2025 National Title Houston Cougars vs Florida Gators 7:50 CBS

[WaymanFan]

That’s not how it works.

Well, someone agrees with me. I just saw on ESPN's website that they are already putting Houston at #1 in the preseason poll next year due to their recruiting class...and of course, their head coach. I have no idea whether they will be good enough to win it all next season, but I'd hardly be surprised.

Men's WTE Top 25: Where does 2025 champion Florida fall in the rankings?

Only 210 days until the 2025-26 season -- but Houston is already the favorite at the top.

www.espn.com

 

[mict085]

I don't follow recruiting as closely as others, but heard that Houston has three top-25 players inked for next season. If that's the case, there's no reason to think they won't be back in this game next year.

Yeah, that’s not so easy. There are a lot of variables. New players. Injuries. Different path and different matchups in the tourney. It’s just not as easy as saying they’re adding 3 good (inexperienced) players so they should be back in The title game. It’s not an easy thing to do and there’s 20 other teams saying the same thing.

Besides, Porter is taking OU to the ship next season.

 

[WaymanFan]

Yeah, that’s not so easy. There are a lot of variables. New players. Injuries. Different path and different matchups in the tourney. It’s just not as easy as saying they’re adding 3 good (inexperienced) players so they should be back in The title game. It’s not an easy thing to do and there’s 20 other teams saying the same thing.

Besides, Porter is taking OU to the ship next season.

That makes sense. I just don't think Kelvin has ever pulled in three top-20 guys in the same class...would like to see what he does with them. On paper, his best OU recruiting class was in 2003 headlined by Drew Lavendar and Brandon Foust...and that class completely fell apart...but he's never had anything like what he has coming in next season. I'm not betting against him.

 

[colston15]

We got pack.

Yes, he’s awesome and I’m glad we got him. Huge pickup.

We have to be able to buy proven guys, but we should still be hunting for the diamonds in the rough.

 

[hoopsaustin]

Yeah, that’s not so easy. There are a lot of variables. New players. Injuries. Different path and different matchups in the tourney. It’s just not as easy as saying they’re adding 3 good (inexperienced) players so they should be back in The title game. It’s not an easy thing to do and there’s 20 other teams saying the same thing.

Besides, Porter is taking OU to the ship next season.

Like a pirate or titanic themed water park?

 

[CoachTalk]

Yes, he’s awesome and I’m glad we got him. Huge pickup.

We have to be able to buy proven guys, but we should still be hunting for the diamonds in the rough.

I’d say we are about to go diamond hunting soon. So keep this same energy. Can’t buy 4 more stars

 

[MercedeSooner]

Well, someone agrees with me. I just saw on ESPN's website that they are already putting Houston at #1 in the preseason poll next year due to their recruiting class...and of course, their head coach. I have no idea whether they will be good enough to win it all next season, but I'd hardly be surprised.

Men's WTE Top 25: Where does 2025 champion Florida fall in the rankings?

Only 210 days until the 2025-26 season -- but Houston is already the favorite at the top.

www.espn.com

You imagine getting this close to a championship will just embolden Fertitta more before Sampson retires. They'll find what they need in the portal.

 

[BoulderSooner]

I don't follow recruiting as closely as others, but heard that Houston has three top-25 players inked for next season. If that's the case, there's no reason to think they won't be back in this game next year.

they are very very well funded they will be around the top 10 for a long time

 

[AnotherSoonerInTX]

they are very very well funded they will be around the top 10 for a long time

Tilman Fertitta has been wise.

Sure, they've put money into football, especially moving into the Big 12. But they've invested very well into basketball, with a rebuilt arena/facilities, top staff, and paying top dollar for players. A lot of this money has come from Fertitta himself. He wants a championship for himself, his school and his city.

Easier for Fertitta to buy a championship with the Cougars than with the Rockets.

 

[Maverick008]

they are very very well funded they will be around the top 10 for a long time

It will be interesting to see how Kellen or whoever takes over that program meshes all the personalities together. Kelvin has been doing it a long time and his name brings in higher profile guys at this point so that will also be interesting to see if big name recruits/transfers are willing to take a chance on Kellen as well. Some have made it work, and others have failed following legends.

 

[bcsooner]

I've believed for a while now, Florida is the blueprint for us. That was not a blue blood, 10 million dollar roster. They don't have a single top 100 recruit on the roster and their portal guys, including Clayton, mostly flew under the radar. What they did was load up on length and developed them such as Haugh, Condon etc., while adding unsung, glue-guy type backcourt players via the portal. Yes, Clayton blew up, but no one saw that coming when he was averaging 14 pts in the MAAC.

 

[BoulderSooner]

I've believed for a while now, Florida is the blueprint for us. That was not a blue blood, 10 million dollar roster. They don't have a single top 100 recruit on the roster and their portal guys, including Clayton, mostly flew under the radar. What they did was load up on length and developed them such as Haugh, Condon etc., while adding unsung, glue-guy type backcourt players via the portal. Yes, Clayton blew up, but no one saw that coming when he was averaging 14 pts in the MAAC.

the florida basketball NIL was 8 mil ish last season OU was 3 ish ..

 

[BoulderSooner]

the florida basketball NIL was 8 mil ish last season OU was 3 ish ..

Florida is upping that to 11-13 for next season ...

 

[WichitaSooner]

Florida is upping that to 11-13 for next season ...

House settlement will change this, for them and all programs. NIL will look much different.

 

[MJSooner]

I've believed for a while now, Florida is the blueprint for us. That was not a blue blood, 10 million dollar roster. They don't have a single top 100 recruit on the roster and their portal guys, including Clayton, mostly flew under the radar. What they did was load up on length and developed them such as Haugh, Condon etc., while adding unsung, glue-guy type backcourt players via the portal. Yes, Clayton blew up, but no one saw that coming when he was averaging 14 pts in the MAAC.

Agree it might be a blueprint, but hard to compare the budget to build it.

Florida spent about $8Mish in NIL last year over 2.5X more than us and where the SEC top teams were. They have also renovated their arena twice in the last 25 or so years, including about $100M (in today's dollars) in 2016 to reshape the lower bowl and move seats closer to the court with new amenities. They have STRONG booster, community, and fan support. WIth 62K students, they have incredible student and alumni support. And, oh, BTW, last night was their fourth FF in 18 years and 3rd natty during that span. We have 4 total. I get to hear all this continually as I have someone close to me that is a Gator fan.

It might be a blueprint, but outside being a football school that wears the Jordan logo, not a lot of similarities between the state of UF basketball and OU.

But it's a good reminder of what the blueprint is to get to that level. And unfortunately, from NIL, to BMDs, to admin, to fans, we're a long way off right now.

 

[SoonerDutch]

Agree it might be a blueprint, but hard to compare the budget to build it.

Florida spent about $8Mish in NIL last year over 2.5X more than us and where the SEC top teams were. They have also renovated their arena twice in the last 25 or so years, including about $100M (in today's dollars) in 2016 to reshape the lower bowl and move seats closer to the court with new amenities. They have STRONG booster, community, and fan support. WIth 62K students, they have incredible student and alumni support. And, oh, BTW, last night was their fourth FF in 18 years and 3rd natty during that span. We have 4 total. I get to hear all this continually as I have someone close to me that is a Gator fan.

It might be a blueprint, but outside being a football school that wears the Jordan logo, not a lot of similarities between the state of UF basketball and OU.

But it's a good reminder of what the blueprint is to get to that level. And unfortunately, from NIL, to BMDs, to admin, to fans, we're a long way off right now.

Yeah, to me Alabama is a better comp for what OU could be doing in this era. Similar sized student base & priorities. Football focus but new arena/channeling the FB enthusiasm to their secondary sports & the academic community.

Football at UF is king for sure but they’ve had far more success in the past 20 years than OU. Far larger student body/alumni base.

Find the right coach with a more aggressive administration.

 

[BoulderSooner]

House settlement will change this, for them and all programs. NIL will look much different.

no it won't outside NIL will be the wild west still the very first NIL deal to be rejected will result in a lawsuit and an injunction

 

[BoulderSooner]

Agree it might be a blueprint, but hard to compare the budget to build it.

Florida spent about $8Mish in NIL last year over 2.5X more than us and where the SEC top teams were. They have also renovated their arena twice in the last 25 or so years, including about $100M (in today's dollars) in 2016 to reshape the lower bowl and move seats closer to the court with new amenities. They have STRONG booster, community, and fan support. WIth 62K students, they have incredible student and alumni support. And, oh, BTW, last night was their fourth FF in 18 years and 3rd natty during that span. We have 4 total. I get to hear all this continually as I have someone close to me that is a Gator fan.

It might be a blueprint, but outside being a football school that wears the Jordan logo, not a lot of similarities between the state of UF basketball and OU.

But it's a good reminder of what the blueprint is to get to that level. And unfortunately, from NIL, to BMDs, to admin, to fans, we're a long way off right now.

agree on all points .. but we do have 5 Final 4's

Florida also had 5 before this year ..

 

[TSSR]

no it won't outside NIL will be the wild west still the very first NIL deal to be rejected will result in a lawsuit and an injunction

Is WitchitaSooner Joe C? Sounded like something Joe C said on a podcast yesterday.

 

[SoonerDutch]

no it won't outside NIL will be the wild west still the very first NIL deal to be rejected will result in a lawsuit and an injunction

I agree on also thinking it’s very very likely that the clearing house will fail. The optics are awful and the larger schools in the rev sports have a vested interest in ignoring it, but I guess no certainty.

Fans I can understand banking on it (although I don’t see it working out) but administrators who are banking on it are criminally negligent haha.