Like some extent guard making an attempt to pressure a turnover to finish an unbelievable rally, Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff remained on the assault Wednesday in his bid to maintain UCLA from abandoning his convention for the Massive Ten.
Kliavkoff mentioned at Pac-12 basketball media day that among the many greater than 100 UCLA coaches and athletes he had corresponded with concerning the departure, there was unanimous opposition.
“I've but to speak to anybody within the UCLA and USC group who’s in favor of the transfer,” Kliavkoff mentioned at convention headquarters, referencing the Trojans’ exit alongside their crosstown rivals scheduled for August 2024. “I'll say that I most likely hear from people who should not in favor, not surprisingly.”
Reiterating what he wrote final month in a letter to the UC Board of Regents asking the governing physique to dam UCLA’s transfer, Kliavkoff mentioned the college would lose cash due to its departure.
“We imagine between the journey and the coaches’ salaries and a few of the different bills you incur once you be part of the Massive Ten,” Kliavkoff mentioned, “the small delta within the media rights deal [between the Pac-12 and the Big Ten] can be greater than offset. We stand by these numbers.”
One particular person acquainted with UCLA’s athletic division funds disputed Kliavkoff’s numbers, estimating the journey price will increase incurred by further chartered flights and resort nights related to arriving early at faraway websites could be greater than offset financially by the income improve.
UCLA is projected to make between $65 million and $75 million in media rights income alone throughout its first 12 months within the Massive Ten. Further cash will come from School Soccer Playoff and NCAA match distributions, which have not too long ago been bigger for Massive Ten colleges than their Pac-12 counterparts based mostly on having extra groups concerned in these profitable video games.
Some expense mitigation would additionally come from neutral-site competitions for Olympic sports activities groups. The Massive Ten has assured UCLA that new scheduling fashions could be explored to assist decrease journey distances and prices. This might embrace using impartial web site competitors in a centrally positioned metropolis reminiscent of Chicago or Minneapolis for Olympic sport groups over a number of days.
Requested how he would count on to maneuver ahead in a cooperative method with UCLA if his letter contributed to the Bruins’ needs being thwarted, Kliavkoff mentioned, “We’re not thwarting anybody’s needs. It’s not our selection. It’s as much as the regents, and we’re simply offering data as requested.”
Readability about whether or not the regents will attempt to block the transfer is anticipated at their assembly subsequent month in San Francisco.
Kliavkoff wrote in his letter to the regents that there was “urgency” within the scenario as a result of the Pac-12 is finalizing a brand new media rights contract. Some projections have estimated that the deal may fetch between $35 million to $40 million yearly per college, although that quantity will surely rise with UCLA and the coveted Los Angeles market a part of any deal.
Kliavkoff mentioned the convention’s new deal would “shut the hole between us and the Massive Ten and the SEC [Southeastern Conference],” which he referred to as a primary step in strengthening the Pac-12 model.
“Finally, we’ll catch these guys,” Kliavkoff mentioned. “It should take a few steps, however we’re going to take a step in direction of closing that hole. Then we’re going to be enlargement. We’re going to be colleges that make sense for us.”
There was additionally a basketball season to debate, which appeared like a welcome distraction amid the lingering uncertainty over UCLA.
Successful October, by no means the purpose for UCLA, continued to be an annual ritual below coach Mick Cronin. For the third time in as a few years, the Bruins have been picked to win the Pac-12 within the preseason media ballot.
In every of the final two seasons, they fell wanting these projections. Will this be the season that UCLA breaks by for its first regular-season convention title since 2012-13?
There’s rather a lot to love about these Bruins, beginning with level guard Tyger Campbell and small ahead Jaime Jaquez Jr. Each seniors are preseason first-team All-Pac-12 picks and will finish the season as All-Individuals. Cronin mentioned Campbell, who piled up 32 factors final week throughout a scrimmage victory over San Diego State, could be counted on for extra scoring this season.
He’ll be complemented by a gifted freshman class led by guards Amari Bailey and Dylan Andrews in addition to heart Adem Bona and swingman Abramo Canka. Like Campbell, Bailey and Andrews can play both guard place, including versatility and making lineups interchangeable.
Rounding out the rotation can be junior guard Jaylen Clark and fifth-year seniors David Singleton and Kenneth Nwuba along with two redshirt freshmen who're coming back from critical knee accidents in massive man Mac Etienne and guard Will McClendon. Cronin mentioned Etienne had been enjoying one-on-one and was nearer to being totally cleared than McClendon.
UCLA acquired 26 of 33 first-place votes. Defending convention champion Arizona (three first-place votes) was picked to complete second, adopted by Oregon (three), USC, Stanford (one), Colorado, Arizona State, Washington State, Washington, Utah, California and Oregon State. Media have appropriately picked the Pac-12 champion 17 instances in 33 tries. The Los Angeles Instances doesn't take part in media voting per its longstanding coverage.
UCLA has completed second, fourth and second within the Pac-12 in its three seasons below Cronin. The Bruins reached the convention match championship sport final season earlier than dropping to Arizona as a part of a sustained drought for the Los Angeles colleges.
“Since I’ve been within the league, USC hasn’t gained the convention title or the match,” Oregon coach Dana Altman mentioned. “UCLA possibly gained one match, one league title. Arizona’s been up there. We’ve gained 4 convention titles. So our basketball league goes to outlive” the departures of the Bruins and Trojans.
Successful a Pac-12 title or two earlier than its departure for the Massive Ten could be UCLA’s most well-liked means of bidding the convention farewell.
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