Oakland players cash in on Kentucky upset

Oakland G Jack Gohlke and F Trey Townsend “cashed in with NIL deals" the day after the team upset Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. Gohlke, who "became and overnight sensation," signed a deal with TurboTax, with tax day looming, and “even shot a makeshift commercial in the team hotel.” Gohlke and Townsend then "shot a commercial for Oofos," which makes support slippers. In the video, Gohlke said, “We ain't no Cinderella baby, but I've got my magic slippers” (DETROIT NEWS, 3/23). Gohlke also has partnered with Campus Ink, The NIL Store and Barstool Sports to "create his own line of merchandise" (THE OAKLAND POST, 3/22).

Fewer than 24 hours after Oakland’s win over Kentucky, Oakland coach Greg Kampe noted that $8,000 worth of Golden Grizzlies T-shirts from the school’s website were “sold to people whose credit cards had Louisville zip codes.” That “avalanche of out-of-state orders didn’t go unnoticed” as Oakland VP Mike Westfall “thanked Louisville fans for their support” (USA TODAY, 3/22).