MONEY TALKS: Georgetown Could Earn a Piece of $500K in NIL Prizes at Crown Basketball Tournament

The Hoyas may win some guaranteed NIL after two games

The season isn’t over yet, Hoya fans. As March Madness sweeps the nation, your Georgetown Hoyas have accepted an invitation to the inaugural College Basketball Crown, a brand-new postseason tournament presented by FOX Sports and AEG. While the NCAA Tournament bracket may not feature our beloved Blue & Gray this year, the Crown offers a compelling opportunity for on-court competition and, perhaps even more intriguingly, a $500,000 Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) prize pool.

Apparently, this isn’t just another consolation tournament. The College Basketball Crown is hoping to be recognized as the premier postseason event for teams outside the NCAA’s 68-team field, featuring a 16-team bracket culminating in Las Vegas from March 31st to April 6th.

Now, the stakes are higher than just bragging rights. Thanks to the Vivid Seats Ambassador Program, a hefty $500,000 NIL endorsement pool is up for grabs among the tournament’s top four finishers.

Here’s how the NIL prize money breaks down:

• Tournament Champion: $300,000 NIL package
• Runner-Up: $100,000 NIL package
• Semifinalists (Third and Fourth Place): $50,000 NIL package each

This innovative approach injects a new level of excitement and motivation into postseason play. As AEG President & COO of Global Partnerships Nick Baker noted, “this tournament is enhancing college basketball for student athletes, for fans and for brands.”

For Georgetown, the path to this potential NIL windfall begins on Monday, March 31st, at 11 PM ET against the Washington State Cougars in the first round. This matchup, broadcast on FS1, presents a chance for the Hoyas to showcase their talent on a national stage once more.

If Ed Cooley’s squad can secure a victory against the Cougars, they would advance to the second round on Wednesday, April 2nd, at 9:30 PM ET to face the winner of the first-round game between Nebraska and Arizona State. This game, also slated for FS1, would be a crucial hurdle. A win there would propel the Hoyas into the semifinals, guaranteeing them a share of the NIL prize money – at least $50,000 to be split amongst the team. The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, April 5th, with games airing on FOX from T-Mobile Arena.

However, the realities of the modern college basketball landscape loom. The transfer portal window opened on March 24th, and reports indicate that Georgetown is already facing roster changes. Forward/Center Drew Fielder has reportedly entered the transfer portal, impacting the team’s frontcourt depth. Similarly, Washington State is also anticipated to lose players to the portal.

This potential reduction in roster size raises an interesting point regarding the distribution of the NIL prize money. While a smaller team might mean fewer individual shares of the potential $50,000 (or more) secured by reaching the semifinals, it could also translate to a more significant individual payout for the remaining players. The Athletic indicated that participating teams will need a minimum of seven scholarship players available, suggesting the tournament has anticipated potential roster changes.

This College Basketball Crown offers Georgetown a unique opportunity. It’s a chance to extend their season, gain valuable experience, and compete for a championship. But the added dimension of the NIL prize pool provides a tangible benefit for the student-athletes involved.

For a program in a rebuilding phase, as Chris Holtmann of DePaul told FOX Sports about his team’s participation, this tournament can be a “game-changer.” The financial incentives can further motivate players and potentially enhance the program’s appeal moving forward. Not to mention, it could delay players from jumping into the portal.

While the Georgetown faithful will undoubtedly be focused on the on-court action in Las Vegas (if they stay up that late), the potential for a significant NIL reward adds an extra layer of intrigue to this postseason journey. In case you haven’t noticed, BIG EAST teams have not played particularly well recently. With four on the board for the Crown, perhaps a couple teams can extend the conference’s season.

That said, the transfer portal waits for no one and DePaul, Butler, Villanova and Georgetown could all use a player or two.