Recent content by sbillini

  1. sbillini

    Coaching Carousel (Basketball)

    I’ve heard their NIL situation (surprisingly to me) isn’t that great. If that’s true then yea, tough situation. Does UNC open up too? I hope it doesn’t but wouldn’t help Wisconsin either
  2. sbillini

    2026 Formula 1

    It used to happen all the time. Will happen for a while this season as teams figure out these new PUs. As for the Mercedes customers team issues relative to the works team, might be something there. Works Mercedes only has so much incentive to help customer teams, especially a top tier team...
  3. sbillini

    Illinois 101, USC 65 Postgame

    Michael Lewis (author of liars poker and other great books fame) has a really good podcast in this very topic (I think the episode is literally called “You Suck Refs”. I suggest taking a listen. One of the basic takeaways was that refereeing has actually gotten better over the years but the...
  4. sbillini

    Coaching Carousel (Basketball)

    I do find it ironic that Bruce Weber is widely regarded as a weak recruiter while at the same time tang’s early success is widely attributed to the roster he inherited at ksu. Just an interesting observation…try not to point the pitchforks at me! 🙃
  5. sbillini

    AD Josh Whitman 10 years at Illinois

    I think the bigger risk (for us) is he wants to take on a greater challenge at some point (eg conference commissioner). I would guess he’s pretty well respected in sports admin circles and still has a lot of years of career ahead of him.
  6. sbillini

    College Sports (Basketball)

    Doesn’t that type of trade off decision making happen every day? You’re looking for a job and you decide to pass on it and then you get laid off your current job. Most the time you can’t go back to the original offer. Even if the spot is still there, the employer probably won’t even want you. Is...
  7. sbillini

    The NIL business model

    Interesting. Can’t say I’d be particularly happy as a taxpayer with that, esp given it’s only available to $5k+ “donations”. I put donations in quotes because I also find it very interesting things like sponsorship deals (and perhaps NIL deals?) are included. Those are already likely pre-tax...
  8. sbillini

    The NIL business model

    pretty sure this is not the case. The prospective draftee is not contractually obligated to anything prior to being drafted and signing a contract with a team.
  9. sbillini

    The NIL business model

    based in what's been said here, it seems like a potential avenue that the NFL (or NBA) could take is some attempt to restrict future eligibility if you back out once getting drafted. You didn't like how far you down you were on the draft board and/or you don't like the team that drafted you, go...
  10. sbillini

    The NIL business model

    I don't think it's going to fail at all. The train has left the station and it ain't coming back. Despite the high profile headlines, i would guess 99% of NIL deals are doing fine. In the case of the high profile stuff, I think as the model evolves and more guardrails are put into place, it'll...
  11. sbillini

    Illinois 73, Penn State 65 Postgame

    I’ve watched Michigan play a few times this year. Really well rounded team. I thought dusty may was a “flavor of the month” type of hire, but so far I’ve been proven wrong. And, ps, morez Johnson has been crushing it there. I really liked him when he was an Illini and was sad to see him go...
  12. sbillini

    Coaching Carousel (Football)

    Kind of, somewhat ironically, reminds me of John beilein going to coach in the nba at, coincidentally, 66 years old. He had it pretty well set at Michigan but probably wanted the challenge. Nonetheless, didn’t work out well for the cavs - unless you believe the conspiracy theory that Gilbert...
  13. sbillini

    Coaching Carousel (Football)

    Yea this is very much a bill O’Brien type hire. I think Sherone Moore was the same vs any sort of long term solution, but that obviously didn’t play out as expected.
  14. sbillini

    Illini in the Pros (Basketball)

    TSJ getting some recognition. Great to see! https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47402055/nba-power-rankings-all-30-teams-young-riser-most-improved-rookie-year
  15. sbillini

    Coaching Carousel (Football)

    Seeing a lot of press pitchforks coming out for him the last 24 hours. Seems like the alums are starting to care, or will have to care, now.
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