NCAA hoops changes and revenue share/NLI info

[the Blades]

Rule change-
Huskies were allowed to play one well attended NCAA approved charity game vs. URI this pre-season @ the Mohegan Sun arena.

 

[the Blades]

Rule change-

more direct money allocation :

 

[the Blades]

All these NCAA changes should help the Uconn AD, with 2 strong basketball programs. Because Uconn can certainly use the $$$........... not being in a P-4 conference, who have more TV revenue. Then again with Uconn being able to bring in more $$$ because of hoops, it might make them more valuable ( #Big 12 / #ACC )....

"Schools participating and winning in March Madness will earn "performance units" in a structure similar to the one used for years in the men's tournament. The units, which represent revenue earned, will first be available to earn at the 2025 tournament; the financial rewards from this spring will be distributed in 2026 directly to the schools' conferences."

NCAA will pay women's basketball teams that participate in March Madness tournament starting in 2025

NCAA members unanimously voted to introduce financial rewards — as it has for years with the men's tournament — starting this spring.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[the Blades]

 

[the Blades]

more about the $$$

"The UConn athletic department self-generated $62.7 million in revenue during fiscal year 2024, according to its annual report filed with the NCAA, marking a $7.6 million increase from 2023."

 

[the Blades]

Dear UConn Nation,
"The seismic movements in collegiate athletics over the past few years, including Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal, have reshaped our industry. And this spring, another game changer will shake college sports, as the House settlement is expected to be approved, setting the stage for institutional revenue sharing with student-athletes beginning in the 2025-26 academic year. .... Universities will be allowed to directly share revenues with student-athletes, in addition to providing already-existing benefits such as scholarships, housing and meals."

Full statement link, March, 7, 2025

CHARTING A COURSE FOR CONTINUED EXCELLENCE - University of Connecticut Athletics

Dear UConn Nation,

uconnhuskies.com

We will share another update after the court rules on the House settlement in early April. Go Huskies!
Sincerely,David Benedict Director of Athletics

 

[the Blades]

UConn grants athletics director authority to sign endorsement contracts, revenue-sharing agreements with student-athletes

The University of Connecticut’s Board of Trustees has approved a resolution that sets the stage for the school to begin paying student-athletes starting this year. On Wednesday, the board approved the resolution, which gives the director of the division of athletics the authority to sign all...

www.hartfordbusiness.com

 

[the Blades]

Long read on Uconn money talk...............

"UConn, Benedict said, is likely to spend “over half” of the $20.5 million revenue-sharing cap. It’s a fluid discussion, he said. ....... There is great momentum and energy surrounding UConn athletics, which means revenue streams are widening. UConn is close to finalizing another deal with Oak View to continue playing basketball games at the XL Center, a multi-year agreement that Benedict said “is going to be much more favorable to UConn athletics.”"

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

The sole discussion has been revolving around maximizing and spending revenue, but we are overlooking another critical element: spending the money on hand wisely rather than foolishly. One only need look at the professional sports leagues to see that there are professional teams who field competitive teams with low payrolls, while others suck moose balls with huge payrolls. A good example of the latter is the Los Angeles Angels. They have entered into several very bad contracts, the worst of which was the Anthony Rendon contract, widely considered the worst MLB contract in the last 10 years. And they have consistently sucked in the last 5 years despite very high payrolls.

So it's not just about having money to spend but being able to spend it wisely and invest in the right talent. That's why these GM positions are becoming increasingly important. The value of talent has to be recognized and properly assessed. Schools cannot spend like drunken sailors, even though it seems like some SEC schools like Tennessee are doing so (not to mention Texas A&M spending $75 million to buy out a fired coach). All of these GM decisions are now just like GM decisions at the professional sports level. They need to be made very carefully and deliberately. Sometimes more is less.

 

[the Blades]

The sole discussion has been revolving around maximizing and spending revenue, but we are overlooking another critical element: spending the money on hand wisely rather than foolishly. .......So it's not just about having money to spend but being able to spend it wisely and invest in the right talent.

I've never overlooked that element and if any of these conference realignment guru's would open their fruckin' eyes for a second they'd see Uconn has done more with less at the highest levels of competition than just about any program in America. Especially being a former BCS school.

Seeing that the Huskies have finished last in the money game of CR, over and over, regarding P-4/5 moves and the millions they've lost in TV revenue. Compared to the Rutgers (cable box U.) , BC's (NE team, LOL!), Cuse, Pitt, etc. and a bunch of former BE schools who got a big money bump, but seem like never win a thing and only keep playing for a paycheck, SMH !

Keep it going Dave....and yeah with that new NIL/Rev sharing thing, it just might be time !

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Reports indicate that Kentucky and BYU have the 2 highest men's college basketball payrolls at $12 million:

2 college basketball teams are out-spending the field in men’s transfer portal, and the numbers are wild

Meet the two biggest spenders in men’s college basketball.

www.sbnation.com

However I also read that Purdue has spent close to $12 million on their roster. Now the front offices want to see some results that indicate that money was well spent.

It's interesting that St. John's was only Big East team that made the list of $10 million spenders. They purchased what looks like a good team for next year and some experts are calling them a slight favorite over UConn to win the Big East. Although that may be a premature prognostication.

UConn has to go out and show these big spenders it's not how much you spend but who you spend on and how you coach your investments. Because if UConn doesn't show that it's just going to be schools buying championships.

 

[the Blades]

Long read on Uconn money talk...............

"UConn, Benedict said, is likely to spend “over half” of the $20.5 million revenue-sharing cap. It’s a fluid discussion, he said.

View embedded media

Speaking of money talk and spending ability.....it's still a far cry from the $35-$45 mil per school the ACC and the Big 12 are paying out to their legacy members....but it is what it is.

 

[the Blades]

Judge approves landmark House v. NCAA settlement

Fifty-nine months after the initial class-action House v. NCAA suit was filed, it has been resolved. A landmark decision in college sports.

www.on3.com

 

[the Blades]

Still so much to unpack, roster limits, etc, etc but from a CBS story...

House v. NCAA settlement approved: Landmark decision opens door for revenue sharing in college athletics

A federal judge granted final approval for the $2.8 billion lawsuit Friday evening

www.cbssports.com

"How schools plan to divvy up to $20.5 million among their sports has been a point of contention, with no legal framework to follow. Most schools are expected to mirror the back-payment formula outlined in the $2.8 billion settlement. That means roughly 75% of future revenue will be shared with football players, 15% to men's basketball, 5% to women's basketball and 5% to all remaining sports. Some schools have opted to mirror the gross revenue each sport averages, which could lead to more than 85% of the salary pool being set aside for football players."

"How revenue-sharing will affect skyrocketing NIL deals among third parties is unknown. Still, those deals with third parties and collectives outside the revenue-sharing plan will soon face intense scrutiny from a new enforcement entity starting July 1. Experts believe it will help curb "pay-for-play" schemes between boosters and players far beyond perceived market values. "

From Storrs Central: NCAA sports no longer have scholarship limits, but maximum roster sizes set per sport. Basketball has a maximum roster of 15 (up from a scholarship limit of 13) and football's limit is 105.

 

[the Blades]

 

[the Blades]

Full Uconn statement-

 

[the Blades]

And new rule changes.... The NCAA is adding coach challenges to men's college basketball and removing automatic out-of-bounds reviews in the last two minutes.

Panel approves changes to enhance the flow of the game in men’s basketball - NCAA.org

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Tuesday approved changes to help enhance the flow of the game in men's basketball for the 2025-26 season.

www.ncaa.org

 

[the Blades]

And new rule changes.... The NCAA is adding coach challenges to men's college basketball and removing automatic out-of-bounds reviews in the last two minutes.

Panel approves changes to enhance the flow of the game in men’s basketball - NCAA.org

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Tuesday approved changes to help enhance the flow of the game in men's basketball for the 2025-26 season.

www.ncaa.org