The NCAA men’s basketball tournament has seen a decrease in Cinderella teams, particularly from mid-major teams such as Gonzaga. Gonzaga coach Mark Few insisted that Gonzaga was not a Cinderella team, but a team with resources and a history of winning the Tournament. This year marked the fourth consecutive year without multiple double-digit seeds reaching the Sweet 16. Factors such as NIL and the transfer portal being cited as reasons for this disparity include financial freedom for athletes, which makes them more difficult to transfer and compete in tournaments. Athletes can now transfer without sitting out and transfer every single year, creating a perpetual sense of free agency for players. The best-resourced schools can also raid smaller schools for elite talent. Money is also a key motivator for athletes to stay in college longer than they would otherwise deserve.