With the one and done/NIL era I really don't. Back in the day you connected with these players over a four year period and watched them develop. I followed Mashburn on ever NBA team he played on because of that connection but now I honestly couldn't tell you who was one the roster a few seasons ago. They're all just rent-a-players in this era.
Do you feel a connection to modern players?
- Thread starter BigBlueBubba
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Not really and haven't for awhile now starting with the one and done. I don't follow much NBA any more so all that connection doesn't mean that much. Still love my Kentucky basketball though and will be there cheering these guys on however long they may be at Kentucky.
I've followed KY basketball my whole life, having been a fan for over 60 years.
I've always rooted for our players, of course, but have never felt "connected" to them, as I've never known any of them personally.
I've always rooted for our players, of course, but have never felt "connected" to them, as I've never known any of them personally.
I get what you’re saying.
Back before one and done when kids stayed in the same school multiple years you have time to know them and see the progress of their game as it gets they got older. While days players don’t stay at one school so you don’t get to know them as well.
Back before one and done when kids stayed in the same school multiple years you have time to know them and see the progress of their game as it gets they got older. While days players don’t stay at one school so you don’t get to know them as well.
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While the season is going and hopefully the post-season is playing out, I enjoy getting to know each player's on-court personality. It stops there, though. Except for the ones who won't be going to the NBA or overseas, NONE of them are there to get an education. They're just mercenaries.
I just want to win and be good enough to reach the Elite Eight and then let's see what happens. To answer the question, no I don't and don't really care to. Hire 1 year mercinaries for all I care. Just make sure they are good ones.
No. Hopefully we'll get some players to stick around a while in the near future.
It kinda feels like you need to have a player a minimum two years and one offseason to feel really connected. This way you see growth in the program. committment. One year rentals or OAD's don't apply, unless they win you a title.
I mean, as great as Cooper Flagg and Carlos Boozer were, how much can Duke claim stake to anything - development, etc? They can't. Duke fans will claim as part of the brotherhood, but what are they really?
A kid like Water Clayton, did 2 years at Florida and won them a title. This Michigan team felt like a pack of mercenaries, from coach to players, but they won a title. Weird legacy for them. A bunch of one year rentals and a 2 year rental coach.
24 UConn team, kid like Castle won them a title. Cam Spencer. So that's my criteria, two years, or one year and a title.
I mean, as great as Cooper Flagg and Carlos Boozer were, how much can Duke claim stake to anything - development, etc? They can't. Duke fans will claim as part of the brotherhood, but what are they really?
A kid like Water Clayton, did 2 years at Florida and won them a title. This Michigan team felt like a pack of mercenaries, from coach to players, but they won a title. Weird legacy for them. A bunch of one year rentals and a 2 year rental coach.
24 UConn team, kid like Castle won them a title. Cam Spencer. So that's my criteria, two years, or one year and a title.
Limiting the amount of transfers a player gets would help.
I'm old, so I recall the days of watching players develop over several years. So I recognized most players when I saw them play. In the past 15 years, all that has gone. I've seen references to players from recent years (not walk-ons) and I've had no idea who they are. I find it disappointing, because I would like to believe that players are actually students and that they contribute to campus life. Obviously, that's a naive belief.
back in the 80s when the team played way fewer games, could only listen to them on radio, and would only read about them once a week but the players were not getting paid.....i felt super connected to the team
now a days with 40 games, summer games, exhibition, and practices all televised, weekly/monthly player profiles on the internet and hours and hours of youtube clips, and them making money....i dont feel very connected to the program anymore.
now a days with 40 games, summer games, exhibition, and practices all televised, weekly/monthly player profiles on the internet and hours and hours of youtube clips, and them making money....i dont feel very connected to the program anymore.
No, but I felt no connections to guys like Pat Riley, Louie Dampier or Dan Issel either. I enjoyed listening to Cawood Ledford call the games they played in and the rare television appearance back in the day, but even though they were among my favorite players, I didn't feel any connection to them. I rooted for them at UK and followed their pro careers, just like I have countless other guys who have worn the UK jersey.
I do . It’s UK and they are our guys . Just playing by today’s rules. I real really like Milan ‘s story as to why he picked UK. Moreno home town boy. These guys are all here because they respect coach Pope and are OUR team. Love this team already .
Not as much as I used to. Mostly because they aren't around very long, but also because I just look at things differently at my age than I used to.
The turnover of the one-and-done era was awfully fast, but the transfer portal, in which players bounce from team to team, makes it much, much worse. Most of these players feel, if they feel any deep connection to Kentucky, feel it for only a brief moment. And they're millionaires. And they're kids, from my old-man perspective. So not as much as I used to and not as much as I'd like. The world is going to hell in a handbasket. Get off my lawn. When I was your age. Etc.
I actually disagree with most people about one and done. John Wall, Cousins and MKG just to name a few. Those guys had a blast when they got here and brought so many memories. I think the issue with one and done was when the teams weren’t very successful. Then, people got burnt out. There’s no difference to me between bringing a freshman in for one year that goes on to be a lottery pick vs bringing in Milan from Iowa State who could only be here one year. I actually enjoyed one and done more because those guys spent their entire collegiate career at UK whereas now guys spend one year after having 2-3 seasons at another school.
No but it's been that way for me for a long time. I'm in my 40s, should I feel a connection to college players who if they're really talented, find their way to the next level in a year or two? I don't think so. Maybe "connection" isn't the right word then. Or again, maybe it's age. KSR has talked about this in the past. Their young social media guy, Mario, does have a connection to some of the players but he's in his 20s. Matt, who is 46 or something, clearly doesn't have a connection to these young guys. It's a completely different generation and in this era, they come and go more frequently than in the past.
Keeping the same guys around for 3 or 4 years hasn't been a thing for a long time and if it's happening at UK during the NIL Era, then god bless we probably stink.
Keeping the same guys around for 3 or 4 years hasn't been a thing for a long time and if it's happening at UK during the NIL Era, then god bless we probably stink.
I have never felt “connected” to the players but I’d have to go back to the Tubby days to feel like I knew who they were, which I guess is what you meant. After Tubby came the BGC era and that was just a trainwreck. I think I was just numb watching it. Then came the Cal years which the first half was amazing and I really had a lot of my favorite Cats from that era but it was definitely different. You knew they were there only for a minute. NIL is no better as everyone goes for more money if they can.
One and done really made it hard and I really don't care what those players do after they left Kentucky. NIL has made it worst and is killing college basketball. I miss players who truly want to play for Kentucky.
We had a team of guys who absolutely loved it here two years ago. Did we already forget how emotional Koby Brea and Andrew Carr were when the season ended?
I’m a results guy, personally, so I care about the players feeling connected here only because I believe in the power of intrinsic motivators. What ultimately matters to me is keeping pace above Kansas in all-time wins, passing UCLA in championships and returning to a level of dominance in basketball that creates a new wave of passion for the next generation.
I’m a results guy, personally, so I care about the players feeling connected here only because I believe in the power of intrinsic motivators. What ultimately matters to me is keeping pace above Kansas in all-time wins, passing UCLA in championships and returning to a level of dominance in basketball that creates a new wave of passion for the next generation.
About the same as ever as far as interest in the program and being locked in for games but there is an adjustment for age in the relationship with players, coaches, and administration.
The view is way different as a little kid looking up and dreaming and remembering when the current kids dads and granddads played.
Same for coaches. I seldom have felt older than having it spring to mind that I recall Izzo coming up under Heathcoat looking at him do an interview.
No few here remember Pat Riley playing for Kentucky, that is some real water that has passed under a lot of bridges. That has to have some impact.
At minimum, the admiration factor just cannot be the same at six as sixty or eighty but even just relating is going to be different when you are closer to the players grandparents age or even remember gramps in high school.
The view is way different as a little kid looking up and dreaming and remembering when the current kids dads and granddads played.
Same for coaches. I seldom have felt older than having it spring to mind that I recall Izzo coming up under Heathcoat looking at him do an interview.
No few here remember Pat Riley playing for Kentucky, that is some real water that has passed under a lot of bridges. That has to have some impact.
At minimum, the admiration factor just cannot be the same at six as sixty or eighty but even just relating is going to be different when you are closer to the players grandparents age or even remember gramps in high school.
I’ve known some and still don’t feel “connected” to them. Whatever that means.
Hate to burst your bubble but they most certainly were getting paid. Getting paid like players today? No. But they got paid.
I think some here should try an experiment. I'd like those who want to have a connection with a UK player to go to their significant other, a friend, one of their own children, whoever. and say the following: Of course you know I'm (insert older age). I don't feel I have a connection to these college athletes. Yes, they are in their late teens and early to mid 20s but why do you think I don't have a special connection with them anymore and how can I get that special connection with these young men?"
And then come back here and post what the responses are.
I think the OP just used the wrong word .Connected?
I don't think he was talking about having a personal connection but more of being a big fan of a certain player.
I get what he's saying, I'm a UK fan so I was a fan of last year's team as a whole but the individual pieces not so much.
No, I think he meant connection. If someone uses the word 'connection' in their thread title and 'connection' and 'connected' in their first post, they mean that word lol. Obviously no one here believes he wants a personal connection to a certain player but he did mean "connection" because he kept using the word. Some of us are saying that if you're an older person, it might be a bit odd to want or need some sort of connection to a young college athlete who if they're really talented, isn't meant to stay for several seasons. I don't need to know their favorite color or their mom's name. Just come, win, and leave for the NBA or if you're unhappy, try your luck at another school for a better opportunity.
The roster turnover is so high these days that I don’t even remember the names of players who played here.
Maybe I'm an old school guy but in my generation a player that stuck around four years at the same school left more of a "connection" to the fans. Meaning I have more of a fan following to that player because he has stayed loyal to that school I'm a fan of. If UK paid 12 Russian players a million dollars each for one season and we won a title with those players that's not going to make me a bigger fan of those players than a team like the unforgettables.
Times have changed and it's basically a professional sports league now and maybe some of you prefer the one year mercenaries but I would prefer a system where players didn't bounce after one year.
No I don't feel any connection to the players. I don't need to either. I just need them to win. I am looking at the poster for the 26 team at my desk right now and I don't even remember these guys names or recognize their faces for the most part. I've forgotten them.
Oddly it's been 51 years since Darryl Dawkins went, Hardship Rule, drafted by the Timberwolves, and don't forget Bill Willoughby. The Hardship Rule was in effect from 1975-1995, 41 players selected during those 20 years. In 1995 Kevin Garnett was selected by the Timberwolved, that's when the NBA, IMO, ruined College Basketball and done the beginning of thoughts of 1 and done. NIL just makes everything more jumbled up, screwed up.
I’m a Kentucky fan always have been, but really there is no connection for me other than supporting the team now. When you are only here for one year, it’s hard to really get that connection for me. Each year that goes by shows me I can do without any of it. With NIL and the current transfer rules it’s just like a pro team here one minute the next you’re gone. There is hardly any loyalty left it’s just where can I get the most money which takes away from the fans loyalty. To each his own, if someone feels different that’s cool too.
No, none. It's not the same sport. That time of connection is forever gone. These guys are all one-year hired mercenaries who don't give a crap about the state or school. Short of a Kentucky kid growing up loving it as a fan and coming here, that stuff is gone.
I think connection is important....it means you care more about the players and the teams. It means your more apt to make sure you watch every game, maybe attend some road games, SEC tourney games. I think it's hard to root against Denzel and Mo one year, and then embrace them totally as Wildcats the next year. I missed more UK games this year on TV than the last ten years combined.
To me, it's just Triple A professional basketball that happens to be played on UK's home court, with a bunch of owners (NIL guys) calling the shots. The deepest pockets are going to be the most successful. I truly believe that college sports ratings are going to slowly decline over time. Anecdote: I know a guy who is a die hard Georgia Bulldogs fan....season tickets for 30 years. This year he gave them up because he just doesn't like the NIL free agency and the lack of connection to the players.
To me, it's just Triple A professional basketball that happens to be played on UK's home court, with a bunch of owners (NIL guys) calling the shots. The deepest pockets are going to be the most successful. I truly believe that college sports ratings are going to slowly decline over time. Anecdote: I know a guy who is a die hard Georgia Bulldogs fan....season tickets for 30 years. This year he gave them up because he just doesn't like the NIL free agency and the lack of connection to the players.