Front Office Sports

Florida did not build its Final Four roster with promises of big NIL checks—instead, they used analytics to find the most "under-recruited" players in the country. The No. 1–seeded Gators have spent the past few years putting together a scrappy roster of under-the-radar players, investing heavily in advanced analytics to discover them. And while all teams have access to analytics, the Gators believe they focus on different metrics than other teams—which often leads them to recruiting players who have gone overlooked. The process for recruiting players goes something like this: First, the team uses a mix of analytics—often starting with KenPom statistics but also using a variety of numbers—to vet the player’s potential. Jonathan Safir, Florida’s director of basketball strategy and analytics, told FOS he believes the Gators focus on different stats than other teams, and that’s worked to their advantage. “We don’t ever look at counting stats,” he says. Instead, the team invests in other advanced metrics, like a player’s steal and block rate from a defensive end, for example. Then, a player has to pass the “eye test” and finally visit Gainesville on a recruiting trip to see how he may mesh with the rest of the team, program, and community. Not every program relies so heavily on these visits. As for NIL, there’s a preliminary conversation about the range of compensation a player would agree to—and if the numbers are too high, the player isn’t even considered. If the relationship is mutual, a player will sign. The program only wants players who are dedicated to Florida, rather than just looking for a paycheck.“ We’ve never gotten a single player because we’re the highest bidder,” Safir says. "We make sure our guys are taken care of financially, but it’s about so much more than that. We want guys with great attitudes, great work ethics, and guys who really want to be here.” Now, that approach as the Gators playing for a national championship.

Nike's ad for UConn after securing their National Championship: 'Top Dogs' 🏆

This year's March Madness NIL deals ranged from Fortnite to laxatives—and just about everything in between. Here are the wildest NIL deals of the tournament.

In 2022, Kaitlyn Chen scored 18 points for Princeton against UConn, catching the eye of Geno Auriemma, who recruited her for her final year of eligibility. After winning the national title with the Huskies, Chen celebrated with her Princeton teammates. (🎥 via NoCapSpaceWBB/X)

2021 Naismith College POTY 3x unanimous first-team All-American $1.5M NIL valuation Deals with Nike, Gatorade, CeraVe, more Believed to be the first college player to receive equity in a pro sports league Now, a national champion. Paige Bueckers is big business.

Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have called Alexander Ovechkin's entire career—from his first goal to his record-breaking 895th 🎙️ (🎥: Comcast SportsNet, Monumental Sports)

Alex Ovechkin was selected by the Capitals first overall in 2004. He's played his whole 20-year career in Washington, earning $161M and bringing a Stanley Cup to D.C. He just scored his 895th goal—breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time record. Alexander Ovechkin is big business.

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma at his press conference ahead of the national championship: "This is the most women I've ever seen at a press conference since I started this 40 years ago and I'm just really, really proud of you all." (🎥 via NCAA)

Shohei Ohtani has the most-popular jersey in MLB ⚾️

A number of major sporting events are heading to the U.S. 🇺🇸