Have NIL, Transfer Portal Rules Ruined the NCAA Tournament?
The NCAA Tournament begins this week. Brackets will flow out of office printers like they always have, but the excitement isn’t the same as it used to be (at least for some people).
Bob Cooney even acknowledged on 97.5 The Fanatic that Selection Sunday doesn’t spark the same interest anymore. Why? The institution of NIL rules and the transfer portal have made a major impact on the landscape of college sports.
John Giannini coached LaSalle University for 14 years. He led the Explorers to the Sweet 16 in 2013, and he now works as an analyst for NBC Sports. He joined Bob Cooney to discuss the reality of a strange period in college basketball.
“Right now, these kids are thinking, ‘What can I get? Can I get more somewhere else? Why is someone on the team getting more than me?’… It’s become a business now, and I’m not sure the kids even realize how much fun and carefree it was before. They should absolutely get some of the revenue, but the way it’s set up right now I don’t think is good for anyone.”-John Giannini
NIL, Transfer Portal
Name, Image, and Likeness rules advanced at the state level and picked up real steam in 2019. New laws exploded in 2021 and changed college sports forever.
The business element of college basketball gives powerhouse programs even more advantages. Giannini even fears that some of the best parts of the game will disappear.
“No matter what the rules are, those football schools and a couple Big East schools, they’ll also have the biggest budgets and the best facilities… I hope there’s always upsets, but I am concerned that NIL might make that harder as we move forward. I also have the doomsday prediction that the big schools will someday completely break away and start their own organization.” -John Giannini
The Cinderella runs and the 5-12 trap matchup have made March Madness one of the most beloved time periods on the sports calendar. Could that become a thing of the past?
The NCAA also made rule changes about transfer students before the 2018-19 season. The adjustments made astounding impact through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The transfer portal, you’re talking 1000+ kids. That is a gigantic deal, and the combination of NIL and transfer portal… it’s changed everything. Now, if you’re a fan… half the players or more on your team are probably new. There’s going to be very few four-year players. That is sad mostly from a traditional point of view.” -John Giannini
The Future of NCAA Basketball
Giannini is a college basketball lifer who’ll never lose his love for the game. He was speaking on a show hosted by a basketball purist. The two men won’t simply throw away interest in the game.
“If you still love your school, you’re still going to have good teams, and everyone’s in the same boat. It’s just free agency. It’s just like the pros. The rosters are going to change much more frequently, but the games themselves will be terrific.” -John Giannini
The long-time LaSalle coach spoke optimistically about adjustments that could come years down the road. The evolution of college basketball will inevitably continue, and Cooney believes the best traditional minds can help the direction of the game.
“They need people like you (Giannini), Fran Dunphy, (and) Jay Wright to all sit together and find out what these solutions are.” -Bob Cooney
Another Big 5 head coach spoke insightfully about the NIL era of college basketball as a guest on 97.5 The Fanatic in November. Billy Lange doesn’t plan on letting Saint Joseph’s slip into irrelevance because they can’t compete with powerhouse schools operating under lucrative budgets.
“Believe nothing that you read that it’s (NIL is) going away. It’s going to exist forever… For other universities (without financial advantages), they have to find their own way that matches the mission of the institution so you don’t feel like you’re compromising that mission and that educational system.” –Billy Lange
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