Former Illinois guard Stephen Bardo questioned NIL’s impact on college basketball during his podcast, sparking debate on politics, player influence and coaching.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals have transformed college athletics, but not everyone believes the changes are for the better.
Former Illinois guard Stephen Bardo shared his perspective on a recent podcast episode of “Bardo’s Breakdown.” Typically focused on analysis, Bardo deviated from the norm following Illinois’ blowout loss to Duke on national television, sparking a conversation about the current state of college basketball.
Bardo alluded to the influence of politics in the sport, particularly referencing the Indiana Hoosiers and their head coach, Mike Woodson.
“If you’re in Lithuania, Serbia, Louisville, or Evansville, you’re not thinking about the Illini. Ask Mike Woodson what I’m talking about. Oumar Ballo didn’t know anything about Indiana, but he brought him off the bench,” Bardo said. “Now that Mike Woodson is being ‘forced out,’ he’s going to coach to win; he’s getting rid of the politics.”
Following Bardo’s remarks, a few players and parents reached out for further discussion. These sources, who asked to remain anonymous to protect their sons still playing collegiate basketball, echoed Bardo’s concerns.
“College basketball will never be the same. Coaches will never admit this, but a lot of them feel forced to play players based on the NIL status, win or lose. I know that’s what Bardo was talking about,” one parent said. “The players who don’t have all the media hype coming out of high school or the transfer portal, who may be better, will continue to transfer or get lost in the crazy world of NIL.”
Another parent provided further insight, sharing a personal experience with the complexities of NIL deals.
“My son’s deal was $100,000. Half of it was guaranteed if he abided by all the rules set in his NIL letter of assignment. The other $50,000 was based on his performance,” the parent said. “Well, guess what? They brought in another player since my son’s agreement, and now he’s not playing enough to earn the rest of his NIL deal which is performance based. I’m sick of coaches lying to these athletes. They think we can’t see what’s happening but we do, they lie.”
The shift in approach appears to have yielded results for Woodson and the Hoosiers, who recently secured wins against Michigan State, 71-67, and Purdue, 73-58.
According to the first anonymous source, financial backers often exert influence over playing time, creating challenges for coaches.
“If you don’t think the people with the big dollars, who may donate $1 million to a certain player, don’t demand a return on their investment, you’re mistaken,” the source said. “They don’t care if he or she isn’t performing. They paid, so let them play, all the while the head coaches and assistants know who should be on the court and who shouldn’t be. I bet if you did a private survey and asked all of the college basketball coaches if they feel as though they lost games because they ‘had’ to play someone based on their NIL package, you and your readers would be shocked at the data.”
While NIL deals have introduced new challenges, they have also provided opportunities. Schools like Illinois can now compete for high-profile talent, particularly in football. Quarterback Luke Altmyer, a transfer who earned an immediate starting role, exemplifies how NIL and the transfer portal can help level the playing field.
“NIL could be great with the right intentions, but after talking with a few people it directly affects, the system needs to be tweaked,” the source added.
As the NIL landscape continues to evolve, college athletics may require further adjustments to address emerging challenges.
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