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…
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
Visit the 97.5 The Fanatic YouTube page for discussion about the latest breaking sports news in Philadelphia.
We're into March, and it's official championship time in the 2024 men's college basketball season. Right now, games are being played that will help determine which teams will make it into the much-coveted NCAA tournament and March Madness. So, which teams should top your bracket?
The No. 1 seeds are no surprise, for the most part. There's no way any other teams will be able to top Purdue, Houston and Connecticut. But, the rest is up for grabs.
Before we get into the rankings, let's learn some fun facts about the NCAA Tournament. The very first March Madness started on March 17, 1939, according to BleacherNation.com. They also note that the first tournament in college basketball history had only eight teams. Oregon won the NCAA Division I Championship that year, with a 46-33 win over Ohio State. As for huge upsets, and I remember this one, during the 2018 NCAA Tournament, UMBC beat No. 1 seed Virginia 74-54. That marked the first time in NCAA history a No. 16 seed beat a number 1.
The Odds of a Perfect March Madness Bracket
What are the odds of you getting a perfect bracket? Not good. Not good at all. According to the NCAA, you have a 1 in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (9 quintillion) chance to make a perfect bracket. If you really know nothing about college basketball knowledge, your odds become 1 in 120.2 billion. So, don't bet the house or first born on your bracket. That's so crazy. For years, I was really good at doing brackets and even won in some bracket pools with coworkers and friends. But, then I stopped doing brackets for a few years, because I wanted to enjoy the game. Now, I'm back and ready to do a bracket again this year. My team, the Michigan State Spartans, have not been doing well lately. But, there's time, and hopefully they can turn things around. Fingers crossed.
Let's get into our March Madness 2024 power rankings.
10. Marquette Golden Eagles
Marquette has performed consistently well all season, and they have been falling around the No. 10 mark when ranked against the other NCAA teams. When their defense is weak, their offense is strong, and you can flip that, too. Now, if they can get both going at once, we'll have something extra special.
9. Duke Blue Devils
I remember the Coach K era of the Duke Blue Devils, so it's definitely not the same watching Duke without him in action. But, they're still a solid team with legacy. They're especially strong this year.
8. Creighton Bluejays
The Creighton Bluejays have some star players in Trey Alexander, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Baylor Scheierman. What's even better is that these players seem to be getting better as the season progresses. That's especially true of the latter.
7. Iowa State Cyclones
The Iowa State Cyclones have been strong all season, and they're not letting up now. They also have a star player in Demarion Watson, who kind of broke out of nowhere later in the season.
6. North Carolina Tar Heels
While the North Carolina Tar Heels aren't quite at the level of Purdue, UConn and Houston, meaning they aren't a No. 1 seed, they're close. They have great stats and when they shine, they really shine. They could surprise everyone in the tourney.
5. Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers are having a great season, and star player Jonas Aidoo is largely to thank. But, Aidoo has fallen a bit short lately. Hopefully he's just resting up for a big tourney season.
4. Arizona Wildcats
The Arizona Wildcats are one of the big teams to beat in 2024. They've been dominating both in offense and defense. There's no question that the Cats should be contenders for the Final Four.
3. Houston Cougars
The Houston Cougars will be a No. 1 seed, and they've earned it. They have an incredible record and are very difficult to trip up. Will they go all the way? Time will tell. But, their most recent wins were all close, so there's that.
2. UConn Huskies
The UConn Huskies have a solid coach in Dan Hurley, and he's really helped shape this team into champions. The Huskies have a legacy, and he's carrying that forward. They could absolutely go all the way this year.
1. Purdue Boilermakers
Okay, so Purdue has some weaknesses. But, I follow the Big Ten closely (since Michigan State is in there), and they just always seem to pull off a win. The Boilermakers could really make this their year. Fletcher Loyer and Zach Edey are some of their stars.
