Outgoing Portal

[Bearcat93]

Probably over the course of the season.

I don't think people realize there are at least 2 guys on our team right now that are in the 6 figure range in NIL.

I think I can safely now say that NIL money for other players had a fairly direct impact on Viktor Lahkin's playing time. Vik would have gotten paid well in this system if he weren't a foreign player. The portal jump for him is strictly about making sure he has a place to go where he can play. I fully expect him to go pro overseas rather than land back in college, if he can find a safe landing spot. Leaving both avenues open is the correct strategy for him.

Can you give an example of what you mean by other players NIL impacting Vik’s pt? Not names but just conceptually how this happened?

[leo from jersey]

I disagree with this. Things were said to CWM that influenced Vik's time on the court. It's not all on Vik and he probably responded about the way most college students would if they suddently sat the bench a whole game instead of starting. Vik had his issues but it's definitely not all on him.

Very few were privileged to the interaction between Vik and CWM. Regardless, I have seen players brutally (even physically mistreated) and they still gave it their all. I understand VIk was not living at his home and so little parental support, but you just don't stop practicing hard. Look at how it could affect the whole team. If there was overly abusive behavior, then Cunningham needed to step up. Could he afford two abusive coaches in a row????? The rest of the team seems to be content for the most part. Love of Money is the root of many kinds of evil I have read. I know CWM is not perfect and if he hurts or abuses any player, he needs help, but I have seen younger kids show more maturity.

[cpawstoney]

On that note, when is spring graduation this year?

April 25-27
Spring 2024 Commencement

[Rufus]

That is fine, but he left a sour taste by the way he left. I am talking about the last half of the season. He let his school, his team and the fans down. I firmly believe he would have scored at will against that guy from ISU. He had been listening to others in his ear. MAW? Others? who knows. He just didn't seem to be listening to CWM and there was no leader in the locker room to straighten him out. Hopefully DS or JJ becomes that voice.

Agreed if your goal is to make more coin, you don't just up and lay down in middle of the season.

[Lobot]

Can you give an example of what you mean by other players NIL impacting Vik’s pt? Not names but just conceptually how this happened?

Let's say for example, that Vik is the starter and suddenly an important donor says to someone in the Athletic Dept that Wes needs to be playing his best players and not just he one's he's loyal to. This comes after a press conference where Wes specifically defended Vik's loyalty to the program after he was sick and had a really bad game (Iowa St.?) That info from the donor trickles down through the dept. to Wes. The next game Vik gets 1 minute on the floor in garbage time and doesn't play the next game. Based on information I got, the above scenario happened. The thought between myself and several people I talked to was this was probably related to NIL payments to others who were then played over Viktor.

I'm not going to pretend that's the sole reason why Vik didn't play down the stretch because there were other issues. Leo is right in that I wasn't in the room for whatever the conversation was between Wes and Vik. However, There are people throwing their weight around that should probably just let our coach, coach instead of using money for influence.

One additional thought I had based on Chad comments about Viktor seeking NIL. It makes no sense unless you are either not considered a foreign player anymore (he did graduate), or you are going to challenge the "No NIL for foreign players rule" in court. (He'd probably win).

[leo from jersey]

Let's say for example, that Vik is the starter and suddenly an important donor says to someone in the Athletic Dept that Wes needs to be playing his best players and not just he one's he's loyal to. This comes after a press conference where Wes specifically defended Vik's loyalty to the program after he was sick and had a really bad game (Iowa St.?) That info from the donor trickles down through the dept. to Wes. The next game Vik gets 1 minute on the floor in garbage time and doesn't play the next game. Based on information I got, the above scenario happened. The thought between myself and several people I talked to was this was probably related to NIL payments to others who were then played over Viktor.

I'm not going to pretend that's the sole reason why Vik didn't play down the stretch because there were other issues. Leo is right in that I wasn't in the room for whatever the conversation was between Wes and Vik. However, There are people throwing their weight around that should probably just let our coach, coach instead of using money for influence.

One additional thought I had was based on Chad comments about Viktor seeking NIL. It makes no sense unless you are either not considered a foreign player anymore (he did graduate), or you're are going to challenge the "No NIL for foreign players rule" in court. (He'd probably win).

As I said - the abuse should be reported to Cunningham and I suspect he knew. Regardless of that, I personally don't go by what others do to me. I do my best as unto the Lord and not to man. I realize that many don't have that philosophy, but a "Bearcat for life" should. All empty words said when things were good. I would have gotten out if the abuse was more than I could handle, but hopefully not sulking and giving up. You may never overcome that in your future life. I told my kids that when a certain coach had abusive problems. In this world, few are counseled so. Just leave. Sometimes it is how you leave especially of your tanking hurts the team. I believe it did. Now let CWM and Cunningham learn from this. They may lose their position or raises, but we are dealing with youth. It is on to them too if this is so. If so Vik wasn't the only one tanking.

[D.A.H.]

so, i'm sorry. i've been skimming this thread, and i've got enough meds in me with whatever crud i have, and i'm not sure if i've read it right. is anyone saying that vik was "abused". it sounds like a business disagreement, but i didn't think, even in this day and age, that just saying no to a player was abusive. was there more going on?

[Lobot]

As I said - the abuse should be reported to Cunningham and I suspect he knew. Regardless of that, I personally don't go by what others do to me. I do my best as unto the Lord and not to man. I realize that many don't have that philosophy, but a "Bearcat for life" should. All empty words said when things were good. I would have gotten out if the abuse was more than I could handle, but hopefully not sulking and giving up. You may never overcome that in your future life. I told my kids that when a certain coach had abusive problems. In this world, few are counseled so. Just leave. Sometimes it is how you leave especially of your tanking hurts the team. I believe it did. Now let CWM and Cunningham learn from this. They may lose their position or raises, but we are dealing with youth. It is on to them too if this is so. If so Vik wasn't the only one tanking.

What are you framing as abuse here Leo?

I think there's a got to be better term for what you're describing. You make it sound like it's physical, which is not the case.

[GoBearcats31]

This thread....

To recap, Viktor Lakhin is in the portal. No one else has hit the portal yet :-)

[red_n_black_attack]

It is scary to think a) a donor is making sole/direct NIL payments to a player, and B) as a result of that NIL money the donor has influence over the coach to determine playing time. Both sound extremely like pay-4-play

[leo from jersey]

What are you framing as abuse here Leo?

I think there's a got to be better term for what you're describing. You make it sound like it's physical, which is not the case.

Mental abuse is often as bad as the physical. It can lead to long term difficulties and a deeply disturbing present. My wife is in the mental health profession and all her years of practice verifies this. I understand that things can be traumatic for a youth being away from home and having bad treatment, but as my beliefs are that suffering is redemptive fair or not fair. It is just never pleasant. I feel for Vik and it is too late now to say that he didn't handle it correctly. I wasn't there. If the truth is a deep pocket who has dished out 6 figures required his payee to play with compliance from the HC and AD, then UC has major problems. I am sure UC has help in place as we saw with David D. two years ago. Perhaps UC needs a better mentoring program with ex-players taking care of the new guys. I don't know. If it is true that a deep pocket picked the FB coach, then I suspect the deep pockets have a lot of clout in all the sports. If they have that kind of clout, they need come up with NIL money for 5-star recruits at least. No, that was sarcasm. Whatever happened, it is not good. Nobody won starting with the players, the school and the fans. At least some deep pocket got off on their power and control game. Friends I wish I could speak better of my beloved Cats. Regardless, these young guys need to never give up regardless of the present situation. Life is far from fair, but it is life. I have an answer, but it is religious, and this forum is about UC sports. I do know covering things up under the rug is never the solution- see HC JB.

[sedz]

Let's say for example, that Vik is the starter and suddenly an important donor says to someone in the Athletic Dept that Wes needs to be playing his best players and not just he one's he's loyal to. This comes after a press conference where Wes specifically defended Vik's loyalty to the program after he was sick and had a really bad game (Iowa St.?) That info from the donor trickles down through the dept. to Wes. The next game Vik gets 1 minute on the floor in garbage time and doesn't play the next game. Based on information I got, the above scenario happened. The thought between myself and several people I talked to was this was probably related to NIL payments to others who were then played over Viktor.

If I'm following this right, we stopped playing Vik because a donor wanted more minutes for Josh Reed? He's the only guy who saw a significant jump in playing time the two games after Iowa St. We have a major bureaucratic problem if that's true.

[leo from jersey]

If I'm following this right, we stopped playing Vik because a donor wanted more minutes for Josh Reed? He's the only guy who saw a significant jump in playing time the two games after Iowa St. We have a major bureaucratic problem if that's true.

Of course you didn't look at who started at the end of the year - Hint not Aziz I think.

[sedz]

Of course you didn't look at who started at the end of the year - Hint not Aziz I think.

Switching starters around is one thing. Cutting Vik from the rotation in favor of Josh Reed because of a donor is a completely different animal. That's wild.

[leo from jersey]

Switching starters around is one thing. Cutting Vik from the rotation in favor of Josh Reed because of a donor is a completely different animal. That's wild.

who said it was Josh.You may be right but I was thinking of a bigger name who went into the starting lineup.