Since the news of BVP and Sears leaving via the portal, there has been a growing speculation around twitter of Boals being the target man for Butler. Contingent on Matta being the AD, what are the odds Boals leaves for Butler?

It would be more money, and a move out of a one-bid league. So makes some sense (though leaving alma mater). As someone mentioned in another thread, Boals is not a young pup anymore - especially in an industry (college bball coaching) that will get younger and younger given the rigors of re-recruiting every year -- so his next move is most likely his last. Not sure that's Butler.

Yep, this. Find a multi-bid league (which equates to $$) and near an urban center (which equates to NIL opps) and run. Run like the wind.

The MAC better jump on the JUCO and transfer train every single year or we're going to be ranked in the 20s or lower for the foreseeable future.

Oh - and forget the academics charade. This is big-boy paid to play basketball now. If he can dunk, sign him up. It's not like he's going to stay long enough to graduate with some random made up degree anyway.

Or don't change a thing, and figure out a way to make a merger with the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference since those will be the schools we're most closely aligned with.

The key word is “speculation”.

When Butler barely lost to Duke in the 2010 final, their budget was almost identical to ours.

I am good with Boals going to Butler. He has turned us around in three years and given his all to Bobcat Basketball. All I ask of Julie Cromer is that she IMMEDIATELY name Lamar Thornton as the head coach and try to retain Lee Martin as his top assistant. I cannot imagine Butler can pay its assistants more than we can pay Lamar as head coach and if it is, we need to pony up the money. Keeping our momentum, it is paramount to keep Lamar.

Seems much more efficient to pay players via NIL and cut out the bureaucrats

I know OSU dominates the state, but we've got strong alumni bases in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. Won't be easy but I'm convinced there is opportunity in those cities.

They will do just fine, and they will also make $700k

So, I am curious, what leads you to believe that Lamar is the next great young coach? A must retain without a search? I say that, fully admitting I think he's a great person. But curious as to what you weigh his future ability to be a head coach at Ohio on?

When has promoting an Assistant coach ever worked out at OU? Billy Hahn, Knorr, etc?

One poster here posted anonymously about a conversation he had with Sears' Mom about the NIL, and now it's assumed that's the sole reason for the decision.

I could make a long list of claims on BobcatAttack.com that it would have been a bad idea to accept at face value.

As others have pointed out, mid majors are in this situation due to pending court rulings. We have to adjust our thinking and adapt to reality.

I was initially against relaxing transfer rules because I anticipated it would turn into the Wild West with blatant poaching going on by high majors throughout the year. I guess I plead guilty to BLSOS's accusation that I was thinking more about mid major roster stability and competitive balance than individual rights.

But it is what it is. This is the new reality. I'm trying now to see the individual rights angle more clearly. Coaches, athletic depts, players and yes, even us fans, are going through a difficult adjustment period.

As for A. Ruck's and Love's laments about players' lack of loyalty to colleges...as you know, this is a culture change. Young people see things differently today. It's more of an individual mindset. (However, a lot of coaches from the older generation set a precedent by bolting out of contracts and otherwise not being loyal.)

I think it's unfair to Mark Sears to question his morality for merely acting within the new boundaries to better himself.

Guess schools like Ohio have to recruit the portal hard. Hard to build a mid major program only on HS players these days.