Flory Bidunga - 2024 Center (Offered)

This is over…

 

It's actually not though. You live in Utah and have zero connections to the program and HS/AAU basketball in Indiana. Butler is still in this and will be until the end. If it strictly comes down to $ Butler won't get him, but to say it's "over" based off one article is highly inaccurate, especially when the staff is still pursuing.

"While time didn’t allow for Bidunga to discuss each of the schools in his recruitment, he was able to discuss several."

 

True that often these interviews are taken in a certain direction—interviewer only ask about programs they find sexy (hint: clicks). Not to mention editing. Butler is not going outbid the blue bloods obviously but the interest is still there on both sides—so that tells you something.

 

Flory is not happening. Send it to the archives. Still think we can get some solid players in the class though

 

Flory is still in play but we would need a major benefactor to close the deal.


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You’re saying we just need a big check for NIL money and it’s a done deal? Right…

 

Not saying that at all. And I don’t think he’s chasing the biggest bag—if so BU wouldn’t still be in it. But if we could get in range on NIL then yes we have a shot.


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He may not be chasing a bag, but regardless, we're not in it. The ship has sailed, and it's time to move on.

You're right though, we do need to keep pumping up NIL with everything we've got, because I think this staff can make some great moves in '24 with a bigger pool of money.

 

What do you consider “in range”?


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Feels like we are are missing the mark in the recruitment of a local STAR-in-the-making At the middle of last season we were in the running as #1 or 2, now lagging behind out of state schools...NIL.

 

There was never a nonzero chance for Butler. NIL is what it is, but Butler is also a noncompetitive program, why would a player with those kind of options have interest? DePaul fans can't seem to understand why they can't get any of the quality Chicago-land prospects either

 

Of course a lot of more high-profile programs have offered; that was a given. But how would we know if we are or ever were seriously in the running? I've never been convinced that we were, but I'm happy to acknowledge my ignorance on the subject. In truth, unless FB has specifically told a poster of his plans or has publicly shared a narrowed-down list that we are or are not on, I think almost everything else is smoke and mirrors. You can look at who follows FB and whom he follows, which games coaches attend, etc. We have some on this board who have access to more inside information, and I greatly appreciate when they share what they feel they can share. But I (and, I think, most basketball fans everywhere) seem to be pretty bad at reading tea leaves, at least up to (and sometimes including) the last moment before the announcement is made.

 

Gee, tell us something we don't know. How much have you given to AGD?

There are plenty of ultra wealthy supporters of Butler basketball. Some even on the university board. And those with involvement in AGD. A few million would be a drop in the bucket for them, and would allow Butler to be financially competitive with the best players for at least a few seasons. For some reason though, they appear inclined to sit things out.

Hayward's lack of involvement re: all things Butler after his film room donation has been quite weird to me.

 

My personal belief is that we could be a serious contender, maybe even the choice, if we can be reasonably in the same ballpark financially. Not having any specific information one way or the other, I haven't seen anything relating to our efforts to generate financial support from fans/local community that gives me confidence we can be where we would need to be. I hope I'm very wrong, but I have begun fearing apathy on the part of the fan base. I would be very curious to know how season tickets are doing. Similar to what 2014 posted, in another thread yesterday, I feel this now has the University's attention, but I'm not really sure that it isn't late. Again, I hope I am just projecting unfounded fears due to recency bias, but I just don't feel any momentum of the city/state really getting behind us. Xavier is in a very similar situation to us, but it doesn't seem to be having any problems generating the support it needs to compete for recruits.

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NIL as it currently exists is a travesty for collegiate athletics. It won’t last long in its current format. There are many ways to contribute $$ to Butler. I’m okay with whatever reason(s) folks opt to not participate in NIL. And it’s nobody’s business how people invest personal wealth or meager earnings for the University. I am true blue Butler, fan of BMBB and all athletics programs. However there are many ambitious and essential needs & projects planned for the university. NIL is not the sole solution for rebuilding our men’s BB program.


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Flory only told the staff a few weeks back that we were no longer under consideration—so apparently we WERE in it until recently. Maybe those who thought we had no shot could have shared that with Flory earlier so everyone’s time wouldn’t have been wasted


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Prof—the only thing I see differently is that while NIL is not the sole solution for rebuilding the program it absolutely needs to the priority for the next few years. Not saying a reduction of other efforts, but a very focused emphasis on NIL—both collectives and private.


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Flory is a big fan of Greg Oden. That's part of the reason we were still in the running for so long despite limited NIL ability and coming off another down season for the program.

If it becomes a money game, Butler is not going to win.

 

I'm going to be fascinated to see how over time NIL impacts donations to athletic departments and schools as a whole. If you're an alum who has a million dollars to give, and in the past would have given that to the school or the athletic dept. presumably you don't generally have the funds to do that and a big NIL deal. So how does a donor prioritize that? Are they supposed to guess where the dollars will be must impactful.

I assume over the long term that every dollar that goes to NIL indirectly takes a dollar away from a school.

 

Still early in the NIL game and lots to be navigated. From what I can tell at BU, NIL funds are coming from the usual donors who are giving to both BU and AGD. Also believe AGD is bringing in some newer donors who perhaps haven’t given at significant levels to BU. Not bought in to the notion that we are robbing Peter to pay Paul—think boosters are just digging a little deeper.

And no guessing on where the dollars are most impactful. It’s acknowledged (perhaps not loudly enough yet) that NIL must become the priority for now.


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