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It might have played out like many expected, with Michigan emerging as the national champion, but the 2026 NCAA Tournament was a thrilling one overall. Plenty of close games provided stunning moments, but there was a worrying trend that continued this year.
True upsets were few and far between, and only one double-digit seed made the Sweet 16 - the Texas Longhorns, whose program brings in plenty of money. Iowa went on a run as a No. 9 seed, but the days of mid-majors making epic runs in the tournament are dwindling. Of course, the advent of NIL and the transfer portal has played a major role in this.
The Michigan Wolverines dominating everyone on their way to the title with four starters who were brought in through the transfer portal last offseason has only made matters worse. With the offseason already kickstarted, student-athletes are asking for ridiculous money from other schools.
Bench players are asking for insane amounts of money in the transfer portal
The most absurd case of this so far is Florida center Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 behemoth who played 17 minutes in total this season, asking for $3 million. The problem isn't necessarily athletes and their agents asking for an exorbitant amount of money; it's that there are programs willing to pay the price.
Despite his peers not helping matters, an anonymous coach from a high-major basketball program recently lit into the NCAA for letting anything go.
The lack of regulation by the NCAA is a big issue, as is the lack of conviction from other schools from paying up for the asking price of players who don't actually deserve that type of money.