This sport is unrecognizable from a few years ago. Crazy that in a year we will basically have a November tournament that is pretty much a March Madness in the fall. And the participating teams are making tons of money for their players in NIL. Like football, feels like the gap is gonna start becoming a real big gulf between haves and have nots
https://x.com/mattnorlander/status/1992663426125205760?s=46&t=w-nIiS118tVX66bsXJJN3A
And these are the teams. A true “the rich get richer” scenario. Not one true mid major in the group, unless you want to count Creighton, Gonzaga, San Diego State, UNLV as mid majors. I do not. Not in basketball.
I’d argue it’s already here, there were hardly any major power conference upsets last March (and not really any early this season) if I’m not mistaken. Mid-majors, especially those with DI football, can’t afford the NIL arms race and they have no chance at making a program-building schedule with the effects of the NET.
I think Matt’s article lays out quite well how the current model of Players Era is probably not going to be sustainable long term. You can’t get the top blue bloods because they are going to cost too much. Then they end up paying the high profile teams they are able to get more, which will cause resentment amongst the other programs that are getting paid less. Some coaches without a lot of job security are going to absolutely HATE not having any control over who they play.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t see how this doesn’t eventually cave in on itself once it goes to 32 teams, absent a large infusion of that UAE money.
Regarding imploding, you make an excellent point.
it also makes me wonder as the millions of cash grows it may also bring in shady dealings, as the reward for tampering for refs and players may out weigh the risk.
