Kinda reminiscent of what Indiana is doingOK, I emailed Whitman with this plan: Hire Calipari as associate athletic director in charge of men's basketball, give OA $3M and Chin $2M.
Problem solved, and you're welcome.
Oh, we have all the answers.....but nobody knows which one is correct.
If you don't know the question...the answer is always "bacon".
Edit: Or "C".
imagine if Kofi transfers to UK along with OA.With OA leaving Kofi is as good as gone.
Stop. My heart cannot stand any more of these hypotheticals. Why would you even make me imagine such a thing??imagine if Kofi transfers to UK along with OA.
imagine if Kofi transfers to UK along with OA.
Would we get Oscar then?imagine if Kofi transfers to UK along with OA.
I wonder what Michael Porter Sr. is doing these days?Sounds like we kept Chin. Now who takes OA's place ?
You mean like a house on the beach? What do they call those again?Lets be creative.... we might be able to keep him if we bought his wife a luxury apartment in the Caymans...
I agree but it would be amazing for Illinois basketball if that happened.The OA rumors are already out in public so if Cal doesn’t make it happen their fans will riot. Therefore, I fully expect Cal to rightfully do whatever it takes to get his man if we do indeed make a late push
The Big Ten is a pretty good top-to-bottom conference in both revenue sports, but we have only one real top tier program - OSU football. Every other revenue program is second tier. Antigua pooped the bed at South Florida and had to re-prove himself at a second-tier program before being allowed back into the top tier. Returning to Kentucky is not so much a lateral move or even a promotion as it is Antigua getting off probation and being allowed to return.The OA rumors are already out in public so if Cal doesn’t make it happen their fans will riot. Therefore, I fully expect Cal to rightfully do whatever it takes to get his man if we do indeed make a late push
I’ve seen this or similar posted by others, and wonder perceived as defining moment by whom? Sure fans like us will love it and similar type of Kentucky fans will hate it, but for the large majority of fans this isn’t even a blip on their radar. Recruits? Yes current players we’re recruiting it will impact because the coach recruiting them will still be with the Illini. And in the future it will help but again just because they’re in staff. But do we really think a 2024 recruit or beyond will be thinking, “well I like both of them, but Illinois was able to hold on to their assistant coaches when KY came calling in 2021 so I’ll go there”?This could be a program defining moment. KY comes hunting in your backyard and leaves with their tail between their legs. That’s some next level stuff. Do it JW!
I think it would be a bigger deal to other college coaches and athletic departments than to recruitsI’ve seen this or similar posted by others, and wonder perceived as defining moment by whom? Sure fans like us will love it and similar type of Kentucky fans will hate it, but for the large majority of fans this isn’t even a blip on their radar. Recruits? Yes current players we’re recruiting it will impact because the coach recruiting them will still be with the Illini. And in the future it will help but again just because they’re in staff. But do we really think a 2024 recruit or beyond will be thinking, “well I like both of them, but Illinois was able to hold on to their assistant coaches when KY came calling in 2021 so I’ll go there”?
I’d like to keep OA and Chin, or at least Chin, but not at all cost. Give them raises of course, but 2M for OA? I’d pass, though I doubt that is what KY is offering. But there have to be other top recruiters out there, because last I checked Illinois hasn’t brought in every top recruit it wanted. More problematic is players/recruits following the coaches when they depart. That is a big risk no doubt, but it has nothing to do with the perception that Kentucky left with their tail between their legs. And I’m just not sure if you completely change compensation structure to keep those players around. Something about if they don’t want to be here then . . .
It's more about Illinois being willing to spend as much money as it takes to be a consistent winner. Am I sure Illinois is willing to do that now? No, but keeping OA would sure make me think otherwise.I’ve seen this or similar posted by others, and wonder perceived as defining moment by whom? Sure fans like us will love it and similar type of Kentucky fans will hate it, but for the large majority of fans this isn’t even a blip on their radar. Recruits? Yes current players we’re recruiting it will impact because the coach recruiting them will still be with the Illini. And in the future it will help but again just because they’re in staff. But do we really think a 2024 recruit or beyond will be thinking, “well I like both of them, but Illinois was able to hold on to their assistant coaches when KY came calling in 2021 so I’ll go there”?
I’d like to keep OA and Chin, or at least Chin, but not at all cost. Give them raises of course, but 2M for OA? I’d pass, though I doubt that is what KY is offering. But there have to be other top recruiters out there, because last I checked Illinois hasn’t brought in every top recruit it wanted. More problematic is players/recruits following the coaches when they depart. That is a big risk no doubt, but it has nothing to do with the perception that Kentucky left with their tail between their legs. And I’m just not sure if you completely change compensation structure to keep those players around. Something about if they don’t want to be here then . . .
Totally agree, great post... I think NIL will benefit schools in lower end mid-size markets more than big market teams... In LA, why would I pay a UCLA or USC basketball player when I can get an NBA or WNBA player?100%. And that means the under-the-table stuff will likely go on. But perhaps it won't be the dealbreaker it appears to be right now. If you're ranked #30 in your class and you go to KY with 3 other guys ranked in the top 20, your name/image/likeness may be less valued, relatively, than if you went to a different school (say Illinois) where you're the top ranked guy coming in and there's a rabid fan base willing to buy your stuff up. I could see NIL being great for a school like Illinois with a massive alumni base that loves bball (one reason, among others, that I want this to happen ASAP). Might be a wash or slight negative for a KY-type. Would appear to hurt a school like Gonzaga that doesn't have nearly the size or regional/national following.
Because you are a booster and it legal?Totally agree, great post... I think NIL will benefit schools in lower end mid-size markets more than big market teams... In LA, why would I pay a UCLA or USC basketball player when I can get an NBA or WNBA player?
You think Kentucky wants 3-4 of our players? How many of their guys are they creaning for our 5 stars?My guess is Antigua and Chin are going to KY and 3-4 players will go with them. Don't want to be negative but it is possible.