College basketball is king in Kansas, and the state’s top programs haven’t been shy about paying to keep it that way.
Last season, the Kansas Jayhawks reportedly built their roster with $4 million in name, image and likeness money. The Kansas State Wildcats, meanwhile, reportedly paid forward Coleman Hawkins $2 million this offseason to transfer to the program.
In the past few days, Utah head coach Craig Smith successfully beat them both in Salt Lake City.
The Runnin' Utes earned their victory lap with an NIL war chest of about $2 million in total.
“They do have a lot of resources,” Smith said following Utah’s 74-69 win over Kansas State on Monday. “We don’t talk about it, any of that stuff, as a team. But it’s a small world and these guys have a pretty good feel of what goes on out there.
“Some guys, it’s very well known who’s getting what around the country, whether it’s the two teams we just played or teams out of our league.”
Those big budgets might’ve even been a motivating factor during Utah’s two-game win streak.
“I do have a feeling they had a pretty good idea of that,” he said of his team’s understanding of the Kansas schools’ NIL budgets. “So whatever it takes to motivate them … Hopefully you have guys who are very intrinsically motivated, but certainly there are always outside influences.”
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kansas State Wildcats guard David Castillo (10) guards Utah Utes guard Miro Little (1), during a big 12 gamed between the Utah Utes and the Kansas State Wildcats, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025.
NIL has reshaped college basketball, and Smith understands that.
“At the end of the day, that’s college athletics right now,” he said.
The Runnin' Utes head coach made a comparison to Major League Baseball’s haves and have-nots as he basked in his team’s recent victories.
“I’m not saying we’re one way or another, but there’s the Dodgers and there’s the Athletics,” Smith said, moving his hand up and down. “The Big 12 is big boy basketball and there are a lot of resources out there. So I’m just proud of our guys, how we keep showing up, keep showing resilience, keep fighting the good fight and it’s also nice when you get the reward at the end of the day.”
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith after a big play, in Big 12 basketball reacts at the buzzer, as Utah Utes defeat the Kansas State Wildcats, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025.
