Wichita State (8-1) at DePaul (7-2) Game Discussion: Dec 14 (Sat)

[1972Shocker]

Fair. Well we at least have a lot freeing up

We will have smaller deficits to overcome but we won't have any positive cash flow to hire a coach. In FYE 06/30/23 the WSU-ICAA had a net operating deficit without taking into account any severance pay of $1.7 million. The deficit for FYE 06/30/24 is unknown but I saw nothing during that FY from ticket sales, SASO memberships, or media rights that would have changed the equation much. I guess gifts and donations could have been up but if there was any good news to report the FYE 06/30/24 financials would have been released 2 months ago. These financials have been released for at least the last 14 years. https://goshockers.com/sports/2015/5...al_Information

The fact the financials have not and perhaps will not be released for FYE24 together with the announcement that we are facing a $7 million PER YEAR shortfall to play the game at our current level is pretty much sending the message that absent some very deep pockets stepping up WSU athletics are pretty much toast at this level. And I don't think that $7 million number include a $3.5 million buyout (or whatever it would be) of HCPM at the end of season 3 next year.

It sucks to be such a Debbie Downer but the facts are not good. Maybe there is something great in the works behind the scenes. If not, it does not look good at all. A year from now, or less, we may have a much better idea of where the athletic program is heading although transparency has been something WSU seems to be intent on avoiding.

[ShockHat]

We will have smaller deficits to overcome but we won't have any positive cash flow to hire a coach. In FYE 06/30/23 the WSU-ICAA had a net operating deficit without taking into account any severance pay of $1.7 million. The deficit for FYE 06/30/24 is unknown but I saw nothing during that FY from ticket sales, SASO memberships, or media rights that would have changed the equation much. I guess gifts and donations could have been up but if there was any good news to report the FYE 06/30/24 financials would have been released 2 months ago. These financials have been released for at least the last 14 years. https://goshockers.com/sports/2015/5...al_Information

The fact the financials have not and perhaps will not be released for FYE24 together with the announcement that we are facing a $7 million PER YEAR shortfall to play the game at our current level is pretty much sending the message that absent some very deep pockets stepping up WSU athletics are pretty much toast at this level. And I don't think that $7 million number include a $3.5 million buyout (or whatever it would be) of HCPM at the end of season 3 next year.

It sucks to be such a Debbie Downer but the facts are not good. Maybe there is something great in the works behind the scenes. If not, it does not look good at all. A year from now, or less, we may have a much better idea of where the athletic program is heading although transparency has been something WSU seems to intent on avoiding.

Ironic isn’t it? AdKS was preaching transparency when he came in. Maybe he bit off more than he could chew.

Also - just a reminder, there’s a SINGLE PLAYER who commanded $7M in NIL by himself out there. The fact that Wichita st, surrounded by some of the richest money in the states, is struggling with money is absolutely pathetic.

[ShockHat]

So hard to project, but some names I would sniff around on if available/interested:

Steve Forbes - Wake Forest (if he happens to get fired and the stars align)
Russ Turner - UC Irvine (unsure he would want to leave but worth a shot)
Chris Gerlufsen - San Francisco
Brian Hodgson - Arkansas State
Preston Spradlin - James Madison
Ross Hodge - North Texas (defensive guru and only makes $700,000, may be swayed by a payday)

I won’t lie - I’d pass on Forbes at this point. I don’t know enough about the others to comment though

[shock]

Ironic isn’t it? AdKS was preaching transparency when he came in. Maybe he bit off more than he could chew.

Also - just a reminder, there’s a SINGLE PLAYER who commanded $7M in NIL by himself out there. The fact that Wichita st, surrounded by some of the richest money in the states, is struggling with money is absolutely pathetic.

We are a commuter school in drag. There is nothing here to attract money since going woke.

[BAShocker]

Hearing prior to the game that the team wasn’t able to listen to “Bob Hull’s Keys To The Game”.

I knew it, I knew it, I knew it. If only.

[Onegreatracer]

We are a commuter school in drag. There is nothing here to attract money since going woke.

The university as a whole is having some of the biggest success it’s ever had, and plenty of that is from attracting a LOT of money.

[WuDrWu]

DePaul should NOT beat this team, but they are more than capable of beating this team.

I hate to be unrealistic....and I'm not trying to be close minded, but I've seen a lot of our competition play this season. Am I wildly off base saying that ANYTHING less than 24-6 is a disappointment for this group? And I'm not sure 24-6 isn't a disappointment. Not counting Friends....that's 10-2 (taking 2 of 3 between DePaul, KC, KSU) and then 14-4 in conference. Even if Memphis gets us twice...where are the other 2 losses? None at home (or shouldn't be). At USF? Ok. At North Texas and at Temple, to me, are the only mildly acceptable losses. So that's losing everything that's really even doubtful.

IDK.

Yeah, clearly IDK.


Our defense is atrocious and has been most of the season. We’re a below average rebounding team and while we’re an above average offensive team, we’re so poorly prepared, partly because of below average coaching and partly because of all new players not playing together.


To expect those deficiencies to equate to anything other than mediocrity is moronic, just like the OP.

[ShockerFever]

Their 7-1 is fake. Their highest ranked win is against Kenpom #215 Valpo.

How fake was it? Apparently, we’re faker.

[Ta Town Shocker]

The university as a whole is having some of the biggest success it’s ever had, and plenty of that is from attracting a LOT of money.

Attracting money to NIAR and funding athletics aren't comparable.

[Singeril]

Attracting money to NIAR and funding athletics aren't comparable.

an absolutely true statement. There are many areas of the university that are struggling. A few areas are doing outstandingly, but that has as much to do with the business climate in the city than it does about the university. There are multiple big-time donors who have turned from the university in the last few years due to the Climate on campus.

[shockerfan]

So hard to project, but some names I would sniff around on if available/interested:

Steve Forbes - Wake Forest (if he happens to get fired and the stars align)
Russ Turner - UC Irvine (unsure he would want to leave but worth a shot)
Chris Gerlufsen - San Francisco
Brian Hodgson - Arkansas State
Preston Spradlin - James Madison
Ross Hodge - North Texas (defensive guru and only makes $700,000, may be swayed by a payday)

I don't know. I wasn't super excited when Spradlin's name popped up before Mills was hired. He has James Madison at 6-4 right now. I haven't seen them play, but they did beat ETSU by 10 and play Wake Forest on the 17th. Maybe I will check it out.

[shock]

Yeah, clearly IDK.


Our defense is atrocious and has been most of the season. We’re a below average rebounding team and while we’re an above average offensive team, we’re so poorly prepared, partly because of below average coaching and partly because of all new players not playing together.


To expect those deficiencies to equate to anything other than mediocrity is moronic, just like the OP.

Mediocrity is all we can afford. It is better than irrelevant, which is where we were headed just a couple years ago. We also don’t have a team of thugs to embarrass us while they are irrelevant.

[shock]

The university as a whole is having some of the biggest success it’s ever had, and plenty of that is from attracting a LOT of money.

Headline: “Local business invest in proper workforce training amid skilled labor drought.”

Seems to be a lot more logical to put your money there than in image and branding.

[shox7]

Way too early, but I still think Kelvin Sampson’s son will make someone someday a good coach. I know we couldn’t buy anybody better than Chris Jans but us season ticket holders better be buying lottery tickets with the same $3.5MM that we are giving to SASO if we are going to pay his buyout at State.

[ShockHat]

Way too early, but I still think Kelvin Sampson’s son will make someone someday a good coach. I know we couldn’t buy anybody better than Chris Jans but us season ticket holders better be buying lottery tickets with the same $3.5MM that we are giving to SASO if we are going to pay his buyout at State.

I won’t lie. I would have rather gambled on him than Mills. I was never excited about him. Didn’t really fit the nitty gritty identity whatsoever, whereas the Sampsons live and breathe that. I also wanted (and still would want) Griffin, given how outstanding he did before he was ousted by politicking