From the bleachers in Columbia to the streets of Philly, there are many things one could call Dawn Staley.

Coach, champ, and Hall of Famer instantly come to mind. If you ask NBA vet Cuttino Mobley, she’s the best point guard he ever played with. If you ask Forbes, they’ll tell you she’s a multi-millionaire. If you ask Andscape, they’ll tell you she’s a beacon of hope for more than just hoops.

But if you ask Dawn herself on-stage at the 2023 Nike World Basketball Festival, she’ll tell you something else.

“I’m a dream merchant,” Staley told Boardroom’s Eddie Gonzalez.

On brand, the tough and flashy floor general can thread the needle on everything that defines her, realizing how a half-century in hoops has taken her all over the world but, most importantly, into living rooms across the country.

In those settings, that self-appointed title holds even more weight. As the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks, she’s selling a dream appreciating momentum and monetary value each day.

Sitting across from parents in need of assurance all while operating at the apex of women’s basketball’s big boom, Staley has lived the dream from ABL to NIL. As she starts the 2023-24 season with higher hopes for her industry and less experience on her roster, Dawn’s court awareness is at an all-time high.

“Women’s basketball is bursting through the seams,” said Staley. “This is the best time to be playing our sport.”

In the era of NIL and an awakening in women’s sports, Dawn’s day job is more than just running practice and recruiting visits. Standing in the center of the sport set to tip into more money and more eyeballs, she balances building a powerhouse program while fighting for larger TV deals that will ensure earnings for all involved.

As the lines blur between baller and brand, so does the distinction between college coach and women’s advocate, floor raiser, and fundraiser. It’s a dichotomy that defines the dream merchant.

Luckily, Louis Vuitton Dawn has long excelled at being two things at once.

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Philly’s Most Wanted

Dawn Staley was raised in the Raymond Rosen housing projects in North Philadelphia.

Playing ball with the boys growing up, she traveled five hours down I-95 to the University of Virginia, where she’d lead the school to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and three Final Fours. When it was all said and done, the 5-6 floor general was named National Player of the Year twice.

After earning her degree, Dawn darted overseas to play professionally in Italy, France, Brazil, and Spain. Running offenses abroad served as a master’s in leadership, eventually bringing her back to the States as the ABL and WNBA launched on the heels of her first Olympic gold medal.

For the latter part of the ’90s, Dawn ascended in the hoops space in America. From a Nike signature shoe to appearances in SLAM Magazine, she was playing on TV and even starring in commercials.

The hard work in hoops was paying off regarding relevance, but it wasn’t making her or her peers rich.

By the year 2000, the average WNBA salary was only $55,000.

That season, she’d start every game at point guard for the Charlotte Sting. Over the summer, she doubled down on her craft by winning her second Olympic gold in Australia.

Weeks later, she’d do something unprecedented for an active athlete her age: She’d start her college coaching career in Philly.

Earlier that year, a chance trip to Temple turned into a recruiting visit for the local legend. Despite having no interest in coaching and fair fear from her peers that taking on two jobs would be impossible, she accepted the challenge to turn around a program that hadn’t appeared in the NCAA Tournament since De La Soul debuted.

From 2001 to 2006, Dawn worked two jobs at once. She dominated her playing profession by being an annual mainstay of the WNBA All-Star Game while also winning another gold medal in Athens.

When she wasn’t killing it on the court, she hustled hard on the sideline. During those dual-employment days, the Temple Owls were winning the Atlantic-10 outright early and often while advancing in the NCAA Tournament because of it.

It was a sleepless stretch for the dream merchant, solidifying her sales pitch the last season she played pro.

In 2006, Staley’s final All-Star campaign coincided with the first year she’d produce one. After traveling to Tampa to recruit a three-sport stud in 2002, Dawn’s worlds collided four years later when Candice Dupree became Temple’s first female player to be drafted to the WNBA.

“When I was in college, she was still playing at the pro level,” Dupree told Boardroom. “So we’d go to New York, Connecticut, Charlotte, and DC to watch her play. I learned what it meant to be a pro just by watching her when I was in college.”

While coaching at Temple and playing in the WNBA, Staley sent both Kamesha Hairston and Dupree to the pro ranks. Each first-round pick found their footing under Staley in Philly, with the Tampa talent playing against her college coach just weeks after hearing her name called.

“To learn from her and compete against her my first year in the league?” said Dupree. “Not a lot of people can say they’ve done that, if anybody at all.”

Lacing up against her college coach after going No. 6 overall, Dupree entered a professional world she shared for one season with her mentor. By the time Dupree’s days in the league were done, she’d have seven All-Star selections, one WNBA Championship, and three Olympic gold medals to her name.

Like her coach, she’d find a fit on the sideline with the San Antonio Spurs. Unlike her coach, she’d finish her playing career earning $170,000 for a single season.

Just as the rate of pay has increased in the WNBA, Staley’s seen her value ascend since leaving Temple for the greener pastures of South Carolina.

Second Home

When Dawn Staley arrived in Columbia, SC, the Lady Gamecocks had never made a Final Four.

In its history, the school had produced an impressive five WNBA Draft picks, many of which Staley had played against

Since taking over in 2008, the Gamecocks have gone to five Final Fours and won two national championships. The 2023 WNBA season opened with eight of her players on rosters and finished with Dawn’s disciples claiming Finals MVP and Rookie of the Year honors.

“My passion has always been young people, just making sure they understand what it takes when they get to the league,” said Staley. “They are the ones that will take the league to higher heights.”

As alluded to, this is true. Staley has sent 14 players from SC to the WNBA and produced MVP talent with shoe deals and public profiles.

The top of the list includes A’ja Wilson, arguably the best player in women’s basketball and the blueprint for Staley’s system of success. Under her acclaimed coach, Wilson won several individual accolades and a national title. This tutelage and excellence led to her going No. 1 overall in the 2017 WNBA Draft, setting up the two-time league MVP for two titles.

As a pro, Wilson is estimated to have already earned $630,600 in WNBA action alone. She left Columbia with an array of records and a college degree. Each time she returns, she sees an 11-foot bronze statue saluting her greatness.

She also sees the coach that sculpted her success.

“I really enjoy helping to mold players and getting them ready for life,” Staley said. “My passion’s at the collegiate level, and I hope it stays that way.”

From a financial standpoint, it likely will.

Wilson’s WNBA coach, two-time champion Becky Hammon, makes $1 million a year — a figure that tops all active players and coaches in the league.

In the college game, Staley stands to make $2.1 million in base salary this season. That number can only go up as added incentives to sweep SEC and NCAA awards total another $600,000.

In the third season of a historic seven-year deal valued at $22.4 million, Staley’s decision to coach college basketball during her pro playing career has set her and others up for bigger bucks than they could ever imagine.

Still, the dream merchant is not just selling student-athletes on what they could achieve at South Carolina. Rather, she’s looking to break open the floodgates on just how big and lucrative the women’s game can get.

“I like it,” said Staley. “It’s a challenge.”

A Dollar & a Dream

In 1992, Dawn Staley’s biggest challenge when it came to basketball was taking on Pat Summit’s Tennessee Volunteers in the prior season’s National Championship Game.

By the time Staley graduated from Virginia, she had a communications degree and the school scoring record to show for it. What she didn’t have was a paying job close to home. All those accolades left her unemployed in America, where basketball was concerned, taking the ACC assist leader to seasonal work abroad.

In 2023, Dawn returned to Europe. Taking her Gamecocks with her, the No. 6 team in America took over Paris through a 100-71 shellacking of No. 10 Notre Dame. While Staley’s squad won the game, both rosters benefitted from a team trip to France.

Additionally, Staley’s muscle played a part in having two African-American coaches tip off the college season not just abroad but broadcast for fans everywhere.

The revolution was televised as Rebecca Lobo, a teammate of Staley in the 1996 Olympics, and Andraya Carter, a player Staley coached against upon arriving at SC, called the game for ESPN.

The setting was special. The stage was familiar. This season alone, Staley’s squad will play on ESPN networks 10 times.

Not only will her young roster need to show and prove on the court, but fans will have to tune in to put pressure on industry execs to invest more money in the women’s game.

“We need more networks to compete for our talents,” said Staley. “Our television deal is up with ESPN. ESPN’s done a great job giving us a platform to grow and take us where we are now.”

Competition is where the game thrives and where Staley finds herself.

Last spring, Staley’s squad lost at the hot hands of Caitlin Clark. While the Final Four exit ended the Gamecock’s quest to repeat, it exploded opportunity for the women’s game as Iowa and Louisana State put on a Natty for the ages — and the record books.

The battle between Clark and Angel Reese captivated the country, drawing in 9.9 million viewers. For comparison, that outing outperformed Game 1 of the 2023 MLB World Series. For reference, Fox is currently under contract with the MLB for $5.1 billion for said broadcast rights.

As women’s college basketball begins its most anticipated season, perhaps ever, Staley sees more than just the ten players on the court but all of the broadcast partners capable of taking the game to a whole new level. Because the current contract with ESPN expires in 2024, the stakes are higher this season for all involved.

“We need other networks to show our worth,” said Staley. “ESPN knows our worth, but if there’s no competition? You’re not going to throw hundreds of millions of dollars at our sport if nobody’s competing for us in that space.”

It’s a fight she finds herself in the middle of despite being financially secure.

It’s a fight taking place in the middle of a season with hoop dreams of the team and individual variety all afloat.

Money, Power, Respect

Throughout her Hall of Famer career, Dawn Staley has ascended titles without shifting shapes.

Still standing only 5’6, she’s a giant in the game that competes at the highest level with coaches, countries, and institutions. The open market opportunities of NIL mixed with the big bucks shelled out to higher profile programs make Dawn’s dream merchant mantra a tougher sell than years past.

When recruiting the country’s top talent, Staley is extremely cognizant of the fact that picking a college to play basketball at is a financial decision that affects not only WNBA dreams but also the immediate earnings for families and the players themselves.

Because of funds, collectives, and NIL markets, a top-tier student-athlete often makes a high-level financial decision at only 18 years of age.

“I get the pull on the money,” said Staley. “If someone’s offering you $200,000, and that’s something you’ve never seen, and your family has to work ten years to get that in your bank account? I get it; I truly understand that part of it. Go for it; I am not mad at all. But I also don’t want to devalue what we bring to the table and the experience that you would have under me and our coaching staff.”

It’s a wild world for players and peers of the Hall of Fame coach. Because Staley’s seen the women’s game grow from playing in empty fieldhouses to selling out football stadiums, the promise of education and exposure still has to compete with promises of cold, hard cash.

“People are probably offering them a lot more money to lure them,” Staley said. “But the lessons that you get [here] are invaluable.”

Always in the weeds and on the grind, Staley is fighting hard to ensure that South Carolina has the same financial resources as the power programs she competes with.

“I look at the NIL space as a challenge,” said Staley. “We may not have the most, but I want to be competitive when it comes to recruiting young people. I don’t want that to be the factor if someone beats us out by $25,000 or $50,000. I don’t want that to be the determining factor.”

When the floodgates first opened on NIL, it was truly the wild, wild west where coaches could chase bags for their players. That all stopped a year ago when the NCAA changed the rules on the fly.

“The NCAA completely stopped us last October,” said Staley. “We had to shut everything down from me going out there and saying, ‘Hey, can you come do an all-team deal at South Carolina?'”

Because the NCAA no longer allows Staley and other coaches to find and facilitate NIL deals, the funding for players is fragmented and often of great variance from athlete to athlete and school to school.

Thus, the equity Dawn’s built over her illustrious legacy across brands does not bear the financial fruit it could for her players. This matters much on campus and in recruiting.

“As coaches, we have access to so many sponsors and relationships with companies,” Staley said.

This proves truer for Staley than most. Because of her resume on the sideline and on the court, she has the gravitas to appear in an Under Armour commercial with Aaliyah Boston and sit on the stage at Nike’s World Basketball Festival. Still, the Hall of Fame point guard has to play the background in earning for her athletes.

Because of this, she has to rely on the resources provided by the university that in SEC country usually go to the gridiron.

“There are things called collectives now, and we have to work through the collectives,” Staley said. “Collectives do a lot of work for football because they’re the main breadwinners, and I get that. But when we’ve had as much success as we’ve had at the University of South Carolina? We should be rolling in it, and we’re not.”

Once again, the 2x National Champion has to rely on her resume. One that adorns almost every accolade as a player and one that’s placed a handful of hopefuls in the WNBA.

“The things that we equip our players with will more than bring in the money that they deserve,” said Staley. “But they just gotta come to South Carolina first to get there.”

Next Up

When Dawn Staley took her tri-state swag to the SEC, few could’ve predicted record-setting coaching contracts and multiple National Championships.

Upending a women’s basketball scene long dominated by the likes of UConn and Tennessee, Staley serves as a disciplinarian and player’s coach all at once, not too different from that of Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa.

The biggest difference for Staley compared to the top tier of recruiters across all college sports is that she played professionally — and exceptionally — earning respect and reverence that few coaches across from her can match.

This type of esteem connects with parents and players alike.

“When you go into people’s living rooms and tell them that they’ll graduate?” said Staley. “They’re working to get to the next level. When you dangle that in front of them? They work a little bit harder.”

When looking for hard work, look no further than MiLaysia Fulwiley. When looking for the perfect place to take her talents, Staley’s program made perfect sense.

“I picked South Carolina because I wanted to be coached by somebody who’d been in my position before,” Fulwiley told Boardroom.

Already a viral sensation one game into her college career, Fulwiley exploded in Paris and across social media. Going coast to coast in France, the revered recruit went around the world and around her back, laying in a jellyroll lay-up that had everyone from Magic Johnson to Jamal Crawford singing her praises.

“It felt unbelievable when I heard that Kevin Durant shared my video,” Fulwiely said. “Seeing NBA stars and people who play basketball giving my move credit? It means a lot.”

While the freshman phenom owes her talent and hard work to the heralded highlight, getting seen on such a stage is a shoutout to Staley.

The program built by Dawn in Columbia, mixed with the pressure she’s put on the NCAA and ESPN, all funnel toward bigger platforms for the girls she coaches like Fulwiley.

In high school, the McDonald’s All-American was courted by coaches nationwide. She chose SC not just because of its proximity to home, but the character and resume only Staley could offer. Since arriving on campus, the flashy point guard has learned from a WNBA legend who played the same position.

Just the same, Fulwiley’s received coaching from Staley’s staff on thriving in the new open market of endorsements.

“She had multiple people come and talk to us about our NIL deals,” said Fulwiley. “We also have NIL companies in our program called Garnett Trust. She tells us to stay focused on basketball, and the NIL will play its part.”

So far, so good. Represented by Excel Sports Management, Fulwiley will continue to thrive off the court thanks to the work she’s putting in on the court.

Leading the No. 2 recruiting class in all of the women’s college basketball, Fulwiley will run the show for Staley, which is green where age is concerned.

“We’ve got a little different team,” said Staley. “We’re super talented but not much on-court experience.”

All the while, Staley will continue to fight the good fight for women’s basketball. Just like her early days at Temple while playing point for the Charlotte Sting, the dream merchant is sacrificing sleep so that these girls can make more money and more noise than anyone ever imagined.

“Every season brings on a different challenge no matter who you have,” said Staley.

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The post Dawn Staley: The Dream Merchant of Women’s Basketball appeared first on Boardroom.

As women’s basketball continues to ride a wave of momentum, another first is in store this week, as the first-ever NCAA regular-season basketball game is taking place in Paris. Tipping off on Monday afternoon, the Oui Play Classic pairs up the top-10 ranked South Carolina and Notre Dame women’s basketball teams, featuring the Irish and Gamecocks squads on a global stage.

Ahead of the trip, Under Armour, the brand partner for each school, linked up with renowned fashion designer Patrick “Fresh” Henry and his brand Richfresh to ensure the women are moving through France in style.

“To have a basketball game being played on this level in Paris is very luxe. It’s not normal,” Henry told Boardroom. “The collaboration had to feel very luxe and very posh. … The UA x Richfresh suits celebrate the athletes, coaches, and this historic moment for women’s collegiate basketball.”

Known for his signature tracksuits featuring a dual striped chevron across the jacket, Henry was looking to lean into each program’s trademark hues for a distinctive and elevated execution. 

“It was important to keep the aesthetic true to my brand aesthetic,” he detailed.

Richfresh has worked with several NBA athletes, such as Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, along with many musicians and celebrities. But never before has the brand outfitted an entire team. 

“In looking at where women’s athletics is going, it was important to put my stamp on this,” said Henry. “I work with a lot of male athletes, and this was an opportunity to really shift it.”

Not only does each team represent two of Under Armour’s most accomplished college basketball programs, but each team’s head coach — South Carolina’s Dawn Staley and Notre Dame’s Niele Ivey — also bring their own star power and style to the court. 

“Both coaches are like the mayors of their school,” added Henry. 

The designer has had a relationship with Staley for years, as she owns a collection of distinctive Richfresh tracksuits, making the collaboration a natural fit. Henry calls her the “freshest in the game.”

“She owns that belt, and no one is gonna take it from her,” he continued.

Over the weekend, the Irish players visited The Louvre in their navy Richfresh tracksuits, featuring green and gold stripes to dial in the detailing. 

“[The players] express themselves through social media, music, fashion, and culture, and I’m excited for them to have the opportunity to take that passion one step further,” Coach Ivey said of the tracksuits. 

After leaving his mark in Paris, don’t be surprised to see Henry and Richfresh remain in the women’s hoops game moving forward.

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The post Richfresh Leaves Mark on Historic NCAA Moment in Paris With South Carolina & Notre Dame Tracksuits appeared first on Boardroom.

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As the 2023-24 women’s NCAA basketball season tips off, Dawn Staley and the University of South Carolina are looking to rebuild a dynasty. Having graduated her full team of starters, Staley will work with a new crop of talent as they look to reclaim their spot atop the NCAA mountain.

Earlier this fall, Staley sat down with Eddie Gonzalez and The ETCs at the Nike World Basketball Festival. The two-time national championship-winning coach discusses how her program has become known for its production of superstars in players like A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston. She breaks down the competitive landscape of vying for recruits in a world with NIL. Additionally, she forecasts Boston’s WNBA future, placing her bets as her emergence of one of the most important players in the game.

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Additionally, Staley unpacks some of the bigger issues surrounding the women’s game and how the recent evolution of big-name talent has built it as a big business. She discusses what’s next for network rights around college hoops and the WNBA. And, lastly, Staley makes her case for her signature shoe as the greatest of all time at Nike.

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The post The ETCs: Dawn Staley and the Superstar Formula appeared first on Boardroom.

When NIL started in college sports, NIL collectives soon followed. The logical next step is now here, as we’ve reached the era of NIL collective associations. Or, as the first one is known, The Collective Association.

The Collective Association, which launched last month with seven power conference school collectives, has added 10 more — all from the Power 5 as well. As On3 reported on Thursday, TCA plans to work directly with its members on NIL-related issues, including lobbying for state legislation, creating an agent registry, and developing a revenue-sharing model.

As of now, the following schools have collectives in TCA:

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What Does An NIL Collective Do?

In their simplest form, NIL collectives exist as an NCAA-compliant way for boosters to pay student-athletes directly. Because the NCAA still outlaws “pay-for-play,” a wealthy donor cannot simply reach out to an athlete in the transfer portal and promise them a sum of money in exchange for a commitment. They can, however, donate to a collective, which pools its money and licenses players’ NIL rights. Collectives can also help facilitate NIL deals for that school’s athletes.

If it sounds like collectives can easily be used to lure recruits in a workaround to pay-for-play rules, well, that’s because they can be. While it can’t be explicitly done as outlined above, there’s no rule that keeps a coach from saying to a young quarterback, “Well, our starting quarterback last year received X from our collective, which is more than any other school you’re looking at can match. We can’t guarantee anything, but the only way you can earn NIL money from our collective is by coming to our school.”

This has led to obvious concern from NCAA administrators looking to rein in these collectives — though they are technically not affiliated directly with the schools, which makes it difficult. From the collectives’ point of view, they need to continue operating in a way that is both beneficial to their universities and NCAA-compliant.

The Collective Association Goals

The Collective Association will ultimately represent its members’ student-athletes as the NCAA continues to evolve its stance on NIL. A significant part of this, according to On3, is developing a revenue-sharing model. On3 cited Matt Hibbs of Georgia’s Classic City Collective, who proposed that conferences could give some of their TV revenue to league-wide collectives, which would relieve some of the financial burden from boosters.

TCA also wants to work with new NCAA president Charlie Baker on developing an agent registry for student-athletes. Details on what that would look like are still scarce, but the idea would be to develop uniform standards for agents looking to represent college students.

A lack of uniformity from state to state is also an issue that has plagued the NIL world. With no federal law on the books just yet, athletes in 50 states are operating by 50 sets of rules. TCA wants to work with schools that will lobby for better NIL legislation at the state level. Baker also wants Congress to pass an NIL bill and many of his wishes for that bill align with TCA’s interests.

As of now, TCA members only represent the highest-revenue Division I institutions. As the gap between the haves and have-nots in college sports continues to grow, pay attention to who has the loudest voices in the room. Big money in college athletics isn’t going anywhere. How it’s allocated, however, remains fluid.

The post The Collective Association: The First National NIL Group Takes Shape appeared first on Boardroom.

Aliyah Boston is officially an Adidas ambassador.

The Indiana Fever rookie and three-time NCAA All-American at South Carolina is now a member of the Three Stripes family as a professional on a multi-year deal. Joining the likes of James Harden, Anthony Edwards, and Damian Lillard at Adidas, Boston brings new energy to the brand’s WNBA space that’s been largely led by Candace Parker since 2008.

Like Parker, Boston is a No. 1 Draft Pick who plays power forward and enters the WNBA as a decorated winner at every amateur level. Under coach Dawn Staley, Boston blossomed into a national champion and Naismith Player of the Year. She took home the Lisa Leslie Award for the best center in college basketball each of her four seasons in Columbia.

“Adidas is a brand that continues to grow the game and empowers their athletes on and off the court,” Boston said of the news. “I’m super excited to continue to evolve into the best woman and athlete I can be while dominating on the court and being a role model alongside an incredible roster of hoopers. It’s truly a blessing.”

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Added Adidas Global General Manager, Basketball Eric Wise:

“We are beyond excited to welcome Aliyah to our Adidas Basketball family. She exudes strength, resilience, versatility and natural skill that is unmatched. I know she’ll leave a lasting impact on the future of the game and we are proud to be a part of this moment and support her on her journey to greatness.”

Over the course of her college career, Boston put up big numbers on and off the court. Famously, she had endorsement deals with Bose, Orange Theory, Bojangles, and Slate Milk.

Additionally, Boston brought home money from footwear partners Under Armour and Crocs. As a rookie on the Indiana Fever, a new chapter begins for Boston on foot.

As an Adidas athlete in Indiana, the Three Stripes will integrate Boston into their Remember the Why rebrand in basketball. The hoop category’s radical reset has introduced a new range of premium apparel adjoined by simplistic yet futuristic footwear designs that harken back to early ’00s favorites.

In addition to Candace Parker, Boston joins the likes of Chelsea Gray, Erica Wheeler, Alysha Clark, Chennedy Carter, Kahleah Copper, Betnijah Laneym Natalie Achonwa, Elizabeth Williams, Layshia Clarendon, Angel McCoughtry, Chiney Ogwumike, Nneka Ogwumike, and more on an expanding Adidas WNBA roster.

Aliyah Boston will make her WNBA regular season debut for the Indiana Fever on May 19 against the Connecticut Sun.

The post Earning Her Stripes: No. 1 WNBA Draft Pick Aliyah Boston Signs With Adidas appeared first on Boardroom.

This isn’t your typical women’s Final Four, but if you want to see the best of the best, you’ll want to tune in.

Undefeated, defending national champion South Carolina is back in the Final Four and the runaway favorite to repeat. But to get to the final, the Gamecocks will have to get through Iowa, the team with likely national player of the year Caitlin Clark. The Hawkeyes have the offensive firepower to win, but South Carolina defends as well as any team we’ve ever seen.

But don’t pencil in the winner of that game as the automatic national champion. Virginia Tech and LSU will go at it in the other national semifinal, and you shouldn’t take either lightly.

For starters, Angel Reese of LSU is one of the best players in college basketball. How good is she? She went just 3-15 from the field in the Tigers’ Elite Eight win over Miami…and still ended up with 13 points and 18 rebounds, notching her 400th double-double this season (estimated). In the Second Round against Michigan, SHE HAD 25 POINTS, 24 REBOUNDS, AND SIX BLOCKS. That does not happen. But it did.

Somehow, 1 seed Virginia Tech almost feels overlooked in this Final Four. Elizabeth Kitley might have something to say about that. Fresh off a 25-and-12 performance against Ohio State in the Elite Eight, Kitley has been the Hokies’ big star. But she wasn’t even the Most Outstanding Player in Virginia Tech’s region. That honor goes to Georgia Amoore, who is closing in on the all-time NCAA Tournament three-point record — she has 20 so far, two shy of the all-time best.

So there’s plenty to be excited about this week in Dallas. But who’s going to win the whole thing? We’ll leave it to our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook to fill you in on the odds.

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Final Four Odds 2023: Women’s NCAA Tournament

All betting odds via FanDuel Sportsbook as of Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

National Semifinals:

• LSU -1.5 (-108)
• Virginia Tech +1.5 (+112)
• Iowa +11.5 (-110)
• South Carolina -11.5 (-110)

To Win National Championship:

• South Carolina: -310
• LSU: +600
• Iowa: +900
• Virginia Tech: +1000

South Carolina vs. The Field:

• South Carolina: -310
• The Field: +230

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The post Women’s Final Four Odds: South Carolina Eyes a Repeat appeared first on Boardroom.

Tarte, Bare Minerals, FENTY, M·A·C Cosmetics®, all household names in the beauty industry. If you’re anything like myself or you identify as a Generation Z-er with close ties to BeautyTok — home of the beauty influencers on TikTok — you have at least one or two products from brands like these in your beauty bag.

But what happens when macro-level beauty influencers keep racking up products for free and handing them extra publicity and prestige, causing price hikes for formerly accessible mainstays and minimizing access for Black women and girls?

While young women like 22-year-old Alix Earle are earning upwards of $1.2 million per year, using their influence and notoriety to increase demand for Mielle Organics’ Rosemary Mint Scalp and Hair Strengthening Oil, girls of the same age minus the privilege, opportunities, and platforms are left to research, scour for, and purchase products they swear by without a monetary incentive behind it. And while BeautyTok girlies like Alexandra Pohl and Meredith Duxbury are flown out to Dubai on behalf of beauty brands, the girls who are doing the same work pro bono are rarely even offered an affiliate link for their support of such products in and out of their professional lives.

Are these enthusiasts not influencers all the same? According to Sheena Butler-Young, Senior Correspondent at The Business of Fashion (BoF), the definition of what it means to be an influencer, especially in the beauty, style, and fashion industry, has evolved over the course of several years from the aspiration of perfection and society’s standards of beauty to a more approachable, relatable aesthetic in an effort to connect with the brand’s audiences.

In doing so, larger beauty and fashion brands have opted to go the way of partnering with “microinfluencers” — rising stars with fewer than 100,000 followers — and favor social media personalities with a more realistic, wellness-driven, accessible appeal.

With the key pillars for a beauty influencer evolving into some combination of relatability, approachable personality, and an authentic appreciation for the products outside of monetary gain, who among us truly are the apex beauty influencers of today?

“As beauty brands look to grow their revenues and impact in this environment, it makes sense to partner with college students — the bulk of whom are part of the Gen Z cohort — and collegiate-level athletes, who in many ways epitomize the idea of health and wellness,” Butler-Young told Boardroom. “Let’s not forget that pro athletes have been doing beauty ads and sponsorships for some time now, [with] Sue Bird [and] Lexie Brown [as] examples, and even launching their own lines — remember A-Rod’s ‘Blur Stick’? So, this really feels like a natural extension.”

More specifically, the ideal influencer would be someone who tests their product better than any model, highly-paid celebrity endorser, or socialite could. Instead of someone who can test out an acne serum under a full face of makeup at a movie premiere, how about someone who already has a natural, youthful glow putting it to the test while sweating day in and day out across their daily lives? Rather than depicting a moisturizer as a primer for a red carpet debut, what if we turned our heads to someone who uses the same product as a lynchpin for achieving a camera-ready look when sprinting and flying in front of millions on ESPN?

Bottom line? Women’s college basketball players fit the bill.

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According to Gen Z-centric skincare brand Bubble’s CEO and founder Shai Eisenman, it would behoove beauty brands to partner with athletes, especially at the collegiate level, and include them in conversations about influencer marketing and product placement. “Athletes especially always have to put their best face forward, and we want to empower them to feel confident in their own skin – even off the field,” she told Boardroom.

In addition to brand ambassadors such as All American star Samantha Logan and Netflix’s On My Block actor Diego Tinoco, Bubble has previously partnered with track and field star Sam Hurley and Minnesota Vikings All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson, demonstrating that you don’t need to be considered a traditionally viral beauty influencer to appreciate self-care and hygiene.

“Athletes and fitness enthusiasts are another important consumer for Bubble. They are interested in products that can help them maintain the best skin. Our work clearly reflects how skincare is essential in everyone’s routine, no matter your profession,” Eisenman added. “We love working with talent that has a natural connection with skincare, but aren’t the typical influencer.”

In the midst of the highly-anticipated March Madness marker, it was time that we had the opportunity to get some one-on-one with some of the top college hoopers on the court about just how much their own routines match up with this evolving industry’s definition of being an influencer.

Boardroom spoke to UNC’s Deja Kelly, LSU’s Angel Reese, and South Carolina’s Breanna Beal about their personal relationships with their beauty routines, how they glow from the inside and out onto the court, and how we can continue to hold the beauty industry accountable as we look to the future of influencer marketing.

More Than a Game

For North Carolina Tar Heels hooper Deja Kelly, who prides herself in looking her best during every game, from laid edges to her nail colors poppin’ on the court, embracing femininity and showcasing a full face of glam on the hardwood is about more than just looking pretty — it serves as a boost of confidence while playing in front of thousands of people in arenas across the country and millions more on national television.

“I don’t really think you can go wrong with wearing makeup for games if it makes you feel good. If you think it makes you look good, which it does, then wear it,” Kelly said powerfully to Boardroom as she prepped her face with CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser and First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads. For her, the “look good, feel good” mantra when it comes to on-court makeup is as true as ever.

Styling her hair back into a sleek ponytail with full natural curls cascading from the back — to which she refers on-camera as a “D1 do” — Kelly noted how her signature hairstyle helps her to level up mentally while she’s playing. “I think that’s something that I really take pride in. When your hair looks good, you look like you play D1 basketball and you feel like it; you feel good. Your hair looks good. That’s what my mom used to call it when I was younger, so I stick with that,” she said.

Humbly but observantly, she also noted that she pays close attention to which of her games are nationally televised in an effort to optimize around her hair, skincare, nails, and beauty routine to the fullest.

“Collegiate-level athletes work hard, play harder, and capture it all via TikTok and Instagram, making them the perfect influencers,” Mielle Senior Brand Director Nicole Ray Robinson told Boardroom. “Beauty brands have a responsibility to be inclusive and reflective of all beauty standards, and can do so by incorporating athletes in beauty messaging.”

Much like Kelly, Reese, and Beal, Robinson suggested that athletes opt for protective styles such as braids, wigs, and weaves to allow for proper hair growth between juggling academics and games. Who better to test out top-tier Mielle Organics products, such as the brand’s Braid & Scalp Moisturizer, than these ladies?

As a player herself, Kelly enjoys seeing other women’s basketball players get glammed up for a game because it makes her feel not only seen, but proud that women in a male-dominated industry can demonstrate that they can be feminine and beautiful while also showing that this isn’t just a boys’ playground. Furthermore, Kelly is fully aware that opportunities like brand partnerships and NIL endorsements can arise from looking your best and standing out from the crowd chasing around a basketball surrounded by a sea of delirious fans.

“You never know what brands are watching to where I could possibly get a partnership just from that game, just from them seeing how I carry myself on the court,” Kelly said. “That’s where I think a lot of these beauty brands are dropping the ball, because there’s so many female hoopers [and] female athletes that really take pride in their appearance on the court. I feel like so many of these beauty brands can really take advantage of that and partner with these ladies, because why wouldn’t you wanna have them show you already see that they’re showcasing their beauty on the court? Why not have them represent your brand?”

As Boardroom staff writer Randall Williams added, “When college athletes wear beauty brand products, they’re serving as walking billboards — it’s that simple. They are proving whether or not the products are of value, because in a lot of cases, they are sprinting, jumping, swinging, sweating, dancing, and so much more. If a beauty product can stay consistent while they are competing and exerting tremendous energy into their craft, it will for sure be okay for a fun night out or a party.”

While Kelly deems one of her favorite beauty influencers, Monet McMichael, as a top personality to follow on TikTok thanks to her fun, bubbly personality as a college student who’s studying nursing, she’s saddened by the fact that of all the influencers that she does follow on the social media platform, none of them are athletes like her. “I’m really hoping that these beauty brands kind of flip the script on partnering with us collegiate athletes, because it would mean the world,” she said.

While there’s no specific brand that she would have in mind to boost her personal path to influencership, she is open to collaborating with companies that would be willing to give her a chance to “up my image” as a beauty enthusiast.

“I am an influencer in a way, just as a college athlete, ’cause people are watching. People are watching your games, people are watching what you wear, what you do on and off the court,” Kelly said.

“I would say I’m an influencer in that way, as well as a lot of other college hoopers across the board. I think it’s pretty cool to see people wanting to kind of mirror what you wear, what you do on the court. It’s super important to include college athletes [and] college basketball players in the conversations of influencer marketing strategies because you can physically see the impact we have. If you want to grow your brand, grow your followers, grow your business, including college basketball players or college athletes in that manner is definitely beneficial because people love to watch college athletics.”

I’m A [Bayou] Barbie Girl in a Basketball World

LSU Tigers basketball star Angel Reese prides herself on her beauty routine, and it shows. From her eyes fluttering with Fat Lashes to the moisture locked into her skin with Neutrogena Hydro Boost, Reese knows that her regimen has to be as top-performing as her game on the court — and she never falls short of stellar. Sporting bundles from WNBA superstar Te’a Cooper’s Hollywood Luxury Hair with edges laid by Loc N’s edge styling gel, Reese gave Boardroom the real on her personal relationship with beauty as a hooper.

“They call me the Bayou Barbie,” Reese said playfully during her GRWM-style (“Get Ready With Me”) interview with Boardroom. “The Barbie part comes from just being able to be cute and still get buckets. I feel like it’s just so slept-on that many brands don’t work with college athletes, and even just athletes in general.”

While Reese has partnered with some of the aforementioned brands in her beauty routine before, she aspires one day to be featured in a major campaign as a brand ambassador or a model.

“If they can spend thousands of dollars for extravagant trips, they can also spend just as much on events and trips for college students and athletes. They may not be able to travel far because they’re in school, but local getaways are very much a thing, too,” R29 Unbothered’s Style & Culture Specialist Venesa Coger explained to Boardroom, alluding to Tarte’s viral Dubai trip. When reflecting on the trip’s impact on influencer marketing, Coger noted that its only real outcome was shining a light on the lack of diversity in the influencer space and pushing the narrative that you have to have millions of followers to be invited into rooms you would only see on your “Explore” page.

So, how do these brands diversify? According to Coger, it means reaching back to those who are on the ground and listening to the ones who are actually buying, testing, and authentically championing beauty products without monetary incentive.

“I think this starts with the brands’ influencer marketing team doing a better job at having a mix of events that can cater to all types of influencers,” she said. “It’s important to include college students and collegiate-level athletes in the conversation of influencer marketing because they have a community closer to their fingertips by being on campus. It’s surprising that brands don’t come up with bigger initiatives to tap into working with more college students, especially when on-campus clubs and organizations could use the extra funds and even sponsorships to build their events out and garner more student participation and school spirit.”

While Reese’s routine doesn’t necessarily differ from when she’s off-camera versus when a game is televised, she does make sure to pack on the lashes whenever she can to bring more attention to her eyes. Before the COVID-19 pandemic first rocked the world to its core in 2020, Reese was spending nearly $100 per lash appointment, but she quickly realized that she could adopt the trade herself.

She has not looked back since.

Hello, can anyone say “lash ambassadorship pending?“

“My routine doesn’t really change when I’m going on TV because I just know every time it seems like the game is televised, lashes always seem to fly off,” Reese joked. Her teammates and coaches, she said, would always tease about her lashes falling out during games because of how hard she plays, which inspired her always to keep an extra set of falsies in her locker room. “[During] one of my games actually in SEC tournament, my lashes came off and I got hit so hard and [there] was a leak in the ceiling or whatever. That 30 minutes that we had down because we were waiting for everything to get fixed in the ceiling, I went to go fix those lashes.”

Unapologetically encouraging viewers to be themselves and be their own biggest fans at all times while chasing that bag, Reese also noted how brands are missing bag-securing potential themselves from a consumer base perspective by passing up young athletes such as herself for paid partnerships. “I just feel like the beauty brands, even the hair brands, they’re missing out on these opportunities, because I feel like we’re the girls that are wearing, the edge controls, the eyelashes — I would love for them to actually sponsor or work with us for NIL deals,” she said.

“It would be great, amazing on both ends. Like, on my side, of course since I always use the product so it’ll be authentic, but growing their brand as well.”

Shoot Your Shot, BeautyTok

Starting her skincare routine with La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Cleanser, South Carolina guard Brea Beal’s natural glow shines through as her braids are pulled into a messy bun at the crown of her head and her lashes are holding steady in place. As a basketball player, Beal swears by a good moisturizer to lock into her pores while she’s sweating throughout an intense game on the court, especially if it features a solid sunscreen.

“I think it’s cool that they’re able to play and wear makeup and really showcase who they are. For me personally, I like to go for [a] more natural look. I’ve tried, like, the concealer or a little makeup here and there, but when you’re at home and you’re wearing white jerseys and stuff, it gets everywhere for me so I haven’t really figured that out yet but I really am inspired by those who do wear makeup,” she said of athletes who achieve a full beat before a game. “I’m not really sure if people think I wear makeup or not, but they may be surprised if they find out that I don’t, ’cause when I don’t know how to put it on as good as other women who play basketball, they might be surprised that I don’t wear it.”

While she sings the praises of women like WNBA legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Tina Thompson for rocking her signature ruby red MAC Diva lipstick, Beal opts for a more natural look when she’s playing. In addition to wanting to look more glammed-down on the court, she admits that she doesn’t much know how to do her own makeup — as opposed to her natural skincare routine that she has locked and loaded with tons of products that she trusts and swears by.

The products that she would prefer to lean into more, especially the waterproof kind, tend to be on the more expensive end of the spectrum, which decreases her ability to indulge in them as a full-time college student and athlete.

Beauty and Style Expert Sha Ravine Spencer praises beauty brands for steering away from the standard of glass, porcelain skin types and inching more towards real folks with real skin issues like acne, hyperpigmentation, and other conditions — much like college students today.

“Many other beauty brands such as Topicals are showcasing influencers and models with stretchmarks, textured skin, etc. Interestingly enough, the campaign isn’t about how their product will change or fix the skin care ‘issue’ but instead it’s about loving your skin and wanting to nurture it instead of trying to ‘fix’ it, so including real skin in their campaigns via models and influencers who are not projecting or portraying conventional beauty standards,” she told Boardroom.

As it pertains to the relationship between these companies and female athletes, Beal believes that beauty brands are dropping the ball (no pun intended). Women’s college basketball players, as well as those superstars already in the WNBA or hooping overseas, would serve as ideal campaign fixtures and brand ambassadors, according to Beal, because they can show the true potential and results of beauty products while engaged in uncommonly demanding action.

“What better [way] than showing that your makeup can last on somebody who is playing 40 minutes a game or winning championships or the MVP of a tournament or stuff like that? I definitely think companies should take more of an advantage on it because I feel like it’ll showcase, their makeup, their products, whatever. It may be a lot better than just partnering with somebody who is just like a makeup [influencer] in a sense,” she said while preparing her face for an on-camera hit.

For Beal, ideal partnerships would include BareMinerals and La Roche-Posay because of their natural ingredients and glowy results that fit in perfectly with her skin goals and type. However, she notes that even though she is not on an official privileged mailing list or receiving PR packages to unbox in front of millions of followers, she still considers herself an influencer based on the leverage of social media alone.

“Nowadays, social media is so powerful that whether you feel like you’re not posting a lot or anything of that sort, you’re still like an influencer,” she said. “Whether you’re posting once every month, once every two months, people are still watching. So, I definitely consider myself an influencer even if I’m not targeting anything specifically.”

As a beauty influencer of the self-appointed variety, Beal notes that she prioritizes embracing her femininity and even sensuality as a basketball player and a woman, and encourages young women and girls who are looking at her to do the same as appropriate for their age — no matter how society wrestles with precisely defining influence in the social media era.

“I feel like my brand is embracing beauty as far as the lashes, when I have my nails done, [or] any type of hairstyles it may be. I feel like that is my brand — just to be able to let women, younger girls, teens, whatever it may be, know that it’s okay to go out there and feel pretty and play good. You feel good, you play good,” Beal said, echoing Angel Reese’s own sentiments.

“That’s really my motto. I think that is probably the point where I influence the most when it comes to my social media platform. I think [with] athletes, whether it’s basketball or whatever the case may be, I think it is pretty important to include them when it comes to the marketing strategies to boost a company’s reputation or their sales. Whether they have a big following or not, I feel like they can definitely influence a brand or change the culture of a brand more than, like, people think. Brands should connect with these collegiate athletes more and expand their palette in a sense, and just be open to new ideas. I think it definitely can help both parties,” she said.

Now, how can we hold these brands accountable and advocate for the next cohort of beauty influencers?

For Sha Ravine Spencer, it’s as simple as outreach.

“As much as diversifying the boardrooms of these companies would diversify their campaigns, partnerships, and overall marketing it also starts with brands taking the initiative to actually reach out to the unconventional influencer,” Spencer noted in referring to athletes like Kelly, Reese, and Beal.

“Brands need to lean into taking more risks and thinking outside of the box with their marketing campaigns because working with athletes would open them up to another consumer base. One product placement mentioned by an athlete during the game or pre- or post-game interviews can instantly turn into sales. Consumers can call for their favorite brands to partner with their favorite athletes and use social media to directly engage with these brands and voice their desires,” she said.

“Simply put, brands need to build relationships and research how these relationships with athletes can be mutually beneficial.”

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In true March Madness style, the first weekend of the women’s NCAA Tournament played out in unexpected fashion. When the dust settled, yes, the No. 1 overall seed South Carolina reached the Sweet 16 rather easily. Caitlin Clark‘s Iowa Hawkeyes advanced as well, along with Final Four stalwart UConn.

But that’s about where the predictability ended. For the first time in more than two decades, two 1 seeds failed to reach the tournament’s second weekend, with Miami upending Indiana and Ole Miss defeating Stanford. Naturally, that’s changed the odds equation a bit as the remaining 16 teams inch closer to the Final Four in Dallas.

The action resumes on Friday in the women’s tournament with a quartet of games, taking you from 2:30 p.m. to midnight Eastern on ESPN. Before we get there, however, let’s take a look at where this year’s women’s March Madness odds stand, with an assist from our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook.

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Women’s March Madness Odds 2023

National Champion:

• South Carolina: -200
• UConn: +500
• LSU: +750
• Iowa: +1200
• Maryland: +2000
• Virginia Tech: +4000
• Tennessee: +4000
• Utah: +5500
• Villanova: +5500
• Notre Dame: +11000
• Colorado: +13000
• Louisville: +13000
• Ole Miss: +13000
• Ohio State: +16000
• UCLA: +24000
• Miami: +24000

To Make Final Four:

• South Carolina: -550
• UConn: -165
• Iowa: -140
• LSU: -135
• Louisville: +310
• Villanova: +330
• Virginia Tech: +420
• Utah: +430
• Tennessee: +440
• Colorado: +480
• Maryland: +500
• Ole Miss: +550
• Miami: +750
• Ohio State: +850
• Notre Dame: +2300
• UCLA: +3500

South Carolina to Win Championship vs. The Field

• South Carolina: -200
• The Field: +150

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When the team you coach is given minus odds to win the national championship against the field before the NCAA Tournament even starts, you’re doing something right.

That’s the situation South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley finds herself in as she tries to lead her undefeated Gamecocks to their second straight title. If successful, it would also be South Carolina’s third championship in team history — all under Staley. She’s won nearly 80% of her games as Gamecocks head coach, bringing them to four Final Fours (and counting) and winning seven SEC regular season titles.

All told, Staley has earned every penny that the university is paying her. But how much is that exactly? Boardroom dives into the Dawn Staley contract at South Carolina.

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Dawn Staley Contract and Salary Breakdown at South Carolina

Signed: 2021
Term: Through 2027-28 season
Base Salary: $1,000,000

Dawn Staley Outside Compensation By Year

2022-23: $2,000,000
2023-24: $2,100,000
2024-25: $2,200,000
2025-26: $2,300,000
2026-27: $2,400,000
2027-28: $2,500,000

Staley is the highest-paid coach in women’s college basketball, and rightfully so. Her base salary and outside compensation total $3 million this season, and when you throw in a $300,000 split-dollar life insurance contribution, her total pay comes out to $3.3 million. That will increase by $100,000 every year through the term of her contract unless it is bought out or reworked in the meantime. Altogether, Staley has $19.8 million remaining on her contract, including her compensation for this season. The above totals do not include potential bonuses, which will allow Staley to clean up even more, as long as her teams keep winning.

Contract Bonuses

Staley’s contract gives her the opportunity to earn hundreds of thousands in additional compensation each year. Her bonuses are broken into five categories: SEC regular season, SEC championships, NCAA Tournament, Coach of the Year awards, and Top 25 rankings. In total, here’s what she can earn:

SEC Regular Season:

If South Carolina wins 11 or more SEC regular season games in its current 16-game format, Staley will receive an additional $15,000.

SEC Championships:

Staley can earn one of the following bonuses, whichever is greatest:

• $75,000 for winning the SEC regular season
• $50,000 for winning the SEC Tournament
• $100,000 for winning both

NCAA Tournament:

Keep an eye on this section as the Gamecocks navigate March Madness. Staley can earn the greatest of the following options:

• $25,000 for reaching the NCAA Tournament
• $50,000 for reaching the Sweet 16
• $100,000 for reaching the Elite Eight
• $250,000 for reaching the Final Four
• $500,000 for winning the National Championship

Coach of the Year:

If the AP or her fellow coaches recognize Staley as the coach of the year, either in the SEC or nationally, she will earn the following:

• $25,000 for being named SEC coach of the year by the AP or SEC coaches AND
• $25,000 for winning national coach of the year, by the AP, Naismith committee, or both

Top 25 Ranking:

If South Carolina is ranked in the AP Poll, Coaches Poll, or both at the end of the season, Staley will earn an additional $15,000.

Dawn Staley Buyout Details

It seems absurd right now that Staley will ever not be the head coach at South Carolina — for however long she wants to stay in the game. But circumstances change, so Staley’s contract has an outline for what could happen if she is either fired without cause or elects to leave the job for another opportunity.

Termination Without Cause

No, this is nothing anyone has to worry about any time soon. BUT LET’S JUST SAY South Carolina loses in the championship game this year and the administration decides one loss in a season is entirely too many. Here is what the university would owe her, depending on when she is let go:

• Until April 15, 2023: $2,500,000
• 4/16/23-4/15/24: $2,000,000
• 4/16/24-4/15/25: $1,500,000
• 4/16/25-4/15/26: $1,000,000
• 4/16/26-4/15/27: $500,000
• 4/16/27-4/15/28: $250,000

Termination By Coach

Also unlikely, but slightly closer to what one might consider possible. In this scenario, Staley terminates the contract early, most likely to take a job elsewhere. Here’s what she (or her new employer) would owe the university in such a case:

• Until 4/15/23: $4,500,000
• 4/16/23-4/15/24: $4,000,000
• 4/16/24-4/15/25: $3,500,000
• 4/16/25-4/15/26: $3,000,000
• 4/16/26-4/15/27: $2,500,000
• 4/16/27-4/15/28: $2,000,000

Additional Perks

In addition to her pay, bonuses, and the security that a buyout would provide, Staley is entitled to a number of perks from the university. Those perks include:

• 2 university-provided automobiles on a loan basis
• Country club membership
• 16 executive suite tickets and 14 additional tickets to all women’s basketball home games
• Four tickets to each regular season men’s basketball game
• Four tickets and two sideline passes to each home football game

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The post Dawn Staley Contract & Salary Details at South Carolina appeared first on Boardroom.

Going in, this year’s women’s and men’s NCAA Tournaments appear to have two distinct flavors.

The men’s field is wide open with no clear-cut dominant team. On the other side, South Carolina is the runaway favorite for the women, getting minus odds on FanDuel Sportsbook to win the National Championship against the field.

It’s sure to trigger a familiar refrain from those who only check in with women’s basketball via Instagram comments: There’s no competition. There are no upsets. It’s always the same teams in the Final Four.

There’s no use denying that the Gamecocks are now a Final Four mainstay. Alongside them, fellow 1 seed Stanford could well make it to Dallas, and 2 seed UConn has a decent shot of extending its Final Four streak to a mind-boggling 15 straight years.

But the game runs so much deeper than that.

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South Carolina is undefeated and dominant, but not in the same way that even the UConn teams from 2015-16 were. Nobody was going to touch those Huskies, while the Gamecocks have been tested several times this season. They could also get a real push or two in this tournament before the Final Four.

That’s not a knock on the Gamecocks, either. They’re putting together one of the most impressive runs the sport has seen. It’s just that the rest of the sport has grown so much over the past decade that a team that good cannot sleepwalk to the title game anymore.

While, eventually, we will want to get to the point where the women’s game is as up-in-the-air as the men’s, they’re in a good spot right now. Keep in mind the men have a 43-year head start on the women, playing their first tournament in 1939, while the NCAA did not sponsor a women’s championship until 1982.

As it stands, a dominant team that could still be beaten is a happy medium for the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Similar to the mid-2010s UConn teams, people are going to tune into the Gamecocks’ contests for any of three reasons:

• To root for them; South Carolina has a massive fanbase
• To root against them; people love seeing the favorites go down
• To watch greatness unfold in front of them

It’s a shame the powers that be at ESPN didn’t put the Gamecocks’ first-round game in a better time slot (2 p.m. on Friday, ESPN), because people would tune in, even against Norfolk State. ESPN must know this, too, because UConn’s first-round walkover against Vermont is on Saturday afternoon on ABC.

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But, no matter. South Carolina will have a second tournament game, barring the biggest upset in sports history. The Gamecocks will get the winner of Marquette and South Florida on Sunday and, if ESPN is smart, that game will be in the early afternoon, where it will only have to compete with one men’s game.

This will matter more in the later rounds, particularly the Final Four when all eyes are on the women’s game. Great programs draw eyeballs, and a Final Four with South Carolina, Stanford, UConn, and, let’s say LSU out of the Greenville 2 region, would be a ratings bonanza. Stanford and UConn both pushed South Carolina to the brink earlier this year, and while the Gamecocks blew out LSU in their lone matchup, Kim Mulkey is one of the best coaches in the country and has at her disposal one of the best players (Angel Reese) and one of the best freshmen (Flau’jae Johnson) in college basketball.

But this is about more than ratings. Zoom out and look at the growth of the game as a whole. Dominant runs not only strengthen the program in question, but it’s a rising tide that lifts all programs around them. Yes, great players will want to attend South Carolina, but the Gamecocks only have a few scholarships available each year. Did South Carolina pass on you in high school? Go play in the SEC and beat them.

Why do you think the Big East has gotten so much better in women’s basketball over the past few years?

Look even further down the road. Thousands of young girls are watching Aliyah Boston and Zia Cooke tear through a brutal schedule like it’s nothing. Those girls are modeling their young games after them. I’ll be stunned in 10 years if we do not have women’s college basketball stars crediting Boston, Cooke, or any other of the game’s best players with getting them interested in basketball.

So yes, we ultimately want to reach a point where there’s more balance in women’s college basketball. We’ve come so far already, with almost as many double-digit seeds advancing in the women’s tournament last year as the men’s — and remember the women’s first and second rounds are on the higher seeds’ home courts. But there’s more work to do. In the meantime, let’s celebrate South Carolina’s dominance or, if you prefer, root fervently for them to slip up.

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The post Celebrating South Carolina’s Dominant Run appeared first on Boardroom.

Get ready for March Madness with the latest NCAA women’s basketball tournament championship odds, courtesy of FanDuel SportsBook.

The bracket is set and the field of 68 for the 2023 women’s NCAA Tournament is official. You know what that means: One of the year’s biggest sports betting events is on.

South Carolina is the overwhelming favorite to repeat as national champs, to the point where you can’t even get plus money on picking the Gamecocks to win it all at -165. Stanford and UConn are the odds-on biggest threats to Aliyah Boston and Co. cutting down the nets at +700, with Indiana not far behind at +800. You can even get the field at +120 to win it all if you don’t like South Carolina at -165.

With some help from our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook, here are the latest 2023 women’s March Madness odds:

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2023 Women’s March Madness Odds

National Champion

• South Carolina: -165
• UConn: +700
• Stanford: +700
• Indiana: +800
• Iowa: +2000
• LSU: +3000
• Maryland: +3500
• Utah: +5000
• Notre Dame: +5000
• Virginia Tech: +5000
• Texas: +6500
• Ohio State: +10000

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The post Women’s March Madness Odds: South Carolina Favored to Repeat appeared first on Boardroom.

A’ja Wilson was an NCAA champion and a National Player of the Year at South Carolina. Since then, she’s logged five seasons in the WNBA after landing with the relocated, rebranded Las Vegas Aces as the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft.

Suffice it to say that she hasn’t been a professional hooper for terribly long, but has nonetheless managed to win:

• Two WNBA MVP awards (2020, 2022)
• The 2022 WNBA championship
• Four WNBA All-Star teams
• Three All-WNBA teams (two First, one Second)
• The 2018 Rookie of the Year award
• One Olympic gold medal
• Two FIBA World Cup championships

Yikes. She’s nearly got as many MVP seasons as non-MVP seasons. Nice work if you can get it. (And she still found time to start a successful candle business on the side!)

That got us thinking — what’s the on-court earning potential for someone with so many accolades at such a young age? Let’s take a look at the numbers behind the Aces’ A’ja Wilson contract as she teams up with Candace Parker to make another run at glory.

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A’ja Wilson Contract Details & Salary

All dollar figures via Spotrac.

Years: 2
Total value: $398,422
Average annual value: $199,211
Free agency: 2024

2023 salary: $202,155

In re-signing with the Aces last year as a restricted free agent following the expiration of her four-year rookie deal, Wilson was eligible to sign a max deal worth approximately $200,000 per year. She’ll be eligible for the WNBA’s veteran supermax salary when she hits unrestricted free agency in 2024 — that particular salary number is $234,936 for the current season, more than the entire value of Wilson’s rookie contract.

A’ja Wilson’s Career Earnings

ROOKIE SCALE CONTRACT (2018-21): $232,178

ACTIVE CONTRACT EXTENSION (2022-23): $398,422

ESTIMATED WNBA SALARY EARNINGS THRU 2023: $630,600

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The post A’ja Wilson Contract & Salary Breakdown appeared first on Boardroom.

In the time it took you to click on this story, TCU punted again and Georgia scored another touchdown.

Yes, the college football season had about as anti-climactic an ending as you could imagine, and letdown fans might be wondering where to turn. The answer is, of course, college basketball.

If you’ve been sidetracked by Saturday afternoon tailgates and midweek MACtion to this point, don’t worry. You’ve missed a lot since the Champions Classic in November but never fear. From the Big East to the Big 12, and Zach Edey to Zia Cooke, Boardroom is here to catch you up.

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The Men’s Top 25 Looks Nothing Like It’s Supposed To

If you only saw the preseason AP Poll and then tuned out until right this minute, you’d be forgiven for being positively baffled. Houston and Kansas (preseason Nos. 3 and 5) being in the top two spots is nothing outlandish, but after that, it gets crazy. Purdue started the season unranked but was actually No. 1 until this week thanks to a dominant run at the PK85 tournament and a 13-0 start. Alabama, which started at No. 20, is now ranked fourth, with UConn (unranked to start the season) at No. 6.

And those teams we thought would be awesome? Well, preseason No. 1 North Carolina lost four straight at the end of November and is now unranked. Things have gotten so bad for preseason No. 4 Kentucky that people are starting to wonder if John Calipari‘s time with the Wildcats is nearing an end. Creighton, thanks partly to an illness from star Ryan Kalkbrenner, went from top 10 to losers of six in a row before getting their big guy back and starting to right the ship. Duke and Baylor were also top 10 teams in November. Today, Duke is No. 24 and Baylor is unranked and 0-3 in the Big 12.

New Blood in Women’s Basketball

As expected, South Carolina and Stanford appear to be the two best teams. They’re a combined 32-1, and that one loss came for the Cardinal at the hands of…the Gamecocks. But take a look at the top 25 and you’ll see some unfamiliar names — or some kind of familiar names in unfamiliar spots.

Ohio State, which has not been to the Elite Eight since 1993, is 17-0 and in the driver’s seat for a 1 seed. Made even more impressive is how flat-out awesome the Big Ten has been. The Buckeyes are one of three Big Ten schools in the AP Poll top 10 (Indiana and Maryland are the other two), with Iowa, Michigan, and Illinois all in the rankings as well.

Yes, Illinois. The Illini went 7-20 last year, 1-13 in the Big Ten, and are somehow 14-3 this year, complete with a win over Iowa and a down-to-the-wire loss against the Buckeyes.

It’s not just the Big Ten that’s brought surprises. Out west, Utah is 14-1 and suddenly ranked in the top 10. And on the outskirts of the Top 25, you have two traditional men’s powerhouses proving the women can compete as well, with Kansas and Villanova.

Tournament Expansion: Possible, Not Likely

NCAA Tournament expansion is going to be a topic of discussion every year until it actually happens. Then, two or three years later, it’ll come right back. It’s the nature of the March Madness beast.

Last week, the NCAA Division I Transformation Committee released its recommendations to the Board of Governors, and it included expanding NCAA championships for sports with 200 or more teams to 25% of eligible schools. In basketball, that would mean a 90-team NCAA Tournament.

Before you throw your computer/phone/tablet in frustration, don’t. There seems to be little interest from the men’s or women’s basketball committees to expand to 90, and you shouldn’t expect any expansion at all until the men’s contract with Turner is up in 2032. After that, could you see an expansion to 72 or 76 teams? Maybe. And if you don’t like it, just remember you’re complaining about more March Madness. Not a bad problem to have.

The Wildest Men’s Coaching Carousel Ever?

Let’s get this part out of the way: One of the most prominent jobs in the game opened under one of the worst circumstances you could imagine when Texas fired head coach Chris Beard following a domestic violence arrest. That will forever be the most important and serious part of the story. But the reality is that Texas is going to need to hire someone and the list of names is intriguing, led by the Hall of Famer Calipari. If the Longhorns don’t go that route, they could take a swing at Kelvin Sampson (Houston), Jerome Tang (Kansas State), Eric Musselman (Arkansas), or Chris Holtmann (Ohio State).

The chain reaction that would set off is only the beginning. Plenty of other questions abound, including: Will Georgetown finally say it’s had enough of Patrick Ewing? Will Jim Boeheim call it a career at Syracuse? Will Kenny Payne even get a second year at Louisville? Those are all elite jobs and they all have a non-zero chance of opening (along with Kentucky, maybe the best in the nation). Buckle up.

Player of the Year Watch

Men’s Basketball Favorite: Zach Edey, Purdue

The best player on one of the best teams, Edey is running away with the player of the year race in men’s basketball. Through 15 games, the 7-foot-4 behemoth is averaging 21.9 points and 13.2 rebounds per game while shooting 63% from the field. The Purdue conversation begins and ends with the big man, who has compiled an ORtg over 100 in every game he’s played this year and is far outpacing everyone else in the country on the KenPom Player of the Year list.

Other candidates: Jalen Wilson (Kansas), Marcus Sasser (Houston), Drew Timme (Gonzaga)

Women’s Basketball Favorite: Aliyah Boston (South Carolina)

You can make a great case for a handful of players, but for now, it’s still Boston. Her per-game numbers are down this year, but it’s because she is commanding so much attention from opposing defenses that it’s making everyone on her team better. Combined with Zia Cooke, South Carolina undoubtedly has the best 1-2 punch in the game. The best player on the best team will always be in the running for player of the year and Boston checks all the boxes.

Other candidates: Cameron Brink (Stanford), Caitlin Clark (Iowa), Angel Reese (LSU)

Playing Favorites

Considering how turbulent the first couple of months have been, it’s no surprise that the betting market has changed substantially. Here are the favorites to win the men’s and women’s national championships, with their odds today compared to their odds in the preseason, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

Men’s Basketball Odds

Houston: +600 (was +850)
Kansas: +750 (was +1500)
Purdue: +1200 (was +4500)
Arizona: +1300 (was +2000)
UConn: +1400 (was +8000)
Tennessee: +1400 (was +2500)
UCLA: +1400 (was +2000)

Women’s Basketball Odds

South Carolina: +125 (was +135)
Stanford: +270 (was +450)
UConn: +700 (was +1000)
LSU: +1200 (was +5000)
Ohio State: +1800 (was +5000)
Indiana: +2000 (was +4000)
Notre Dame: +2000 (was +2500)
Iowa State: +2500 (was +3000)
Utah: +3500 (was +20000)

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The post The Football Fan’s Guide to the 2022-23 College Basketball Season appeared first on Boardroom.

I mean no disrespect to Glenn Hansard and Markéta Irglová, but bowl season is truly the Swell Season. And while several of the supposed top contenders in August have since found themselves Falling Slowly — and some have fallen All the Way Down — there are other times in which the momentum builds and you’re a team of destiny and perhaps you just need to get lucky Once.

Yes, we’ll get to the CFP when we get there. But in the meantime, there’s a movable gridiron feast of Cheez-Its, mayonnaise, oranges, sugar, and the military-industrial complex to regale in, perhaps drown in, and When Your Mind’s Made Up about where these festive chips are to fall, you might consider making some safe, legal bowl game wagers about it.

If you are indeed Feeling the Pull, you’re in luck, because we called upon our best friends at FanDuel to point us in the proper direction with some expert-level college football bowl game predictions to finagle some best bets for Wisconsin-Oklahoma State, Texas-Washington, Notre Dame-South Carolina, Tennessee-Clemson, Alabama-Kansas state, and many, many more.

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2022-23 CFB Bowl Game Predictions

Thursday, Dec. 22

ARMED FORCES BOWL: Baylor vs. Air Force

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

Baylor might be the favorite at the Armed Forces Bowl, but Air Force shouldn’t be overlooked. The Falcons have been one of the better teams on both sides of the ball. On one hand, they average the most rushing yards in the nation (312.9) and are more than capable of making big plays through the air. On the other, their defense allows the fewest total yards (256.4) and third-fewest points (13.3).

It’s just hard to like much that Baylor has done lately, regardless of how tough its opponents have been. I don’t expect the Bears’ frontline to stop the Falcons’ run attack either, especially after the former has averaged 169.0 rushing yards against in their last three games, having just surrendered 208 to Texas.

Air Force’s versatile attack should get the lead here before the run game locks things down until the final whistle.

AIR FORCE VS. BAYLOR ARMED FORCES BOWL PREDICTION: Air Force 33, Baylor 20

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

Friday, Dec. 23 Bowl Predictions

GASPARILLA BOWL: Wake Forest vs. Missouri

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

Wake Forest might have the better record here, but don’t let that distract you from its awful defense. The Demon Deacons haven’t been able to keep the ball out of their end zone lately, allowing 30-plus points in each of their last five games, averaging out to a 36.6 PPG rate.

Missouri’s offense isn’t elite, but it should be able to generate some numbers against Wake Forest’s defense. After all, the Tigers are averaging 40 more passing yards over their last three games (240.0) compared to their season average (204.7).

Those numbers are encouraging as they’re set to take on a Demon Deacons’ secondary that surrenders the fifth-most passing yards (285.0), which has only increased to a 398.7-yard rate over their last three games.

Though Wake Forest is decent enough to win, I smell a Missouri upset win in the cards.

MISSOURI VS. WAKE FOREST GASPARILLA BOWL PREDICTION: Missouri 38, Wake Forest 35

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

Tuesday, Dec. 27

GUARANTEED RATE BOWL: Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

Oklahoma State’s campaign took a massive nosedive the longer the season went on. The Cowboys haven’t been able to keep things close when they lose, either, with their last four losses coming by an average margin of 22.3 points. Even if you remove the 49-0 blowout loss to Wisconsin from the group, losing by 13.7 points on average still isn’t anything to be proud of.

Wisconsin isn’t an offensive powerhouse (25.5 PPG, No. 76), but there should be plenty of opportunities to score. Oklahoma State surrenders 31.4 points (No. 104) and 460.0 total yards (No. 121) per game while allowing opponents to hold the ball for 31:13 (No. 93).

With how bad Oklahoma State has looked lately, the Cowboys are destined to be faded. Back a more consistent Wisconsin squad getting the job done in Phoenix.

OKLAHOMA STATE VS. WISCONSIN GUARANTEED RATE BOWL GAME PREDICTION: Wisconsin 27, Oklahoma State 18

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

Wednesday, Dec. 28 College Football Bowl Predictions

MILITARY BOWL: UCF vs. Duke

As Larry Rupp writes at TheDuel:

Things are not trending in the right direction for the Knights. Quarterback John Rhys Plumlee was in and out of the AAC Championship Game with an injury, while his backup Mikey Keene has entered the transfer portal. Plumlee will be far from 100% healthy if he suits up, so expect a ton of running plays.

That bodes well for a Duke defense that gives up only 111.5 rushing yards per game (No. 17 in FBS) and allows just 3.5 yards per carry (No. 21 in FBS). The Blue Devils also average 31.6 points per game this season (No. 33 in FBS) and could pull away early in this one if they can force the Knights to pass.

Duke players will want to give first-year head coach Mike Elko a win here, so I’ll back the Blue Devils.

DUKE VS. UCF MILITARY BOWL PREDICTION: Duke 35, UCF 31

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

LIBERTY BOWL: Kansas vs. Arkansas

As Larry Rupp writes at TheDuel:

Kansas’ early season success was a great feel-good storyline, but its defense regressed as the season went on. The Jayhawks went from allowing 24.0 points per game in their first five games to giving up an average of 40.9 over their final seven games. Talk about falling apart.

A shaky run defense was to blame as Kansas finished last in the Big 12 when it came to rushing yards allowed per game (193.8). Look for Arkansas’ powerful backfield to make an impact in this matchup, as running back Raheim Sanders and quarterback KJ Jefferson have combined for 1,936 rushing yards.

Arkansas needs this win to salvage an otherwise disappointing season, so I’ll back the Razorbacks to pick up their third straight win in the Liberty Bowl.

ARKANSAS VS. KANSAS LIBERTY BOWL PREDICTION: Arkansas 41, Kansas 31

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

HOLIDAY BOWL: Oregon vs. UNC

As Larry Rupp writes at TheDuel:

This is going to be an exciting game between two teams that know how to reach the end zone. Oregon averages an impressive 36.9 points per game (No. 14 in FBS), while North Carolina puts up 33.3 points per game (No. 23 in FBS). Each team ranks among the top 20 in yards per game as well.

The Tar Heels will be without one of their top offensive players, though. Wide receiver Josh Downs has declared for the NFL Draft and will not suit up for the Liberty Bowl. He had logged 1,029 yards on 94 receptions this season. Ducks quarterback Bo Nix has announced he will play, however, which is a boost.

Look for freshman QB Drake Maye to struggle early on without his top target. That will give Oregon a chance to grab the lead and never look back.

UNC VS. OREGON HOLIDAY BOWL GAME PREDICTION: Oregon 38, North Carolina 28

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

TEXAS BOWL: Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

A date with Texas Tech might be exactly what Ole Miss needs to taste success once again. The Rebels are 4-2 in six all-time matchups against the Red Raiders, tallying a 47-27 victory in their last meeting (Sept. 2018), which also happened to be at NRG Stadium.

Besides, it’s not like Ole Miss’ recent losses have come against bad teams. Three of those losses stem from games against LSU, Alabama, and Mississippi State — all ranked programs at the moment. Meanwhile, Texas Tech’s run is comprised of wins against Oklahoma, Iowa State, and Kansas, who have a combined 16-20 record with none of the trio being over .500.

Ole Miss is still a solid team despite its recent record and has the defensive edge over Texas Tech. I’ll take the Rebels forgetting about their recent woes with a victory in Houston.

OLE MISS VS. TEXAS TECH TEXAS BOWL PREDICTION: Ole Miss 38, Texas Tech 35

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

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Thursday, Dec. 29

CHEEZ-IT BOWL: Oklahoma vs. Florida State

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

Florida State’s offense has been firing on all cylinders over its five-game winning streak. The Seminoles have averaged 43.6 points over that stretch, finishing above 40 on four occasions. That’s not exactly good news for the Sooners, who’ve allowed opponents to score 32.3 PPG over their last four games and were just burned for 51 points by the Red Raiders.

Meanwhile, Florida State’s defense has looked much better. Opposing teams have scored more than 17 points only once against the Seminoles during their impressive run. With FSU also boasting a plus-14.4 scoring margin this season (No. 9), I just don’t see Oklahoma keeping things close.

Give me Florida State winning this one in lopsided fashion.

FSU VS. OKLAHOMA CHEEZ-IT BOWL PREDICTION: FSU 43, Oklahoma 24

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

ALAMO BOWL: Texas vs. Washington

As FairwayJay writes at TheDuel:

The Longhorns qualify as a defensive dominator, allowing just 21.2 points and 362 yards per game. Washington allows 28.2 points and 390 yards per game, and 5.5 yards per play vs. FBS opponents. The Longhorns’ strength is run defense, but they allow 239 passing YPG (No. 82) and Washington has the top pass attack in the country led by QB Michael Penix Jr. He’s passed for 4,354 yards (362/game) to lead the country while passing for 29 TDs.

Texas has a solid, balanced offensive attack led by top RB Bijan Robinson. The Longhorns run for 200 YPG and pass for 231 YPG. Quarterback Quinn Ewers has failed to pass for more than 200 yards in his last four games, but the Longhorns scored 34, 55 and 38 points in three wins. Texas was perfectly balanced on offense in beating Baylor to close the season against the Bears’ Big 12 average defense.

Washington’s run defense is pretty solid allowing 131 YPG vs. FBS foes, but their pass efficiency defense is below average. Washington only punted 22 times this season, but they will punt more than two times in this contest. Penix passed for 298 yards vs. Oregon State’s top Pac-12 defense, but wasn’t sacked in 52 dropbacks in a 24-21 win.

WASHINGTON VS. TEXAS ALAMO BOWL GAME PREDICTION: Texas 31, Washington 27

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

Friday, Dec. 30 Bowl Game Predictions

SUN BOWL: Pittsburgh vs. UCLA

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

Despite Pittsburgh’s solid play this season, the Panthers didn’t fare too well against ranked schools. After all, they lost a combined 76-51 against Tennessee and North Carolina. While they did secure a victory over Syracuse at the start of November, it’s worth pointing out that the Orange are 1-5 in their last six games and the loss to the Panthers was one of five in a row.

UCLA isn’t perfect, but it boasts an elite offense that puts up 39.1 points (No. 8) and 510.0 yards (No. 3) per game. UNC proved that the key to beating Pittsburgh is through the air (388 passing yards), which is doable for the Bruins, who average 261.2 aerial yards this season (No. 33).

Throwing in the fact that UCLA has also won 10 of its last 11 games as the favorite, it’s easy to see why the Bruins should be victorious at the Sun Bowl.

UCLA VS. PITT SUN BOWL PREDICTION: UCLA 41, Pitt 33

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

GATOR BOWL: Notre Dame vs. South Carolina

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

While South Carolina has played well recently, its run defense has left a lot to be desired this season. Not only do the Gamecocks surrender the 21st-most rushing yards in the nation (197.2), but they’ve also allowed an average of 254.3 yards on the ground over their last three games. If that wasn’t bad enough, the 5.0 yards per carry that they surrender is also among the worst in the nation (No. 113).

The good news for Notre Dame is that its rushing attack is quite strong. The Fighting Irish put up 182.8 rushing yards per game (No. 41), with a lot of that having to do with names like Audric Estime and Logan Diggs in the backfield.

Considering how Diggs has toppled 100 yards three times in his last six games while Estime has also hit the century mark thrice this season, the duo will be key to Notre Dame’s Gator Bowl success.

While I expect South Carolina to put up a solid fight, I’m going with Notre Dame as the victor.

SOUTH CAROLINA VS. NOTRE DAME GATOR BOWL PREDICTION: Notre Dame 30, South Carolina 27

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

ORANGE BOWL: Tennessee vs. Clemson

As Larry Rupp writes at TheDuel:

Tennessee’s season truly took a turn when starting quarterback Hendon Hooker went down with a gruesome knee injury in Week 12. Backup Joe Milton was unable to mount a comeback against South Carolina, but the good news is that he looked improved against Vanderbilt (11-of-21, 147 yards, 1 touchdown).

That kind of effort is not going to be enough to beat Clemson, though. The Tigers have been stellar on defense, allowing 20.8 points (No. 16 in FBS) on 328.8 total yards per game (No. 21 in FBS). They have been especially great against the run, allowing just 100.8 rushing yards per contest (No. 9 in FBS).

Clemson is 18-2 straight up in its last 20 games as a favorite, so I trust the Tigers to earn a victory.

CLEMSON VS. TENNESSEE ORANGE BOWL FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Clemson 34, Tennessee 24

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

Saturday, Dec. 31

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF @ FIESTA BOWL: Michigan vs. TCU

Click here for Boardroom’s Michigan vs. TCU predictions and picks.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF @ PEACH BOWL: Ohio State vs. Georgia

Click here to read Boardroom’s OSU vs. UGA predictions and picks.

SUGAR BOWL: Alabama vs. Kansas State

As Larry Rupp writes at TheDuel:

These teams have reached this bowl in very different ways. Alabama entered the season touted as an SEC Championship contender, yet failed to live up to those expectations due to a few close losses. Kansas State was not originally seen as a Big 12 threat, yet proved everyone wrong week after week.

Momentum is key at this point in the season and the Wildcats have it. They are expected to have zero opt-outs, meaning their stellar defense will be ready to go. Kansas State allows only 21.8 points per game (No. 27 in FBS) and has a third-down conversion percentage of 33.9% (No. 24 in FBS).

Alabama has lost in three of its last four Sugar Bowl appearances, so I’ll back Kansas State to pull off the upset.

KSU VS. ALABAMA SUGAR BOWL GAME PREDICTION: Kansas State 27, Alabama 24

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

MUSIC CITY BOWL: Iowa vs. Kentucky

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

If Iowa’s going to win this game, it’s going to be due to its stout defense. Before the loss to Nebraska, the Hawkeyes had allowed 13 or fewer points in four straight games. In fact, their scoring defense ranks sixth-best in the nation (15.5 PPG). They’re also allowing the seventh-fewest total yards per game (292.3) as well.

Meanwhile, Kentucky’s offense has been far from consistent. Not only do the Wildcats average roughly five fewer points away from home (18.0 PPG) than they do at Kroger Field, but they also have been held to exactly six points twice in the last five games.

I’m expecting Iowa to rely on its defense to slow down and frustrate Kentucky, leading to another low-scoring win for the Hawkeyes.

KENTUCKY VS. IOWA MUSIC CITY BOWL PREDICTION: Iowa 20, Kentucky 17

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

Monday, Jan. 2 Bowl Predictions

RELIAQUEST BOWL: Mississippi State vs. Illinois

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

I really like Mississippi State in this matchup, especially after its win over Ole Miss (ranked No. 20 at the time), proving that the former can handle some of the better competition. It’s hard to say the same about Illinois, especially after three losses in its last four games with the only win in that stretch coming against the 1-11 Northwestern Wildcats.

Even with the Fighting Illini’s strong defense, they’re beatable through the air. They allow over 80 more passing yards in road and neutral site games (219.8) than they do at home (139.5). That might not be an eye-popping total, but it gives the Bulldogs’ offense more than enough to work with after averaging 32.6 completions (No. 1) and 310.9 passing yards (No. 11) this fall.

Illinois has also been outscored 70-38 in its last two bowl games, having not won in over a decade. With Mississippi State having won the Armed Forces Bowl just two years ago and going 10-5 in its last 15 bowl outings, it’s easy to see that the Bulldogs are capable of pulling off an upset to kick off 2023.

ILLINOIS VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE RELIAQUEST BOWL PREDICTION: Mississippi State 24, Illinois 21

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

NOTE: The above was written before the passing of Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach.

COTTON BOWL: Tulane vs. USC

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

One of the reasons why the Trojans came up short in the Pac-12 Championship Game is that they only generated 56 rushing yards on 27 carries against the Utes. Fortunately, Tulane’s frontline isn’t nearly as stout, surrendering 161.7 rushing yards per game (No. 74), which has increased to 173.7 over the last three outings.

USC also has the edge when it comes to the turnover department. Not only do the Trojans give up the ball less than any other team (0.5 per game), but they also force the seventh-most turnovers (2.1). While Tulane is relatively decent at holding onto the ball, the offense is coming off a three-turnover performance against UCF, so some vulnerability is there.

As long as USC sticks with what’s worked this season, a Cotton Bowl victory is attainable.

USC VS. TULANE COTTON BOWL GAME PREDICTION: USC 41, Tulane 38

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

CITRUS BOWL: LSU vs. Purdue

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

Though Purdue has won three of its last four games, two of those victories came against Indiana and Northwestern, who have a 5-19 combined record. As soon as the Boilermakers faced tougher competition in the form of the Wolverines, they collapsed, allowing 386 total yards and six offensive touchdowns.

LSU hasn’t been perfect, but it has performed well against noteworthy opponents, picking up wins against both Alabama and Ole Miss this season. Even though the Tigers were steamrolled by the Bulldogs in the SEC Championship, LSU head coach Brian Kelly can take solace in the fact that his team at least put up 549 total yards on one of the nation’s top defenses.

It’s going to be a hard-fought contest between two hungry teams, but LSU’s ability to step up in tough situations leads to me siding with the Tigers in the end.

PURDUE VS. LSU CITRUS BOWL PREDICTION: LSU 33, Purdue 27

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

ROSE BOWL: Penn State vs. Utah

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

It’s hard to bet against Utah, especially after such an impressive performance to take home the Pac-12 Championship. The Utes absolutely brutalized the Trojans to the tune of 533 total yards, picking up six offensive touchdowns along the way.

Penn State might have some momentum, but three of the four wins over its successful run have come against sub-.500 opponents. That’s not exactly inspiring considering how the Nittany Lions are 0-2 against ranked competition this season, losing by double digits both times.

Although Penn State’s defense is solid, it won’t be a match for a Utah team that’s averaged 42.3 points over the last three games. The Utes are also hungry after last year’s Rose Bowl loss, only giving them more incentive to get the job done next month.

UTAH VS. PENN STATE CITRUS BOWL PREDICTION: Utah 38, Penn State 28

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

Read More:

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• From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True
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The post College Football Bowl Game Predictions & Picks 2022 appeared first on Boardroom.

Two things can be true at the same time: women’s college basketball has never been as competitive as it is right now and it can still get a whole lot better.

This year, there’s one clear favorite (South Carolina) and one clear primary challenger (Stanford). After that? You can reasonably make the case for about another dozen teams to make the Final Four. You can’t say that every year.

I hate comparing the women’s and men’s games because the sports are at two different points in their evolutions. The NCAA didn’t sponsor a Division I women’s basketball championship until 1982, 10 years after Title IX. Most major programs didn’t start investing in the sport until much later (and many have still failed to do so). But where the men’s game is now in terms of competitive balance serves as a good barometer for where the women’s game should aim.

If you asked me today to predict the four Final Four teams on the women’s and men’s side, I’d have two women’s teams in mind without even thinking about it. For the other two slots, there’s probably a 50/50 chance I can guess at least one of them. For the men, I’d be better off picking Top 25 teams out of a hat.

It’s OK to admit there are more good teams on the men’s side than the women’s – because there are. That should not take away from where we are now nor should it stop us from celebrating how we got here.

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Institutional Investment

Women’s college basketball is just like any other sport — or any other thing, really; you get out of it what you put in. UConn doesn’t rise to women’s basketball prominence without committing to Geno Auriemma when he had more than enough opportunities to move on to programs more established at the time. Or without the university putting the women’s team in Hartford alongside the men, in a 16,000-seat pro arena.

Pat Summitt and Tennessee don’t set the standard for women’s basketball success without a university committed to growing the sport — so much so that Summitt eventually became the first women’s coach to earn a million dollars in a season.

It took a while, but others have started to follow suit. South Carolina could not have possibly known the home run it hit by hiring Dawn Staley in 2008 — or even three years later when the Gamecocks still had a losing record in her tenure. Staley made $650,000 a year in her first contract with South Carolina, which later increased to $2.1 million after the program’s 2017 national championship. That number is now $2.9 million. Staley has said it’s not about the money — and it’s wise to believe her — but if she’s shown anything it’s that she values those who value women’s sports. Would she have stuck around in Columbia if the administration was unwilling to demonstrate that? Thankfully for South Carolina fans, we don’t know the answer, as the Gamecocks won another title in 2022 and are the clear favorite to repeat in 2023.

And just like that, South Carolina is the premiere program in women’s college basketball, with UConn and Tennessee still routinely in contention.

A similar situation played out at Louisville, where Jeff Walz has elevated that program to previously unseen heights. Walz’s salary has steadily increased in his time at the helm, and he signed an extension earlier this year that will bring his annual salary to $2 million by the end of the deal.

It’s not just coach salaries, either. Look at Creighton, which had never won multiple NCAA Tournament games until last year’s Elite Eight run. That didn’t happen by accident. In 2019, the university completed a state-of-the-art women’s basketball facility. Now, the Bluejays are ranked 22nd in the AP Poll and poised for a second-straight trip to the tournament.

Work Left to Do

It’s going to take time for the Creightons of the world to go from good to great — to reach the level that South Carolina, UConn, Stanford, and Louisville have already achieved, but let’s think back a decade.

Breanna Stewart‘s UConn teams won four straight championships and were rarely challenged along the way. The Final Four was routinely the Huskies, Notre Dame, Stanford, and Baylor, with maybe one or two others sprinkled in. Those days were a necessary step in the game’s growth to show what could happen with proper investment – but we are past that.

We still aren’t at the point where a St. Peter’s-like run will happen in the women’s game. The talent hasn’t trickled down that far quite yet, however there’s no reason to think it can’t. The current generation of high schoolers are growing up in an era where women’s basketball is on TV — not as much as it should be, but you can find games on ESPN networks, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports, and just about anywhere else. The WNBA has also never been as popular as it is now. There are more basketball icons from more diverse backgrounds — everyone from Stewart to A’ja Wilson to Sabrina Ionescu to Jonquel Jones.

This needs to get even better. ESPN needs to show more women’s games on its primary networks and conferences need to stop burying so many games behind paywalled streaming services. The NCAA needs to continue to make strides in its effort for gender equity, making the game more accessible and making the experience more attractive for young athletes.

In the meantime, there’s a lot to celebrate. Let’s do that, and let’s keep asking for improvement.

Read More:

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The post Women’s College Basketball has Never Been this Competitive appeared first on Boardroom.

At long last, welcome to college basketball season. The games tip off for real on Monday, and while the slate isn’t exactly loaded thanks to the Champions Classic getting bumped to the second week of the year, there is plenty of intrigue around this season. Gonzaga and South Carolina are the betting favorites to win the men’s and women’s national championships, respectively, but they’re far from the only contenders. 

More importantly for fans, there are plenty of storylines off the court that will shape how college basketball continues to evolve.

As the 2022-23 season begins, let’s explore the biggest and best of them.

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Impending NCAA Tournament Expansion

Thanks to the NCAA’s recent efforts to atone for the disastrous inequities witnessed at the 2021 NCAA Tournaments, it’s safe to assume that if the men expand their own March Madness field, then the women will do the same — like it or not. And if you’re against further expansion as most fans tend to be, at least take solace in knowing that it means increased opportunities for more men and women each year to play on the sport’s biggest stage. 

The 2023 NCAA Tournaments are locked at 68 teams, so don’t worry about anything changing in time for March, but there’s a real chance the field is bigger in 2024 or 2025. It doesn’t sound like we’re going to get a 96-team field anytime soon, but don’t be surprised if the First Four becomes the First Eight and the fields are 76 teams each.

Why? Well, people like to say football drives the bus in college sports, but that’s not entirely true; 85% of the NCAA’s annual revenue comes from March Madness, so more springtime basketball inventory means more revenue for the NCAA. Oh, and it makes the coaches happy — a good way to increase your job security on the sidelines is to make the NCAA Tournament. More at-large spots means it gets a little bit easier to do just that.

Continuity in the Men’s Game

A fortunate byproduct of the NIL era is that we are going to see more roster continuity in men’s college basketball. Players like Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, who in the past may have gone to the NBA Draft after a year like he had in 2021-22, are back with an opportunity to make (quite literally) hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The obvious benefit is that keeping more talent in school makes the college game better. It also makes it easier for the so-called casual fan to follow the game. In the past, men’s college basketball hasn’t featured teams with clear on-court identities in the season’s opening weeks, as the true superstars don’t often emerge until around January.

Well, now we know. CBS Sports published its list of the top 101 players in college basketball this year and the top 10 are all upperclassmen, with Timme and Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe leading the way.

Some other returning stars to watch: Armando Bacot at North Carolina, Marcus Sasser at Houston, Trayce Jackson-Davis at Indiana, and Jaime Jaquez at UCLA.

The Women’s Game has More Contenders than Ever

For the better part of the past decade, the pool of contending teams in women’s basketball has slowly grown. This year, South Carolina is the clear-cut national championship favorite, but there are probably a dozen teams that have real Final Four potential — and if you can make it to the Final Four, who knows what can happen? Stanford and Tennessee are both expected to be factors, as always, and though UConn lost Paige Bueckers for the season, would anyone really be surprised if they were major factors in the end? 

But there are some less traditional names joining the fray this year. Vic Schaefer has his best team since he came to Texas in 2020, and that’s saying a lot — the Longhorns are coming off back-to-back Elite Eight seasons. Iowa also has a potential Final Four team with Player of the Year candidate Caitlin Clark and Monika Czinano. Louisville will be back in the mix as well, along with a resurgent Notre Dame and a sneaky-good Iowa State.

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The IARP Fallout

One of the biggest storylines on the men’s side this offseason was the drama (or lack thereof) around the Independent Accountability Resolution Process board that reviewed NCAA infractions cases from Memphis and Louisville. After literally years of review, both programs got off essentially unscathed despite facing Level I violations (the big, bad kind).

Even though Louisville doesn’t figure to be competitive this year and Memphis projects as an also-ran in the AAC, this has some broader implications. We’re still awaiting a rule on Kansas’s own case, and the Jayhawks have already suspended head coach Bill Self and assistant Kurtis Townsend for the first four games of the season as a preemptive measure. Jayhawk fans should feel a little more at ease after seeing the Louisville and Memphis resolutions, however, and for the Cardinals in particular, the NCAA infractions case is no longer looming over them on the recruiting trail. Kenny Payne’s job just got much easier when it comes to bringing in talent.

Slightly unrelated: The process has been so long and drawn out that the IARP will dissolve when it is done with its current slate of cases.

The Women’s Regionals

This year, instead of the typical four regional sites, the final 16 teams will go to one of two locations for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight: Greenville, South Carolina and Seattle. The hope is this will create better game environments by consolidating eight fanbases in cities likely to have at least a semi-local team.

Greenville will, of course, be a hotbed for South Carolina fans, and if Oregon makes it to the tournament, you can count on the committee sending the Ducks out west. Stanford, which isn’t exactly local but also isn’t TOO far, will be as well. The question becomes whether other fanbases will travel a longer distance than usual — UConn fans are used to playing their regionals in Connecticut or, at farthest, Albany. Will they go to South Carolina? Louisville and Notre Dame were typically locks for the midwest; same question to those fanbases.

As I wrote after last season, I’m willing to give a chance to any idea to increase visibility and excitement around the women’s game. Let’s wait and see what happens here.

The Balance of Power in Men’s Hoops

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Last year, we got our first look at North Carolina in a post-Roy Williams era, and Hubert Davis weathered a rocky regular season to take the Tar Heels all the way to the national title game. This year, we get to see if Jon Scheyer at Duke and Kyle Neptune at Villanova can have similar success in their first years following the departure of a program legend (Mike Krzyzewski and Jay Wright, respectively). 

So far, Scheyer has shown no signs of letting Duke fall from the top of the sport. The Blue Devils enroll the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, led by Dariq Whitehead and Dereck Lively. For 2023, Scheyer already has four of the top 16 recruits currently committed, per ESPN’s rankings.

At Villanova, Neptune has a team with a real shot at winning the Big East. The Wildcats probably won’t be as dominant this year as they were during the latter part of the Wright Era, but that’s not Neptune’s fault. The team has had some turnover from last year’s crew that made the Final Four, and an injury to stud freshman Cam Whitmore isn’t helping matters. Neptune told Boardroom that Whitmore is one of the most talented players on the team and was “unbelievable” in practice this fall. Don’t be surprised if Villanova makes the second weekend once again.

One More Under-the-radar Storyline: Keep an Eye on the WAC Tournament

This isn’t going to get much attention, but is something worth keeping an eye on. The Western Athletic Conference, which operates entirely off the national radar with schools like Grand Canyon and Abilene Christian in tow, is going to use advanced metrics to help seed its men’s conference tournament. The idea is to minimize some of the randomness around one individual game result and really favor its best teams. While the wild unpredictability of March Madness is part of what makes it fun, one-bid leagues desperately want their best teams to win their conference tournaments and will go to great lengths to help them out — just look at the WCC, where Gonzaga is essentially guaranteed a double-bye to the conference semifinals every year. If those small schools get their best teams in, it increases their odds of winning an NCAA Tournament game or two, which would result in far higher payouts to the league. If this works out well for the WAC, other conferences might follow suit.

Read More:

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• From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True
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• Boardroom Talks: Amar’e Stoudemire Always Understood the Game
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The post The Off-the-court Intrigue Shaping College Basketball in 2022-23 appeared first on Boardroom.

Women’s college basketball hasn’t had this clear of a national championship favorite in the preseason since Breanna Stewart‘s senior year at UConn.

And unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that this year, that favorite is the South Carolina Gamecocks. Dawn Staley’s group beat UConn in the title game last year and returns national player of the year frontrunner Aliyah Boston along with three of the other four starters from that team.

But champions aren’t crowned in November. South Carolina still has to navigate a loaded SEC and a non-conference schedule that includes games against Maryland, Stanford, UCLA, and UConn…not to mention actually winning six NCAA Tournament games next March and April.

So if the Gamecocks can’t get it done, who’s next in line? Boardroom takes a look at the 2022-23 women’s college basketball futures odds.

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Odds from our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook as of Nov. 7.

Women’s Basketball Futures Odds: National Champion

South Carolina Gamecocks: +135
Stanford Cardinal: +450
Texas Longhorns: +1000
UConn Huskies: +1000
Tennessee Volunteers: +1000
Iowa Hawkeyes: +1000
Louisville Cardinals: +2000
Notre Dame Fighting Irish: +2500
Iowa State Cyclones: +3000
NC State Wolfpack: +3500
Indiana Hoosiers: +4000
Virginia Tech Hokies: +4000
North Carolina Tar Heels: +4000
Ohio State Buckeyes: +5000
Maryland Terrapins: +5000
LSU Tigers: +5000
Baylor Bears: +5000

Having any team at just +135 to win the national championship in November is bonkers and it feels like you might not even be able to get them at plus odds at the start of the tournament in March — if the season unfolds as expected. It’s no surprise to see Stanford coming in right behind the Gamecocks. It returns four of its top five scorers from last year and enrolls the No. 1 recruit in the country in Lauren Betts.

After that, there are a lot of question marks. Could Iowa be a decent pick at +1000? Sure, Caitlin Clark and Monika Czinano are as good a 1-2 punch as there is in the country, but the team needs to learn how to defend. Is Tennessee ready to take that next step? Maybe. The Vols dominated the transfer portal, but all that talent needs to mesh in a league that’s going to be a gauntlet. Can UConn get back to the title game without Paige Bueckers? Well, Azzi Fudd will be an All-American and Caroline Ducharme has All-Big East potential, but asking the team that wasn’t quite good enough last year to run it back without their best player is a tall order.

There’s a lot to consider and there’s also a lot to be excited about. This is opening week, where everyone is 0-0 and no one is eliminated from contention. So let’s roll the balls out and get to it.

Read More:

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The post Women’s College Basketball Futures Betting Odds for the 2022-23 Season appeared first on Boardroom.

South Carolina fans have only been treated to a glimpse of what rising sophomore Bree Hall can do.

That’s not the five-star McDonald’s All-American’s fault. She joined a Gamecocks squad last year loaded with talent — maybe as loaded as any team Dawn Staley has ever had. And while that means Hall got to be a national champion in her first collegiate season, it also means she played fewer minutes than she ever had before.

“I was always willing to wait my turn,” she told Boardroom of her freshman year. “I’m tough. I’m ready to work. I’m ready to fight for my position. I think going to a school [where I] was gonna be handed my position was just probably not gonna be the best fit for me.

Hall knows her potential, and she reinforced that on Tuesday by announcing that she has signed with Excel Sports Management for name, image, and likeness representation.

This comes at a time when women’s basketball players are out-earning their male counterparts on NIL deals, according to data from Opendorse. In fact, women’s basketball trails only football in total name, image, and likeness compensation through April.

And at South Carolina, there is certainly a market for a baller like Hall with a world of potential. In 2019-20, the last full year with attendance numbers on record, the Gamecocks led the nation in average home attendance (12,218 per game), total home attendance (183,272), and total season attendance between home, road, and neutral site games (256,362).

With three years worth of college games in front of her, it was a no-brainer for Hall to sign with an agency to help maximize her off-court value. Staley recommended Excel, the agency that former Gamecock and current Indiana Fever rookie Destanni Henderson signed with last year. Excel also represents rising South Carolina senior Zia Cooke.

“[Staley said] my other teammates have been with Excel, they’re a really great fit for me, and a really great agency that could get me out there with great deals,” Hall said.

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Hall stayed relatively quiet in the NIL world last year, but expect that to change with some help from Excel. In the big picture, she sees opportunities to find her voice and make a statement by aligning with brands in the fashion and makeup spaces.

“I really want to become one of the faces of makeup and fashion and skincare when it comes to women’s basketball, because the stereotype is that women’s basketball is really a boy sport,” she said. “You know, you can’t be girly while playing. And I think one of the biggest things that I could really do for women’s basketball is just put my face out there and become one of the biggest advocates for fashion, beauty, and things like that.”

She’s already started to advocate for women’s basketball players in those industries on her own. She points to TikTok as the platform on which she can best blend her personality with her passion in pursuing those sorts of goals.

“I’m making videos dealing with makeup, skincare, things like that,” she said. “I’m trying to really grow my TikTok so I can really start building something with brands so they can see like, ‘oh, okay. I really like her personality. I really like how she does her videos.'”

Hall admits her TikTok has been slow to gain steam — she has 3,682 followers on the platform compared to over 16,000 on Instagram. But she did recently gain one critical follow: her head coach.

“[Staley] did make a TikTok account and followed me thinking I didn’t know it was her,” Hall said. “There’s no posts on it, but I know it’s her for sure.”

So you’ve been warned. When you open TikTok next basketball season, keep an eye out for a branded makeup video featuring Hall…and perhaps a like from Dawn Staley’s burner.

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The post South Carolina Guard Bree Hall Signs with Excel Sports appeared first on Boardroom.

When Jaylan Foster took the field Friday for the South Carolina Gamecocks’ Pro Day, he did so with a hunger. With a feeling of being underrated and overlooked for his entire career. Despite being an All-SEC and Walter Camp All-American safety and co-leading the SEC in interceptions in 2021, Foster was not invited to this year’s NFL Combine.

It’s only supercharged his motivation as he eyes professional football dreams on the horizon.

Foster will be quick to tell you that he’s used to flying under the radar and proving the skeptics wrong over and over. If you’re not familiar with the style of this former walk-on’s handiwork, you might figure him to be frustrated about the position he’s in — some projections have him pegged as an undrafted free agent — but in speaking with Foster, Boardroom found a man more grateful than ever.

With his dreams of being an NFL player drawing closer, this underdog feels like he has more to look forward to than to be irritated about. The following is Boardroom’s conversation with Foster earlier this month, lightly edited for clarity.

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RANDALL WILLIAMS: Did not receiving an invite to the NFL Combine put a chip on your shoulder?

JAYLAN FOSTER: No, I always have a chip on my shoulder. Ever since coming out of high school, I’ve had one. It’s nothing new to me.

A lot of people were making a big deal out of it and reacting funny when I wasn’t invited to the Combine but I’m used to being the underdog. My work and grind isn’t going to change, God will take care of everything else.

RW: What was it like to balance the team’s goal of winning and your individual goal of going to the NFL?

JF: It was easy. Growing up, my dad always taught me if the team is accomplishing its goals, then you’ll get the recognition you’re supposed to get. I wasn’t really worried about myself except for making sure I was the best player and teammate for my team as I could be.  

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RW: What kind of impact did your father play in your life?

JF: He was huge in my life. He’s my biggest hater because no matter how good I play, he’s always going to find that one thing I did wrong — but I appreciate that from him because with the world we live in, everybody’s always telling you how great you are and he always keeps it real.

He showed me the ropes. Growing up, seeing him play church league softball, other sports, and just seeing how he worked, it’s part of the reason I am who I am today.

RW: On July 1, 2021, you and thousands of other college athletes’ lives were changed when the NCAA allowed you to monetize your name, image, and likeness. How have you taken advantage?

JF: I had a couple [NIL deals]. I did an interview with Gamecock Central, Firehouse Subs, and a couple more. I wasn’t really worried about it, I just wanted to play ball and get to the next level

RW: Did those NIL deals make a big difference in your life?

JF: I wasn’t worried about the money side of it; it was more about being a good person to the community and get my name out there in the community. I wanted to give people the chance to know me outside of football, that’s why I was doing it. The money will eventually take care of itself.

RW: If I’m an NFL general manager, why are you a guy I need to take in the draft?

JF: I’m a dog. I love to compete. I don’t care how big my opponent is or what they think of me, I just compete and leave it all out there on the field. I’m going to have fun and bring high IQ to the team along with energy. I go 110% on the field every single play.

RW: There are alternative football leagues on the rise. Are you willing to go play in the XFL, USFL, or even Fan Controlled Football?

JF: I just want to play football, so whatever opportunity is presented to me, I’ll take it.

RW: Whom do you model your game after?

JF: Jalen Ramsey, because I feel like he’s the best corner in the league. He’s a dog and I feel like I’m a dog, so any time you get to watch a dog perform, it’s a learning experience. Tyrann Mathieu is another guy who’s a dog, he’s always around making plays. Kenny Moore is really good in the slot so I learn a lot from him, too. 

RW: Are there players out there that would probably have you feeling starstruck if you met them?

JF: I definitely have a couple. Jalen Ramsey and Tyrann Mathieu for sure. Kenny Moore and Julio [Jones]. All those guys I’d be hyped to meet and compete against.

RW: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?

JF: An underdog.

I’ve always been told I’d be a good defensive back but coaches don’t want guys at that height. Coming out of high school. Having been at the bottom and knowing how much work you have to do to get to the top, I’ve been doing it my whole life. And I’m not going to stop now. 

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The post Path to the Pros: South Carolina All-American DB Jaylan Foster appeared first on Boardroom.

Aliyah Boston has a ton on her plate. With the help of Jade-Li English of Klutch Sports, she has signed deals with solar panel company ProSolar, worked on a custom shirzee deal with Under Armour, and inked a pact with Bojangles.

Now, she can add Bose to the fold.

The 20-year-old superstar is one of three new college basketball athletes partnering with the audio equipment leader — and the only woman athlete, as the others to join this NIL deal are Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren and Duke forward Wendell Moore.

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Her ever-growing list of endorsements is perhaps only topped by the accolades she’s received for her on-court play. The junior is averaging 16.8 points, 12 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game for a Gamecocks team that officially secured the NCAA Tournament’s top seed. They’ll play the winner of Howard and Incarnate Word in the First Round on Friday at home in Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC.

Boston is looking to be named the Lisa Leslie Award winner as the nation’s top big for the third-straight year after becoming the back-to-back winner of The Athletic’s National Player of the Year honor earlier this month. If that wasn’t enough, she’s the favorite to win the Wooden Award recognizing the nation’s top player alongside a super-elite group that includes Iowa’s Caitlin Clark.

Should Boston and South Carolina advance, a matchup against Clark’s Hawkeyes could be their last obstacle before the Final Four in Minneapolis.

As Boston gets ready to move through the tournament, Bose has provided its QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones for her and her teammates. Let’s just say it’ll help tune out all the noise while competing for a championship.

This initiative is a continuation of Bose’s NIL deals with college football stars in December that included Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams, and Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud.

A native of the US Virgin Islands, you can find Boston is listening to rappers such as Lil’ Baby and Gunna while mixing in gospel artists like Travis Greene.

“The noise-canceling headphones are where it’s at for me,” Boston said.

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Right now, Boston and South Carolina are in preparation mode — working out and getting their collective mind right for what they hope is a title run to add to their 2017 national championship.

The last time she stepped onto the court, things ended in disappointment. Kentucky outscored the Gamecocks 21-7 in the fourth quarter of the March 6 SEC Championship Game in Nashville, and a Dre’una Edwards 3-pointer with 4.2 seconds left gave the Wildcats a 64-62 upset over the nation’s top-ranked team.

“We just come back and get ready to work,” Boston said of the Kentucky loss. “It didn’t go the way we wanted it to, but we know there’s a bigger trophy ahead that we want.”

With the stakes far greater, South Carolina’s most recent NCAA Tournament game also ended in defeat, a 66-65 loss to Stanford in last season’s national semifinals. From that game, Boston learned to move on more easily from losses.

The Gamecocks exacted some revenge against the Cardinal on Dec. 21, getting 18 points and 11 rebounds out of Boston and overcoming an 18-point deficit for a 65-61 win. It was a battle between the top two ranked teams in the country at the time.

She has continued to work on her game and identify what aspects of it will help her team the most, like becoming more efficient on the floor and more patient around the basket. She’s leaned on head coach and Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, who she said has been through it all and can help regardless of the situation.

Off the court, there are other deals that haven’t been announced yet but will be soon, as the Worcester (Mass.) Academy product remains judicious with what, where, and to whom she attaches her name.

“You kind of know what you want to represent and what might be good or what might not be good,” she said.

What we know would be good is Boston’s chances of going first in next month’s WNBA Draft if she were eligible. But to be draft-eligible in the W, you need to be at least 22 years old and either have no college eligibility left or renounce that eligibility.

“Obviously we would probably wanna be in the league right away, but we can’t,” Boston said. “My mom’s probably happy because I get to graduate and make sure I get my degree before I walk out of college. So that’s definitely a priority.”

Although she’d like to believe that she would’ve been ready to enter the WNBA Draft after her first college season, Boston said she probably would not have been ready. Even in her third season, Boston said she’s needed these extra years to hone her development. Since that Stanford loss in the 2021 tournament, she said her development has come in the form of a more consistent outside game, improved aggressiveness, the ability to better put the ball on the floor, and improved physicality.

As the Gamecocks enter the big dance, the best player in America shouted out teammates such as guard Zia Cooke, guard Destanni Henderson, guard Brea Beal, forward Victaria Saxton, and guard Bree Hall. Boston encouraged fans to look out for the Gamecocks’ bench depth as well as its versatility from its guards and post players.

“Every single player that steps on the floor for South Carolina — every single one of us is where it’s at,” she said.

Boston said she’s thought about bringing a championship back to Columbia ever since she committed to Staley and the Gamecocks.

She knows this is the year they can do it.

“We need to continue to improve on taking care of the ball and making sure that we execute,” Boston said. “I don’t think anything is holding us back from winning a national championship.”

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The post Aliyah Boston: Sound & Spirit appeared first on Boardroom.

Just before midnight on Monday night, Georgia’s Nolan Smith sacked Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, sealing the Bulldogs’ first national championship since 1980. It marked the end of a wild season on the NCAA gridiron, and with it, football fans everywhere wonder what’s next (aside from the NFL Playoffs, whose beginning this weekend is not a coincidence).

The correct answer, of course, is college basketball.

The college roundball season is about two months old, but if you’re just tuning in, you’ve missed a lot. But that’s okay — we’re here to help. With Selection Sunday still about nine weeks away, there’s plenty of time to catch up on both the men’s and women’s games.

And Boardroom is here to help.

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The Defending Champs are Strong Again

No women’s college basketball team has repeated as national champion since UConn’s run of four in a row ended in 2016. On the men’s side, it hasn’t happened since Florida in 2006 and ’07.

That could change on either side — or both — this year.

For the men, Baylor has somehow retooled its roster to climb to the top of the AP Poll as one of two remaining undefeated teams. Scott Drew’s Bears lost four starters from last year’s championship squad, including Final Four MOP Jared Butler and NBA lottery pick Davion Mitchell, but transfer James Akinjo and freshman Kendall Brown have helped fill the gaps, while Adam Flagler and LJ Cryer have taken on increased roles.

Cryer suddenly becoming a knockdown three-point shooter hasn’t hurt, either.

On the women’s side, Stanford isn’t the favorite to win it all this year — that honor belongs to South Carolina — and it took the Cardinal a little while to hit their stride, but they sit at No. 2 in the country right now for a reason. Stanford has four wins over teams that were either ranked in the top 5 at the time, or are in the top 5 now. That includes an 18-point blowout over then-No. 2 Maryland and a double-digit win at Tennessee before Christmas. Stanford boasts four double-digit scorers, including do-it-all guard Haley Jones, who is averaging 12.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.

Power in the SEC

It bears repeating: Dawn Staley’s South Carolina team is an easy favorite on the women’s side.

The Gamecocks have lost just once — a shocking upset at Missouri — and own wins over NC State, UConn, Maryland, and Stanford. They also have the most dominant player in the game this season in Aliyah Boston. Her 17-and-11 average is bolstered by a 58% field goal percentage, which increases to 61% inside the arc.

South Carolina is more than just a one-woman show, however. The Gamecocks are one of the deepest teams in college basketball, and on a given night, Boston, Zia Cooke, and Destanni Henderson can all put up 20 points.

Meanwhile, as Baylor has been the best men’s team, Auburn might be the most surprising in the top five… and the Tigers could be the second-best team in the country right now. They haven’t lost since before Thanksgiving, are undefeated in regulation, and have an offense and defense that both rank in the top 20 nationally. Jabari Smith might end up being the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, and at 6-foot-10, he’s making 73% of his shots at the rim

But like the South Carolina women, this Auburn team has plenty of weapons.

It’s hard to ignore 7-foot-1 Walker Kessler, who should also go in the first round. In addition to being a constant double-double threat, he’s the best rim protector in college basketball and, according to USA Today, is having the best shot-blocking season on record. And that’s not to mention the guard duo of K.D. Johnson (12.8 PPG) and Wendell Green (12.7 PPG).

Yeah, they’re loaded.

The Best Women’s Player Hasn’t Played in a Month

Reigning National Player of the Year Paige Bueckers has made plenty of noise off the court, scoring a landmark NIL deal with Gatorade, following up with a StockX partnership, and trademarking her nickname “Paige Buckets.” But unfortunately for her and the Lady Huskies, Bueckers suffered a knee injury late in their Dec. 5 win over Notre Dame, sidelining her for at least two months.

Before her injury, Bueckers was (predictably) phenomenal, scoring 21.2 points per game to go with 6.2 assists. Since then, however, UConn has struggled, with several other players missing extended time with injury. The short-handed Huskies have since lost games at a better-than-expected Georgia Tech team and to No. 3 Louisville. Still, if Bueckers returns as expected — and her best friend Azzi Fudd is re-added to the fold soon — expect UConn to be favored to reach their 14th straight Final Four.

Have You Heard of the Best Men’s Player?

Johnny Davis came off the bench for a mediocre Wisconsin team last year to average 7.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. You’d be forgiven for not knowing who he is.

It’s what makes his 2021-22 season so astounding.

Out of nowhere, Davis is now ranked fifth in the nation in scoring average (22.3 PPG), and leads the Badgers in rebounds, assists, and steals per game. Wisconsin has lost just once in games he has played, and has defeated Final Four contenders Houston and Purdue in the process.

His finest performance came in that road win over the Boilermakers, where he went off for 37 points and 13 rebounds on 13-24 shooting.

Davis’s breakout year has pushed him from an NBA afterthought to a projected top-five pick. It doesn’t look like he’s capitalized much on the NIL side of things, but that’s not a surprise considering his meteoric rise is so recent.

Omicron Has Wreaked Havoc on the Schedule

Last year, conferences put their schedules together keeping in mind that COVID-19 would cause stops and starts. Conferences gave teams extended breaks in January and February, knowing that they would eventually need to be filled with rescheduled games. That didn’t happen this year, with conferences banking on high vaccination rates being enough to prevent schedule changes.

Then, the Omicron variant came through, turning college basketball upside down in December and early January. Every major conference had to adjust their forfeit policies on-the-fly to account for this, realizing it was unfair to punish fully vaccinated teams for having to cancel games.

Omicron has already caused us to miss marquee games like Michigan vs. Michigan State and Tennessee vs. Memphis for the men, and NC State vs. Notre Dame for the women. Fortunately, it does seem like Omicron’s impact on sports is slowing down and, if trends hold up, we should be facing a fairly normal February and March. Don’t worry — as of now, the tournament is in no danger whatsoever.

Playing Favorites

Gonzaga is still the favorite to win the men’s basketball championship despite a couple of losses (albeit excusable ones to Duke and Alabama). FanDuel Sportsbook has the Zags at +700 to win the whole thing, and considering they should coast to a No. 1 seed, there’s a good chance Mark Few’s group reaches their third Final Four in the last five tournaments.

Baylor, Purdue, and Duke are all +1000 and are all strong bets to be factors at the end. If you’re looking for value, try LSU (+5000), which is 14-1 and coming off back-to-back wins over Kentucky and Tennessee. The Tigers are the best defensive team in the country and, according to KenPom, it’s not particularly close.

Women’s championship odds are a little tougher to find, but they look about how you would expect. In mid-December, shortly after Bueckers’ injury, BetOnline Sportsbook placed South Carolina as the favorite (+180), followed by UConn (+215) and Stanford (+550).

Louisville at +3300 appears to be a little undervalued, so the Cardinals might be the most intriguing bet.

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The post The Football Fan’s Guide to College Basketball Season appeared first on Boardroom.

Thanksgiving weekend is the time of year where most of college football’s storied rivalries are played. There are plenty, and you already know the coolest names and longest histories. But the Rivalry Week river runs deeper than just The Game or The Iron Bowl.

With that in mind, here are a few sneaky-fun games to look out for this weekend.

North Carolina vs. North Carolina State

Friday, Nov. 26, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Before the season, it would have made sense to assume that if there were only one ranked team in this matchup, it would be the Tar Heels. But the season’s destiny isn’t cemented at the beginning, and it’s the rival Wolfpack that find themselves ranked heading into this Black Friday regular season finale for both teams.

UNC probably still has the best player with the biggest name in quarterback Sam Howell. And the interest will be in if he can salvage some more positivity from an inconsistent season his team has had.

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Florida vs. Florida State

Saturday, Nov. 27, noon ET (ESPN)

Both teams have experienced major disappointments this season, sporting losing records that are well beneath the talent on their respective rosters. But one of the best parts of a heated annual rivalry is that bragging rights simply have the ability to cut deeper than win-loss records.

This is true for both teams, as both the Seminoles and the Gators need one more win even to become bowl-eligible. Neither team is anything close to elite this season, but there are superb athletes on both sides ready to leave it all out there in an early afternoon contest.

Oh, and this will be Florida’s first game since sacking head coach Dan Mullen. No pressure, interim coach Greg Knox.

Pitt vs. Syracuse

Saturday, Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m. ET (ACC Network)

There are a lot of interesting tidbits to this game that deserve a mention. Pitt has already secured a spot in the ACC Championship Game, but Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi has still not won 10 games in a single season since taking on the job. He has a chance to do so in what also is likely to be quarterback Kenny Pickett’s final regular season game.

Syracuse has been Pitt’s rival across two conferences now, and what better way to add to that history by spoiling what has been a stellar season for Pickett and the Panthers.

BEDLAM: Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State

Saturday, Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

It’s difficult to call a matchup of two ranked teams with an amazing rivalry nickname “under-the-radar,” but when you’re on the same day as Michigan-Ohio State and the Iron Bowl, such is life.

But with one loss, Oklahoma has lowered the intensity of this year’s edition of Bedlam just a bit, even as Oklahoma State has been surging. Both teams still have an outside chance at the College Football Playoff, especially knowing that more highly-ranked teams will inevitably lose this weekend or in the conference championships to come.

Bedlam may, in fact, both be the name of this rivalry and the theme of a possible shakeup at the top of the CFP rankings in short order.

PALMETTO BOWL: Clemson vs. South Carolina

Saturday, Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network)

Clemson is probably the most disappointing team in college football relative to preseason expectations. After losing to Georgia in their opener, the Tigers couldn’t seem to properly rebound to remain the national title contender they are expected to be year after year under Dabo Swinney.

It would seem, given their lack of national coverage, that they’ve fallen close to rock bottom by their incredible standards — but they come into this intrastate rivalry named after the state’s most iconic flora as winners of four straight, including a 21-point blowout of a top-10 Wake Forest team, and an 8-3 overall record.

The Gamecocks are near two-touchdown underdogs, but have six wins on the season. This game in Columbia could provide a serious late-season jolt — either for a South Carolina program searching for its SEC identity under Shane Beamer or for Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to re-establish himself as one of the most impactful players in the nation — heading into 2022.

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The post Underrated College Football Rivalry Games of Thanksgiving Weekend appeared first on Boardroom.