Higher Post: Blue Bloods, Power Fuchsia Time and Red Hot Violets!
...March Eve is coming and with it the homestretch of the regular season
Congregation, please stand up….
…because, boy, it’s cold out and we need to get the blood moving!
Recently, I focused The Higher Post on exposing the myth that NIL is killing the Cinderella in March. (Higher Post: The Modern Cinderella Story, published January 17, 2026)
In that post, I argued that it was the NET ranking that is having that effect, which is by design from the NCAA to put the thumb on the scale for the power conference schools.
However, the area where NIL and the Transfer Portal is having its effect is on the Blue Blood programs. This was something no one was talking about but had run through my mind the past couple of seasons as I have seen a change in program success with blue bloods, as well as, seeing top players like an AJ Dybantsa go to non-traditional power schools like BYU, or Olivia Miles foregoing the WNBA draft where she was projected as the #2 pick to head to TCU. Those along with the rise of both Vanderbilt’s hoops programs, have shown the landscape is changing.
The more I looked, the more it seemed obvious, yet no one was talking about it.
That is until Jon Rothstein did a video about it. And, of course it had to be Jon Rothstein, who called it out. Rothstein is the consummate student of the game and does the research, unlike many other analysts, and is not afraid to point out what is hiding in plain sight.
I won’t rehash all of what Rothstein said, other than to say he is absolutely right that NIL is having an effect on the traditional blue blood programs.
So, who are the Blue Bloods in today’s game?
History has listed Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA (and sometimes Indiana) as the traditional blue bloods programs. In pre-NIL seasons, they would be able to retain top coaches, could recruit on prestige, but they also have high operational budgets that power their recruiting organizations. Coaches like Kansas’s Bill Self, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, North Carolina’s Roy Williams, could sit in a living room and promise opportunity, but not playing time (and technically, no money.) They had tradition, history, and alums in the NBA to sell.
However, with NIL, programs lower on the prestige totem pole can now go all in and ‘invest’ in a top player, like an AJ Dybantsa, while promising playing time and a stage to be the shining star. This is directly having an effect on recruiting.
Rothstein argues (an opinion I share) that Duke, North Carolina and Kentucky have been able to pivot into this new world, with Duke being the strongest as Coach K reshaped his program for the future before handing it to Jon Scheyer. I would argue that pivoting to recruiting one-and-done’s helped Duke make this longer term transition by adopting the future trends where beneficial.
We can also add UConn to the blue blood list as they not only won 6 titles since the late 90’s, but have managed to sustain that success into modern times.
But when you look at Kansas, UCLA and Indiana, they are all behind those top programs in terms of NIL. The highest tier of NIL budgets (over $10M) are the following: Arkansas, BYU, Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, North Carolina, St. John’s and Texas Tech. (UNC, Duke and Kentucky’s NIL budgets have even been listed as high as $22M but I cannot verify this claim at this point.)
With Kansas, Indiana, and UCLA hovering at $8M or lower, you can see the disparity. If a program like BYU can get the NIL budget to go for a Dybansta, getting that one player might not get them a championship, but is an investment for relevancy that brings a strong return on investment in terms of media deals, media coverages, merch sales, ticket sales and donations - all of which will help more recruiting, as well.
Unlike a Kansas or UCLA, the pressure is not on championships, so they don’t need to pay for a team of top players. One will do, so they go all in to lure a Dybansta to Provo. That is a game changer for BYU. And, once that kid is off market, he is off market for all other teams.
Rothstein also pulls the exact example I use when making this argument, which is about UCLA. For so long, they were considered the gold standard because of John Wooden, but the Wooden era expired 50 years ago. Since then, the Bruins program has gone to 4 other Final Fours, with only one title. That is diminished returns for a historic program that still has blue blood expectations from an aging fanbase.
The way to compete is with money. And as long as the NCAA continues removing all restrictions on NIL and recruiting, programs that refuse to adapt will follow the Bruins into irrelevance - once the gold standard, now a cautionary tale of what happens when blue blood expectations meet modern reality without modern investment.
In closing, I do think Kansas will be fine. They are adjusting and major injuries have slowed this season down, but the trend started before this season. On the other hand, UCLA and Indiana have been pushed aside for more forward thinking programs like Texas Tech, Michigan, St. John’s and Vanderbilt, who have seen the future and properly invested in their programs where they need to be invested.
The Infoulable!
Tracking the remaining teams who have yet to commit the ultimate sin...of losing.
MBB: And then there were two.
#1 Arizona Wildcats (20-0 overall, 7-0 Big XII):
✅ Monday: Arizona 86 - # 13 BYU 83
Next: Saturday 1/31 vs. Arizona State (2p, TNT)
#24 Miami of Ohio! (21-0 overall, 9-0 MAC!):
✅ Tuesday: Miami 86 - Massachusetts 84
Next: Saturday 1/31 vs. Northern Illinois (3:30p, ESPN+)
WBB: UConn is The Highlander!
#1 UConn Huskies (22-0 overall, 12-0 Big East):
✅ Wednesday: UConn 97 - Xavier 39
Next: Sunday vs. #15 Tennessee (Noon, Fox)
NYU Women’s Undefeated Streak: 79!
The NYU Women’s team are on an extraordinary undefeated streak, so we want to follow them here. They are not the only undefeated in Women’s D3. There are 5 total: #1 NYU (17-0), #2 Scranton (18-0), #3 UW-Oshkosh (19-0), #4 John Hopkins (16-0) and #5 Washington & Lee (18-0). But, the NYU ‘Sisterhood’ is the only program that can boast being a 2-time defending champion.
A few of us got to meet Violet Head Coach Meg Barber in a neighborhood bar just after the winning the first title. We then brought a laptop to the same bar the following March to watch that title game. Spoiler…they won.
We are not going to just track their winning here, but also any upcoming records they are close to topping. Here we go!! Go Violets!
#1 New York University Violets (17-0 overall, 6-0 UAA):
✅ Friday: NYU 93 - Case Western Reserve University 64
Next: Sunday vs. Carnegie Mellon University (Noon, FloSport Streaming)
Path To Infoulability: Lets follow The Violet’s Stairway to the Rafters
Women’s D3 Record: 81 - WashU (St. Louis) (Feb 20, 1998 - Jan 12, 2001)
Men’s Record (all division): 88 - UCLA (Jan 30, 1971 - Jan 17, 1974)
Overall Record: 111 games - UConn WBB (Nov 23, 2014 - March 31, 2017)
“When life kicks you, let it kick you forward.” - Kay Yow
It’s Time to Play4Kay: Warm up that Power Fuchsia!
Ok, in many parts of the country, it’s frigidly cold this weekend. I’m talking clutch free throw shooting from a John Calipari-coached team, kind of cold.
However, this weekend we officially open Power Fuchsia Season with the flagship Play4Kay Game this Monday at NC State against in-state rival UNC.
North Carolina at North Carolina State - 6p (EST) ESPN2
Kay Yow was a legendary coach for NC State who publicly battled breast cancer for 22 years before passing away in 2009.
In 2006, Yow started the first Play4Kay game to raise both awareness for the fight against women’s cancers, with proceeds and donations going to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
This game has not only been played every year since then, but has also started a movement with over 1,300 schools at all levels from D1 to high school now holding their own Play4Kay games. Teams put away their usual uniforms in exchange for pink ones, while also encouraging all attendees to do the same.
This is not only a fantastic cause with an obvious visual element, but also gives coaches an opportunity to show off some fantastic courtside fits.
Yup, we see you Kim Mulkey. This is your stage.
And, these fits have inspired us at the Church of Bracketology to adopt 'Power Fuchsia' as an official CoB color - right alongside our traditional Bracketology Blue. Consider it your February uniform. I’ll be breaking out my special kicks for these games.
So this Sunday, it’s time to break out that Power Fuchsia and warm things up for a good cause!
We Got Next: Games to watch this weekend! (all times EST)
Many great match ups this weekend!!!
MBB: Conference leaders face off!
Saturday - 1p: San Diego State / Utah State (CBS) These 2 top the Mountain West standings.
Saturday - 2p: #2 UConn / Creighton (FOX) The Bluejays are sneaky and the Huskies are due for an upset.
Saturday - 2p: SMU / #20 Louisville (ESPN)
Saturday - 3:30p: Northern Illinois / #24 Miami (OH) (ESPN+) Infoulability?
Saturday - 4:30p: #13 BYU / #14 Kansas (ESPN)
Saturday - 6:30p: Kentucky / #15 Arkansas (ESPN) WWJCD (what would John Calipari do?
Saturday - 7p: Harvard / Yale (ESPN+) Not just a fierce rivalry, but also 1 & 2 in the Ivy standings.
Sunday - 1p: #23 Alabama / #19 Florida (ABC)
Sunday - 4p: #9 Illinois / #5 Nebraska (FS1) How will the Huskers respond after their first loss? Well, they get the #9 team next! Yikes!
WBB: Its brutal in the B1G and BigXII. Plus, UConn’s final big test before March.
Sunday - 12p: #15 Tennessee / #1 UConn (FOX) A classic on all fronts.
Sunday - 12p: #24 Alabama / #6 LSU (SECN)
Sunday - 12p: #9 Michigan / #13 Michigan State (FS1) This will be amazing. Both teams are really fun. Now, just add the in-state rivalry part. Wow.
Sunday - 1p: #14 Baylor / #22 West Virginia (ESPN)
Sunday - 2p: #12 TCU / #21 Texas Tech (FS1)
Sunday - 4p: #8 Iowa / #2 UCLA (FOX) Heiden vs. Betts. Chit Chatin’ be happenin’ on that court.
Sunday - 3p: #10 Oklahoma / #4 Texas (ABC)
Monday - 6p: North Carolina / NC State (ESPN)
Five Touches: Passing around the sports world
A Diss from a Rose: Derrick Rose on idea of Bulls statue: ‘No knock, D-Wade. I saw that statue. I’m good’ (ok, it wasn’t really a personal diss, but I couldn’t resist s Seal reference.)
"What's going on is not OK. We hope and pray there's a change in direction from where this is heading.": Wings guard, women’s hoops superstar, and Minnesota native, Paige Bueckers gets emotional as she speaks out on what is happening in her home state with ICE, the killings and the protests. This brought out the trolls as usual (not posting here), but also inspired others to speak up to support her bravery. Go Paige! Keep going!
Michigan’s Dusty May feels the ‘love’ from State before the game: Teams and coaches are always looking for an edge before a big game. Some teams even sleep in hotels before home games so all games feel like a road game. Michigan’s Head Coach Dusty May explains why he entered the Breslin Center early to hear the razzing from the Spartan student section. It’s funny, and it was an accident. Love the sportsmanship.
How do you rehearse for a live game?: How NBC’s Cris Collinsworth, Mike Tirico prepare for Super Bowl 60 broadcast - The Athletic goes inside NBC's Super Bowl prep process. Very interesting.
Lastly, this is not a story, but I need to say it. What is happening in Minnesota is gross. This is not about law enforcement. It's about power. Power of a so-called 'leader' over its people. It's about racism. It's about sexism. It's about cruelty. It's a distraction for the issues they don't want to talk about. It’s anything but law enforcement. Don't fall for it. This is just the first stage and if we let it pass it will continue. Don't wait for Election Day to make change. The walls are cracking because the people are pushing on them. We stand by you Minnesota. Get out and fight.
Here is a page with resources to help Minnesotans. #ICEOUT
Final Seconds!
There is a lot happening right now outside the sports world. It sometimes feels like the games don’t matter, but they can bring us together. They connect us. They give us an escape. But, most of the games are archived on streamers now, so while I always write to encourage people to watch, it’s ok not to watch. Go out and get with the masses! The games will be there when you need that escape!
Coming soon to Church of Bracketology:
Deep looks at the new ‘Redickous’ eligibility changes
Travelogue of “CoB Pilgrimage 2026”
New online CoB Swag Store - powered by RAYGUN - with NIL shirts and fun to support this publication and some of the players we love.
Until then, stay safe, play hard, go defense!
Remember to do these three things: - Like, Share and Subscribe.
Always live One Shining Moment at a time. Never be boring.