Kentucky, surprisingly, had less NIL the last couple years than people might think. They obviously are still one of the top programs around in terms of opportunity and budget... but when Cal first almost left a year or so ago, it was because Kentucky was reluctant to spend on players the way others were. Kentucky whiffed on a not-insubstantial number of transfers the last year or two, and the rumors have always been that Cal was asking for the boosters to spend and the boosters were saying no.

Whether that was a chess move by UK to try to force Calipari to leave is certainly up for discussion... but I think there's also a world in which UK is, like, closer to top 10-12 in actual NIL expenditure than top 4. By choice, not by resource. I'm sure how they spend this offseason will depend on which coach they hire and what promises they make this new guy. Most of the coaches' new contracts have guaranteed NIL budgets attached. Gotta think that'll be the case here too.

(Outside of that, I'll agree with Will on basically everything he said. A coach who wants to play an antiquated style of basketball free of criticism and the most vocally assholish fanbase in college basketball is a bad combo and ultimately became untenable. I lowkey think Cal will thrive in Arkansas, though-- he loves being loved, and Arkansas was one of the top schools in America in terms of transfer NIL budget under Musselman, so undoubtedly that'll rise even higher with Cal.)

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