#1
#1 out of 120.2K est. views
sports7h ago
Is college basketball about to say, 'So long, Cinderella?'
- Analysts say NIL money and looser transfer rules are widening the talent gap between power conferences and mid-majors.
- No non-power-conference team has cracked the AP Top 25 this season besides Gonzaga, signaling rising disparities.
- Experts warn the trend could threaten March's magic as underdog stories become rarer.
- The article highlights how NIL deals and the transfer portal accelerated player movement to top programs.
- Analysts point to 2021 rule changes and 2024 NIL expansion as foundational shifts in college basketball.
- The piece notes a performance gap: high-major programs outperform smaller conferences in November matchups.
- Miya’s ratings place Big East as lowest-rated power conference and Atlantic 10 as highest among others.
- Ken Pomeroy’s ratings show the gap between weakest power and strongest non-power conferences widening.
- Coaches warn that sustained high NIL value may deter mid-major players from staying or moving down a level.
- The article attributes recent high-major recruitment success to deep NIL funds and international prospects joining U.S. college programs.
Vote 8