Semi OT: Cam Spencer commits to UConn

[RedTeam1994]

So the guy went to the team most likely to go to the Final Four ... for presumably more money ... and everyone is upset? Sorry, that's what you signed up for when your golden boy led the fight to invalidate all of the NCAA's rules.

So much misinformation in one small post.

Once again - it’s not that he left it’s the deceitful WAY he did it. But you’re a troll so I don’t expect you to acknowledge the difference

You really think Geo made NIL happen?!? That’s cute 😊 . It was a US Supreme Court decision you moron.

 

[Joey Bags]

man **** this guy

 

[Russ Wood]

You had a point until you didn’t….

Didn’t he not allow Rutgers to counter-offer? If so, your last sentence is bullshit

It's not like he is a restricted free agent. He came to RU, averaged 13 a game, graduated, was ready to move on and did so.

I get why fans are upset, due to an emotional attachment to RU, but he didn't do anything wrong.

 

[RUMike]

It's not like he is a restricted free agent. He came to RU, averaged 13 a game, graduated, was ready to move on and did so.

I get why fans are upset, due to an emotional attachment to RU, but he didn't do anything wrong.

And he didn't do anything right to RU either.

 

[RedTeam1994]

It's not like he is a restricted free agent. He came to RU, averaged 13 a game, graduated, was ready to move on and did so.

I get why fans are upset, due to an emotional attachment to RU, but he didn't do anything wrong.

Russ - I understand you’re a bit of an insider so I tend to give your post a little more weight. But not here

1) apparently he had previously indicated he was returning and then, right after the transfer window closed for undergrad announced his intentions! While I get cams reasoning (to maximize his value) you honestly think that RU fans shouldn’t see that as a douche move?!

2) and the he didn’t even allow RU to offer.

As I stated above, RU fans didn’t have issues with other transfers (Myles, mathis) even though they were important contributors

But this is like “EO2.0” - the way he did it - sorry he deserves the RU hate

If the reaction was solely due to the “emotional attachment to RU” then Myles would NOT have received the standing ovation at the RAC last year. Sorry but your perspective on this is off/ incomplete.

 

[kcg88]

It's not like he is a restricted free agent. He came to RU, averaged 13 a game, graduated, was ready to move on and did so.

I get why fans are upset, due to an emotional attachment to RU, but he didn't do anything wrong.

Technically no but waiting until mid May to enter his name in the portal rubs people the wrong way.

 

[bac2therac]

Make that money young Cam

This is what is about now...$$$. Embrace it....or not

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I know you hate NIL, but there are still major differences between college sports and a pro sports organization. Most notably, there’s no budgeted salary cap like in pro sports where your point would have more validity to it (i.e. argument could be made then that the franchises themselves are prioritizing their limited resources).

In college right now, there’s no limit as the teams themselves are not the funders. Also, offers technically aren’t even allowed by other sources until you are actually in the portal, so it’s unreasonable to expect RU to overpay everyone to minimize the risk of another team reaching out with a potential offer vs. negotiating when it happens

The bottom line is NIL doesn’t completely shatter the concept of loyalty to a team (see Mag situation as an example). Money is now an additional variable in the equation but it is not the only one. Fact remains that every other departure from RU hoops in recent history except for Eugene had the courtesy to provide proper notice or at least attempted to work with RU to settle on a fair contract to stay.

The player was acquired from another organization.

If I were the leading scorer and a very important part of an organization and another player was brought in and paid and my organization didnt up my pay I would certainly be unhappy and look for better offers.

Do we know if Rutgers (when i say Rutgers I really don't know who/what I mean) went to him and offered him unsolicited a fair amount of money? If we didn't I'd be hurt as an employee and look elsewhere. I wouldn't ask/beg Rutgers to match. I'd say F U for taking me for granted.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Technically no but waiting until mid May to enter his name in the portal rubs people the wrong way.

Maybe he was waiting for Rutgers to pay him correctly.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

If we bring in Noah Fernandes and pay him and not immediately go back to Cam Spencer with more money than we paid Noah I think that is enough to have a guy feel hurt and look to not come back.

It is one thing to spend money on players, but when you do so it raises the amount you need to pay others.

 

[Scarlet1984]

RU fans when Cam joined RU:

RU fans when Cam left RU and signed with UConn:

Ummm…the kiss was the kiss of death in the movie.

 

[jordkap]

And he goes to Uconn? Dude, kick me in the nuts after stomping on my face will ya

 

[koleszar]

Well I for one will be rooting for him twice this year. Of course, against Seton Hall.

 

[kcg88]

If we bring in Noah Fernandes and pay him and not immediately go back to Cam Spencer with more money than we paid Noah I think that is enough to have a guy feel hurt and look to not come back.

It is one thing to spend money on players, but when you do so it raises the amount you need to pay others.

I agree with this. Giving guys like Spencer a "good will" raise is probably smart business. Pay someone $30k more to potentially stop them going to the open market and getting $150k.

 

[RUsojo]

Hurley payback

 

[BIGRUBIGDBIGredmachine]

Well I for one will be rooting for him twice this year. Of course, against Seton Hall.

Nah, still hope he sucks even vs shoe.

 

[MiloTalon13]

Even if he starts, Cam went from being the first option, or maybe 1A to at best the 5th option.
Karaban, Donovan, Castle, Newton - could all be NBA players - maybe Cam thrives with them or maybe they play better with a more athletic guy like Solomon Ball as their 5th?

Uconn fan forum thread for any masochists around here - https://the-boneyard.com/threads/cam-spencer-commits-to-uconn.192028/

 

[Plum Street]

Has there ever been as much hate for a rutgers graduate here ? Cam is a rutgers man and will have that degree forever

 

[ouchmyknee]

We all act like Rutgers and UConn are on equal footing when that couldn’t be further from the truth. UConn is essentially a blue blood. They spend a fortune on their basketball program. In fact, I think I saw if they join the Big 12 they’d be the largest spender on basketball. Heck, I think they’re the second biggest spender in all of MBB.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Even if he starts, Cam went from being the first option, or maybe 1A to at best the 5th option.
Karaban, Donovan, Castle, Newton - could all be NBA players - maybe Cam thrives with them or maybe they play better with a more athletic guy like Solomon Ball as their 5th?

Uconn fan forum thread for any masochists around here - https://the-boneyard.com/threads/cam-spencer-commits-to-uconn.192028/

I hope you are wrong here. I was hoping/wishing that Gavin is going to be what Cam is/was and more. I thought it was possible Cam's role could have been reduced and possibly find himself on the bench in crunch time. His on ball defense is pretty bad. He is a good guy to pick on when you need a basket.

 

[MiloTalon13]

We all act like Rutgers and UConn are on equal footing when that couldn’t be further from the truth. UConn is essentially a blue blood. They spend a fortune on their basketball program. In fact, I think I saw if they join the Big 12 they’d be the largest spender on basketball. Heck, I think they’re the second biggest spender in all of MBB.

Yup - with that last title, if you don't count them as a blue blood, you're just not being fair.

Plus - they've given up on having a successful football program so they can focus on basketball. 😆 😆 😆

 

[Russ Wood]

And he didn't do anything right to RU either.

So, all of those games he played in and his contributions to the victories are nothing?

 

[bethlehemfan]

So, all of those games he played in and his contributions to the victories are nothing?

Little bit of sour grapes haha. Can’t blame people for being upset with the timing and destination. If you’re a rutgers fan you understand. Cams a good ball player though and he helped us a lot this past year and he will help uconn too

 

[Russ Wood]

Russ - I understand you’re a bit of an insider so I tend to give your post a little more weight. But not here

1) apparently he had previously indicated he was returning and then, right after the transfer window closed for undergrad announced his intentions! While I get cams reasoning (to maximize his value) you honestly think that RU fans shouldn’t see that as a douche move?!

2) and the he didn’t even allow RU to offer.

As I stated above, RU fans didn’t have issues with other transfers (Myles, mathis) even though they were important contributors

But this is like “EO2.0” - the way he did it - sorry he deserves the RU hate

If the reaction was solely due to the “emotional attachment to RU” then Myles would NOT have received the standing ovation at the RAC last year. Sorry but your perspective on this is off/ incomplete.

As a grad transfer he can enter the portal at anytime. Was the timing bad? Sure I'll agree to that.

I don't know the kid, maybe he didn't tend to return and something happened and he changed his mind. Maybe he was tampered with and maybe he wasn't. Maybe his brother helped him understand his NIL value. Idk.

Ever since the transfer portal was implemented players no longer have to tell their coaches that they're transferring. All they have to do is give a written request to a compliance department employee that they want to enter the portal.

 

[Russ Wood]

Technically no but waiting until mid May to enter his name in the portal rubs people the wrong way.

No doubt that the timing was bad for RU.

 

[Russ Wood]

Little bit of sour grapes haha. Can’t blame people for being upset with the timing and destination. If you’re a rutgers fan you understand. Cams a good ball player though and he helped us a lot this past year and he will help uconn too

I feel ya. The timing was definitely not good for RU & you can put me in the column of people who don't want Connecticut MBB to have nice things.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

If we bring in Noah Fernandes and pay him and not immediately go back to Cam Spencer with more money than we paid Noah I think that is enough to have a guy feel hurt and look to not come back.

It is one thing to spend money on players, but when you do so it raises the amount you need to pay others.

This is where we disagree. I don’t think it’s on the “organization” which isn’t even the party facilitating the NIL in the first place in this case, to pre-anticipate relative needs. If what your proposing is truly how it went down (I.e. he was all in until he learned others were receiving better relative offers) and felt he wasn’t getting his fair share he could’ve gone to Pike and negotiated. If we couldn’t come up with what he wanted that would be one thing but that’s not what happened. He chose instead to wait over a month and then quietly screw us.

But we don’t even know that this was really how things shook out anyway. It sure seems possible that he played us to a T and never had any intention of staying in Piscataway. He entered the portal as soon as he was able to.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

This is where we disagree. I don’t think it’s on the “organization” which isn’t even the party facilitating the NIL in the first place in this case, to pre-anticipate relative needs. If what your proposing is truly how it went down (I.e. he was all in until he learned others were receiving better relative offers) and felt he wasn’t getting his fair share he could’ve gone to Pike and negotiated. If we couldn’t come up with what he wanted that would be one thing but that’s not what happened. He chose instead to wait over a month and then quietly screw us.

But we don’t even know that this was really how things shook out anyway. It sure seems possible that he played us to a T and never had any intention of staying in Piscataway. He entered the portal as soon as he was able to.

I have no idea what and how it went down. I am speculating like the other 99-100% fans.

We just disagree here. A valued employee should NEVER been in a position to have to go to a boss and ask for more.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

As a grad transfer he can enter the portal at anytime. Was the timing bad? Sure I'll agree to that.

I don't know the kid, maybe he didn't tend to return and something happened and he changed his mind. Maybe he was tampered with and maybe he wasn't. Maybe his brother helped him understand his NIL value. Idk.

Ever since the transfer portal was implemented players no longer have to tell their coaches that they're transferring. All they have to do is give a written request to a compliance department employee that they want to enter the portal.

Do you think there will be a day where all players will look out for one another and collectively all players enter the portal even if they have no intention of moving? This way there isn't a negative mark on a player who enters the portal to see what they are worth.

 

[Knight Shift]

Ummm…the kiss was the kiss of death in the movie.

Yeah, I'm well aware of that. Just go with the visual and not the behind the scenes meaning of the kiss. Sheesh. 😂

 

[AntiG]

just disappointing that he left us.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

Yup - with that last title, if you don't count them as a blue blood, you're just not being fair.

Plus - they've given up on having a successful football program so they can focus on basketball. 😆 😆 😆

The flip side is that they are 10 to 15 years from not having a major college athletics department.

 

[BIGRUBIGDBIGredmachine]

Idk, to me a Georgetown grad degree with more NIL$/low NCAA probability might be tempting vs RU grad degree and less NIL$/bubble NCAA, but this Uconned transfer is all about the Natty chase? Not sure this is a great long-term move. But whatever.

 

[bigmatt718]

We all act like Rutgers and UConn are on equal footing when that couldn’t be further from the truth. UConn is essentially a blue blood. They spend a fortune on their basketball program. In fact, I think I saw if they join the Big 12 they’d be the largest spender on basketball. Heck, I think they’re the second biggest spender in all of MBB.

UConn is the Penn State of college basketball. I only hope at some point they have a Sandusky-esque scandal to nuke that program into oblivion.

 

[DC8690]

Has there ever been as much hate for a rutgers graduate here ? Cam is a rutgers man and will have that degree forever

Seriously? One year makes in a "Rutgers Man"? Nope.
Have no problem with Myles, Mathis, Reiber, Palmquist, Miller or even JY. But this was as slimy as it gets, he will never be considered a "Rutgers Man", and there is NO WAY he ever steps back into the RAC again.

 

[Kbee3]

I'm a lifelong Rutgers fan who always rooted for the Hurleys...except when they played the Scarlet Knights. I'm done with that now.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

I have no idea what and how it went down. I am speculating like the other 99-100% fans.

We just disagree here. A valued employee should NEVER been in a position to have to go to a boss and ask for more.

I’m just curious how you would handle this hypothetical situation.

You run the accounting department at a major investment company. It’s the heart of busy season and you are in desperate need of hiring a senior accountant (let’s say you lost 2 staff unexpectedly). You know you need to fill the position immediately and find someone who is a great fit. That person insists on a salary that’s higher than what any of your other accountants make. Naturally you agree because your desperate to fill the position.

My question to you as the head of the department - do you now in turn go ahead and bump every single decent senior accountant salary to match this new hire’s pay to prevent them from getting annoyed if they find out? Or do you wait for each of them to come to you and negotiate individually if they are unhappy.

In my professional world - this type of scenerio is a day to day reality and the perspective I come from on this. These situations present in a variety of different ways but the common denominator is the same. As an employee if an agreement is already in place and you agreed to it, it’s not the company’s responsibility to make everyone whole relative to what the next person negotiates. That’s simply not always going to be practical. If an existing employee realizes maybe they could’ve negotiated better it’s usually up to them to come forward or wait for the next review period (following year). At least that’s been my experience throughout my career.

So my question is - do you disagree? As a department head - would your strategy be to bump every good performer to the same salary level as what a new hire negotiates?

 

[CL82]

Cam made his decision but I think he just might not enjoy the way he might be treated by Danny. Supposedly Danny has worked to improve his behavior but I have seen him often and he has a very bad temper and one of the foulest mouths that I have ever heard. No one deserves to be treated the way I have seen him talk to his players. I often find it hard to believe that administration can allow his actions. Steve loves and cares for his players so much but Cam jumped for the money. I doubt he will get as many minutes he got at RU. We shall see.

Lol and yet UConn players love the guy. Oh well, I'm sure you know better than they do.

 

[RedTeam1994]

UConn is the Penn State of college basketball. I only hope at some point they have a Sandusky-esque scandal to nuke that program into oblivion.

Well let’s just hope no boys are raped in the process. Just sayin’

 

[ScarletR30]

Russ - I understand you’re a bit of an insider so I tend to give your post a little more weight. But not here

1) apparently he had previously indicated he was returning and then, right after the transfer window closed for undergrad announced his intentions! While I get cams reasoning (to maximize his value) you honestly think that RU fans shouldn’t see that as a douche move?!

2) and the he didn’t even allow RU to offer.

As I stated above, RU fans didn’t have issues with other transfers (Myles, mathis) even though they were important contributors

But this is like “EO2.0” - the way he did it - sorry he deserves the RU hate

If the reaction was solely due to the “emotional attachment to RU” then Myles would NOT have received the standing ovation at the RAC last year. Sorry but your perspective on this is off/ incomplete.

Great points, people refuse to see the nuance with this situation.

He transfers in April, Rutgers is in a spot to work the portal. Instead, he screwed pike and the program.

It is clear the roster was being built to fit his strengths. All power to him but this situation was shady