BYU basketball 2025 Offseason

[Jeff Lebowski]

You read moral superiority in there? I think that's a bit unfair. Should BYU just cease to advertise their stated unique mission when it comes to athletics? Sounds like Travis was saying that for people who want to be disciples of Jesus Christ but also play basketball at the highest level, BYU is a great fit. I'm not saying we should always wear that on our sleeve like Bronco but if we are uncomfortable with Travis's statement I don't know how this model will have the long-term support of the BOT (as PAC noted).

Exactly. Nothing at all wrong with that statement.

[myboynoah]

Exactly. Nothing at all wrong with that statement.

Agreed. Better to be up front about what BYU is and who we are. And Egor confirms it, as have many LDS and non-LDS football players alike (ala Jake).

Frankly speaking, I would hope that it would redirect some athletes who aren't committed to that and the Honor Code, or at least let them know this is how it is at BYU.

[SteelBlue]

You read moral superiority in there? I think that's a bit unfair.

In large amounts and even tackier after dropping a ton of money on another athlete (which I’m very much in favor of). It’s ok that we’re buying players, it’s the only way to win. We aren’t buying them in a superior way morally to anyone else.

I would think the brethren are smart enough to do the cost benefit analysis of amount paid to players and amount of positive pub for their organization not to mention ticket sales, merch etc… I’ve said this before but sportswashing is an incredible way to clean up an organization that is publicly not very popular. We’ve had nearly a solid year of nothing but positive press related to football and basketball teams. It’s 100% because they invested in having good teams. When was the last time you heard about how byu treats gays, or lack of diversity or blacks and priesthood or whatever. No it’s beautiful remote pieces, it’s Parker Kingston and Keelan Marion returns, it’s the BYJew, it’s the tater tot king, the sweet 16, PROvo. It works, it’s brilliant and it really shouldn’t require any justification beyond trying to be all in in the programs they offer.

[Jeff Lebowski]

In large amounts and even tackier after dropping a ton of money on another athlete (which I’m very much in favor of). It’s ok that we’re buying players, it’s the only way to win. We aren’t buying them in a superior way morally to anyone else.

Oh boy. You have been reading too many ute fan posts.

The fact that we are paying market value to recruit top athletes doesn't in any way change our core DNA. BYU is a religious school and anyone who comes here (paid or not) will experience that. By all accounts, Egor embraced that and had a great experience.

The "even tackier" comment implies that there is something shady about allowing our alumni/donors to engage in NIL. Perhaps you could educate us as to why that is. Along those same lines, is Notre Dame "tacky" for negotiating top dollar for football broadcasts through the years?

I would think the brethren are smart enough to do the cost benefit analysis of amount paid to players and amount of positive pub for their organization not to mention ticket sales, merch etc… I’ve said this before but sportswashing is an incredible way to clean up an organization that is publicly not very popular. We’ve had nearly a solid year of nothing but positive press related to football and basketball teams. It’s 100% because they invested in having good teams. When was the last time you heard about how byu treats gays, or lack of diversity or blacks and priesthood or whatever. No it’s beautiful remote pieces, it’s Parker Kingston and Keelan Marion returns, it’s the BYJew, it’s the tater tot king, the sweet 16, PROvo. It works, it’s brilliant and it really shouldn’t require any justification beyond trying to be all in in the programs they offer.

This implies that most publicity about BYU's religious affiliation is bad. That is both cynical and wrong.

[myboynoah]

Oh boy. You have been reading too many ute fan posts.

The fact that we are paying market value to recruit top athletes doesn't in any way change our core DNA. BYU is a religious school and anyone who comes here (paid or not) will experience that. By all accounts, Egor embraced that and had a great experience.

The "even tackier" comment implies that there is something shady about allowing our alumni/donors to engage in NIL. Perhaps you could educate us as to why that is. Along those same lines, is Notre Dame "tacky" for negotiating top dollar for football broadcasts through the years?



This implies that most publicity about BYU's religious affiliation is bad. That is both cynical and wrong.

lol, for sure. As if uofutah, or any other institution inside or outside the state, isn't paying NIL money to players. "You're BYU and you're starting to infringe on territory we owned so BYU needs to handicap itself moving forward." Ridiculous, and we shouldn't play into that at all. If they pay, we pay.

[SteelBlue]

Oh boy. You have been reading too many ute fan posts.


The fact that we are paying market value to recruit top athletes doesn't in any way change our core DNA. BYU is a religious school and anyone who comes here (paid or not) will experience that. By all accounts, Egor embraced that and had a great experience.

The "even tackier" comment implies that there is something shady about allowing our alumni/donors to engage in NIL. Perhaps you could educate us as to why that is. Along those same lines, is Notre Dame "tacky" for negotiating top dollar for football broadcasts through the years?



This implies that most publicity about BYU's religious affiliation is bad. That is both cynical and wrong.

Nothing to do with Utah fans. I don't live in Utah and their school comes up zero times a day in my life. I'm increasingly convinced that all this talk is for the regular membership of the church to feel ok with these huge investments. Look, if you need to feel justification for paying players fair market value then you can pretend BYU cares more about their players than other schools or offers something that no other school does.

I've made it very clear I don't have any problem with these investments, to me as a sports fan they are a dream come true. The tacky comment is directed at the unnecessary justification. Like "it's ok, we bring the Jesus." Everyone can have their opinion about what BYU brings or offers, but when you talk like Travis did there you sound like people who have never traveled raving about America.

[SteelBlue]

lol, for sure. As if uofutah, or any other institution inside or outside the state, isn't paying NIL money to players. "You're BYU and you're starting to infringe on territory we owned so BYU needs to handicap itself moving forward." Ridiculous, and we shouldn't play into that at all. If they pay, we pay.

Again, I am very pro playing players. I am against the yammering about why the way BYU does it is different from the way other schools do it.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I've made it very clear I don't have any problem with these investments, to me as a sports fan they are a dream come true. The tacky comment is directed at the unnecessary justification. Like "it's ok, we bring the Jesus." Everyone can have their opinion about what BYU brings or offers, but when you talk like Travis did there you sound like people who have never traveled raving about America.

I didn't read that into his statement at all.

[SteelBlue]

I didn't read that into his statement at all.

Yes, that's very clear.

[myboynoah]

Again, I am very pro playing players. I am against the yammering about why the way BYU does it is different from the way other schools do it.

I guess I don't understand. BYU does practically everything differently than the way other schools do things.

Or are you just talking about levels of NIL money BYU boosters are willing to pay? If so, then I agree with that BYU is doing the same thing that other schools are doing.

I'm not in on KY's pitches to recruits, but I suspect it covers the following priorities:

1. BYU will offer a great education
2. BYU will offer you the opportunity to compete at the highest levels of college basketball
3. BYU will prepare you for a future in professional basketball, targeting the NBA.
4. BYU will give you a unique Christ-based environment in which to do these things.
5. BYU's Honor Code will help limit distractions.
6. BYU NIL is competitive with any program in the nation.

Few schools can offer 4 and 5.

[SteelBlue]

I guess I don't understand. BYU does practically everything differently than the way other schools do things.

Or are you just talking about levels of NIL money BYU boosters are willing to pay? If so, then I agree with that BYU is doing the same thing that other schools are doing.

I'm not in on KY's pitches to recruits, but I suspect it covers the following priorities:

1. BYU will offer a great education
2. BYU will offer you the opportunity to compete at the highest levels of college basketball
3. BYU will prepare you for a future in professional basketball, targeting the NBA.
4. BYU will give you a unique Christ-based environment in which to do these things.
5. BYU's Honor Code will help limit distractions.
6. BYU NIL is competitive with any program in the nation.

Few schools can offer 4 and 5.

In general, yes I'm talking about NIL. I think BYU should learn into the fact they have money and are willing to pay. We want success and we'll invest what it takes. No need to justify it any deeper than that.

As for your list, 1-3 and 6 are what are bringing 5 star athletes to the program. I respectfully think you (and many BYU fans) oversell BYU's nearly sole ownership of 4 and 5 in the college world. Many schools can offer 4 if that's important to you. It's just a matter of getting connected with that community. There are also a great many schools packed with students who live in a way that 5 is a formality. Anecdotally, I went to Tufts and my experience was overwhelmingly positive as the only LDS student in my class. I made lifelong friends and learned that many students lived very similarly to me and all on their own honor. BYU was a good experience, Tufts was equal to it in every way for me.

[falafel]

In general, yes I'm talking about NIL. I think BYU should learn into the fact they have money and are willing to pay. We want success and we'll invest what it takes. No need to justify it any deeper than that.

As for your list, 1-3 and 6 are what are bringing 5 star athletes to the program. I respectfully think you (and many BYU fans) oversell BYU's nearly sole ownership of 4 and 5 in the college world. Many schools can offer 4 if that's important to you. It's just a matter of getting connected with that community. There are also a great many schools packed with students who live in a way that 5 is a formality. Anecdotally, I went to Tufts and my experience was overwhelmingly positive as the only LDS student in my class. I made lifelong friends and learned that many students lived very similarly to me and all on their own honor. BYU was a good experience, Tufts was equal to it in every way for me.

I don't think BYU is unique in in 4 and 5 as you do, but I do think the combination of 1-6 is pretty unique. Watch the NBA and the NFL. Players are constantly showcasing their religious beliefs in interviews and tweets, etc. BYU is simply saying if you are a person of faith, we support and honor that. Plus, we have all the other things you need to be successful.

[SteelBlue]

I don't think BYU is unique in in 4 and 5 as you do, but I do think the combination of 1-6 is pretty unique. Watch the NBA and the NFL. Players are constantly showcasing their religious beliefs in interviews and tweets, etc. BYU is simply saying if you are a person of faith, we support and honor that. Plus, we have all the other things you need to be successful.

All of which I'm fine with. I'm struggling to figure out why this is so difficult for people to see:

BYU’s focus is on transformational experiences, not transactional ones. We help players find identity beyond the jersey—and purpose beyond the paycheck.

I mean, this is a bit tone deaf isn't it? Dropped right after a pretty big transactional experience. Do we have evidence that AJ or Daimonde or Rob Wright picked BYU to facilitate their faith or identity? And while I'll give you that Travis doesn't necessarily mean that ONLY BYU offers this, it certainly carries that tone. Especially when you finish out the quote:

I told Egor - you can sign the biggest NIL deal in the country and still feel empty. Or you can come to BYU, focus your life on Jesus Christ, and find joy that lasts FAR beyond your playing days.

Framing it as BYU or an empty experience is just not a great look. Not being able to see this is wild to me.

[falafel]

All of which I'm fine with. I'm struggling to figure out why this is so difficult for people to see:



I mean, this is a bit tone deaf isn't it? Dropped right after a pretty big transactional experience. Do we have evidence that AJ or Daimonde or Rob Wright picked BYU to facilitate his faith? And while I'll give you that Travis doesn't necessarily mean that ONLY BYU offers this, it certainly carries that tone. Especially when you finish out the quote:

Framing it as BYU or an empty experience is just not a great look. Not being able to see this is wild to me.

I think we see it, but don't necessarily agree? My point was that there are many athletes who WANT that transformational experience that's not just about playing basketball for the school in exchange for millions of dollars. And I don't think that its "not a good look" based on BYU's values. We are going to compete, but we are trying to showcase our unique advantage (for those who value faith-based education and a wholesome experience).

Full disclosure, I am not nearly as faith-based as I used to be. I understand the view point of those who say "I don't want religion mixed with my basketball." That's great, that's your choice. And there are a ton of schools that will fit that mold. Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, etc. BYU is definitely unique and is marketing itself that way. I, for one, think it is a great strategy that is already paying off. Plus, if we can become one of the true blue bloods in the West (Arizona, UCLA, BYU??) then all the better.

I don't care if Rob Wright III picked BYU over others for the faith-based education and lack of distractions, or if he chose based on money and pathway to the NBA. You don't have to want the "transformational" experience to come to BYU, but that is a focus of the program.

[Donuthole]

All of which I'm fine with. I'm struggling to figure out why this is so difficult for people to see:



I mean, this is a bit tone deaf isn't it? Dropped right after a pretty big transactional experience. Do we have evidence that AJ or Daimonde or Rob Wright picked BYU to facilitate their faith or identity? And while I'll give you that Travis doesn't necessarily mean that ONLY BYU offers this, it certainly carries that tone. Especially when you finish out the quote:



Framing it as BYU or an empty experience is just not a great look. Not being able to see this is wild to me.

SB, I think your present biases might be causing you to read things into Hansen's statement that aren't being said. I see how you can interpret it that way--and i'm not saying that's not a reasonable way to interpret his statement within a certain framework. But I also think that framework is making it so you can't see it another way, which I believe is actually the way he's intending.

I don't think he's saying "it's either BYU or empty nothingness" for everyone, what he's saying is that for certain players, BYU offers the bag in addition to something greater for those players who really want that. That something isn't for everyone. But for the right people it's extra great. AND you can get paid, too. We're not looking just for the guys who want to get paid. They can get paid anywhere. We're looking for the guys who want to get paid and who also want what BYU has to offer along with it. I don't think it's obtuse or moral superiority to say that BYU offers something that other schools don't. I think it's factual. That doesn't mean you can't have a transformational experience elsewhere. But you're not going to have the same transformation experience that BYU offers at Utah State. Or Utah (despite what Kwhittingham says). Or Notre Dame. Or SMU. You're just not. You can have a great, transformational experience in other ways. And those ways might be equally great for certain players. But they won't be the same. BYU is leaning into its uniqueness, and I don't think that's a bad thing.