Donnie Freeman is an elite talent, the kind of player who immediately raises the ceiling of any roster he joins. His skill set stands out, but so too does his game-to-game availability.
Kentucky
Rick Pitino stealing Donnie Freeman may give Kentucky an unexpected NIL advantage
The big caveat with Freeman is his health, as his now-surgically repaired toe has limited him to just 37 games over two seasons at Syracuse. But interestingly, it may not be the biggest concern facing his new coach, Rick Pitino.
It’s the fact that the NCAA may be moving to a 5-year-to-play-5 model in the summer.
While that hasn’t been fully approved, lots of players out of eligibility are jumping into the portal, as Josie Gilvin and Denzel Aberdeen have done. Speaking on the move, Pitino didn’t sound as happy as other coaches would be:
“It would be pure chaos. Most teams have used 80% of their NIL. Next year makes sense. Now, don’t get me wrong, I would love to have my seniors back, but our NIL is just about finished. … Unless Mike (Repole) wins the Derby lol,” Pitino quipped this week.
Programs aren’t just managing rosters now, they’re managing budgets. And most of those budgets are already spoken for at a lot of the major programs.
Which brings things back to Freeman.
Giving Donnie Freeman north of $3 million may come back to haunt Pitino. That money could be used on Zuby Ejiofor or Dillon Mitchell. Those are players Kentucky may now be able to make bigger money offers and promise bigger roles to.
Retaining key contributors or adding experienced depth suddenly becomes more difficult. In a normal cycle, that’s manageable. In a year where extra eligibility could flood the market with veterans, it becomes a real problem.
That’s the potential downside Pitino is hinting at. Not Freeman’s talent, or even his health, but the timing and financial allocation he brings to a roster.
And that’s where this conversation becomes especially relevant for Kentucky.
Could we see a Year 3 Otega Oweh in Lexington?
It opens the door for unexpected roster continuity across the sport, including in Lexington. One of the most interesting names to watch is Otega Oweh. Oweh is not in any mock draft, and ESPN has him as No. 100 in their best available, which is 39 spots below teammate Malachi Moreno.
Another year would give Owh a chance to improve his draft position again, take on a larger role on a new team, and earn more than he would in the NBA G League.
And for Mark Pope, it could be an even bigger win.
While other programs scramble to rebalance NIL budgets and navigate unexpected roster logjams, Kentucky has underspent on nearly every position; they should have some money freed up if this does happen.
The NCAA’s potential rule change isn’t just about giving players another year, though. It’s about reshaping how rosters are built, how money is spent, and which programs are positioned to adapt on the fly.
Some teams may find themselves overextended. Others may find opportunity in the chaos. Kentucky may be in the latter category there. Which brings us to what you think.
Would you be up for another year of Otegatron, or do you think the NCAA should come down harshly and stand pat at four playing seasons to tighten things up?
Sound off in the comments section!
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – A former Kentucky education commissioner is out of a superintendent job he took in California.
A joint statement from the Governing Board of the Laguna Beach Unified School District and Jason Glass said Glass and the district has reached a mutual agreement to conclude his service.
Glass will be superintendent until the end of May, and the district thanked him for his service and dedication to the students, staff and families of the district.
“Dr. Glass expresses gratitude for the opportunity to serve this exceptional community and wishes the District continued success,” the statement said.
Serving as the Commonwealth’s education commissioner for three years, Glass had resigned from the position in 2023.
Glass had cited anti-LGBTQ laws and changes to future commissioner of education confirmation procedures as reasons for his departure
Copyright 2026 WKYT. All rights reserved.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – A former spokesperson for the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police pleaded guilty Thursday to wire fraud after stealing thousands of dollars from the union and fellow officers.
Ryan Straw entered his plea at the Eastern District federal courthouse in Kentucky.
Straw was under investigation for embezzlement as of last November, according to a letter from the FOP board.
According to that letter, Straw convinced other officers to give him money for an investment club. That money was never invested. Straw was also suspected of taking funds from the lodge itself.
The FOP gave Straw the chance to return the money, but he did not.
Straw previously conducted media interviews and spoke about police matters, including accountability issues at the state level.
He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sentencing is pending.
Copyright 2026 WAVE. All rights reserved.
Warm and humid weather for Preakness Stakes this weekend
The second race of the Triple Crown is May 16 in Laurel, Maryland. Conditions at Preakness Stakes are expected to be warmer with humidity. There could be a spotty thunderstorm after the race.
Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby. He won’t be at the Preakness. And that’s becoming a familiar story.
This marks the second straight year and the third time in five years that the Derby winner has decided not to compete in the Preakness Stakes despite having a healthy horse. The reason is almost always the same: two weeks isn’t enough time.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux made the call quickly after Golden Tempo’s dramatic last-to-first Derby victory on May 2.
“Golden gave us the race of a lifetime,” DeVaux said in a statement. “We believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort.”
DeVaux and Golden Tempo are focused on the June 6 Belmont Stakes instead.
The pattern is pretty clear.
From 1997 to 2018, every Kentucky Derby winner ran the Preakness, keeping the Triple Crown path intact. That streak ended with Country House, who won the Derby on the disqualification of Maximum Security, was scratched from the Preakness. The sport has been wrestling with the question ever since. Maryland’s racing leaders have considered moving the Preakness one week later, from the third Saturday in May to the fourth, though no change has been made.
Of the 14 horses entered in the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park on May 16, just three made the trip from Churchill Downs. None of them won the Derby. One nearly caused the biggest upset in recent memory.
Ocelli (Post 2, 6-1)
The most intriguing Derby returnee. Ocelli finished third at 70-1 odds on May 2, giving trainer Whit Beckman and jockey Tyler Gaffalione a surprise ticket to Laurel Park. He was the lone maiden in the Derby field and remains a maiden heading into Saturday. Nobody expected him to be here.
Incredibolt (post 12, 5-1)
The morning-line co-favorite among Derby runners. Incredibolt finished sixth at Churchill Downs and trainer Riley Mott moved quickly to point him to Laurel Park. Jockey Jaime Torres won the 2024 Preakness aboard Seize the Grey. The connections believe the 1 3/16-mile distance suits Incredibolt better than the Derby’s mile and a quarter.
Robusta (Post 4, 30-1)
The longest shot of the Derby trio is Robusta, who finished 14th of the 14 in the Derby. The question with any horse coming back this quickly after a tough Derby is how much the race took out of him. At 30-1, it seems the market has answered that question.
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