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Basketball NIL

I'm of the opinion that Stackhouse could have lots of NIL to work with, and his issues with player evaluation, recruiting effort, etc., would have meant that it wouldn't have been used that effectively.

BUT - I was listening to a reporter on the Arkansas beat talking about how it's been out there for months from reliable sources that Musselman is looking around for a better situation - and he stated that he's been told that Arkansas has minimal NIL money for basketball - "next to last in the SEC, ahead of only Vanderbilt".

So, if true - how big an issue might that be in recruiting the next coach? You've got the highest academic standards in the conference, and the lowest "salary pool" to work with. It would seem to limit your coaching candidates to people that may run the Stackhouse play again - don't put too much time or effort into it, I won't succeed anyway, but I'll take the money, thank you very much.

And if true, is there any chance to change that, the way it's reportedly happened in football?

Props to Mike Baxter

The VandyBoys so far are hitting much better than last season . I just didn’t see this coming, particularly when the batting averages of returning players from last season are compared to their current averages.

2023 2024
VASTINE 287 294
ESPINAL 275. 400
DIAZ 263. 275
BULGER. 240. 355
AUSTIN. 257 375
HEWITT. 243. 321
POLK. 280. 300
LANEVE. 262. 317

We’re only one series into the SEC part of the season , but right now we lead the league in batting average at .330.

Question about basketball and the portal?

My assumption is that if you don’t lock up players who can earn money in the portal prior to the opening, any player with any value will enter the portal to see what their value is. Is that way off from reality?

In other words, you have to be working on retention offers through the season or at minimum, the day after you’re done playing.

With that being said, I would think just about everyone would enter the portal considering there is a coaching change.

I also assume, several of the guys that have or will enter their names are possible to return to VU as well.

Last question:

Any word from Tyler Tanner or Bilal as to whether they’re going to come to VU next season?

Thanks to anyone with thoughts.

@Joey Dwyer @Chris Lee @NashNative615 @VUMatt23
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