Dick Vitale rips Kentucky basketball's $22 million roster after loss

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The Kentucky Wildcats basketball group should still make the NCAA Event, however Dick Vitale thinks this iconic program ought to be significantly better than their 19-12 document this season contemplating their whopping $22 million roster.

The legendary ESPN school basketball analyst didn’t maintain again his emotions concerning the Wildcats as they played Florida throughout Saturday’s prime SEC matchup. After the Gators hit some free throws to increase their first-half result in 26-19, Vitale began to put into the Wildcats.

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Head coach Mark Pope of the Kentucky Wildcats in a sport between the Florida Gators and the Kentucky Wildcats on March 7, 2026, at Rupp Enviornment in Lexington, KY. (Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire)

"I’m going to say this proper right here, I’ve accomplished a number of Kentucky video games, win or lose, $22 million this group [which has been reported] when it comes to the NIL for his or her gamers," he stated, per Terrible Asserting. "I feel in $22 million, they may have put collectively a greater roster than they did. I actually do."

The Wildcats ended up shedding by a rating of 84-77, and Vitale continued about Kentucky close to the top of their twelfth lack of the season.

"I’ll inform you one factor, you don’t wish to stroll out of right here pondering you bought an ethical victory," Vitale stated, referencing a hard-fought sport towards the No. 5-ranked Florida group. "Ethical victories don’t depend at this stage of basketball. And also you hear a few of the folks, ‘We performed them shut. We performed them robust.’

"The underside line is you’re Kentucky. You’re Kentucky. And also you’ve received to go away right here with a win, particularly at residence. There are not any ethical victories. Come on. I don’t wish to hear that."

Collin Chandler and Jasper Johnson of the Kentucky Wildcats have a good time within the first half towards the Ole Miss Rebels at Rupp Enviornment on Jan. 24, 2026 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Dylan Buell/Getty Photographs)

The Wildcats had been as soon as the highest program within the nation below former Coach John Calipari, who left for Arkansas after being unable to make a protracted March Madness run in current seasons, together with a surprising first spherical upset to the Oakland Golden Grizzlies within the 2024 NCAA Event.

The Wildcats have been coached by Mark Pope since, and so they made the Candy 16 in final 12 months’s event earlier than shedding to Tennessee.

Kentucky Jasper Johnson in motion vs Michigan State at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York, NY on Nov. 18, 2025. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports activities Illustrated )

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However this 12 months, Kentucky is 10-8 in SEC play, and now face the No. 9 seed within the upcoming event this week. The winner of every convention earns a event berth, however the Wildcats know good seeding within the NCAA Event requires a powerful run heading into Choice Sunday this upcoming weekend.