Mark Adams on the changed landscape in college hoops

[IndyTreeFan]

We had better do something. We're going to get priced out of competition very soon. As will most everyone not in the P5.

College Power-Brokers Poised to Turn NCAA Upside Down

The Transformation Committee is considering wholesale changes that would make the NCAA’s post–Mark Emmert era a completely different experience.

www.si.com

 

[Sycamorefan96]

Lets pivot.

How do you guys structure this system where everyone can compete on some semblance of equal footing?

With NLI and the very lax transfer rules there can't be any equal footing. At this point mid majors will just be P5 developmental leagues. MVC schools like ours will have to fight like crazy to keep our star players from transferring out and chasing the cash.

Best case scenario in my view is for men's basketball at the D1 level to be split into two just like football. I doubt NLI will have a very big impact at the 1AA level in football or a hypothetical basketball scenario. It won't keep us from losing players to the highest bidders, but at least all of our schools will have similar issues at hand. I have my doubts that NLI will effect non-revenue sports too much, so for now I'd just leave those alone.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

What if we went with an entirely new model of Collegiate based athletics? All schools' athletic revenue (or a set amount, or something) gets paid into a fund at the NCSA (another Blue Chips reference...lol). From that fund, the NCSA evenly distributes the money back to the schools. Everyone has a level revenue playing field.

The NCSA handles all scheduling, somewhat like professional leagues do. No one can buy all their non-con games to be at home. There can still be tournaments, but those are assigned by the NCSA. Schedules are determined either randomly, or by using a formula like the NFL, where the better you are, the harder your next year's schedule is. Equal numbers of home and away games.

Tournament format would remain essentially the same, although it could be argued that everyone should be in it, and it could be structured like the old Indiana single class basketball tournament.

There would have to be some rule structure in place to deal with NIL, or salaries, or however we'd end up paying the athletes. Scholarships and a salary would be a smart way, I think. Perhaps give each school a salary cap, and then it's up to them to decide how to divvy it up amongst their players. NIL should go away, and all players should be paid by the school, from the money sent out by the NCSA.

Realize that this structure would not include the P5, nor some of the wealthier mids, as they won't have any interest in sharing money. However, as time goes by, I believe that the popularity of this format might win over a lot of fans because of the inherent possibilities of winning a National Championship, being more likely to identify with the program (as a point of emphasis would be retention of STUDENT-athletes). Much like in the NFL, every team (unless you're the Lions) has the opportunity to move up through smart drafts (recruiting), retaining important players, and evening out the competitive landscape.

This was off the top of my head. I'd be interested to hear your additions, subtractions, or what not...

Yep, I'd buy this. This is a better fleshed out version of my salary cap idea. I ultimately think that has to be a part of it, but if they are going to be pro sports and that is now the model we have, then there has to be a central governing body that institutes rules so there is competitive balance. The problem is as we all know that the P5 has no interest in that and want to go full NBA/NFL for the two major sports and break away as evidenced by the article you posted about the "transformation" committee.

Reality is if they pooled all of the resources generated into a pot, everyone could eat really well and it's would be an amazing system that would also include player pay without the shady aspects that we're going to get with this pseudo system that encourages players to constantly seek more money.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

We had better do something. We're going to get priced out of competition very soon. As will most everyone not in the P5.

College Power-Brokers Poised to Turn NCAA Upside Down

The Transformation Committee is considering wholesale changes that would make the NCAA’s post–Mark Emmert era a completely different experience.

www.si.com

Between autonomy they got last go round and if they can elect a P5 favoring leader to replace Emmert, pack it up. They already have the baked in advantages that come from their conferences and if they can finish up prohibitive regulation on the backend to make sure nobody makes it past their velvet rope, it's over.

Personally, I could do without UNC, Duke and Kentucky. I don't give a fuck about the ACC, the Big Ten or the SEC. I only watch their games during March Madness because I'm invested in the tournament as a whole. Well, unless I get free tickets to see them. So could the Indiana States and other MM/LM programs of the world.

This is where these bitch ass ADs will continue to sit on their hands versus starting some sort of dialogue to be proactive. Just like they did when they got cucked on the autonomy vote. Why? Because most of these people cycle through those schools so their goal is to get back.

 

[dino]

Does the p5 breaking off in basketball mean that they never play against “the others?” Or just that the p5 has their own exclusive tournament? Also, p5 [or whatever it ends up being called] would likely expand as more schools would commit to spending whatever money would be required to join the power structure. Could easily be 100-150 schools eventually. Too many fringe teams right now to know exactly where the lines would be drawn. Definitely more alignment coming with parts of the unstable American Athletic Conference hoping to get sucked up by the big boys.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Does the p5 breaking off in basketball mean that they never play against “the others?” Or just that the p5 has their own exclusive tournament? Also, p5 [or whatever it ends up being called] would likely expand as more schools would commit to spending whatever money would be required to join the power structure. Could easily be 100-150 schools eventually. Too many fringe teams right now to know exactly where the lines would be drawn. Definitely more alignment coming with parts of the unstable American Athletic Conference hoping to get sucked up by the big boys.

1000% it will. Why would they slum it against other schools when they can "draw" against other P5 schools in the home slates and likely get larger gates. The only reason they slum it now is because they're essentially forced to. Once they're in their own subdivision, there is no incentive because they'll all essentially make the tournament and no longer need to pad records because of MM/LM schools.

 

[niklz62]

Yes - that's my position. Doubt it'll change as I don't buy the "exploitation" argument I've heard for decades.

I'd argue that there is virtually ZERO exploitation at the FCS or Div. II level -- maybe some at the FBS level

We'll just have to agree to disagree.

thats fine, I wasnt really talking about the FCS level, more basketball and P5 football.

 

[Gotrees485]

In that NCAA piece its mentioned the scholarship limits on sports like baseball and other could go away. Staff size restrictions could go away or relegated to the conferences to decide. The Power 5 now can afford for all their players to be on scholarship for baseball and others. Places like Alabama and others already have 40-50 staffers for football. Its a scary time for non mid major schools. Power 5 conferences are going to be billing dollar a year revenue producers themselves.

 

[IndyTreeFan]

Some AD's are going to have to show some balls and make a change. Most of them tucked tail and ran when autonomy came up. And that led us to where we are now. At some point, they'll realize that the NCAA doesn't care about any schools but P5 schools. And that non-P5 schools might be better off leaving the NCAA.

 

[Gotrees485]

Some AD's are going to have to show some balls and make a change. Most of them tucked tail and ran when autonomy came up. And that led us to where we are now. At some point, they'll realize that the NCAA doesn't care about any schools but P5 schools. And that non-P5 schools might be better off leaving the NCAA.

I think the Power 5 conferences are on track to leave the NCAA themselves. Especially if the NCAA doesn't give them what they want. I think the relationship between the haves and have nots is now broken. A split seems certain in some way.

 

[IndyTreeFan]

I think the Power 5 conferences are on track to leave the NCAA themselves. Especially if the NCAA doesn't give them what they want. I think the relationship between the haves and have nots is now broken. A split seems certain in some way.

I think the only thing to be determined is who stays and who goes. The P5 runs the show, and they likely won't want to give up the "NCAA" brand. Making it financially untenable for everyone else would be a good way for them to get rid of everyone else without, ahem, getting rid of everyone else. The NCAA is broken. Most likely beyond repair. It'll be like the old Big East. Some schools will break away, but will want to keep the name...

 

[Gotrees485]

I think the only thing to be determined is who stays and who goes. The P5 runs the show, and they likely won't want to give up the "NCAA" brand. Making it financially untenable for everyone else would be a good way for them to get rid of everyone else without, ahem, getting rid of everyone else. The NCAA is broken. Most likely beyond repair. It'll be like the old Big East. Some schools will break away, but will want to keep the name...

I slightly disagree here. Power 5 schools are not worried about the NCAA brand. Especially the biggest of the power 4 brands. They are brands already themselves and feel they are already bigger than the NCAA. This is being driven more by football than basketball also. The focus for a split could be on those big power football programs. I think a break away could happen but it may not happen for all the current power 5. I see some more consolidating happening at the power 5 ranks. The SEC and Big 10 are about to be making far more money than even the other 3 power conferences soon.

 

[4Q_iu]

thats fine, I wasnt really talking about the FCS level, more basketball and P5 football.

Noted - I'm still not buying an "exploitation" angle

 

[4Q_iu]

Some AD's are going to have to show some balls and make a change. Most of them tucked tail and ran when autonomy came up. And that led us to where we are now. At some point, they'll realize that the NCAA doesn't care about any schools but P5 schools. And that non-P5 schools might be better off leaving the NCAA.

non-P5 schools leaving the NCAA = chopping off their noses to spite their mugshots

the P5 schools need to be reined in NOT given more power, more autonomy, etc - THAT'S how we got to this situation

too much greed on the P5 schools, NOT from mid-majors, Div II or Div III

 

[IndyTreeFan]

Good points. Can’t really disagree. Whatever happens, though, I’m sure will NOT be good for our level.

 

[4Q_iu]

Good points. Can’t really disagree. Whatever happens, though, I’m sure will NOT be good for our level.

agree - the MBB Tourney is the ca$h cow for everyone; even for the P5 schools, just a small reason why they'd LOVE to have it to themselves...

if you recall, there are approximately 64 schools in the P5 conferences... a nice, round, even number to stage a MBB... and if it was a P5 Party, then no sh*t school like St. Peter's this season is going to be able to crash it...

It's the same reason why the regular season conf champs get an auto invite to the NIT and NOT the NCAA MBB... the P5 want the tourney ALL to themselves

 

[Gotrees485]

non-P5 schools leaving the NCAA = chopping off their noses to spite their mugshots

the P5 schools need to be reined in NOT given more power, more autonomy, etc - THAT'S how we got to this situation

too much greed on the P5 schools, NOT from mid-majors, Div II or Div III

Certainly agree about them being reigned in but money drives it all. I am a graduate of a power 5 schools also but do see the damage. The NCAA however isn't going to reign its biggest cash cows. The only way I see something being done is for the federal government to step in. Congress can have a lot of power over public universities that take government money. And most of the top earning schools in the power 5 are public schools.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1519732640609406980

 

[Gotrees485]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1519732640609406980

The NCAA has been asleep at the wheel for awhile and were in complete denial. Instead of trying to fight the pay thing at every step of the way. They needed to of gotten a head of it and come up with pay per pay system that was equal across the board. They got to delusional with the amateur status thing not ever changing and then when they got pressured they thought just allowing players to sell themselves would be a good go between instead of schools directly paying players. You combine this with the transfer without penalty and the transfer portal and the whole thing becomes a shit show.

 

[IndyTreeFan]

The NCAA has been asleep at the wheel for awhile and were in complete denial. Instead of trying to fight the pay thing at every step of the way. They needed to of gotten a head of it and come up with pay per pay system that was equal across the board. They got to delusional with the amateur status thing not ever changing and then when they got pressured they thought just allowing players to sell themselves would be a good go between instead of schools directly paying players. You combine this with the transfer without penalty and the transfer portal and the whole thing becomes a shit show.

I agree that the NCAA should have gotten ahead of this thing, but let's be honest. The LAST thing the NCAA is interested in is anything that is equal across the board.