Sports

Kentucky’s $22M Basketball Team Ridiculed For ‘Touch Money’ Chant Before Blowout Loss

#Kentucky Wildcats
by
Mark Pope

iStockphoto / © Jordan Prather-Imagn Images


The Kentucky basketball team was beaten soundly by rival Vanderbilt in SEC action on Tuesday night. A pregame huddle breakdown is now going viral.

The Wildcats appeared money motivated ahead of the matchup in Nashville. They were criticized by the fanbase after an embarrassing defeat.

The team travelled to Memorial Gymnasium for a conference showdown against the 18th-ranked Commodores. After a poor start, they were unable to recover.

Vanderbilt scored the first seven points of the game. Kentucky would fall behind by double digits by the 10-minute mark. The Wildcats were in a 43-23 hole at halftime, and they’d eventually lose 80-55.

The loss dropped the Wildcats to 14-7 in what’s been a frustrating year. The team had hoped to capitalize on a run to the Sweet 16 in Mark Pope’s debut. They’ve fallen short of expectations to this point.

Kentucky invested heavily in the basketball roster.

It was said that they’d paid north of $20 million for this year’s squad. The exact cost of the roster was reported at $22 million.

The payroll allowed the program to secure a Top 5 transfer class, with many touting the team as the most expensive in college basketball. The Wildcats have been up and down thus far. They’ve struggled to land signature wins.

While Kentucky has beaten No. 24 Tennessee and No. 22 St. John’s, they’ve now fallen to 0-6 vs. teams ranked inside the Top 20. Many have been blowouts.

They led just twice early in the first half of a loss to Louisville. They suffered setbacks of 17, 35, and 15 to the likes of Michigan State, Gonzaga, and Alabama.

Given the price tag, fans expected the team to be more competitive. The recent loss to Vanderbilt only added to the frustrations.

Wildcats break huddle with “Touch Money” chant.

That term is defined by Urban Dictionary as a phrase indicating that you should “always keep money close at hand or it can serve as a reminder to always stay on that paper chase.”

The Kentucky basketball team is continuing to chase paper. They have failed to secure notable wins.

The Commodores took a victory lap after their latest SEC victory. Current Vandy guard Mike James, a former Louisville Cardinal, posted an “L” on social media after the fact.

Prior to the loss to Vanderbilt, Kentucky was listed as a 7-seed in Joe Lunardi’s bracketology. This setback will likely lead to a slip in that outlook.