According to data put together by USA Today, Kentucky leads the Southeastern Conference in money spend on men’s basketball and men’s basketball recruiting.
Kentucky’s total operating expenses for basketball is $22,116,208, which is almost $7.5 million more than Tennessee ($14,659,54). Georgia is third with expenses totaling $14,127,220.
The bottom three programs are LSU, Florida and Mississippi State.
Data for Vanderbilt was not available because it’s a private school and is not subject to open-records disclosure.
It’s likely no surprise that Kentucky leads the league in money spent on basketball recruiting, as well.
UK spent $1,167,817 during the 2021-22 fiscal year.
Texas A&M spent the second most with $1,059,602.
Amazingly, South Carolina only spent $182,452 on recruiting.
Total operating expenses
Kentucky: $22,116,208
Tennessee: $14,659,954
Georgia: $14,127,220
Auburn: $13,813,576
Texas A&M: $13,524,047
Ole Miss: $13,026,006
Arkansas: $11,802,170
South Carolina: $11,792,522
Alabama: $10,900,723
Missouri: $10,286,792
LSU: $9,849,325
Florida: $8,815,741
Mississippi State: $8,384,574
Recruiting Expenses:
Kentucky: $1,167,817
Texas A&M: $1,059,602
LSU: $694,071
Alabama: $613,780
Georgia: $515,155
Ole Miss: $487,407
Tennessee: $445,145
Auburn: $402,941
Florida: $329,395
Missouri: $329,224
Mississippi State: $286,447
Arkansas: $255,400
South Carolina: $182,452
