College sports, and particularly, basketball, are dealing with the law of unintended consequences.
Yes, the old system was not working. Coaches were free to pursue better opportunities and more money nearly at will.
Players were not able to share in the spoils. Giving them an opportunity to do so is a good thing.
But this is NOT the way to do it.
What we have is an unregulated wild west with no salary cap and players who have unlimited, annual, free agency.
Major League Baseball is bad. The Dodgers payroll this year ($330,000,000) is, literally, double that of the median team, the Orioles who are 15th highest ($163,000,000).
This is exponentially worse than that because at least the MLB has a luxury tax, some revenue sharing, and a draft.
A Sweet 16 full of nothing but Power 5 conference teams like this year's tournament is going to become the norm.
Remember Florida Atlantic? They made a glorious run to the 2023 Final 4 as a #9 seed. That kind of thing is probably never happening again. Mid majors now act as a farm system
for big money schools.
Four of FAU's starters that year are playing in the NCAA tournament, none is playing for the Owls.
Nick Boyd is at San Diego State, Johnell Davis is at Arkansas, Alijah Martin is at Florida and Vlad Golden is at Michigan.
The $$$$ gap between the Big 10 and SEC and everyone else is going to continue to grow.
Without some adjustments, Kansas basketball is destined to become just like the Royals, a small market team.
Yes, the old system was not working. Coaches were free to pursue better opportunities and more money nearly at will.
Players were not able to share in the spoils. Giving them an opportunity to do so is a good thing.
But this is NOT the way to do it.
What we have is an unregulated wild west with no salary cap and players who have unlimited, annual, free agency.
Major League Baseball is bad. The Dodgers payroll this year ($330,000,000) is, literally, double that of the median team, the Orioles who are 15th highest ($163,000,000).
This is exponentially worse than that because at least the MLB has a luxury tax, some revenue sharing, and a draft.
A Sweet 16 full of nothing but Power 5 conference teams like this year's tournament is going to become the norm.
Remember Florida Atlantic? They made a glorious run to the 2023 Final 4 as a #9 seed. That kind of thing is probably never happening again. Mid majors now act as a farm system
for big money schools.
Four of FAU's starters that year are playing in the NCAA tournament, none is playing for the Owls.
Nick Boyd is at San Diego State, Johnell Davis is at Arkansas, Alijah Martin is at Florida and Vlad Golden is at Michigan.
The $$$$ gap between the Big 10 and SEC and everyone else is going to continue to grow.
Without some adjustments, Kansas basketball is destined to become just like the Royals, a small market team.
