This semi pro league doesn't make a whole lot of sense for a number of reasons:

The HBCUs are broke and don't have money for facility upgrades

The HBCUs have a terrible basketball tradition and among the worst in the NCAA.

Why pave the way for for P5s to do the same thing and separate their revenue sports from the NCAA? With more money, more resources, and more brand recognition they would surely relegate the HBCU league to obscurity.

(06-24-2017 09:25 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  This semi pro league doesn't make a whole lot of sense for a number of reasons:

The HBCUs are broke and don't have money for facility upgrades

The HBCUs have a terrible basketball tradition and among the worst in the NCAA.

Why pave the way for for P5s to do the same thing and separate their revenue sports from the NCAA? With more money, more resources, and more brand recognition they would surely relegate the HBCU league to obscurity.

1 & 2) It has close to a 0% chance of improving their position.
3) They're already completely obscure. I doubt it will hurt.

The biggest issue to me is that there's apparently a good chunk of money out there interested in helping HBCU's (a very noble and worthy cause), but the guys behind the money clearly have no idea what to do w/ it.

(06-24-2017 09:47 AM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(06-24-2017 09:25 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  This semi pro league doesn't make a whole lot of sense for a number of reasons:

The HBCUs are broke and don't have money for facility upgrades

The HBCUs have a terrible basketball tradition and among the worst in the NCAA.

Why pave the way for for P5s to do the same thing and separate their revenue sports from the NCAA? With more money, more resources, and more brand recognition they would surely relegate the HBCU league to obscurity.

1 & 2) It has close to a 0% chance of improving their position.
3) They're already completely obscure. I doubt it will hurt.

The biggest issue to me is that there's apparently a good chunk of money out there interested in helping HBCU's (a very noble and worthy cause), but the guys behind the money clearly have no idea what to do w/ it.

It us far from noble. It is just another case of white guys wanting to take advantage of people of color yet again.

(06-24-2017 11:54 AM)Renandpat Wrote:  

(06-24-2017 09:47 AM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(06-24-2017 09:25 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  This semi pro league doesn't make a whole lot of sense for a number of reasons:

The HBCUs are broke and don't have money for facility upgrades

The HBCUs have a terrible basketball tradition and among the worst in the NCAA.

Why pave the way for for P5s to do the same thing and separate their revenue sports from the NCAA? With more money, more resources, and more brand recognition they would surely relegate the HBCU league to obscurity.

1 & 2) It has close to a 0% chance of improving their position.
3) They're already completely obscure. I doubt it will hurt.

The biggest issue to me is that there's apparently a good chunk of money out there interested in helping HBCU's (a very noble and worthy cause), but the guys behind the money clearly have no idea what to do w/ it.

It us far from noble. It is just another case of white guys wanting to take advantage of people of color yet again.

....huh? The plan is to dump money into HBCU's. Get off your soap box.

I'm struggling to see how it would attract, as the writer puts it, the very best high school and college players. The best high schoolers are going to make their decisions based on what gets them to the NBA, and what's the best way to do that, spend a year at Kentucky or Duke, or play in a de facto minor league? You might get kids who want to get paid now and/or won't be able to gain eligibility at other schools, but even then, there's overseas opportunities that pay at least as much and will have a far better track record of sending players to the NBA. And if the NBA ever allows high schoolers to be drafted again (perhaps with the proviso that players below a minimum age must start in the G League, then you're going to be lucky to get a slightly better class of player.

And that's not factoring in removing yourself from the NCAA tournament and how that affects would-be players. And how does that affect a school's standing with the NCAA in other sports?

Many, if not most, HBCU athletic departments are at a spot where they need to think outside the box to do better than tread water or drown. Perhaps leaving the NCAA and playing by different rules helps recruit better players, generate more interest and fans, and ultimately bring in more money, which is the point in the first place. But if this writer, or others like him, think that the Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, and Jayson Tatums of the future are turning down the power programs and conferences to roll the dice on plying their trade at Howard or Prairie View A&M, well, that's more of a longshot than a Chicago State-Presbyterian title game.