🔥Upside Video Chat: Dr Ron Dick, Duquesne University, Ex NBA/NCAA Exec on March Madness, the NBA/NHL Playoffs, NFL Draft, the NIL, the Dodgers, MLB Season & More

This week we have the honor to interview again Dr. Ron Dick, associate professor of sports marketing at Duquesne University in the school of business. Ron also worked for 20 years in sports, including 15 years in the NBA with the Sixers and the Nets, and then five years in the NCAA.

Watch the full video interview by clicking on the link below:

You can read the full transcript of the podcast interview with Ron located at the top of this blog post.

📝Show Notes: Through this interview, we touched on the following topics:

1. March Madness

2. NIL update

3. The NBA / NHL seedlings, playoffs and title contenders.

4. The NFL draft

5. MLB attendance

6. The undefeated LA Dodgers (MLB)

Here are the best quotes from our interview with Ron:

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Q1. What is your take on March Madness? Which teams are favorites to win it this year?

• “Anybody can win it. We have the top four seeds in the final 4. We have to circle back to the NCA bids that came out where we had 14 bids for the highest ever SEC. At the Sweet 16, we had seven SEC schools, four Big 10, four Big 12, and Duke. It's unprecedented as far as a domination of three different conferences, which I think is what the power three or four always wanted.”

• “I don't know what Las Vegas is betting on, but I'm rooting for Houston. I hope they win it. They've been through a lot being left out when the Southwest Conference went under. Now they're in the Big 12. They actually went to Conference USA.”

• “I do think UConn’s women team is going to win this year”.

Q2. What is the latest update on the NIL?

• “The money is getting bigger. The bigger schools are being told, you have to get to $20 million annually to spend. The NIL compensation’s breakdown would be about 70% on men's football, 25% on men's basketball, and 5% on women's basketball. They're considered the non-Olympic sports, the ones where we could recoup some of our revenue that we spend.”

• “The final details of the plan will take place on July 1st, 2025. We'll know exactly what's in place.”

Q3. What is your take on the NBA / NHL seedlings, playoffs and title contenders?

• NBA: “Looking at the last 10 games, the Cleveland Cavaliers are five and five. They are number one still, after an unbelievable season, especially in November and December. The Celtics have won nine of their last 10 and are definitely peaking as we get ready for the playoffs. The Thunder and Rockets are both nine and one. The Lakers and Nuggets have taken a step back a bit recently, they're both five and five in their last 10. All those teams are in it. When we get into the playoffs, let’s see what happens. I really think the Thunder are going to be good. As far as who is going to win the NBA title this year, I think that the Celtics, Thunder, or Cavs, are going to win. That would be my guess.”

• NHL: “Right now, hopefully Toronto could win a Stanley Cup. The Florida teams are both very good, the Panthers and the Lightning. The Capitals are doing some great things. They call Alex Ovechkin ‘the Great Eight’. He's trying to catch Wayne Gretzky and needs five more goals at the time of this podcast. Sidney Crosby just had his 20th season averaging a point per game, breaking one of Wayne Gretzky's records. Gretzky was great at assists too, so his total point number is way out there. The Capitals are in first place, they're good. The Vegas’s Golden Knights are good. The Kings are good. I love the Oilers. I think the Oilers are going to get back to the finals again and hopefully win it this year, maybe against Toronto.”

Q4. What is your take on the future NFL draft and NBA draft?

• “On April 24-26, we are going to be at Lambeau Field for the NFL draft. We're looking at all the revenues brought to Detroit last year. In 2026, it's going to take place in Pittsburgh. The Titans have the number one pick. Most people are saying the University of Miami’s quarterback Cam Ward is going to be number one, but they're still taking offers. People get jacked up for the NFL draft, wondering who these teams are going to get and where their team's weaknesses are. In May, we are going to get the NFL schedule, and then people are going to start planning their vacation where their team is playing. (…) The NFL never stops.”

• “Regarding the NBA draft, I think the Utah Jazz are going to draft Cooper Flag as number one overall because they're going to have the most ping pong balls at the NBA draft. All this is just an educated guess”.

Q5. What is your take on the Undefeated LA Dodgers?

• “We can't talk about the MLB without talking about the white-hot, red-hot LA Dodgers. They are 6 and 0 to start the season. Don't forget, the Padres are also five and 0 in the same division”.

• “Does anyone think that the Dodgers could possibly win 117 games this year? I think they definitely could; they have so much depth. They have guys on their 40-man roster that should be on major league rosters. It seems like an endless supply of pitching. But again, it's early. People are going to get injured. I believe they could win 117 games this year. They might even go 120 and 40 or 42, they are dominating. Now, I realize it's 162 games and they've only played six games, so let's not get crazy. But they are really doing well. The Yankees are undefeated. The Rangers are three and one. Some teams are surprisingly not doing well. The Braves are 0 and 5, the Twins are 0 and 4. It's early, but we need to keep our eye on that. The 1906 Cubs, who did not win the World Series, and the 2001 Mariners, who lost to the Yankees in the playoffs, might have their record of total wins broken, which hasn't happened for a long time”.

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