Dykstra in Portal

[imacat]

I have always admired Binford’s teams for their exceptional performance in the classroom. Take that away and I would lower my level of financial support.

[Joe Bobcat]

Hypothetical question...

A Millionaire / Billionaire comes up the MSU Athletics and says "I am going to donate 10 Million dollars a year to MSU Basketball (5 Million for each program). You can now go and pay 5 of the best 20 players in mens, and the top 5 womens basketball players in the country. You will have to cut at least 5 players that you recruited from each team, and most of these great players will be junior or seniors (so at MOST they are with the program for 2 years). Every year is another 5 best players, but you win National Championships in both.....

You fans OK with that?

Here's what's crazy....$5 million a year wouldn't even come close to helping Montana State's men touch the top 50 programs in the country. National reporters right now are speculating that if you are a men's basketball player who's a sophomore or freshman who averaged more than 10 points per game, the market for those players STARTS at $750,000 a year.

I heard a story from a Big Sky assistant than players are asking for $25-50K just to come on visits! Like earnest money when you buy a house

Most of the top 50 programs in the country in men's hoops will have payrolls of more than $25 million a year. Rumors are that the top 10 will have more like $30-35 million a year. That's basically $3 million PER player....

Ok, then 40 million a year for each program. My point isn't about that, it's about at some point the "I hate this portal and NIL" from fans changes when winning happens.

Nope. Call me old school but I still enjoy college sports as “student athletes”. You’re perhaps asking me if I would enjoy the paid mercenary scenario.

I enjoy seeing the kids come in as students, watching them grow from that raw raw high school kid into a solid contributor, I enjoy the coaches bringing in the new recruit crop from around the region and bantering as they step on the court for the first time and guessing if they can make it, I enjoy watching the bench sitter who gets in and scores ten points and the fans and teammates are going crazy loving that she got the chance and had a career night, I enjoy getting to know them and their parents personally, watching them put on clinics for small aspiring tykes and players in the community, having a presence around the town-college-neighboring communities…to support the college and make MSU proud, I enjoy watching a coach that cares enough to help a kid get back on the court through a disabling injuries rather than throwing them in the gutter and cutting em so you can bring in another high paid 20 year old that doesn’t give a crap about the school except to get the money, I enjoy watching athletes like Blair did one night coming off the floor….getting down on her knees to greet that small lady that wouldn’t let go of mom’s legs…and getting her to come over for a photo a hug and a poster, I enjoy our team behaviors and see them growing to be quality young adults in areas other than just sports. I live and suffer through their losses just like they do and I get disappointed in finishing second or third but I enjoy their journey with the highs and lows of the season…the agonies of injuries and close losses, the excitement of knowing who is coming back and the excitement of the chance for a championship next year….and realizing they each grew up a little…life is like that…you grow through losing and winning.

As Coach K said…their is love in winning but there is love in losing too. And there is the love of the game when you are vested in the players and team.

Yep…I’m too old school for most people on the board. If I wanted to go watch paid farm teams play I’d go watch them just like watching farm team baseball. And I do go watch them in Great Falls and Billings from time to time. But I am not personally invested in those teams. That’s just not what I want in college sports.

Well said BobcatDel
I don't know how the numbers shake out for you to be too old school for most people on the board but you are definitely not alone.

[MSU01]

Nope. Call me old school but I still enjoy college sports as “student athletes”. You’re perhaps asking me if I would enjoy the paid mercenary scenario.

I enjoy seeing the kids come in as students, watching them grow from that raw raw high school kid into a solid contributor, I enjoy the coaches bringing in the new recruit crop from around the region and bantering as they step on the court for the first time and guessing if they can make it, I enjoy watching the bench sitter who gets in and scores ten points and the fans and teammates are going crazy loving that she got the chance and had a career night, I enjoy getting to know them and their parents personally, watching them put on clinics for small aspiring tykes and players in the community, having a presence around the town-college-neighboring communities…to support the college and make MSU proud, I enjoy watching a coach that cares enough to help a kid get back on the court through a disabling injuries rather than throwing them in the gutter and cutting em so you can bring in another high paid 20 year old that doesn’t give a crap about the school except to get the money, I enjoy watching athletes like Blair did one night coming off the floor….getting down on her knees to greet that small lady that wouldn’t let go of mom’s legs…and getting her to come over for a photo a hug and a poster, I enjoy our team behaviors and see them growing to be quality young adults in areas other than just sports. I live and suffer through their losses just like they do and I get disappointed in finishing second or third but I enjoy their journey with the highs and lows of the season…the agonies of injuries and close losses, the excitement of knowing who is coming back and the excitement of the chance for a championship next year….and realizing they each grew up a little…life is like that…you grow through losing and winning.

As Coach K said…their is love in winning but there is love in losing too. And there is the love of the game when you are vested in the players and team.

Yep…I’m too old school for most people on the board. If I wanted to go watch paid farm teams play I’d go watch them just like watching farm team baseball. And I do go watch them in Great Falls and Billings from time to time. But I am not personally invested in those teams. That’s just not what I want in college sports.

I don't think anyone's "too old school" and most would agree with everything you're saying here. The thing I always try to keep in mind is that the players who are making these decisions are people just like we all are as fans. Their priorities, goals, anxieties, challenges, strengths, and opportunities may not necessarily align with what we as fans would like them to be, and the decisions they make may or may not be the same as the decisions we once made ourselves as young adults trying to figure out what we wanted to do with our lives. So for some players MSU is going to be the right fit for four or five years...for others maybe only for one or two or three, but ultimately that's ok. Especially for the women's basketball program as Coach Binford definitely does all she can to build her program for long-term success and as much roster continuity as possible from year to year. I look at a player like Esmeralda Morales and I can very accurately say that my enjoyment of getting to watch her play for the Bobcats this past season was not lessened one bit because she was only here for her final season.

[tetoncat]

Nope. Call me old school but I still enjoy college sports as “student athletes”. You’re perhaps asking me if I would enjoy the paid mercenary scenario.

I enjoy seeing the kids come in as students, watching them grow from that raw raw high school kid into a solid contributor, I enjoy the coaches bringing in the new recruit crop from around the region and bantering as they step on the court for the first time and guessing if they can make it, I enjoy watching the bench sitter who gets in and scores ten points and the fans and teammates are going crazy loving that she got the chance and had a career night, I enjoy getting to know them and their parents personally, watching them put on clinics for small aspiring tykes and players in the community, having a presence around the town-college-neighboring communities…to support the college and make MSU proud, I enjoy watching a coach that cares enough to help a kid get back on the court through a disabling injuries rather than throwing them in the gutter and cutting em so you can bring in another high paid 20 year old that doesn’t give a crap about the school except to get the money, I enjoy watching athletes like Blair did one night coming off the floor….getting down on her knees to greet that small lady that wouldn’t let go of mom’s legs…and getting her to come over for a photo a hug and a poster, I enjoy our team behaviors and see them growing to be quality young adults in areas other than just sports. I live and suffer through their losses just like they do and I get disappointed in finishing second or third but I enjoy their journey with the highs and lows of the season…the agonies of injuries and close losses, the excitement of knowing who is coming back and the excitement of the chance for a championship next year….and realizing they each grew up a little…life is like that…you grow through losing and winning.

As Coach K said…their is love in winning but there is love in losing too. And there is the love of the game when you are vested in the players and team.

Yep…I’m too old school for most people on the board. If I wanted to go watch paid farm teams play I’d go watch them just like watching farm team baseball. And I do go watch them in Great Falls and Billings from time to time. But I am not personally invested in those teams. That’s just not what I want in college sports.

I don't think anyone's "too old school" and most would agree with everything you're saying here. The thing I always try to keep in mind is that the players who are making these decisions are people just like we all are as fans. Their priorities, goals, anxieties, challenges, strengths, and opportunities may not necessarily align with what we as fans would like them to be, and the decisions they make may or may not be the same as the decisions we once made ourselves as young adults trying to figure out what we wanted to do with our lives. So for some players MSU is going to be the right fit for four or five years...for others maybe only for one or two or three, but ultimately that's ok. Especially for the women's basketball program as Coach Binford definitely does all she can to build her program for long-term success and as much roster continuity as possible from year to year. I look at a player like Esmeralda Morales and I can very accurately say that my enjoyment of getting to watch her play for the Bobcats this past season was not lessened one bit because she was only here for her final season.

Only difference I see is you and other fans knew she was only going to be here 1 year. Others players we may e pect more time.

[Bobcat4Ever]

Only difference I see is you and other fans knew she was only going to be here 1 year. Others players we may expect more time.

Exactly. Everyone knew we needed depth at point guard, especially Coach Bin, as it’s a high-injury position. If Natalie didn’t recognize this, then she was listening with the wrong ear. We had a great team, and needed another really top-tier guard so we didn’t suffer drop-off when Natalie substituted out. If Natalie was really being “recruited over” that position would have been filled by a player with at least three years to play.

I thought Coach Bin recognized a great solution when Esmeralda fell into her hands. At the very least, we didn’t have to face her, and that was probably worth a half to a full game in the standings. Natalie wouldn’t have to be so heavily loaded as when she was a freshman. It added depth that was sorely needed when Dylan (bless her heart and knee) went down again. With the lighter load it was obvious as soon as Natalie got more minutes that a rested Natalie was a really good thing on the offense and defense. She just blossomed immediately — and then unexpectedly bloomed brighter and formed arguably the most larcenous duo in the country when she was paired with Taylee.

If anyone near to Natalie was whispering that she still should have been a starter, they were wrong. She was in a position where she had the most impact on the outcome of games than she ever had. And she was quickly going from a fan favorite last year, to a fan superstar this year. Coach Bin had once again shaken the puzzle until the pieces created a guard unit that was literally winning games on their own. Natalie again ended the season as the starting point guard apparent with legions of fans, Dylan a hopeful but unknown recovery risk, and no depth — but with help arriving in the form of four new freshman guards.

Something apparently didn’t sit right with Natalie about the year — something we didn’t see from the outside. What we saw was a great coming-of-age year by a player who was now ready to lead the best team in the league for two years, and share her considerable store of knowledge of life and basketball with the younger guards. Well done, Natalie. You gave us a great successful and highly entertaining year — until the bitter end.

[JohnGotti]

I’m done not renewing my season tickets. Professional leagues have more control than college. This is it for me. The almighty dollar wins.

[HelenaCat]

AMEN BobcatDel.

Yes, count me in this camp also!

[Helcat72]

I don't begrudge these girls transferring if it's to go to a higher league, get more NIL money, or move closer to home...but it will piss me off if they end up at another Big Sky school (unless Mara goes to play with her sister.)

[Bobcat4Ever]

How much high-level college basketball is played in Canada??

[Bobcatsinmso]

How much high-level college basketball is played in Canada??

Little to none, best wishes to the girls anyway no matter where they end up.

[JohnGotti]

Those two lossses hurt. Both beloved and crowd favorites. Only thing I couldn't figure out was Nat was on fire at Ohio State and she was pulled. Then we went on then 10 minute scoring drought. Wonder if this had something to do wit it.

[Bobcat4Ever]

Those two lossses hurt. Both beloved and crowd favorites. Only thing I couldn't figure out was Nat was on fire at Ohio State and she was pulled. Then we went on then 10 minute scoring drought. Wonder if this had something to do wit it.

Natalie had gotten so far inside that Ohio State’s guard’s head that she was probably looking out the other side. She owned her. I, like you, was surprised when she came out of the game.

I don’t see the transfer affecting it since Natalie was performing at top level. Trish wouldn’t hurt herself and the rest of the team to punish a player who was leaving. If she’d been dogging it, yes …

[JohnGotti]

I didn't take it that way as punishment. Just thought it was very odd to pull her. Maybe Nat did too. She could do no wrong at that point. Maybe a bit butt hurt. Love Nat. Who knows what may have happened had they left her in. Even halftime announcers were taking about number 2. She was having rh game of her life.

[Bobcat4Ever]

@JohnGotti Nat was absolutely our best player on the court at that time. She was the only one that was consistently winning her battles with the defender and scoring. The announcers had just anointed one of the OSU players as “certainly the fastest on the court.” It was so funny, like Natalie heard her, because she absolutely ran away from her on the next trip downcourt. Nat seemed to just really be getting on top of her game. Basketball is, after all, entertainment and she was entertaining to watch. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her on ESPN down the road.

[JohnGotti]

I agree with you 100 percent. Was just totally baffled by her being pulled and then we went on a scoring drought. Will miss her immensely. Loved her interviews of players what a cut up too.

[lutecat]

I refuse to belive one game less than a week before she entered the portal was the deciding factor. Especially if it came down to coaching decisions. Given the mentality of the team I just think there's no way that's the reason. As I think about it, with all the BS from the White house about Canada, I could see her wanting to be closer to home. That has to be tough to be out of your home country when something like this happens.

[Bobcat4Ever]

I have friends (very dear friends in fact) who are permanently selling out and moving away from the US because of the outcome of an election.

(There may be a reshuffling of the order of my on-shore friends list when the next poll comes out, so be warned.)

[BobcatDel]

I have friends (very dear friends in fact) who are permanently selling out and moving away from the US because of the outcome of an election.

(There may be a reshuffling of the order of my on-shore friends list when the next poll comes out, so be warned.)

What are you saying? Are you inferring Marah and Nat are returning to Canada? No way. Absolutely no way. Let us have a fun wager….I am looking at my nearly empty bottle of Crown Royal sitting on my cupboard. I think if Nat and Marah end up at other institutions in the U.S. then you should volunteer to refill that fine bottle!!

[Bobcat4Ever]

I have friends (very dear friends in fact) who are permanently selling out and moving away from the US because of the outcome of an election.

(There may be a reshuffling of the order of my on-shore friends list when the next poll comes out, so be warned.)

What are you saying? Are you inferring Marah and Nat are returning to Canada? No way. Absolutely no way. Let us have a fun wager….I am looking at my nearly empty bottle of Crown Royal sitting on my cupboard. I think if Nat and Marah end up at other institutions in the U.S. then you should volunteer to refill that fine bottle!!

Haha! I’d never have dreamed that my best friends would be moving to Portugal and Costa Rica either. Talk about sore losers. I recommended they just move to Hawai’i and I’ve been getting strange looks ever since. I promised at this age to promise that I’d never be surprised by anything again, but that one surprised me. You can tell I’m a really good friend or I’d have retaliated by kicking them off my Faceblank Messenger. There are a ton of people moving to my neck of the cactus patch from California because they are letting it burn down or something (check with @RickRund for verification).

The Crown bottling plant is about three miles down the road here. Biggest thing I’ve seen since Boeing. Maybe I can get you some bottle caps.

[arvcat2]

I refuse to belive one game less than a week before she entered the portal was the deciding factor. Especially if it came down to coaching decisions. Given the mentality of the team I just think there's no way that's the reason. As I think about it, with all the BS from the White house about Canada, I could see her wanting to be closer to home. That has to be tough to be out of your home country when something like this happens.

Aye, that’s got to be the reason and Dykstra is headed to Kamloops Technology Royal College & Picton will land at Thunder Bay Provincial University.