Interesting thoughts from a poster on the Siena board. Kinda sums up how I feel these days,
“So, I was watching some March Madness yesterday, and it hit me: I really don't enjoy the entire system of college hoops anymore.
A lot goes into that feeling...I mean, I still enjoy watching the action, don't get me wrong.
But always in the back of my mind is "I wonder how much NIL money this guy is making". Or "I wonder which 'small school' this guy transferred in from.
Sure, there can always be upsets (way to go, Oakland!), but the days of a team at a mid or low major level being able to build a team over several years, develop their players, and make a serious run when those Frosh and Sophomores mature into Juniors and Seniors are gone...unless you have deep enough pockets to pay them through their years of service at your small school. Even then, what's to prevent Big State U who needs a player because their stud Frosh just went to the NBA, from coming along and plucking your star away with promises of way more money...
Between that, and wondering which players from a conference like the MAAC is going to be "called up" into a P6 conference, it's taken a lot away from a sport which I truly used to enjoy.
It makes me sad.
Makes me long for the "good old days", which as a younger man at the time, I didn't even realize were so good. The days when you could watch a player, even on another MAAC team, develop from barely playing as a skinny baby-faced frosh to becoming all-MAAC as an upper classman (with great facial hair!). That sort of thing was taken as a given, not even 10 years ago.
Sure, we can grab some good players from the portal, but that feels more like mercenaries. And having to constantly concern yourself over who's entering the portal and which players off this year's team will not be here next year...it's just awful.
Shame on the NCAA for not seeing this coming years ago, and doing what they could to prevent or at least ease some of this. Of course, the NCAA in general could probably care less about mid and low majors, save for "let's make sure we have a few of them in the big dance, because people sure do love the underdog". But in reality, they have stacked the deck against any non preferred school ever being able to truly compete or even build something over a player's 4 year collegiate career.
I guess we've sort of known for years that NCAA will always side with elites over little guys, that's not new.
And I don't in any way at all blame the players...this is America, go out and earn what you can. It's not even all about the money. I have no problem, necessarily, with the players getting paid.
But this transfer portal crap is (in my mind) just a way to ensure that Big State U has constant advantages. They snuck this crap in during COVID, but of course never adjusted, and probably never will. This was their response to players leaving P6 schools early for the NBA. Now, when Duke loses their stud sophomore PG to the NBA, they just go shopping and pluck whichever PG they want from a lower level school. It's disgusting and unfair, and in my opinion, has ruined college hoops.
Sorry for the rant, but I've felt this way for a few years now, Siena's awful last few seasons aside.”
Agreed. I think this NIL day of age has now prevented small/mid-majors from elevating their brand into something bigger, and rather keeps the high majors where they are permanently. Think of it. Schools like JMU, Indiana State, (sure say Colorado) just to name a few that have gained traction. They will be right back where they were at in a year or two. There will be no momentum to build into something bigger with NIL (maybe with a few, very few exceptions). The power 5 schools are set locks to be successful for years to come. The only real chance of moving on up is through conference movement.
Maybe the Fairfield Women can prove otherwise as well.
With well over 1,000 headed to the portal, I'm sure we could post videos all day of players that would satisfy FF's needs for next season. I'll try and keep it to players who I think are obtainable. Reid Ducharme spent his freshman year at Xavier and played in only 5 games. He's a 6'6 wing from Massachusetts who played AAU with the same organization as Tyler Nelson. Played prep ball at Brewster Academy. Has one sister playing at UCONN and one at Brown. Thoughts?
Interesting thoughts from a poster on the Siena board. Kinda sums up how I feel these days,
“So, I was watching some March Madness yesterday, and it hit me: I really don't enjoy the entire system of college hoops anymore.
A lot goes into that feeling...I mean, I still enjoy watching the action, don't get me wrong.
But always in the back of my mind is "I wonder how much NIL money this guy is making". Or "I wonder which 'small school' this guy transferred in from.
Sure, there can always be upsets (way to go, Oakland!), but the days of a team at a mid or low major level being able to build a team over several years, develop their players, and make a serious run when those Frosh and Sophomores mature into Juniors and Seniors are gone...unless you have deep enough pockets to pay them through their years of service at your small school. Even then, what's to prevent Big State U who needs a player because their stud Frosh just went to the NBA, from coming along and plucking your star away with promises of way more money...
Between that, and wondering which players from a conference like the MAAC is going to be "called up" into a P6 conference, it's taken a lot away from a sport which I truly used to enjoy.
It makes me sad.
Makes me long for the "good old days", which as a younger man at the time, I didn't even realize were so good. The days when you could watch a player, even on another MAAC team, develop from barely playing as a skinny baby-faced frosh to becoming all-MAAC as an upper classman (with great facial hair!). That sort of thing was taken as a given, not even 10 years ago.
Sure, we can grab some good players from the portal, but that feels more like mercenaries. And having to constantly concern yourself over who's entering the portal and which players off this year's team will not be here next year...it's just awful.
Shame on the NCAA for not seeing this coming years ago, and doing what they could to prevent or at least ease some of this. Of course, the NCAA in general could probably care less about mid and low majors, save for "let's make sure we have a few of them in the big dance, because people sure do love the underdog". But in reality, they have stacked the deck against any non preferred school ever being able to truly compete or even build something over a player's 4 year collegiate career.
I guess we've sort of known for years that NCAA will always side with elites over little guys, that's not new.
And I don't in any way at all blame the players...this is America, go out and earn what you can. It's not even all about the money. I have no problem, necessarily, with the players getting paid.
But this transfer portal crap is (in my mind) just a way to ensure that Big State U has constant advantages. They snuck this crap in during COVID, but of course never adjusted, and probably never will. This was their response to players leaving P6 schools early for the NBA. Now, when Duke loses their stud sophomore PG to the NBA, they just go shopping and pluck whichever PG they want from a lower level school. It's disgusting and unfair, and in my opinion, has ruined college hoops.
Sorry for the rant, but I've felt this way for a few years now, Siena's awful last few seasons aside.”
Agreed. I think this NIL day of age has now prevented small/mid-majors from elevating their brand into something bigger, and rather keeps the high majors where they are permanently. Think of it. Schools like JMU, Indiana State, (sure say Colorado) just to name a few that have gained traction. They will be right back where they were at in a year or two. There will be no momentum to build into something bigger with NIL (maybe with a few, very few exceptions). The power 5 schools are set locks to be successful for years to come. The only real chance of moving on up is through conference movement.
Maybe the Fairfield Women can prove otherwise as well.
I have to agree. Moving up is more critical now than ever.
I think we are in less danger of losing some of our women Stags to NIL then the men because there seems to be less NIL money being thrown at female athletes. I wonder, how long before someone decides this system is unfair, that the men have better opportunities to get NIL than the women and government intervention is needed? Stay tuned for this to be an issue down the line.
Yes, the days of following a player’s transformation over four years are mostly gone, unless it’s a role player or someone like Jalen who had injuries in his first three years and blossomed in his fourth. But watching a player over two years like we witnessed with Caleb was one of the best things we’ve ever seen here.
We had our most enjoyable season in memory because of transfers. And with at least five open spots, we’re going to need those transfers/JUCOs again. I’ve said before, it’s not like we owned the MAAC under the old system. Whether we have a ton of NIL money or not, we’re better off now. Frankly, the higher Brycen and Jalen land, the better. It’s a selling point for players who feel like they’re on the rise. Just as playing time sells to players leaving a big school. Chris Casey gets it. I think the University does too. And Chris showed he can manage disruption and get players quickly buying into and learning his system. That’s a skill set a coach has to have in this new era.
Curt Flood is smiling in heaven. Could he ever have thought that his fight for free agency in MLB would end up filtering down through to college sports!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aAnrTTOKzo Here's a player I'm sure FF will look at. Julien Soumauro. 5'11 (maybe) guard combo guard form the Bronx. Played at Cardinal Hayes and then prepped at year at Woodstock. 12.7 PPG, 40% FG, 36% 3PT, 71% FT. Had solid games against Baylor and Arkansas. I'm sure Coach Braica recruited him when he was St Francis, Brooklyn. Chose Gardner Webb over New Hampshire, Quinnipiac, and Bryant. Has 1 year remaining, but he's a plug in and play guy.
From the list in the tweet below, we have expressed interest in Soumauro.
We’ve also reached out to 6’4”Zavian McLean from Columbia, who hit 42.6% of his 3 point attempts this season.
Post by nashvillestag on Mar 29, 2024 9:12:36 GMT -5
Both Laput and Benigni were very good but not great players when they played in the CIAC. Not considered D-1 prospects by many at the time, it looks like both have really improved their games based on the interest they have garnered as suggested in the lists above. Laput's list of schools is particularly impressive. If he's that good now, hope it's the Stags for him!
Always more significant when a player visits than when Fairfield is simply one name on a list of schools. 5’8” sophomore guard who hit 35% of his three point attempts last season and scored 17.3 ppg. Baltimore is his hometown. Hit 91% of his free throws last season (92 of 101). According to FairfieldFrank on Twitter, Perry has already visited Bryant and will visit Iona the week after visiting Fairfield.
Post by jenningsbeach on Mar 29, 2024 20:59:16 GMT -5
Junior Danny Wolf forgoes a Yale degree to chase a pot of gold in the portal. Rumors suggest that he will replace Donovan Clingan at UConn. Wolf has one year remaining.
Last Edit: Mar 30, 2024 8:31:39 GMT -5 by jenningsbeach
"Hurley said this week that he wished the portal would not open until the conclusion of the season, comparing the current setup to professional leagues that punish success teams with a lower draft pick."
"I don't think you should play in five schools in four years or four schools in four years," he said. "I don't think that's healthy for the individual for the long-term 50, 60-year life after their playing career is over because there's no connection with our university, a coaching staff, a network of alumni that can help create opportunities once basketball is over.
"I just think whether it's a one-time, I don't know. I don't like the window being open right now. I just don't think it's healthy for somebody to be able to change schools like underwear."
Junior Danny Wolf forgoes a Yale degree to chase a pot of gold in the portal. Rumors suggest that he will replace Donovan Clingan at UConn. Wolf has one year remaining.
Only one year remaining? He's actually a sophomore at Yale and has only played two years for them. Certainly he's a talent who will be desired by many programs. However that said, if he comes to UConn he would probably play behind Samson Johnson next season in a role Johnson has performed during the current one. And even if he did earn the starting slot, while his statistics might equal or even pass Clingan, in no way would he "replace" what Donovan has been able to accomplish as far as impact is concerned (IMO). Anyway giving up a Yale degree is quite a gamble. OTOH Danny Wolf will definitely make quite a bit of money playing basketball in his life as long as he doesn't have a major injury. I hope for his sake the gamble pays off.
Last Edit: Mar 30, 2024 9:17:46 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
"Hurley said this week that he wished the portal would not open until the conclusion of the season, comparing the current setup to professional leagues that punish success teams with a lower draft pick."
"I don't think you should play in five schools in four years or four schools in four years," he said. "I don't think that's healthy for the individual for the long-term 50, 60-year life after their playing career is over because there's no connection with our university, a coaching staff, a network of alumni that can help create opportunities once basketball is over.
"I just think whether it's a one-time, I don't know. I don't like the window being open right now. I just don't think it's healthy for somebody to be able to change schools like underwear."
Great perspective. Unfortunately Hurley, like all his fellow coaches, has to follow the "system" in order to keep his program strong, whether he likes it or not.