The college basketball scene has changed a lot over the past couple of years. The new transfer portal rules and the NIL revolution have shaken the sport to its very core.
Some might say it’s good, while others think it takes something away from the game. Regardless of how people feel, this era is here to stay, and everybody will just have to adapt.
Perhaps they should just take a page out of Geno Auriemma’s book. In a recent interview with NILosophy, former UConn star Paige Bueckers revealed how the program and her coach dealt with this situation.
Paige Bueckers praises UConn for how they handled her NIL situation
“They wanted us to make money, and they really enjoyed that we got this opportunity,” Bueckers said. “They never wanted to get in the way of what we had to accomplish.”
The Dallas Wings young star also said that coach Geno Auriemma was actually quite supportive of his players getting money, as long as that wasn’t the reason why they chose to play for the Huskies:
“He was very receptive to everything going on,” Bueckers continued. “But at the end of the day, he always wanted our priorities to be basketball. IF you’re coming to UConn for money, you’re not coming to the right place. He would always joke, ‘You’re making more money than me now. Why do you need me?’ He’s just joking, but he was happy for us.”
That’s classic Coach Ariemma right there. But at the end of the day, all he demanded from his players was hard work and commitment, so there was no need to worry about their finances as well.