Players Era Classic

BigAssTurkeyLeg

Redshirt
Sep 23, 2021
95
49
18
Tournament that is paying millions in NIL to the participating teams. Iowa should try and get an invite to this if possible next year. The teams are making millions this year and Iowa State is one of them.
 

HawkBall23

All-American
Oct 6, 2001
4,575
8,660
113

Why not just make it a mini-Big Dance or a preseason version of the postseason NIT?

Week 1 = Quadrant quarterfinals on Thursday & Friday and quadrant semis on Saturday & Sunday.

Week 2 = Two quadrant finals on Friday/Saturday & other two finals on Saturday/Sunday.

Week 3 = 'Final 4' games on Thursday/Friday and champ. game on Saturday/Sunday.
 

Hawksfor3

All-American
Dec 5, 2016
5,214
6,095
113

Shocked Muppets GIF
 

Titanhawk

Senior
Jul 14, 2011
540
555
93
Why not just make it a mini-Big Dance or a preseason version of the postseason NIT?

Week 1 = Quadrant quarterfinals on Thursday & Friday and quadrant semis on Saturday & Sunday.

Week 2 = Two quadrant finals on Friday/Saturday & other two finals on Saturday/Sunday.

Week 3 = 'Final 4' games on Thursday/Friday and champ. game on Saturday/Sunday.
That used to exist
 

Hawk_4shur

All-Conference
Jan 2, 2009
760
1,833
93
Geez, what's next?

I think the U should build a coffee shop/bar/car wash. The whole place would be staffed by men's and women's athletic teams. Stop in for a cup of coffee or a drink while you get your car washed, Meet the athletes, get autographs and selfies.

All profits to NIL
 

Donny 2.0

Senior
Jul 15, 2025
546
592
92
Watching ISU for the first 6-7 minutes just now: the NCAA's 'freedom of movement' guidelines are an absolute joke.

It's unbelievable how much steering, grabbing and holding is allowed. The clowns are a 'great defensive team' because they're getting away with murder, courtesy the refs.
 

fivecardstud14

All-Conference
Dec 1, 2008
1,484
2,059
113
Watching ISU for the first 6-7 minutes just now: the NCAA's 'freedom of movement' guidelines are an absolute joke.

It's unbelievable how much steering, grabbing and holding is allowed. The clowns are a 'great defensive team' because they're getting away with murder, courtesy the refs.
One thing about casual college bball fans like the guy I’m quoting is they want a whistle on 100% of possessions. Every trip down the floor should result in a whistle. Unfortunately for you, that will happen as soon as you can name three LIV golfers (the league you claim to love so much).
 

OnlyTheObscure

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
2,589
3,775
113
Geez, what's next?

I think the U should build a coffee shop/bar/car wash. The whole place would be staffed by men's and women's athletic teams. Stop in for a cup of coffee or a drink while you get your car washed, Meet the athletes, get autographs and selfies.

All profits to NIL
The top players in revenue sports don’t work for NIL.
 
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IowaCityLit

All-Conference
Aug 30, 2025
903
1,665
93
College football and bball need a salary cap in the WORST way. A well-monitored, strictly enforced salary cap.

Or else none of the results are real and none of the accomplishments legitimate. We're watching WWE. It's a ridiculous spectacle.
 

HAWKNESS

Junior
Jul 6, 2025
192
342
63
Iowa State looks really impressive early again. It's tough to play that defense early In year. As season goes when teams are in mid-season form it becomes less effective and they also just wear down.
 

OnlyTheObscure

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
2,589
3,775
113
College football and bball need a salary cap in the WORST way. A well-monitored, strictly enforced salary cap.

Or else none of the results are real and none of the accomplishments legitimate. We're watching WWE. It's a ridiculous spectacle.
So you are going to tell a college kid how much they can earn from a part time job?

that’s what NIL is from a legal standpoint.

you lose in court all day everyday. Nobody is even going to attempt to try and regulate off the court pay. Because you lose in court.
 

Kceasthawk@77

All-Conference
Feb 2, 2005
2,176
3,949
113
So you are going to tell a college kid how much they can earn from a part time job?

that’s what NIL is from a legal standpoint.

you lose in court all day everyday. Nobody is even going to attempt to try and regulate off the court pay. Because you lose in court.
So you are going to tell a college kid how much they can earn from a part time job?

that’s what NIL is from a legal standpoint.

you lose in court all day everyday. Nobody is even going to attempt to try and regulate off the court pay. Because you lose in court.
Unfortunately the horse got out of the barn before the bridle and saddle were put on. Most of this has nothing to do with NIL....
 
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The Big Z

All-Conference
Jan 5, 2023
1,624
2,988
113
Watching ISU for the first 6-7 minutes just now: the NCAA's 'freedom of movement' guidelines are an absolute joke.

It's unbelievable how much steering, grabbing and holding is allowed. The clowns are a 'great defensive team' because they're getting away with murder, courtesy the refs.
You’ve watched to many years of Fran ball. It’s called defense.
 

Hawksfor3

All-American
Dec 5, 2016
5,214
6,095
113
Watching ISU for the first 6-7 minutes just now: the NCAA's 'freedom of movement' guidelines are an absolute joke.

It's unbelievable how much steering, grabbing and holding is allowed. The clowns are a 'great defensive team' because they're getting away with murder, courtesy the refs.
I watched some of the St. John's game and I thoroughly enjoyed Momcilovic' pushing off with his off hand numerous times. Guess he was "creating space" when he pushed off so hard his defender went flying to the floor. No flop either. He was whistled for the obvious foul that time.
 

2D

All-American
Oct 8, 2013
2,524
5,185
113
In an interview, McCollum said he tried to get into the tournament, but they told him no.

Also, Michigan looks for real. They are obliterating teams.
 

Roncuba65

All-Conference
Aug 15, 2022
988
1,684
93
In an interview, McCollum said he tried to get into the tournament, but they told him no.

Also, Michigan looks for real. They are obliterating teams.
Maybe next year?

I know Maui is kind of losing its allure now but its been since 2004 since we were in that tourney.
 

HawkBall23

All-American
Oct 6, 2001
4,575
8,660
113
Dude, if my knowledge of the games played + math is correct, Michigan went 3-0 to win the Players Era 'championship', and their combined point differential in those 3 games was NINETY points. Or 30ppg per win average.

vs San Diego St +20
vs Auburn +30
vs Gonzaga +40

 

uihawk82

All-Conference
Nov 17, 2021
2,270
3,377
113
Geez, what's next?

I think the U should build a coffee shop/bar/car wash. The whole place would be staffed by men's and women's athletic teams. Stop in for a cup of coffee or a drink while you get your car washed, Meet the athletes, get autographs and selfies.

All profits to NIL
Way easier and a lot less work to find some sugar daddies and mommies
 
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Pharcyded

All-American
Sep 7, 2021
2,352
5,365
113
It's more assault and battery than it is defense.

And I understand what a joke Fran was when it comes to defense.
We all need to stop bashing Fran. He took Iowa BB out of the dark era of Lickliter ball. He coached an elite offense over the years with multiple all-americans and he did that all without much of a budget or facilities. It's petty at this point to constantly slam Iowa's winningest coach of all time who was let go. I thank Fran for making Iowa relevant in BB and I'm also thankful for our new coach.
 

TomKakert

Heisman
Staff member
Sep 16, 2001
11,494
82,689
113
After one of the games in Palm Springs I asked Ben where they would be going for their tournament next year. He asked me for a suggestion. I said the players. He said, they tried and got rejected.

Also Maui was interested in Iowa for 2027. But, the way things are now for Maui, you lose money if you go, so that's not happening. If things change and they work something out where they can pay the players at Maui then perhaps it could change.
 

HAWKNESS

Junior
Jul 6, 2025
192
342
63
After one of the games in Palm Springs I asked Ben where they would be going for their tournament next year. He asked me for a suggestion. I said the players. He said, they tried and got rejected.

Also Maui was interested in Iowa for 2027. But, the way things are now for Maui, you lose money if you go, so that's not happening. If things change and they work something out where they can pay the players at Maui then perhaps it could change.
I think in the future more tournaments will mirror the players era classic with maybe even the backing of big ten the way the players era and big 12 have aligned. Seems to be the tournament everyone wants to get into.
 

MAKhawks

All-Conference
Nov 3, 2001
1,417
2,169
113
I think in the future more tournaments will mirror the players era classic with maybe even the backing of big ten the way the players era and big 12 have aligned. Seems to be the tournament everyone wants to get into.

It only makes sense now that you can pay the players. I can’t believe more bowls haven’t gone this route. I guess there’s not enough money to go around between paying the players and the universities.

I also can’t believe how far The Maui Invite has slipped. We’ll be telling our kids/grandkids how Maui used to be the tournament, like we told our kids about the Great Alaskan Shootout.

The Battle for Atlantis was a good one too. I wouldn’t be disappointed if the Hawks went there, but I didn’t even see that field this year.
 

HawksRule25

All-American
Sep 8, 2023
5,025
6,818
113
It only makes sense now that you can pay the players. I can’t believe more bowls haven’t gone this route. I guess there’s not enough money to go around between paying the players and the universities.

I also can’t believe how far The Maui Invite has slipped. We’ll be telling our kids/grandkids how Maui used to be the tournament, like we told our kids about the Great Alaskan Shootout.

The Battle for Atlantis was a good one too. I wouldn’t be disappointed if the Hawks went there, but I didn’t even see that field this year.

Vanderbilt, St. Mary's, Virginia Tech, Western Kentucky, South Florida, Colorado State, Wichita State, and VCU in this year's Battle for Atlantis.
 
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