College Basketball Transfer Portal 2024-2025

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Originally Posted by IM4X

Yes, Derrick did redshirt. Then in his redshirted freshman year he averaged 17 minutes a game and more than 6 points.

There are plenty of examples of other freshmen who did not redshirt, found significant minutes and became meaningful contributors that first year. There are also plenty of examples where Sean redshirted a freshman, feeling the player would benefit from a little more development. We shall see which way it goes with Powell. None of us knows.

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For the record, I understand what you are saying and I get it. I was just passing along what has been indicated by guys who are around it everyday. It may turn out differently.. but just looking at who is now on the roster and minutes available, it’s going to be pretty difficult. I mean here is reality:


Pg McKnight Maddox
Sg Conwell Maddox foster
Sf swain foster hunter
Pf free hunter
C Hugley, whatever other center we get


Other bench:

Green
Powell

He’s probably going to get some early run but at some point, I’d be shocked if miller doesn’t concentrate on an 8-9 man rotation. That’s be tough for Powell to crack.

Now with all that said, it’s a very long time until November. Who knows if free or rome stay/get healthy and if green stays. However, this is just as it stands today

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Originally Posted by D-West & PO-Z

Yep. I posted it either in this thread or another that he's probably unlikely to change his philosophy on that this long into his career.

I think once we are in the meat of the season the bulk of the mins will go to 8 guys and a 9th will be in the rotation.

There are always guys who don't contribute like we are hoping they will (especially thinking Powell here as a freshman).

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In most years, we kind of pencil in unproven guys into roles where they are contributors. But the reality is that those guys really are unproven. Take Dionte Miles. I think he redshirted. Then I expected him to contribute. But he never really played. Same thing the next year. And the next. In my mind he was ready, but really there was no evidence that he was.

What we have here is FAR different. Maddox, Foster, and Conwell has all started for multiple years at a lower level and have excelled. No different than Boum, Quincy, or McKnight. I expect the new guys to be ready and if healthy will contribute .

Add in McKnight and we’ve got 4 for the 1/2/3 positions (if we go small). Free and Hunter will produce at a high level if healthy. Hugley is more like Ben Stanley and Jack Nunge. Both those guys had injuries and 1 of them flourished at this level (Stanley was injured at X, but even before that looked overmatched).

The thing about having a short (7-8 man) rotation is that usually there is a big drop off at #8 or #9. But if the talent goes 10 deep, then why wouldn’t you utilize it? You can push the tempo and wear the opposition out. You can weather foul trouble much better. You can stay a little fresher during the grinding weeks of the conference schedule.

I’ve seen enough of Swain and Green to believe they can and should play at this level.

I think you must find a way to get minutes for everyone or you’ll lose guys like Green Swain and Powell to the portal and never get anything out of them. If that’s what we are gonna do with our recruited young guys, then why even bother with HS players. Just rebuild every year in the portal with 7-8 new guys

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Originally Posted by MHettel

In most years, we kind of pencil in unproven guys into roles where they are contributors. But the reality is that those guys really are unproven. Take Dionte Miles. I think he redshirted. Then I expected him to contribute. But he never really played. Same thing the next year. And the next. In my mind he was ready, but really there was no evidence that he was.

What we have here is FAR different. Maddox, Foster, and Conwell has all started for multiple years at a lower level and have excelled. No different than Boum, Quincy, or McKnight. I expect the new guys to be ready and if healthy will contribute .

Add in McKnight and we’ve got 4 for the 1/2/3 positions (if we go small). Free and Hunter will produce at a high level if healthy. Hugley is more like Ben Stanley and Jack Nunge. Both those guys had injuries and 1 of them flourished at this level (Stanley was injured at X, but even before that looked overmatched).

The thing about having a short (7-8 man) rotation is that usually there is a big drop off at #8 or #9. But if the talent goes 10 deep, then why wouldn’t you utilize it? You can push the tempo and wear the opposition out. You can weather foul trouble much better. You can stay a little fresher during the grinding weeks of the conference schedule.

I’ve seen enough of Swain and Green to believe they can and should play at this level.

I think you must find a way to get minutes for everyone or you’ll lose guys like Green Swain and Powell to the portal and never get anything out of them. If that’s what we are gonna do with our recruited young guys, then why even bother with HS players. Just rebuild every year in the portal with 7-8 new guys

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So just doing math:


McKnight
Maddox
Foster
Swain
Conwell
Free
Hunter
Hugley
Other center

That’s already 9. Add green that’s 10.


Not speaking for miller, but just thinking out loud do you think miller is concerned with losing the 9th or 10th guy, or is he more concerned with winning as much as possible with the best 7-8 guys that separate themselves from the pack?

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Originally Posted by MHettel

In most years, we kind of pencil in unproven guys into roles where they are contributors. But the reality is that those guys really are unproven. Take Dionte Miles. I think he redshirted. Then I expected him to contribute. But he never really played. Same thing the next year. And the next. In my mind he was ready, but really there was no evidence that he was.

What we have here is FAR different. Maddox, Foster, and Conwell has all started for multiple years at a lower level and have excelled. No different than Boum, Quincy, or McKnight. I expect the new guys to be ready and if healthy will contribute .

Add in McKnight and we’ve got 4 for the 1/2/3 positions (if we go small). Free and Hunter will produce at a high level if healthy. Hugley is more like Ben Stanley and Jack Nunge. Both those guys had injuries and 1 of them flourished at this level (Stanley was injured at X, but even before that looked overmatched).

The thing about having a short (7-8 man) rotation is that usually there is a big drop off at #8 or #9. But if the talent goes 10 deep, then why wouldn’t you utilize it? You can push the tempo and wear the opposition out. You can weather foul trouble much better. You can stay a little fresher during the grinding weeks of the conference schedule.

I’ve seen enough of Swain and Green to believe they can and should play at this level.

I think you must find a way to get minutes for everyone or you’ll lose guys like Green Swain and Powell to the portal and never get anything out of them. If that’s what we are gonna do with our recruited young guys, then why even bother with HS players. Just rebuild every year in the portal with 7-8 new guys

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I understand what you are saying but I see the following guys getting the bulk of the mins:

McKnight
Conwell
Maddox
Foster
Hunter (if he gets healthy)
Free
Hugely
Swain

We probably add another Center who will need to contribute that will make 9.

I see Green getting mins early but if he doesn't take advantage and prove himself I can see him falling out with all the guard depth we brought in.

Powell (I just don't expect much from freshman).

Then there are many times guys who fall out of favor with Miller or struggle, etc. Hoping that doesn't happen but could similar to a Gytis situation, etc.

I feel really good about 8 guys and a 9th being in the rotation. If a 10th guy forces Miller's hand I trust him to find the right balance but I won't hold my breath that we have a 10 man rotation.

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Originally Posted by D-West & PO-Z

I understand what you are saying but I see the following guys getting the bulk of the mins:

McKnight
Conwell
Maddox
Foster
Hunter (if he gets healthy)
Free
Hugely
Swain

We probably add another Center who will need to contribute that will make 9.

I see Green getting mins early but if he doesn't take advantage and prove himself I can see him falling out with all the guard depth we brought in.

Powell (I just don't expect much from freshman).

Then there are many times guys who fall out of favor with Miller or struggle, etc. Hoping that doesn't happen but could similar to a Gytis situation, etc.

I feel really good about 8 guys and a 9th being in the rotation. If a 10th guy forces Miller's hand I trust him to find the right balance but I won't hold my breath that we have a 10 man rotation.

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+1. Yep

Well, there was a comment earlier about Miller kind of preferring a 7-8 guy rotation, and that at this stage in his career he would be unlikely to change.

That’s a fair point of view, but the reality is that the “game” is now much more different than it was in the prior 50 years. If the coach doesn’t adapt to the new reality because he’s set in the methods that he used under a different reality, then he will get passed by quickly by those who do adapt.

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Originally Posted by MHettel

Well, there was a comment earlier about Miller kind of preferring a 7-8 guy rotation, and that at this stage in his career he would be unlikely to change.

That’s a fair point of view, but the reality is that the “game” is now much more different than it was in the prior 50 years. If the coach doesn’t adapt to the new reality because he’s set in the methods that he used under a different reality, then he will get passed by quickly by those who do adapt.

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Maybe the “new reality” is that you only bring in 1-2 freshman every year, and you only bring in the ones that understand that not much is going to be expected of them the 1st year and are OK with that?

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Originally Posted by MHettel

Well, there was a comment earlier about Miller kind of preferring a 7-8 guy rotation, and that at this stage in his career he would be unlikely to change.

That’s a fair point of view, but the reality is that the “game” is now much more different than it was in the prior 50 years. If the coach doesn’t adapt to the new reality because he’s set in the methods that he used under a different reality, then he will get passed by quickly by those who do adapt.

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100% agree with this. Recruiting players, at least for now, has completely changed. If we are going to need to materially refill our roster every year by pursuing experienced players and maintain adequate depth, we must offer those new recruits what they seek. More than money, in my opinion, is playing time. No experienced player will sign on if he doesn't expect to see the floor and see it a bunch. If Miller goes out, recruits players and then sits them on the bench, he will absolutely lose the ability to get future players to come to X. That would be the kiss of death. This applies to traditional recruits like Swain, Green and next year, Powell. They also must have playing time.

So no matter how he has managed his roster in past years, I expect to see change next year. And that will be challenging because bringing people in and out can disrupt game rhythm. But Miller will just have to figure it out. I expect up tempo on offense and defense and maybe substituting in combinations of players, rather than one at a time. Perhaps similar to a line change in hockey where you play guys together in games, so they are familiar with each other. I don't know how Miller will do it, but it is going to be interesting to watch.

We will see how it goes but above comment is accurate even prophetic, in my opinion. The game has changed, and Miller will have to adapt. Do not expect the same old, same old.

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Originally Posted by Xville

So just doing math:


McKnight
Maddox
Foster
Swain
Conwell
Free
Hunter
Hugley
Other center

That’s already 9. Add green that’s 10.


Not speaking for miller, but just thinking out loud do you think miller is concerned with losing the 9th or 10th guy, or is he more concerned with winning as much as possible with the best 7-8 guys that separate themselves from the pack?

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Winning as much as possible, however he has to get there.

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Originally Posted by XUGRAD80

Maybe the “new reality” is that you only bring in 1-2 freshman every year, and you only bring in the ones that understand that not much is going to be expected of them the 1st year and are OK with that?

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Absolutely. The new reality is definitely less freshmen and more transfers.

Also some people think coaches need to be hypersensitive to players transferring if they aren’t getting mins etc. I think the opposite. Any year before the portal, Claude transferring would have been a major blow. We’ve picked up so much other talent that many think we are better off.

Miller doesn’t want to lack depth, so he’s going to bring in as much talent as he can and let guys compete for mins and let the chips fall where they may. You still are not going to see 10+ man rotations. He finds a solid 8-9 he trusts and who perform and he goes with those guys.

Again, chances are some of the transfers and Powell aren’t as impactful as we hope. So while we have 10-11 who we hope are contributors, the likely reality is that it will end up being 8-9.