Within the days and months since UConn (once more!) lower down the nets and hoisted its second consecutive nationwide championship trophy in as a few years, this final one from Glendale, Arizona, faculty basketball’s gears have grinded practically nonstop with a churn of drama blended with teaching searches and NIL developments.
The game by no means sleeps – not even in Might, Jon Rothstein! – however you would be forgiven if you have not saved up with each related (and probably much less related) improvement in between.
That is why we’re right here.
However because the calendar has flipped to September and the season quick approaches – the autumn semester has already began and hoops will occur in ~two months – it is time now to rise up thus far on among the largest developments of the offseason and shake out who got here out of the mud because the winners and losers from all of it.
Let’s do it – and we’ll begin right here with the Bluegrass State, which by itself delivered sufficient fireworks to take up a number of areas under.
Losers: Blues within the Bluegrass State
John Calipari’s gorgeous resolution to go away Kentucky for Arkansas was successfully the primary actual information of the offseason. Calipari’s transfer did not essentially come as a shock, and fact be informed, it appeared like a change was wanted each for him and the UK program. However any time you lose a coach with a Corridor of Fame resume it is arduous to see it as something apart from a loss.
That arrange the state – each Louisville and Kentucky, which each opened – to be universally rejected by Baylor coach Scott Drew in a span of weeks. Drew was pursued arduous by each colleges however in the end determined to stick with the Bears, spurning two different main applications within the Bluegrass State with large sources and a dedication to successful.
Each applications appear to have rebounded properly after the rejections – we’ll get to these in a bit – however Drew stiff-arming Louisville and Kentucky was a shocking flip of occasions that mentioned loads concerning the state of faculty athletics and the state of basketball in Kentucky in the intervening time.
Winner: Glad Hour for Mi Casita in Waco
Within the midst of Kentucky’s pursuit of Drew, he took to Twitter to share a photograph of he and a buddy breaking bread at Mi Casita in Waco, Texas. The image went viral and confirmed he was not in Lexington, Kentucky, however as an alternative in Waco, and web sleuths dug up the restaurant – which subsequently acquired optimistic evaluations on-line flooded with messages hoping Drew would both keep in Waco from Baylor followers or depart Waco for Lexington from Kentucky followers.
What a world.
Mi Casita went so viral and obtained a lot optimistic publicity from the incident that it memorialized the second by putting a plaque contained in the sales space labeled “Drew’s desk.” Drew later went again and positioned his John Hancock within the sales space.
Loser: Parity within the Huge 12
For those who had been holding your breath that the additions of Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah into the Huge 12 would possibly shake up the league in 2024-25 — then you could run out of oxygen in a rush this season. The previous Pac-12 colleges ought to add some intrigue within the league of their first yr, nevertheless it’s unlikely we crown a brand new champion in 2024-25, is my guess. That is as a result of Kansas — seemingly the preseason No. 1 workforce in faculty hoops — brings again Hunter Dickinson and added Zeke Mayo, amongst others. That is additionally as a result of Houston — additionally a preseason No. 1 candidate — returns eight of its high 10 scorers from final season. Kansas has received or shared the convention title all however 3 times since 2005 (Houston being liable for a type of cases, successful the Huge 12 final yr), and I would be shocked if both Kansas or Houston does not take down the Huge 12 in 2024-25 given what the 2 groups return.
Winner: Mark Pope returns dwelling
The College of Kentucky did not get its high goal throughout its teaching search however Mark Pope – an alum who had a pleasant run at BYU – appears to have match proper in with the Wildcats and established some momentum taking the baton from Calipari. Pope flipped the roster with a transfer-heavy class that ought to have his workforce able to compete for an SEC title in Yr 1, and in addition, he is been acquired properly in Lexington, Kentucky, owing partly to his position in UK’s nationwide title in 1996 and to his affable character.
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Winner: Dan Hurley enters celebrity territory
After main UConn to its second consecutive nationwide championship, Hurley crossed over from well-known faculty coach to celebrity family title this summer season.
He rang the opening bell on the New York Inventory Trade.
He had two gamers drafted inside the highest 10 of the NBA Draft.
And oh, for good measure, the LOS ANGELES LAKERS recruited him – earlier than he turned down the gig to stay at UConn on a brand new deal value $50 million over six years.
It was an excellent season for Hurley and his UConn program and it has been an excellent offseason, too.
Utah State star Nice Osobor grew to become an enormous bag-getter within the offseason after Washington reportedly dropped $2 million on him to get him to comply with Danny Sprinkle. The deal was a wow second within the NIL period given his comparatively low title recognition taking part in within the Mountain West, and it popped open a peek behind the scenes into the sort of humorous cash being tossed round within the new period of faculty athletics.
Loser: NCAA Event traditionalists
The NCAA this offseason introduced 72 and 76-team NCAA Event fashions to convention commissioners as an instance of what an expanded March Insanity would possibly appear like sooner or later, laying the groundwork for ultimately increasing the NCAA Event past the 68-team bracket.
Matt Norlander laid out 5 vital the reason why this shouldn’t occur – all of which I agree with. It is not imminent, nevertheless it does appear seemingly that sooner or later the 68-team subject will ultimately develop if that is already into account.
You will not hear me complaining about extra NCAA Event video games, however the argument that it’ll deliver extra income or that increasing is a well-liked thought is at this level simply not rooted actually. And it could tick off some of us who’ve grown fond of the present NCAA Event construction and do not want to see an ideal product toyed with.
Winner: Michigan will get recent begin with Might
Michigan basketball was a circus act final season with Juwan Howard discovering new methods to dole out suspensions and the workforce cratering with a last-place end within the Huge Ten. The Wolverines lower ties with Howard and tabbed FAU coach Dusty Might as their new commander in chief, although, they usually’ve steered straight right into a secure setting that ought to produce early outcomes. Might took FAU (!) to a Ultimate 4 two years in the past and was 126-69 with the Owls. He employed former Oklahoma State head coach Mike Boynton and a high quality workers that ought to and certain will get this program again on the rails and into competition comparatively quickly even in a deep Huge Ten.
Loser and winner: BYU adjusts shortly
After only one season within the Huge 12, BYU misplaced its coach to Kentucky and needed to flip its consideration in the direction of a brand new teaching search in a comparatively new setting. That is a loss for BYU.
However the Cougars managed to rent a rising star in Kevin Younger – who brings with him a stellar status after success as an assistant with the 76ers and Suns. Younger has head coach expertise within the G League and may deliver recent, fashionable basketball to Provo with him. I do not count on BYU to fall off any – if in any respect – even after shedding a fantastic coach in Pope.
Winner: John Calipari has Arkansas going hog wild
Who was the very best teaching rent of the offseason in faculty basketball?
That is a query Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander posed to coaches on the path this offseason — which responders overwhelmingly voted for John Calipari at Arkansas.
“Solely Corridor of Fame man somebody employed. Interval,” mentioned one coach.
“[He] stayed too lengthy at Kentucky. He is aware of that now,” mentioned one other. “However I talked to him on the highway, and you may simply inform {that a} weight has been lifted off of him. I will be shocked if he does not go to a different Ultimate 4. He will win massive once more. He has all the pieces he must win massive once more.”
Calipari has shortly rallied the troops at Arkansas by convincing three former Kentucky commits and three former Kentucky gamers to affix him in Fayetteville. With Jonas Aidoo and Johnell Davis additionally in tow, Calipari has a recent begin and has the Razorbacks able to hit the bottom working in his first yr.
Winner: Louisville finds new management
Pat Kelsey wasn’t Louisville’s first alternative to exchange Kenny Payne – however he may need wound up being the correct one. The Carl Lentz look-a-like is assured, bordering on cocky, with a mix of swagger the Cardinals program desperately wanted to assist get previous the catastrophe of the previous few years.
He is an efficient communicator, an excellent recruiter, and to this point wonderful at branding – having labeled his mission at Louisville as The ReviVILLE. Louisville might not be a high 25 workforce subsequent season with a lot to rebuild from the ashes, nevertheless it’s solely a matter of time earlier than this program is related once more as a perennial top-10 program in faculty basketball.