CBS Sports Big East Predictions

[wadesworld]

Mike,

I'm not suggesting that another lackluster performance gets Wojo fired - I agree that for reasons beyond my comprehension he is very safe/secure at MU.

I'm not sure what's hard to comprehend about a $15M budget shortfall in an economy that pretty much every industry is struggling. There's not a ton of money to burn on firing your highest earning employee and paying someone to replace him or her.

[The Sultan]

Mike,

I'm not suggesting that another lackluster performance gets Wojo fired - I agree that for reasons beyond my comprehension he is very safe/secure at MU.

It's not that hard to comprehend. He recruits well. He wins...though not enough for most. He represents the University well.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Well I've been told the universities have million of dollars they are keeping from the athletes. What's the truth?

They do. Money made off of athletics is taken by universities and reinvested into other parts of the university. Now that less money is coming in across the board, universities will have to be more conservative with their budgets then they may have been in the past. No one is accusing them of pocketing millions for personal profit.

There is a level of performance this season that would result in Wojo getting fired, despite the pandemic. I don't know what that level is and its probably lower than most scoopers, but it does exist.

[bilsu]

I do not think a poor performance this season will  have any effect on Wojo. This season is a total crapshoot. Having to miss 14 days of practice because of Covid will effect how MU plays at start of the season. I am not expecting MU to have a good season. We will not make NCAA tournament, if we are swept by Oklahoma St, UCLA and Wisconsin.

[Its DJOver]

And add into that the 14-day quarantine that the team is in right now. Can't be good for gelling.

Very good point. I'm someone who needs Wojo to finally show something special, but I can see how the administration might again accept mediocrity.

Dont disagree that the current delay is hurting, but I think that the lack of a "hostile crowd" will help.  If there are no crowds all year, I think the freshman will benefit from a lack of an "air ball" or free throw "distractions" during the regular season.

[Heisenberg]

Well I've been told the universities have million of dollars they are keeping from the athletes. What's the truth?

You do remember that the Tourney was canceled in March? Conference tourneys too.

That is hundreds of millions in revenue gone that is hurting everyone's athletic budget.

[WhiteTrash]

You do remember that the Tourney was canceled in March? Conference tourneys too.

That is hundreds of millions in revenue gone that is hurting everyone's athletic budget.

I get it. My problem is the perception that all the D1 schools are swimming in money.

[Heisenberg]

I get it. My problem is the perception that all the D1 schools are swimming in money.

Yes, the Tourney was the reason they were swimming in money.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I get it. My problem is the perception that all the D1 schools are swimming in money.

They are swimming in money. They make millions off of athletes, pay them in scholarships (and other ancillary benefits), and use the millions they make off of athletes to subsidize other parts of the university that don't make money (SOCIALISM!).

Those arguing that athletes should be paid aren't saying that universities have a Scrooge McDuck style swimming pool filled with money that they are hoarding for a profit. They are saying that the university should redirect some of the millions they make off of athletes away from building new buildings, propping up English departments, and paying coaches tens of millions (in some cases), to paying their quasi-employees.

I say this as someone who thinks the current compensation package that student-athletes receive is more than fair for 99% of student-athletes and doesn't think it should change. (NIL is another matter)

[WhiteTrash]

They are swimming in money. They make millions off of athletes, pay them in scholarships (and other ancillary benefits), and use the millions they make off of athletes to subsidize other parts of the university that don't make money (SOCIALISM!).

Those arguing that athletes should be paid aren't saying that universities have a Scrooge McDuck style swimming pool filled with money that they are hoarding for a profit. They are saying that the university should redirect some of the millions they make off of athletes away from building new buildings, propping up English departments, and paying coaches tens of millions (in some cases), to paying their quasi-employees.

I say this as someone who thinks the current compensation package that student-athletes receive is more than fair for 99% of student-athletes and doesn't think it should change. (NIL is another matter)

Fair enough. Not sure there are any coaches making $10MM but regardless, if the argument is moving funds away from or eliminating non-revenue sports (mostly women's sports) I can follow the logic. My issue has been the argument that there is so much money that the basketball and football players have no access to.

D1 schools are eliminating programs due to COVID and lack of funds. Maybe the schools should not be D1, but the rules have to be the same for all schools.

I hate that the media thinks that Kentucky and Alabama are the same as NJIT and SDSU.

I understand that UK basketball players and Alabama football players make millions for the schools but they have also chosen, voluntarily, to be in the NCAA with other colleges that don't have the resources they have. Most colleges loose money in sports.

I'm good with the P5 and Big East going it alone, but it will have consequences.

[Billy Hoyle]

Yes, the Tourney was the reason they were swimming in money.

no, those "swimming in money" are due to football and TV revenue. NCAA tourney revenue goes to the conferences to distribute, in many cases equally amongst the membership. And, the fewer teams in and fewer games won equal less money distributed.

[willie warrior]

But it's only Wojo's 7th year! Give him some time! Our "trajectory" is awesome!

Betcha those malcontents, the Hauser outlaws finish higher than 6th in their conferences.

[willie warrior]

I've celebrated Wojo's successes (mostly recruiting - Henry, Markus, the Hausers, Dawson G, etc.) and criticized what I think are his failings (in game coaching, totally green lighting his stars, end of season collapses, etc.).

I've almost thrown in the towel on many occasions but I've clung to the hope that I might be wrong, that maybe he could get it done. I'm still clinging, but this year I need to see something.

Lots of us have already seem enough.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Fair enough. Not sure there are any coaches making $10MM but regardless, if the argument is moving funds away from or eliminating non-revenue sports (mostly women's sports) I can follow the logic. My issue has been the argument that there is so much money that the basketball and football players have no access to.

Eliminating women's sports is not an option due to Title IX. I'm not sure how you got there from building new buildings and propping up english departments.

When I referred to coaches making tens of millions I was referring to entire contracts not single years.

There is so much money that basketball and football players have no access to. The universities spend it elsewhere. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but it is a fact.

I hate that the media thinks that Kentucky and Alabama are the same as NJIT and SDSU.

No one and especially the media, doesn't think this in the way you are implying. But they are the same in that all schools generate money from athletics and the athletes aren't allowed to access those funds despite being the ones who generated them. Some people don't think that is ethical and want to see more of that money redirected to compensating athletes. Personally, I think that would be a lose lose scenario and think the current system of providing scholarships and other ancillary benefits is much better for the both the university and the vast majority of student-athletes.

[WhiteTrash]

No one and especially the media, doesn't think this in the way you are implying.

Agree to disagree. I think the media is the biggest proponent of paying players because they think every school is Duke or Texas.  I had to listen to ESPN analysts this week defend OBJ paying players on the field. I also heard the out cry of how unfair big time programs make money from the players. The media, IMHO, is more guilty of assuming the Alabama's and USC's of the world are the same as UAB and North Texas as opposed to educated fans.

As I said before, I'm okay with the P6 in basketball splitting off and paying players, but we will loose our games with the A10, MVC, WCC, etc. 

[MU82]

"Paying players" is considerably different from letting athletes benefit financially from their own names, images and likenesses. Most in the media (that I have seen) are for the latter. I don't see many talking about the former.

Personally, capitalist that I am, I'm for whatever the market will bear, supply-and-demand, and all that other good non-socialist stuff. But NIL would at least be a good, fair start.

Many P6 coaches make more than $10 million. TAMU didn't say per annum. Even Wojo's contract was worth more than $10M total. And quite a few have multi-year contracts worth multiple tens of millions of dollars.

Marquette has been tearing down buildings, putting up new buildings, buying up properties and land around campus, etc. Millions upon millions upon millions of dollars being spent. Of course, those were planned during financial good times, as if tough times couldn't possibly ever arrive.

I am not saying MU shouldn't have done most or all of that, because I am not close enough to the situation to know. But it is a fact that MU has been spending money like a drunk congressperson these last many years, as have many colleges and universities.

[wadesworld]

The media ruins everything.  Get rid of the media and every problem in the world would be solved.  No covid, no global warming, no poverty, no violence, we'd have world peace, college student athletes would finally see the value they get in the exposure, networking, and education they get, etc.

[WhiteTrash]

This board can get very strange. NIL = paying player? Sports media = COVID reality?

As I've said before, the BE and other P5 schools can afford player compensation but the vast majority of D1 schools cannot.

The rules have to be even and consistent.

Moving funds from academic buildings, coaches salaries and non-revenue sports might be the answer, but the money has to come from somewhere.

[GooooMarquette]

This board can get very strange.

I hope this isn't your first inkling....

[Viper]

What?

figure it out, it's not difficult

[WhiteTrash]

I hope this isn't your first inkling....

LOL! Good point.

[4everwarriors]

Woj has ok Halloween decorations outside his crib. Not great, just ok, hey?

[The Big East]

Woj has ok Halloween decorations outside his crib. Not great, just ok, hey?

Hopefully, he has some good quality treats like Snickers and Reese Cups

[Shooter McGavin]

Woj has ok Halloween decorations outside his crib. Not great, just ok, hey?

Ok?  Do dentists have an inferiority complex? Hey?

[Newsdreams]

Ok?  Do dentists have an inferiority complex? Hey?

No, he is just constipated.