would it be a nice to have? Sure.
Is it realistic? I'm not so sure it is.

 

[seccats04]

As of right now, NIL is a one year contract, so yes, you fill every scholarship if you can. No reason not to. Especially with how many injuries we had this year.

 

[bthaunert]

If it plays out like women's basketball, most teams will have about 12 or 13 scholarship players and maybe a walk on or 2. Women's coaches have talked about how it's very hard to manage a roster of 15 scholarship players, expectations, etc. I would think we see the same thing in the men's game.

 

[blue cincy]

The last couple of spots should be for players that want to play for UK that might be a tier below the other players but above a walkon. Mostly Kentucky kids. They should get a partial scholly (means you can have more than 15 if need be).

 

[bthaunert]

The last couple of spots should be for players that want to play for UK that might be a tier below the other players but above a walkon. Mostly Kentucky kids. They should get a partial scholly (means you can have more than 15 if need be).

I know it was posted somewhere else about partial scholarships, but I don't think that's the case. The proposal is the roster limit being set at 15, regardless if they are scholarship or walk-on.

I'm trying to figure out a benefit of adding kids just to fill spots. Takes up valuable space at practice. Takes up potential revenue sharing money. And, if we are being honest, brings undo pressure form the fanbase to play a Kentucky kid, even though he might not be good enough. Cal was wrong on a lot of things, but he definitely wasn't wrong about that.

 

[blue cincy]

I know it was posted somewhere else about partial scholarships, but I don't think that's the case. The proposal is the roster limit being set at 15, regardless if they are scholarship or walk-on.

I'm trying to figure out a benefit of adding kids just to fill spots. Takes up valuable space at practice. Takes up potential revenue sharing money. And, if we are being honest, brings undo pressure form the fanbase to play a Kentucky kid, even though he might not be good enough. Cal was wrong on a lot of things, but he definitely wasn't wrong about that.

Not sure of the value. But if I were a KENTUKCY HS Player, fringe player, I would rather have the UK experience than play for NKU or Georgetown college.

Had a cousin in the 70s, played in Lexington at Bryan Station. He had scolly offers in football for many schools. He walked on at UK. He loved his time at UK. Never saw the field but was on the team with the Ramsey and such. He described it as a walking tackling dummy in practice. He was one tough son of a gun. He gave as good as he got.

 

[AustinTXCat]

Keep one scholly in reserve.

Next question....

 

[bthaunert]

Not sure of the value. But if I were a KENTUKCY HS Player, fringe player, I would rather have the UK experience than play for NKU or Georgetown college.

Had a cousin in the 70s, played in Lexington at Bryan Station. He had scolly offers in football for many schools. He walked on at UK. He loved his time at UK. Never saw the field but was on the team with the Ramsey and such. He described it as a walking tackling dummy in practice. He was one tough son of a gun. He gave as good as he got.

I'm thinking about the value to the team and program...not the value to the kid.

 

[blue cincy]

I'm thinking about the value to the team and program...not the value to the kid.

value to team would be you have a couple of guys to keep your GPA up. True student athletes. Plus practice players that would not travel.

 

[chroix]

I’d always hold one in reserve. Never know who is gonna pop up when.

 

[wldctky]

Against arguments:
- since there only 200 minutes to be divided most coaches prefer only 12-13 scholarships that allows 5 on 5 practice and extra players to cover injuries or penalties.
- it will cost the program more money to pay NIL to more players
- some players that don’t get to play and will get unhappy


Pro:
- it will provide nice continuation to the program by having a larger pool of players
- could allow to get allocate 2-3 spots to best Kentucky HS , with the understanding they will have time to develop , not leave the program because it’s there dream to play for the wildcats. In time they could become contributors or replaced by better Kentucky players. These guys will not cost as much.
-provide a better cover in case of injuries. Case and point , last year we had 12 scholarships but 3 of them were developmental players, 3&4 stars and injuries pilled up on the core of 9 experienced players , our team production decreased and to same degree the final accomplishments.
- going forward the players will be younger ( the COVID eligibility is gone) so they will not be as last year to be plugged and go. Having more players gives coaches
- we could use a very tempo press, in case we have 15 equally talented players, and have 3 platoons that could ware down any opposition.


What’s your take on this?

when did it change from 13?

 

[sjjones]

It does make it easier to recruit over a kid, without actually having to pull their scholarship. 🤷‍♂️

 

[ukfan1622]

when did it change from 13?

starting next year

 

[Wildcats1st]

Yes hold one for late but in some way fill it

 

[trueblujr2]

starting next year

Can walk-ons be over and above the 15 or is it a hard roster limit like in football. Football went to a hard roster limit of 105, but they could all be on scholarship eliminating the 85 schollly limit. You can't go over 105 with walkons. Though the SEC didn't adopt this for whatever reason. They stayed with the 85 scholarship limit.

 

[AJG-15]

when did it change from 13?

This coming year.

 

[ukfan1622]

Can walk-ons be over and above the 15 or is it a hard roster limit like in football. Football went to a hard roster limit of 105, but they could all be on scholarship eliminating the 85 schollly limit. You can't go over 105 with walkons. Though the SEC didn't adopt this for whatever reason. They stayed with the 85 scholarship limit.

As I understand it walkons do count towards the 15 so if you used 15 schollies you couldn't have any walkons..

 

[crawfords corner]

With the injuries we seem to have every year the only answer here is.... yes. It outweighs any other concern.

 

[FtWorthCat]

I like the idea of using the last 2-3 scholarships on Kentucky High School players, like Noah and Perry, that are willing to come to UK and accept less playing time, maybe even red shirt. Not everyone on scholarship will get guaranteed NIL money, correct, or am I misunderstanding? Anyway, guys like that would be getting a $30k per year education, or whatever UK costs these days.

 

[AJG-15]

I like the idea of using the last 2-3 scholarships on Kentucky High School players, like Noah and Perry, that are willing to come to UK and accept less playing time, maybe even red shirt. Not everyone on scholarship will get guaranteed NIL money, correct, or am I misunderstanding? Anyway, guys like that would be getting a $30k per year education, or whatever UK costs these days.

Coach Rupp used to do trials for the best Kentucky HS boys. Everybody was so excited to just participate in those. That created an emulation about basketball in the whole Appalachia, including part of Virginia.
Pope could renew the link and tradition.

 

[wccat2969]

Keep one scholly in reserve.

Next question....

Did Pope say last year that he wanted to keep one available in case he wanted to pick up a player who was available late?

 

[AustinTXCat]

Did Pope say last year that he wanted to keep one available in case he wanted to pick up a player who was available late?

If I recall correctly, yes.