Latest news with #T.J.Otzelberger
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Players Era 2025: Schedule announced for NIL-driven Players Era Men's Championship
Las Vegas will once again be the place to be during Feast Week this college basketball season. Coined "November Mania," the Players Era Men's Championship announced its schedule for the newly expanded 18-team men's basketball NIL multi-team event in November in Las Vegas on July 14, and to no surprise, it's quite loaded. Then called the Players Era Festival, the NIL-driven event by storm last season and has quickly become a must-play event with NCAA Tournament caliber teams, so much so that teams paid their way out of already scheduled multi-team events to participate in it last season. Headlining the first two days of competition in Las Vegas is Gonzaga vs. Alabama on Wednesday, Nov. 25. Preceding the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide on Nov. 25 is St. John's vs. Iowa State, two teams that are notoriously known for their defense under Rick Pitino and T.J. Otzelberger. REQURIED READING: College basketball too-early Top 25 rankings after transfer portal, NBA draft Day 2 of the 2025 Players Era Men's Championship field is headlined by an Elite Eight rematch of Houston vs. Tennessee and then Iowa State vs. Creighton, two teams that were already scheduled to meet in October for an exhibition. The 2025 Players Era Men's Championship field includes 14 teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season, and nine teams — Auburn, Houston, St. John's, Alabama, Iowa State, Maryland, Oregon and Michigan — that were seeded at least a five seed or higher in the field of 68. Eleven teams that appear in the USA TODAY Sports too-early top 25 poll will also compete in Las Vegas. The four-day multi-team event will take place in Las Vegas at MGM Grand Garden Arena and Michelob Ultra Arena from Monday, Nov. 24 through Thursday, Nov. 27 with the championship game taking place on Wednesday, Nov. 26. There will also be a four-team Players Era Women's Championship featuring South Carolina, UCLA, Texas and Duke that will take place Wednesday, Nov. 26 and Thursday, Nov. 27 in Las Vegas. Here's what to know from the July 14 announcement of the 2025 Players Era Men's Championship: Players Era Championship bracket 2025 The returning teams to the Players Era Festival include Alabama, Houston, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Oregon, San Diego State and Creighton. The only team that isn't returning to the Players Era Championship from last year's field, which Oregon won, is Texas A&M. The Aggies were replaced in the field by Maryland, which hired away Buzz Williams from Texas A&M this offseason. Here's a full breakdown of who is competing in the 2025 Players Era Men's Championship: Players Era Festival 2025 schedule Here's a look at schedule for the 2025 Players Era Men's Championship, which will take place MGM Grand Garden Arena and Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas: Monday, Nov. 24 Tuesday, Nov. 25 Wednesday, Nov. 26 Note: For those that didn't make the championship or third place game on Wednesday, November 26, they will play in consolation games across Wednesday, November 26 and Thursday, November 27 in Las Vegas What is the Players Era Championshop? The Players Era Championship is a one-of-a-kind multi-team event that takes place during "Feast Week" of the college basketball season in November, during Thanksgiving week. Debuted during the 2024-25 season with an eight-team field, The Players Era Championship is a NIL-driven multi-team event with some of the best college basketball teams in the country. Each team will receive $1 million for participating in the event, while players and teams will have the opportunity to earn more NIL while in Las Vegas. The champion of the Players Era Championship will win an additional $1 million in NIL earnings as well. Noted by CBS Sports' Matt Norlander, the total pot for the 2025 Players Era Championship will be north of $20 million in NIL-related earnings — quite the expensive multi-team event and regular season showcase event.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
19th edition of Iowa State Cyclone Tailgate Tour visits Sioux City
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — The Cyclone Tailgate Tour celebrated its 19th annual trip around the Hawkeye State, making a stop in Okoboji on Thursday night and the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City on Friday afternoon. It gave coaches and well-known Cyclones a chance to connect with Siouxland fans. Sioux City was the ninth stop for the tour, which started on May 19 in Ankeny. Making the trip from Okoboji last night, the Cyclones' caravan featured a handful of coaches, such as Matt Campbell of ISU Football and men's basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger alongside Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard. Providing an opportunity to connect to the fan base not only provides excitement for Cyclone fans in Siouxland, but also the coaches making the trip to the '712'. Story continues below Top Story: Sioux City pools to open just in time for summer vacation Lights & Sirens: Sioux City Police Dept. takes wanted suspect into custody Sports: Local Iowa high school state track and field results Weather: Get the latest weather forecast here 'It's really amazing to see. Just the crowds just continue to double. I've been doing this eight years now. I've been on the tailgate tour for eight years, and I can literally say that it probably has doubled just about everywhere we went in that period of time,' explained Iowa State Wrestling Head Coach Kevin Dresser. 'We're really fortunate for the support that we have here and see so many great fans have already come into the building. The energy and excitement is really high,' Otzelberger mentioned. 'It's been great. We had a phenomenal crowd in Okoboji last night. The western and northwestern part of the state has been really good as the Cyclones,' added Iowa State Men's Basketball Head Coach Bill Fennelly. 'The events have grown and changed so much in my time, and to see, you know, where we started almost 20 years ago to where we are now with the events and the interest and the crowds and the kids coming out, and you know, just the excitement,' said Iowa State Volleyball Head Coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. 'It's been really fun to see that evolution, and every year seems to get a little bit bigger, a little bit better.' The tour wraps up Friday night in Council Bluffs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Most underpaid men's college basketball coaches
T.J. Otzelberger of Iowa State, Kelvin Sampson of Houston, and Brad Brownell of Clemson. Let's do some math. For the cost of one Bill Self — at $8.8 million the highest-paid coach in college basketball for the second year in a row — you could pay the combined salaries of Iowa State's T.J. Otzelberger ($3.5 million) and Houston's Kelvin Sampson ($4.6 million) and have enough left over for Vermont's John Becker ($387,198) and Montana State's Kevin Logie ($304,882). Not to say Self hasn't earned his paycheck despite Kansas's two-year swoon out of the Big 12 catbird seat; after all, the Jayhawks are just three years removed from another national championship. Advertisement But it just goes to show: There are some extremely good deals to be found on the highest levels of college coaching. USA TODAY Sports compiled pay information from each school in the Power Four conferences and from each school outside those conferences whose team has appeared in at least three of the past five NCAA tournaments. In terms of getting bang for your buck, it's hard to top the regular-season and postseason success Otzelberger and Sampson have brought to the table for two of the top programs in the Big 12. DATABASE: See how much your school's coach is earning T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger earned $3.5 million in total pay, which ranks eighth in the Big 12 among public schools, though his $29 million buyout leads the conference. The former UNLV coach has been a smashing success in Ames, reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament twice in his first three years with another team this season capable of advancing deep into March. That has made Otzelberger, 47, the first coach in program history to make multiple trips to the tournament's second weekend and just the second to reach the tournament in each of his first three seasons. Otzelberger is a huge bargain at $3.5 million in total pay, which ranks eighth in the Big 12 among public schools, though his $29 million buyout leads the conference. Kelvin Sampson, Houston The Cougars have made the Sweet 16 in each of the past five NCAA tournaments, with two Elite Eight bids and one trip to the Final Four. The longtime college coach has turned Houston into the class of the Big 12 and one of college basketball's biggest heavyweights. After a slow but steady building process — Houston didn't make the tournament until 2017-18, his fourth season — the Cougars have made the Sweet 16 in each of the past five tournaments, with two Elite Eight bids and one trip to the Final Four. This year's team finished four games up in a top-heavy Big 12 and is nearly guaranteed a spot on the No. 1 line come Selection Sunday. Brad Brownell, Clemson The Tigers have turned a corner with coach Brad Brownell, making his $3.51 million in compensation this season a very nice bargain given the middling returns on investment seen at fellow ACC programs. Quietly and with essentially zero national fanfare, Brownell has turned Clemson into one of the top programs in the ACC. After winning 24 games and reaching the Elite Eight last season, the Tigers are sitting at 26-5 overall and in a tie for second in the league standings entering the ACC tournament. It's been quite a process to reach this point: Clemson made the tournament in Brownell's debut, way back in 2010-11, and wouldn't return to the field until 2018. But the Tigers have turned a corner, making his $3.51 million in compensation this season a very nice bargain given the middling returns on investment seen at fellow ACC programs such as North Carolina, North Carolina State — which parted ways with Kevin Keatts — and Pittsburgh. Pat Kelsey, Louisville Louisville coach Pat Kelsey has the Cardinals sitting at 25-6 overall, more than doubling the program's two-season wins total under former coach Kenny Payne. But no ACC school this season is getting better returns than Louisville. After hiring Kelsey away from College of Charleston with a contract worth $2.37 million in total compensation this season, the Cardinals are sitting at 25-6 overall, more than doubling the program's two-season wins total under former coach Kenny Payne. The Cardinals are tied with Clemson in the conference standings and head into the ACC tournament on a nine-game winning streak - one they could ride to a deep run into March Madness. Kelsey's compensation ranks ninth in the ACC and 58th among public-school coaches in our survey. Nate Oats, Alabama Coach Nate Oats has the Crimson Tide among the favorites to make the national semifinals again this season. Oats continues to be one of the best values on the major-conference level after leading Alabama to 24 wins and a top-three finish in the SEC against what may be the nation's most difficult schedule. Since the 2020-21 season, Oats has led the Crimson Tide to a pair of SEC regular-season and conference championships, three Sweet 16 appearances and one trip to the Final Four, with this year's team again one of the favorites to reach the national semifinals. Those are some major returns for a coach who ranks fourth in the SEC and 10th nationally at $5.01 million in total pay this season. Follow colleges reporter Paul Myerberg on social media @PaulMyerberg This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Most underpaid men's college basketball coaches
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cyclone players reflect on loss to Ole Miss in NCAA tournament
MILWAUKEE, Wisc. — The Iowa State Cyclone men's basketball team suffered a disappointing loss Sunday night in the NCAA basketball tournament, ending a season of promise in which the team reached its highest AP ranking ever at No. 2. The Cyclones fell short against Ole Miss in the Round of 32, by a score of 91-78. 'They're a team that plays with a lot of toughness,' said Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger. 'They're connected defensively, their switching can be disruptive. At times it wears on you mentally, you're not able to get the ball in the paint and not get the normal plays that you want to make.' WHO 13 Sports' Mark Freund has a wrap-up of the game and players' reactions to the heartbreaking end of the season. Ole Miss moves on to the Sweet 16 for just the second time in program history. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cyclones aim for Sweet 16, prepare for Ole Miss
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin — As the Cyclones get ready to take on Ole Miss at 7 p.m. tonight the team prepares for the challenge and aims for the Sweet 16. WHO 13 Sport's Mark Freund is in Milwaukee where the Cyclones are putting in the work and reflecting on the impact of head coach T.J. Otzelberger as they aim for the Sweet 16. WHO 13 Sport's Mark Fruend breaks down possible challenges the Cyclones will face while playing Ole Miss and spoke with players about the game ahead. Iowa State is 15-8 against the Big 12, and Ole Miss is 11-9 against the SEC. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. CT and can be watched on truTV. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
