Duke Blue Devils Archives - Boardroom https://boardroom.tv/tag/duke-blue-devils/ Sports Business News Wed, 06 Sep 2023 15:51:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Vanessa Bryant Announces 6 Nike Kobe Brand Schools https://boardroom.tv/vanessa-bryant-nike-kobe-colleges/ Wed, 06 Sep 2023 15:51:32 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=77198 Duke and Kentucky headline the class of six Nike schools that will carry on Kobe Bryant’s legacy through footwear this season. More than three years after his passing, Kobe Bryant‘s brand is still growing.

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]]> Duke and Kentucky headline the class of six Nike schools that will carry on Kobe Bryant’s legacy through footwear this season.

More than three years after his passing, Kobe Bryant‘s brand is still growing.

Vanessa Bryant formally announced on Tuesday evening that six Nike schools — UConn, USC, Kentucky, Oregon, Duke, and LSU — will partner with the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation and wear Kobe Bryant’s sneakers this season.

Each school is already under contract with Nike and is expected to play in and have access to Nike Kobe Protro product during the 2023-24 college basketball season.

This official announcement comes on the heels of Kentucky coach John Calipari sharing a care package from Vanessa and Natalia Bryant that commemorated Gigi Bryant through the “Mambacita” Nike Kobe 4 Protro and her Mambacita jersey.

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Prior to that, Vanessa sent the entire LSU women’s basketball team “Grinch” Nike Kobe 6 Protro pairs last spring amid their National Championship run.

Each program that Vanessa listed has a direct tie to Kobe and the Bryant family.

Famously, Kobe would’ve likely attended Duke had he gone to college, later developing a strong bond with former coach Mike Krzyzewski as a member of Team USA. The late Laker legend was also close to UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma, who spoke at Kobe and Gigi’s celebration of life.

Additionally, USC and Oregon have long laced Nike Kobe sneakers due to regional relationships and strong Nike ties.

At the moment, it’s unclear whether the selected programs will don Kobe’s famous Sheath logo on their uniforms or what the additional partner perks will include.

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]]> Loading South Carolina, LSU, Virginia Tech, and Iowa Head to Dallas for Women’s Final Four https://boardroom.tv/headline-to-go/march-28-2023-womens-final-four-dallas/ Tue, 28 Mar 2023 12:59:57 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?post_type=headline-to-go&p=64638 The post South Carolina, LSU, Virginia Tech, and Iowa Head to Dallas for Women’s Final Four appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The post South Carolina, LSU, Virginia Tech, and Iowa Head to Dallas for Women’s Final Four appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Mackenzie Mgbako: Fueling the Future https://boardroom.tv/mackenzie-mgbako-g-fuel-duke-nil/ Mon, 27 Mar 2023 16:00:35 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=64497 Mackenzie Mgbako, a Duke commit and projected first-round pick in the 2024 NBA draft, sat down with Boardroom to discuss his approach to NIL, his new partnership with G FUEL, and more. In many

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]]> Mackenzie Mgbako, a Duke commit and projected first-round pick in the 2024 NBA draft, sat down with Boardroom to discuss his approach to NIL, his new partnership with G FUEL, and more.

In many ways, Mackenzie Mgbako is a typical teenager. The 18-year-old spends his downtime gaming and hanging out with friends and family. His pregame playlist includes Lil Durk, Lil Baby, and Real Boston Richey.

He’s also a projected first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. 

Mgbako’s senior season at Roselle Catholic was the type of year many only dream of. Playing alongside his brother, he finally secured a state championship, sending him off to college with a ring. Next, he’s headed to Durham, NC where he will join the Duke Blue Devils under head coach John Scheyer.

Ahead of a busy few weeks that will include the McDonald’s All-American Game and Nike camp, the hooper sat down with Boardroom to discuss his growing NIL portfolio, his new partnership with the energy drink company G FUEL, and much more.

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When you have dozens of offers from a wide range of powerhouse programs, it can be difficult to identify the right fit — both for your game and personality. Mgbako found himself in that precise position. As he considered opportunities at places like UConn and UCLA, in the end, Duke rose above all the rest.

“[I considered] all the stars that come from that program. Now I’m thinking ahead. I’m thinking about where I want to go to and how, how they can help me in the future,” he told Boardroom. “They made players better after coming to their school. I felt like it was the right choice for me. And then when I went on the campus, the campus was just amazing. It was so surreal when I went there … So I just knew from on out I wanted to go there.”

Although Scheyer was Mgbako’s lead recruiter at Duke, there was a familiar face who made time for a meeting during his recruiting visit.

“I got to see Coach K,” Mgbako said. “He had his conference room with all his accolades in there. Then, there was another room where he had all the trophies.”

Mgbako spoke with the pros as well, connecting with Grant Hill, Kyrie Irving, and Jayson Tatum throughout the process. Each gave him advice and some unfiltered feedback about what his time could be like with the program.

During his time on campus, he also met with a relatively new team member — one who will help him navigate the sometimes murky world of NIL. Rachel Baker joined the men’s basketball program last year as general manager and helps players like Mgbako identify NIL opportunities. In their very first meeting, Baker passed on some essential lessons.

“She portrayed how following is a big part of [getting deals] and how if I boost my following, it would be able to grant me more deals and whatnot,” he said.

Additionally, she offered some advice on what life could be like when he gets to campus and the local businesses that would help ease the transition.

Although Mgbako hasn’t even had his first official practice, he has jumped in feet first to the opportunities NIL presents. He’s assembled a number of sponsorships that includes a wide range of deals that keep him dialed in almost every facet of his life. From fashion (Levi’s, PSD, Ksubi, and Stone Island) to collectibles (Topps), he even connected with local philanthropic events to use his rising stardom for good (Covenant House Giveback with Roselle Seafood). While he’s assembled a deep portfolio, he’s sure to pick companies that align with his actual interests.

“[I choose] based off of my personality and what I see myself actually consuming in a regular day-to-day basis,” he said. “Like, something I actually enjoy, something I want to use regularly. So it’s not something I’m not true to, you know?”

Photo courtesy of G FUEL.

Most recently, Mgbako linked up with energy drink company G FUEL. Founded in 2012, G FUEL touts itself as the ultimate energy drink for gamers amidst a crowded market.

“They’ve been sending me some drinks for a while now and I just really, really enjoyed it,” he said. “G FUEL with the hydration formula, just like keep me ready to play at any time and for the early morning workouts.”

As he rolled onto the set for their upcoming campaign for the rollout of the company’s new collab with Grungy Gentleman, he made sure that it was a family affair. His brother Ethan, who was a freshman on his championship-winning high school team, joined him for the shoot.

“I up my game with G FUEL from the classroom to the court,” he said. “G FUEL motivates me on the court, because I know it’s giving me the hydration boost I need.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk0-LFaojbU

Also, if you look closely in a nationally syndicated Google Pixel commercial, you’ll spot the 6’8″ sensation, thanks to some help from his team at CAA.

“I said I wanted to get into the acting scene,” he said. “[I asked] ‘how can we do acting and basketball?’ Google was the first thing that popped up.”

On set, he hooped alongside his future colleagues, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum.

Mgbako sees more star-powered shoots in his future. When asked about his ultimate dream partners, he paused to think about what would be possible if his career takes off the way that analysts think that it will.

“I don’t know … If I could combine with Ruffles or Virgil Abloh’s Off White,” he rattled off. “Maybe I will have my own sneaker. That would be crazy.”

Although he’s just shy of his high school graduation, Mgbako has the all the makings of a pro, both on and off the court. When asked what his favorite things to do off the court are, he laughed and quickly responded, “Drinking G FUEL.”

Way to stay on-message.

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]]> Mackenzie Mgbako: Fueling the Future - Boardroom Duke commit Mackenzie Mgbako sat down with Boardroom to discuss his approach to NIL, his new partnership with G FUEL, and more. College Basketball,Duke Blue Devils,Exclusive,G Fuel,Mackenzi Mgbako,NIL,mackenzie mgbako Loading Hero_Image_GFUEL_GG_Mgbako_1_Square-1 Pringles NIL Campaign Celebrates the Mustaches of March Madness https://boardroom.tv/pringles-nil-march-madness-mustaches-2023/ Wed, 15 Mar 2023 11:59:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=63025 From Drew Timme to Dariq Whitehead and beyond, learn more about the big Pringles NIL promotion coming to a store near you just in time for the NCAA Tournament. Julius Pringles, the mustachioed man

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]]> From Drew Timme to Dariq Whitehead and beyond, learn more about the big Pringles NIL promotion coming to a store near you just in time for the NCAA Tournament.

Julius Pringles, the mustachioed man on the iconic Pringles potato chip can better known as Mr. P, is getting some company on the iconic brand’s packaging this month as part of a limited-edition March Madness name, image, and likeness campaign.

The Pringles March Mustache Collection will see Mr. P joined on cans this month by three men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament participants with some dope ‘staches, Gonzaga‘s Drew Timme, Duke‘s Dariq Whitehead, and Virginia‘s Ben Vander Plas, the company announced Wednesday. The collection honors four different types of mustaches: the Pringle, the horseshoe, the pencil, and the caterpillar. Flavors included in the campaign will be original, cheddar cheese, BBQ, and sour cream and onion.

“My mustache has always been part of my identity and it’s amazing to see the facial fuzz trend catch the attention of one of the most beloved ‘stache’d sporting brands,” Timme said. “I’m pumped to be featured on these new cans with some of my favorite ‘stached opponents. Game on, fellas.” 

Ben Vander Plas
Dariq Whitehead
Drew Timme
Images courtesy of Pringles

Starting Wednesday, March 15 and running through the day after the men’s national championship game on April 4, fans can enter to win the Pringles March Mustache Collection prize by showing off their NCAA Tournament-inspired ‘state by using the #PringlesMarchMustacheEntry hashtag on Instagram. Timme, Whitehead, and Vander Plas will also be interacting with fans throughout March Madness on their own IG accounts as they hope their teams play as well on the court as they maintain their own facial hair.

“Pringles has a deep bench of ingenious flavors and ‘staches of all flavors are having a moment on college basketball courts,” Mauricio Jenkins, Pringles’ US marketing lead, said. “We’re thrilled to celebrate the sensational players whose unique ‘stache flavor has bewitched the hearts of fans everywhere and give fans nationwide a chance to join in the ‘stache fun.” 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gNDgqQ1xszQ

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]]> 9x16_Ben-Vander-Plas 9x16_Dariq-Whitehead 9x16_Drew-Timme Athletes.org Loading Men’s March Madness Odds: Houston Favored to Cut Down the Nets https://boardroom.tv/2023-ncaa-mens-march-madness-odds/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 17:15:18 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=62779 The latest men’s March Madness national championship, Final Four, and Sweet 16 odds from FanDuel SportsBook To read Boardroom’s March Madness odds update entering the 2023 Sweet 16, click here. The bracket is set

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]]> The latest men’s March Madness national championship, Final Four, and Sweet 16 odds from FanDuel SportsBook

To read Boardroom’s March Madness odds update entering the 2023 Sweet 16, click here.

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

The fun part about this year? There’s no clear-cut heavy favorite. Sure, Houston has the best odds to go all the way, but at +490, it’s hardly a sure thing, especially with the health of Marcus Sasser in question. No. 1 overall seed Alabama is second at +800, but will the Tide’s off-court distractions catch up with them?

We’ll find out soon enough. For now, with some help from our friends at FanDuel SportsBook, here are the latest odds on the national champion, the Final Four, and the Sweet 16 for the men’s March Madness field.

2023 Men’s March Madness Odds

National Champion
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Final Four

West Region

  • Kansas: +330
  • UCLA: +340
  • Gonzaga: +420
  • UConn: +600
  • TCU: +850
  • Saint Mary’s: +1100

South Region

  • Alabama: +190
  • Arizona: +360
  • Baylor: +550
  • Creighton: +800
  • Virginia: +1200
  • San Diego State: +1500

Midwest Region

East Region

  • Purdue: +300
  • Marquette: +420
  • Tennessee: +500
  • Kentucky: +850
  • Duke: +850
  • Kansas State: +900
Sweet 16
  • Alabama: -300 yes, +250 no
  • Arizona: -225 yes, +180 no
  • Baylor: +104 yes, -128 no
  • Creighton: +168 yes, -210 no
  • Duke: +154 yes, -192 no
  • Gonzaga: -144 yes, +118 no
  • Houston: -320 yes, +245 no
  • Kansas: -225 yes, +180 no
  • Kentucky: +160 yes, -200 no
  • Marquette: -142 yes, +118 no
  • Purdue: -188 yes, +152 no
  • Tennessee: -110 yes, -110 no
  • UCLA: -250 yes, +198 no
  • Xavier: +106 yes, -130 no

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]]> Loading Loading ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament 2023: Which Dark Horse Has the Best Chance Against Duke? https://boardroom.tv/acc-tournament-2023-predictions-odds-best-bet/ Sun, 05 Mar 2023 11:30:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=61953 Get set for the most hotly-contested men's conference slugfest before March Madness with our ACC Tournament predictions, plus the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.

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]]> This article originally appeared at FanDuel.

Get set for the most hotly-contested men’s conference slugfest before March Madness with our ACC Tournament predictions, plus the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.

March Madness is right around the corner, which means college basketball’s conference tournament season is here. One tourney getting underway just ahead of Selection Sunday on March 12 is the ever-popular ACC Tournament.

Here’s everything NCAA basketball fans and bettors need to know about the 2023 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament.

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ACC Conference Tournament Schedule, Dates & Location

The 2023 ACC Conference Tournament will tip off with its first game at 2:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 7 at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, North Carolina. The championship game will take place at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 11.

Men’s Basketball Schedule: ACC Tournament 2023

  • First Round: March 7 on ACC Network
  • Second Round: March 8 on ESPN
  • Quarterfinals: March 10 on ESPN and ESPN2
  • Semifinals: March 11 on ESPN and ESPN2
  • Championship: March 12 on ESPN

ACC Tournament 2023 Odds

All ACC Basketball Tournament odds via FanDuel Sportsbook as of March 6.

TeamOdds to Win
Duke Blue Devils+280
Miami Hurricanes+360
Virginia Cavaliers+360
Clemson Tigers+600
UNC Tar Heels+750
Pitt Panthers+1100
NC State Wolfpack+1400
Wake Forest Demon Deacons+3600
Virginia Tech Hokies+3700
Boston College Eagles+15000
Notre Dame Fighting Irish+16000
Louisville Cardinals+25000
Florida State Seminoles+25000
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets+25000

2023 ACC Tournament Predictions

The best coaches in the ACC, Tony Bennett and Jim Larrañaga, lead two of the top teams, Virginia and Miami. The Cavaliers and Hurricanes were recently co-favorites to win the ACC Tournament, and the Cavs have the top defense in a weaker ACC. Meanwhile, well-coached Clemson under Brad Brownell has the ACC’s No. 1 FG% defense and No. 2 FG% offense behind Miami. The Tigers also have the league’s top 3-point shooting team and No. 1 free throws (79.5%) with a top-5 rebounding and assist-to-turnover team in the conference.

Clemson looks like a legitimate dark horse and one to bet along with Miami, who can score more, beat Virginia at their own game, and won seven straight games before a one-point loss to rival FSU in the regular season finale.

ACC TOURNAMENT BEST BET: Clemson or Miami to win

— FairwayJay

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]]> Loading 1400x510_MA Athletes.org Loading The Business Behind the Jordan Tatum 1 https://boardroom.tv/jordan-tatum-1-sneaker-nike-feature/ Sat, 25 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=59442 How Michael Jordan’s newest signature sneaker star is rewriting the same script penned by the GOAT. On Sunday night in Salt Lake City, Jayson Tatum proved to be the star of stars. Scoring an

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]]> How Michael Jordan’s newest signature sneaker star is rewriting the same script penned by the GOAT.

On Sunday night in Salt Lake City, Jayson Tatum proved to be the star of stars.

Scoring an all-time high 55 points in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, the Boston Celtics swingman etched his name in the history books and left his footprints all over the snowy state.

Those famed footprints came by the way of the Jordan Tatum 1: the 24-year-old’s first signature shoe.

photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Debuting both the namesake model and two thematic takes — “Pink Lemonade” and “Zoo” — the Duke product turned MJ ambassador couldn’t have had a louder unveil. While the shoes won’t hit stores until April, the February unveil bodes well for an impending playoff push.

It also aligns with history.

Examining the archives and speaking with the Jordan Brand brass that worked directly with JT on his first shoe, Boardroom examines the business behind the Tatum 1 in regard to rollout and audience.

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The Old Playbook

On the tongue of the Jordan Tatum 1 lies a sleek ‘JT’ logo representing the brand’s newest signature star.

Rotating the shoe towards the heel, there appears an iconic silhouette older than the Celtics scorer himself.

35 years ago, the Jumpman emblem debuted on the Air Jordan 3 at All-Star Weekend, flying high on Mike’s home court of Chicago. This theatric moment meant much for Mike where arrivals rank, winning both the Slam Dunk Contest and All-Star Game MVP in his new shoe with his new logo.

It meant even more for Nike when considering their bottom line and box score.

“Up until that time, basketball shoes were introduced in the Fall,” Ron Hill, former Nike Product Merchandiser, told Boardroom in 2022. “The first time he wore the [Air Jordan] was at the All-Star Game. For us, we needed a vehicle to sell Spring shoes.”

Not only did Mike wear his new shoe for the first time at All-Star Weekend, he thrived on national television at a time when the Bulls aired mostly as a regional act.

As Russ Bengtson recalled for Complex, Mike made the most of that moment in Chicago by breaking out two colorways of the Air Jordan 3 in the same weekend — a move Tatum mimicked this year.

On top of that, Nike had the foresight to debut the Mars Blackmon campaign on TV during the game, introducing the Tinker Hatfield design to the world in a street savvy method that was lifestyle leaning.

It was a double whammy where consumer attention span and seasons were concerned.

“The All-Star Game was the first time we introduced a basketball shoe into the Spring,” Hill said. “Then we pushed colors going into the [NCAA] Tournament and that’s when the Dunks were introduced.”

The result at market?

“Our business went up 40%,” Hill said.

In an era of grainy box television sets, fans got to see the new Air Jordans in detail right before their eyes rather than from afar on Mike’s feet.

Keeping that same energy but offering a shift in sentiment and tone, Jordan Brand debuted its brand-wide Beyond campaign during this year’s festivities in Utah. Blocks away from Vivint Arena, the clip broadcast in sky-high projection status on the side of the 15-story Radisson Hotel.

Though the shoe featured in the commercial is the Air Jordan 37 Low, Tatum debuted the flagship Mike model over the summer.

For years, this strategy shaped Jordan Brand before being discontinued.

From 1988 and up to 1993, Nike and Michael Jordan used the All-Star Game to debut the new Air Jordan game shoe. Over the course of his career, MJ won ASG MVP honors three times.

After Jordan’s first retirement, they rerouted the marketing method ever so slightly by having MJ start seasons in the new model but break out an upcoming and often off-kilter colorway at the midseason classic.

With the Tatum 1, the original game plan returns.

Better yet? Setting a scoring record in his first All-Star start validated the product more than anyone could plan for.

Across the NBA, an array of athletes have their own signature shoe, scaling household names like LeBron James and Kevin Durant to upcoming talent like Donovan Mitchell and Ja Morant.

What separates Tatum from his peers is carrying the honor and weight of that infamous leaping logo that Mike debuted 35 years ago in Chicago.

An Elite Fraternity

In 1984, Nike made Michael Jordan their man.

23 years later in 1997, they made him his own brand.

Since forming his own subsidiary based off that iconic emblem, the Jordan Brand has blossomed into a $5 billion a year business. From Chicago to Milan, Boston and beyond, Air Jordan sneakers reign supreme despite MJ being two decades removed from his playing days.

Over the course of Jordan Brand’s 25 year existence, MJ has been selective in hand-picking the talent that both wears his shoes and has their namesake model under his Swoosh subsidiary.

“My whole thought process is taking an existing player, because they have the credibility of being a strong player,” Jordan told SLAM Kicks in ’98. “You know they are going to be ready to do the impossible.”

In choosing Tatum, a rising star he acquired from nearby Nike back in 2019, MJ is betting big on the Celtic swingman’s upside.

“When Jayson first signed with the Jordan Brand in 2019, that was definitely a signifier that the brand was on its way to be led into the future,” Adam Beard, Jordan Brand Global Strategic Communications Manager, told Boardroom on a Zoom call. “Three-and-a-half years later, Jayson is now an MVP candidate.”

In signing Tatum, Mike also crossed party lines where the Tobacco Road rivalry is considered, inking a Dukie despite bleeding Carolina blue.

Lucky for fans more enamored by another shade of azul, Mike’s favorite color may be green.

Simply put? Duke puts out bankable shoe sellers.

Jayson Tatum in the Nike Kobe 11 (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)

In 1994, Fila cashed out Grant Hill for $30 million for five years. His signature series was so successful that they restructured his deal in 1997 for $80 million over seven seasons.

Years later in 2011, Kyrie Irving inked a contract with Nike and went on to be one of their most sellable signature stars of the last two decades.

Then in 2019, Jordan Brand bet big on Zion Williamson, signing him to a deal worth a whopping $75 million for five seasons.

To date, it’s the second-biggest rookie sneaker deal, trailing only LeBron James.

Truth be told, the olive branch from Raleigh to Durham was Chicago sensation turned Blue Devil Jabari Parker, who signed with the brand in 2014.

The love has continued, as just last summer, Paolo Banchero proved the latest Cameron attraction to join the Jumpman.

Even before formal affiliation, Dukies desired this type of union. Former college heroes such as Daniel Ewing wore Jordans while playing for Coach K, once chastised for rocking with Mike while wearing the black and blue.

In 2023, it’s quite possible Jon Scheyer’s squad will be wearing Jordan Tatum 1s or Jordan Zion 2s for NCAA Tournament action.

If Dariq Whitehead, the Duke freshman wearing Tatum’s No. 0, also elects to wear JT’s new shoes, he’ll be hooping in the lightest Jordan model on the market.

Flight School

When Michael Jordan welcomed Jayson Tatum to the family at a Fashion Week event in Paris, France, the then-21-year-old talent was already a seasoned vet and futurist where footwear was concerned.

At Nike as a newly minted Celtic, Tatum led the Adapt BB — the brand’s first auto-lacing basketball shoe. Before that, he was a collector of Kobe Bryant favorites that he often wore on-court.

“Kobe’s my favorite player in the league,” Tatum told me while in high school back in 2016. “And his shoes are the most stylish and comfortable to wear on court.”

This season, Tatum paid homage to the Black Mamba in aesthetic with a PE pair of Air Jordan 37 Lows. Heading into the playoffs, he’ll honor Kobe in innovation by playing in a model that’s lighter, louder, and more progressive than the majority of the market.

Like Kobe before him, the hooper with perhaps the deadliest footwork in the game has the footwear to match.

photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Powered by uncaged Zoom Air and made with minimal rubber, the Tatum 1 is as light as it is unique. Unafraid to look different, JT’s first signature features a striking TPU frame across the sidewall.

“Jayson called out Kobe,” Beard said. “How Kobe was an inspiration to follow his dreams and dedicate himself to his craft.”

To some, Tatum is sharpening his sword in an aesthetic that’s a bridge too far from the retros they’ve grown to know and love. For Tatum, it’s a way to build his own identity and strip excess material and weight.

Like Kobe, it’s always function first in an unflinching manner.

Bryant Klug, Senior Footwear Designer for Jordan Sport and the pen behind the Tatum 1, noted that Jayson “didn’t want to be referential to older shoes, he was very interested in making the future.”

As the poster boy for innovation at Mike’s multi-billion-dollar brand, Tatum is looking to connect with consumers that love hoop much like Mike and Mamba before him.

photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Some might say it’s in his DNA. Others might suggest it’s in his contract.

In regard to shifting the performance paradigm, Tatum’s hero and boss both set the bar.

“Some of these projects that are more advanced in performance? There are only a few athletes that will go down that journey with us. Kobe was one and Michael was another,” design legend Tinker Hatfield told Boardroom in 2022. 

“Kobe was right up there with Michael Jordan,” Hatfield continued. “And I think they are the two very best that anybody has ever worked with in the NBA. Kobe was so inquisitive and interested in trying new things; Michael Jordan was the same way. The Nike brand or the Jordan Brand would not be the same without those two people.”

In Tatum, Jordan Brand hopes to have the next in line to Kobe and Mike on court and in regard to innovation. After all, who wouldn’t?

With the Tatum 1, Jayson’s coming out of the box stronger in regard to artistic upheaval than either of his heroes. His first shoe features function akin to Kobe but an aesthetic entirely its own.

It’s the Jordan Brand family that Tatum represents in endorsement, but it’s his own family that he represents on court.

The Next Consumer

On April 7, 2023, the Jordan Tatum 1 releases in full-family sizing.

There’s a reason for that, and it’s not just marketing.

To basketball fans, Jayson Tatum’s most famous sidekick is not All-Star guard Jaylen Brown nor reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Smart.

It’s his son, Deuce.

photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

“He’s courtside, he’s in the locker room, he’s warming up with the team,” Kelsey Amy, Jordan Brand Senior Color Designer, told Boardroom. “Those moments are so rare, you don’t really see them in years past in any sports. Family and all of the things that center around Jayson are relatable. Being able to buy into those elements is really cool.”

A stalwart of the sideline and a fixture for post game interviews, the five-year-old standing roughly four feet is as much the muse for the Tatum 1 as the Black Mamba or the Black Cat.

Because of this, Jordan Brand built a kids specific style of the Tatum 1 that was, like his father’s pair, debuted on-foot at the NBA All-Star Game.

“Not all innovation is built for kids,” Tate Kuerbis, Design Director of Jordan Kids Footwear, told Boardroom. “So we really have to search out, investigate, and create a path to creating exciting product for the future of Jordan Kids.”

Unlike the adult sizes, the youth pairs feature an innovative TPU tailgate system that allows kids to easily step in and out of their pairs. It’s essentially a collapsible heel set-up crafted for easy on-off entry.

Teaching the children addition by subtraction, Zoom Air is removed for flexible foam. It’s a dual lesson in support, meant to keep kids comfier on the playground and the shoes more durable for the parents buying pairs.

“He was really interested in making kids happy,” Klug said. “He treated it as a shoe for him, but also a shoe from him for kids.”

Though this is a smart and strategic sell-in for an athlete and brand looking to meet the next generation of hoopers and consumers where they’re at, it’s not merely window dressing.

Jordan Brand had Kuerbis handle engineering duties specifically on the kid’s retail version of the Tatum 1.

Jayson Tatum in the Air Jordan 36 with ‘Deuce’ written on each shoe (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

To those rich in sneaker history, Kuerbis is known for designing Air Jordans 34 through 37 — all models in which Tatum played at an elite level.

Additionally, he worked on the Air Jordan 18 — the last model MJ played in as a pro — as well as the Air Jordan 18.5, the Jordan Brand debut for a young Carmelo Anthony.

Ironically enough, it was Boston Celtics great Paul Pierce who leaned into selling sneakers specifically for kids with Nike in the late ’00s. In that era, Paul’s pairs only released at retail for kids with the only adult sizes going exclusively to him.

Conversely, the pairs worn on the sideline by Deuce and on court by his dad will all arrive at retail. When children see the Tatum 1 on shelves at Kid’s Foot Locker, perhaps they’ll see Jayson or maybe they’ll see Deuce.

Either way, it’s a family thread Jayson and Jordan are beginning to tie.

“Jayson’s story is so relatable,” Amy said. “There’s just so many elements of Jayson where the consumer sees some of themselves in him.”

Soon enough, fans old and young will see the Tatum 1 on shelves and on their own feet.

Spring is in the Air

Back in the summer, Jayson Tatum tried on his first signature Air Jordan shoe for the first time.

Wear-testing it on the LeBron court at Nike Campus, he had to wait multiple months to debut it in a game. Once he did in Salt Lake City? He made it count.

This April, the Jordan Tatum 1 will arrive at retailers. Adult sizing starts at $120, scaling all the way down to $55 in toddler takes.

Jordan Tatum 1 “Barbershop” via Jordan

It’s one small step for Deuce literally, but figuratively a massive leap for both his father and Jordan Brand.

“The future is our kid consumer,” Klug told Boardroom. “Getting them excited about the products, especially signature product innovation like this and having the support of an athlete like Jayson. Just knowing that we are able to have a platform to support kids and the innovation they need.”

photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

In Jayson, Jordan Brand possesses a 6’8 superstar yet to even turn 25.

By most measurements, his best years are ahead of him and so are his best shoes.

While the Tatum 1 hits stores in a matter of weeks, his team back in Beaverton is already working on what’s next for their newest signature star.

“How can we create and sculpt the future?” Derek Foster, Product Line Manager for Jordan Brand who oversees the Tatum line, told Boardroom. “Relative to Jayson, we position him as one of our Flight guys. How can we create the most lightweight but stable proposition within Jordan Sport?”

If this year’s All-Star Game was any indication, the evolution is just beginning.

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]]> The Business Behind the Jordan Tatum 1 - Boardroom How Michael Jordan's newest signature sneaker star is rewriting the same script penned by the GOAT in the Jordan Tatum 1. Air Jordan,Boston Celtics,Duke Blue Devils,Endorsements,Jayson Tatum,Jordan Brand,Jordan Tatum 1,Michael Jordan,sneakers,Jordan Tatum 1 2023 NBA All Star Game SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 19: Shoes worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics in the 2023 NBA All Star Game between Team Giannis and Team LeBron at Vivint Arena on February 19, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) Loading Duke Practice Session Jayson Tatum in the Nike Kobe 11 (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) 2023 NBA All Star Game SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 19: Shoes worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celticsin the 2023 NBA All Star Game between Team Giannis and Team LeBron at Vivint Arena on February 19, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) 2023 NBA All Star Game photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images 2023 NBA All Star Game SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 19: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics poses with The Kobe Bryant MVP Trophy after the 2023 NBA All Star Game between Team Giannis and Team LeBron at Vivint Arena on February 19, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) Boston Celtics v Chicago Bulls Jayson Tatum in the Air Jordan 36 with 'Deuce' written on each shoe (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) 007_sp23-jd-bb-rev-ltcc-tatum1-barber-shop-product-superiority-detail-2-ta-dx5571-180 Jordan Tatum 1 "Barbershop" via Jordan 2023 NBA All Star Game photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images Loading College Football Bowl Game Predictions & Picks 2022 https://boardroom.tv/bowl-game-predictions-college-football-2022/ Thu, 22 Dec 2022 16:55:45 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=53543 Get ready for the most wonderful time of the year with the best college football bowl predictions, powered by our friends at FanDuel. I mean no disrespect to Glenn Hansard and Markéta Irglová, but

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]]> Get ready for the most wonderful time of the year with the best college football bowl predictions, powered by our friends at FanDuel.

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.

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]]> Loading Loading Loading Inside Rachel Baker’s Role as Duke Men’s Basketball General Manager https://boardroom.tv/rachel-baker-duke-basketball-general-manager/ Fri, 18 Nov 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=49893 The former Nike employee works closely with each player on the roster, helping them navigate NIL opportunities and their professional development. This might come as a shock to some, but basketball coaches generally want

The post Inside Rachel Baker’s Role as Duke Men’s Basketball General Manager appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The former Nike employee works closely with each player on the roster, helping them navigate NIL opportunities and their professional development.

This might come as a shock to some, but basketball coaches generally want to coach basketball.

The ever-changing nature of the college game has made that more difficult over the past few years, perhaps even nudging legends like Roy Williams and Jay Wright toward retirement earlier than they otherwise would have stepped aside.

To truly thrive in the world of the transfer portal and name, image, and likeness, a coach needs to be willing to try something different. At Duke University, first-year men’s basketball coach Jon Scheyer had that opportunity and created a position on his staff that exists nowhere else.

In June, he named former Nike executive Rachel Baker as the program’s first General Manager.

So, what does that entail? Baker’s role is to support the Blue Devils’ men’s basketball players in their personal and professional development. This includes helping them manage NIL opportunities and develop their personal branding, allowing Scheyer and his assistants to focus fully on basketball.

“If all Jon Scheyer can think about all day is X’s and O’s, we’re doing a really good thing,” Baker said of her role. “I think the less he needs to hear about [NIL] or focus on it, the better that we can be.”

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From the Grassroots

It’s no accident that the first-ever general manager role for a major college basketball program went to Baker. She’s made a career working with young athletes from a business and marketing perspective, first at Nike, then with the NBA and WNBA.

“[Scheyer] always starts with who and then he figures out what,” Baker said. “I think he took a look at my background and realized that he needed help from an NIL perspective, but then also could use my help from a recruiting perspective and the relationships that I have.”

When she first met Scheyer, Baker was working for Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League leading event strategy for the grassroots circuit as rival shoe companies like Under Armour and Adidas rose to prominence. Baker was a mainstay at marquee summer events like Peach Jam, interacting with high school players, grassroots coaches, and Nike executives.

With the college basketball world beginning to shift amid the fallout of the 2017 FBI corruption scandal, Baker took a series of jobs that helped her hone her skillset for her eventual role at Duke.

First, she moved to the NBA, starting in an HR role and moving into strategy and communications. Then, she transitioned to the WNBA, helping to work the league through a rebrand alongside then-commissioner Lisa Borders. After that, it was back to the Swoosh to work with athletes going from college to the NBA, helping them position themselves from a business perspective.

Following a re-org, Nike put her on Kevin Durant‘s business. From there, it was off to Pendulum, a growth investment platform focused on Black-owned businesses. Even though she wasn’t exclusively working with athletes, that experience gave her valuable insight into just how many athletes were beginning to think big about building things for themselves.

“I saw how the athletes were transitioning — how their mindset was going from endorser to owner to entrepreneur — and wanted to have equity in these businesses,” she said. “And quite honestly, I didn’t know anything or I didn’t know enough about that side of the business in order to be that successful in it.”

But at that point, Scheyer saw enough in her to give her a call in his first offseason as a head coach.

“It really felt like all of my previous experience and my worlds colliding,” Baker said. “In terms of grassroots, which was where I really started, and working with athletes and families as they were looking to navigate that space, while also at the same time the world of NIL was growing and becoming a thing.”

via Duke

Brands of the Blue Devils

When Baker first got to Durham, the first thing she did was get in a room with the team’s creative director, David Bradley, and hold one-on-one sessions with every player on the roster. The goal of those sessions wasn’t to nail down specific NIL deals to make players rich overnight; instead, she talked to everyone — from captains to walk-ons — for over an hour about everything but basketball, getting to know the athletes as people so she could start to figure out how she could best serve them.

If she could do that, then her job (as well as the players’ jobs) would get much easier. That’s key, because as it stands, Duke is a truly elite academic university, ranked 10th in the US News & World Report’s 2022-23 Best Colleges rankings. Adding a blueblood Division I basketball program to the mix, it’s natural that players would not be left with much free time to optimize their NIL potential.

“It’s really hard being a student at Duke. It’s extra hard being a student-athlete at Duke,” Baker said. “And then on top of that, if you want to be a CEO of your own business, you have to really want to do that. So, we spent some time really figuring out how much time and energy they wanted to put towards this, and then also, where’s their unique opportunity for them to be able to engage in the marketplace?”

Because of the caliber of athletes that Duke often brings in, several Blue Devils players already have agents. Baker functions as a day-to-day extension of those agents — someone who is there at practice with them and on team trips. As a university employee, she can’t actually reach out to brands on behalf of her players, but she is fully empowered to help filter incoming requests. She encourages the team to come to her with every endorsement pitch they are considering so she can help them figure out if it’s the right opportunity, as well as if the associated time commitment is reasonable.

Baker uses freshman and No. 2 overall recruit Dariq Whitehead as an example of her role in action as it relates to NIL. Before she was hired, Whitehead agreed to a deal with a particular brand with a demanding set of deliverables, to be executed later on.

“He came back around after the fact and he was like, ‘never again,'” she said. “‘I understand what you were saying. This didn’t make sense for me,’ and he was burnt out from it. It didn’t feel good. Ever since then, we talked about almost everything. I think that things like that where they just can see where the benefit is has gone a long way.”

via Duke

More than the Money

The NIL aspect of Baker’s job won’t be consistent from year to year. Next year, for example, Duke will enroll four top-20 prospects and the No. 1 class in the nation. Some players in that class, Baker said, have already told her that they do not want to focus on NIL. They’re in Durham to play basketball.

That doesn’t leave Baker bored. Her job is more holistic than just helping players secure big-money deals. As she puts it, it’s about helping to set up each player for life after Duke.

Simply by virtue of being a Division I basketball player in the ACC, most players that she works with will have an opportunity to play somewhere after they graduate. But what happens after that? Or, even, what happens while they are playing professionally, particularly if they don’t immediately sign a pro contract for more money than they or their families will ever need?

“What keeps me up at night is… there’s enough here to be able to set our athletes up for long-term success, their families up for long-term success, all of those things,” she said. “What will prevent you from doing that, I think, is on us. I’ll take some responsibility there.”

So, where does that leave Baker on the road ahead?

It’s on her to regularly have conversations with her players, gauge their mindsets, and communicate with the coaching staff if she sees a problem. She’s also there to help them explore the opportunities that the university provides — and not just athletically, but academically and socially.

“Figuring out what it is that they do and how they wanna contribute to society,” she said, “I take a lot of personal responsibility in the kind of individuals we are helping to create. And you just hope that if you say something enough times, eventually they’ll listen.”

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]]> Loading A007C428_221003VZ_NICK0.00_00_00_00.Still002 A007C428_221003VZ_NICK0.00_00_00_12.Still005 Loading The Off-the-court Intrigue Shaping College Basketball in 2022-23 https://boardroom.tv/2022-23-mens-womens-college-basketball-preview/ Mon, 07 Nov 2022 17:24:54 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=48924 From more continuity in the men’s game to more contenders in the women’s game, it’s a new era in college basketball entering the new season. At long last, welcome to college basketball season. The

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]]> From more continuity in the men’s game to more contenders in the women’s game, it’s a new era in college basketball entering the new season.

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

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.

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]]> Loading Loading Loading Men’s College Basketball Futures Betting Odds for the 2022-23 Season https://boardroom.tv/mens-college-basketball-futures-odds-2022-23/ Thu, 03 Nov 2022 22:06:25 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=48659 It’s almost time for college hoops season. Who stands the best chance to cut down the nets in early April? Let’s take a look at this year’s college basketball futures odds. It seems like

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]]> It’s almost time for college hoops season. Who stands the best chance to cut down the nets in early April? Let’s take a look at this year’s college basketball futures odds.

It seems like just a few days ago that the confetti flew in New Orleans for Kansas as the Jayhawks celebrated winning the 2022 NCAA men’s basketball national championship.

Yet somehow, we’re just days away from the tip-off of the 2022-23 season.

The Jayhawks should be strong again this year, but Vegas isn’t listing Bill Self’s crew as favorites to repeat. In fact, our friends at FanDuel have Kansas as the seventh-most-likely team to celebrate at this year’s Final Four in Houston. To find the favorites, look to the Pacific Northwest, where Mark Few’s Gonzaga Bulldogs return national player of the year candidate Drew Timme to lead a loaded roster.

Who are the Zags’ top challengers this season? Boardroom looks at the men’s college basketball futures odds for the 2022-23 season below, taking you through picks to win the whole thing, make the Final Four, and win each major conference.

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Odds from our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook as of Nov. 3

College Basketball Futures Odds: National Champion

Gonzaga Bulldogs: +850
Houston Cougars: +850
North Carolina Tar Heels: +1000
Kentucky Wildcats: +1200
Baylor Bears: +1200
Duke Blue Devils: +1300
Kansas Jayhawks: +1500
Arizona Wildcats: +2000
Texas Longhorns: +2000
Arkansas Razorbacks +2000
UCLA Bruins: +2000

Men’s Basketball Final Four Odds

Houston Cougars: +200
Gonzaga Bulldogs: +200
North Carolina Tar Heels: +230
Kentucky Wildcats: +270
Baylor Bears: +330
Kansas Jayhawks: +330
UCLA Bruins: +330
Duke Blue Devils: +350
Arkansas Razorbacks: +390
Arizona Wildcats: +440
Texas Longhorns: +550
Tennessee Volunteers: +550
Creighton Bluejays: +550

Men’s Basketball Regular Season Conference Winners:

Showing odds listed at +2000 or better. For all teams, visit sportsbook.fanduel.com.

Atlantic Coast Conference

North Carolina Tar Heels: +135
Duke Blue Devils: +200
Virginia Cavaliers: +650
Miami (FL) Hurricanes: +1400
Virginia Tech Hokies: +1500
Notre Dame Fighting Irish: +1700

American Athletic Conference

Houston Cougars: -370
Memphis Tigers: +700
Cincinnati Bearcats: +1600
Tulane Green Wave: +2000

Big Ten Conference

Indiana Hoosiers: +290
Michigan Wolverines: +380
Illinois Fighting Illini: +470
Iowa Hawkeyes: +650
Ohio State Buckeyes: +800
Purdue Boilermakers: +800
Michigan State Spartans: +1100

Big 12 Conference

Baylor Bears: +200
Kansas Jayhawks: +250
Texas Longhorns: +340
Texas Tech Red Raiders: +700
TCU Horned Frogs: +1300
Oklahoma State Cowboys: +2000

Big East Conference

Creighton Bluejays: +170
Villanova Wildcats: +230
UConn Huskies: +470
Xavier Musketeers: +550
St. John’s Red Storm: +2000

Pac-12 Conference

Arizona Wildcats: +185
UCLA Bruins: +185
Oregon Ducks: +600
USC Trojans: +650
Stanford Cardinal: +1400

Southeastern Conference

Kentucky Wildcats: +180
Arkansas Razorbacks: +330
Tennessee Volunteers: +350
Alabama Crimson Tide: +750
Florida Gators: +1200
Auburn Tigers: +1300

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]]> Loading Loading Paolo Banchero Discusses Signing With Jordan Brand https://boardroom.tv/paolo-banchero-signs-jordan-brand/ Mon, 17 Oct 2022 14:24:42 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=46526 The 2022 top pick has landed a multi-year shoe deal with Jordan, set to make him a headliner of the Air Jordan 37. It was just 20 seconds before Adam Silver was set to

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]]> The 2022 top pick has landed a multi-year shoe deal with Jordan, set to make him a headliner of the Air Jordan 37.

It was just 20 seconds before Adam Silver was set to walk on stage at the 2022 NBA Draft and the Orlando Magic’s time on the clock was dwindling.

That’s when Paolo Banchero‘s agent, Mike Miller, got a text. He turned to his right, facing Banchero.

“Congrats,” he said. “You’re the number 1 pick.”

The whirlwind of workouts, meetings, interviews, and obligations was over for a moment, with a purple-suited Paolo ready to pace up to the stage to shake the commissioner’s hand. He was officially an NBA player.

Make no mistake: That whirlwind picked up again shortly after. There was local and national media to deal with. Endorsements. The whole deal. And it’s still going today, basically on the eve of the 2022-23 season.

Jordan Brand and Banchero announced on Monday that they’ve agreed to a multi-year sneaker deal, setting up a world of possibilities ahead, from PEs to — maybe — his own namesake model.

But before any of that could become official, Banchero had to walk across that stage to greet Silver. First, he gave his father Mario a long hug, then hit his fist-bump-and-hug tradition with his mother, Rhonda. The suit hues honored the University of Washington, where his parents met and played college football and basketball, respectively. 

Even though Banchero, a 6’10 do-it-all forward from Seattle, has long been touted as a top prospect, the marketing offers and shoe deal process in particular changed considerably at that point. 

“I think it accelerated it a lot,” Banchero said. “Leading up to the Draft, I wasn’t really projected to go No. 1. Once that happened, the interest picked up. The buzz picked up.” 

Early on, as he revealed to Boardroom during the week of the Draft, he and his representation at LIFT Sports Management had been in ongoing talks with Adidas, Jordan, and Puma. He tried out a variety of shoes from each brand during his pre-draft workouts, and eventually laced up both Jordan and Adidas during NBA Summer League. 

“It was exciting for me, just having all of the shoe companies become more and more interested,” he said. “When Jordan stepped in, that really kind of made me raise my eyebrows. They don’t try and sign everybody.”

Currently, Jordan has around 30 NBA players in the fold as official endorsers. In 2019, the brand signed Zion Williamson, Jayson Tatum, and Luka Doncic, eventually giving all three their own signature sneaker. 

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Paolo, who counts the Air Jordan 3, 4, and 11 among his favorites, hopes to one day follow in those literal footsteps by receiving his own namesake model. For now, he’s looking forward to working up a batch of player exclusive colorways of the upcoming Air Jordan 37.

“Hopefully telling some of the childhood stories or memories I had growing up, some of the stuff I’m into off the court or on the court,” he said, noting he’d like to create a Seattle-themed PE. “Stuff that people are going to like and stuff that means a lot to me. I’m excited to eventually brainstorm and get that stuff started.”

Back in June, Banchero outlined big goals for what he’d bring to an NBA franchise. 

“I want to be the guy who the team counts on, who the fans count on. I like carrying that weight,” he told Boardroom before the Draft. “[I’m a] big time player, versatile and trying to do what’s best for the team.” 

Not long after, he went first overall, raising the stakes and placing him among a historic group of players before him. When the Magic were looking to showcase their upcoming Jumpman-branded “Statement Edition” jerseys, they tapped Banchero for the official unveil. 

“There’s a certain expectation that people have of you and a standard that they’re going to hold you to, but I like it,” Banchero says now. “I’m more than ready for it.”

He’s mapped out his goals with the Magic, and now, he’s looking forward to building with Jordan Brand as he begins his pro path. 

“To elevate them as a brand and myself as a brand and a player,” Banchero said. “Come out with stuff and wear things that the people are going to love, fans are going to love and I’m going to love. Whatever direction it goes, just continue to build on it and make it the best that it can be.” 

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]]> Paolo_Tavern Loading Paolo_Magic-Statement-Jersey_1 Loading Duke Commit Jared McCain Headlines Champs Performance Collection https://boardroom.tv/jared-mccain-duke-champs/ Wed, 21 Sep 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=43062 The 18-year-old hooper and social media star has yet another NIL deal locked in, becoming Champs’ first multi-year NIL male endorser. Sure, he’s a 5-star, Duke-bound point guard that’s led his high school team to

The post Duke Commit Jared McCain Headlines Champs Performance Collection appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The 18-year-old hooper and social media star has yet another NIL deal locked in, becoming Champs’ first multi-year NIL male endorser.

Sure, he’s a 5-star, Duke-bound point guard that’s led his high school team to a state title, won offensive MVP at Nike’s Peach Jam AAU tournament, and has been a mainstay across the All-Star Game and elite summer camp circuit. But Sacramento-bred basketball standout Jared McCain also already has an insane social media following in tow, now totaling well over two million followers across TikTok and Instagram.

The three pinned videos on his @JaredMcCain24 TikTok channel have tallied a total of more than 40 million combined views.

His content is less a barrage of polished hoop highlight mixes, and rather a look at his personality off the court, his time with friends and family, and so, so much dancing.

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Just as the landscape of amateur sports was forever changing a year ago, McCain was soon able to monetize his newfound fame thanks to the newly-passed regulations regarding amateur athletes’ name, image and likeness rights — in his native California, the relevant law includes high school athletes. It all started happened just a few short months after he turned 17; now, as he begins his senior year at Corona Centennial High School outside of the Los Angeles area, McCain’s latest NIL deal has him headlining Champs Sports’ newest nationwide fall performance apparel campaign.

That’s a noteworthy achievement for an athlete of any level.

Featured both in standalone brand imagery and solo video rollouts, the 6-foot-4 floor general is also positioned alongside Philadelphia Eagles star quarterback Jalen Hurts. The two male faces of the Eastbay-branded collection with hits of its subtle, italicized ‘E’ logo are seen spotlighting a mix of performance-meets-lifestyle wear crafted with tech fabrics, suited for any arena of life.

For McCain, last year’s 2022 California Gatorade Player of the Year during his junior season, he calls the new partnership with Champs a “dream come true.” 

“We’re excited to begin our partnership with Jared McCain, who has an immensely bright future ahead of him,” said Guy Harkless, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Champs Sports and Eastbay. “At Champs Sports and Eastbay, we believe in supporting student-athletes across all phases of their career, both on and off the field of play.” 

Without missing a beat, McCain rattles off his early favorites from Champs’ newest collection of tops, jackets, joggers, hoodies, and shorts like a seasoned pitchman.

“Out of the Eastbay Performance ‘Field Day’ Collection,” he begins smoothly, “definitely the Temptech performance joggers, those are my favorites comfort-wise. And I always like a good t-shirt, so the Gym Tech t-shirt is probably my favorite, too.”

From the onset of the NIL era, Champs was an early adopter of embracing and incorporating once-amateurs into its annual and quarterly flagship campaigns. Harkless reveals that student-athlete deals will be a key component of the company’s strategy ahead.

“As NIL evolves, we’re looking forward to growing our roster of athlete partners and continue being a leading example for athlete partnerships in the space,” he added.

Champs inked the basketball star duo of Hanna and Haley Cavinder to an ambassador deal that spotlights work out gear across their social channels, and also landed a deal with Oregon star center Sedona Prince to host a webseries/podcast featuring conversations with fellow collegiate athletes navigating the emerging NIL market. 

Jared McCain in the Temptech fleece pants and Gym Tech shirt, his favorites.

“We aim to empower student-athletes as they explore the benefits that NIL provides, such as expanding their audience and allowing others to be a part of their journey,” Harkless said. “We are particularly encouraged to work with young athletes who grew up with Champs Sports and Eastbay, who have now become our partners.”

In the 1990s, reading Eastbay with a bowl of cereal every morning served as a portal to learning all about the technologies and designs of sneakers from every brand on the block. For most kids of that era, circling pairs in the physical catalog that you aspired to get your hands on became tradition when every new issue dropped.

For Jared and his current generation, he’s had a more digital-than-tangible connection, coming up with the orbit of Foot Locker Inc.’s iPhone apps as he tried to track down Yeezys and Air Jordan launches in recent years.

In many ways, the Champs partnership is a sharp strategy from McCain and the Icona Agency that reps him; building a flexible, additive endorsement deal during his lone remaining high school season that bridges into his college years rather than simply aligning with one major footwear brand figures to be a nice way to keep the broadest number of options open ahead of his pro career.

(For now, since Duke has long been the Swoosh’s staple powerhouse hoops program, the much-pursued point guard will don pairs from Nike’s ongoing signature lines starting next fall.)

The deal allows for McCain to highlight Champs’ Eastbay-branded performance apparel across his social media channels and continue to switch up his off-court footwear as he pleases. In the “Field Day” launch campaign shoot, he shifts between a grey and royal Reebok runner, black Under Armour HOVR Machina 3 sneakers, and a pair of James Harden’s signature shoes from Adidas. It’s perfectly fitting for the phenom who’s kept a variety of brands in his rotation all along — his Huskies high school squad is sponsored by Adidas, the Russell Westbrook-fronted “WHY NOT?” AAU team he played for in the summer is laced by Jordan, and Stephen Curry’s new “Splash” logo with Curry Brand even garnered five million views when it was featured in three videos on McCain’s TikTok page in August.

While SLAM tweeted out his Curry Camp highlights showcasing ample buckets, McCain was in his hotel room posting dances in full head-to-toe Curry Camp gear.

Every one of these brands figures to have an eye on him, but notably, one of the first NIL deals McCain landed was actually with Crocs, where he’s currently the only male athlete amongst its student-athlete partners. He recently launched his own neon green sandal with the brand.

As he continues his ascent in the marketing realm, add to his budding portfolio of deals, and establish his presence across social media to myriad millions, the 18-year-old pauses for a second to relay that the whirlwind of handling hoops, school, deals, photoshoots and brand activations might sound like a lot to balance, but he’s been embracing it in the only way he knows: by having fun. 

There’s no real roadmap for how to navigate what has become a wild, wild west of sudden marketing windfalls for student stars like McCain; like most NIL ambassadors, he’s figuring things out as he goes. When he was just three minutes late to our scheduled Zoom interview, he had a good excuse – he was racing home from class and back to his bedroom desk setup.

While the new rules allow for McCain to launch his own series of t-shirts bearing a caricature of his face, his signature hairstyle, and his “JM24” phrasing, he’s still just 18 years old and looking to enjoy his final year of High School after being faced with a fully virtual class load due to the pandemic in the two calendar school years since the spring of his freshman year.

“I love it,” he beams. “I went back and now I’m doing three [classes] in person and three online. I like having the social aspect, getting to talk to people and learning in class. I have fun at school.”

As the newest featured athlete in Champs’ Eastbay Performance “Field Day” Collection, Jared McCain discussed with Boardroom the sneakers he grew up wanting most, what he plans to wear this season, and how he’s looking to make his mark in the marketing world.

NICK DePAULA: How exciting is it to be partnering with Champs as part of their new Fall campaign? 

JARED MCCAIN It’s like a dream come true. To work with Champs, that’s like every kid’s dream. You walk into the store when you’re younger, [and now] to be on those posters and to be a part of it at all, I’m just super excited about it.

NDP: Tell me about some childhood stories. For me, I use to read Eastbay with my cereal every morning and that’s how I learned about shoes. I used to circle the shoes that my mom wasn’t going to buy me. What do you remember about Eastbay, Champs, and Foot Locker growing up? 

JM: For me, I was really big into shoes. I would have the apps and I would try to get the new drops when they came out and try to get lucky. I would try to get my mom to take me to the mall to try and get access, because you’d get more points when you do that. I was trying to get the new Yeezys, the new Jordans that came out, and it was just tough. I got a few, but it was tough. Just going with my family, my mom would give me a little shopping spree and I’d be able to go in there and pick stuff out for basketball, for lifestyle. Those were my favorite memories. 

NDP: To me, being able to help with gifts for other people has been one of the most fun things about NIL. As part of this new deal, what’s the first pair you’re going to get for your mom?

JM: That’s tough! She likes comfort, so I’m thinking some Air Maxes. Maybe some 97s. 

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NDP: Is there a sneaker that sticks out, that growing up you wanted to get, but was the elusive pair you couldn’t get your hands on?

JM: Probably Jordan 1s. Jordan 1s were huge, and obviously still are, and are the hardest ones to get. Those and Yeezys. Around 2015 and 2016, that was a tough time to get Yeezys.

NDP: You’ve got one more year of high school ball here. What sneakers are you planning to break out for your final season, and how much do you like to switch it up as you go?

JM: Usually, I just stick to one shoe for the whole season. Last year, I wore the Donovan Mitchells every single game, all the way up until the state championship game. They were super beat, had holes in them, but they were my good luck. I’ll probably still go with the Donovan Mitchells, to be honest.

NDP: It’s obviously a super unique time of being an athlete, and especially a high schooler. Going back to last summer, what was your initial reaction to seeing that the NIL laws were going into effect, and what was your first impression?

JM: At first, I was just kind of confused. I didn’t know what was really going on with it. As I got more into it, it’s a blessing. Especially in California, where we’re allowed to have it, it’s just helpful for all of the high school and college kids. I love it.

NDP: What were some of the deals that you got locked in right away that you were excited about?

JM: Definitely Crocs was probably the biggest one. I was like, ‘That’s actually crazy.’ I had about 10 pairs of Crocs before I got it, and when we got that, that was a great day [laughs]. Not as good as the Champs one, but it was a great day.

NDP: What was your early approach in how you navigated things and looked at deals? You were only 17 last year, so how’d you even start to figure that out?

JM: I’ve been kind of influenced to just go after what I’m passionate about and what I like and gravitate towards. I like having fun, so [I prefer] these fun deals and being able to express myself in these deals is how I was navigating it. 

NDP: You’re a great hooper, but what sticks out to me, whether it’s TikTok or Instagram, you have a great social presence. How early on were you realizing you had this kind of appeal as a high schooler? Was there one moment in particular when it really dawned on you?

JM: On Instagram, I had a little bit of a following from basketball, nothing crazy. During quarantine is when I started the TikTok. I started it because I couldn’t get made fun of at school for dancing [laughs]. It kind of just blew up from there.

@jaredmccain24

When life gives you Lemons, make something Perfect 😎 Hyped to announce I’m locked in with @lemonperfect to help us all be that healthier and happier version of ourselves. It’s up! #drinkmorelemons

♬ original sound – Jaredmccain24

I was just posting every day and doing new dances and learning new dances. It was probably at Peach Jam last year when I realized people were starting to recognize me in person, and that was so shocking to me. They were saying, ‘What? That’s the kid from TikTok!’ That’s wild. 

NDP: I’ve been covering this space for a long, long time. It used to be that the brands would have a caption and a plug-and-play approach where they’d send players things to post verbatim. Now, you’re creating the reels and the content. Where does that creativity come from?

JM: I credit a lot to my videographer Nick [@NickInTheCutt]. He comes up with a lot of these ideas. Jordan Gazdik and Diana Day [from the Icona agency] come up with a lot of ideas too. They know me and what I like to have fun with. I like the corny ad [approach], especially like the “Lemon Perfect” one. I’m creating stuff where I’m happy and I get to show my genuine smile. That’s the main thing.

NDP: In terms of this Champs and Eastbay campaign, have you already started to brainstorm how that’s going to look on social? How do you come up with those ideas?

JM: I love incorporating the athletic side, especially when we’re in the gym, or stuff outside. Stuff that incorporates the athletic part of what I do. 

NDP: As you’ve been handling the last year of NIL, what have the conversations been like with other players in terms of how you’ve all been figuring this out as you go?

JM: Some of us are pretty confused, some of us know about it, but we’re all just having fun with it and this opportunity is just amazing, so we’re all excited. 

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The post Duke Commit Jared McCain Headlines Champs Performance Collection appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Duke Commit Jared McCain Stars in New Champs Collection %%page%% 18-year-old hooper and social media star Jared McCain has yet another NIL deal locked in, becoming Champs' first multi-year NIL male endorser basketball,Duke Blue Devils,Endorsements,fashion,Interview,Jared McCain,NIL,sneakers,Jared McCain Loading EBPL_JaredMccain-1X1-1080X1080_3 EBPL_JaredMccain-1X1-1080X1080_9 giphy EBPL_JaredMccain-1X1-1080X1080_12-copy Loading 283279509_1041897016733093_4350623042631268085_n Loading Mark Williams: The Red Carpet Interview https://boardroom.tv/mark-williams-nba-draft-red-carpet/ https://boardroom.tv/mark-williams-nba-draft-red-carpet/#respond Sun, 03 Jul 2022 13:00:39 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=34773 The former Duke Blue Devil went No. 15 overall and enters the NBA with a pro hoops pedigree and his eyes on a new truck.

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]]> The former Duke Blue Devil went No. 15 overall and enters the NBA with a pro hoops pedigree and his eyes on a new truck.

Wearing a Duke blue suit and a chain bearing his initials and 757, the area code of his native Virginia Beach, Mark Williams was very much repping where he came from on the NBA Draft red carpet last Thursday in Brooklyn. Prior to being drafted 15th overall by the Charlotte Hornets, the big man discussed when he first thought he could make the NBA, advice from his sister and eight-year WNBA veteran Elizabeth, and more.

What he would be doing if not for basketball:

“I’d be a commentator for CBS or TNT for March Madness and obviously ESPN. Can’t go wrong. “

A song that would describe his feeling on the red carpet on Draft Day:

“‘Rollercoastin’ by Roddy Richh.”

What he’s doing with his first $1 million 

“I want to buy a truck. A custom truck, custom pickup. I really love trucks, so definitely one of those.”

When he first thought he could make the NBA:

“It was always a dream of mine since I was like five years old. That was the first time I started playing basketball, but I think it became more of a reality in high school, like my freshman and sophomore year, just going up against everybody in AAU and high school.”

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What he learned from his sister Elizabeth, a post player for the Washington Mystics:

“I learned a lot. To this day, she’s still a resource for me. I can ask her anything. She’s huge for me. For tonight, she just told me to enjoy it. You only get it once, so just have fun while you’re there and it’ll all be great.”

If he could only invest in one company:

“Right now, I don’t want to be a risk-taker, so I’d probably go with Amazon. Safe bet. And then maybe later on, doing more research, I’ll get into something else. “

If he could dunk on one NBA player, whom would it be?

“LeBron.”

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]]> https://boardroom.tv/mark-williams-nba-draft-red-carpet/feed/ 0 Mark Williams: The Red Carpet Interview - Boardroom Mark Williams discussed when he first thought he could make the NBA, advice from his sister Elizabeth, a eight-year WNBA veteran, and more. Charlotte Hornets,Duke Blue Devils,Mark Williams,NBA,mark williams Loading Paolo Banchero: The Red Carpet Interview https://boardroom.tv/paolo-banchero-nba-draft-red-carpet/ https://boardroom.tv/paolo-banchero-nba-draft-red-carpet/#respond Sat, 25 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=34340 Boardroom got the inside story from the Duke phenom shortly before he was shocked oddsmakers by going No. 1 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft.

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]]> Boardroom got the inside story from the Duke phenom shortly before he was shocked oddsmakers by going No. 1 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft.

While he didn’t know he was going to be drafted first overall in Thursday’s NBA Draft until 20 seconds before the Orlando Magic made its selection, Duke Blue Devils forward Paolo Banchero certainly knew what he was doing with his outfit. His bright purple ensemble studded with diamonds stood out on the Barclays Center red carpet like his game stood out on the court in Durham.

Boardroom caught up with P5 as he walked the runway. Here’s what he had to say.

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What he was wearing:

“The purple suit made by Dolce & Gabbana and Neiman’s. Got some bracelets, got a Richard [Mille] on. I picked the purple out for myself. I felt like it would look good and I like how it came out. I got help, but I had a vision and it came to life.”

What he’d be doing if not for basketball:

“Probably something with the youth, kids, something like that. Just helping kids out.”

A song that would describe his feeling on the red carpet on Draft Day:

Probably “Long Time Coming” by Baby Money.

What he’s doing with the first million dollars he earns:

“My first mil? Probably trying to stack it, save it. But my first purchase will probably be a car. I haven’t made up my mind all the way. I’m more like an SUV guy. I don’t like small and fast. I like smoother, you know?”

The biggest lesson he learned from Coach K at Duke

“Just no matter where you’re at, whether you’re playing or whether you’re off the court, always having strong body language. Never showing your opponent weakness on the court. And then off the court, like in an environment like this, or anywhere around people, always looking strong, always having your chin up, just looking presentable. That’s some of the best advice.”

When he first thought he could make the NBA
“Probably my eighth- or ninth-grade year. It was always a dream that I was working towards.”

The Seattle ballers that influenced him the most:

“Jamal Crawford is definitely up there for me, but really it’s a lot of the guys I watched in high school. I watched Dejounte Murray come up in high school. I played against Kevin Porter Jr. Looked up to him. Jaden McDaniels was my teammate, so I looked up to him. Just a lot of guys. Seattle has a lot of pros that come back and help out. So it’s a blessing.”

If he could dunk on one NBA player, whom would it be?

“Any seven-footer. Doesn’t matter who.”

If he could only choose one streaming service:

“YouTube TV.”

The weirdest endorsement deal he was pitched:

“There was a sunscreen company. I’m not gonna say the name, but, like sunscreen. They wanted me to do ads for them.”

Dream endorsement deal for the future:

“It might have to be Progressive Insurance, just because I like their commercials. One of those insurance companies. I would want to do one of those, for sure. Me and the lizard.”

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]]> https://boardroom.tv/paolo-banchero-nba-draft-red-carpet/feed/ 0 Paolo Banchero: The Red Carpet Interview - Boardroom Paolo Banchero speaks with Boardroom before the NBA Draft about everything from spending first million to lessons learned from Coach K. 2022 NBA Draft,basketball,Duke Blue Devils,NBA,NBA Draft,Orlando Magic,Paolo Banchero,banchero Loading Paolo Banchero Is On His Sneaker Journey https://boardroom.tv/paolo-banchero-sneaker-video/ Thu, 23 Jun 2022 23:03:56 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?post_type=post&p=34223 As one of the most marketable players in the 2022 NBA Draft, No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero has no shortage of brands courting him.

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]]> As one of the most marketable players in the 2022 NBA Draft, No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero has no shortage of brands courting him.

An NBA Draft pick’s rookie shoe deal will often be the largest endorsement deal that he will land. And after playing all of last year at Duke as a projected top pick, Paolo Banchero is well into talks with several companies.

“Being a hooper, you’re familiar with all of the brands growing up,” he said. 

Banchero’s shoe deal process has gained steam in the two months since he officially turned pro, and he has already conducted official pitch meetings with brands heading into Thursday’s NBA Draft. 

While comfort, style, and performance all rank high on the priority list, the 19 year-old with a flair for fashion has additional factors in mind for choosing his eventual brand partner. 

“Really, just seeing how creative they can be towards me,” he said. “I’m a creative guy and have my own tastes, so who can help me with that, sharpen me up and show me what they have in mind?”

Duke Blue Devils forward Paolo Banchero in the Kyrie 7, during the Champions Classic (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The natural-born athlete grew up in Seattle, where his mother Rhonda Smith-Banchero first made a name for herself on the hardwood at the University of Washington. She eventually left the Huskies as the school’s then-all-time leading scorer in 1995. His father Mario played tight end for the UW football team. 

Their son now measures 6’10.5 — without shoes — and brings the blend of speed, physicality and skill that his parents each boasted in their sports. 

“I want to be the guy who the team counts on, who the fans count on. I like carrying that weight,” Banchero said. “[I’m a] big-time player, versatile and trying to do what’s best for the team.” 

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As an impact player with franchise potential on the court, Banchero feels he can also make an impact off the court as a brand ambassador. 

“People gravitate to me as a person and also as a player,” he said. “I’m always up in spirit and a good person to be around. With the sneaker companies looking at me, I feel like they’re going to get someone that’s going to be marketable instantly.” 

As his rise in the hoop scene carried him from the Under Armour-sponsored O’Dea High School and the Seattle Rotary AAU team on Nike’s EYBL circuit, Banchero eventually landed with the Blue Devils for his lone collegiate season. 

His freshman season at Duke also coincided with the NCAA’s historic passing of new name, image, and likeness opportunities for athletes, allowing them to monetize on their image through partnership endorsements.

The head start on landing NIL deals — with the likes of NBA 2K, Panini, JD Sports and others — allowed him to get familiar with the process of brand photoshoots, social media post commitments, and working with companies that align with his image. 

“It was a great experience,” Banchero said. “Duke is one of the biggest brands in sports in general. Being able to go there and introduce myself to everybody was the perfect opportunity to be marketable and get deals.”

Throughout the final Mike Krzyzewski-led Duke season that saw the Blue Devils advance to the 13th Final Four of Coach K’s legendary tenure, Paolo could be seen lacing up a variety of sneakers in white and blue hues. 

“That’s how I’ve always been, at every level I’ve played at,” he said. “The ‘look good, play good’ thing. I’m not going to always look the best if I’ve got the same shoe on every game.” 

In all, he laced up 13 different colorways of several different models, from the Kyrie, KD, and Giannis’ Freak signature lines. He also debuted the Kyrie Infinity sneaker in-game. He sees himself having a PJ Tucker-like rotation at the next level, as he looks to showcase all of the best pairs that his eventual brand partner has to offer.

“I like playing in different things, having different flavors and being creative,” he said. “When a brand sees that, they know I’m not going to be a guy that just puts on one shoe. For whatever brand I go to, from game to game, I’m going to wear different shoes and different colors. That’s just how I like to do it.”

Off the court, he could be spotted in Nike Dunks, designer sneakers, Air Jordan retros like the 3 and 6, or Adidas Yeezy 500s, 700 Wave Runners and Foam Runners, just to mention a few. As the lead-up to the draft ramped up, he continued to switch up his sneakers during his daily skill workouts. While getting extra shots up with trainer Chris Brickley in New York in a workout that extended past midnight on the eve of the draft, he opted for the Adidas Exhibit A. 

“I’ve been working out in Nike, Adidas and Pumas,” he said. “Now is the time to test stuff out.”

In late May, Adidas hosted Banchero at an elaborate Hollywood modern mansion in California for their official pitch meeting. 

“They talked about the history of Adidas, and how they’ve been in the sneaker game longer than almost everybody and want to build on that,” he said. “They have stars right now and young stars coming up, and they really saw me being a part of that next wave of stars to come to Adidas.” 

Just before, he met with Nike in a private suite during the NBA Combine in Chicago.

As Banchero was finishing up high school, both Puma and New Balance re-entered the hoops space, re-launching their Basketball categories and aggressively signing top players within the last four years. He took notice of New Balance landing both Dejounte Murray and Zach LaVine, two fellow Seattle natives. 

LaMelo Ball in his signature Puma MB.01 sneaker. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

“I feel like those brands are starting to come on,” he said. “New Balance has Dejounte Murray, Kawhi Leonard and just got Zach LaVine. Puma has LaMelo Ball — his shoe actually looks good to me. It’s a good looking shoe, and you can definitely see that they’re starting to ramp it up and try to compete with the Nikes, Adidas and Jordans.”

As a longtime sneakerhead that grew up looking to track down “Concord” Jordan XIs and Seattle icon Gary Payton’s Zoom Glove, Banchero has long followed the sneaker game that he’s now hoping to help impact as a pro. He hopes to one day have his own Seattle tribute PE, in a green and yellow colorway. An even loftier goal would be receiving his own signature shoe.

“I pay a lot of attention,” he added. “From all the Nike guys, to DRose and I remember Dwight Howard had his own Adidas shoe. Curry has had a good run with his [Curry Brand and Under Armour] shoes, and I had Currys all throughout high school.” 

As the process continues to unfold, he’s looking to make his mark soon, lacing up a brand partner during a rookie season that he’s also planning to impact.  

“I think my game is going to translate really well to the NBA,” he said. “With my versatility and my ability to be anywhere on the floor and be a threat to make plays — at my size and skill level — it’s just rare to see.”

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The post Paolo Banchero Is On His Sneaker Journey appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NOV 09 Champions Classic – Duke v Kentucky Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Loading Paolo_Adidas-1-copy Charlotte Hornets v Milwaukee Bucks MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 01: A detailed view of the sneakers worn by LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on December 01, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) Loading The Beginner’s Guide to Paolo Banchero https://boardroom.tv/beginners-guide-paolo-banchero/ https://boardroom.tv/beginners-guide-paolo-banchero/#respond Tue, 21 Jun 2022 14:55:29 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=33852 Boardroom highlights everything you need to know about Paolo Banchero, the most NBA-ready player in this year’s draft class. Paolo Banchero believes he is the best player in Thursday’s 2022 NBA Draft, and with

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]]> Boardroom highlights everything you need to know about Paolo Banchero, the most NBA-ready player in this year’s draft class.

Paolo Banchero believes he is the best player in Thursday’s 2022 NBA Draft, and with his seasoned skillset and genetic build, he has every reason to think he can make an immediate impact in the league.

The former Duke standout is projected to be a top-three pick. As a proven threat on the offensive and defensive ends, NBA general managers know precisely what they’re getting in Paolo.

Let’s get into the specifics.

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Tale of the Tape

Age: 19
Height: 6’10”
Position: SF/PF
Projected draft position: No. 3 overall, via ESPN
Previous team: Duke Blue Devils
Agents: Mike Miller/ LIFT Sports Management
Career achievements:  Consensus second-team All-American (2022), ACC Rookie of the Year (2022), First-team All-ACC (2022), ACC All-Rookie Team (2022), McDonald’s All-American (2021), Jordan Brand Classic (2021), Nike Hoop Summit (2021)

NIL Deals and Perks

  • JD Sports: Access to British sportswear and featured in advertisements.
  • Yahoo: Brand ambassadorship for the Yahoo Sports Tourney Pick’em March Madness bracket game with Chet Holmgren.
  • Panini: Exclusive physical and digital cards with the brand.
  • Dreamworks Motorsports: Custom Jeep from the vehicle customization company.
  • NBA2K: 2K grants Paolo with his character in the game for MyTeam modes, and he helped create additional 2K content throughout the 2022 NBA season.

Player Evaluation

Banchero is somewhat of a hybrid player. His back-to-the-basket style makes NBA pundits nostalgic for the bigs of the ’90s, while quick feet, turn-around post moves, and a beautiful bank shot make him an elite interior scorer. However, he also has the physical tools and skills to fit into today’s NBA game.

He stands nearly 7 feet tall and can grab rebounds with force, dribble the ball the length of the court, and finish with tenacity at the other end. He has elite footwork on both ends, excellent ball-handling, and a jump shot that he employs with confidence.

Paolo will have to work on his overall basketball IQ, which can often lead to wrong shot selection and costly turnovers. But as he continues to develop, the sky is the limit for the future top-five pick.

College Stats

  • Points per game: 17.2
  • Assists per game: 3.2
  • Rebounds per game: 7.8
  • Field Goal %: 47.8
  • 3-Point %: 33.8

Banchero was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2021 class. He led Duke to the 2022 Final Four and was named ACC Rookie of the Year. He led the team in points and rebounds per game and was fourth in the ACC in overall in minutes.

The 2022 NBA Draft will take place Thursday, June 23, at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, beginning at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN. See the entire draft order here.

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The post The Beginner’s Guide to Paolo Banchero appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> https://boardroom.tv/beginners-guide-paolo-banchero/feed/ 0 The Beginner's Guide to Paolo Banchero - Boardroom Boardroom highlights everything you need to know about Paolo Banchero, the most NBA-ready player in the upcoming NBA Draft. 2022 NBA Draft,basketball,Duke Blue Devils,NBA,NBA Draft,Paolo Banchero,Paolo Banchero Loading Loading Emily Cole Sets the Pace for NIL in Olympic Sports https://boardroom.tv/emily-cole-duke-nil/ https://boardroom.tv/emily-cole-duke-nil/#respond Mon, 20 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=33664 Despite not playing a revenue sport, Emily Cole has become one of the most influential athletes in the NIL space. She talks with Boardroom about how she got here. July 1, 2021, marked the

The post Emily Cole Sets the Pace for NIL in Olympic Sports appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Despite not playing a revenue sport, Emily Cole has become one of the most influential athletes in the NIL space. She talks with Boardroom about how she got here.

July 1, 2021, marked the official beginning of college sports’ name, image, and likeness era, but Emily Cole’s NIL journey began two years before that, shortly after she graduated high school in 2019.

The track & field star, who was about to enter her freshman year at Duke that fall, was visiting her older sister in London. Searching for something to do one day, she poked around her sister’s flat and came across a book called Unshakeable.

Three years later, she recalled that moment at the first-ever NIL Summit in Atlanta on a panel about making confident financial decisions, presented by Invesco QQQ.

“I thought it was about athletics and being an unshakeable athlete, but it ended up being about investing” Cole said. “I unintentionally ended up reading this book about financial education.”

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From there, Cole was hooked. She worked with her sister on finding an ETF that made sense for her, and her investment journey had officially begun. When NIL became a reality last summer, she was already prepared to take advantage.

Now, as NIL nears its one-year anniversary, Cole has done deals with Invesco QQQ, H&R Block, Cheribundi, Family Dollar, and BeetElite. She has also written her own book called The Player’s Plate, all about athlete nutrition, due out in September.

She sat down with Boardroom at the NIL Summit to talk about what she’s learned in the past year and what’s still to come.

RUSSELL STEINBERG: On the panel, one of the first things you said is that you kind of accidentally picked up Unshakeable. I’m wondering why you didn’t put that book down when you realized it wasn’t what you thought it was?

EMILY COLE: That’s a great question. It’s funny because the book itself wasn’t that interesting. I have my older sister, who has been that mentor for me in financial education; she’s always preached the importance to me of being financially literate because she went through struggles on her own when she went through college. And so I knew whenever I picked up the book, even though it wasn’t gonna be the most entertaining and fun thing that I had ever read, I knew that it was a book that would really benefit me in the future. And I’ve been so grateful that I’ve read it ever since.

RS: So you finished that book, you put it down. What’s the first thing you did after that?

EC: First thing I did was download Robinhood and just start looking at investments. One of the things that really stuck out to me from the book was the different fees they have on index funds. Over many years, [it] can really add up to be a large amount. There’s always little things in investing in the financial world that you might not fully understand if you aren’t able to talk to a professional. So that’s one of the first things I did, just downloading that app and getting familiar with it, even if it’s just investing like $10, just playing around with little sums of money and seeing how it goes, to start making my own mistakes and learning that way. 

RS: You’ve been a student-athlete pre-NIL and now in the NIL era. Before NIL, it was still important to manage your image and develop your brand. How did you approach that before July of last year? 

EC: I think that I’m just someone who is naturally more open, so that lends itself well to being able to share my story on social media. But I actually have another older sister who is a country music artist, and so she has a big social media platform, and I really looked up to her and was really just learning from her. She encouraged me to download these different social media [apps] and start sharing my experience as a student-athlete, not even thinking about name, image, and likeness. Just starting to build a brand and starting to build an audience because I knew even if name, image, likeness rules weren’t changed until after I graduated, I’d be able to take advantage of it. I’m really grateful that I started earlier on building my brand before I even knew that NIL was likely, because it gave me a head start on getting to let the audience know who I am and share my story. 

RS: NIL has changed immensely in the last year. Can you take me through what it’s been like as a student-athlete from July 1 of last year to now?

EC: You know, it has been crazy. I would definitely say that when it first started, I think that everyone thought that it would just be the big football teams or basketball teams that are making these big deals and there wouldn’t be much left for anyone else. But what I’ve been really impressed with are the incredible movements that have come from big companies, like the partnership I did with H&R Block to support female athletes. And especially in sports that aren’t as covered. I think that that’s been really incredible to see how NIL is gonna start giving female athletes and those smaller sports a much bigger platform because they’re able to create their own audiences and not fully depend on TV coverage for that. 

RS: As an athlete in a so-called non-revenue sport, why have you been able to break through? Why are you here today?

EC: I think that a lot of athletes get discouraged if they aren’t in those revenue sports, thinking that they don’t have an opportunity. And so I think that something that has helped me find success is kind of pushing past that mentality and believing that people do wanna see the day-to-day, and they do wanna learn the behind-the-scenes. I would think about me as a little middle school girl, wanting to look at these college athletes. Like, I would’ve wanted to know everything. And so whenever I give myself that perspective, it’s a lot easier to think about the little things that my teammates and I might take for granted every day, like having the athlete dining hall and, you know, getting backpacks and whatnot. All of that. If I can get back into the mindset of middle school Emily, it gives me more ideas for creating content and being able to share those behind-the-scenes [moments] that maybe other people our age just think is normal. But we’re definitely in a little bubble, right? We don’t realize that there are so many people out there that would love to learn about the day-to-day of our lives.

RS: How did you get involved with Invesco QQQ, and what is that partnership all about? 

EC: It was through Duke compliance. They had sent out the [Invesco QQQ How Not to Suck at Money game] to all of us. And it wasn’t like we were required to do it or anything. I found it and jumped on the opportunity to be able to learn more about financial literacy and investing and whatnot, and played it and loved it.

RS: Panelists spoke this morning about knowing your worth and being able to determine your value. How do you do that?

EC: You know, I think that that is one of the hottest topics right now in NIL. Everyone’s trying to figure it out. Specifically, your rates when talking to different brands. I think that there needs to be a lot more communication of what typical rates are, and that’s something that I’m actually gonna try to start creating — a space where athletes can share the different deals that they’re doing so that people have more information. But I guess for me, so far, it’s really helped to reach out to other athletes doing similar deals. And if you can find someone who y’all can be vulnerable and open enough with, to share the deals you’ve done and compare — well, this person did this deal for X-amount. You can bring that to a brand and be like, ‘You’re severely undershooting me right here, and I know that,’ whereas they might not even know. Everyone’s learning at the same time. 

RS: I know you’ve also written a book. Can you share details about that?

EC: My book is basically an all-in guide to sports nutrition, and it’s something that I wish that I had had 10 years ago, starting out my athletic career. I did volleyball and basketball all through high school, along with track and cross country. My senior year, when I started focusing on running, I also started paying a lot more attention to my diet and eating healthier.

I was not raised in a healthy household. We had fast food for like every meal, all of the desserts all the time. And so my senior year, it was really me having the autonomy and taking my diet into my own hands, eating healthy, and it set my career in a completely different direction and allowed me to run in college. I wouldn’t be here today if I wasn’t able to do that. Since it changed my life and it was such an impactful experience for me, I was just like, ‘I just wish I could share this with all the other athletes and tell them about how incredible it could be.’ It could change their athletic career if they were optimizing this huge pillar of their athletic training and recovery.

So it’s called The Player’s Plate, and it ties in not only what is physically on your plate, but also the saying of making sure there’s not too much on your plate in general. I know as athletes, we get a lot of societal and psychological pressures that come along with trying to fuel to peak performance, whether it’s people competing in really revealing uniforms and worrying about their body image, or different weight sports, where that is a key factor. There are a lot of different psychological elements that can bring your mental health into your fueling journey as well.

I have chapters dedicated to those different topics, and I’m really grateful because I was able to interview such incredible registered dietitians and athletes. I interview people like April Ross and I interviewed Colleen Quigley and Jesse Thomas — Ironman champion — and basically asked them what they wished they had known at the beginning of their athletic careers. And I gave them each their own chapter, had one core sports nutrition lesson come from their stories. So that way I can teach. I could show rather than tell all these different sports and concepts throughout the book. At the end of each chapter, I have a recipe teaching you how to put that lesson into practice. 

RS: Then I’ll ask you: What do you wish you knew at the beginning of your athletic career? And that could be about nutrition, it could be about investing, whatever. Lessons you’ve learned along the way that you wish you’d known.

EC: I would definitely say that the core theme of my book and the lesson that I wish that I had known was just really learning how to find the optimal balance earlier on. I think, especially within sports nutrition too, whenever you’re trying to reach these extreme heights and pillars, it can be easy to get too wrapped up in it and think you only have to eat chicken and broccoli all the time, right? That’s all you can have. And that’s just simply not the case. In fact, having that bowl of ice cream could give you the nutrients you need to reach your calories for the day and not get injured. It could be crucial to your performance as well. So I think that being able to find that balance and find mentors that can help you find that balance is something that I would encourage everyone to try to find as early on as they can in their career. 

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The post Emily Cole Sets the Pace for NIL in Olympic Sports appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> https://boardroom.tv/emily-cole-duke-nil/feed/ 0 Loading Loading College Basketball’s Next NIL Stars https://boardroom.tv/college-basketball-future-nil/ https://boardroom.tv/college-basketball-future-nil/#respond Tue, 05 Apr 2022 20:10:37 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=26842 As we start to think about next basketball season, incoming freshmen, transfers, and tournament breakout stars are poised to make the most of their NIL rights. The dust has barely settled from South Carolina’s

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]]> As we start to think about next basketball season, incoming freshmen, transfers, and tournament breakout stars are poised to make the most of their NIL rights.

The dust has barely settled from South Carolina’s run of dominance through the 2022 women’s NCAA Tournament and Kansas’s all-time comeback for the men’s title, but it’s already time to start thinking about next year. On the men’s side, Arkansas is a trendy early pick to go all the way in 2023, and many expect South Carolina and UConn to meet in the women’s title game for the second year in a row.

But what about the players? As we enter the second season of the name, image, and likeness era, a new group of players is poised to either start earning money or increase their earnings dramatically. Here are a few to keep an eye on headed into next year.

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Lauren Betts, Stanford freshman

Agency: Excel Sports
Current deal: Degree

The No. 1 women’s recruit in the country should have plenty of NIL opportunities based on hype alone. But Betts is so much more than a highly touted prospect. At 6’7, she’s poised to be one of the tallest players in women’s college basketball next year and will play a critical role on a team that went to the 2022 Final Four and won the 2021 national championship.

When brands look to Betts, they’ll see two things. The first is a polished game that often takes centers much longer to develop. Her footwork, touch, and decision-making are far ahead of schedule, meaning that if she stays healthy, it’s pretty clear what Betts’ ceiling can be. The other thing is that she’s going to Stanford — a women’s basketball power with a loyal fanbase and already with a track record of players succeeding in the NIL era.

RJ Davis, North Carolina junior

Agency: MK Hustle Sports & Entertainment
Deals: Card Stock Exchange, Th3 NIL Shop, NIL Fan Box

The next few weeks will determine exactly where North Carolina will be projected in next season’s preseason polls as we await NBA decisions from Caleb Love and Armando Bacot. But the Tar Heels should be a factor regardless, and Davis should be able to use his big NCAA Tournament to further establish himself on the NIL market.

Davis scored 30 in UNC’s upset win over Baylor in the second round thanks to his 5-of-10 shooting from three. In the championship game, he struggled from the field but still managed a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double. His momentum should carry into next year with a bigger role on a team with higher expectations compared to where Carolina started this tournament.

As a sophomore, Davis did everything he needed to set himself up for success: signing with an agency, doing a few smaller deals, and staying consistent on the court. As an upperclassman, he can shine even brighter.

Dereck Lively, Duke freshman

Agency: KLUTCH Sports Group

Similar to Betts, Lively will have plenty of opportunities simply by being the No. 1 recruit in the country headed to a blue blood school. Unlike Betts, however, he’s also just a year away from being a multi-millionaire, as he will be eligible to go pro after the 2022-23 season. One could expect big names to try and align with him early, much like they lined up for Paolo Banchero this season.

A potential wrinkle to watch out for — really for any college athlete, but Lively in particular — how will shoe companies handle next season? That was one of the burning questions at the onset of NIL last July, and they were reluctant to dive right in immediately. But this year we saw Nike sign Reilyn Turner and adidas launch a program to benefit all of its college athletes. With the floodgates open, the KLUTCH-represented Lively, who plays at one of the Swoosh’s staple programs, would be an attractive candidate for a major Nike deal.

Jaelin Llewellyn, Grad student

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AQorw5wsjE

Llewellyn is currently one of the best players in the transfer portal, and the former Princeton Tiger will have his pick of prominent schools to choose from. He’s reportedly already heard from Arkansas, Alabama, Ohio State, and others, meaning his visibility is about to rise dramatically.

The all-Ivy selection from last year averaged 15.7 points per game and showed the ability to catch fire from three, which is a key ingredient in winning over a fanbase. Llewellyn hasn’t done much in the NIL arena yet, but stay tuned. He has one year of eligibility left and will be headed to a major program where he can get as much playing time as possible before beginning a pro career.

Olivia Miles, Notre Dame sophomore

Miles was quiet on the NIL front as a freshman, but her game spoke volumes. She was great all year, leading the ACC in assists per game and posting her first triple-double on Dec. 8. But it wasn’t until the NCAA Tournament that Miles really got onto the national radar. It started with a triple-double in the Irish’s first-round win over UMass. That made her the first freshman in the history of the women’s and men’s tournaments to notch a triple-double in a tournament game. She then proceeded to dish out 12 assists in a second-round blowout against Oklahoma and score 21 points in the Sweet 16 against NC State as the Irish nearly pulled off the upset.

As a sophomore, Miles has All-American potential for a Notre Dame team that exceeded expectations last year and has top-10 potential next year.

Ayanna Patterson, UConn freshman

Patterson isn’t the top-ranked women’s recruit in 2022, but she may be the most exciting. She’s athletic as they come, and her popularity has soared as a high school student thanks to her highlight videos and two-handed dunks. Patterson told Just Women’s Sports that she wants to dunk in a game for the Huskies (she’d be the first to do so in program history) and, more importantly, win four national championships.

Patterson also has a grasp on exactly who she is and why she is important to women’s basketball. She doesn’t shy away from her size, strength, hairstyle, or anything that might inspire social media trolls to attack. She also knows that NIL deals have disproportionately gone to white student-athletes and, as she told JWS, is hoping that changes.

To this point, Patterson has already unveiled her personal logo and has a docuseries coming with Long Takes Media.

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]]> https://boardroom.tv/college-basketball-future-nil/feed/ 0 Loading Loading The Duke-UNC Basketball Rivalry Through The Years https://boardroom.tv/unc-duke-rivalry-history/ Sat, 02 Apr 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=25563 College basketball’s most storied rivalry is preparing for a first in its history: an NCAA Tournament game. Boardroom reminisces about the decades of iconic Carolina-Duke clashes that got us here. No two men’s basketball

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]]> College basketball’s most storied rivalry is preparing for a first in its history: an NCAA Tournament game. Boardroom reminisces about the decades of iconic Carolina-Duke clashes that got us here.

No two men’s basketball programs are forever linked quite like Duke University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Acknowledged as the biggest and best rivalry in college hoops and one of the most spirited in all of sports, the sheer number of highlights, superstars, and championship trophies this ACC rivalry has produced is staggering

And on Saturday, the Tar Heels and Blue Devils will play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. In the Final Four, no less.

Is it the single most anticipated college basketball game ever? Well, it’s so big that country music star Eric Church cancelled a tour date so he could head to New Orleans and watch his beloved Heels in what could be the final game of Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s coaching career.

There’s never a shortage of narratives when these programs meet, but this latest iteration is just on a different level. With that in mind, Boardroom is here to take a look at the history and personalities that have animated this super-heated rivalry between schools located just nine miles apart.

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The UNC-Duke Tale of The Tape

  • All-time series: UNC leads 142-115
  • First meeting: January 24, 1920
Final Four appearances

Duke: 17
UNC: 21

National Championships

Duke: 5 (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, 2015)
UNC: 6 (1957, 1982, 1993, 2005, 2009, 2017)

All-Americans

Duke: 32

  • Notables: Christian Laettner (3x), JJ Redick (3x), Shane Battier (2x), Grant Hill (2x), Jay Williams (2x), Zion Williamson

UNC: 32

  • Notables: Tyler Hansbrough (4x), Michael Jordan (2x), Antawn Jamison (2x), Vince Carter, Kenny Smith, Rasheed Wallace

Duke-UNC Coaching History

For 42 years, Coach K has been a mainstay in the Tobacco Road rivalry. Carolina enjoyed a legendary 36-year coaching run from the late Dean Smith, but Krzyzewski is the single most enduring figure in the rivalry.

In the 25 years since Dean Smith retired, the Heels have had four different coaches. Roy Williams won three national titles before his own retirement in 2021. He was preceded in Chapel Hill by Matt Doherty and Bill Guthridge, who each lasted just three seasons. Current head coach Hubert Davis is, like Williams, a Carolina alum — and he one-upped his predecessor by making the Final Four in his very first season at the helm.

But this weekend, and ultimately, this college basketball season, is about Coach K.

College Basketball: North Carolina coach Dean Smith (L) and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski before game at Dean Smith Center.Chapel Hill, NC 2/3/1994CREDIT: Bob Donnan (Photo by Bob Donnan /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)(Set Number: X45708 TK1 R5 F17 )

He is the most mystical figure this side of UCLA legend John Wooden and is more than worth the adorationhe’s been showered with since first announcing this was his final year. He’s now reached his 13th Final Four and will coach his 101st NCAA Tournament game Saturday. Over 100 of his players made it to at least one Final Four.

Krzyzewski is a model of head coaching excellence that goes beyond just college basketball, or basketball in general. “It’s been earned. It has not been given. It’s been earned,” longtime Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo — a Basketball Hall of Famer in his own right — said of Krzyzewski.

Memorable Games From the Duke-UNC Rivalry

The Tar Heels don’t care much for all the Blue Devil pageantry at play; in this case, the finest form of respect is disrespect, and they’d like nothing more than to crash the Coach K party just as they did on March 5 as Krzyzewski marked his final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Ninety-six of Krzyzewski’s former players attended the game. UNC didn’t just score an upset victory; they did it handily by a 94-81 final score.

That got us thinking about some of the other all-time great Duke-Carolina contests. Here are a few highlights:

Feb. 28, 1981: Coach K had taken the top job at Duke nearly a year before. In his second appearance in the rivalry, he beat Dean Smith’s Heels 66-65 in overtime. Senior Gene Banks brought Cameron to a frenzy, making both the basket to send the game into OT and the ultimate game-winner. The Chapel Hill boys officially had a new adversary down the road.

Mar. 10, 1984: Duke defeated No. 1 UNC 77-75 on the road in phenom guard Michael Jordan’s last ACC conference game. MJ led a furious comeback that fell just short.

Feb. 4, 2004: In an overtime thriller, UNC’s Rashad McCants hit a game-tying three in overtime with 15 seconds to go. Duke’s Chris Duhon then proceeded to dribble the entire length of the court to make a beautiful reverse layup with little time left, securing an 86-84 win for the Blue Devils. It was then UNC head coach Roy Williams’ first game in the rivalry at the Tar Heel helm. Consider it initiation rites.

Duke’s Chris Duhon seals the win against UNC in 2005

March 6, 2005: One of the beautiful things about the Duke-UNC rivalry is that their second regular season matchup is always the last conference game for both teams. In this game, the Heels had a chance to win their first conference title since 1993. Duke held a nine-point lead with three minutes to go, but Carolina turned up the defense during crunch time, and point guard Raymond Felton tapped his own free throw miss to teammate Marvin Williams, who converted a three-point play to give UNC a 75-73 lead. A three by Duke’s JJ Redick went begging and the Heels captured the ACC crown on Senior Night in the Smith Center.

Legendary Performances

No rivalry is without its legendary moments. Here are a few choice cuts throughout the years:

1995: UNC’s Jerry Stackhouse received a pass on the break and blew by Duke’s Cherokee Parks and threw down a thunderous reverse dunk on two defenders:

1995: In that same year–in that same game, actually –Duke’s Jason Capel hit a half-court running buzzer-beater to send the game into double overtime. UNC did win 102-100, but the fact two of the more memorable plays in this rivalry’s history happened in the same game speaks to the extra-special place it has in the basketball canon.

2007: Duke’s Gerald Henderson Jr attempted to make a defensive play at the rim against UNC’s All-American big man Tyler Hansbrough. Henderson’s elbow viciously struck Hansbrough’s nose, bloodying his face so badly that his pristine Heels uniform became stained with it. Years later, Hansbrough hasn’t forgotten. “I still want to get him back one day,” he told the ACC Network

2019: Duke’s Zion Williamson exploded onto the college basketball scene. And in the opening minute of his first game in the Tobacco Road rivalry, Zion’s shoe actually exploded after he went to make a move on the court. He missed the rest of the game and the teams’ second regular season meeting, but notched 31 points and 11 rebounds in the ACC Tournament against UNC to help Duke earn a No. 1 seed at March Madness that year.

Duke and North Carolina. As big a rivalry as it gets with the highest stakes the rivalry has ever seen. Potentially Coach K’s last game. A chance to play for a national championship. Whatever the result, this will be yet another legendary chapter in this tale of two bitter interstate rivals.

Watch the Final Four Saturday, with coverage starting at 6 p.m. Eastern on TBS. Duke and UNC will play roughly half an hour after Villanova and Kansas ends; approximately 8:45 p.m. ET.

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The post The Duke-UNC Basketball Rivalry Through The Years appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The Duke-UNC Basketball Rivalry Through The Years - Boardroom Boardroom reminisces about the decades of iconic clashes that brought us to Saturday's history-making Final Four clash between Duke and UNC College Basketball,college sports,Duke Blue Devils,Jay Williams,Mike Krzyzewski,NCAA,NCAA Tournament,North Carolina Tar Heels,Roy Williams,Vince Carter,duke unc Loading University of North Carolina vs Duke University College Basketball: North Carolina coach Dean Smith (L) and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski before game at Dean Smith Center.Chapel Hill, NC 2/3/1994CREDIT: Bob Donnan (Photo by Bob Donnan /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)(Set Number: X45708 TK1 R5 F17 ) Loading March Madness Betting Guide: 2022 Final Four https://boardroom.tv/march-madness-betting-guide-2022-final-four/ https://boardroom.tv/march-madness-betting-guide-2022-final-four/#respond Sat, 02 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=26348 Powered by numberFire and FanDuel From Duke vs. UNC to Kansas vs. Villanova, get ready for the men’s NCAA Tournament national semifinal games with FanDuel Sportsbook. The NCAA Tournament rolls on with the Final Four beginning at

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]]> Powered by numberFire and FanDuel

From Duke vs. UNC to Kansas vs. Villanova, get ready for the men’s NCAA Tournament national semifinal games with FanDuel Sportsbook.

The NCAA Tournament rolls on with the Final Four beginning at 6:09 pm ET on Saturday.

Filling out a bracket is the main attraction for most sports fans this time of year, but the fun doesn’t have to stop there. It’s also the perfect opportunity to place some bets at FanDuel Sportsbook.

What should draw our attention? Let’s find out.

Please note that lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. Please check here to make sure you’re seeing the most updated information.

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(2) Duke Blue Devils vs. (8) North Carolina Tar Heels

It may not be the most original plotline, but Hollywood couldn’t have scripted a more fitting Final Four matchup for Coach K’s final campaign, and CBS executives were probably doing cartwheels after lucking into this rivalry game.

Despite the gap in seeding, the Duke Blue Devils are only 4.0-point favorites over the North Carolina Tar Heels, and the ACC rivals split their regular-season series at one apiece.

Predictably, both teams rate well on KenPom and BartTorvik, with Duke ranking as a top-seven squad and UNC coming in at 16th. The Blue Devils are the nation’s best adjusted offense, per BartTorvik, but the Tar Heels still boast the 17th-best mark. Their season ranks in adjusted defense are fairly close, too, as North Carolina has the slight edge at 35th compared to 51st for Duke.

But, it’s the two teams’ recent play on defense that would suggest that backing North Carolina could be the play.

Over their last 10 games, the Tar Heels have gone 9-1 while ranking eighth in adjusted defensive efficiency. This includes their win over Duke in early March, along with tournament victories over Baylor and UCLA — all top-11 teams on KenPom and BartTorvik.

Meanwhile, the Blue Devils have completely lived off their elite offensive play down the stretch, ranking just 158th in adjusted defense over their last 10. While it hasn’t come back to bite them in the tournament so far, they’ve yet to face a top-30 adjusted offense in their run to the Final Four.

Consider taking UNC and the points — and perhaps even the North Carolina moneyline (+162) for a bigger potential return.

If you’re not convinced that the Tar Heels can contain Duke’s offense, you can also think about betting over 151.0 total points. Both offenses are firing on all cylinders in the tournament, and these teams combined for 154 and 175 points in their previous two games this season.

(1) Kansas Jayhawks vs. (2) Villanova Wildcats

Under normal circumstances, you could argue this one is practically a toss-up between two top-10 teams, per KenPom and BartTorvik. Both teams have top-10 adjusted offenses and top-20 adjusted defenses on those sites, and both teams also won their respective conference tournaments with just one loss apiece in their last 10 games.

But with the Villanova Wildcats losing Justin Moore to a torn Achilles in the Elite Eight, they’ll be up against it to advance. Not only was Moore their second-leading scorer, averaging 14.8 points per game, but Villanova typically only uses a six-man rotation. Those minutes will have to be distributed amongst the other five and a bench short on minutes.

For that reason, picking the Kansas Jayhawks will probably be a popular pick, but it may be the right one. The Jayhawks are 4.5-point favorites, which isn’t a high bar to exceed.

The Wildcats play at a notoriously slow pace — they’re 346th out of 358 teams in adjusted tempo — so losing a top scorer like Moore is even more crucial for a team that relies so heavily on offensive efficiency.

In contrast, the Jayhawks are more willing to play quickly (67th in adjusted tempo), and while their offense has been hit-or-miss in the tournament, it’s one that’s shown few weaknesses this season, ranking 30th in effective field goal percentage, 38th in offensive rebounding rate, and 69th in three-point percentage.

If Kansas is firing on all cylinders, Villanova’s style of play will have a tough time keeping up.

And let’s remember that the Jayhawks also have that stingy defense, which includes allowing the 71st-lowest opposing three-point attempt rate, per Sports-Reference, which will make it less easy for the Wildcats to utilize the three-ball to win.

Overall, there are enough factors going against Villanova to see them pulling this off, and Kansas to cover is the wager to side with.

Additionally, given the Wildcats’ predicament, you could also consider betting the under on Villanova’s total points (64.5). Even with Moore healthy, they’ve failed to hit this mark in each of their last two games and four of their last six.

— Kenyatta Storin

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The post March Madness Betting Guide: 2022 Final Four appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> https://boardroom.tv/march-madness-betting-guide-2022-final-four/feed/ 0 Loading Loading The Evolution of the Student-Athlete Sneakerhead https://boardroom.tv/evolution-student-athlete-sneakers/ https://boardroom.tv/evolution-student-athlete-sneakers/#respond Fri, 01 Apr 2022 17:31:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=24952 For decades, the best ballers in college hoops have rocked retros on the game’s greatest stage. This year, with NIL, they can afford to like never before. All eyes are on New Orleans for

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]]> For decades, the best ballers in college hoops have rocked retros on the game’s greatest stage. This year, with NIL, they can afford to like never before.

All eyes are on New Orleans for the men’s Final Four as the biggest blue bloods in basketball compete to cut down the net.

While the hype surrounding Coach K‘s final season was storybook enough to carry March Madness, a higher power has anointed another chapter: for the first time ever, Duke and North Carolina will face each other in the Final Four.

This means big bucks for CBS and hot air time for advertisers. Thankfully, the kids on the court won’t be completely boxed out when it comes to their own earnings — as players are now eligible to make money off their name, image, and likeness (NIL).

Caleb Love of the North Carolina Tar Heels taking on St. Peter’s in the Elite Eight at the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Powder blue ballers like Caleb Love have been getting to the green since the school year started. Off the court, the crafty combo guard has scored paid posts with the likes of Outback Steakhouse and the Bojangles chicken chain.

On the court, he’s branded himself as Chapel Hill’s resident sneakerhead, rotating retro Air Jordan 11s — from 2021’s “Cool Grey” launch all the way back to 2013’s “Gamma Blue” makeup. (The latter, produced when Caleb was only 13 years old.)

All season long, the St. Louis-raised sophomore has balled exclusively in patent leather retros, shelving team-wide seeded takes in favor of favorites that fetch hundreds of dollars each on StockX. For fans of footwear, it’s made Caleb’s tournament explosion all the more memorable.

Across the court, Duke phenom Paolo Banchero can play in his pick of Nike Kyrie models set to shades of black and royal, including Blue Devil branding not sold in stores. When the game pauses for TV timeouts, Paolo will still remain on screen — starring in an advertisement for retail chain JD Sports that debuted during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.

Notably, the commercial starts with international artist SAINt JHN getting fitted for sweats before closing with the Duke freshman sifting through passports on a train. It’s just one of many paid partnerships for the future lottery pick, as he is also backed by the likes of Panini and 2K Sports.

Though Paolo might play in team-exclusive Nikes, his NIL excellence has afforded him to lace favorites from Off-White, Yeezy, and Air Jordan off the court. For many college kids, paid posts can keep them fresh in their free time.

Being stylish on and off the court as an NCAA All-American isn’t new in 2022, but it’s definitely heightened.

Fans of amateur athletics have long loved a campus hero unafraid to express themselves through footwear, and today’s loaded landscape benefits from an evolved business model. Between school sponsorships and additional discretionary income, the “feet heat” associated with college basketball is as awesome as ever in the NIL era.

How did we get here?

And where is it going?

The 2000s: A Different Durham

John Gilchrist (left) of Maryland with Daniel Ewing of the Duke Blue Devils, 2004 (Craig Jones/Getty Images)

When Daniel Ewing arrived at Duke 20 seasons ago, he had one thing on his mind: winning.

Well, maybe two.

“I always had a love for sneakers,” the Blue Devil legend told Boardroom. “I always wanted to look good on the court and feel good about myself.”

Rocking No. 5 in Durham decades before Paolo played, Ewing famously rocked a rotation of celebrated sneakers that still impresses today. As a four-year favorite, the Houston-raised point guard played in Nike Air Raid retros, pairs Penny Hardaway popularized, and an array of Air Jordans despite playing for Mike’s arch-rival.

Deeply inspired by Deion Sanders’ “look good, play good” mantra, Ewing color coordinated the same styles of Bo Jackson trainers and retro Jordans that his older brothers had growing up. The seed was planted to be a sneakerhead in Ewing’s youth, allowing him to fully flourish as an All-ACC standout.

Ewing had it made.

What he didn’t have was NIL.

Lee Melchionni, J.J. Redick, Daniel Ewing, and Duke huddling against Georgia Tech, 2005. (Sporting News via Getty Images)

“Back then, you could go to the mall and get a pair of shoes,” recalled Ewing. “There were a select few Jordans where you had to make a call to have someone hold a pair, but there wasn’t the SNKRS app. You could go to the mall on a random day, and you might find yourself some gems. If you had the bread to get them, you’d grab a pair or two.”

Because Duke was a Nike school, and a conservative one at that, Ewing had access to an array of team shoes — but none that spoke to his own style. Because of this, he’d break his own bank to break out heat on the hardwood.

This scenario wasn’t singular to Ewing, but it could be avoided by selecting the right school for sneakers. Across the country, the Cincinnati Bearcats benefitted from being a Jordan Brand school, notoriously receiving retro releases by the truckload.

“When Kenny Satterfield and DerMarr Johnson came in, they were definitely getting taken care of,” former Bearcat guard Alex Meacham told Boardroom in December. “They got Air Jordan 15s way before anybody else. Pete Mickeal even had the White/Red ones.”

Conversely, Ewing searched high and low to find shoes to wear in The Tobacco Road rivalry.

“If they were a Duke colorway? I was wearing them in a game,” said Ewing, who can’t help but look at the NIL-era sneakerheads in college and laugh: “Had I been able to go in the vault and pull out anything? C’mon.”

In the early 2000s, Ewing and other student-athlete stars were breaking necks while balling on a budget. Even All-American Jameer Nelson had to phone a friend for his “Cool Grey” Air Jordan 11s as a standout at Saint Joseph’s.

“There’s an abundance of opportunities for athletes now with NIL,” Ewing said. “I think the sky would be the limit for a guy like myself, having the accolades I had coming out of high school and signing with Duke. I couldn’t put a value on it, but it would be crazy.”

Though sneaker brands targeted teen talent since the ’70s and wooed college coaches with big bags since that same era, appealing to the “sneakerhead” didn’t really start as a recruiting technique until the latter parts of the early aughts. In 2006, Compton prospect Patrick Christopher chose Cal as his college much in part to their Jordan Brand sponsorship.

Greg Oden of the Ohio State Buckeyes posting up against Courtney Sims of the Michigan Wolverines, 2007 (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Still, he’d hunt down rarities released years prior on eBay to break out in big games.

Nike noticed this behavior, leveraging their pro power and college connections to better outfit whichever college kid they thought to be next.

Only reserved for the highest-profile players or most touted teams, guys like Greg Oden and his running mates got their own LeBron exclusives at Ohio State. Similarly, Arizona point guard Jerryd Bayless benefitted from Kobe colorways not sold in stores.

By the 2010s, it was clear that to be a top collegiate program — regardless of brand — you had to up the ante on the shoes you were providing your sponsored schools.

While the next generation of preps enjoyed these perks, they promised to take it a step further.

The 2010s: PEs, Not Matching, and More

Throughout the 2010s, retros reigned on the NCAA hardwood, skewing slightly to Jordans that returned in the decade prior rather than other statement shoes rooted in the ’90s. Conversely, new Nike favorites made for Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving began to blossom.

Kentucky Wildcats guard Tyler Ulis against the Ohio State Buckeyes ( Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

In turn, the signature shoes for the pro players became the team takes for the college kids. No longer was it only Oregon getting green Nike LeBron PEs, but schools like Kentucky saw their own blue Kobe colorways. This proved true at Adidas, with Kansas clad in Rock Chalk renditions of the Dame Lillard line.

While the game was evolving by amplifying marquee models through school exclusives, the real power is always in the zag. Famously, the 2012-13 Texas team took the court in “Nerf” Nike KD IVs. Limited to only 300 pairs, Kevin Durant‘s alma mater was the talk of college hoops thanks to having shoes sent otherwise only to Wale and Drake.

Nike KD IV “Nerf” via Nike, Inc

Around that same time, not matching became the new matching.

Kemba Walker went rogue at UConn, wearing aqua-accented Jordans with his navy and red uniform. This trend took over from Storrs, Connecticut, to Spokane, Washington — with kids still in grade school looking up to the new crop of college talent the same way Ewing wanted to be like Mike or even The Fab 5.

“I watched Kemba Walker and Shabazz Napier on TV throughout their tournament run switching shoes each game,” former UConn guard Jalen Adams told Boardroom. “UConn was able to build that relationship with Nike where we got PEs that nobody had. That was a big thing for me, being able to show my fashion side on the court while performing.”

Once enrolled at UConn in 2015, Adams kept the legacy alive by breaking out rare retros and team exclusives in the same spirit seen by Kemba and Shabazz years prior.

Jalen Adams of the Connecticut Huskies at the 2K Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden, 2018 (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

In 2018, he took collegiate heat to new heights by breaking out something special for a big game at The Mecca.

“Once people started noticing that I was a big fan of foot fire, I was able to come together with people who had connections,” said Adams. “I saved up so that once they came out with the Off-White basketball shoes, I had them. I saved them for when we played at Madison Square Garden. That was huge.”

Like Ewing a decade-and-a-half before, Adams saved money and made friends so that he could play in the rarest of releases. Unlike those days at Duke when a pair of retro Jordans retailed for $150, the Off-White x Nike Hyperdunk dropped in Virgil Abloh‘s “The Ten” for a box price of $200.

Today, that shoe sells for almost $3,000 depending on the resale site.

“StockX, GOAT? That’s where I was spending a lot of my money,” added Adams, who left UConn in 2019 — three seasons before NIL began. “If I was able to promote them while also benefiting myself? That would’ve been huge for me.”

When looking at the first season of NIL in NCAA hoops, plenty of brazen ballers have been leveraging their likeness for the “foot fire” Adams and others long sought.

The 2020s: NIL & the New Old

Dalen Terry of the Arizona Wildcats at the 2022 Pac-12 Conference basketball tournament championship game, 2022 (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

From Bojangles to Buffalo Wild Wings, college kids are eating off NIL.

This is true in hoop havens like Chapel Hill or Durham as well as in Tucson.

Standing 6-foot-7 and possessing the ability to make and finish plays, Arizona Wildcats guard Dalen Terry epitomizes heat and highlights in 2022. More modern than his predecessors, Terry takes on-court flair to another level from his look-away passes to his three-point celebrations. While all-conference accolades and air-guitar antics make Terry a fan favorite in Tucson, it’s his shoe game that makes him a man among boys.

“All my teammates are like, ‘You’re gonna be like PJ Tucker!’ Terry said, smiling. “And I go, ‘Nah, I’m gonna be better. I just started earlier than him.'”

Terry balls in heat at the house Lute Olson built, and he flexes in fits on the platforms Mark Zuckerberg owns. Terry is a trendsetter on the hardwood and in the boardroom.

“Dalen was able to leverage his social media following with a post endorsing Reebok kicks sponsored by Champs Sports, even though his team is sponsored by Nike,” Julian Aiken, athlete advisor at PWRFWD, told Boardroom. “While rare, these types of deals are possible if your brand’s strong enough to endorse kicks off the court.”

As Terry tells it, Champs Sports reached out to collab. In short order, Terry agreed and shot the promotional video on campus. At the time of publishing, Terry’s paid post has already amassed almost 12,000 views. The pair profiled in the video was a “Pink Toe” take on the Reebok Question: an Allen Iverson signature shoe from 1997 that newly named Seton Hall coach Shaheen Holloway wore when he played for the Pirates.

While the Reebok Question has Cinderella slipper stories in the rich history of March Madness, the paid post provided Terry with his first pair. In fact, he liked them so much that he bought a few more colorways to wear off-court. Champs Sports aside, Terry pulls income from Vibe Boost NFT, local ice cream shop The Screamery, and even his own clothing brand, Publicly Private.

University of Arizona Wildcats guard Dalen Terry during the first half of a basketball game on December 15, 2021 at the McKale Center in Tucson, AZ. (Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“It helped a lot,” Terry told Boardroom when asked about NIL and its impact on his shoe game. “I’m using my money wisely. I save some, for sure. But as a sneakerhead? You’ve always gotta get a pair of shoes. Whenever I get a little extra money, I look for some old kicks to see what I can bring out next.”

Terry’s love of his sneakers started in his youth. He cites middle school as the turning point.

“I used to save all my money from chores and spend it on shoes,” Terry said. “Christmas time? I’m getting shoes every year. That’s since sixth grade.”

Though Terry boasts access to an Arizona equipment room lauded as legendary, he takes his rotation a step further by buying the basketball shoes he wanted when he was dreaming of this day.

“I like the older stuff,” admitted Terry. “All the Kobes, the old Hyperdunks, KD 4s, KD 5s, KD 6s. I’ve been looking for the Krispy Kreme Kyrie 2s for the longest. I like a lot of the old LeBron Soldiers from when he was with Cleveland in the beginning.”

For a 19-year-old like Terry, the old stuff is what was once new to a 2000s star like Daniel Ewing or even a 2010s talent like Tyler Jerome. As an Arizona enrollee and member of Gen Z, the golden era for Nike Basketball begins with landing LeBron and ends with Kobe scoring 60. Though Terry still favors fly flavors from Off-White and Balenciaga when arriving at games, his affinity for new nostalgia proves apparent on court.

Such was the case as Terry’s sophomore season ended in the Sweet 16 at the hands of the Jordan Brand-sponsored Houston Cougars. Leading the Wildcats in points, rebounds, and assists, Terry also outshined all by breaking out the “All-Star” Nike Kobe 1 Protro — a style worn by Bryant back in 2006, only to be revised and re-released in 2018.

Terry was three years old when Kobe first wore the asymmetrical style from Nike and was just old enough to drive to his Compton Magic AAU games when they resurfaced. Though Terry can always go to the equipment room and grab a pair of team-toned Kyries or other Nike Basketball new releases, he frequents consignment shops and searches eBay for all the pairs that alluded him as a kid.

Former Virginia star Ty Jerome, now a guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, takes the same approach as a pro.

“What appealed to you as a kid that you couldn’t have? Now that you have access to it, you’re going to gravitate to it,” Jerome told Boardroom. At Virginia, Jerome was able to cut down the nets in a pair of Nike Kobe Protros just as Terry dreamed of doing.

If Terry returns to Tucson to chase a title, his top competition on foot will be teammate Shane Nowell. The fellow Wildcat benefits from a big brother playing in the NBA — Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jaylen Nowell — and shares the same shoe size as Terry. Because of this, the two often swap shoes throughout the season.

Back on campus, Terry’s already taken home a NIL deal with FashionNova. With that income, he hopes to play in DeMar DeRozan’s patent leather Protro PEs the next time he takes the court — whether at Arizona for another season or in the NBA.

“I’m weighing my options, but whatever I do next? There’s gonna be some crazy kicks involved,” Terry promised.

Who’s Got Next?

There’s no telling just where NIL will go from here.

Months ago, prep phenom Shaedon Sharpe made headlines by signing a deal with sneaker community SoleSavy. Though early enrollment and NBA lottery projections may keep Sharpe from ever playing a game at Rupp Arena, his shoe rotation and earnings are already in good shape.

Similarly, if Caleb Love comes back to Carolina for his junior season, he’s built equity as a fan favorite and sneaker superstar. In a Sweet 16 showdown with UCLA, Love started the game in “Space Jam” 11s before pulling a PJ Tucker at halftime, switching into the same silo in its very rare “Ultimate Gift of Flight” colorway.

Caleb Love #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels in action against the UCLA Bruins during the Sweet 16 round of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Wells Fargo Center on March 25, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

The move worked as Love caught fire in the second half, scoring 27 more points and punching a ticket to the next round. Just the same, it could earn him a deal with a sneaker supplier.

Moving forward, athlete advisors like Julian Aiken are estimating that value for current athletes while monitoring moves in the market. Next season and beyond, Aiken sees big brands in the sneaker space centering on hyper-focused demographic marketing as a way to allow global brands to dive deeper into college communities with messaging that matters.

Previews of this have been seen in campaigns such as Champion’s L.A.-based ad starring UCLA softball star Maya Brady as well as Adidas’ announcement to directly pay players attending three-stripe-sponsored schools

“Players now have money to invest in things such as social media strategy and content without having to spend time worrying if their family will be able to attend their home games,” Aiken explained. “Athletes will now be able to build out the visions and brand they know themselves to be.”

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The post The Evolution of the Student-Athlete Sneakerhead appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> https://boardroom.tv/evolution-student-athlete-sneakers/feed/ 0 The Evolution of the Student-Athlete Sneakerhead - Boardroom The best ballers in college hoops have rocked retros on the game's greatest stages. With NIL, sneakerheads can afford it like never before. basketball,caleb love,Dalen Terry,Duke Blue Devils,Kevin Durant,Kyrie Irving,LeBron James,NCAA,Nike,NIL,North Carolina Tar Heels,Paolo Banchero,sneakers,sneakerheads Saint Peter’s v North Carolina PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 27: Caleb Love #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dribbles the ball during the second half of the game against the St. Peter's Peacocks in the Elite Eight round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Center on March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) Duke v Maryland GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 14: John Gilchrist #11 of the Maryland Terrapins stans next to Daniel Ewing #5 the Duke Blue Devils in the ACC Championship game on March 14, 2004 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Terps won 95-87 in overtime. (Photo by Craig Jones/Getty Images) Sporting News NCAA Basketball Tourney Collection NCAA College Basketball Championship - Duke Lee Melchionni, J.J. Redick, Daniel Ewing, huddle against Georgia Tech during the ACC Tournament at the MCI Center in Washington, DC, on March 13, 2005. Duke won 69-64. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images/Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals: Michigan v Ohio State CHICAGO - MARCH 09: Greg Oden #20 of the Ohio State Buckeyes posts up against Courtney Sims #44 of the Michigan Wolverines during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Conference Tournament March 9, 2007 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Ohio St. won 72-62. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) NCAA BASKETBALL: DEC 19 CBS Sports Classic – Kentucky v Ohio State 19 DEC 2015: Kentucky Wildcats guard Tyler Ulis (3) during the first half of the CBS Sports Classic game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Ohio State Buckeyes played at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn,NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire) (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) KDnerf1_5816 Nike KD IV "Nerf" via Nike, Inc 2K Empire Classic NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Jalen Adams #4 of the Connecticut Huskies reacts in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the championship game of the 2K Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) UCLA v Arizona LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 12: Dalen Terry #4 of the Arizona Wildcats reacts after hitting a a 3-pointer against the UCLA Bruins during the Pac-12 Conference basketball tournament championship game at T-Mobile Arena on March 12, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats defeated the Bruins 84-76. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) COLLEGE BASKETBALL: DEC 15 Northern Colorado at Arizona TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 15: University of Arizona Wildcats guard Dalen Terry during the first half of a basketball game between the University of Northern Colorado Bears and the University of Arizona Wildcats on December 15, 2021 at the McKale Center in Tucson, AZ. (Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – Sweet 16 – Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 25: Caleb Love #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels in action against the UCLA Bruins during the Sweet 16 round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Wells Fargo Center on March 25, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) Loading 2022 Men’s Final Four: Where the Blue Bloods Battle https://boardroom.tv/mens-final-four-duke-unc-villanova-kansas/ Fri, 01 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=26374 The 2022 men’s Final Four brings together four of the most successful programs in the sport, three Hall of Fame coaches, two bitter rivals, and one outgoing legend. It must be something about New

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]]> The 2022 men’s Final Four brings together four of the most successful programs in the sport, three Hall of Fame coaches, two bitter rivals, and one outgoing legend.

It must be something about New Orleans. Every time the men’s Final Four lands in the Big Easy, we get a legendary moment or performance.

Literally. Every time. Here’s a quick look at the history of the Final Four in NOLA:

  • 1982: A North Carolina freshman named Michael Jordan hit a jumper with 15 seconds left to lift the Tar Heels over mighty Georgetown in the championship game. It was the moment that Jordan truly arrived on the national scene.
  • 1987: Indiana’s Keith Smart hit the game-winner in the title game against Syracuse, sealing an undefeated season for the Hoosiers. No team has finished a season unbeaten since.
  • 1993: Chris Webber’s infamous blunder helped North Carolina beat Michigan in the championship game. With Michigan down two, the Wolverine sophomore tried to call a timeout when facing a Tar Heel trap. Only Michigan didn’t have any timeouts remaining, resulting in a technical foul, and UNC was able to clinch the game at the line.
  • 2003: Hakim Warrick had “The Block” in the final seconds as Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim avenged his 1987 loss with a win over Kansas for the Orange’s only national title. This Final Four wasn’t lacking for star power, as Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse) and Dwyane Wade (Marquette) both made it to the Superdome.
  • 2012: This Final Four featured one of the best rivalries in college basketball — Kentucky vs. Louisville — and a positively dominant force in the Wildcats’ Anthony Davis. Few championship games in college basketball history could match the talent level of the Kentucky vs. Kansas title game, with eight of the 10 starters going on to be NBA Draft picks, including six first-rounders. AD was, of course, the No. 1 overall selection that June.

So what sort of historic moment does New Orleans have in store for us this year? While we can’t predict buzzer-beaters or game-changing plays, we know that Mike Krzyzewski is going to coach his last game on either Saturday or Monday, and that Duke and North Carolina will meet in the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. But there’s so much more going on than the obvious. Let’s take a look at each participant in this blue-blood-heavy event.

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(1) Kansas Jayhawks vs. (2) Villanova Wildcats, 6:09 p.m. ET, TBS

Kansas

Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,135
Endowment: $1.81 billion
Men’s Basketball Operating Expenses: $2,805,940

Head Coach: Bill Self (19th season, fourth Final Four)
2021-22: 32-6 (14-4 Big 12, Big 12 Tournament champions)
Final Four History: 16 Final Fours, 3 National Championships (Most recent: 2008)

What to Know: Senior guard Ochai Agbaji is the name to know. He leads the Jayhawks in scoring (18.9 PPG) and shoots just under 40% from three. He’s destined to hear his name called in the first round of the NBA Draft — probably in the lottery — and is the 2022 Big 12 Player of the Year. Agbaji has been about as consistent as they come, scoring in double figures in every game but two this season. He’s coming off a masterful performance in the Elite Eight against Miami. Kansas’s opponent, Villanova, has been known to churn out elite guards for as long as Jay Wright has been head coach, but the Wildcats, who boast one of the best defenses in the country, will have their hands full to contain Agbaji.

Memorable March Moment: Chalmers for the tie!

Villanova

Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,812
Endowment: $1.12 billion
Men’s Basketball Operating Budget: $3,590,384

Head Coach: Jay Wright (21st season, fourth Final Four)
2021-22: 30-7 (16-4 Big East, Big East tournament champions)
Final Four History: 7 Final Fours, 3 National Championships (Most recent: 2018)

What to Know: Is it possible for a 2 seed to be an afterthought? Because it seems like the Wildcats have been for much of the tournament, and they are again in the Final Four. With minutes-leader Justin Moore suffering a season-ending injury in the final minute of the Wildcats’ Elite Eight win over Houston, they have every excuse to lay an egg against Kansas. Don’t expect them to. Villanova is as disciplined as they come, led by ever-steady head coach Jay Wright and Big East Player of the Year Collin Gillespie. Villanova won’t beat itself, leading the nation in free throw percentage and rarely turning the ball over. It also plays at an incredibly slow pace, dictating the tempo and limiting possessions — perfect for a group as efficient offensively as the Wildcats. Kansas might win the game, but it won’t be because Villanova wasn’t prepared.

Memorable March Moment: Jenkins’ buzzer-beater

(2) Duke Blue Devils vs. (8) North Carolina Tar Heels, 8:49 p.m., TBS

Duke

Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,717
Endowment: $12.7 billion
Men’s Basketball Operating Expenses: $1,799,635

Head Coach: Mike Krzyzewski (41st season, 13th Final Four)
2021-22: 32-6 (16-4 ACC)
Final Four History: 17 Final Fours, 5 National Championships (Most recent: 2015)

What to Know: This is a different Duke team than the one that North Carolina blew out less than a month ago. At the time, the Blue Devils appeared to be too young, overcome by the moment as the sports world celebrated Coach K’s final game at Cameron Indoor. But at some point since then, Duke flipped a switch. The Blue Devils showed poise in holding off Michigan State in the Second Round, then followed that up by scoring 78 in consecutive games against two elite defenses in Texas Tech and Arkansas. Paolo Banchero might be the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA Draft, but Duke is so much more than its freshman phenom (though Banchero has been awesome in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 18.5 points and shooting 51% form the field). AJ Griffin, Mark Williams, and Wendell Moore have all come up huge at points throughout March.

Memorable March Madness Moment: The Shot

North Carolina

Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,742
Endowment: $5.1 billion
Men’s Basketball Operating Expenses: $2,766,573

Head Coach: Hubert Davis (First season)
2021-22: 28-9 (15-5 ACC)
Final Four History: 21 Final Fours, 6 National Championships (Most recent: 2017)

What to Know: Much like Duke turning it around after its season finale, North Carolina had a similar turning point. For the Heels, it came on Feb. 16 when they lost at home to ACC cellar-dweller Pittsburgh. At that point, North Carolina was almost certainly on the outside of the tournament bubble, looking in. Since then? They’ve netted 10 wins to just one loss, with triumphs over Duke, Baylor, and UCLA. Junior Armando Bacot has posted a double-double in all six of the Tar Heels’ postseason games so far, including 20 points and 22 rebounds against Cinderella squad St. Peter’s in the Elite Eight. On the wing, Caleb Love has the potential to catch fire and has two games so far in the tournament in which he made six threes. And that’s not even mentioning Brady Manek, who has scored in double figures in every game since Jan. 29. Bacot, Love, and Manek were all named to the East Region all-tournament team and could each be the reason North Carolina’s run continues.

Memorable March Moment: Jordan’s game-winner

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The post 2022 Men’s Final Four: Where the Blue Bloods Battle appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> 2022 Men's Final Four: Where the Blue Bloods Battle - Boardroom Get set for a Final Four that brings together four top programs, three Hall of Fame coaches, two bitter rivals, and one departing legend. basketball,Bill Self,college sports,Duke Blue Devils,Final Four,Kansas Jayhawks,March Madness,North Carolina Tar Heels,Villanova Wildcats,Final Four Loading Loading March Madness Betting Guide: Sweet 16 Thursday https://boardroom.tv/march-madness-betting-guide-sweet-16-thursday/ https://boardroom.tv/march-madness-betting-guide-sweet-16-thursday/#respond Thu, 24 Mar 2022 04:01:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=25364 Powered by numberFire and FanDuel Get ready for Duke, Arizona, Gonzaga, and more on first night of the men’s NCAA Tournament’s second weekend with FanDuel Sportsbook. The NCAA tournament rolls on with the Sweet

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]]> Powered by numberFire and FanDuel

Get ready for Duke, Arizona, Gonzaga, and more on first night of the men’s NCAA Tournament’s second weekend with FanDuel Sportsbook.

The NCAA tournament rolls on with the Sweet 16 getting underway at 7:09 pm ET on Thursday night.

Filling out a bracket is the main attraction for most sports fans this time of year, but the fun doesn’t have to stop there. It’s also the perfect opportunity to place some bets at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Which games should draw our attention in the Sweet 16? Let’s find out.

Please note that lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. Please check here to make sure you’re seeing the most updated information.

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(1) Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. (4) Arkansas Razorbacks

While numberFire’s model doesn’t give the Arkansas Razorbacks much of a shot at winning against the top overall seed, it likes their chances of covering a spread that’s crept up to 9.5 points on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Unsurprisingly, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are the nation’s best team, per KenPom and BartTorvik, but the Razorbacks are hardly pushovers as roughly a top-20 team on both sites.

Defensively, these are two of the better teams left in the tournament, too. According to BartTorvik, Gonzaga ranks eighth in adjusted defense while Arkansas is 12th.

But it’s on offense where these squads diverge. The Bulldogs own the second-best adjusted offense, whereas the Razorbacks are a solid but unspectacular 63rd.

Perhaps Arkansas’ most troubling area is shooting from beyond the arc, as they rank just 313th out of 358 teams in three-point percentage. They made just 3-of-16 threes in their second-round win over New Mexico State, and they’ll certainly have to do better than that to keep pace with the Bulldogs.

On the bright side, they get to the charity stripe frequently, ranking 15th in free throw rate. That’s played out in their tournament games, with Arkansas attempting 25 free throws in each of their first two matchups while converting 84.0% of them.

Meanwhile, despite Gonzaga’s stellar metrics, they haven’t exactly breezed through their first two games, letting a 16 seed, Georgia State, hang around for far longer than expected and then defeating Memphis by just four points.

The Razorbacks will need to up their offensive game for any chance at the upset, but their stellar defense should help them keep things close. Arkansas had wins over quality opponents like Kentucky, Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU down the stretch, all of whom are top 25 squads on KenPom and BartTorvik.

Our model thinks backing Arkansas and the points has a 62.28% likelihood of hitting.

(2) Duke Blue Devils vs. (3) Texas Tech Red Raiders

According to BartTorvik, guess which college basketball team has played the best ball over the last 10 games?

That would be the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Not only do the Red Raiders own the country’s best adjusted defense over that stretch, but they’re tops for the entire season.

They should be able to give the Duke Blue Devils everything they can handle, and it’s telling that the lower-seeded Red Raiders are the ones who are favored by one point. While both teams are top 10 squads on KenPom and BartTorvik, Texas Tech is actually the higher-rated one on both sites.

Of course, stopping Duke’s elite offense won’t come easy. The Blue Devils have the third-best adjusted offense this season and the very best one over the last 10 games. That being said, there isn’t a single ACC team that’s top-35 in adjusted defense, so Duke isn’t used to facing this kind of elite defensive play.

Additionally, the Blue Devils’ own defense hasn’t been so hot lately, as they rank 168th in adjusted defensive efficiency over their last 10. Specifically, they struggle to force turnovers, ranking 308th in turnover rate this year.

While Texas Tech’s adjusted offense can’t hang with some of the elite units left in the tourney, they’re still a top-50 unit overall and will get a nice boost if Duke continues to lag defensively.

Overall, the Red Raiders look like a deserving favorite, and we should like their chances of winning and covering the minuscule spread.

(1) Arizona Wildcats vs. (5) Houston Cougars

The Houston Cougars entered the tournament as an under-seeded team, and they’ve looked the part, eliminating both UAB and Illinois by double-digit points on their way to the Sweet 16.

This will be their toughest test yet, though, as they now find themselves as 1.5-point underdogs to the top seed in their region, the Arizona Wildcats.

But you could make the argument that it’s the Cougars who should actually be slight favorites, particularly after the Wildcats needed overtime to sneak by TCU (9-seed) to even make it this far.

Houston is now ranked as the second-best team in the country by both KenPom and BartTorvik, whereas Arizona comes in at third and eighth.

Per BartTorvik, the Cougars are a top-10 squad in adjusted offense (ninth) and adjusted defense (sixth). Only top-ranked Gonzaga can say the same.

On the other hand, while the Wildcats boast the seventh-best adjusted offense, they’re 28th in adjusted defense. Arizona’s defense has fallen off over their last 10 outings, too, just barely sitting inside the top 100 over that span.

Any way you slice it, there’s value in backing a Houston team that still doesn’t seem to be getting enough credit. numberFire’s model tends to agree, giving the Cougars a 54.72% chance of covering. Given the small spread, you can also opt for the Houston moneyline (+100) as well.

— Kenyatta Storin

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The post March Madness Betting Guide: Sweet 16 Thursday appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> https://boardroom.tv/march-madness-betting-guide-sweet-16-thursday/feed/ 0 Loading Loading Past March Madness Darlings Who Would Have Struck NIL Gold https://boardroom.tv/5-march-madness-darlings-nil/ https://boardroom.tv/5-march-madness-darlings-nil/#respond Sat, 19 Mar 2022 13:15:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=22313 With March Madness underway, Boardroom takes a look at a few former NCAA Tournament darlings who would have likely scored big name, image and likeness deals. The NFL leaves sports fans starved for big-scale

The post Past March Madness Darlings Who Would Have Struck NIL Gold appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> With March Madness underway, Boardroom takes a look at a few former NCAA Tournament darlings who would have likely scored big name, image and likeness deals.

The NFL leaves sports fans starved for big-scale spectacle once the Super Bowl is over in February, and men’s and women’s college basketball happily take the torch with the NCAA Tournament.

Brackets are full of predictions that will be busted by the end of the First Round because March Madness has its name for a reason — any team, from the 1 seeds to the double-digit seeds — can put together a run. And with those memorable March moments come the stars who made it possible. From Harold “The Show” Arceneaux to Maya Moore to Stephen Curry, some players are just made for the big stage.

But this year’s editions of March Madness are a little different. The NCAA changed its name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules last summer, allowing student-athletes to profit off their personal brands. The NCAA Tournament is, far and away, the biggest stage basketball players have had since then to really take advantage.

The question has to be asked: Which March Madness darlings of yesteryear would have benefitted the most from the NIL era? There are seemingly infinite answers, but here are a few that come to mind:

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Steph Curry, G, Davidson

  • Year: 2008
  • Tournament Result: Elite Eight loss to Kansas
  • Remembered for: Attracting NBA players to the games

Long before he became the greatest three-point shooter in NBA history, Curry dazzled college basketball fans for three years at Davidson.

Davidson was the only Division I school to offer Curry a scholarship, and when the Wildcats were invited to the Big Dance as a 10-seed in 2008, he made sure to take advantage of the national spotlight. During his collegiate career, Curry faced the infamous “triangle and 2” defense, where two defenders focused solely on Steph and the other three defenders played a zone.

It was Curry’s sophomore campaign when the Wildcats made the NCAA Tournament. Their first opponent was No. 7 Gonzaga — at the time, another “mid-major” program that has grown to be the top seed of the 2022 tourney. Steph scored 40 of the team’s 82 points in their six-point win. Every point mattered, as Davidson trailed by as many as 13 in the second half.

The victory earned Davidson a ticket to the Second Round to face No. 2 Georgetown. Again, the Wildcats found themselves down by double digits. And 36 momentum-building points from Curry later, the Wildcats advanced to the Sweet 16.

NBA stars such as Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook came to watch Chef Curry cook. Davidson defeated Wisconsin, a 3-seed, handily before succumbing to the eventual champion Kansas Jayhawks in the Elite Eight.

Davidson has failed to advance beyond the Second Round in the years since, which only heightens what could have been for Curry in an NIL-friendly NCAA.

Curry’s 2008 Tournament Highlights

Gordon Hayward, G/F, Butler

  • Year: 2010
  • Tournament Result: Title game loss to Duke
  • Remembered for: A missed half-court buzzer-beater

How can a miss propel a player to stardom?

Well, when an upstart mid-major program pulls off back-to-back runs to the national championship and that miss came THIS CLOSE to being the most memorable shot in the history of college sports, it makes a difference.

The Butler Bulldogs established themselves as one of the higher-tiered programs of the 2010s before then-head coach Brad Stevens left for the Boston Celtics. Hayward was Butler’s star, and future NBA All-Stars rarely play their college ball at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Grdon Hayward almost had March Madness magic in the 2010 Title game against Duke

In 2010, Butler faced the mighty Duke Blue Devils and battled for all 40 minutes. After a couple free throws put Duke up two in the final seconds, Butler had one desperate shot attempt left. Hayward hurried to half-court to get momentum for a one-legged heave. The ball was in the air for what felt like an eternity and came so close to banking in off the glass and in. Instead, Duke won 61-59.

Hayward was taken No. 9 overall by the Utah Jazz in that June’s NBA draft, but his collegiate star power — and appeal to potential partners — would have been immense. You rarely see projected lottery picks return to school, but the prospect of being The Guy at Butler, in a basketball-crazed state, with local brands clamoring to get him on board, would have been enticing.

Arike Ogunbowale, G, Notre Dame

  • Year: 2018
  • Tournament Result: Won national championship
  • Remembered for: Back-to-back game-winning shots

“Mamba Mentality.”

Those were the words an exasperated Ogunbowale exclaimed after making a second consecutive game-winning shot in the 2018 Final Four.

For most programs, making the Final Four is enough of a feat. But Ogunbowale, now with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings, didn’t stop there. The then-junior drained consecutive Final Four game-winners to earn the Fighting Irish their second-ever title in women’s basketball.

It was a story made for the silver screen.

After, the late Kobe Bryant — Ogunbowale’s basketball mentor and idol —surprised her on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Companies and brands would have definitely turned those shots into endorsements of some kind had NIL been around.

Kobe Bryant surprises Arike Ogunbowale on The Ellen Show to congratulate her on her NCAA Title

Eric Maynor, G, Virginia Commonwealth

  • Year: 2007
  • Tournament Result: Second Round loss to Pitt
  • Remembered for:Beating Duke on a buzzer-beater

Duke has long been the premier men’s college basketball program. This is evident by the large percentage of fans who enjoy when Duke loses, especially in March, and especially to a Cinderella like VCU.

The Rams’ 2007 victory over the Blue Devils in the First Round stands out, along with the team’s run to the national semifinal in 2011. As an 11 seed, VCU upset No. 6 Duke 79-77, and that was only because sophomore guard Eric Maynor drained a jumper from the free throw line with 1.8 seconds left to secure it.

VCU exited the tournament at the hands of No. 3 Pitt — though it took two overtimes — in the following round, but Maynor went on to lead the Rams in scoring and the CAA in assists his next two years. He was named CAA Player of the Year both seasons, too. In 2009, Maynor was selected in the first round (No. 20 overall) of the NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He currently serves as an assistant coach with the team’s G League affiliate.

Breanna Stewart, G, UConn

  • Year(s): 2013-16
  • Tournament Result: 4-time National Champion
  • Signature: Almost never losing

Stewart is already one of the most decorated basketball players ever. At 27, she is already a WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist multiple times over. But that outstanding streak of accomplishment extends back through her college career. While at UConn, Stewart’s teams went an unfathomable 151-5, including national championships in four straight years. It’s difficult to pick just one signature moment or tournament run, especially as Stewart was the best player from the moment she arrived in Storrs, Connecticut. The four-time Final Four Most Outstanding Player’s signature is her entire career. Endorsement deals and NIL sponsorships would have been pouring in every year she and the Huskies hoisted the championship trophy.

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The post Past March Madness Darlings Who Would Have Struck NIL Gold appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> https://boardroom.tv/5-march-madness-darlings-nil/feed/ 0 Past March Madness Darlings Who Would Have Struck NIL Gold - Boardroom With Mach Madness underway, Boardroom looks at a few former Tournament darlings who would have likely scored name, image and likeness deals. Arike Ogunbowale,Breanna Stewart,College Basketball,college sports,Duke Blue Devils,Gordon Hayward,NCAA,NCAA Tournament,NIL,march madness Loading Loading Coaches vs. Cancer Taps Mike Krzyzewski for Sneaker Sweepstakes https://boardroom.tv/coaches-vs-cancer-sweepstakes/ Tue, 15 Mar 2022 13:59:35 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=24201 Coach K is wrapping his iconic coaching career by auctioning off a pair of signed sneakers, worn on-court this season, with all proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society. For over 25 years, Coaches vs.

The post Coaches vs. Cancer Taps Mike Krzyzewski for Sneaker Sweepstakes appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Coach K is wrapping his iconic coaching career by auctioning off a pair of signed sneakers, worn on-court this season, with all proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society.

For over 25 years, Coaches vs. Cancer — a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches — has raised millions of dollars to help fight the disease that was diagnosed in an estimated 1.9 million new patients last year.

Through year-round fundraising efforts, education initiatives, and on-court activations, including their annual Suits and Sneakers Week, Coaches vs. Cancer taps into the passion surrounding college basketball. Since its inception, the organization has raised over $140 million.

In conjunction with the NCAA Tournament tipping off this week, Coaches vs. Cancer has partnered with digital platform Engage on a sweepstakes to raffle autographed sneakers from the biggest men’s coaches in the country, including Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, retired legend Roy Williams, Fran McCaffery of Iowa, Scott Drew of Baylor, Kelvin Sampson of Houston, Brad Underwood of Illinois, Eric Musselman of Arkansas, and many others.

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Each coach signed a pair of shoes worn on-court this season. Krzyzewski, the all-time winningest coach in Division I men’s basketball history, also donated a signed pullover and collared shirt to go along with his Nike Air Force 1s that he wore during Suits And Sneakers Week. This is Coach K’s final season before retiring, as announced last summer.

Coach K’s signed sneakers and apparel

The fight against cancer hits home especially hard for Coach McCaffery of the Big Ten champion Hawkeyes. His sons Connor and Patrick, a guard and forward, respectively, each play for the team. Patrick is a cancer survivor himself, having beat thyroid cancer that was discovered when he was in seventh grade. After redshirting his freshman season due to lingering health challenges, he’s started 31 games for Iowa this season as their third-leading scorer.

“I am always proud to participate in anything that benefits Coaches vs. Cancer,” said Fran McCaffery, first told to Boardroom. “This is an easy way for us coaches to get involved and utilize our names, and in this case, our shoes, for good. As the father of a cancer survivor, I believe that the more money we raise, the better the outcomes for cancer survivors like Patrick. What a fun opportunity for fans during the madness that is March.”

The Coaches vs. Cancer activation is even more meaningful for the McCaffery family because now with NIL opportunities, Connor can participate by contributing his own pair of signed sneakers to raise funds and celebrate his younger brother. 

“Highlighting our Coaches vs. Cancer partnership during March Madness gives us a unique opportunity to bring the mission of the American Cancer Society forward in a new way,” said Natalie Morrison, American Cancer Society’s Senior Director of Coaches vs. Cancer.  “The fundraising, advocacy, and awareness generated through the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ commitment to this program continues to make a huge impact in our fight against cancer.”

  • Roy Williams
  • Connor McCaffery
  • Scott Drew

Tipping off Tuesday and running through April 30, fans can spend as little as $10 for four entries all the way up to as high as $500 for 200 entries in the sweepstakes on Engage. All proceeds from entries benefit the American Cancer Society.

Engage’s connectivity to the initiative is authentic. The brand was co-founded by former USC long snapper Jake Olson, who is blind from a rare form of eye cancer.

“As a company overall and through Jake’s foundation and community work, we support cancer research in so many different ways,” Engage co-founder and CEO Daniel Hennes told Boardroom. “What is unique about this sweepstakes is the accessibility for all to participate, whether you want to spend $10 dollars or $500. Our focus as a brand is to democratize and digitize access to talent, and we are proud to partner with Coaches vs. Cancer to leverage the excitement of March Madness to bring incredible attention, education, and fund raising to such an important cause.”

The first round of the men’s Division I NCAA Tournament tips off Thursday.

Below are all of the participants in the Coaches vs. Cancer sweepstakes.

Isaac Brown, Wichita State

Steve Donahue, Penn

Scott Drew, Baylor

​​Steve Henson, UTSA

James Jones, Yale

Jeff Jones, Old Dominion

Mike Krzyzewski, Duke

Fran McCaffery, Iowa

Porter Moser, Oklahoma

Eric Musselman, Arkansas

Kelvin Sampson, Houston

Mark Schmidt, St. Bonaventure

Tubby Smith, High Point

Brad Underwood, Illinois

Roy Williams, retired

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]]> Loading Full-Coach-K-Package Image-from-iOS-23 Connor-McAffrey Image-from-iOS-22 Loading Lexie Brown Believes the Best is Yet to Come for the WNBA https://boardroom.tv/lexie-brown-wnba-athletes-unlimited/ https://boardroom.tv/lexie-brown-wnba-athletes-unlimited/#respond Sat, 05 Mar 2022 16:30:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=23273 The WNBA was embroiled in controversy this week. The 2018 top-10 pick is determined to find her footing, and in turn, help the W fulfill its potential. Lexie Brown was “in shock” but not

The post Lexie Brown Believes the Best is Yet to Come for the WNBA appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The WNBA was embroiled in controversy this week. The 2018 top-10 pick is determined to find her footing, and in turn, help the W fulfill its potential.

Lexie Brown was “in shock” but not surprised when she saw Sports Illustrated‘s report that the WNBA had imposed a league-record $500,000 fine on the New York Liberty for a team trip to Napa and charter flights during the second half of the 2021 season, provided by Liberty owners Joe and Clara Tsai.

The private flights “vastly exceeded the allowable compensation to players” and violated the competitive balance rules in the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

“We laughed because we were like, ‘Well, damn, must be nice,'” Brown tells Boardroom, describing her and other players’ reactions to the news. “Meanwhile, we’re eating McDonald’s in the terminal because our flight got delayed.”

“I understand that we put it in the CBA, so [the WNBA] was following the rules,” the 27-year-old free agent adds. “I was just a rookie when the new CBA was being negotiated, and I really wish I knew what we were agreeing to.”

Brown’s WNBA journey began as the No. 9 overall pick to the Connecticut Sun in the 2018 WNBA draft. She spent her rookie season in Connecticut, and then the Sun traded her to the Minnesota Lynx in April 2019. The former Duke and Maryland star stayed in Minnesota for two seasons before signing with the Chicago Sky last June.

The Sky’s subsequent championship run — the franchise’s first — marked the first time Brown flew private as a WNBA player. The league provided charter flights to the Sky and the runner-up Phoenix Mercury between Games 2 and 3 of the 2021 WNBA Finals.

Brown recalls travel days as “super long” during her Sun tenure, filled with endless delays and hours stranded in airports.

“As pros, there’s a way we have to carry ourselves, take care of our bodies and put out a good product,” she said. “The fact that we are able to do that with the way we travel is commendable. And imagine how much better things would be if we didn’t have to travel that way.”

Brown says she’s been blessed to play for the Lynx and Sun, which she says have “owners that cared for us deeply.”

“You get caught up in the nonsense of people talking about how we’re just a loss or tax write-off or a charity case for owners,” she explains. “Really, I think some of them want better for us. [That] is so refreshing to know, but [I’m] definitely disappointed in how the WNBA chose to handle this.”

Brown’s opinion is widely shared by players across the league.

Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu called the punishment “a joke.” Newly signed Los Angeles Sparks All-Star Liz Cambage tweeted three upside-down smiley emojis. In early February, Cambage criticized the WNBA’s stark pay contrasts, tweeting her plan to “spend another season upgrading my seat on a flight to get to games out of my own pocket.”

Brown knows how it looks from the outside. She is constantly reminded that it appears as if she and her peers are “complaining just to complain.” As unfair as that assumption is, Brown wants to back her chatter with impactful action. Her plan is to become a player representative and join the group of players who work with the WNBPA because “then I think I’ll actually be able to help.”

“There are some amazing things about the league, but we would be doing each other a disservice for not calling out where they need to be better,” she says, later noting, “I just love this game and this league so much. I want so much better for it.”

But before Brown can have a hand in the WNBA soaring, she must find her footing.

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Just Keep Dribbling

The Sky don’t have enough cap space to re-sign Brown for the upcoming season, tipping off May 6.

After fulfilling a dream and earning a WNBA crown alongside Diamond DeShields, her best friend since they were 13 years old, Brown was jarred back into understanding the cutthroat nature of being a professional athlete.

“Front offices and coaches should be more transparent about why players come and go,” Brown says. “Sometimes, it’s just business. More times than not, it’s business.”

Basketball has been the Brown family business since before Lexie was born.

Her dad is Dee Brown. The former NBA point guard was selected by the Boston Celtics at No. 19 overall in 1990, and he remained a Celtic until the infamous 1998 trade that sent him to Toronto. Dee finished his playing career with the Raptors (1998-00) and Orlando Magic (2000-02).

“When it comes to this, he talks about how much better the new guys have it,” Lexie Brown says about the perks of being an NBA player relative to a WNBA player. “But it took time and work and lockouts for them to get to this point. The NBA today doesn’t look like it did 10 years ago. And it shouldn’t. But again, there’s way more money in the NBA, so it’s hard to compare.”

Lexie doesn’t compare her career to her dad’s, but there are some parallels. After retiring from the NBA, Dee became the head coach of the Orlando Miracle for the 2002 season.

“I loved [the WNBA],” Lexie remembers. “The women were amazing. I always wanted to be a pro. I was young, so I don’t remember [Dee’s coaching days], but he said it was tough.”

Dee’s year with the Miracle was the franchise’s last in Orlando before relocating and rebranding as the Connecticut Sun.

Roughly 16 years later, the Sun drafted his daughter.

And Lexie immediately got a first-hand taste of how tough things could be.

“I think they don’t want us — Black women — to truly feel empowered,” she says of her experience thus far. “Even the fans, when we walk in with our nice outfits. Designer shoes and bags. People always have something weird to say — like we don’t deserve it. I know that doesn’t have anything to do with ownership, but there’s a collective feeling that [we] can’t move past that we are changing and evolving. Basketball is what we do, not who we are.”

During offseasons past, Brown has played overseas in France, Hungary, and Israel. The working conditions on those teams were considerably worse than in the WNBA. There isn’t an airplane controversy overseas because instead teams endure “lots of bus rides.”

This offseason, Brown reframed her mindset around what she can and cannot control as she searches for her next WNBA home.

Lexie Unlimited

Athletes Unlimited wrapped its five-week inaugural basketball season last weekend, and Brown finished fourth amongst all 44 players.

The groundbreaking league aims to establish itself as the go-to WNBA offseason destination, and already, it helped Brown re-establish her confidence as an accomplished talent.

“I have had a lot of negative conversation about me as to why I can’t really find my footing — or so I’ve been told,” she says. “No one can ever really tell me any specific details. Playing in AU allowed me to change my narrative and take control.”

AU Basketball took an especially empowered and innovative storytelling approach that markets players’ unique personalities. (“Everyone has a story to tell. And some of them aren’t full of trauma and drama. And that should be OK.”)

Throughout her playing career, Brown has been labeled as un-coachable.

“My college experience was incredible, even with the transfer [from Maryland to Duke],” she said. “But I did get a taste of a coach trying to tear down your character because I made a personal change. It didn’t affect me as bad as it has as a pro, but I saw how quickly things change if you just simply stand up for yourself.”

Brown has consistently prioritized her individuality over conformity, which has led to misconceptions.

“I was never problematic,” she said. “I really ended up just staying out of the way, which then was seen as ‘misunderstood’ or ‘antisocial.’ And I rolled with it. [That] was a mistake on my part because I am neither one of those things. I’m coachable [and] a positive person.”

Brown’s confidence received a much-needed boost by winning the WNBA championship in Chicago and balling out in France before the holidays.

“I just knew I needed [AU] to really show how much I’ve grown as a person and player,” she said.

AU is a players’ league in the most literal sense, as teams change from week to week, but Brown can’t wait to join a WNBA team. She believes the best is yet to come for both herself and the league.

“I want the league to see that people do care and want better for us,” she said. “It’s like we’re trapped in this space where we think everyone is hating when it’s not like that at all. I was trapped there and finally got out. I’ve been so happy ever since.”

“I think my time is coming,” Brown added. “I’m just looking forward to the future. I love seeing conversations about the W, even if it’s [controversial]. It’s better than no conversation at all.”

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The post Lexie Brown Believes the Best is Yet to Come for the WNBA appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> https://boardroom.tv/lexie-brown-wnba-athletes-unlimited/feed/ 0 Loading Loading Meet the WWE’s Inaugural College NIL Class https://boardroom.tv/wwe-nil-college-athlete-roster/ https://boardroom.tv/wwe-nil-college-athlete-roster/#respond Thu, 09 Dec 2021 16:29:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=14469 Fresno State’s Cavinder Twins and a couple of larger-than-life linemen are among the 15 athletes joining Gable Steveson in the WWE’s inaugural class of NIL athletes. On Wednesday, the WWE signed 15 college athletes

The post Meet the WWE’s Inaugural College NIL Class appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Fresno State’s Cavinder Twins and a couple of larger-than-life linemen are among the 15 athletes joining Gable Steveson in the WWE’s inaugural class of NIL athletes.

On Wednesday, the WWE signed 15 college athletes to name, image and likeness deals, rounding out its first-ever class of up-and-coming amateur talent. The sports entertainment promotion’s new program is designed to “recruit and develop potential future Superstars and further [enhance] the WWE’s talent development process,” per an official company release. 

As part of the deals, all 15 athletes will have access to the WWE performance center in Orlando, Florida. They will also have access to resources to help with brand building, media training, live event promotion, creative writing, and community relations.

And when the athletes complete the NIL program, some may have the opportunity to earn a full WWE contract. 

The athletes the WWE has signed come in all shapes and sizes and from all corners of the NCAA. There are Fresno State basketball’s Cavinder twins, Haley and Hanna, who both stand 5-foot-6, and Aleeya Hutchins, a 5-foot-5 Wake Forest track and field star. On the opposite end, there are giants like John Krahn, a 6-foot-10, 400 pound-offensive lineman at Portland State, and Dalton Wagner, a 6-foot-9, 330-pound lineman at Arkansas.

In the middle are basketball players, wrestlers, and track athletes of all stripes. Check out the full list here:

  • Carlos Aviles (Ventura, California), a 6-foot-6, 305-pound track and field athlete at Ohio State
  • Haley Cavinder (Gilbert, Arizona), a 5-foot-6 basketball player at Fresno State
  • Hanna Cavinder (Gilbert, Arizona), a 5-foot-6 basketball player at Fresno State
  • AJ Ferrari (Dallas, Texas), a 6-foot, 200-pound wrestler at Oklahoma State
  • Lexi Gordon (Fort Worth, Texas), a 6-foot basketball player at Duke
  • Aleeya Hutchins (Toronto, Ontario), a 5-foot-5 track and field athlete at Wake Forest
  • John Krahn (Riverside, California), a 7-foot, 400-pound football player at Portland State
  • Glen Logan (Kenner, Louisiana), a 6-foot-5, 305-pound football player at LSU
  • Isaac Odugbesan (Lagos, Nigeria), a 6-foot-4, 275-pound football player at Alabama
  • Mason Parris (Lawrenceburg, Indiana), a 6-foot-2, 275-pound wrestler at Michigan
  • Masai Russel (Potomac, Maryland), a 5-foot-5 track & field athlete at Kentucky
  • Jon Seaton (Hillsborough, New Jersey), a 6-foot-1, 285-pound football player at Elon
  • Joe Spivak (Lombard, Illinois), a 6-foot, 300-pound football player at Northwestern
  • Dalton Wagner (Spring Grove, Illinois), a 6-foot-9, 330-pound football player at Arkansas
  • Riley White (Hoover, Alabama), a 5-foot-6 track & field athlete at Alabama

This move to sign 15 college athletes to NIL deals is the WWE’s second step in the NIL space. Its first came in September when the organization signed heavyweight freestyle wrestler and Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to a multi-year deal. Steveson will graduate from college in May and upon graduating his contract with the WWE will begin. 

“We all saw his physical ability prior to and at the Olympics,” Nick Khan, WWE’s president and chief revenue officer, told ESPN. “What we also saw was that Gable has as much charisma as he does ability. Marketability and ability are both of great importance to us.”

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The post Meet the WWE’s Inaugural College NIL Class appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> https://boardroom.tv/wwe-nil-college-athlete-roster/feed/ 0 Loading College Basketball: 5 Personal Brands With Millionaire Potential https://boardroom.tv/college-basketball-brands-paige-bueckers/ https://boardroom.tv/college-basketball-brands-paige-bueckers/#respond Thu, 11 Nov 2021 23:19:43 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=12327 From Paige Bueckers to Emoni Bates, a look at the players with the biggest potential to grow their brands over the next few months

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]]> From Paige Bueckers to Emoni Bates, a look at the men’s and women’s players with the biggest potential to grow their brands over the next few months

With the 2021-22 college basketball season already underway, we finally have our first opportunity to see athletes hit the hardwood to play in support of their various name, image, and likeness deals. Hundreds of such deals have been signed already, with breakout performances in the coming months sure to lead to more.

With that in mind, let’s identify a starting five of players that have already cultivated impressive brands, but have a chance to grow them far, far bigger in the months and years to come — even before they start cashing checks in the pros.

Paolo Banchero

School: Duke
Class: Freshman
Position: PF
Social media following: 100K+ (82k on IG, 14k on Twitter, 3.5k on TikTok)

Paolo Banchero might not be the No. 1 rated recruit in the country, but he is the player coming in with the most hype surrounding his name. By most measures, Banchero is projected as a top-three pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and could go No. 1. His trading card deal with Panini — its first NIL signing — is one of what will be several for Banchero during what is expected to be a short stay in Durham.

The CAA client also made history as the first college athlete to organically appear in a video game: NBA 2K22. Banchero will definitely increase his value while being the stud player in Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final season.

Paige Bueckers

School: Connecticut
Class: Sophomore
Position: PG
Social media following: 1.3 million+ (930k Instagram, 336k TikTok, 56k Twitter)

Paige Bueckers is the most recognizable college basketball player in the country. With the departure of so many of last season’s superstar freshmen on the men’s side like Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley who courted similar hype, the 20-year-old Bueckers continues to expand her stardom in her sophomore season. Bueckers is a preseason All-American and will be a mainstay in college basketball up until she reaches the WNBA’s age minimum of 22.

She already has over a million total followers across social media, a reach that has an estimated market value of almost $400,000. She’s a Wasserman client, and though she decided to start things relatively slow as it relates to NIL deals, she made a major announcement on Wednesday in revealing that she has signed a deal with online marketplace StockX. She has put in a trademark for “Paige Buckets,” a nickname she’s had since high school.

Emoni Bates

School: Memphis
Class: Freshman
Position: SF
Social media following: 421K+ (395k on Instagram, 26k on Twitter)

“Yessir young King! Let’s get it!”

That’s what LeBron James commented under an Instagram post (later referenced by Sports Illustrated) from Emoni Bates. When basketball’s biggest star is keeping an eye out for a player, that player is set to have a lot of influence. Committing to Memphis and being coached by former NBA player Penny Hardaway and former NBA head coach Larry Brown will add to a profile that Bates and his team have been building since he was a freshman in high school.

Versatility is the name of his hoop game and will also be the theme behind his NIL deals. He has signed with Raymond Brothers and Roc Nation, with potential seven-figure earnings on the horizon. As the college basketball season moves along and his pro career approaches, Bates’ value will surely increase.

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Kofi Cockburn

School: Illinois
Class: Junior
Position: C
Social following: 102K+ (79k Instagram, 23k Twitter)

Upperclassmen have star power, too and the Illini have themselves a big star in junior Kofi Cockburn. The seven-footer will miss the first three games of this season thanks to a suspension for selling memorabilia before NIL rules permitting the practice went into effect, but that will not lessen his value or influence. Cockburn signed a deal with T/CCI Manufacturing along with about 20 other athletes for use of his name, image, and likeness rights, and the company is already are using the hashtag #CoolLikeKofi.

“I’m just excited to work within the community,” Cockburn said in a team release. “The opportunity to use my basketball platform to help everyone grow and succeed makes me appreciate where I am and everything we can do here. This is going to be really special. So much is changing today in our environment, our workplace, and our mental wellness and to be part of the message of growth and advancement is an opportunity of a lifetime.”

Azzi Fudd

School: Connecticut
Class: Freshman
Position: SG
Social following: 174K+ (163k Instagram, 11k Twitter)

Bueckers’ new teammate and longtime friend may not have quite as much name recognition by comparison (yet), but Azzi Fudd was as heralded a high school basketball player as there has been in recent memory. Even after suffering a knee injury her high school sophomore season in FIBA 3×3 play, Fudd remained the nation’s No. 1 recruit in her class for the full remainder of her high school career. That sophomore year, she even beat Bueckers out for Gatorade Player of the Year — the first sophomore girl to win the award.

The spotlight will find Fudd, and her brand will surely grow at UConn; the Fairfax, Virginia native has already signed an NIL deal with Chipotle and has appeared in a commercial for TikTok alongside fellow Virginia product Allen Iverson.

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]]> https://boardroom.tv/college-basketball-brands-paige-bueckers/feed/ 0 College Basketball: 5 Personal Brands With Millionaire Potential - Boardroom From Paige Bueckers to Emoni Bates, a look at the college basketball players with the most potential to grow their brands over the next few months basketball,College Basketball,college sports,Duke Blue Devils,NCAA,NIL,Paige Bueckers,Paolo Banchero,sports business,UConn Huskies,Women's Sports,college basketball Loading Why Duke vs. Kentucky Was College Basketball’s Perfect Tip-off https://boardroom.tv/duke-kentucky-champions-classic-2021/ https://boardroom.tv/duke-kentucky-champions-classic-2021/#comments Wed, 10 Nov 2021 18:41:55 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=12480 The Blue Devils and Wildcats played a competitive Champions Classic game Tuesday that sharply previewed what’s to come — both on and off the court — in 2021-22. On a college basketball opening night

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]]> The Blue Devils and Wildcats played a competitive Champions Classic game Tuesday that sharply previewed what’s to come — both on and off the court — in 2021-22.

On a college basketball opening night in which over 300 Division I men’s teams took the court, one game was always going to stand above the others — and it lived up to the billing.

Duke beat Kentucky 79-71 in the State Farm Champions Classic in a battle of bluebloods in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden.

It would be foolish to draw too many conclusions from one game out of what will be close to 40 for each team, but after an offseason solely made of speculation, there are a few takeaways we can

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Trevor Keels: Remember the Name

It’s easy to forget now, but before the 2018 Champions Classic, Zion Williamson was not the consensus top recruit on Duke’s roster. He then scored 28 points on 10-12 shooting in a 34-point beatdown of Kentucky, officially launching Zion-mania.

Trevor Keels isn’t quite at that level, but he had as good a debut in a Duke jersey as you could ask.

The 6-foot-4 combo guard was ranked 23rd in his class according to 247Sports, but was the revelation of the night in New York. Duke maintained a lead on Kentucky much of the way despite phenom Paolo Banchero cramping up and leaving the game for a stretch. As the player himself puts it, he went into “Keel Mode,” scoring 25 points, including 16 in the second half.

“I knew when [Banchero] went out somebody had to step up and that’s what I did,” he said. “We just told our team, we got to put them away right here, stepping on their necks.”

Now imagine what Zion could have brought in had he played in Durham during the name, image, and likeness era. Keels hasn’t raked in the endorsements yet quite like Banchero has, but expect his trendline to start moving upward fast.

Paolo Banchero Looked Like a Top-3 Pick

There’s a reason Banchero has signed with CAA and already has deals with Panini and 2K Sports: He’s a safe bet. Few college athletes have his combination of size (he’s 6-foot-10, 250 pounds), physicality, touch, and basketball maturity.

The ones that do often go on to have successful NBA careers.

Banchero is one of those guys who, even if you have no idea what he looks like, your eyes will be trained on him immediately when you turn on a Duke game.

He just looks like the best player on the floor and when he’s on the floor, he backs it up. Banchero lit up MSG in front of a handful of Knicks players and made it clear that he could compete in the NBA right now. His 22 points and 140 offensive rating (points produced per 100 possessions) is good enough without taking into account the time he spent cramping and hooked to an IV.

“I think a big thing for Paolo is how strong and comfortable he is with the ball,” Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “To have his size… it’s just unique in that way.”

Big Blue Nation, TyTy Washington, & the NIL Goldmine

Even in a poor game for Kentucky’s TyTy Washington (nine points, 3-15 shooting) it was clear why everyone from Gatorade to a local Porsche dealership are eager to latch onto him. He’s an electric guard who plays for the team with the most rabid following in the game.

That Big Blue Nation travels well is nothing new. They regularly sell out the 20,000-plus-seat Rupp Arena and make neutral site games feel like they’re being played in Lexington. We saw a demonstration of this on Tuesday when the Wildcats made a late second-half push to cut their deficit to four, making the Garden rock to chants of “Go Big Blue.”

It’s no wonder John Calipari said over the summer that no one should benefit from NIL more than Kentucky players.

As for Washington, his rough start is nothing to panic about. Calipari said he is trying to push his freshman to shoot more, but being asked to do so against a defense stacked with NBA-ready talent is a tough ask.

ESPN analyst LaPhonso Ellis, who spoke to the media pregame, expects Washington to make a name for himself this year.

“He’s different,” Ellis said. “He’s got a poise about him beyond his years. He has a low release point on [his shot]. He shoots the basketball lot better than I thought he did and he has an awareness out there on the floor.”

Oscar Tshiebwe Will Prove to be an NBA Talent

On a rough night for Kentucky, Tshiebwe was a definitive bright spot. He had 17 points and 19 rebounds in 22 minutes and looked every bit the part of a dominating big man. Tschiebwe flirted with the NBA Draft last year before opting to transfer to Kentucky instead, and the bright lights of the season opener surely put shot him up some draft boards.

He’s still in college as a junior after an uneven and incomplete sophomore season at West Virginia where he did not establish himself as a great athlete or playmaker. He negated that first concern by dominating against a Duke team stacked with pros. As for the second, it’s something Calipari says is coming.

“He had three jumpers he didn’t take that I was telling him, ‘Shoot the ball,'” Calipari said. “He’s a really good shooter. But we got to still figure out how we get the ball to him closer to the basket. But he also can really shoot.”

The Coach K Retirement Tour is Already Serious

The Duke haters will groan at this, but it’s true. It took less than a half of the first game of the doubleheader — which the Blue Devils weren’t even playing in — to confirm it.

While the first half wound down in the Michigan State vs. Kansas game, a PA announcement revealed there would be a special presentation at halftime. It wasn’t tough for the sellout crowd to guess what was coming. ESPN presented Coach K with a retirement award and honored him at mid-court before his final game at MSG. Then, a Zoom video played on the video scoreboard where the event’s other three coaches — Calipari, Tom Izzo, and Bill Self — talked about Coach K’s impact on the game, reminisced about facing him, and revealed they sent him a special bottle of Pappy Van Winkle to honor the occasion.

So Coach K walked away from the Garden on Tuesday with a win, outrageously expensive bourbon, and a plaque. Buckle up, there’s at least 30 more games of this coming.

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