College Basketball Transfer Portal 2024-2025

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

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.

UConn just won back to back championships and everyone goes on and on about their depth.

Hurley played 6 guys double digit mins in the finals and 7 in the semifinals.

I think you are missing the point and looking at the process from the wrong side. The fans, like us, aren't hypersensitive about playing time. I agree with you that Claude will likely not be missed because it appears we can replace him. In fact, and no knock-on Claude, we may be better off because had he stayed, he would have consumed much of our offensive effort. Now that we are not tied to him, we seem to be more diversified offensively and perhaps defensively as well. Nor do I think Miller is focused on minutes other than keeping players satisfied and motivated is an important component of managing the team. Miller needs depth but not just bodies. He needs depth with talent. It is the process of acquiring that talent that forces the issue of projected playing time.

So the fans and coaching staff are more invested in winning than who specifically is on the floor and how much they play. But you know who is hypersensitive about minutes and role? Players like Claude. And that is the point I think you miss. This is likely the single most important issue to the players in the portal. For many if not most, this is THE ISSUE and when you recruit them. It is inevitable that this subject comes up very early. I will bet dollars to donuts that when the subject arises during the recruiting process, Miller doesn't tell them that he is bringing in as many guys as he can for depth and playing time will all come out in the wash. No way that he communicates that.

It was Maddox, I think, who spoke when he committed that Miller saw a role for him that he had seen for himself. They had a detailed in-depth discussion about where Maddox fit into next year's team. Quincy made a similar comment last year and Souley did the same the year before. These discussions are a critical part of the recruiting process.

There is nobody I know who has ever managed a team of people successfully who isn't continuously forced to be very focused on making sure the team and individual goals are aligned. Anyone who thinks setting and managing individual team member expectations isn't critical to achieving team objectives has never led an organization in a competitive climate. And, if you lie to the people you are trying to sell on coming to X or if they think you lied to them, your reputation is toast. Once the promise is made, you have to find a way to fulfill it.

In regard to UConn, over the course of last season (not just two games) there were NINE players who averaged double figure minutes.

[JTG]

For sure, and agree. However, I noticed he didn't post any photos for the other schools he's visited, and it doesn't look like he's following anyone from those schools: GA, Miami and MI yesterday. It looks like he posted that X photo after his MI visit, which seems like a pretty good indicator.

Appears to be a solid addition if it happens. Plus, has 2 years left.

BTW, does anyone have a handle on whether Sean would/is dipping his toes into the international market if a stud center were available?

The MI visit was cancelled.

[Xavier]

For those who care about transfer rankings, CBS put this out: https://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...its-to-baylor/

It has both Maddox and Conwell ahead of Des. Think it’s putting a bit too much weight on Des 25% career 3 pt percentage, though.

[GoMuskies]

It's hard to undervalue how atrocious he's been from 3. Particularly in the modern game. Sounds like there's some chance he can fix his shot if an injury was truly affecting his shot. But that % is brutal.

[Xavier]

No doubt about it. Teams sort of stopped guarding him from 3. Wasn’t quite daring him to shoot but didn’t close out hard or stay too close around the perimeter. Suppose you can look at it in two ways but I think it’s all the more impressive he could score the way he did despite his shot and teams knowing/defending him that way.

[flatspat]

Any updates on Absom visit
Did Garrison visit
Thanks

[Xville]

For those of you who questioned what I said about Duncomb and mental health (hey lou and my other trolls), Fritschner said on the podcast that was released today that that is why he stepped away this past season.

As for Abson..visit went well. I believe he will hear where he has committed today. X is in a good spot, but nothing is official until its official.

I don't believe Garrison visited. It was reported last week that he may, but it never materialized. If Abson commits, that ship will have sailed.

[GoMuskies]

Duncomb was never expected to contribute, though, was he?

[Xville]

Duncomb was never expected to contribute, though, was he?

My best guess is no. Winthrop will be a good spot for him for all things i have heard.

[BandDad]

It seems that everyone is missing that we have two major question marks for next year - Hunter and Free. Both are coming off serious medical situations and I would think Sean is not counting heavily on either one. If he does, he risks having another season like last year. Therefore he is trying to assemble as much talent as possible and will have to sort it out in the end if everyone is health and pans out.

Best case scenario - everyone healthy

C - Hugley, Absom (assuming he is coming)
PF - Free, Hunter
SF - Swain/Foster
SG - Conwell, Maddox/Foster
PG - McKnight, Maddox

Outside looking in - Green and Powell

More realistic with either Free and/or Hunter not able to produce - now we play smaller
C - Hugley, Absom
PF - Free/Hunter, Absom, Swain
SF - Swain, Foster, Powell
SG - Conwell, Maddox, Foster
PG - McKnight, Maddox, Green

I know Sean favors 7-8 guys, but with the pace he wants to play out, more guys are going to need more minutes to keep the top guys from wearing out. Jay Wright could only go 7 deep because he played at a pace that was conducive for that. Sean doesn't.