Elliot Cadeau will play his third season of college basketball at Michigan after two years at North Carolina. The former five-star recruit transferred schools during the offseason after a difficult tenure in Chapel Hill.

Although it is not uncommon for players to switch schools at the drop of a dime in the modern era of collegiate athletics, this specific move left a sour taste in the mouths of Tar Heel fans.

Rumors started to swirl as soon as Elliot Cadeau entered the college basketball transfer portal about his NIL demands. He supposedly asked for a number that hovered around $2 million. However, his brother later came out and issued a firm denial of the alleged request to say that Cadeau and UNC were simply never the right fit. There was nothing more to it. His mom, Michelle, offered a similar refutation.

Funny how my kid has asked for $2 million when he hasn’t even met or spoken with anyone from [UNC] or staff yet.

— Michelle Cadeau on Facebook

Cadeau averaged 7.3 points, 4.1 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per game as a freshman and 9.4 points, 6.2 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 27.8 minutes per game as a sophomore. Although those stats are not horrible, he shot less than 20% from beyond the arc in year one and less than 35% from deep in year two. It got to the point that UNC’s opponents would not play any defense past the three-point line.

The former five-star prospect in the recruiting Class of 2023 needed a change. Elliot Cadeau transferred to Michigan.

We have loved being at UNC, loved the team, loved the friends we have met, loved all the fans who has cheered him (and me) on. This was his dream and he gave it everything he had for two years. I’m proud of him making a choice he felt he had to do to get to where he wants to be. It was not easy — because we never had in our plans to transfer but he felt this was what was needed. We are now so excited for the summer, the work, and the upcoming season. Michigan, we can’t wait to meet you!!! GO BLUE!!!

— Michelle Cadeau

He’s already back in the gym.

PJ Haggerty may or may not play a fourth season of college basketball. The 21-year-old point guard has yet to decide whether he is going to test the NBA Draft waters and turn pro or if he is going to capitalize on the NIL spending spree at a program yet to be determined.

His recruitment through the transfer portal is already wild and it is just the beginning.

Haggerty, a four-star prospect in the college basketball recruiting Class of 2022, committed to TCU out of high school. He played only six games for the Horned Frogs, took a redshirt, and entered the transfer portal. That led him to Tulsa, where the Texas-native averaged 21.2 points per game. His performance on the mid-major level allowed him to transfer back up to Memphis, where he averaged 21.7 points per game last season.

There is no doubt that PJ Haggerty is one of the most prolific players in college basketball but his future remains up in the air. He chose to declare for the NBA Draft and enter the transfer portal in April.

Should Haggerty projected as a first-round pick after his stellar performance at the NBA Draft Combine, he might choose to pursue a professional career. If not, he will return to college.

The deadline for him to decide is set for May 28 and a bidding war will take place if Haggerty does not go pro. Every single program in the country would love to add him to its roster. Only a small number them can afford his price tag.

PJ Haggerty asked for $4 million in NIL money for just one season. It was a lofty request that likely would not be met but it allowed for him to weigh his options after his suitors presented their highest bids.

Ole Miss was in the mix early. A return to Memphis was not out of the equation. However, both schools pretty quickly decided to move on so North Carolina State emerged as the most interested party with the largest financial offer. Haggerty to Raleigh seemed like done deal.

NOT ANYMORE!!

Kansas State jumped into the mix, which started a bidding war. And then the Wolfpack landed a commitment from Texas Tech forward Darrion Williams so they backed out.

Their lack of interest leaves just the Wildcats for Haggerty. Or does it?!

According to trusted Memphis basketball analyst Hitmen Hoops, Auburn is now kicking the tires. The Tigers are “expected to pursue” PJ Haggerty if Tahaad Pettiford stays in the NBA Draft. Bruce Pearl and company would be willing to pay him around the same amount as Kansas State, if not more.

To add another wrinkle to this saga, Haggerty almost committed to Auburn out of high school. There is already familiarity there.

This entire process has been exhausting and it has yet to officially begin. Haggerty still has four days to decide if he is going to play another year of college basketball. A chaotic bidding war is imminent. I would imagine that there will be suitors have not been named. The NIL number could get close to the $4 million asking price when it is all said and done. Buckle up!

The Syracuse Orange have garnered much attention, especially with Fran Brown’s proactive role in the offseason. Recently, two-way player Demetres Samuel Jr. revealed how the coach is using NIL fines to discipline players.

Demetres Samuel Jr. Details How Significant the Syracuse NIL Fines Can Be

Syracuse safety and wide receiver Demetres Samuels recently discussed how significant NIL fines can be in the program. According to him, if players step out of line, Syracuse head coach Brown is prepared to impose a hefty fine.

Ex-Clemson star Daniel Rencher asked Demetres how they could lose NIL, to which Demetres replied, “You could lose money for two absences in class…we got class checkers. If you don’t have your jug or your tablet for like film…that’s $50, everytime the coach see you without it.”

Byron Washington also appeared in the interview and revealed, “If you don’t make weight…lose 2 pounds or gain 2 pounds a week.”

The duo also revealed that the deduction progresses from Monday through Friday, where the initial days are much more lenient. However, any problems not worked upon by the end of the week could mean a quarter deduction from the NIL money.

In an era when transfer portals and the NIL have caused havoc in the college football landscape, Coach Brown’s innovative use of NIL money adds value to the program. You don’t just own it; you have to earn it. That is the type of culture that Brown is trying to continue to implement in Western New York as he moves into his second season.

If players fail to report to practice on time or make a mistake off the field, they can miss out on making more money. It is very similar to the NFL when a team or the league fines a player for stepping out of line on or off the field.

Syracuse Looking to Carry Momentum Into 2025

In Fran Brown’s first season as head coach last season, the team won 10 games for just the second time in the last 23 years.

The Orange went 5-3 in conference and ended up winning the Holiday Bowl, but they did have the help of veteran quarterback Kyle McCord. McCord had a record-setting season as he threw for 4,779 yards (ACC single-season record) and completed an FBS-leading 367 passes. His 34 passing touchdowns were a Syracuse record as he kept the team in plenty of games throughout the season. The loss of the star quarterback could hurt the overall production on offense, and Fran Brown is going to have to find a way to make up for that.

Meanwhile, transfer quarterback Rickie Collins could take the reins as the starter this season, and it remains to be seen whether or not he can help this team.

KEEP READING: How the College Football Playoff Selection Process Works: 2025 Field Explained

In a tougher ACC conference with the likes of the Bill Belichick-led North Carolina Tar Heels, the Carson Beck-led Miami Hurricanes, the Clemson Tigers, who won the ACC last year, and the SMU Mustangs, who made the College Football Playoff yesterday, it could be an uphill battle for the Orange.

College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!

Oklahoma State’s men’s golf team posted a 5-over 293 during the first day of play at the NCAA Championship on Friday to stand in a tie for 14th place at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa.

The second-ranked Cowboys finished the day in a five-way tie for their positioning at the par-72, 7,480-yard layout. OSU will begin its second round four shots outside of the top 10.

Sophomore Preston Stout led the way for OSU individually, posting a 1-under 71 to come in tied for 25th place. Starting on the back nine, Stout bogeyed two of his first five holes before carding birdies at the 15th and 18th to get back to even for the day. He would sandwich a bogey at the third with birdies at the second and fourth to stand at 1-under for the day with five to play.

Stout posted his fifth birdie of the day at the sixth before carding a bogey at the seventh on his way to a 1-under 35 on his second nine of the day.

Sophomore Ethan Fang also posted five birdies during his round before ultimately signing for a 1-over 73 to share 47th place.

Sophomore Eric Lee’s 74 tied him for 63rd place.

Freshman Filip Fahlberg-Johnsson and sophomore Gaven Lane each signed for 3-over 75s to finish the day tied for 79th place.

OSU will begin its second round tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. (CST) and will be grouped with Auburn and Ole Miss. Live scoring is available at scoreboard.clippd.com.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Texas Tech’s historic season added another chapter Friday afternoon as the Red Raiders secured their first trip to the Women’s College World Series following a 2-1 victory over Florida State at JoAnne Graf Field.

The Red Raiders (50-12) utilized the same formula in both Super Regional wins over the Seminoles (49-12) – an early first-inning lead and dominant pitching in the circle from NiJaree Canady. The result has the Red Raiders heading to Oklahoma City for the first time in program history where Texas Tech will face either Ole Miss or Arkansas next Thursday.

Canady further solidified her reputation as the nation’s top pitcher as she withstood a seventh-inning rally to return to Oklahoma City for a third time in her college career. Florida State led off the seventh with a leadoff walk to Katie Dack and then a double from Michaela Edenfield with Dack scoring immediately after on an RBI ground out from Shelby McKenzie. Canady fought out of the jam, leaving the tying run at third base after back-to-back foul outs to Lauren Allred at first base to end the threat.

Outside the double to Edenfield in the seventh, Canady only allowed an infield single to McKenzie in the second and then a double to Hallie Wacaser in the fifth for her second complete game gem in as many days. The victory was the 30th of the season for Canady (30-5), who combined to surrender only one run off five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over her 14.0 combined innings in the two-game sweep of the Seminoles.

Canady (30-5) benefited from an early lead once again with Mihyia Davis coming around to score in the first inning for the second-consecutive game. Davis, who slapped an infield single and moved to second on a throwing error to start the inning, raced home to beat the tag on an Alana Johnson sacrifice fly to shallow left field for an early 1-0 lead.

It marked the fifth time in as many games the Red Raiders have scored in the opening inning as Texas Tech is now 31-1 when doing so this season and a perfect 5-0 since opening the NCAA Lubbock Regional with a 6-0 victory over Brown. Texas Tech will enter the Women’s College World Series riding an eight-game winning streak where the Red Raiders have combined to outscore opponents, 56-8, during that stretch.

The Red Raiders added what became the game-winning run in the fifth as Demi Elder shot a single up the middle to score Johnson from second. Johnson collided with the Seminole shortstop on the play, recovering in time to beat a delayed throw home to give the Red Raiders a 2-0 lead. Elder finished 2-for-3 at the plate for a Texas Tech offense that combined for six hits off the Florida State pitching staff.

Julia Apsel (12-2) took the loss in the circle for Florida State as the left-hander allowed one unearned run off three hits and a strikeout over her 2.2 innings. She was relieved midway through the third by Jazzy Francik, who similarly gave up an unearned run off three hits and three strikeouts over the final 3.1 innings. Florida State combined for four errors as a team.

The Red Raiders will face the winner of the NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional between No. 4 seed Arkansas and unseeded Ole Miss in their Women’s College World Series debut next Thursday. Game times and television designations will be announced later this weekend by the NCAA.