What's Happening with Pozzato?

[XU'59]

Just curious, what has happened with Pozzato? Did he give up playing this year?

[skyhops]

Friend of mine was with some guys from X last night in the NIL side and he asked the question about Pozzato coming back.

Answer was - sounded reasonable. if we can lock him in to playing at X next year. He will not play - if he doesn’t commit to staying he will play. I guess reasonable in this day and age although he is a difference maker.

[Kevin Reilly]

Skyhops. It doesn't sound reasonable to me. It sounds totally selfish. He got paid to play for Xavier this year. College basketball is a professional sport now and to think I was outraged about Claude asking for 500 grand and a shooting coach and a fitness trainer. The coaches only have playing time to keep everyone's head on straight. Pozzato also got free medical care and a year of good education. I wonder with the N.I.L. Money and transfer portal if many of the players are serious about school?

[Anti-Homer]

Friend of mine was with some guys from X last night in the NIL side and he asked the question about Pozzato coming back.

Answer was - sounded reasonable. if we can lock him in to playing at X next year. He will not play - if he doesn’t commit to staying he will play. I guess reasonable in this day and age although he is a difference maker.

I’d be really surprised if this truly is the plan. Written contracts mean nothing in this era of NIL. I read that Raiola, the former NE QB, committed to Oregon, then decommitted after a week when their starter said he was coming back. Even if Pozzato made that same commitment and lit it up (which I doubt) in these last 15 games, who’s to say UK doesn’t just offer him $3M next year?

X needs to play their highest-paid player regardless, just to see if he’s worth the investment for next season. I like his upside, but we’ve seen how Wright has become pretty pedestrian since Big East play started. That wasn’t unexpected, and one thing Pozzato has that Wright clearly lacks is athleticism, something this team is missing overall.

X will reportedly have almost 2X the NIL money next year, so Pitino will hopefully do a better job 'buying the groceries.' The dude is definitely a good chef.

[skyhops]

Reasonable in this day and age doesn't mean I like it. If Pozzato comes back late January and balls out he will most likely go to the highest bidder, which is will probably not be X.

[Kevin Reilly]

Skyhops you are correct. Reasonable now is the Athletes have to think of themselves first and the team second. That is why 4,200 football players are in the portal. The reality is 95% of the players will not make the NBA or the NFL. The players have to get their money while they can .This N.I.L. era has hurt college sports in so many ways. Football players opting out of Bowl games. Teams changing entire rosters every year. Schools having to recruit their current rosters to return for the following season. I am behind the times. LOL

[skyhops]

Robinson is also one of our highest paid players, which shows you how things are in this day of NIL.

[McX]

Haven't heard anything recently. Just curious if there's any "inside" news/update. And if there is or if he plays this year( I know, really no expectation of an accurate prediction) will he have any impact.

There's the "It's getting late in the season, might as well just shut it down" camp. There's also the "If he can ball & help this year, WTH, let's give it a try. What can it hurt?" contingent.

Just want what's best for the kid and, of course, what's best for the (my) team.

I just hope this season becomes an aberration and not a trend.