Unless they're just playing for exposure to NBA scouts, the lack of postseason play means that they, potentially, would not play for a national championship. Do you think the emotions our guys felt after losing to LU was because they thought their NBA dreams were squashed? No. They wanted to win the tournament. We should know sometime this summer whether the programs under investigation will be sanctioned and how. Coaches like Bill Self and Rick Pitino, along with our old friend Bruce Pearl, are looking at possible show cause penalties, which could disqualify them from coaching. Pearl has already served a 5-year ban, and appears to have picked up where he left off at Auburn. His associate head coach was charged with six counts of bribery and wire fraud in the FBI investigation, and that splatters back onto Pearl. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lifetime ban for him if the charges bear out.
My point is, that 5-star players going to the programs tainted by this scandal may not have the opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament. You tell me; what do they have to play for at KU, Auburn, et al, if the sanctions play out the way I've described?