Outgoing Portal

[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.

[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).

[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.

[cpawstoney]

On that note, when is spring graduation this year?

April 25-27
Spring 2024 Commencement

[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.

[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?

[Lobot]

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.

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.

[leo from jersey]

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.

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.

[Lobot]

The whole process can play out over the course of weeks as was evident last season.

Davenport entered the portal on April 6th. Hensley entered the portal on April 20th. MAW entered the portal on May 9th (after initially posting on social media that he would return to UC in April).

On that note, when is spring graduation this year?

[Carthage World]

So far all I've heard is Vik going. There were a few other names mentioned last week. Is that it? Is everyone else returning?

The whole process can play out over the course of weeks as was evident last season.

Davenport entered the portal on April 6th. Hensley entered the portal on April 20th. MAW entered the portal on May 9th (after initially posting on social media that he would return to UC in April).

[Lobot]

Is that an annual 750k or total value?

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.

[sedz]

Is that an annual 750k or total value?

I think all these NIL deals would have to be lump sum with no strings attached, right? There's nothing stopping players from leaving right now. They can't say "$750k per year but you have to stay 2 years" or "750k total if you play two years". Players aren't signing enforceable contracts. So in my view, any amount a player accepts is for one year in the current environment.

[cpawstoney]

So far all I've heard is Vik going. There were a few other names mentioned last week. Is that it? Is everyone else returning?

[Bearcat93]

AJ Storr apparently turned down $750,000 from Kansas, looking for more. He was a high level recruit but has been very underwhelming in his first two years (not one of Wisconsin's top 4 players by box plus minus and a negative defensive impact). The money flying around is insane.

Is that an annual 750k or total value?

[leo from jersey]

Chad brought up that same topic and said that international players cannot receive NIL funds while (actively) working in the US, but can receive such funds outside of the US. A prominent example is when UK took a team-bonding trip to the Bahamas in 2022 and Oscar Tshiebwe (from the Democratic Republic of Congo) made $500k from NIL work opportunities specifically in the Bahamas during the week-long trip.

very interesting point. We shall see about the "Bearcat for life".