Game Thread: Xavier v. TCU (12/5/2024)

[drudy23]

I agree there is a ton of bloat, but that’s school budget, not bb budget. All the resources that have been spent on bb is plenty to compete for final fours. Not sure what else you’re asking for

What I'm asking for?

This whole thing is going to come down to NIL. If X can't figure out how to fund it each year, then we're screwed. And continually going back to the fan well is not sustainable, which you have also said yourself.

I know NIL isn't technically budgeted dollars for the basketball program, but it's money earmarked for players. This is now not that much different than going to another company that simply pays more.

Bottom line is this is a problem X needs to figure out. As you said, everything else is in place. Funding NIL consistently every year will not be easy for X.

[Xville]

What I'm asking for?

This whole thing is going to come down to NIL. If X can't figure out how to fund it each year, then we're screwed. And continually going back to the fan well is not sustainable, which you have also said yourself.

I know NIL isn't technically budgeted dollars for the basketball program, but it's money earmarked for players. This is now not that much different than going to another company that simply pays more.

Bottom line is this is a problem X needs to figure out. As you said, everything else is in place. Funding NIL consistently every year will not be easy for X.

I think from a nil standpoint things will be figured out once schools are allowed to directly fund it. There will be a nil “service charge” on tickets and all merchandise etc. also concessions. I see that happening within the next couple of years. The rest of it will all be the major donors as it’s always been. From what I ah e been told, x is in good shape as far as mil is concerned. I do think the current collective nonsense is not sustainable I agree, but I see it changing fairly soon.

I may be wrong on this but I think some schools are already doing a majority of this just saying th charge will go to the collective or whatever nonsense. I do wonder why x hasn’t done that yet. Maybe it’s in the works

[GoMuskies]

We need some of that fat BYU cash. They just nabbed the #1 player in the class of 2025.

[muskiefan82]

We need some of that fat BYU cash. They just nabbed the #1 player in the class of 2025.

That is just because they are fun to watch

[xudash]

I agree that we have to evolve to manage through the NIL environment successfully.

We've talked about PROGRAM ELEMENTS that are required in order for a collegiate basketball program to be successful at this level. For years we knew those to be comprised of administrative support, facilities, conference affiliation, resources, and solid coaching, all of which lead to building the final element - culture; a winning tradition.

We have been beyond fortunate with our coaching decisions most of the time. Hoff literally changed Xavier when he pulled off the facilities piece in 2000. We arrived at the conference affiliation promised land in 2013. Off we went, only to now find we have this new piece and the general piece of compensation for athletes to manage.

We are in the process of managing and building it. It will take time. We'll see how it goes down the road. It may be a little bit of a mixed bag, insofar as we have a passionate fan base, albeit a comparatively smaller one when it comes to our P4 competition. On the flip side, we don't have to fuss with football, whereas most of them have to mess with football and all that entails. I just don't see where there is a reason for panicking over this at this time. NIL is experiencing fan support and fan resistance at every school. Change is hell for many people.

Beyond that, now that some comments have been made about it, Xavier's financial "problems" are tied to budgetary issues that are being addressed. Otherwise, the strategic planning that has been put in place and the team driving it are absolutely top shelf. Let me put it this way: a university that is experiencing structural/institutional issues doesn't go out and pump $200 million into a new medical school. Look for Xavier to maintain and actually improve its quality and brand moving forward.

There is no doubt that higher education is experiencing strong headwinds now and for the foreseeable future. It's value is being questioned at the same time it faces the so called demographic cliff. That certainly doesn't mean that it's going away.

Comments in this area should be factual, not broadbrushed.

[Xville]

I agree that we have to evolve to manage through the NIL environment successfully.

We've talked about PROGRAM ELEMENTS that are required in order for a collegiate basketball program to be successful at this level. For years we knew those to be comprised of administrative support, facilities, conference affiliation, resources, and solid coaching, all of which lead to building the final element - culture; a winning tradition.

We have been beyond fortunate with our coaching decisions most of the time. Hoff literally changed Xavier when he pulled off the facilities piece in 2000. We arrived at the conference affiliation promised land in 2013. Off we went, only to now find we have this new piece and the general piece of compensation for athletes to manage.

We are in the process of managing and building it. It will take time. We'll see how it goes down the road. It may be a little bit of a mixed bag, insofar as we have a passionate fan base, albeit a comparatively smaller one when it comes to our P4 competition. On the flip side, we don't have to fuss with football, whereas most of them have to mess with football and all that entails. I just don't see where there is a reason for panicking over this at this time. NIL is experiencing fan support and fan resistance at every school. Change is hell for many people.

Beyond that, now that some comments have been made about it, Xavier's financial "problems" are tied to budgetary issues that are being addressed. Otherwise, the strategic planning that has been put in place and the team driving it are absolutely top shelf. Let me put it this way: a university that is experiencing structural/institutional issues doesn't go out and pump $200 million into a new medical school. Look for Xavier to maintain and actually improve its quality and brand moving forward.

There is no doubt that higher education is experiencing strong headwinds now and for the foreseeable future. It's value is being questioned at the same time it faces the so called demographic cliff. That certainly doesn't mean that it's going away.

Comments in this area should be factual, not broadbrushed.

The medical school is being built mainly from large donations. The operational budget is certainly an issue that still needs to be navigated. Not that it won’t or in some way hasn’t already been done, but as you mentioned these are newer waters that need to be navigated due to many different factors

[Xavier]

We need some of that fat BYU cash. They just nabbed the #1 player in the class of 2025.

This is not a hypothetical. What would they do if they caught him having sex? Isn’t that how Brandon Davies got booted from a team that could’ve done real damage? He was with Jimmer. If you ponied up to get him for 7 million I don’t think there’s a chance in hell BYU would kick him off. But…..maybe.

[GoMuskies]

They'll do the same thing they did with Jim McMahon: kick him out of school....just after his playing career has ended.