Redenbacher
Well-known member
When you say Storr “wanted a bundle and got it from Wisconsin” how much $ are you talking about? Ballpark estimate.
Keeping Up With Old Friends Thread
- Thread starter RedStormNC
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Speaking of throwing bundles of money at these kids, remember when one of Rick's first recruits, Nick Timberlake, was looking for a crazy amount of money and Rick passed on him? Some on this board blamed Rick for not going harder after Timberlake. He's averaging 3 PPG at Kansas.
Now, maybe he gets more PT and averages more here, but still likely not worth the amount of money he was asking for. For a school like SJU, which has limited finances, it's a game of moneyball. You can't break the bank for anything less then someone who is close to a sure bet. And by "sure bet", I mean a kid who has already proven his worth at this level.
Now, maybe he gets more PT and averages more here, but still likely not worth the amount of money he was asking for. For a school like SJU, which has limited finances, it's a game of moneyball. You can't break the bank for anything less then someone who is close to a sure bet. And by "sure bet", I mean a kid who has already proven his worth at this level.
Redenbacher
Well-known member
I would argue that Storr had proven his worth at this level. He was named to the Big East all freshman team, he was a starter for most of our games. He’s thriving at Wisconsin for a reason.
I’ve heard it said by numerous people on this board that Storr wanted a pile of money and we wouldn’t give it to him. What’s the ballpark amount he wanted? I’m just curious, genuinely.
Remember at the beginning of the portal signing period all indications were SJU didn't yet have the kind of NIL funds it needed to make big signings; things changed about a month or so in and we began signing lots of good talent like Louis, Dingle, Ledlum etc. but Storr was gone by then. No idea if Rick would have wanted to keep him if he could and it's all water under the bridge now. Clearly he has infused some much needed athleticism into the Badgers and they are a top 25 team now. Also Storr appears to be a great kid; wish him the best.
Ahh Nick Timberlake, the hottest commodity in all of college ball. Program changer. Kingmaker.
The hype machine makes every small school kid who put up double-digit ppg look like the second coming of Scottie Pippen.
Storr showed he could play at this level, but I have no clue what he was asking for or whether or not that's the reason he's not here.
FWIW NCJ, I said it then and I'll say it again, no way Rick comes here without having an idea of the kind of NIL money that is going be available to him when he gets here. I have no clue when that money actually arrived, but rest assured it was promised to SJU/Rick by some very powerful people before he signed on the dotted line.
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Redenbacher
Well-known member
Exactly. According to The NY Times Pitino raised around $3 million in NIL for this year’s team, which puts us in the top tier of the Big East. Even though the portal was open before he raised that, I would think he must’ve been confident that he would indeed raise a big chunk of money, because he’s Rick Pitino. And he’s not stupid.
Agree completely Monte but it just seemed like something clicked with that money becoming available about a month in based on uptick in late signings of top kids. Maybe I'm wrong, I sure have no inside info on it.
Redenbacher
Well-known member
Storr was a proven talent at the high major level. Ditto for Posh. Dingle, Jenkins, Ledlum were not. Clearly Pitino thinks he can elevate those guys quickly to the high major level, I guess we’ll find out shortly.
I had thought, back then, that the players who entered the portal early on were really pushing the upper limits of the NIL pay scale. I mean, these kids were basically trying to establish a market. I think Rick just waited it out figuring there was no need to overpay for a kid like Timberlake, when plenty of other talented players would be entering the portal in the coming days/weeks/months. That's why I thought he didn't jump in early on, but I too have no inside info, so that's just my gut.
I think some of the specific questions that would be helpful to know are, in terms of NIL $:
1) Dingle vs. Clayton Jr. vs. Storr
2) Ledlum vs. Slazinski (although i don't think that was a NIL-based decision) vs. Gardner
Those seem like the trade-offs we know publicly that were at least somewhat based off of NIL and also can show the NIL capability difference between March and May. I'm sure there's others I'm not thinking of.
1) Dingle vs. Clayton Jr. vs. Storr
2) Ledlum vs. Slazinski (although i don't think that was a NIL-based decision) vs. Gardner
Those seem like the trade-offs we know publicly that were at least somewhat based off of NIL and also can show the NIL capability difference between March and May. I'm sure there's others I'm not thinking of.
Unless Rick starts to publicly criticize our NIL capabilities, I'm not really concerned over how much anyone is getting.
I do agree though that we need be much more selective with freshman, mid majors with stats and high majors who sat on bench.
I think Pitino can get offense going with most, but if each year it will take half the season to get guys to learn defense, then he needs to focus on guys who are known for defense and might adapt quicker.
I do agree though that we need be much more selective with freshman, mid majors with stats and high majors who sat on bench.
I think Pitino can get offense going with most, but if each year it will take half the season to get guys to learn defense, then he needs to focus on guys who are known for defense and might adapt quicker.
If Mike Anderson had stayed, and most of the players had returned, maybe we would have snuck in to the tournament this year. But then what? Anderson is gone, as are Posh, Storr, Jones, etc etc. Rick Pitino is here, and even if we don't dance this year, we're in far better hands than we've been since Louie was our coach.
What I don't think some of you get is that oftentimes you've got to sacrifice in the short term in order to reap the long term benefits. We're all anxious to have this program turned around and back on the winning track, but it may take just a little longer than some anticipated. Be patient and have faith, Rick will get us there.
What I don't think some of you get is that oftentimes you've got to sacrifice in the short term in order to reap the long term benefits. We're all anxious to have this program turned around and back on the winning track, but it may take just a little longer than some anticipated. Be patient and have faith, Rick will get us there.
I agree with the second point. And this is not directed at you, but I also can’t imagine the guys who left sneaking into anything other than the CBI. If some of them have turned over a new leaf in their new homes good for them. But as Beast wrote, they were a bunch of disrespectful losers who did not want to be coached last year. As he said, it was not just Curbelo. It also was not all on Anderson. And a player like Storr who gets mentioned a lot would be gone for sure. There is no way the NIL pot would have been higher with Anderson.
If people want to follow these guys in their new homes that’s one thing. But thinking they would be an improvement over the players we have means totally forgetting last year happened. The only stats that really matter are wins and losses.
A reboot was needed and done.
+1000.
Times is wrong and for good reason collectives and schools are very tight lipped about overall budgets and individual offers. It's an arms race after all.
In this high stakes new era, collectives often commit money they haven't yet raised. This is why it's so important for anyone with a strong interest and means to support NIL. It's disgusting and distasteful but so was most of the last 25 years of product here.
I totally get the refusal to support NIL. Begrudgingly admit it's the rocket fuel to attract talent.
Point is, without NIL, 7-13 looks like a great BE season. Without Rick, and really Storm Marketing, NIL raise is much much lower. Flattop and Matt are big shots in arm, as we have to sustain and increase NIL to stay competitive.
I do however understand anyone who says no. Then we become Billy Joel's Angry Young Man.
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m
I guess my point was that even had we snuck in to the tournament this season with Anderson and most of last season's kids, and even if we don't with Rick, we're still way ahead of the game with Rick and with these players.
Redenbacher
Well-known member
The NY Times may be wrong about the absolute $ amount, but I have to believe they are right about our NIL now being in the top tier of the Big East. I can't imagine Pitino taking on the job unless he knew that would be the case.