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Author
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Topic: NIL and the end of program-affinity
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Tiptree
Administrator
Member # 844
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posted 12-05-2025 09:51 PM
Well, guys. Let's play a little game.
Imagine you are, say, 20 years old. Heck, even 19. Remember those days? I sure didn't have much money, and realized I had to work my ass off if I was going to find some modicum of success in life. Yeah, I had a good time, but I also WORKED. I listened to my teachers, did the work, and sweated it out hoping for a good outcome, for a FUTURE paycheck.
Now, imagine someone handed you a million dollars. You many be made of different stuff than I am, but I guarantee you my motivation to listen, to work, to give a damn about almost anything would evaporate. Gone.
These kids are set for life. If they "fail" here, they will enter the portal and get paid more money by another school. A few may get into the NBA. But there is NO reason to worry about UK, BBN, or coach Pope. Say the right words, do the minimal work necessary, and collect your outrageous paycheck.
For all of Pope's love for the university that gave HIM a shot, he just can't force that into these kids. They are rich, so why should they care?
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Tiptree
“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” Thomas Jefferson
Posts: 13744 | From: Terre Haute, IN | Registered: Sep 2000
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ukman
Player
Member # 3032
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posted 12-06-2025 07:18 AM
Very true, but that doesn't seem to be the problem at other big schools where guys are making a lot of money as well. Maybe not as much, but still enough to impact your life in a big way. Maybe it has to do with identifying the right kids that have that fire in them no matter what. I don't know, but I also don't make millions to figure it out.
Posts: 5850 | From: georgia | Registered: Jan 2009
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Bama Cat
Player
Member # 153
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posted 12-06-2025 10:29 AM
I did notice Oweh several times. He came back to win a championship and get drafted higher. You can tell by looking at his face he is upset with himslf and others around him. He could have made a mistake if we don't get out of this funk we are in. He may not even get drafted, let alone win the SEC MVP. I would hate to see that. Still no one has talked with me to see what I have offered to do.
Posts: 14457 | From: berea, ky, usa | Registered: Sep 1999
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Bigcatdaddy
Player
Member # 21
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posted 12-06-2025 02:19 PM
NIL poses so many challenges.
Jealousy, complacency, entitlement……
Just as you said, basically players already hit the lottery with NIL.
Players like OO really can hurt themselves though. I doubt any NBA team likes what they see in him on and off court….which I think adds, detracts, in his effort. He seems to sulk and take plays off.
Sadly we are in a hole and need to stop digging.
I’m not smart enough to have answers or even accurately dissect the issues.
My eyesight isn’t the best but I can see this team has multiple issues and nobody from the coaches down are ready for this spotlight.
Just my $.02
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It's me, the cat.
Posts: 10548 | From: Macy, Ind. | Registered: Aug 1999
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handycat
Player
Member # 2323
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posted 12-06-2025 07:03 PM
NIL has pretty well ruined the game for me.
Quote “My eyesight isn’t the best but I can see this team has multiple issues and nobody from the coaches down are ready for this spotlight.” This sums it up nicely.
[ 12-06-2025, 07:16 PM: Message edited by: handycat ]
Posts: 5569 | From: decatur ill. | Registered: Feb 2005
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Bama Cat
Player
Member # 153
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posted 12-07-2025 12:53 PM
This doesn't seem yp be affecting any other blue blood teams. Why is it affecting this team? Or are we just looking for the easy way to explain our problem? Or is it simply just not enough fire power when it comes to making shots? I'm sure we would have won at least two of those games we lost with just a little more shooting accuracy.
Posts: 14457 | From: berea, ky, usa | Registered: Sep 1999
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Bigcatdaddy
Player
Member # 21
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posted 12-07-2025 08:41 PM
I think others aren’t affected because they have strong coaches. I mean no disrespect but Pope’s demeanor and persona seems pretty soft.
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It's me, the cat.
Posts: 10548 | From: Macy, Ind. | Registered: Aug 1999
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Bama Cat
Player
Member # 153
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posted 12-07-2025 10:57 PM
If the players think he is an ald softee they better look at the situation. If they are wanting to get drafted or play for pay they better wake up soon. They are playing theirselves out of some bigger $$$$$.
Posts: 14457 | From: berea, ky, usa | Registered: Sep 1999
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Bigcatdaddy
Player
Member # 21
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posted 12-08-2025 09:14 AM
I thought the same thing Bama. Few if any NBA team will be interested in a payer that doesn’t at least try to earn their money. It’s NIL, not SSI!
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It's me, the cat.
Posts: 10548 | From: Macy, Ind. | Registered: Aug 1999
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Trey Ball
Administrator
Member # 332
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posted 12-10-2025 09:03 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Bama Cat:
This doesn't seem yp be affecting any other blue blood teams. Why is it affecting this team?.
Just my personal opinion, but it is roster construction. It is not a good roster. For the second year in a row UK does not have a single player that can "win" anytime they want off of the dribble. You have to have that and generally need it at multiple positions.
UCONN has that, Duke has that, Michigan has that, Gonzaga has that, Louisville has that with Brown, and most other top 10 teams have that. UK has no one.
On defense you better be able to keep the ball in front of you and if you can't you better have an eraser or two at the rim. Once again UK can't stop straight line drives and they have zero rim protection which is a terrible combination.
Pope could be the second coming of Rupp and would not be able to fix the issues with the current roster.
I wanted Pope as the coach but it is becoming apparent with his two years of roster construction that he likes "system" players and that is not going to result in Elite type of talent.
In all honesty, I think UK may need to cut bait and make an all in run at Dusty May. He gets what is necessary to win in today's game. He did it at Florida Atlantic and his Michigan team is loaded and they are 9 deep.
I know I already put my money on Duke to win it all, but I did put a little hedge in and put another bet on Michigan.
[ 12-10-2025, 09:38 PM: Message edited by: Trey Ball ]
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Wife's Mad. Told me we never talk anymore. And just last nite while watching super bowl told her 2 or 3 times to get me a coke and popcorn. Also told her not to forget to take out trash in the morning. Ain't that something. Also told me I was too indecisive. Can't figure out what to do about that. One nice thing I guess. She called me a pro crastinator. Don't know what a crastinator is but I guess I'm a good one for her to call me a pro. Gonna wait til tomorrow to look that up though. I love her but somrtimes can't help but thinking I should have told uncle Junior to keep his coon hound pup and stevens double barrel and also his youngest daughter.
redbone
Posts: 11955 | From: IN, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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Bigcatdaddy
Player
Member # 21
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posted 12-11-2025 09:12 AM
I love Pope’s enthusiasm, but I don’t think he was ready for this and UK fans don’t have the patience to allow him to grow into the role.
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It's me, the cat.
Posts: 10548 | From: Macy, Ind. | Registered: Aug 1999
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Bigcatdaddy
Player
Member # 21
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posted 12-11-2025 02:31 PM
Very interesting. Sure seems like a minefield.
Troubling that the JMI contract that seems to be part of the issue runs until 2040.
Also Pope’s inexperience at the closing table. He is super smart, but this season has shown him super emotional too. Hopefully he figures it out fast. One more thing (if so many things) he has to figure out fast.
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It's me, the cat.
Posts: 10548 | From: Macy, Ind. | Registered: Aug 1999
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