To my eyes - a big change in Jalen's 3P shooting has been that he has been getting better arc. I thought a lot of the ones he used to put up were kind of flat.
Excellent production. Chris with the help of the questions from Bob and Joe covered just about all the areas of where the program is now and where he hopes it will be moving forward. Very interesting and honest remarks about the current situation of the college game now with the transfer Portal and NIL. Matty too, like all the other players who have been interviewed, certainly came across as a very mature and humble guy who is very much looking forward to his role on the team next year, a lot of it based on the confidence he gained from performing so well in a couple of games in the season ending CBI Tournament. Well worth the time to listen to IMO.
Some of the things that I found interesting in this slightly over an hour podcast: 1. The discussion between Casey and mainly Joey D. concerning the pros and cons for mid-major players looking to transfer up to a higher level conference. 2. We have 6 players in the portal, broken down by groups of three — Casey doubted JJJ, Marouf, and Davis would return to Fairfield. Casey said the door is open should the other 3 decide to return, but Casey also said he’s being supportive of Jasper, Leach, and Goodine in their efforts to transfer. 3. Discussion on what Casey is expecting Curtis, Rogan, Peyton, Seck, and Bleechmore to work on this offseason. (My observation: if any of those 5 enter the portal in the next 9 days, it would be a complete surprise to Casey based on how he spoke in the podcast.) 4. Talk of next year’s schedule. There’ll be 20 MAAC games (face 8 teams twice and 4 teams once), FDU at home, LeMoyne away, Casey believes we’ll be facing Yale and Vermont in the Mohegan Sun MTE, and there will be another D3 home game. Also, Casey doesn’t think it likely that the MAAC will bring 13 women’s and 13 men’s teams to Atlantic City, but nothing is finalized concerning that. 5. From the way Casey was talking, yes the Red Sea collective has been formed but it doesn’t seem to have lots of funds at this point. (It wasn’t spelled out as directly as I’ve worded it, but that’s the impression I got from what was said.) 6. All current coaches will return. Casey mentioned they might add one more, but no specifics given as to what the possible role for that person would be. 7. Casey got a phone call in January from a P5 coach letting Casey know that an agent had mentioned to that P5 coach that a certain MAAC player (not a Fairfield player) would likely be available in the portal. That P5 coach wanted Casey’s opinion on that player. (I want to restate for emphasis: THIS PHONECALL OCCURRED DURING THE REGULAR SEASON.)
I would encourage anyone who has the available time to listen to the podcast. Lots of honest, straightforward discussion on the portal, NIL, and what a head coach’s priorities are at this point of the offseason.
Excellent summaries. One more thing, top MAAC players in the portal are getting $150-250k. But Casey noted that diminished scoring/minutes numbers could impact pro contracts and long term earnings. Brought up his Niagara player, Kahlil Dukes, having success abroad. Could also point to Derek Needham who is still playing at a high level, and Tyler Nelson.
Excellent summaries. One more thing, top MAAC players in the portal are getting $150-250k. But Casey noted that diminished numbers will likely impact pro contracts. Brought up his Niagara player.
I don’t recall it being stated as fact that $150-250k is what top MAAC players are getting. I think Casey provided some gray area (he said something along the lines of — he’d heard that mid-major players might be getting around the amounts ‘79 mentioned). It was Niagara’s Khalil Dukes that Casey gave as an example of a player who started at a good European level and is making a good living after being the main guy at a mid-major, with better stat numbers than he might have ended with if he transferred to a higher conference.
Anyone who hasn’t yet listened to the podcast can help resolve: Does Casey state top MAAC players are getting $150-250k in the portal or does he imply that is the amount top MAAC players might be getting in the portal.
Excellent summaries. One more thing, top MAAC players in the portal are getting $150-250k. But Casey noted that diminished scoring/minutes numbers could impact pro contracts and long term earnings. Brought up his Niagara player, Kahlil Dukes, having success abroad. Could also point to Derek Needham who is still playing at a high level, and Tyler Nelson.
Yeah what he was really referring to was the huge disparities in levels of play (and hence $$$ to players) in different countries based upon the tier any particular player ends up in. For instance a lot of European countries might have up to 5-6 different leagues operating at the same time. I know for a fact that Tyler started his international experience four years ago in the second best league in Germany and was making a "nice" amount of money. After winning the league championship in 2022 his Rostock team got moved up to the top league, the Bundesliga, in what is called "relegation." And his salary went up by a lot at that point. But the idea of starting out at an even lower level and NOT getting relegated (which is true of most teams) probably means a less than desirable experience and hence financial reward over the course of a pro career. Therefore what Chris was intimating was his hope that the current players of today will think carefully before making a rash decision to leave a great situation for the unknown of something new at a higher level program. Quite a gamble to be honest.
In the podcast Casey mentioned that he’d heard of players being promised a certain amount via NIL and actually receiving less than that amount. I can’t verify that the tweet below is factual but it’s the first time that I’ve seen a specific school and dollar amount mentioned in that regard. I’m not sure who the player is that Ohio State thought was worth $450,000. Ohio State went 22-14 last season. They lost their 2nd round Big Ten tournament game to Illinois and their 3rd round NIT game to Georgia.
In the podcast Casey mentioned that he’d heard of players being promised a certain amount via NIL and actually receiving less than that amount. I can’t verify that the tweet below is factual but it’s the first time that I’ve seen a specific school and dollar amount mentioned in that regard. I’m not sure who the player is that Ohio State thought was worth $450,000. Ohio State went 22-14 last season. They lost their 2nd round Big Ten tournament game to Illinois and their 3rd round NIT game to Georgia.
Reliable information is hard to come by at the moment. Everyone is out for views/ likes.
Last Edit: Apr 25, 2024 7:13:14 GMT -5 by ricat1455
