College Hoops Around The Country [TN opponents, RPI, others]

[golfballs]

Villanova seems like such a well-oiled machine and truly elite program that I cannot imagine there will be a mass exodus (or really any exodus) by their players into the portal

I mean there was clearly a plan in place. They announced the retirement and replacement in a 15-minute window. I’m sure Jay encouraged all his guys to stay and I bet they will.

Depends. How much can their NIL collective afford?

 

[Voltime123]

Coach K take notes this is how a coach should handle his retirement, not give yourself a swan song for a whole year it’s about the players not you

 

[VolArmy74]

Which is stupid lol.

Not really sure why it's stupid. More people watch football. I love both equally as far as the Vols go, but I'm way more prone to watch another college football or NFL game than I am an NBA or other college basketball regular season game.

Chamique Holdsclaw is probably the most successful and dominant person to play a sport at Tennessee. She'd never generate close the same NiL money as Peyton would. That's just how the world works.

 

[Volfan1000]

Wright is only 60.

With Coach K, Williams and Wright retiring, it will be very interesting to see how long Coach Barnes keeps coaching.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

Barnes still seems to have the spark

 

[cncchris33]

Barnes still seems to have the spark

I never got the impression Wright didn't have the spark, though. Given the age difference, Barnes retiring suddenly wouldn't be quite the shock that JW seems to be, but as you said, there doesn't seem to be any signs of it, right now.

 

[Chemvol]

You mean he didn’t have to give himself a year long farewell tour, and kept his last year all about the players? You can do that?

I liked and then unliked your post just so I could like it again.

 

[walkenvol]

Wow. Just….wow. That is an absolute shocker. Don’t think anyone saw this coming.

Wait, isn’t he going to announce before the season so all their opponents can pay tribute?

Edit - SGM beat me to it!

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I never got the impression Wright didn't have the spark, though. Given the age difference, Barnes retiring suddenly wouldn't be quite the shock that JW seems to be, but as you said, there doesn't seem to be any signs of it, right now.

Wright has the 2 NCs and 4x FFs. Barnes has a much lower bar. One FF at TN and he’ll be a legend. I’d bet that CJW would rather just step aside now instead of wrangling with the new N-I-L environment. Walking away after adding that 4th Final Four is a good stepping off point.

It will be interesting to see if he’s done or if he jumps to the NBA. Even with potential N-I-L headaches on the horizon - walking away from $6 million/year seems insane.

 

[JRVOL11]

I think Barnes is gonna try to make a few more runs before he retires

 

[johnfnkelly]

Some reports Sharpe may not be eligible for the draft.

 

[LittleCat]

Some reports Sharpe may not be eligible for the draft.

Technically he didn't graduate until December. I think you have to be a year removed to enter the draft. So they (him and his parents/managers/whoever), have to get cleared to enter.

Either way, I don't think he ever plays for Kentucky.

 

[TrumpedUpVol]

This... sounds like a fake transcript.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

This... sounds like a fake transcript.

Would you really put it past Calipari?

 

[golfballs]

This... sounds like a fake transcript.

Sounds like a fake school

 

[johnfnkelly]

This... sounds like a fake transcript.

UK would have been spooky next year had Sharpe stayed.

Glad to know he used UK for their resources just to never play a minute there. I'll support and root for him in the league just for that.

 

[cncchris33]

Would you really put it past Calipari?

How does it benefit Calipari, though?

 

[VolFreakJosh]

How does it benefit Calipari, though?

He cares more about getting players to the NBA than winning National Titles.

Even UK fans will tell you that.

It just adds to his resume.

 

[cncchris33]

He cares more about getting players to the NBA than winning National Titles.

Even UK fans will tell you that.

It just adds to his resume.

Well, that is exaggerated hyperbole. He does care about his reputation as a player developer, but not primary to winning championships. And he's done nothing to develop Sharpe, yet. If Sharpe is drafted in the top-10, it won't be because of anything Cal did with him at UK. So I see no real benefit for Cal in this case. In fact, Cal benefits by SS returning, playing a year, winning a ton of games, and improving his stock into a top-3 player in the the '23 draft.

 

[WestTennesseeVol]

Sounds like a fake school

I’ve driven past it a few times. There’s a bunch of signs and buildings but I’m still not convinced UK is a real school.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

He cares more about getting players to the NBA than winning National Titles.

Even UK fans will tell you that.

It just adds to his resume.

That’s stupid. I could do that

 

[cncchris33]

Is Kennedy guaranteed though? Doesn’t seem like it. He’s a first round talent to me, but that hasn’t shown so far on mock drafts.

I would’ve thrown the Nico 8 million package at him. Not my money, but if the people at Tennessee are serious about winning at basketball, they should’ve been perfectly fine paying him.

KC is solidly in the 1st round in most mocks at this point.

 

[Willy14]

Man Kentucky fans are not happy with Cal about this at all. Not a good look for him lol

 

[golfballs]

Man Kentucky fans are not happy with Cal about this at all. Not a good look for him lol

Why didn’t he play this year

 

[TrippieRedd]

Man Kentucky fans are not happy with Cal about this at all. Not a good look for him lol

They are going to be real mad when Cal loses out on DJ Wagner as well lol