In S.F., Marisa Ingemi wrote Stanford’s transition into the ACC “became all the more complicated” Tuesday by women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer’s announcement that she is retiring. That plus all the ACC travel that players and coaches alike "already are dreading" means an "extremely difficult period in Stanford women’s basketball history appears to be brewing.” Some of those concerns were "aired on an ESPN Final Four telecast." Stanford C Cameron Brink in explaining why she opted not to use her remaining season of eligibility said, “I don’t want to travel across the country.” Ingemi wrote between Stanford’s “slowness to adapt to NIL,” transfer portal "struggles and now a bicoastal conference,” then school's time as a “women’s basketball power very well could be in its twilight” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/10).
OPEN ARMS WELCOME: In Arkansas, Wally Hall writes John Calipari’s introduction as Arkansas' new men’s basketball coach “attracted thousands to Walton Arena" last night. The only person who “got a louder ovation may have been Johnny Tyson who along with Warren Stephens made the deal financially feasible.” Calipari was a “rock star” last night. He "chose Arkansas and Arkansas chose him," and last night he "got the warmest welcome ever witnessed” (Arkansas DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE, 4/11).
TIME FOR A HIKE: In San Diego, Mark Zeigler noted San Diego State is raising men’s basketball season tickets by 20% “in most seating areas” for 2024-25 following a second straight trip to the Sweet 16. This comes after SDSU raised men’s basketball season ticket prices last season by roughly 5% -- "in line with the annual rate of inflation." This now marks the ninth season ticket increase in 11 years at SDSU. AD John Wicker said the athletic department is “facing increases in various departmental expenses.” Zeigler noted that Wicker did "not include coach Brian Dutcher’s five-year contract” that gave him a $900,000 raise to $2.3M for 2023-24 with $100,000 “bumps in each successive season” as part of the increases (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/10).
