Has college basketball become pro basketball?

[Aquinas]

There have been teams and coaches that have paid players under the table for years.  Some have warned that this nil rule could result in pay to play. Are we watching college bb turn into pro basketball?

[Soderball]

You're not "watching" that happen. It happened already.

[gobillsgo]

Yep. As I said in the other thread, every player is a free agent and there’s no salary cap.  And the River City Rascals (aka us and every other non P6 school) won’t be outbidding the New York Yankees. 
 

College hoops as we used to know and love it is dead and gone. 

[dennis_w]

john wooden became a great coach when his players got paid, it has always happened, but obviously not to this point. now much of the fun is gone for me

[AnkielBreakers]

D1 College basketball has been ‘pro basketball’ for 30 years. It is just legal to pay players now.

[Lord Elrond]

I agree. College Basketball has almost become pro basketball (at the Division 1 level anyway).  Maybe Division 2 and Division 3 will stay something like college basketball used to be, but for Division 1, you may as well just call them pro teams that have a marketing alliance with a specific university for ticket sales and television revenue purposes. Just like football. Look for this to become more obvious when the SEC officially adds Texas and Oklahoma, and decides it doesn’t need the NCAA for anything.  I can see the power  conferences breaking off, and the process will be complete. The rest of Division 1 will have to figure out what they want to do at that point.

[Aquinas]

So is this how it works? A star player gets an agent and a NBA evaluation. Agent guides the player to the best nil deal or commission he can find. Agent gets his cut under the table. Agents don't do anything for nothing.

Im sick over this whole thing.

[almaman]

who knows? allkindasucks. NBA not as much fun but they r @ least the best in the world. NCAA was all about school. now that is more of a stretch than "amateur " porn.

[billikenbill]

Free agency ruined pro sports for me 40 years ago. Now, it’s ruining college hoops. It was a good run but the sport is unrecognizable now. Adios, old friend.

[BigMouthBilliken]

this should have been expected. the richest school will pony up the most cash. Smaller schools have no chance at competing. And a good player can just transfer after finding some success at a smaller school. Free ride scholarships was enough. This is just ridiculous but not surprising. Should have made it where student can make money off their own brand, sell their tee shirts, sign and sell autographs; but having schools pay players just takes away from it being amateur sports. 

[Soderball]

2 hours ago, BigMouthBilliken said:

this should have been expected. the richest school will pony up the most cash. Smaller schools have no chance at competing. And a good player can just transfer after finding some success at a smaller school. Free ride scholarships was enough. This is just ridiculous but not surprising. Should have made it where student can make money off their own brand, sell their tee shirts, sign and sell autographs; but having schools pay players just takes away from it being amateur sports. 

T shirts? Man this was always about paying players. Noone gave a crap about being able to sell T shirts. Ever.

[BigMouthBilliken]

11 hours ago, Soderball said:

T shirts? Man this was always about paying players. Noone gave a crap about being able to sell T shirts. Ever.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2013/08/04/texas-am-aggies-johnny-manziel-money-for-autographs/2617413/

From 2013. Johnny football was in some hot water with NCAA for signing autographs for money. This should have always been allowed. But paying players directly in addition to a free ride scholarship ruins college sports.