Pride, money are incentives in College Basketball Crown
Teams are trying to add NIL revenue to their coffers with the opening of the transfer portal looming next week.
Oklahoma and Nijel Pack are moving on in the College Basketball Crown after defeating Colorado in overtime Wednesday at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. LAS VEGAS — It’s April, which means the college basketball season has dwindled down to a handful of games. Of course, at this point, they’re all meaningful.
Whether it’s the Final Four or the NIT in Indianapolis or the College Basketball Crown here at the MGM Grand Garden and T-Mobile Arena, if you’re still playing, it matters. And while the Crown may not carry the prestige of the Final Four or the NIT, it’s an opportunity for eight teams to get better and generate some revenue for their Name, Image and Likeness collective while playing in front of a national television audience on FOX Sports. Ultimately, the money may be more important than the trophy the champion of the Crown will receive Sunday afternoon at T-Mobile.
Getting $300,000 is not chump change. It may be enough to buy yourself a backup point guard or a power forward. We are living in strange times for college sports.
Every athlete thinks he or she is worth millions and expects to be paid handsomely. If not here, then somewhere else. It’s what happened at UNLV with football and basketball.