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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The post Vanessa Bryant Announces 6 Nike Kobe Brand Schools appeared first on Boardroom.

Commissioner Brett Yormark has big plans for the Big 12 and it’s unlike anything any other college conference has attempted.

When Boardroom spoke with him last year, Yormark said he wanted to turn the Big 12 into a truly national (or maybe international) conference — one that is culturally relevant coast to coast outside of its generally southwesterly geographic footprint. The conference has already held key events in New York despite the closest school to the five boroughs being in Morgantown, West Virginia. the Big 12 also announced men’s and women’s basketball games between Kansas and league newcomer Houston to be played in Mexico, and is reportedly exploring the creation of a bowl game south of the border as well.

But nowhere has the Big 12 been more relevant over the past two months than in the expansion and realignment conversation.

Boardroom reported last month that Yormark visited the University of Connecticut to meet with its administration, and this week, reports surfaced that he visited Memphis, though Yormark denied this. Rumored Big 12 expansion candidates also include Gonzaga, Colorado, and maybe Arizona, according to the latest reports.

Yormark confirmed that the conference was exploring expansion last week after the Big 12’s annual spring meetings wrapped up, all despite the conference still working on transitioning four new members to the league in Houston, Cincinnati, BYU, and UCF. That will stretch current membership geographically from Florida to Utah.

But what happens if the Big 12 does add schools from Storrs and Spokane? Or Memphis and Tucson? Or some combination of Pac-12 and G5 schools?

This would create both challenges and opportunity — a risk that could either backfire spectacularly or make the Big 12 a media power unlike anything we’ve seen in college sports.

What is the Big 12 Thinking?

Yormark took the conference reins knowing there were some things he just couldn’t change. Texas and Oklahoma were already headed to the SEC, weakening the Big 12 in football and strengthening the SEC, already the best football conference in the country. USC and UCLA had also announced their moves to the Big Ten, adding more football brand power to the majority-midwestern league and helping them crash the gates of the biggest media markets in the country. With most desirable football programs already locked into their current leagues — in the ACC’s case, through a Grant of Rights agreement, even — Yormark knew he couldn’t just cherrypick football powers to make the Big 12 the premier conference in the most important college sport.

But while the Big 12 is not going to compete with the SEC and Big Ten in football supremacy, it is more than holding its own with the likes of TCU and Kansas State leading the way. Yormark seems to hope the conference can bridge the gap by being the most relevant conference in the most places and in the most sports, starting with men’s basketball.

It’s logical to be skeptical here. The conventional wisdom is that “football drives the bus” in conference realignment because it brings in so much money through bowl game payouts and gargantuan media rights deals. That’s true — but perhaps less so now than in the past.

The obvious draw of elite men’s (and hopefully soon, women’s) basketball is the money the NCAA distributes through its Basketball Performance Fund, but now, there’s more than that. We’re in an age of conference-specific TV networks and all-encompassing streaming deals, like the one the Big 12 has with ESPN. That means conferences need inventory that will drive viewers; college basketball provides exactly that, with each school playing around 60 total men’s and women’s basketball games a year.

The good news for the Big 12 is that it is already the strongest men’s basketball conference in the country, finishing as either the first- or second-rated conference per KenPom every year since 2014 — an astounding run. By adding traditional basketball brands rather than football-first schols that will do little more than water down the product, the Big 12 can not only add significantly to its payout in the Basketball Performance Fund, but create a wildly attractive product that will net significantly more money the next time the conference negotiates subsequent media rights packages.

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The Big 12 Expansion Gamble

Big 12 expansion would come at a risk. Many will talk about an unwieldy travel schedule for athletes to manage amid classes during the school week. That’s a problem, but there are ways to mitigate those concerns.

More importantly, history shows that over-expanding a conference could ultimately lead to its destruction.

The old Big East is the most obvious example. When Syracuse and Pitt fled to the ACC, the Big East countered by announcing that it would add nine schools, including four for all sports (Memphis, Houston, UCF, and SMU). That eventually caused the non-football schools in the conference to split, taking the Big East brand name with it. The leftovers then formed the American Athletic Conference. TCU and San Diego State backed out of the deal. Ultimately, TCU wound up in the Big 12.

It’s an instance of too many schools having competing interests and being unable to act in the best interest of the conference as a whole. This is an extreme example — Gonzaga is the only non-football school linked to the Big 12 in any meaningful way — but the risks would still be there. BYU and any west coast additions would voice very real travel concerns regarding the need to go east all the time. UConn would prioritize basketball, where its men’s and women’s programs are perennial contenders. The football-first schools would want to do the same on the gridiron.

And remember: school presidents, not athletic directors, vote on expansion. Academic prestige matters, and a bloated Big 12 could improve its profile therein.

All the while, the rest of the college sports world will wait on the ACC to see if its major public universities will find a way to split from its Grant of Rights. If that happens, the Big Ten and SEC will be waiting in the wings to further consolidate their football power as much more stable alternatives than the Big 12 by comparison. At that point, could the Big 12 pick up the ACC’s leftovers?

Maybe. But you’d just be adding more voices to the room, looking for more pieces of the pie.

Big 12 Expansion Candidates

The Pac-12

It seems that at the start, nothing is off the table for Yormark and the Big 12. If it does decide to expand yet again, its safest move could be to pick off some teams from the Pac-12 should its ongoing TV negotiations go south.

Colorado: A reunion with the Buffs seems obvious if there is real interest in Boulder. It will be a football ratings driver for as long as Deion Sanders is the head coach, and Colorado fits naturally within the conference’s historic geographic footprint. On the men’s basketball side, Tad Boyle routinely has the Buffaloes in the postseason. Meanwhile, women’s coach JR Payne just brought her team to the Sweet 16.

Arizona: If the Big 12 could pull it off, adding Arizona would be a major coup. Not only are the Wildcats one of the biggest basketball brands, they’d also bring a top-15 media market in Phoenix. Such a move would also strengthen the league’s claim to the entire mountain timezone. Head football coach Jedd Fisch additionally has the football program on the upswing after the Cats went 0-5 in the COVID-shortened 2020 season preceding his arrival.

The Basketball Schools

Gonzaga: Gonzaga might be the toughest sell to Big 12 presidents. Even with BYU in the conference, Spokane is a geographic outlier that would stretch the conference almost literally from coast to coast — all without bringing a football team with it. On the other hand, Gonzaga is by far the strongest basketball brand not currently in a major conference and comes with a $15 million annual valuation per CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd. If Yormark is serious about doubling down on men’s basketball, it would be tough to see the Bulldogs get scooped up by the Pac-12 or Big East. It’s not a matter of if Gonzaga leaves the WCC, but when.

UConn: UConn would be another controversial add, but the Huskies bring undeniable positives. It all starts with status as a five-time national champion men’s basketball program and by far the most valuable women’s sports program in the nation. Their addition would also give the Big 12 a foothold in the New York market, something a northeast guy like Yormark surely covets. The downside comes in the form of UConn’s lackluster football team; while Jim Mora seems to have things moving in the right direction and a Big 12 move would certainly raise the team’s floor, the program would have no institutional advantages that would indicate it could one day compete with the top of the league — further exacerbated by being in the northeast, a generally weak recruiting ground.

The Others

Memphis: The Tigers always seem to be left on the outside of realignment talks and this might be no different. That said, the Tigers would add an elite basketball brand from a pro sports market. The university likes to tout its relationship with local giant FedEx, and that has to be a plus as well. The Fortune 500 company might jump at the chance to sponsor, say, a new bowl game in Memphis with a Big 12 tie, or perhaps the Big 12 basketball tournaments at FedEx Forum in Memphis. On the other hand, the Tigers don’t tend to move the needle much in football, and while their basketball program has national cachet, it hasn’t reached the Sweet 16 in 15 years. Is this a program that still has elite potential?

San Diego State: The Aztecs’ draw is obvious — they play in a brand new football stadium that also hosts NWSL and a soon-to-be MLS tenant, and their men’s basketball team just advanced to the national championship game. They’re also in a top-20 media market and would make the Big 12 the third Power 5 conference to have a presence in California. SDSU, however, might be hoping for a Pac-12 invite instead, as they have been a long-rumored candidate.

This is all to say that Big 12 expansion comes with its share of risks; Yormark knows that. He also knows that he can’t sit idly by while the SEC and Big Ten become a new Power 2. That doesn’t mean expansion is necessary, but it’d be malpractice to not be having these conversations. Whatever the league ultimately decides to do, we can rest assured that it will create shockwaves throughout the entire college sports landscape.

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Ray Allen is royalty in Storrs, Connecticut. His jersey hangs in the rafters at Gampel Pavilion as the only UConn Huskies men’s basketball player to have his number retired. To this day, he holds the school record for three-point percentage (.448), threes made in a season (115), and consecutive games scoring in double figures (67). He’s also, for now, the program’s only men’s player currently in the Naismith Hall of Fame.

So, you’d be forgiven for thinking Allen had accomplished it all at UConn when he left in the mid-90s.

In reality, he had one thing gnawing at him all the way from his NBA transition in 1996 all the way into 2021: He didn’t have his degree, and he hated being reminded of that.

“I served on the board at the University of Connecticut, and every time I went to a board meeting, you’re sitting at this table with all these other board members, and it had my name and I’d see other people’s names, and it had their name and their class year, but I wasn’t official alumni,” Allen told Boardroom. “So, it’s those little things that over time ate away at me.”

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It’s the Same Brain

Today, Ray Allen is a college graduate. You may have seen him over the weekend finally walking at UConn’s commencement exercises for the Class of 2023 at the age of 47.

He completed his degree in general studies in 2021, taking online classes during the height of the pandemic to get his remaining credits. Though he doesn’t need that college degree for anything — the guy made over $180 million in NBA salary alone — it’s now forever a line on his resume.

Allen never doubted whether he could accomplish this feat. As he put it, elite athletes are wired in a way that helps them succeed in the classroom.

“You don’t use your brain in one form of your existence and then don’t use it anymore,” he said. “It’s the same brain. So you compete in sports, so then you have to compete in academics.”

Only the opponent in the classroom isn’t a team of NBA players. It’s not even the professor, really. It’s the subject matter — the thing he has to break down like game tape — to digest, analyze, and respond to.

Aside from his proficiency from three, Allen is known on the court as a tireless worker. He was never one to half-ass a workout or to decide he was good enough at his craft. Talking to him about his studies, it’s apparent that he takes the same approach in the classroom.

“You understand what it takes to break something down to its finest parts,” he said, “and understand it from top to bottom and be great at it. Dominate it.”

Allen doesn’t believe that mindset has to be unique to him, either. Anyone good enough to reach the NBA is among the best in the world. They all have that same ability for greatness in academics.

“If you show me an intense competitor, I’ll show you somebody who can be good at anything,” he said. “Most people will brand an athlete as somebody who’s blessed to do that very sport or have a skill for that sport. But actually being great at a sport just means that you had the ability to focus and practice on that very thing.”

A Modern Approach

Ray Allen isn’t walking the streets, handing out resumes, and hoping to land some steady work. His road to a degree was his personal journey, all stemming from that sense of unfinished business at UConn and spurred on by his own curiosity.

This time around at the university, he was able to take a class on the 2020 presidential election as it unfolded. The university also offered a class on hip-hop, exploring its origins and how it’s enjoyed groundbreaking success around the world.

Ask Allen’s college coach, and he’ll tell you that range of classes fits his former player perfectly.

“Ray always wanted to know everything about everything and he always thought maybe a little different than a lot of guys,” Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun, who coached the Huskies to three national titles, told Boardroom. “He’s a basketball player who was dedicated — I mean shooting, doing all those things — but his mind was always working and he always wanted to know more.”

Regardless of the subject matter, Allen took the opportunity to learn from his professors and classmates. Most of his peers were of traditional college age, born when he was already an established NBA star in his prime years. Those were the people he discussed coursework with in group texts and on class message boards.

Those are interactions Allen was thankful for, and they were not possible when he was of college age — and that’s not just because it was before the era of online classes and distance learning. UConn, as Allen points out, is far more diverse today than it was in the 90s, with the success of its basketball programs creating a more global profile for the university. Allen enjoyed meeting young peers from all walks of life, bringing a far wider range of life experiences to his discussions than he tended to witness on campus more than a quarter-century ago.

As Calhoun can attest, Allen would not shy away from someone with a different perspective. He tells a story of Allen getting to know his Israeli-born college teammate, Doron Sheffer, and learning about the horrors of the Holocaust. It led Allen to visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, and then eventually to travel to Poland to see Auschwitz firsthand.

“Ray is one of the most inquisitive guys I’ve ever met in my life,” Calhoun said. “He always wanted to know why.”

Allen doesn’t hesitate to share what he learns, either. During the 2022 US midterm elections, he was active on Instagram, voicing support of his chosen candidates. Now, he often shares his Word of the Day or a photo of whatever book he’s reading.

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A post shared by Ray Allen (@trayfour)

Setting an Example

Allen ranks fifth in NBA history with 385 made threes, so in the modern Association, it’s easy to see why young players would want to learn from the two-time NBA champion and 10-time All-Star’s game.

Just as importantly, however, he hopes current and future players can follow his example and go back and earn their degrees if they didn’t do so the first time around.

“Whenever you hear the story about somebody getting their degree 30 years after they left college, I think it sets a positive tone throughout the atmosphere where [people] say, ‘oh, man, I can do that too. It’s not too late for me. It’s not too difficult,'” Allen said, “and those are the stories I think we need to share, to talk about more in the public domain, because those are things that inspire people to be their best self.”

JR Smith is a living example. The two were traveling together when Smith caught Allen on the computer working on a paper. It was then that Allen explained he was working toward his degree and suggested Smith, who did not play college basketball, try to get his as well.

Fast-forward to today and not only is Smith enrolled at North Carolina A&T, but he’s a member of their golf team as a 37-year-old student-athlete.

Smith’s path doesn’t have to be unique, either. The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement allows for a $125,000 tuition reimbursement for athletes pursuing a college degree through the league and union’s joint Education Trust. While many will make enough money to pay for credits themselves, the tuition reimbursement is about more than covering costs.

“It’s the idea that your league is so concerned with your education and you furthering your education and focusing on making sure that you have the opportunity to go back and get your degree,” Allen explained. “Retired and current players, we understand that there’s some guys that are well-rounded and multifaceted, and it’s important that people understand [that] we didn’t finish school not because we couldn’t; it was just because the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself. So now, as a league, [the goal is] to make sure that we have all of our players continue to better themselves, continue to grow, and add to their person.”

Allen’s approach to academics isn’t going to be universal, but he does want players to know how simple the process really is — and he believes that once players get a taste of furthering their own education, they’ll be hungry for more.

“It takes just that one opportunity to get your juices flowing,” he said. “Once you take that one class, you’re like, ‘oh, I want more.'”

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Two teams enter, one team leaves! Get set for the 2023 NCAA men’s national championship with a big SDSU vs. UConn prediction and the latest odds and insights from FanDuel Sportsbook.

The 2023 NCAA Tournament comes to a close on Monday with a national championship matchup between the No. 4 UConn Huskies and No. 5 San Diego State Aztecs. Dan Hurley’s UConn is in search of its title in men’s basketball, while Brian Dutcher’s SDSU aims to hoist the trophy for the first time in program history.

Connecticut took care of business in a 72-59 win over Miami on Saturday behind Adama Sanogo’s great performance (21 points & 10 rebounds). Meanwhile, San Diego State outlasted Florida Atlantic in a 72-71 thriller as Lamont Butler drained a game-winning shot at the buzzer.

So, which team will win it all? Let’s make a UConn vs. San Diego State prediction and roll through the latest odds and betting insights at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Connecticut vs. SDSU Game Info

2022-23 NCAA Tournament National Championship

• Connecticut Huskies (30-8) vs. San Diego State Aztecs (32-6)
• Date: Monday, April 3, 2023
• Time: 9:20 p.m. ET
• Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
• US TV Coverage: CBS

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UConn vs. San Diego State Odds & Spread

All college basketball betting lines, odds, and prop bets are via FanDuel Sportsbook.

• Moneyline: UConn: (-320) | SDSU: (+255)
• Spread: UConn: -7.5 (-104) | SDSU: +7.5 (-118)
• Total: 131.5 — Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)

UConn enters this contest as a clear favorite on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook’s odds. This championship clash also features an over/under of 131.5 points, with both sides available at -110 odds.

SDSU vs. Connecticut State Betting Trends

• UConn is 14-1 straight up in its last 15 games as a favorite.
• The total has hit the under in seven of UConn’s last nine games.
• SDSU is 6-1 against the spread (ATS) in its last seven games.
• The total has hit the under in each of San Diego State’s last eight games as an underdog.

UConn vs. San Diego State Prediction & Pick

UConn has been the most dominant team in this year’s tourney as it has won each of its five games by a double-digit margin. The Huskies showcased their versatility on a night where they finally shot poorly from long range by pounding Miami inside with big forwards Sanogo and Alex Karaban.

San Diego State is a clear underdog for a reason, yet the Aztecs keep proving that they should not be underestimated. They trailed for a majority of Saturday’s national semifinal game against FAU before getting a defensive stop with only seconds left. Head coach Brian Dutcher did not call a timeout and Butler sank the jumper.

Almost every game that has involved SDSU this season is a low-scoring showdown. Connecticut proved it can win those types of battle as it held both Gonzaga and Miami to under 60 points each. The Huskies also enter this one ranked eighth in opponent effective field goal percentage (44.6%).

Look for the Huskies to match the Aztec’s defensive intensity and pull away in the second half.

SDSU vs. UCONN FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: UConn 72, San Diego State 62

San Diego State vs. Connecticut Best Bet

This game features the largest spread of any March Madness title game since the 2009 season, when UNC defeated Michigan 89-72 as a 7.5-point favorite. While I think a 17-point win is unlikely here, I do like UConn’s chances of notching one more double-digit win. The Huskies’ balance is too impressive.

It’s been mentioned above how UConn can San Diego State’s strengths on defense. Keep in mind the Huskies outrank the Aztecs in nearly every offensive statistic as well and rank eighth in offensive efficiency. Trust head coach Dan Hurley’s team to finish the season on a 6-0 against the spread run.

CONNECTICUT VS. SDSU BEST BET: UConn Huskies -7.5 (-110)

— Larry Rupp

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The Madness rolls on! Check out our big Miami vs. UConn prediction and best bet, plus the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.

The 2023 NCAA Tournament continues Saturday with a great Final Four matchup between the No. 5 Miami Hurricanes and No. 4 UConn Huskies. Miami men’s basketball is aiming to earn its first-ever NCAA championship game appearance, while a win gets UConn back to their first such matchup since 2014.

Miami pulled off an 88-81 upset win over Texas on Sunday behind Jordan Miller’s standout outing (27 points on 7-7 shooting). Meanwhile, Dan Hurley’s Connecticut squad crushed Gonzaga by a score of 82-54 on Saturday as Jordan Hawkins scored a team-high 20 points.

So, which team will advance with an unforgettable win? Check out our best UConn vs. Miami prediction below, as well as the latest odds and betting insights from

Click here to read Boardroom’s full 2023 NCAA Men’s Final Four futures betting overview.

Connecticut vs. Miami Game Info

2022-23 NCAA Tournament Final Four

No. 10 Connecticut Huskies (29-8)
vs.
No. 16 Miami (FL) Hurricanes (29-7)
Date: Saturday, April 1, 2023
Time: 8:49 p.m. ET
Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
US TV Coverage: CBS

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UConn vs. Miami Odds & Spread

All college basketball betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.

• Moneyline: UCONN: (-240) | MIAMI: (+195)
• Spread: UCONN: -5.5 (-114) | MIAMI: +5.5 (-106)
• Total: 149.5 — Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)

UConn enters this contest as a moderate favorite on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook’s odds. This Final Four clash also features an over/under of 149.5 points, with both sides available at -110 odds.

Miami vs. Connecticut Betting Trends

• UConn has 25 wins in 37 games against the spread this season.
• As 5.5-point favorites or more, the Huskies are 16-9 against the spread.
• Out of 37 Connecticut’s games so far this season, 20 have hit the over.
• Miami has covered the spread 22 times in 36 games.
• The Hurricanes have an ATS record of 3-0 as 5.5-point underdogs or greater.
• Miami has seen 17 of its 36 games hit the over.

UConn vs. Miami Prediction & Pick

It’s safe to say that both Miami and UConn deserve to battle it out for a spot in the championship. The Hurricanes have beaten three top-four seeds and have not been favored in a game since the first round. Meanwhile, the Huskies have taken down each of their four opponents by an average of 22.5 points.

What stands out for Miami is its ability to adjust. The Hurricanes took down a sizeable Indiana team by outrebounding the Hoosiers by 17. They then beat a defensively gifted Houston team by draining 11 three-pointers and slowed down a fast Texas team with 32 trips to the free-throw line.

UConn has few weaknesses to exploit, though. The Huskies allow an opponent three-point percentage of 29.7% (No. 13 in NCAA) and control the boards by averaging 39.3 rebounds per game (No. 10 in NCAA). They also shoot a reliable 76.0% from the free throw line (No. 37 in NCAA).

This one is going to be close, but I don’t expect UConn’s dominance to end on Saturday night.

MIAMI vs. UCONN FINAL SCORE Prediction: UConn 76, Miami 72

Miami vs. UConn Best Bet

UConn enters this one with the edge in a few statistical categories, but those advantages are not enough to warrant a 5.5-point spread. This is a Miami team that has been winning outright as an underdog all season long and knows how to both play with a considerable lead or fight back from a large deficit.

Miami is 4-1 against the spread (ATS) in its last five games overall, 5-1 ATS in its last six Saturday games away from home and 10-3 ATS in its last 13 games against UConn. Not only that, but five of the last 10 Final Four games have also been decided by fewer than six points. Don’t expect a blowout here.

MIAMI vs. CONNECTICUT BEST BET: Miami Hurricanes +5.5 (-106)

— Larry Rupp

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The post UConn vs. Miami: Are Oddsmakers Backing Another Upset? appeared first on Boardroom.

The NCAA technically isn’t a business — under the law, it’s a non-profit — but for not-a-business, there are certainly a lot of business-y elements. The association’s massive media rights contract with CBS/Turner to televise its Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament is about as business-y as it gets.

And the NCAA makes over a billion dollars a year off of it — easily its biggest annual money-maker.

With that in mind, it’s reasonable to overreact to TV ratings (even preemptively) for one round in one year of one tournament. That’s why it’s not surprising to witness the #narrative that’s circulating this week about the 2023 men’s Final Four featuring UConn, Miami, San Diego State, and Florida Atlantic.

With only one traditional men’s basketball powerhouse out of the four — plus two teams from outside the major conferences — skeptics seem to expect a ratings disaster this weekend. After all, casual fans would rather watch Kansas or Duke or Kentucky than the Aztecs and Owls.

Maybe they’re right. Saturday night’s semifinal numbers may reflect only the true diehards, fans of the four teams, and a handful of gambling sickos, leading to much lower ratings than the NCAA has come to expect in the Final Four.

My only question is: Other than a handful of CBS PR folks, who cares?

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It is so painfully obvious that this year’s Final Four is an aberration compared to the usual semifinal field that no one in their right mind would think low ratings this weekend is indicative of anything to come. We are only a year removed from a Final Four that featured Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and Villanova. UCLA, Gonzaga, and Baylor were in the Final Four the year before that. Some combination of those seven schools will likely be in the Final Four next year or the year after, no matter what happens this weekend.

The NCAA’s media deal with CBS and Turner is up in 2032, so this isn’t a so-called “contract year” or close to it. There’s no need for the NCAA to fear losing out on a few bucks when it gets back to the negotiating table because of potentially lower numbers this weekend. This also probably won’t affect how much Turner makes next year in ad revenue — or at least, not much.

All told, there are plenty of bigger factors to consider as Turner tries to go for three straight years of over a billion dollars made via advertising. To name a few:

• The state of the economy at the time: Do ad partners have money to shell out?
• The current crop of top teams: Are the most likely 2024 Final Four teams from programs that will draw eyeballs? The answer is almost always yes; 2023 is more likely to be the exception that proves the rule.
• The talent in the sport: Are there individual players fans will want to tune in to watch regardless of which program they’re with? In this NIL era of ours that spurs more players to return to college, it’s likely. Throw in the possibility that a Bronny James might play in March Madness next year and the draw becomes that much stronger.

March Madness will be fine — it always has been and always will be, at least under its current structure. Zoom out a bit and, down the road, the 2023 Final Four may have ended up being a net positive for the sport.

Last year, it was the bluebloods. This year, it’s the mid-majors and the unexpecteds. It all adds to the unpredictability of the greatest postseason tournament in the world. There are so many more Final Four possibilities than even 15 years ago when a 2006 George Mason — led by current Miami coach Jim Larrañaga, no less — was seen as a historic oddity. There’s no 11-seed in this year’s Final Four, but we do have a 9, 6, and 5: three seed lines that have never won the whole thing.

Next year? Maybe it’ll be all bluebloods again. Maybe we’ll get a quartet of upstart surprises. More likely, we’ll see a combination of the two with plenty of intrigue to go around. The ratings will be there, too, even if this year ends up being an anomaly.

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The post 2023 Men’s Final Four TV Ratings May Be Lower Than Usual — Don’t Worry, and Here’s Why appeared first on Boardroom.

Editor’s Note: Dan Hurley signed a new six-year, $32.1 million deal with the Huskies in June 2023.

It’s been 31 years since a Hurley has appeared in the Final Four.

Back in 1992, Duke dynamo Bobby Hurley had his way with Bob Knight’s Indiana Hoosiers and Jalen Rose’s Fab 5 en route to winning his second straight National Championship under Coach K.

For his heroics, the eldest Hurley earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the 1992 Final Four.

While it was Bobby’s World around Durham and on ESPN, another Hurley was finding his way over at Seton Hall.

Dan Hurley, younger brother to Bobby and son of famed St. Anthony head coach Bob Sr., had just finished his freshman season as a Pirate under P.J. Carlesimo.

Familiar with the weight of leadership, Dan spent five seasons in Newark, rising from backup point guard to standout starter. By his senior season, he was the team leader in assists.

As a player, Dan never made it past the Sweet 16. Once he graduated, Shaheen Holloway stole the show as Pirate point guard, leaving Dan’s dimes in the past.

Dan never played a minute in the NBA, nor did he enjoy the national fanfare associated with his lottery-pick older brother or E:60-profiled pops.

Not until now.

Heading into the 2023 Final Four as UConn Huskies head coach, Hurley has gone from supportive sibling to star of the Dance.

In profiling his rise in the ranks and potential earnings in Storrs, Boardroom breaks down the younger Hurley’s success.

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The Hurley Family Business

In high school hoops circles, few names garner as much respect as Bob Hurley.

Over 39 years coaching St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, Bob Sr. won 26 state and four national championships.

A living legend in his city, the original Coach Hurley won well over 1,000 games, placing the likes of Rodrick Rhodes, Tyshawn Taylor, and Kyle Anderson into the NBA.

While all those accolades impress, Bobby is the most famous figure to come out of St. Anthony.

Jersey City’s chosen son by the time he could drive a car, and nationally known by the age of 18, Bobby Hurley was among the most heralded point guards the tri-state area and ACC had ever seen.

The eldest Hurley son came into the national spotlight in 1989 when he won co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game with Shaquille O’Neal. He did so by beating out the likes of Kenny Anderson, Jim Jackson, and Allan Houston.

More than just a one-hit wonder, Bobby became a two-time national champion at Duke and the all-time NCAA assists leader. As a rookie for the Sacramento Kings, Bobby was a Day 1 starter, averaging just over seven points and six assists per game.

Tragically, an SUV accident just months after his NBA arrival derailed his pro career. Once he recovered, he played limited minutes and was out of the league five years later.

While Bobby’s playing days faded due to injury, Danny’s slipped away due to his own personal struggles. Though a solid starter at Seton Hall, an American playing career was not in the cards. Rather than travel overseas, Danny suited up next to his father as an assistant at St. Anthony immediately after graduating.

He took to the family trade instantly. After a season supporting his pops in high school, Dan left for an assistant coaching job at Rutgers.

Working under Coach Kevin Bannon, Dan helped the program for four seasons before returning to high school.

Well, not just any high school.

From 2001 to 2010, Dan Hurley served as head coach of St. Benedict’s Preparatory School: a team that tangled for top squad in New Jersey with his famous father’s program.

Capable of leading on his own, Dan became the fastest high school coach in the area to reach 200 wins. You could say that coaching was in his blood.

In his time at St. Benedict’s, Dan went an impressive 223-21 and coached the likes of J.R. Smith, Lance Thomas, and Tyler Ennis.

It all set Dan up for the college coaching career he’s enjoying now — one that’s resulted in profitable family reunions.

Campus Climb

In 2010, Dan Hurley was named head coach at Wagner College on Staten Island.

Upon taking the job, he announced an assistant that would join him on the journey: his older brother, Bobby.

At the private liberal arts school, Dan made the sub-.500 bottom feeders into the toast of the Northeast Conference. After two seasons, Dan departed for the head coaching job at the University of Rhode Island.

Though Wagner’s a private school, meaning its salary information is not public, Non-Profit Light lists his successor’s salary at $222,456 a season.

Conversely, Dan’s new gig at Rhode Island upped his profile in conferences and upped his pay to $4 million plus for a six-season deal.

Like Wagner, he brought Bobby along with him, this time as associate head coach. After an underwhelming debut, Bobby took the head coaching job at Buffalo while Dan turned the tide at URI.

By his third season, Dan had the Rams in the second round of the NIT.

That same year, Bobby took the head coaching job at Arizona State, adding even more esteem to the Hurley name.

Early on in Tempe, Bobby was making roughly $1.4 million a season which ranked among the bottom of the Pac-12. Today, Bobby’s salary at ASU is approaching $2.7 million a year.

If it sounds like the Hurley family was winning in both box scores and bank accounts, it’s because they were. The coach’s kids were both creating lucrative careers for themselves in the family field of choice.

While poppa Hurley called it quits in 2017 when St. Anthony shut down, his youngest son was in the midst of back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids at Rhode Island.

The winning ways caught the eyes of suitors in Storrs and at Pittsburgh, with UConn emerging as the best fit for the former Big East guard.

In 2018, Dan took the head coaching job at UConn with a starting salary of $2.75 million. While ESPN reports suggest that Pitt offered an even higher number, the prestige of the Huskies program proves top tier.

Like previous gigs, Dan’s ability to turn the team into winners and exceed expectations quickly paid off.

Like previous Husky head coaches, he has a chance to up the ante on his already sizable salary if he cuts the nets down next Monday.

Net Income

Coming into the Final Four, Dan Hurley leads a program pegged as the odds-on favorite given the current field.

While Dan certainly hopes a championship is in his immediate future, national titles are all over the team’s recent past.

In the last quarter century, UConn has a whopping four national championships — more than any other team in that span.

Two coaches have played a part in that net cutting: Jim Calhoun and Kevin Ollie.

For their efforts, the university cut major checks.

In 1999, Calhoun took home a title on the strength of passionate play from Rip Hamilton, Khalid El-Amin, and Ricky Moore. Months after winning his first title, Calhoun signed a new contract for five years, valued somewhere between $875,000 to $900,000 a season.

Right on schedule, Calhoun won again in 2004 as that first title contract came to a close. He then re-upped for six more seasons in Storrs for a grand sum of $9.1 million, taking his annual salary to $1.51 million a season.

Years later in 2009, Calhoun proved perfect in timing again. The UConn coach signed a new five-year deal for $13 million total, taking his seasonal salary to $2.6 million as he enrolled a freshman class that would go on to appear in two Final Fours and win the 2011 title.

Amid health issues, Calhoun retired in 2012 with three rings and massive money made during his 26 seasons.

Upon his exit, former Husky point guard and then-assistant Kevin Ollie took the reins as head coach.

Shortly after, Ollie won his first and only national title in 2014, setting the stage for a contract renewal for five years ranging somewhere between $2.8 million and $3 million a season. In 2018, Ollie was let go as head coach, which is when Hurley entered the fold.

So, how much will Hurley make if he wins a title similar to his two predecessors?

Under his current contract, Dan Hurley makes $2.9 million per year. For reference, that’s slightly more than the salary of his big brother Bobby at Arizona State, and as CT Insider points out, second only to Huskies women’s coach Geno Auriemma where public employees in the state are concerned.

This season, Hurley has already secured an automatic two-year extension to his deal and a $200,000 bonus, both earned with UConn’s Elite Eight win over Gonzaga.

If UConn wins it all this season, Hurley will make an extra $750,000. If the Huskies cut down the nets, finish in the top ten in both major polls, and his players excel in the classroom, the maximum possible bonus Hurley can earn is an extra $1 million.

So, Hurley is already looking at a new salary of $3.35 million based on recent success, and up to $3.9 million if he hits every mark. Though inflation plays a part, that would be more annually than Calhoun or Ollie ever made in a season. It would also surpass that of Auriemma’s current contract, worth $3 million a season with annual upticks of $100,000.

For a college town that lives to cut nets, best believe the powers that be are ready to cut checks.

If Dan Hurley finds himself at the forefront of the Final Four much like his older brother 31 years prior, he won’t be handed the hardware in a uniform. However, his son Andrew, a junior walk-on at UConn, will.

For a basketball lifer like Dan, it could all serve as a fitting Final Four return for the Hurley family.

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The post Dan Hurley Builds His Own Legacy appeared first on Boardroom.

Be honest: How many men’s Final Four teams did you get right when you filled out your 2023 NCAA Tournament bracket on Selection Sunday?

I’ll buy that you had one. UConn was a trendy pick, Miami won the ACC, and San Diego State won a really good Mountain West Conference. You could have gotten one of them. But did you have more than one of those teams? No. No, you did not.

Yet, here we stand. On Saturday night, the Owls of Florida Atlantic (!) will play SDSU and UConn will face the Canes in the national semifinals in Houston. Between them, the four teams have a combined six Final Four appearances — all from Connecticut. Miami’s Jim Larrañaga is the only head coach left standing with Final Four experience, though he did so with unsung George Mason back in 2006.

So how does one possibly go about deciding odds in this wacky, wild Final Four? You don’t, of course. Instead, you turn to our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook — check out all the latest numbers below.

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Final Four Odds 2023: Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament

All betting odds via FanDuel Sportsbook as of Monday, March 27, 2023.

National Semifinals

• FAU +1.5 (-102)
• San Diego State -1.5 (-120)

• Miami +5.5 (-106)
• UConn -5.5 (114)

To Win Championship:

• UConn: -125
• San Diego State: +360
• Miami: +490
• FAU: +600

@boardroom_ 90 TEAMS in the NCAA Tournament?!? #marchmadness #ncaabasketball #collegebasketball #collegesports #finalfour ♬ original sound – Boardroom

National Championship Exacta

• UConn over San Diego State: +220
• UConn over FAU: +260
• San Diego State over UConn: +550
• FAU over UConn: +750
• Miami over San Diego State: +950
• Miami over FAU: +1000
• San Diego State over Miami: +1100
• FAU over Miami: +1600

Final Four Most Outstanding Player Futures Betting Odds

• Adama Sanogo (UConn): +270
• Jordan Hawkins (UConn): +330
• Isaiah Wong (Miami): +1200
• Darrion Trammell (San Diego State):+1200
• Johnell Davis (FAU): +1400
• Matt Bradley (San Diego State): +1500
• Andre Jackson Jr. (UConn): +1500
• Lamont Butler (San Diego State): +1500
• Jordan Miller (Miami): +1900
• Alijah Martin (FAU): +2100
• Nijel Pack (Miami): +2400
• Vladislav Goldin (FAU): +2600
• Jaedon LeDee (San Diego State): +3400
• Nathan Mensah (San Diego State): +3400
• Norchad Omier (Miami): +4200

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The post Men’s Final Four Odds: Is it UConn vs. the Field to Cut Down the Nets? appeared first on Boardroom.

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

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

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

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Women’s March Madness Odds 2023

National Champion:

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

To Make Final Four:

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

South Carolina to Win Championship vs. The Field

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

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The post March Madness Odds: Women’s Tournament Hits the Sweet 16 appeared first on Boardroom.

After two rounds of win-or-go-home basketball, who’s the best bet to win the men’s NCAA Tournament? Check out the latest March Madness odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Perhaps your bracket’s entire Final Four is still alive and kicking. Perhaps you picked Purdue or Kansas or Arizona to win the men’s NCAA Tournament, in which case… well, there’s never a bad time to suspend all knowledge that college basketball exists in order to optimize your self-care routine. Please pause your reading of this article to drink some kombucha while you watch an ASMR video.

Folks, not everyone can win. Even if your bracket is thoroughly busted, however, you can still shuffle the deck and lay a few safe, legal wagers as the most exciting showcase in amateur sports approaches its second weekend — and that’s exactly what we’re here to help with now that the first weekend of the men’s half of March Madness is in the books.

Entering the Sweet 16, check out the latest odds to win the NCAA Tournament and to make the Final Four courtesy of our friends at FanDuel SportsBook.

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March Madness Odds 2023: Men’s NCAA Tournament

Click here to read Boardroom’s overview of FanDuel Sportsbook’s pre-tournament odds for March Madness 2023.

To Win the National Championship

• Alabama: +320 (pre-tournament odds: +800)
• Houston: +400 (+490)
• UCLA: +850 (+1200)
• UConn: +900
• Creighton: +950
• Texas: +1000
• Tennessee: +1100
• Gonzaga: +1200
• Michigan State: +2500
• Kansas State: +3000
• Arkansas: +4000
• San Diego State: +4000
• Xavier: +4500
• Miami: +4800
• FAU: +5000
• Princeton: +15000

@boardroom_ 90 TEAMS in the NCAA Tournament?!? #marchmadness #ncaabasketball #collegebasketball #collegesports #finalfour ♬ original sound – Boardroom

To Win the West Region

• UCLA: +185
• UConn: +185
• Gonzaga: +230
• Arkansas: +600

To Win the South Region

• Alabama: -145
• Creighton: +800
• San Diego State: +650
• Princeton: +2500

To Win the Midwest Region

• Houston: -115
• Texas: +190
• Xavier: +650
• Miami: +700

To Win the East Region

• Tennessee: +120
• Michigan State: +270
• Kansas State: +320
• FAU: +470

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The post Men’s March Madness Odds: Who’s Hottest Entering the Sweet 16? appeared first on Boardroom.

As the second March Madness in the NIL era picks up, athletes and brands are still trying to strike a perfect balance. The NCAA Tournament provides the biggest stage for college basketball players, giving them more publicity than ever before and providing the perfect opportunity for a major brand activation. It’s also the most important time of year for athletes on the court, meaning their focus needs to be almost entirely dedicated to their craft.

Squaring the two isn’t easy.

Caroline Ducharme, a former No. 5 recruit in her class, is doing her best to figure it out. As a guard for the No. 2 seed UConn Huskies, she’s had more than her share of name, image, and likeness monetization opportunities. She’s inked endorsement deals already with Bumble, Moolah Kicks, and Degree, and recently signed on to Great Clips’ Mach Madness campaign.

“My focus in March is March Madness, and so is theirs right now,” Ducharme told Boardroom of working with the salon franchise. “I like when I can post stuff about things that matter to me and it’s not just what I was doing over the weekend.”

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A post shared by Caroline Ducharme (@caroline.ducharme3)

Ducharme’s Huskies captured the 2023 Big East Tournament title on March 6, giving the team a 12-day layoff before their NCAA Tournament opener against Vermont. It was a much-needed rest for an injury-riddled team.

It also gave Ducharme a chance to stay active in the NIL space.

“There’s a time and place for everything. Today is an off day, so it’s a great opportunity to do stuff like this,” she said of her Great Clips campaign. “But then once the tournament starts, that’s my complete focus, and I think people are understanding of that.”

She said that last Wednesday. Come Thursday afternoon, the Huskies entered tournament mode as the other three teams in their pod descended on Storrs. While UConn isn’t the favorite to win the national championship (that distinction belongs overwhelmingly to South Carolina), the Huskies might have more pressure on them than anyone else.

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Every rotation player for Geno Auriemma’s squad but two missed time to injury this year, including star Paige Bueckers and freshman Ice Brady, who both suffered season-ending injuries in the preseason. As a result, UConn had to postpone a game because it didn’t have enough active players to suit up. The team also dropped consecutive contests for the first time in 30 years and lost multiple conference games for the first time in a decade.

Today, however, the Huskies are as healthy as they’ll get as they put their 14-year Final Four streak on the line, with their latest test arriving March 20 in the form of a second-round meeting with seventh-seeded Baylor. To Ducharme, it all means this team is uniquely prepared for what’s to come.

“It does make it easier knowing that you’re not alone and there are four or five other people who are trying to do the same thing you’re doing,” she said. “Everyone’s staying mentally tough and locked in on what we’re doing, and knowing that everyone’s going through something, and everyone’s having a hard time and everyone’s dealing with something outside of basketball. Just [staying] focused on us and [helping] each other through it, I think has been huge.”

Ducharme herself missed six weeks in the heart of the season while in concussion protocol. The 2022-23 Huskies’ top star, Azzi Fudd, is working her way back from a right knee injury. As she leads UConn through the bracket, fans can catch her in a Buick commercial airing throughout the tournament — Fudd posted the ad to her Instagram on Thursday afternoon, around the same time Ducharme posted her Great Clips video.

Don’t expect much more from them on social in the coming days. The Huskies have games to win.

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The post UConn’s Caroline Ducharme Takes Her NIL Talents to March Madness appeared first on Boardroom.

Only in Connecticut could a women’s basketball team win a conference regular season and tournament championship, earn a 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, be a Final Four favorite, and…underachieve.

That’s just the standard at UConn, and head coach Geno Auriemma is the biggest reason why. He took over the women’s basketball program in 1985, built his first Final Four team by 1991, and has brought the Huskies to every Sweet 16 since 1994. With 11 national championships and a Final Four streak dating back to the Bush Administration, he’s earned his GOAT moniker.

But is UConn paying him accordingly? You know it is. Boardroom dives into the Geno Auriemma contract details at UConn.

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Geno Auriemma Contract and Salary Breakdown at UConn

Signed: April 13, 2021
Term: Through 2025 season
Base Salary: $600,000

Geno Auriemma Speaking, Consulting, and Media Fees

In addition to his base salary, Auriemma receives quarterly payments from the university for satisfying his obligations off the court. Here’s what they add up to annually for the remaining years on his deal:

2022-23: $2,400,000
2023-24: $2,500,000
2024-25: $2,600,000

Add that to his base salary, and Auriemma will make $3,000,000 this season, with $100,000 raises each of the next two years. That brings the total remaining value on his deal up to $9,300,000, including what he’s already made this season (beginning mid-April 2022).

Note that the above payments do not include potential bonuses, determined by UConn’s postseason success, which, if you’re familiar with the Huskies at all, you know is an annual occurrence.

Geno Auriemma Contract Bonuses

Like most coaches, Auriemma can earn bonuses based on how his team performs on the court. While some coaches also have clauses in their contracts that reward them for their team’s academic performance, UConn’s head coach does not. Instead, the Huskies must satisfy the NCAA’s APR (Academic Progress Rate) requirements for Auriemma to be eligible for any additional bonuses at all.

Assuming his players get it done in the classroom, Auriemma’s bonuses are paid out as percentages of his monthly salary (doing some quick math, if his annual salary is $600,000, that means he makes $50,000 a month). Here’s what he can earn:

Conference Performance:

• One half-month salary for winning the Big East regular season ($25,000)
• One half-month for winning the Big East Tournament ($25,000)

NCAA Tournament:

• One month’s salary for reaching the NCAA Tournament ($50,000)
• One month for reaching the Sweet 16 ($50,000)
• One month for reaching the Elite Eight ($50,000)
• One month for reaching the Final Four ($50,000)
• Two months for winning the National Championship ($100,000)

Coach of the Year Awards:

• One half-month salary for winning any National Coach of the Year award ($25,000) OR
• One quarter-month salary for winning the Big East Coach of the Year award ($12,500)

This season, Auriemma has already earned a few bonuses. UConn won the Big East regular season and tournament, netting him $50,000, and earned another NCAA Tournament bid, which got him another $50k. If the Huskies go all the way, he will get another $250,000 for his efforts.

Geno Auriemma Buyout Details

UConn Twitter loves to ironically use the #FireGeno hashtag over things like “didn’t win 32 games in a 31-game season” or “trails 2-0.” But what if it actually happened? What if, one day, athletic director David Benedict wakes up and decides he can do better than the guy who has more rings than Saturn?

Or, almost equally unlikely, what if Auriemma decides he wants to take a job elsewhere? Sure, things are great at UConn, but maybe he wants to take on a rebuild at Division III Hartford. Crazier things have happened!*

*no they have not

In any event, Auriemma’s buyout structure is the same whether he is fired or takes another job. The only difference is the university pays him if he’s fired and Auriemma pays the university if he takes another job. Here’s the money that would change hands:

• If he leaves before 4/14/23: $4,000,000
• 4/15/23-4/14/24: $3,500,000
• 4/15/24-4/14/25: $3,000,000

Additional Perks

In addition to Auriemma’s pay and bonuses, he is entitled to the following additional perks:

• An annual vehicle allowance of $15,000, payable on a bi-weekly basis
• Family membership at Hartford Golf Club
• Reimbursement on all work-related travel expenses for him and his wife
• 30 tickets to all UConn women’s basketball games, with the option to purchase 20 more for home games
• Eight tickets to all men’s basketball home games
• Four chair-back seats and 24 suite tickets for all football home games
• Two tickets to all other UConn home games in other sports

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The post Geno Auriemma Contract & Salary Details at UConn appeared first on Boardroom.

A year ago, WNBA star Breanna Stewart was looking to make her mark in the sneaker game with the launch of her own signature sneaker, the Puma Stewie 1. 

The groundbreaking release was much discussed, as she became just the 10th player in league history to receive her own shoe.

It was a lofty goal, but one she saw as realistic.

“As I was growing up wearing other signature shoes, having aspirations of being in the WNBA, being a professional basketball player and someone who is a sneakerhead, it was easy for me to be like, ‘Yeah, this will be my own signature shoe,’” Stewart said.

Her launch moved those goals to reality, not just for herself, but for a future generation of young female hoopers to come as well. 

The rollout continued throughout the last year, with eight editions of the Stewie 1 hitting retail. With themes tying back to everything from her quiet fire demeanor on the court, to her push for utilizing eco-friendly and recycled materials, the sneaker celebrated Stewart’s persona and play style along the way.

“I wanted to make sure that it was specific to my journey and specific to me,” she said of the approach to colorways and themes. 

As March Madness kicks off this week, the final drop of her debut model is set to release on March 17 with a white, navy, and red edition of the Stewies rounding out the last launch, inspired by her amateur days in Storrs.

Dubbed the “Four Time” Stewie 1, the pair honors her collegiate days at the University of Connecticut. From 2013 to 2016, Stewart went on one of the greatest individual and team runs in NCAA history. 

She won four consecutive national championships, while also being named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in each of the team’s four title-touting runs. The commemorative kicks are styled in a clean Huskies-inspired home colorway, with the program’s signature light grey accents also found along the top lacing eyestay. 

Along the underside of the left tongue, each of the title years is listed, while “4X” can be seen along the right tongue’s inner label. 

It’s those level of details and layered storytelling that Stewart realized early on made a signature sneaker more personal than the player-exclusive colorways she had often worn throughout her career. 

“The process of a signature shoe is WAY different than PEs. PEs, you just focus around one specific thing,” she said. “Creating a signature shoe, you’re starting from the ground up.”

With a focus on fit and performance, as well as incorporating nods to her basketball roots in upstate New York into the outsole pattern, the Puma Stewie 1 became an elevated signature sneaker for the entire 2022-23 runway of its releases. 

“I wanted it to be perfect and as good as it can be because I know that the standard is going to be really high,” added Stewart. 

With the Puma Stewie 2 on deck for this season, the industry’s radar up as more female-headlined signature sneakers enter the marketplace, and a closing colorway highlighting her collegiate dominance at Connecticut, the aspirations of one day having her own sneaker eventually came to be.  

“I know my younger self would be proud,” she smiled.

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The post Final Puma Stewie 1 Launch Honors Breanna Stewart’s NCAA Dominance appeared first on Boardroom.

Using analytics from KenPom, BartTorvik, and numberFire’s nERD formula, let’s identify the most under-seeded teams in the men’s 2023 NCAA Tournament field.

Given that we can be surprised over how certain teams are seeded on Selection Sunday, it’s no surprise that sometimes there are teams that are, perhaps, under-seeded based on how good they truly are.

We have an easy way to determine that here at numberFire: we can compare each team’s nERD score — a metric we use to represent an expected point differential over an average opponent on a neutral court — to the historical average of their given seed.

Simple.

Now, in order to enhance your bracket and betting picks with the most underrated March Madness teams of 2023, here are the 10 squads with the largest gaps between their nERD and the historical seed average for this year’s men’s NCAA Tournament.

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10. Auburn Tigers (9 Seed, Midwest)

• nERD: 11.64
• nERD vs. Seed Average: +1.28

At 20-12, the Auburn Tigers drew a 9-seed in the Midwest region, but numberFire’s model sees them more as a No. 7 seed.

While you need to win games no matter what, the Tigers were just 4-7 in games decided by five points or fewer. That’s the sixth-worst winning percentage in close games among all 68 tournament teams.

Our model is leaning on them to be able to beat Iowa in their 8-9 matchup in the Midwest.

9. Creighton Bluejays (6 Seed, South)

• nERD: 13.50
• nERD vs. Seed Average: +1.29

Another team with bad luck in close games is the Creighton Bluejays, who went 3-6 in close games, ranking them fifth by win percentage among tournament squads.

KenPom actually ranks the Bluejays 13th overall thanks to a top-30 offense and defense. They’re 329th in KenPom’s luck rating, and we could see a Sweet 16 run through the North Carolina State Wolfpack and Baylor Bears (or the California-Santa Barbara Gauchos).

8. Gonzaga Bulldogs (3 Seed, West)

• nERD: 15.94
• nERD vs. Seed Average: +1.37

The Gonzaga Bulldogs rank sixth in numberFire’s power rankings and are eighth at KenPom and seventh at BartTorvik. Despite top-eight marks by the metrics, they’re not a 2 seed but rather a 3 seed.

The Zags are 6-4 against Quad 1 teams but have better underlying efficiency in those games than the record implies.

As a team that always has high hopes in March, the Bulldogs may finally surprise us this year after getting off to a slow start to the season.

7. UCLA Bruins (No. 2 Seed, West)

• nERD: 17.81
• nERD vs. Seed Average: +1.45

The UCLA Bruins are third or better in the power rankings here at numberFire and over at BartTorvik and KenPom. However, they drew a 2 seed in the West.

The team has all the trends that eventual champions possess but are dealing with injuries to junior guard Jaylen Clark (out for the season) and freshman center Adem Bona (whose status for the tournament remains unclear).

It’s a super-talented squad that can’t be overlooked.

6. Arkansas Razorbacks (No. 8 Seed, West)

• nERD: 12.71
• nERD vs. Seed Average: +1.51

Let’s go back to the close-game discussion. The Arkansas Razorbacks are 3-5 in five-point games. They’re 4-10 against Quad 1 opponents, too.

Overall, then, Arkansas’ season has been marred by injuries and underperformance. BartTorvik ranks them 11th in the nation in talent rating, which accounts for recruiting ratings and playing volume.

A dangerous team, Arkansas seems to have an edge over another team that isn’t exactly ripping off wins, the Illinois Fighting Illini, in the opening round.

5. Florida Atlantic Owls (No. 9 Seed, East)

• nERD: 12.26
• nERD vs. Seed Average: +1.90

What’s that? A team that’s actually been good in close games? Yep. The FAU Owls are 9-1 in five-point games, but they’re also 31-3 overall, so it’s natural that they had some good luck in close matchups.

They’re 2-1 in three Quad 1 games, all three of which were on the road.

Ultimately, they’re a bit untested, as a result, but they rank 20th at numberFire, 30th at BartTorvik, and 26th at KenPom.

4. Connecticut Huskies (No. 4 Seed, West)

• nERD: 16.01
• nERD vs. Seed Average: +1.93

Another team that has the makings of a future champion, the Connecticut Huskies have twice been the exception to all the rules when it comes to winning the Big Dance in recent years.

Of their eight losses, four of them were by five points or fewer, and they were actually 0-4 in five-point games. That makes them the only tournament team without a close win all season.

By and large, this is a great team, and it’s surprising to see them as a 4 seed. nERD thinks they should be a 2 seed.

3. Tennessee Volunteers (No. 4 Seed, East)

• nERD: 16.19
• nERD vs. Seed Average: +2.11

Up next, we’ve got another No. 4 seed that’s close to a historical 2-seed. The reason for it is that the Tennessee Volunteers, behind the nation’s best defense, are coming in underrated from an overall efficiency standpoint.

Your offense has to be really bad to waste the country’s top defense, but I will point out that their offense ranks poorly enough that they may not be a great pick to win it all.

In total, they’re 7-7 in Quad 1 games with an adjusted offensive efficiency that would rank them 86th in such matchups. They’re a strong 4 seed but will need to answer questions offensively if they want to beat 67 other teams.

2. West Virginia Mountaineers (No. 9 Seed, South)

• nERD: 12.50
• nERD vs. Seed Average: +2.14

Overall on the season, the West Virginia Mountaineers rate out as an underrated squad, but I will point out that they’re only 5-5 over their past 10 games.

Still, they rank 19th here at numberFire and at BartTorvik; KenPom has them even better (17th).

The record (19-14) doesn’t reflect the underlying data, which tells us this is a top-15 offense and a top-50 defense. nERD has them close to a historical 6 seed.

1. Utah State Aggies (No. 10 Seed, South)

• nERD: 12.98
• nERD vs. Seed Average: +2.51

No list of 2023’s most underrated March Madness teams is complete without the Aggies. The metrics really believe in Utah State, who boast a top-15 adjusted offense in the nation.

The numberFire model ranks them 16th in the nation. KenPom’s got the Aggies 18th overall, while BartTorvik ranks them 25th.

Their nERD score is close to a historical 5-seed (13.28) or 6-seed (12.21). That’s why our algorithm really likes their odds against the Missouri Tigers in the 7-10 matchup in the South region.

— Brandon Gdula

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The post Top Algorithms Reveal the Most Underrated Men’s March Madness Teams of 2023 appeared first on Boardroom.

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

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

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

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

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2023 Women’s March Madness Odds

National Champion

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

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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

• Houston: +490
• Alabama: +800
• Kansas: +1200
• Purdue: +1200
• UCLA: +1200
• Gonzaga: +1600
• Arizona: +1600
• Marquette: +1600
• Texas: +1600
• Tennessee: +2600
• Baylor: +2600
• UConn: +2600
• Duke: +3100
• Kentucky: +3700

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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

• Houston: +120
• Texas: +450
• Xavier: +900
• Texas A&M: +1000
• Indiana: +1200
• Miami: +1600

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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The post Men’s March Madness Odds: Houston Favored to Cut Down the Nets appeared first on Boardroom.

Azzi Fudd came to the University of Connecticut with a ton of hype as the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2021 class. After a freshman year that landed her on the Big East All-Freshman team in 2022, the guard came back this season and is averaging 15.5 points per game for the Huskies, a team that’s been hovering in the top 10 for much of the campaign and clinched another Big East Tournament title on March 6.

As much success as she’s finding on the court, however, Fudd is also benefitting at an All-American level from name, image & likeness (NIL) monetization — before even making her collegiate debut, Fudd had already inked endorsement deals with big-name companies (more on that below), and that list has only grown as she continues to show out on the hardwood.

Just how much has Fudd made in NIL earning thus far in her career at UConn? Boardroom breaks it all down.

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Azzi Fudd NIL Market Value

All data via On3.com’s NIL rankings as of March 8, 2023.

Women’s College Basketball NIL rank: 9
Total followers: 327,000
10-week high: $194,000
10-week low: $179,000

The above monetary figures are via On3’s NIL Valuation, a proprietary algorithm that “establishes the overall NIL market and projected 12-month growth rate by measuring two categories, Brand Value Index and Roster Value Index.”

Notable Azzi Fudd NIL Deals

Curry Brand

There aren’t many college basketball players in the country who are directly backed by one of the best in the NBA, but for Fudd, that’s exactly the case in her multi-dimensional partnership with Stephen Curry and his Curry Brand. And it’s not just that she’s reppin’ the Curry lines of shoes — although she’s unable to while on-court for the Huskies — but rather the brand sees her as the face of the future. Curry himself took it a step further and predicted Fudd will be “the next face of women’s basketball,” period.

“She will be the face of the women’s Curry Brand for years,” Steve Segears, Global Merchandising/Senior Merchant for Curry Brand, told Boardroom. “As she makes her ascent into the WNBA we can get even louder with some of the stories that she wants to bring to life.”

Nerf

Alongside superstar teammate Paige Bueckers, who unfortunately hasn’t been able to play this season due to injury, Fudd signed a NIL deal with the toy brand Nerf late last year.

This just looks fun.

BioSteel

We’ve seen some unique NIL deals make headlines during this era’s brief existence, but this BioSteel-Fudd partnership might take the cake. In addition to pushing BioSteel’s electrolyte-focused sports drink as a healthier hydration option, Fudd also receives equity in this partnership. And she’s in good company; other athlete equity partners include Patrick Mahomes, Luka Dončić, Christen Press, Ezekiel Elliott, DeAndre Hopkins, and Jalen Ramsey.

Other notable deals: Chipotle, American Eagle, TikTok

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The post Boardroom NIL Report Card: UConn’s Azzi Fudd appeared first on Boardroom.

Stop. Collaborate and listen. UConn women’s basketball is back and one of its players has a brand new invention.

Or, several, actually, in the form of NIL apparel.

UConn freshman Isuneh “Ice” Brady has filed a trademark application for “Ice Ice Brady,” as noted by trademark attorney Josh Gerben of Gerben Intellectual Property.

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Per the application, Brady intends to use the trademark on clothing, namely t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets/outerwear, socks, sweatpants, tank tops, shorts, pants, hats, and jerseys. The freshman forward’s website, iceicebrady.com, already features several items, including four different t-shirts and a hoodie.

Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason, so she has not yet taken the court for the Huskies, who won the Big East championship Monday night. Her injury was an omen of things to come for UConn, who lost superstar Paige Bueckers for the season shortly after that and had to deal with so many injuries throughout the campaign that it even had to postpone a game against DePaul because it did not have enough available players.

Next season, Brady plans to take the court alongside a (hopefully) much healthier Husky squad. She was the No. 5 recruit in her class and a 2022 McDonald’s All-American.

Even though she hasn’t played a game yet, Brady has been active in the NIL space. She signed a deal with Dunkin Donuts in 2022 and has been an active #TeamDunkin member on social media. Brady is not the first player on this UConn roster to trademark her nickname, either. Bueckers did the same for “Paige Buckets” shortly after NIL came into effect in 2021.

Despite the injuries to Brady, Bueckers, and seemingly everyone else, UConn is still poised for a 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies will learn their fate on Selection Sunday, March 12.

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The post UConn Freshman is Cold as Ice Ice Brady appeared first on Boardroom.

Get set for the latest revival of the New York City tradition with our Big East 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? Well, it’s a big one: the Big East Men’s Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden.

Here’s everything NCAA hoops fans and bettors need to know about the 2023 Big East Conference Tournament.

Big East Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule, Dates & Location

The 2023 Big East Conference Tournament will tip off with its first game at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 8 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The championship game will be held at 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 11. FS1 will televise all nine games in the first three days of the tournament before the FOX broadcast network carries the championship game.

2023 Big East Tournament Schedule

• First Round: March 8
• Quarterfinals: March 9
• Semifinals: March 10
• Championship: March 11

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Big East Tournament 2023: Odds to Win

Big East Conference tournament odds are from FanDuel Sportsbook as of March 7, 2023.

Big East Conference Tournament Predictions 2023

The oddsmakers may like Connecticut, but Marquette is the top seed, followed by Xavier. Those two teams are averaging 80.5 and 82.3 points per game, respectively, to lead the Big East. The Golden Eagles and Musketeers also lead the conference in field goal percentage, hitting between 49.5% and 50% of their shots from the floor. The two teams split a pair of very close games during the regular season, and both teams went 3-1 vs Providence and Creighton.

With Marquette leading the league in steals and assist-to-turnover ratio, they are a slight favorite in a tight race at the top for the conference championship. That said, we prefer Xavier’s tempo and top-10 adjusted efficiency on offense, field goal shooting, and 3-pointers.

BIG EAST TOURNAMENT BEST BET: Xavier to win

— FairwayJay

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The post Who Do the Oddsmakers Like at the 2023 Big East Tournament? appeared first on Boardroom.

You might not be able to find a more consistent winner in all of sports than Maya Moore.

She played basketball in the national spotlight for 12 years — four in college and eight in the WNBA — and won six championships in that time. Moore won a WNBA title in half her seasons in the league, made six All-Star appearances, and was MVP of the game three times. She was also a WNBA Finals MVP, WNBA MVP, and the winner of enough additional individual and team awards to fill a trophy case the size of the Target Center.

Despite not playing in a WNBA game since 2018, she’s remained an icon of the sport, as demonstrated by the overwhelming reaction to her retirement announcement on Monday.

Not many players could go four years without playing a game in the league and command the type of unwavering respect that Moore has, and each year until now, fans have speculated over a potential return. Through it all, she’s remained synonymous with the Minnesota Lynx. In Connecticut, where she won two NCAA titles, she’s known only as Maya. You can probably expect her back in Storrs soon, too, to see her number retired.

Yet everything she’s done on the court somehow pales in comparison to what she’s done off of it.

Maya Moore’s Biggest Win

Moore’s 2018 season ended with the super-skilled wing averaging 18 points a night and leading the league in steals. She was at the top of her game, but decided it was the right time to put her playing career on hold to, as she put it, work on “living out [her] purpose.” At the time, that meant focusing on her family and her faith.

Soon, it also meant fighting for social justice — she worked tirelessly to help secure the release of the wrongfully imprisoned Jonathan Irons, who had spent more than two decades in prison for a murder he did not commit. Irons was released in 2020, and the two have since married and had a son.

Many are familiar with Moore’s story. But how many have stepped back to actually think about it?

She had dedicated her life to being a great basketball player and was on her way toward becoming one of the best in the history of the sport. Yet, in an age where fans will live or die with every win or loss, she was able to step aside. She was able to recognize that, as much as she loves basketball, there are more important things under the sun.

The WNBA championships? Cool, but no championship trophy has ever helped to liberate an innocent man from imprisonment. The five All-WNBA First Team selections? Flattering, but her stat lines didn’t build her Win with Justice campaign. All those gold medals? An honor few on Earth can match, but they can’t end modern slavery a la the End It Movement, with which Moore has also worked.

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One thing all those accolades did for Moore, however, was provide her a platform that she realized she could leverage for more than winning more basketball games. It’s a platform that, thankfully, hundreds more athletes have recognized and used over the past few years to benefit causes important to them. Moore took it further than most because she knows that’s her purpose right now.

She decided it was the right choice to step aside from basketball in 2019. There were opportunities to return to the game, but as she dove deeper into the social justice movement, the urge to do so dissipated. As she said on Monday, “I wasn’t just sitting around wishing I was playing again. I just felt such a sense of purpose.”

Her college coach, Geno Auriemma, knows better than anyone the passion Moore has for basketball and the importance that family and justice hold for her as well. It’s why he said in a statement on Monday that he’s proud of her for the decision she made:

Maya Moore’s Career Resume

A year from now, Maya Moore will be eligible for the Basketball Hall of Fame, and even the quickest look at her on-court accomplishments reveals her as more than worthy. Here’s just a sampling of what she’s done:

College

• 2x National Player of the Year
• 4x First Team All-American
• 2x national champion
• 2010 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player

WNBA

• 2011 WNBA Draft No. 1 pick
• 2011 Rookie of the Year
• 2014 scoring champion
• 5x First Team All-WNBA
• 6x All-Star
• 4x WNBA champion (2011, ’13, ’15, ’17)
• 2013 Finals MVP
• 2014 WNBA MVP

International

• 2x Olympic gold medalist (2012, ’16)
• 2x FIBA World Championship winner (2010, ’14)
• 2014 FIBA World Championship MVP
• 2x EuroLeague Women champion (2012, ’18)

A resume like that makes it all the more amazing that she had the strength to recognize when it was right to step away. We all wanted to see Maya Moore play at the highest level again, but we could settle for seeing her in Springfield as she writes her next chapter away from the court.

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The post Maya Moore: Basketball’s Most Consistent Champion appeared first on Boardroom.

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Blood in Women’s Basketball

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

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

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

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

Tournament Expansion: Possible, Not Likely

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

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

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

The Wildest Men’s Coaching Carousel Ever?

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

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

Player of the Year Watch

Men’s Basketball Favorite: Zach Edey, Purdue

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

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

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

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

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

Playing Favorites

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

Men’s Basketball Odds

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

Women’s Basketball Odds

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

Read More:

• ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI
• From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True
• Everything is On the Table for Maverick Carter, Paul Rivera & The Shop
• Boardroom Talks: Amar’e Stoudemire Always Understood the Game
• CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Institutional Investment

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

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

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

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

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

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

Work Left to Do

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

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

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

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

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

Read More:

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• CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

Women’s Basketball Futures Odds: National Champion

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

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

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

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

Read More:

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

With four championships, two MVPs, and more than a quarter-billion dollars in NBA earnings to his name, Stephen Curry has done it all on the court. As the father of three looks to build his legacy outside of basketball, he’s now using his platform to create capital and spur change.

Curry Brand, the point guard’s footwear and apparel subsidiary within Under Armour, is the culmination of all things Steph, meant to express his social and athletic interests in a way that’s even bigger than he is.

To grow, Steph has invested in individuals that embody his passion for sport and society.

Enter UConn women’s hoops standout Azzi Fudd.

“It’s an honor to be the first player to be partnered with Curry Brand,” Fudd told Boardroom. “But to not only be the first person but also the first female? That meant a lot to me.”

Just as Steph changed basketball by elevating the importance of the three-point shot, he’s looking to impact how brands view athletes by making a women’s college player the featured face of his empire. For years, Steph has hosted his own camp for high school prospects, inviting those he saw himself in.

Fudd was among the first female attendees and will be far from the last.

“I was one of the first girls invited,” recalled Fudd, who now works as a counselor at the camp. “That was probably one of my favorite basketball memories. I got the bag of gear and my jaw dropped like, ‘This is all just for me!’ The guys were all too cool because they’re used to it, but walking in the gym and seeing Steph working out? I was so happy and excited to be there.”

While free gear from the game’s greatest shooter may have floored Fudd years ago, the two will work together for years to come in an effort to deliver apparel, sneakers, and campaigns intended to change the game and influence the industry.

For Fudd and Steph, the two business partners share a through-line of hard work and humility.

Game Recognize Game

Fudd met Curry in 2018 when she attended his Select Camp as one of only two woman athletes invited.

Prior to that, the talent at Under Armour had been eyeing her behind the scenes as she played high school hoops in the brand’s backyard of Washington, DC.

In Nov. 2020, two years after attending Curry’s camp, Fudd committed to UConn. A year later, she made her NCAA debut in a win over Arkansas. A couple months after that, she made her first start…and made a major impact.

Since showing up in Storrs, Fudd has landed NIL deals with the likes of Chipotle, American Eagle, and TikTok. She’s also struck a deal with BioSteel Sports Nutrition, where she is an equity partner. It’s all part of leveraging her greatness in the game for business opportunities off the court.

“NIL and college together is all that I know,” Fudd said. “My agents and my parents do a lot for me behind the scenes so that I can focus on basketball and school — the things that matter most.”

As her family and business brass filter through the requests, they seek partnerships that reflect her play and platform, and also her personal relationships.

Such an opportunity came in December 2021 when Fudd announced a multi-dimensional partnership with Curry Brand. A year later, it’s just hitting its stride.

“Azzi Fudd is the best choice to start a brand relationship like this because she is the next face of women’s basketball,” Steph Curry said at the time of the signing. “Our values are aligned when it comes to family, and in terms of hard work and for the appreciation of blessings in your life.”

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The second season of Curry Brand and Fudd’s freshman year aligned in a historic fashion. Over the span, Steph took home his first Finals MVP and Azzi won Big East Freshman of the Year while UConn advanced to the national title game.

As the designers at Curry Brand remain busy amplifying stories from Steph’s history, the marketing team plans for Fudd’s future. After averaging 12 points a night in her debut season, the Storrs sophomore spent part of the summer working at the Select Camp, training with Steph, and shooting campaigns for future Curry Brand activations.

Timing is of the essence as Fudd’s Huskies are backed by Nike, a rival sponsor, meaning she can’t wear Curry Brand sneakers on the court during her regular season or March Madness moments.

“This summer has been my first chance to really wear and rep Curry Brand and be with Steph in person for a shoot,” Fudd said. “Now getting to learn from him in person and see how he works? I’ve learned a lot.”

Since last season ended, Fudd has leaned into her Curry connection. She’s backed Steph on shoe launches as she’s worked on her own game behind the scenes. The timing has been brilliant for both as Steph stole the spotlight all spring and into the summer, winning his fourth NBA Championship while rotating Curry 4 FloTros and Curry 9s.

While Azzi watched, she also activated.

“She was just used for International Women’s Day for the WNBA with her being the face of it,” Steve Segears, Global Merchandising/Senior Merchant for Curry Brand, told Boardroom in July. “We did the Title IX colorway, which sold out. The proceeds are going back to fighting for that cause. One of our biggest pillars is leaving any community or cause better than we found it and that’s one thing that’s really ingrained from a Stephen standpoint.”

For her sophomore season in Storrs — and for each summer after — Fudd will continue to hone her skillset while promoting her partnership with Curry Brand. She’ll lead the Huskies in heat from the Nike Kyrie and KD lines in NCAA action, while amplifying Steph’s shoes in NIL.

In both spaces, however, she’ll continue to learn the business as Steph builds his brand.

Next Steps

Even at a Nike school, Fudd remains aligned with the future of Steph’s footwear line.

“It’s pretty crazy to see myself when you open the Under Armour website representing this brand,” Fudd said. “I had never thought about the behind-the-scenes of any of this stuff. I’m learning that there’s so much that goes into building not just a brand but a shoe and a company. I’ve met so many incredible people along the way.”

Fudd says she has worked on a couple of designs tied to her teams back home. They’re deep in personal meaning and should be coming out soon. When she returns to her high school in DC — the same place Under Armour execs discovered her — she’ll represent Curry Brand not in just shoes, but spirit.

See, if a Jumpman speaks to excellence and fearlessness, the Curry emblem equates to humility and hard work.

“[Steph] became one of my favorite players because of how he acted around us,” Fudd said. “He’d hop in drills with us, teach us, and give us advice. He wasn’t Hollywood and I just loved his personality. His attention to detail? I aspire to be at that level. Getting to work with him and seeing all that firsthand? It’s a great reminder of where I want to be on the women’s side. He’s just such a great role model to have.”

Since meeting Steph at his camp in 2018, the camp has developed an entire women’s division. After her sophomore season, Fudd will return to the camp as a coach, counselor, and role model.

Once she graduates from UConn, she’ll leave as much more.

“She will be the face of the women’s Curry Brand for years,” Segears said. “As she makes her ascent into the WNBA we can get even louder with some of the stories that she wants to bring to life.”

Read More:

• ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI
• From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True
• Everything is On the Table for Maverick Carter, Paul Rivera & The Shop
• Boardroom Talks: Amar’e Stoudemire Always Understood the Game
• CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024

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The post Azzi Fudd: Curry Brand’s Face of the Future appeared first on Boardroom.

Moolah Kicks, the first basketball sneaker brand built exclusively for women, has brought on UConn guard Caroline Ducharme and Indiana Fever rookie guard Destanni Henderson as brand ambassadors as the company launches its new Neovolt Pro shoe.

The two players met in last season’s national championship game where Henderson’s South Carolina Gamecocks took down Ducharme and the Huskies to capture the program’s second title. Now, they’ll both sport sneakers made specifically to help elevate their performance.

“As an entrepreneur myself, I love the fact that Moolah Kicks is a women-owned brand dedicated to making premium performance basketball shoes exclusively for women and girls,” Henderson said in a press release. “The shoes are more comfortable than anything I have ever worn before, and the quality is definitely there.”

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Henderson would know a thing or two about quality. She launched her Clothing by HP line during the pandemic, even before the NCAA adopted NIL rules permitting her to profit off her creativity. Her brand now makes shirts, sweatpants, shorts, jackets, and more.

Moolah Kicks says that in launching the Neovolt Pro, available exclusively at DICK’S Sporting Goods in retail and online this week, it hopes to set a new standard in not just performance, but injury prevention for young female athletes. Moolah Kicks built the shoe specifically to fit the female foot form with a webbing lacing system that provides custom fit and comfort. It also engineered a midsole meant to enable a faster push-off and a stability control heel clip that provides a quick first step.

For Ducharme, it’s a shoe she can work out in as she looks to build on a standout freshman season.

“I love that Moolah Kicks is a brand that exclusively supports and elevates women’s basketball,” she said in the release. “Having shoes that are made specifically for women’s feet makes a huge difference. They are so comfortable, I love playing in them.”

UConn is a Nike school, so don’t expect Ducharme to wear the Neovolt Pro in primetime anytime soon. Brands, however, have gravitated toward her as she shines at the most recognizable women’s basketball program in the country. Ducharme, an Excel Sports Management client, has also signed name, image, and likeness deals with Bumble, Degree, ISlide, and Six Star Pro Nutrition.

The Neovolt Pro will retail for $125 in four colorways: Black/Gold, Navy/Blue, White/Silver, and Orange/Pink.

Read More:

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• From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True
• Everything is On the Table for Maverick Carter, Paul Rivera & The Shop
• Boardroom Talks: Amar’e Stoudemire Always Understood the Game
• CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024

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The post Destanni Henderson, Caroline Ducharme Named Moolah Kicks Brand Ambassadors appeared first on Boardroom.

And we’re back! Get set for Saturday’s Week 0 college football slate with the latest betting odds and picks from our friends at FanDuel.

After a long six months, football is finally back. Fans won’t be treated to the full buffet yet, as NFL is still a couple of weeks away and no ranked teams play in Week 0, but meaningful football will be played, nonetheless. At this point in the year, bettors are starving for football, and although the slate isn’t great, we’ll break down a couple of our model’s best bets as we get primed for what should be another exciting season. Welcome to Week 0 college football.

We have built comprehensive algorithms at numberFire to pinpoint the bets with the highest probability of returning money, whether you are betting on the total, the spread, or the moneyline. For those new to numberFire, we use a five-star system to show which bets you should be targeting for any given game. Stars represent how much you should risk on a wager relative to what you would normally bet.

For example, if you would normally bet $110 to win $100 on a -110-spread wager, if we give a 3-star ranking, we suggest risking three times that amount: $330 to win $300. Here are the best bets for this Week 0 college football weekend with guidance from our model.

Please note that lines are subject to change after this article is published. All ratings are out of five stars. Please check here to make sure you are seeing the most updated information.

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Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Northwestern Wildcats

Nebraska -11.5 (-110): 5 Stars

The Cornhuskers had a truly wild season last year. Their record was 3-9, but every loss was within single digits.

That Nebraska squad was probably the best 3-win team of my lifetime, and it was enough for Scott Frost to keep his job as the head coach. Frost remains on the hot seat as the expectations have risen for the Huskers, but they begin the season with a manageable matchup against Northwestern in Dublin, Ireland.

It’s unlikely that Nebraska will turn it around enough to win the Big Ten, but it’s reasonable to predict them starting the season off strong before a gauntlet in their final three games: at Michigan, vs. Wisconsin, and at Iowa.

Nebraska doesn’t have a staggering amount of returning production by any means, but they might be looking at an upgrade at quarterback

Adrian Martinez, who transferred to Kansas State after four seasons with the Cornhuskers, has always been limited by interceptions. Martinez threw for 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while newcomer Casey Thompson, who previously played at Texas, threw 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions. It’s not a major difference in turnovers, but Thompson’s ratio shows more upside.

Northwestern typically has a stout defense, relatively speaking, and there’s no reason to doubt anything different this year on that side of the ball. However, they lack the offensive firepower to hang with some of the stronger teams in the Big Ten.

Nebraska should be able to take care of business in their opener with Thompson behind center and a defense that held every team on their schedule last season to 35 points or fewer (that includes Ohio State, Michigan, and Oklahoma, all of whom ranked in the top ten in offensive FEI according to Football Outsiders).

Our model projects the Cornhuskers to cover the spread with a whopping 78.4% probability, giving this bet a five-star rating.

UConn Huskies vs. Utah State Aggies

Utah State -26.5 (-110): 4 Stars

Another favorite our model likes this week is Utah State. This is probably the last time these teams will appear in this space as we try to discuss the games with the highest stakes and potential for excitement on a weekly basis; Week 0 college football is simply a different beast.

For Week 0, though, this appears like a great bet. Randy Edsall, the Huskies’ all-time leader in wins, retired from the head coach position midseason last year and Connecticut hired Jim Mora — of all people — to take over the program. Their lone win came against Yale, one of two FCS teams on their schedule. The other was Holy Cross, to whom they lost 38-28.

Coming into this season, one could argue that Connecticut is the worst team in Division I FBS.

Utah State, on the other hand, isn’t a powerhouse, but the Aggies did receive a smattering of votes in both preseason polls. They won the Mountain West last season, and with a bowl win over Oregon State, earned a spot in the final AP Poll.

The Aggies aren’t the favorite to repeat as conference champions (that honor has been bestowed upon Boise State, per FanDuel Sportsbook), but they should be able to take care of an awful program in their home opener.

Utah State has a projected 69.7% probability to cover the hefty spread, according to our model.

— Michael Rondello

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The post Week 0 College Football Betting Odds & Picks appeared first on Boardroom.

It feels like no matter what Renee Montgomery tries, she succeeds.

The 35-year-old multi-hyphenate won an NCAA basketball title at UConn in 2009, WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx in 2015 and 2017, started a successful broadcasting and podcasting career with the Atlanta Hawks (“Montgomery & Co.” and “Takeline”), has her own production company (Think Tank Productions), and is a co-owner and team president of the Atlanta Dream. She’ll also have time to participate in the BIG3 celebrity All-Star game on Aug. 21 in Atlanta.

Montgomery was in Los Angeles last month to celebrate Gatorade‘s high school and youth athletes of the year, and sat down with Boardroom to discuss her busy post-playing career, role with the Dream, how she’d spend the $75 million investment the WNBA received, and how she comes up with new business and production ideas.

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SHLOMO SPRUNG: You’re here supporting Gatorade’s youth players of the year. Why is it important for you to support this kind of cause and all these kids out here?

RENEE MONTGOMERY: I think it’s lit what Gatorade’s doing every year to put on such a big event. It happens before the ESPYs every year, so there’s that energy in the city. Not to mention it’s All-Star going on right now at Dodger Stadium. Imagine being in high school — like I was the West Virginia Gatorade Athlete of the Year. And to me that was a big deal in itself. They didn’t fly me out here for this event. So just to see the athletes of the year that are nominated to have such an event to look forward to, it makes all your work just feel validated.

SS: What did you get when you won the West Virginia award?

RM: I think they gave us a plaque, they gave me a little swag bag. And to me that was everything because I’m pretty sure I wore that water bottle out. It was more so about the athlete than the gifts, but this next-gen, just being able to be here and see the energy they have about going to college, where they’re going. It’s an exciting time.

SS: A lot of people don’t really know what to do when their playing careers end. You kind of have the opposite problem, if it’s a problem. What’s the typical day like in your post-playing life?

RM: No day is the same, but the typical day starts with emails every morning. So I wake up to Twitter and emails. Then it depends on the day. If I had a Hawks game that I called the night before that went late and it was a west coast game, I’m gonna wake up a little later. But I would say typically around 8, I’m gonna be checking emails and responding to emails. Then I start with the business and then usually later into the day starts the filming, whether that’s WNBA Weekly or Montgomery & Co podcast, and there’s usually a little bit of emails and meetings with the Dream. I try to get to the office more. I need to get in the office more, but they do a lot on Zoom to help make sure I’m present.

SS: You’re doing so many different things, from podcasts and investments, the Dream and everything else. What do you think is the most surprising thing you’re into right now?

RM: I would say the Atlanta Dream. Being the co-owner and vice president is always like, when I wake up and I have things that I need to do, I always think this is crazy. I have things I need to do as a vice president. It’s just the concept of being an executive at a big business. I went straight from being a player where everything was focused on the championship, and now I have different goals. We want to sell out, especially on the weekends. Friday night vibes, like that’s what we want. So there’s certain things now, like making sure that the Dream brand people understand that we’re a luxury brand. If it ain’t lit, if it ain’t sexy, it ain’t us. So there are just different goals that I have now.

SS: Have brands and fans gravitated toward that luxury status, or is it an effort to get there?

RM: It’s like, if you know, you know. Some brands have gravitated quickly, like Microsoft did a huge multi-year deal with us. And I’m like holy Microsoft, yes, this is what we need. Brands like that have came on board quickly and we have other brands as well, but I want more brands. In the women’s sports space, I’m so excited about the brands we do have and I’m not taking them for granted, but we want to have the same type of partnerships you see with the NBA or NFL with a sponsor in every category. We have the brand to do it.

SS: Based off the Player of the Year theme, what advice would you give to current players to prepare them for life after basketball of whatever sport they’re in?

RM: That’s one of the main things I’ve been trying to talk to the players about. What is their thing? Because right now you’re at the Gatorade Athlete of the Year awards. Your brand is growing at a rapid rate, NIL is in college now. Whether people love it or hate it, it’s a thing. So you’re a brand. You don’t have to wait until after sports anymore. It used to be, what do you want to do after sports? Now, it’s what do you want to do right now as athletes.

For me, people would ask me and I’d say I want to get into entertainment. That means I want to host, I want to be an analyst. So it’s not even a thing they have to wait to do anymore. I was with Paige [Bueckers] and Aliyah [Boston] doing an OTE broadcast and they’re in college right now. That’s what I talked to them about. Like, you’re a brand right now.

SS: Is there a business venture you haven’t gone into yet that you want to pursue?

RM: There’s plenty I haven’t gone into yet, but the thing that’s top-of-mind for me is productions. You see all the cameras around us, and a lot of times Sirena Grace, my wife and co-founder of [Think Tank Productions], we’re pitching ideas to other people. And then we started to see that our ideas were getting picked up a lot. So we saw there’s something to this. So that’s how we came up with Think Tank Productions, because we have a lot of ideas and we want to see them through. That’s what’s really exciting for me.

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SS: As an athlete, how validating is it to see these ideas come to life?

RM: Man, it’s crazy because when you have an idea, your first thing is like ‘are people going to care?’ Every time we have an idea, we ask why would people watch? Why would people care? Is this even entertaining? So when it gets picked up and people are like ‘yo, I messed with that,’ I’m like ‘what?’ Because it’s just something that started so small, an idea in my notes or Sirena’s notes, and then you see it in real life. The Montgomery & Co. podcast is that thing.

SS: Where do you get your best ideas from? I get really good ideas in the shower.

RM: Oh my gosh, I have this thing I call shower thoughts. By the way, in Cali I think a lot of people would have different answers than shower thoughts [laughs].

SS: That can be an answer, too.

RM: For me, my imagination has been with me. I’m very energetic and have high energy. All that just never left as a kid. Some people are just called big kids, and that’s where my ideas come from, and Sirena is the same. We’ll just be sitting in the room and we’ll be like ‘oh, this will be hilarious if this happened’ or, ‘oh, he should have done this.’ And then it would be a cool concept if this whole thing was different. And that’s how we just start to bounce [ideas] back and forth. And that’s how production ideas come about.

SS: So the WNBA recently raised $75 million. What do you think should be the league’s top priorities on how to best spend that capital?

RM: That’s tough because with the WNBA, I’m a real fan of the W even though I’m no longer playing and I’m a co-owner and vice president. I’m a fan most of all. So as a fan, what I want to see is more access to content, more marketing, more avenues of how to digest women’s sports. What I mean by that is, if I wanted to know anything about an NBA player, I could Google it and there’s probably 20 articles on that player or topic. I don’t know if it’s the same for WNBA players as it is for men’s leagues.

And of course the travel. I was a player, so I’ve been in a situation where I was on a back-to-back and the flight got delayed and we had to go directly to the gym to play. I was in those situations before. So I think the hotel stay and how you travel is so important because that’s how you recover. The marketing and the travel are the first two places I’d start.

SS: You’ve played across all levels of professional basketball, including overseas during the offseason. How much money do you think a player would realistically need to make in the WNBA so they wouldn’t also have to play overseas?

RM: I think that’s player based. Some people could say they could make $250,000 and live comfortably. And where you’re living might matter because we see right now with inflation and everything going on, that all that matters. But I think we all understand and there’s a dramatic disparity. So we know that the prioritization clause is coming into hand, so that’s going to have a big play in things. But for me, I just think that we need a big deal, one of those big TV deals that just dramatically changes the scope of contracts.

SS:  Back in the day, even in baseball and football, all these players had to work offseason jobs.

RM: Yeah. We’re not abnormal [laughs].

SS: And then when it got to a point where they didn’t need to do that, it was an enormous step in the growth and development of that sport.

RM: It is. It’s a growth process, but there’s a certain avenue to get to that. If you look at the NBA deals with the $220 million max, it only started once the new TV deal hit. So for me, it’s less about the growth of the league, but we’ve proven the numbers are there now. So it’s just on who’s going to lean in? What broadcaster, what company, what conglomerate, what streaming platform is going to put one of those big contracts up that changes the landscape of all contracts?

SS: Call them out. Who do you want?

RM: I want whoever’s gonna put the money up. I don’t have a preference. That’s why I said streaming. Everything’s changing now. So it doesn’t even have to be your typical cable network that puts money up. I don’t care who puts the money up, because Amazon’s got just as much money now as almost any other company. So I don’t care who it is, but somebody needs to. That’s my point.

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The post Boardroom Q&A: Renee Montgomery appeared first on Boardroom.

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.

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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

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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The post College Basketball’s Next NIL Stars appeared first on Boardroom.

Long before the 2001-02 college basketball season started, Jessica Moore knew something was different about her UConn team.

The redshirt freshman sat on the sidelines the previous year, watching perhaps the most talented team in UConn history reach the Final Four before a couple ill-timed injuries ultimately caught up with them in a semifinal loss to Notre Dame.

That summer, playing pickup in Gampel Pavilion with her teammates, there was a fire that could only be lit when the hunger for victory clashes with the agony of defeat. Moore says rising senior Swin Cash set the tone, but all the upperclassmen — including Sue Bird, Tamika Williams-Jeter, and Asjha Jones — were gearing up to play a full season of college basketball completely pissed off.

And they did. UConn ran through the 2001-02 season undefeated, winning every game but one by double digits, en route to the program’s third national championship. Twenty years later, it’s remembered as perhaps the best women’s college basketball team of all-time — not just because it was loaded with future pros, but because the entire team bought into the singular goal of getting back to the Final Four and writing a different ending.

The team’s story, however, did not end in San Antonio with a 12-point win over Oklahoma in the national championship game. As impressive as that team was, what the players accomplished since is equally awe-inspiring.

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The Team

Laying the Foundation

Geno Auriemma doesn’t just hand out scholarships for the best prospects to play basketball at the University of Connecticut. There’s a specific type of player that can thrive under him, and that was the case in 2002 as much as it is the case today.

As he prepared to lead the 2022 Huskies into the Final Four against Stanford, he spoke with the media about players who have come to UConn and transferred out.

“I’ve never had a really good player leave my program, in 37 years, that left and made it big at a top-10 or 20 school,” he said. “If you can’t play for us at UConn, you can’t play anywhere at this level. I let these guys be who they are. I just have certain demands on the court, and they have to meet them or they don’t play.”

You have to be OK with that to play for the Huskies, and if you are, you can do great things. That’s why Gampel became a war zone after the 2001 loss to Notre Dame, and why the 2002 team, with objectively less talent than the one that came before, ended up being one of the best of all time.

“It’s the kind of people who are drawn to go to UConn,” Jones said. “You know it’s not going to be easy. Every game, you’re in a battle against [Auriemma].”

Jones told the current team as much when she visited this past summer, calling them all winners already by even accepting the challenge of playing in Storrs, where, by design, the games feel easy compared to the rigors of practice.

That’s the reason why, over the last 30 years as the women’s game has evolved and competition increased across the board, UConn rarely gets upset. Sure, they’ll lose games, but the Huskies won’t find themselves at the wrong end of a 1 vs. 8 or 2 vs. 10 upset. Specific to 2002, it’s why that team won almost every game by double digits.

“He said, ‘You thought you know how to work hard. But that’s OK, I’m gonna teach you,'” Jones recalled Auriemma telling her.

And as Jones and her class got older, they became the teachers as well to the younger players, like sophomore Diana Taurasi. They knew she was loaded with talent and potential when she came to UConn in 2000, but was not fully prepared for what Auriemma had in store.

“She was on the struggle bus,” Williams-Jeter recalled. “She was a handful because we knew we needed her. We wanted to make sure she knew that we knew she was needed. When she would do something stupid and be a freshman, we would pull her back in real quick.”

By her sophomore year, Taurasi had started to put it together. She averaged 14.6 points per game and shot 44% from three. Just as importantly, she dished out 5.3 assists per game, doubling her output from the year before. Those numbers, perhaps not coincidentally, almost identically mirror Bird’s from that year (14.4 points, 47% 3 PT, 5.9 APG).

Between the two of them in the backcourt and a frontcourt made of first-round WNBA Draft picks, the team knew it would eventually wind up in the Final Four. What happened from there was anyone’s guess.

Remembering the Alamodome

Most of the details of the actual 2001-02 season are only interesting to the most diehard Nutmeggers. Even in the NCAA Tournament, where the Huskies won their six games by an average of 27 points per game. In other words, no late-game heroics were needed.

For some within the program, one of the first indications that the team would be remembered as more than just an undefeated national champion came after UConn’s 79-56 win over rival Tennessee in the national semifinal.

Auriemma and a couple players were off in the interview room at the Alamodome while the rest of the team celebrated in the locker room.

And in walked Pat Summitt, at the time the most accomplished coach in women’s basketball history. The same coach UConn had just blown out of the Final Four. When the players saw Summitt, the room fell silent. Williams-Jeter remembers confusion and whispering among the players. Why would the losing coach be in their locker room?

It turns out, Summitt had a message for the team.

“She thanked us for what we did for women’s basketball,” Williams-Jeter said. “She said that we were a class act, how tough we played, how well we rebounded.”

Gracious as she was in defeat, Summitt did more than offer congratulations. She made sure the players knew that they were part of a special team — one that young players around the world were looking up to and trying to emulate. For added fun, she asked the seniors when they were graduating and told them that she would be at the graduation ceremony. She wanted to make sure they were actually graduating so she never had to face them again.

According to Williams-Jeter, Summitt didn’t actually attend.

“She would have been wearing too much orange,” Williams-Jeter said.

Two nights later, UConn’s win over Oklahoma to officially win the championship seemed like a mere formality. And Oklahoma wasn’t some throw-away opponent, either. The Sooners were led by the great Stacey Dales and went 32-4 en route to a Big 12 championship.

It didn’t matter. Sure, the Sooners stayed closer than most opponents, but UConn out-rebounded them 44-25, and when Dales fouled out in the final minutes, the countdown to the Huskies’ celebration officially began.

Running the League

A couple weeks later, Bird, Cash, and Jones were three of the top four picks in the WNBA Draft — Dales was the other. Williams went sixth overall.

It wasn’t until that point, Jones says, that she was able to start appreciating exactly how good UConn was that season.

“That’s the kind of thing that evolves over time,” she said. “What other team can really be compared to the level of talent that was on that team? That’s the kind of thing that happens over time, and you see if another team can match up to that.”

Before that draft, no other UConn player had ever been taken above seventh, though the league was still in its formative years. After that, Taurasi went No. 1 overall in 2004, with Moore and Ashley Battle going in the first round in 2005. That made seven of the 11 players on the 2002 team taken in the WNBA Draft, and the UConn-ification of the best women’s professional basketball league in the world had begun.

In fact, in the five drafts from 2002-06, 10 total Huskies were drafted, joining the handful that were already in the league.

The wave of UConn players into the W created a network of friendship and support for the still-young former Huskies trying to navigate life as a professional athlete.

The UConn brand in the W became so prevalent that since 2003, there have only been four WNBA championship teams that did not include at least one UConn alumna on the roster. And starting in 2004, thanks to Bird, every USA Olympic women’s basketball team has included a former Husky. In 2012, that meant Bird, Taurasi, Cash, and Jones all playing together in the Olympics, with fellow Huskies Tina Charles and Maya Moore also on the roster. The coach of Team USA that year? Geno Auriemma.

Twenty years later, Bird and Taurasi are the only two still playing — defying Father Time and competing at a high level in the WNBA. Not that this is a surprise to their former teammates. If you play at UConn, you learn to be smart about the game, your body, and how to maximize your potential.

“They’ve kind of evolved as the game has changed, as diets have changed, as exercise has changed,” said Morgan Valley, a guard on the 2002 team. “But back when we played, if you were lucky enough to get a scholarship to college, not everyone did that. They’re two people that when they got here, they just gave it everything they had. All the time.”

Running the Game

Bird and Taurasi are destined for the Hall of Fame as soon as they’re eligible. Meanwhile, the Hall of Fame is expected to announce this week that Cash will be inducted this summer.

But this roster isn’t just remembered for its great players. Of the 11 members on the 2001-02 UConn Huskies roster, 10 currently have jobs in athletics, be it coaching, playing (still), or in front offices. Nobody on the team is surprised.

“To do what that group did, I think you just had to kind of love it and always care about the game,” Valley said.

It’s why Valley finds herself now helping her former coach devise the very practices that used to drive her and her teammates crazy. Every player will tell you that Auriemma makes the practices more difficult than the games — not just in terms of physicality, but in expectation. In a game, all that matters is the final score, and UConn teams are often talented enough that there’s rarely a question which side ends up with the most points.

“[Auriemma] would always say, ‘Did we win that game because we were more talented? Or did we beat them?'” Jones recalled. “It was drilled into us to make sure that we didn’t win games because we had more talent on our roster, but we worked our butts off to win those games.”

With Williams-Jeter and Valley both already enjoying long coaching careers, neither said that past recruits have specifically brought up the 2002 team. But Valley mentioned that it’s the players people remember best. When she says she played with Bird and Taurasi, recruits (or their parents) take notice. Even without being able to put a year on it, their UConn teams are associated with greatness.

Those who aren’t coaching or playing are finding other ways to continue growing the game, particularly on the women’s side. Moore currently works at Nike as a brand manager for women’s sports performance and, like just about everyone in sports, has seen an increased interest in giving women the same chances in athletics that men have.

“I think it’s something we’ve always really been striving for,” she said. “I think that there’s just been more of a call to arms around it. We’re really trying to stand up for female athletes and provide them with the same information and the same product they need to keep pushing forward.”

While Moore is with the Swoosh, Cash, Jones and Ashley Battle are working for NBA teams. Williams-Jeter was named head coach at Dayton last week. Ashley Valley, Morgan’s sister, is an AAU director and Maria Conlon is a high school coach.

As Valley said: “None of us could let it go.”

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The post The 2002 UConn Huskies: A Legacy 20 Years in the Making appeared first on Boardroom.

This might be the first season in which college basketball players can benefit from their name, image, and likeness rights, but not every star of the past has missed out on the opportunity.

Apparel brand 19nine, which has partnerships with over 80 Division I universities, has launched a vintage NIL program to highlight past March Madness heroes. 19nine has licensed Getty Images photos of iconic March moments for use on t-shirts and sweatshirts, with the former college athletes able to benefit from sales.

Hakim Warrick (Syracuse) and Richard Hamilton (UConn) are the first two stars to sign on with 19nine for the initiative.

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Warrick is best remembered for his game-sealing block for Syracuse in the final seconds of the 2003 championship game against Kansas. And before the world knew Hamilton as a mask-wearing NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons, he was the 1999 Final Four MOP for UConn as the Huskies beat Duke in one of the greatest title game upsets ever.

“Though NIL is long overdue, last year’s legislation was a step in the right direction,” Warrick said in a statement. “And for my peers who played college basketball before the recent rules were enacted, 19nine’s Vintage NIL program offers a fun and authentic way to monetize those incredible stories from yesteryear. I’m excited to be a part of it.” 

In addition to working with Syracuse and UConn to license Warrick and Hamilton’s college gear, 19nine will feature products throughout the weekend using logos from previous men’s Final Fours in New Orleans — both the site of this year’s championship and of Syracuse’s famous triumph over Kansas.

“As fans of the game, we have always gravitated towards the personalities and player-driven narratives that make NCAA basketball so great,” 19nine CEO Aaron Loomer said in a release. “Our Vintage NIL collection allows us to enhance our storytelling with greater authenticity while also compensating the players that did not have the opportunity to profit off their likeness during their time on campus.”

Hamilton previewed his shirt on 19nine on Wednesday on Instagram, paired with the throwback UConn shorts that 19nine already sells.

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A post shared by Rip Hamilton (@riphamilton32)

Vintage NIL apparel is available for purchase on 19nine.com.

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The post Rip Hamilton, Hakim Warrick Lead 19nine’s Vintage NIL Launch appeared first on Boardroom.

Hail to the Commanders, Website Domain Signals WFT’s New Name

The wait for the new name for the Washington Football Team is almost over. The team revealed that it will officially announce it on February 2, but eagle-eyed observers noticed that the commanders.com domain was transferred to MarkMonitor, which the NFL uses for all of its domain maintenance. The news comes in the wake of a recent poll from Morning Consult that indicates that the fans have a slight preference for the Washington Defenders.

Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS Doubles Valuation with $240M Fundraise

The Olympic Village will be rife with SKIMS next month. The Kim Kardashian-backed brand revealed its Olympic line earlier this week, following the success of its Summer Olympics collection. But that was only the beginning, as reports indicate that SKIMS raised $240 million, doubling its valuation to $3.2 billion in just over six months.

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Gatorade Signs Jackson State’s Shedeur Sanders as First HBCU NIL Athlete

Gatorade is making its first-ever NIL splash with an HBCU athlete in partnering with Jackson State quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the sports drink company announced Thursday. As part of the multi-year agreement, Sanders, who is the son of NFL HOFer Deion Sanders, will work with Gatorade to drive national exposure of historically Black college programs and their athletes. Sanders was named the 2021 Jerry Rice Award winner as the best freshman in FCS football and also has deals with BRADY Brand and Beats by Dre. 

SeatGeek Named Preferred Ticketing Partner of Daytona 500

The Daytona 500 has long been known as not only the opening race of the season for the NASCAR Cup Series (NASCAR’s top division) but also its biggest event and weekend of the year. Now the marquee event has a new partner to help it sell out its 102,000 capacity stands. SeatGeek and Daytona International Speedway have announced a deal that makes the live experience technology platform the preferred ticketing partner of the Daytona 500.

Savage X Fenty Completes Successful $125M Series C

Rihanna stays busy while keeping her fans waiting with bated breath for new music. The multi-hyphenate magnate has assembled a deep portfolio through the years, including the wildly popular lingerie line Savage X Fenty. And on Wednesday, reports emerged that the company followed last February’s $115M Series B with a successful $125 Series C. The recent round will support the brand as it expands into brick-and-mortar spaces in the coming year; they are projected to open four in Q1 and 10 by the end of the calendar year.

UConn Men’s Basketball Set to Bring Blockchain to the Bone Yard

The Huskies are positioned to lead college basketball onto the blockchain. Openlocker announced on Wednesday that the Bone Yard Huskyz Club is poised to be the first-ever NIL project with player NFTs and exclusive PFPs — digital avatars for use as social media profile pictures. Owners of a BYHC NFT will earn access to the club, which includes an exclusive Discord channel and opportunities to interact with athletes, celebrity alumni, and sports analysts. They will also be invited to VIP events and have early access to future NFT drops surrounding UConn teams.

Facebook Waves White Flag on Crypto Project

Crypto regulation is the talk of the town in DC. Citing a high level of uncertainty, Facebook is reportedly pulling the plug on its plan to bring its own currency to the market. Mark Zuckerberg commissioned Diem to bring the cryptocurrency to life, but reports emerged on Wednesday that Diem is in conversations with investment bankers as they strategize next steps and is on the hunt for a buyer. The news signals that the controversial effort is dead.

NFL Names Former Obama Aide Cynthia Hogan as Senior Advisor to Goodell

The NFL has named Cynthia Hogan as Senior Advisor to Commissioner Roger Goodell. Hogan joins the shield with an impressive resume, having previously served as Deputy Assistant to President Obama and Counsel to then-Vice President Joe Biden. In the role, she will provide counsel to Goodell and other executives on strategic league initiatives.

Ohio State Formalizes Support for Student Athletes’ Pursuits of NIL Deals

Ohio State is following in the footsteps of a number of major college athletics programs across the country. The Buckeyes announced that they are developing an official position within the athletic department to help student-athletes identify and secure deals to profit from their name, image, and likeness. The NIL Edge Team will work with athletes across the school’s 36 athletic programs. 

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The post Tesla Posts Strong Q4 Even in Wake of Supply Chain Woes appeared first on Boardroom.

Connecticut men’s basketball already leads the Big East in blocks. Now, the Huskies are ready to lead college basketball onto the blockchain.

Openlocker announced on Wednesday that the Bone Yard Huskyz Club is poised to be the first-ever NIL project with player NFTs and exclusive PFPs — digital avatars for use as social media profile pictures.

The non-fungible tokens will drop in February and reside on Dapper Labs’ Flow blockchain.

“We are excited that all eligible members of the men’s basketball team have signed individual licensing agreements with OpenLocker to engage with fans through this project,” founder of OpenLocker Brian Klatsky said in a press release. “Building a community around their digital collectibles allows athletes to maximize their NIL earnings while at the same time provide fans with enhanced engagement with their players and teams .”

Owners of a BYHC NFT will earn access to the club, which includes an exclusive Discord channel and opportunities to interact with athletes, celebrity alumni, and sports analysts. They will also be invited to VIP events and have early access to future NFT drops surrounding UConn teams, according to the release.

Openlocker says it will give the players the majority of proceeds from the NFT sales, as well as royalties from trading on a secondary marketplace. Each athlete will also receive their own token, which they are free to keep or sell.

Team-wide deals aren’t rare; we’ve seen dozens of examples of group licensing since the name, image, and likeness era began in July. But turning an entire team into NFTs and selling them to fans is new, and it will be a test to see whether fandom extends far beyond the stands.

(One day, maybe even into the metaverse.)

If the illustration of Connecticut guard Jalen Gaffney pictured here is any indication, the NFTs will present the players as anthropomorphized, unkempt Huskies — and, honestly, what kind of fan wouldn’t want to be part of that?

While the UConn women’s team has made NIL waves over the past months, with Paige Bueckers signing with Gatorade and StockX, and Azzi Fudd inking deals with Stephen Curry, Chipotle, and TikTok, the men have been quieter. They are enjoying their best season since 2014, complete with a top-20 ranking and a win over No. 1 Auburn.

On Feb. 22, the same day the team hosts rival Villanova, fans will be able to purchase their favorite players’ NFTs, throwing them a few bucks in the process.

Interested fans can join the Bone Yard Huskyz Club here.

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The post UConn Basketball NIL Platform Takes Blockchain to the Bone Yard appeared first on Boardroom.

Even before the college sports name, image, and likeness era kicked off on July 1, Opendorse had put itself in a favorable position to be a leader in the space.

Opendorse is a sports technology company that allows its users to build and monetize their brands within one convenient platform and maximize endorsement values through various social and advertising campaigns. More than 50,000 athletes and organizations use the platform worldwide, including the NFLPA, NHL, MLBPA, WNBPA, PGA Tour, LPGA, athletes like Patrick Mahomes and Luka Dončić, and top programs like Texas, Ohio State, and Florida. It’s forged significant name, image, and likeness partnerships with Twitter, Division Street and the University of Oregon, and a long list of others.

Given Opendorse’s experience and knowledge base in the growing NIL industry, we decided to speak with CEO Blake Lawrence about his favorite NIL deals of 2021, and what distinguished his picks from the avalanche of deals inked by athletes in a all manner of NCAA sports over the past six months.

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Built x BYU Football

Protein and energy product company Built signed NIL deals with all 123 members of the BYU football team, including compensation for all 36 walk-on athletes comparable to their full tuition for the year.

“It introduced the concept of teaming up with a sponsor to increase the number of ‘scholarships,’ available for a team,” Lawrence told Boardroom.

Gatorade x Paige Bueckers

“Gatorade is so particular in their search for its perfect brand ambassador,” Lawrence said.

The UConn basketball superstar became the first college athlete to ever sign an NIL deal with Gatorade in November, something Lawrence thinks will comfort other blue-chip sports brands and possibly enable them to do the same.

Gopuff x 10,000 student athletes

The emerging snack delivery app partnered with Opendorse on July 1 to offer every student-athlete in any sport the chance to ink their first NIL deal — a unique equal-opportunity initiative.

Barstool x 100,000+ student athletes

It was a simple concept at a large scale: Put #BarstoolAthlete in your social media bio and receive free gear.

(Though there is technically an application process, too.)

“It was the first large-scale, swag-for-shoutout NIL deal that no one saw coming,” Lawrence said. “Rumor is that Barstool is still working around the clock to verify the hundreds of thousands of #BarstoolAthlete applicants.”

Degree x “Breaking Limits”

Over the summer, Degree deodorant formed a #BreakingLimits team of 14 athletes from schools in Divisions I and II, representing a variety of men’s and women’s sports and ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Each athlete is receiving equal pay for their participation and had to apply on Instagram by sharing how they’ve overcome personal and societal challenges to get to where they are today.

Boost Mobile x Hanna and Haley Cavinder

On the first day of NIL, Fresno State basketball stars Haley and Hanna Cavinder parlayed their millions of TikTok followers into a huge Boost Mobile deal that even included a Times Square billboard. Since then, the Cavinders have partnered with brands like Eastbay x Champs Sports to further enhance their profiles among the most impactful new-media influencers in sports today.

Division Street x Oregon

“Phil Knight revolutionized pro athlete endorsements while at Nike, and now he’s setting the standard for collegiate athlete endorsements,” Lawrence said of the partnership between Division Street, which helps Oregon athletes navigate the NIL space, and Opendorse.

“Division Street is one of many agencies/collectives designed to bring NIL opportunities to student-athletes at a specific school. The Division Street blueprint is already being replicated at dozens of schools across the country.”

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The post Favorite NIL Deals of 2021 with Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence appeared first on Boardroom.

When the NCAA’s name, image, and likeness floodgates opened on July 1 of this year, student-athletes around the country all reacted a bit differently. Some went straight for the free food. Others held out to get the lay of the land and act deliberately. And some just wanted to play some live tunes, man.

With a major assist from trademark attorney Josh Gerben of Gerben Intellectual Property, we present to you Boardroom’s list of favorite NIL athlete trademarks claimed by college athletes in 2021.

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Paige Bueckers
UConn Huskies Women’s Basketball
“Paige Buckets”

Buddy Boeheim
Syracuse Orange Men’s Basketball
“Buddy Buckets”

In the earliest days of NIL, there were a whole lot of buckets going around. And as two of the biggest names in their respective competitive divisions, UConn superstar Paige Bueckers and Syracuse scion Buddy Boeheim were always going to help set the pace for amateur athlete monetization whenever and however they got into the game.

Bueckers is a singular star in her sport and likely to be a future No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft. Boeheim is basketball royalty. When you’re in their shoes, the buckets practically get themselves.

Julian Humphrey
Georgia Bulldogs Football
“Julio Island” brand logo

Julian Humphrey is technically still in high school, having just committed to the University of Georgia on Dec. 15 during college football’s early signing period. That’s one of the reasons why he’s on this list — despite the fact he makes money moves almost as fast as he runs the 40.

(As a point of reference, he’s a track star that can run the 100 meters in 10.55)

We all know Revis Island from the namesake cornerback’s years of shutting down NFL receivers and the quarterbacks who dared to throw it his way. Welcome to the next episode, complete with a palm tree. It looks like it could be the official logo of an all-inclusive resort, though not one that would provide a whole lot of fun for opposing pass-catchers.

Destanni Henderson
South Carolina Gamecocks Women’s Basketball
“Hennything’s Possible”

A lot is going right for Dawn Staley’s No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks, and that includes senior guard Destanni Henderson, who just dropped a season-high 17 points in Tuesday’s big USC victory over No. 2 Stanford. “Hennything’s Possible LLC” is pure poise, and a terrific nod to Kevin Garnett, one of the most inimitable intense human beings that has ever existed on earth.

Blake Corum
Michigan Wolverines Football
“The Duce is Loose” brand logo

Wait — did Blake Corum forget how to spell “Deuce”? No, he did not. He’s going for a bit of a double entendre here. As he explained this week:

“BC2 — the Duce is loose. Instead of D-E-U-C-E, it’s D-U-C-E, which means ‘leader.’”

Factual. Il Duce in Italian does literally mean “leader.” We don’t have to get into whom the title is most closely associated with historically. We’ll set that aside and let BC2 cook as he gears up to take on No. 1 Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinals Dec. 31.

Hailey Van Lith
Louisville Cardinals Women’s Basketball
“HVL” brand logo

A rising star with ultra-formidable social media reach, Louisville’s Hailey Van Lith entered the NIL era coming off a productive debut season at Louisville that earned her All-ACC Freshman Team honors. The Team USA youth player makes our list by virtue of creating a brand logo consisting of her initials, but in a way that conceals them much more artfully than most similar attempts.

Is it actually an “HVL”? Is it a person in a hat? Turn it upside down — is it a different person in a different hat? Props to the two-time FIBA youth gold medalist for going for something a little different, setting herself apart yet again.

George Karlaftis
Purdue Boilermakers Football
“PROVE ‘EM WRONG” brand logo

What’s better than simply “betting on yourself,” one of the finest but unfortunately overused mantras in sports? Doing so and the haters and doubters look silly in the process.

Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis, a First Team All-Big Ten selection and a potential top-10 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has made a point of exposing every last skeptic in the state of Indiana and beyond. And he’s paying homage to the chip on his shoulder by etching it in proverbial stone as a personal trademark.

Demani Richardson
Texas A&M Aggies Football
“D Money” brand logo

If your name was Demani, there’s probably nothing you could have done to stop your people from calling you “D Money” around the schoolyard as a kid.

Especially if you played football. It’s basically the law.

Richardson’s logo functions on two levels. There’s the simple “DR” if you’re into initials, but the dollar sign puts it over the top. Long live D Money.

(And if we’re being honest, what’s stopping him from straight-up changing his legal name? The pronunciations are scarcely different as it is.)

Charlotte North
Boston College Eagles Lacrosse
Personal brand logos (3)

The world of college lacrosse, specifically on the women’s side, has been home to some real name, image, and likeness breakthroughs in the latter part of 2021. It started with North Carolina Tar Heels star Jamie Ortega, who officially became the sport’s first NIL athlete in November.

Lexi Sun
Nebraska Cornhuskers Volleyball
Personal brand logo

You work with what you’ve got. We all ought to, anyway — and when your last name is Sun, there are far worse places to start when building your brand identity.

An All-Big Ten selection and a two-time All-American as a Husker, Lexi Sun doesn’t just embrace her name, but her hometown: “EST. IN ENCINITAS, CA,” the outline of the lower half of the sun reads.

Hunter Dickinson
Michigan Wolverines Men’s Basketball
“Big Dickinson Energy”

What else is there to say after you’ve already read the phrase “Big Dickinson Energy?”

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The post Boardroom’s Favorite College Athlete NIL Trademarks of 2021 appeared first on Boardroom.

The UConn Huskies women’s basketball team found themselves in a rare position in November. Coming off an embarrassing loss to No. 1 South Carolina, the Huskies had to sit for almost two weeks before returning to the court against Seton Hall on Dec. 3.

The layoff got even worse when head coach Geno Auriemma announced that freshman phenom Azzi Fudd would miss at least two weeks with a foot injury. Fudd spent the first four games of her career coming off the bench and has had an uneven start. Against South Florida on Nov. 21, she was electric, knocking down six threes in a seven-point win.

The next day against the Gamecocks, she was invisible, logging just 10 minutes, taking one shot and going scoreless. But her injury and early inconsistencies haven’t slowed the Azzi Fudd Hype Train — nor should it. She was the top high school recruit in her class for a reason, and continues to pile up NIL endorsements from brands that know she’s destined for a long, lucrative basketball career.

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The Fudd Following

Personal Instagram: 170k
Workout Instagram: 3,534
Twitter: 11.5k
TikTok: 30.8k

NIL Deals:

• SC30
• Chipotle
• BioSteel
• Totinos
• TikTok

In addition to her immense ability, brands are betting on her already abundant popularity. Boardroom identified her as one of five college basketball players with personal brands to watch closely this season, and she is well on her way with the foundation that she’s established. From on-court ability to NIL to social media reach and beyond, Fudd is far more than just a college freshman that “plays basketball,” as her TikTok profile reads.

UConn Huskies women’s basketball is no stranger to pulling in highly touted freshmen; Fudd’s teammate and best friend Paige Bueckers came to Storrs just a year ago. The pair of phenoms grace the cover of SLAM 235 and talked about their relationship and each others’ games.

“Azzi’s an automatic bucket. She scores at all three levels at an insanely efficient rate,” Bueckers said to SLAM. “She defends, she talks, she’s very strong. As a guard, she’s a big guard. She brings energy, effort, and an insane work ethic. She can do a lot of positive things for this team.”

Other basketball greats have taken notice of Fudd’s abilities as well. Golden State Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry told ESPNW:

“I think [Fudd] has more of a textbook jumper than anyone I’ve seen.”

Curry backed that up, too, signing Fudd in November to his company, SC30 Inc.

In addition to personally mentoring Fudd, Curry and the SC30 team will provide her opportunities both on and off the court. The goal is to allow Fudd to maximize her opportunity to continue to be the best student and athlete she can be while Curry and his team support her brand development. Fudd will also give her perspective and support, and promote some of SC30’s key initiatives and businesses.

“Azzi Fudd is the best choice to start a brand relationship like this because she is the next face of women’s basketball and has been a part of SC30 Inc. and the Curry Brand family since she was an invitee to the All American Camp,” Curry said when the deal was announced.

Fudd attended that camp in 2018 and called the partnership a dream come true.

“I am very excited to continue working with Stephen, and become a part of the SC30 family,” Fudd said in the announcement. “Since I first met Steph at his camp a few years ago, I’ve stayed connected to him and have always admired his incredible talent and accomplishments, but also his humility and the impact he has on people.”

When a superstar like Paige Bueckers is your teammate, it’s hard to find a way to escape that long, long shadow. But in short order, Azzi Fudd has proven an ability to not just differentiate herself from the rest of the college basketball pack, but carve out a lane for herself with unbridled potential for the long haul.

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The post Azzi Fudd: Why Brands are Riding with UConn’s Freshman Superstar appeared first on Boardroom.

Paige Bueckers is used to making history by now.

The 2020 Gatorade National Player of the Year winner at Minnesota’s Hopkins High School went straight to UConn and won AP Player of the Year, Naismith Player of the Year, and the John Wooden Award in her first collegiate season. She became the first female player ever to win the Naismith as a frosh, joining Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson as the only first-years ever to do it in all of Division I ball.

Now, Bueckers is making history off the court by becoming the first college athlete to sign a Gatorade NIL endorsement deal, the company announced Monday.

As part of a multi-year partnership, the 20-year-old known as “Paige Buckets” will work with Gatorade to help lead the growth of women’s basketball. She joins Serena Williams, Sydney McLaughlin, and Elena Delle Donne among elite-level woman athletes with endorsement deals with the brand.

“It was a blessing to win Gatorade Player of the Year in high school, and now it’s truly surreal to be an official member of the Gatorade family,” Bueckers said. “I know this is just the beginning of our partnership and can’t wait to get to work with Gatorade to drive impact in the community and on the women’s game.” 

Bueckers continues to grow an impressive portfolio, signing an NIL deal with StockX earlier this month.

“As a former Gatorade Player of the Year and one of the top college athletes playing today, Paige Bueckers is the perfect addition to the Gatorade Family,” said Jeff Kearney, Gatorade’s global head of sports marketing. “From her electrifying performances on the court to fueling change off of it, Paige exemplifies everything it means to be a Gatorade athlete, and partnering with her is a statement to the next generation of our continued commitment to women in sport.”

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The post Paige Bueckers: Gatorade’s First College NIL Athlete appeared first on Boardroom.

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.”