Not a team with a coach or in a conference that screams underdog. Anyone who says the new financial landscape is not a major driver is just plain naïve. The top teams buy up all the better players. It’s not good for us. Being an “also-ran” in a non-power 2 conference is probably on par with being a mid major school. I’d feel a lot more comfortable if we were FSU/Clemson/UNC or Duke basketball.

This year there were 3 upsets. That meant there was less opportunity in the second round for upsets. There was only 1 second round upset this year. To be clear, an upset is defined as being 4 seeds or more behind your opponent, so a 10 seed beating a 7 seed doesn't count I think P4 vs mid-major is an off shoot of that, but I don't think it's the root cause

But now those best players are heading out to make money. The tournament will still have some upsets, but there will be fewer for sure

Oakland men's basketball coach Greg Kampe recalls exactly when he realized that mid-majors had become a farm system for power-conference programs. It was when Kampe lost a standout player who grew up minutes from campus, who attended dozens of Oakland games as a kid and who always hoped to play for the Golden Grizzlies just like both his mom and dad once did. Trey Towsend blossomed from unwanted recruit to Horizon League player of the year during his time at Oakland. The 6-foot-6 forward saved his best for the NCAA tournament stage, piling up 47 points and 25 rebounds in two games last March as the 14th-seeded Golden Grizzlies waylaid talent-laden Kentucky and took NC State to overtime. On the eve of that run, Towsend described playing for Oakland as "a dream come true." Two weeks later, he put his name in the transfer portal. The temptation was too strong with no penalty for transferring and with heavyweight programs offering hundreds of thousands in NIL money if he spent his final college season playing for them. "He's making 20 times what I could give him this season," Kampe told Yahoo Sports of Townsend, who has started 29 games this season for Arizona — a Sweet 16 team. "What do you do? You wish him well. Many of these guys are being told you're not going to be in the NBA, so get your money now and you've got a chance to start your life with a little bit of a bankroll. That's a hard thing to argue against. I can't argue against that with my players." Stories like that exemplify why there's concern in college basketball circles that the absence of upsets in this year's NCAA tournament may be the start of a trend rather than just an anomaly. The modern landscape of college basketball has made it more challenging than ever for the likes of Oakland to compete against deep-pocketed power-conference programs.

That NIL disparity between the P4 and mid majors and P4 plucking kids from mid majors has worsened mid majors level of play. There were a couple cases in 2nd round games where non P4s pushed P4s to the end, Colorado State came within a whisker of beating Maryland. But ur right this telling.

What will be interesting is to see what the $20 million that schools can use for their players before NIL does for the playing field. Again, IMHO, it will level things up (some) for those schools who can afford the $20 million but I doubt many mid-majors are going to pony up that amount. Heck, it will be interesting to see how many Big East schools will pony up those bucks. My feeling is that once the $20 million kicks in, the line of demarcation between those who amass and spend that money and those who do not will become a chasm. The NCAAT is by far my favorite sporting event and it is for three reasons: 1) It is college basketball played at its highest level, 2) there are compelling upsets and 3) the buzzer beaters. I believe the NCAAT will start losing viewers if upsets cease to happen at a consistent level like they used to. I know that I looked forward to this past four days of the tournament like crazy but at the end of Sunday night, I felt a little disappointed. Oh there were a few highly competitive games and a few buzzer beaters but I just felt like everything was "less than" - just didn't feel the same as in past years. I think what will happen - at least in basketball - is that if you do the $20 million, you will be in one division and if you do not, you will be in a lesser division. Probably the most fair thing to do but it ruins college basketball as far as I'm concerned. Football would not be as impacted because there are less FBS teams that will not do the $20 million.

SEC PLUS BIG 10. May they jettison a few teams when they break? Maybe, however that will be one hell of a lawsuit.

Quite often you see two 10+ seeds in the second round. Not even close this year. Colorado State was the cream of the P5 crop. It really sucks not having Cinderellas. I have a hard time including Calipari-coached Arkansas as one, but he is the longest shot remaining. ** Edited by TDVick at 3/26/2025, 11:46:45 AM

I'm still sticking w/ FL..Calipari was dangerous once they got-in...He has the passion/motivation and a well funded team. I'm not sure how much further he gets this year, but he'd love to advance beyond UK I'm sure...I was concerned GAmoore would take UKenny deeper in the tourney..I'm sure UK fans have the same angst should Cal go much further....

outright as a dog. TXTC and Tenn are favorites. My guess is that Auburn, Duke and Houston cover also.

Tournament...a team like George Mason, VCU, or Loyola Chicago could make the final four...and a Villanova could win the Natty. There will be way fewer underdogs to pull for moving forward...and the same in Football. I already find myself watching way less.

as opposed to football 85-100. Blueblood b ballers will never be able to “get ‘em all” I agree, football is in trouble if changes aren’t made & even BEFORE NIL, virtually the same top 5-10 each year with the occasional VT, Boise, Memphis