Ok ladies and gents... we all understand by now that every college athletic department has had to have a hard operational re-set over the past 2-4 years due to the new rules of the world with TP and NIL policies. And weirdly this has nothing to do with D1, D2 or D3 categories but everything to do with NIL budgets.

That being said, it seems as if there are basically three buckets of programs in this new world order..

1. Programs with $0-$1mm NIL budgets
2. $1mm - $5mm
3. $10mm +++

Obviously, the Long Beach's, Fullerton's, San Bernardino's.. and most other schools that struggle fall into the #3 slot.

Schools like SDSU, fall into the 2nd category and of course P5 conference schools fall into the 1st.

So HOW do the LB's of the world compete in this new world order? While it's not simple, it can happen.. my thoughts

1. Accept the fact that in D1 basketball, unless you're an established coach with a proven history of winning that your roster will have literally 70% or more turnover per year.

2. Don't forget that you are paid to win, NOT to develop players, NOT to develop good community members, NOT to develop great students, etc.. development takes time and that's one commodity you simply don't the luxury of having.

3. It doesn't matter where a player currently is located because he is free to leave within a few months so you much constantly be recruiting for your next starting 5.

4. Since you literally can't offer an NIL package of more than $50k to your BEST player and $0 to your worst, playing time, playing style and exposure are literally your ONLY cards to play with recruits.

Taking those new operational rules into question.. how to formulate a team? My .02 if I was the LB HC

1. Focus exclusively on 4th year kids and grad transfers. At least this way I understand these guys want to play and to play now.

2. FORGET about HS kids that want NIL $$..

3. Here's the biggie... My roster would only be 7-8 deep with literally guaranteed PT. The other players would be walk-ons. Yes this is a huge risk but if ya want PT, you've got PT.

4. Since we don't have NIL $$, you've got to bring something else.. a network of recruiters, a "life AFTER" support program of alumni that will work with these kids.

Thoughts?