How Shaka Can Save This Season

[NCMUFan]

Justin Lewis available?

[NCMUFan]

Fran Fraschilla today ...
(Reads like a message to Shaka)

If you want stay in step as a college coach in the "new normal," you will need to conform to survive:

1. Academic requirements & graduate rates mean nothing to most families of star athletes. It's about the money.

2. Accept that agents now run college basketball. And, unlike NBA certified agents, many are clueless at best & shysters at worst. Still have to deal with them.

3. Evaluation of high school & transfer portal talent is at all-time low. These decisions are torpedoing even great programs. So hire people who know hoops.

4. You have to be willing to cut players who can't play. Do you want to feed their family or your family?

5. Cultivate "sugar daddies" for your program. But don't have them paying for bad evaluations. These are smart business people. You'll be cooked.

6. Hire an NBA guy that knows the international market (most of you already behind) or G League talent.

7. Study new world of NIL insurance so you are protected against liability when the athlete sues. You'll also need to determine how to claw back funds when player is injured for extended period of time.

8. Don't worry about tampering. That's out the window too.

Understand that, while some say college basketball is at it best right now, there will be unintended consequences. Some of it is good, some bad & much, an overcorrection. Anyone who thinks they know where this ends, especially with non-existent leadership at the top of the sport, is a fool.

https://x.com/franfraschilla/status/2004594891200893296?s=46

Great post.  Like it or not, this is where the sport stands. 

[Pakuni]

Fran Fraschilla today ...
(Reads like a message to Shaka)

If you want stay in step as a college coach in the "new normal," you will need to conform to survive:

1. Academic requirements & graduate rates mean nothing to most families of star athletes. It's about the money.

2. Accept that agents now run college basketball. And, unlike NBA certified agents, many are clueless at best & shysters at worst. Still have to deal with them.

3. Evaluation of high school & transfer portal talent is at all-time low. These decisions are torpedoing even great programs. So hire people who know hoops.

4. You have to be willing to cut players who can't play. Do you want to feed their family or your family?

5. Cultivate "sugar daddies" for your program. But don't have them paying for bad evaluations. These are smart business people. You'll be cooked.

6. Hire an NBA guy that knows the international market (most of you already behind) or G League talent.

7. Study new world of NIL insurance so you are protected against liability when the athlete sues. You'll also need to determine how to claw back funds when player is injured for extended period of time.

8. Don't worry about tampering. That's out the window too.

1. This has always been true. Does anyone think Derrick Rose went to Memphis for academics? Or Marcus Dupree chose Oklahoma for its graduation rates?

2. Agree

3. Seems like this has always been true, at least the part about the importance of good player evaluations and hiring good people.

4. Agree. Not sure this is anything new at many places.

5. Again, this has always been true. It's just more out in the open now.

6. Agree.

7. Sure.

8. When was the last time a major program was sanctioned for tampering? Another thing I think that has always been true, it's just more out in the open now.

[brewcity77]

Will the NCAAT survive past 2032?

In its current form, I don't think so. More likely we'll get a BCS style tournament where the top football leagues run things and they give a few at-large bids to mid-major leagues and champions. I expect they'll do away with auto bids for the 14-16 seed type teams and replace them with HM teams that are higher in the metrics despite poor records.