BYU'S 10 Million Dollar First-Round Heartbreak

[Everybody Wang Chung]

Texas 79 BYU 71

Turns out $10 million buys a lot of things, but a deep run in the NCAA Tournament isn't one of them. Dybantsa is now heading to the NBA, leaving BYU with an expensive first-round exit and a tough lesson on the limits of NIL. Oh well, there's always next year.

[malkie]

I'm happy to say that, while I recognise all of the words, I have almost no idea at all what this post means, Subject included

[Marcus]

Texas 79 BYU 71

Turns out $10 million buys a lot of things, but a deep run in the NCAA Tournament isn't one of them. Dybantsa is now heading to the NBA, leaving BYU with an expensive first-round exit and a tough lesson on the limits of NIL. Oh well, there's always next year.

What happened? Dybantsa was the number one NBA draft prospect, and BYU paid him so much money (as in millions, under the newish NIL(?) rules, to attend. They seemed to start out well, and were ranked 6th in their quarter of the bracket. And then they lost to #11, a pretty solid upset. Anyone have any more background?

[Everybody Wang Chung]

I'm happy to say that, while I recognise all of the words, I have almost no idea at all what this post means, Subject included

Sorry, I should have explained. BYU's basketball program went all-in this season, dropping $10 million on a player named AJ Dybantsa. A major reason for spending the 10 million was the sole expectation of a deep tournament run. But after falling to Texas in the opening round, the 10 million dollar gamble feels like a cautionary tale of buyer’s remorse.

[malkie]

I'm happy to say that, while I recognise all of the words, I have almost no idea at all what this post means, Subject included

Sorry, I should have explained. BYU's basketball program went all-in this season, dropping $10 million on a player named AJ Dybantsa. A major reason for spending the 10 million was the sole expectation of a deep tournament run. But after falling to Texas in the opening round, the 10 million dollar gamble feels like a cautionary tale of buyer’s remorse.

Thanks, but I'm sure I'm very much in the minority here in knowing little and caring less about US sports - college and professional

[Everybody Wang Chung]

Texas 79 BYU 71

Turns out $10 million buys a lot of things, but a deep run in the NCAA Tournament isn't one of them. Dybantsa is now heading to the NBA, leaving BYU with an expensive first-round exit and a tough lesson on the limits of NIL. Oh well, there's always next year.

What happened? Dybantsa was the number one NBA draft prospect, and BYU paid him so much money (as in millions, under the newish NIL(?) rules, to attend. They seemed to start out well, and were ranked 6th in their quarter of the bracket. And then they lost to #11, a pretty solid upset. Anyone have any more background?

Good question. While the Cougars came out of the gate strong, they seemed to lose their rhythm down the stretch. After such a high-profile investment, I expect the athletic department to undergo some serious soul-searching this offseason.

[Marcus]

Sorry, I should have explained. BYU's basketball program went all-in this season, dropping $10 million on a player named AJ Dybantsa. A major reason for spending the 10 million was the sole expectation of a deep tournament run. But after falling to Texas in the opening round, the 10 million dollar gamble feels like a cautionary tale of buyer’s remorse.

Thanks, but I'm sure I'm very much in the minority here in knowing little and caring less about US sports - college and professional

Lol, valid point. For me, the fact that a religious school decides to drop money like this speaks more than anything else to their misuse of dollars that originated in tithing from people encouraged to pay before they care for their children, pay their bills or plan for their futures. Meanwhile, for example, 'volunteers' are forced to clean their filthy meetinghouses and money is laundered to legacy families through unnecessary temple buildings and re-buildings. The amount of money they horde is obscene, and what they spend it on-or not, is frequently just as obscene.

[Marcus]

What happened? Dybantsa was the number one NBA draft prospect, and BYU paid him so much money (as in millions, under the newish NIL(?) rules, to attend. They seemed to start out well, and were ranked 6th in their quarter of the bracket. And then they lost to #11, a pretty solid upset. Anyone have any more background?

Good question. While the Cougars came out of the gate strong, they seemed to lose their rhythm down the stretch. After such a high-profile investment, I expect the athletic department to undergo some serious soul-searching this offseason.

Thanks for the details. And soul-searching In more than one sport, I gather. I'm pretty sure their football coach stayed for the money (8 million?), not for the religion.

[huckelberry]

Sorry to ask basic education but how in the .... is ten million spent getting a collegiate player, not coach?

I have enough rudimentary sports knowledge to think winning is not just an outstanding player but a team.

, ,,
Asking Google about NIL I gather it is about commercial sponsors paying for nsme recognition. I am not catching how BYU would be expending 10 million.

[Marcus]

Sorry to ask basic education but how in the .... is ten million spent getting a collegiate player, not coach?

I have enough rudimentary sports knowledge to think winning is not just an outstanding player but a team.

, ,,
Asking Google about NIL I gather it is about commercial sponsors paying for nsme recognition. I am not catching how BYU would be expending 10 million.

I know, it's crazy, but here's a bit about his deal to start:

...Dybantsa entered college as the No. 1 recruit with one of the biggest NIL packages ever. His NIL valuation is estimated to be around $7 million. This includes a multi-million dollar base on top of major brand deals with Nike and Red Bull. After BYU’s early exit, that massive investment is now being debated.

Sports writer Brian Drake raised serious questions about whether Dybantsa deserved such a high valuation on the face of a first-round defeat.

“BYU paid $7 million to AJ Dybantsa. He led the nation in scoring. Cool,” Drake wrote. “They finished 10th in the Big 12 and were a 6-seed in the NCAA Tournament after losing a key guard to injury. They lost to an 11-seed Texas team that finished 10th in the SEC. Is that NIL $ well spent?”...

https://collegefootballnetwork.com/mens ... ournament/