Dom Amore’s Sunday Read: Expect UConn to find a way; from Hartford to rising NHL coaching star; watch this Yard Goats ace and more

There was news on the NCAA pay-for-play front this week, but it’s unclear just what the news will mean.

By that, of course, we mean, how could it affect UConn? This, too, is unclear.

What we know is that the NCAA, at least the autonomous conferences, have agreed to accept an offer to settle three antitrust lawsuits brought by athletes denied name-image-likeness income in the past for $2.8 billion. This deal is yet to be approved by all necessary parties, including the courts and a fourth antitrust plaintiff. If it is, the NCAA will have to figure out how to pay that out, meaning all schools can expect a smaller distribution, not good news for athletic departments like UConn, which operate at a deficit.

Perhaps the new Big East television deal on the horizon will offset some of it.

Dom Amore: UConn’s Napheesa Collier on top of her game, approaching the top of the basketball world

Further down the line, part of the deal will allow, but not require schools to spent up to $21 million on payment for athletes. In theory, this will replace NIL money from collectives, while athletes will still be free to do their own sponsorship deals, which very few have.

UConn AD David Benedict isn’t ready to speculate on what this will mean for UConn, which is in a unique position. Of course, at the power conference schools, who are driving this possible settlement, the majority of any money they dole out will go to football, which drives everything.

That could give a basketball-centric conference like the Big East the opportunity to offer more money for basketball players than other schools. UConn, unlike it’s league partners, has an independent FBS football program to fit into this complicated equation.

There is no road map on how to navigate this pay-for-pay option through Title IX requirements, nor how to administer the possibility of more scholarships, with caps removed. These are not-so-minor details to be worked out later, when a massive rewriting of the rulebook will be necessary. So don’t expect anything to really take effect until fiscal year 2026.

But the vibe at UConn suggests that, if the landscape is shifting, the sky is not falling. Whatever new ways become reality, a way will be found to stay high-level competitive in men’s and women’s basketball, the university’s signature sports. At least, that’s the intent.

Now, the idea of amateurism in major-college sports has long been an illusion — maybe it has always been so. But as the last vestiges of that illusion fade away, we should probably observe a moment of silence at some point.

More for your Sunday Read:

Dom Amore: Wolf Pack's Jake Leschyshyn following in Hartford footsteps of his father, a former Whaler https://t.co/0PmJJLrg1S

— Dom Amore (@AmoreCourant) May 20, 2024

Cup chasers

Last November, Kris Knoblauch and Steve Smith were having dinner, Knoblauch keeping it close to the vest that he was about to leave to coach Edmonton. The next morning, Knoblauch was off to the NHL and Smith, 61, his assistant with a wealth of hockey experience, was asked to take over the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Smith was a steady presence, as the Wolf Pack went 27-25-6 with three shootout losses and reached the playoffs, eliminated this week in the third round by far superior Hershey.

Knoblauch, 45, took over the Oilers, who were 3-9-1, and turned it around immediately, going 46-18-5. Edmonton is now in the Western Conference Finals, three wins from the Stanley Cup final after beating Dallas in Game 1. In particular, he got a lot of credit for his strategy as the Oilers came from behind to eliminate Vancouver in Game 7.

“Kris’ strong suit is his relationship building,” Smith said. “He has a strong sense of the game, the structure of the game, and systems, but he did a tremendous job of building relationships with players (in Hartford) and they felt comfortable and happy coming to the rink every day. He got to know who they were and what they were about and tried to match what he did to the needs of the players.

“I’m sure he’s done the exact same thing in Edmonton. I’ve talked to him quite often, and he’s happy with the people he’s surrounded with, but part of that is him. He’s a bright guy, a hard-working guy and the personality to be able to turn that thing around was all done on relationship building.”

The Rangers wanted an experienced head coach and did fine with Peter Laviolette, who has them in the Eastern Conference Finals, but Edmonton, obviously, hit a coaching jackpot at just the right time.

Today, Mohegan Tribal Elder, Beth Regan presented Alissa Pili gifts from the Mohegan Tribe including a wampum necklace to honor her journey into the @WNBA as and Indigenous woman. pic.twitter.com/AiEHpVPSOg

— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) May 23, 2024

A gift from The Sun

There was a cool moment after the Minnesota Lynx shootaround at Mohegan Sun Arena on Thursday morning. Mohegan Tribe elder Beth Regan, followed by team officials, came out to present a gift to Lynx rookie Alissa Pili, the first native Indigenous player in the WNBA.
Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Pili, who played for Utah at Mohegan Sun Arena last December, is of Polynesian and Indigenous decent.

The Mohegan Tribe presented her with a basket made by one of its tribal people. Pili responded with a hug, as her teammates applauded.

Carson Palmquist is dealing! Six consecutive Ks for the lefty! pic.twitter.com/50PjkTNXHR

— Hartford Yard Goats (@GoYardGoats) May 19, 2024

From the ‘Palm’ of his hand

If the Rockies, who have long been desperate to develop some pitching, don’t promote him before the Yard Goats return home, it’s worth getting to Dunkin’ Park to watch lefty Carson Palmquist work.

He was masterful last Sunday, striking out a dozen in six innings against New Hampshire. It’s a theory that hiding the ball creates the illusion of more velocity, and Palmquist, coming from behind and across his body, appeared to blow hitters away with a low-90s fastball. Second time through the order he mixed in his off-speed stuff to great effect. Really, a pitching clinic.

Sunday short takes

*If UConn baseball gets an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, well and good. The Huskies did win the Big East regular-season title with an impressive 17-4 record. But if they are denied, there’s no kick coming. At 32-23, they didn’t win enough games to make it a sure thing.

*Ater Majok, 6-foot-10 forward who played for UConn in 2009-10, has joined other former Huskies on the “Stars of Storrs” team for The Basketball Tournament in July. Majok has been playing pro ball with distinction in Africa for several years.

*This “frozen T shirt” contest they have at Wolf Pack games looks impossible to win if you try to pull it open … Next year, try sitting on the shirt until time is almost up, then maybe it will thaw sufficiently to unfold. If you don’t mind freezing your backside for a free T-shirt.

*So Hal Steinbrenner ruffled some feathers and got a few eyes to roll this week with his comments about the “unsustainability” of the Yankees’ payroll. Here’s a thought. There’s no reason for any team to make pronouncements in advance about roster, payroll decisions, especially in the middle of a season that has been successful. Just do what you have to do, when you have to do it.

*As the NBA Draft approaches, it appears a key question is which team will view UConn’s one-and-done Stephon Castle as he wants to be viewed, as a point guard? Some reports are saying the Spurs might be that team.

*Minnesota, perennial power in women’s hockey, will come to Toscano Family Ice Forum to open next season against UConn.

*The Greater Hartford Pro Am is returning to Saint Joseph’s gym in West Hartford this summer. More details coming on that Tuesday.

*Look for UConn to announce a new contract for Geno Auriemma soon, and Dan Hurley a short time after that.

*Whether it’s “chin music” in baseball, or flying elbows in hockey or basketball, all sports and leagues have some tradition of veterans testing, toughening up rookies. So the WNBA is no different.

Last word

The Knicks’ falling apart against Indiana was painful, and fans at The Garden and, for the most part outside, were right to express some pride in what New Britain’s Tom Thibodeau got out of an injury riddled roster.

Of course, the predictable Thibs/workload narratives were bound to follow, and they have.

Now comes the hard part, building on the “innocent climb,” as Pat Riley called it. Make the necessary additions to get over the top. In this regard, the Knicks, whose executives shun independent media in New York, are now on the clock.