2025 Transfer Portal

[XUGRAD80]

This statement is true every year. Nothing is guaranteed, but your main program goal every year is to make the tournament.

Fans have to have the same level of expectations. In the NIL era, it's been proven this type of rebuild is very much possible for the programs that are worth a damn. If you're saying we can't get there in year one, it's kind of saying "we're not worthy".

There’s a world of difference between being a “goal” and being the “expectation”.

Unless Pitino is bringing in the Fab 5, I would not expect X to take a roster of sophomores from low major schools and turn them into a squad that is going to finish in the top half of the BE.

We really shouldn’t be talking about expectations until we see what the roster looks like. I have no problem with having the tourney as a goal, but if it was easy EVERY team would do it.

[drudy23]

There’s a world of difference between being a “goal” and being the “expectation”.

Unless Pitino is bringing in the Fab 5, I would not expect X to take a roster of sophomores from low major schools and turn them into a squad that is going to finish in the top half of the BE.

We really shouldn’t be talking about expectations until we see what the roster looks like. I have no problem with having the tourney as a goal, but if it was easy EVERY team would do it.

Ugh. Keep this mentality away from the Cintas Center.

This is exactly the mindset from fans that drives me nuts. Mid major thinking for sure.

You're either playing with the big boys or you're not.

Expectations are no different because of the circumstances. They can't be if you want to continue to be in the big boy pool.

[drudy23]

While I agree to a certain extent, I think if x is getting mostly freshmen and sophs there is also a look toward the future as well and actually building a program vs going after one year rentals. I like this approach. Maybe the rest of the roster is fillled out with those one and done players but we shall see.

How do you convince kids to stick around without some rule changes?

Literally, teams with amazing success are still having most of their roster test the portal. If everyone is a free agent, that's never going to change unless there are rule changes. 99% of free agents are always going to test the market. It will be no different at X.

I don't know why people think the reality of the NIL world isn't going to apply to X as well. Sure, a couple will stick around because they love X - but most will search for the bigger payday. These schools have no way of controlling a player testing the market, so it will most assuredly happen every year unless there are sweeping controls put in place by whoever runs this shitshow (which seems like no one at this point).

[D-West & PO-Z]

Can we knock off the wait til 26-27 crap. We're going to the Dance next March. Pitino wants to build, but he also wants to win.

I’m not sure if we will go to the dance, not even will be once our whole roster is together, but I’m generally right here with you.

If next year is bad I won’t be out on Pitino, but I’m not for giving him a free pass in year 1. The blueprints are out there for power programs with similar budgets to be tourney teams (or at least close) in year 1 with total or close to total rebuilds.

44% of those 1 year coaches made the tourney in year 1.

We better be competitive next year.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Exactly. We're not St. Louis. The goal and the push EVERY YEAR, regardless of circumstances, is to make the tournament.

Damn, the Billikens catching strays! Cmon drudy!

[D-West & PO-Z]

This statement is true every year. Nothing is guaranteed, but your main program goal every year is to make the tournament.

Fans have to have the same level of expectations. In the NIL era, it's been proven this type of rebuild is very much possible for the programs that are worth a damn. If you're saying we can't get there in year one, it's kind of saying "we're not worthy".

It's a completely different world now, what's happened in the past doesn't really apply.

Big difference between willing and capable. The program is certainly capable, but they have to be willing. It's a new world and you need to be all-in (no pun intended) on a new approach, otherwise, it's just the same ole same ole Cincinnati mindset of looking backwards and re-hashing the past.

Reps! Public and the other kind!

[D-West & PO-Z]

How do you convince kids to stick around without some rule changes?

Literally, teams with amazing success are still having most of their roster test the portal. If everyone is a free agent, that's never going to change unless there are rule changes. 99% of free agents are always going to test the market. It will be no different at X.

I don't know why people think the reality of the NIL world isn't going to apply to X as well. Sure, a couple will stick around because they love X - but most will search for the bigger payday. These schools have no way of controlling a player testing the market, so it will most assuredly happen every year unless there are sweeping controls put in place by whoever runs this shitshow (which seems like no one at this point).

Somewhat agree somewhat disagree.

I do think if out only ends up with fresh/sophs and hoping for them to develop and stick around that’s a risky strategy.

However, I also think if miller doesn’t leave not every guys is in the portal either. Like 2 years ago free and swain and McKnight didn’t all enter the portal even though surely someone could have given them more money. So there is certainly something to be said for bringing in some guys with several years left and some upside getting them in your system building the relationship then having success and wanting to stay. And X can ALSO pay the guys they want to keep some decent money. So it all plays a factor.

I just don’t agree that every player every year at every school is going to enter the portal looking to make more. Bc that’s not what has happened at X or a lot of other places that have some money to spend.

[Xavier]

The only years in the past 15 I didn’t have the expectation of making the tournament: Steele first year (the roster was awful, first year coach, etc) and last year (losing your starting front court, who were suppose to be leaders of the team, with no depth pieces in place and too late to fix). In the portal era, a coaching change isn’t changing my expectation. We should make the tournament.

All year people were saying “you gotta have a mix of development, recruiting, and transfers” and now that Pitino is showing he likes to develop and build a team- people say “it’s pointless, you start from scratch every year”. Both can’t be true. 3 players left his MW championship team and he had Pieces in place to win the 4 bid league again. It’s clearly important he values some core players

[drudy23]

The next few years are going to be very different than what we're used to as Xavier fans - and honestly, it's what I'm looking forward to the most.

I will have very little patience for fans that cling to the past and aren't open to a new way. We're going to have a completely different profile of player. A completely new scheduling philosophy. A completely new style, especially on the defensive end. A coach that has ZERO ties to what once was.

Hopefully new halftime shows, hopefully new in-game promos, hopefully new music at intros, hopefully new songs the band plays, hopefully new sponsors, hopefully new pretzels, hopefully new everything. I enjoy it, but it's been the same for a looooooooong time.

New things have to be embraced. For whatever reason, people in this city love being somewhat in the shadows with the ability to surprise people vs. being aggressive from the front. Like "well, we're still just this small Midwestern liberal arts college where much shouldn't be expected. Look how much we've accomplished being the small fish in the big sea" - we're past that now. It's time to grow up, fans included. Just tired of the safe and traditional Midwest mental approach to athletics in this city, as you can probably tell.

Just a general point for the future. A new era is upon us.

[Xavier]

Was back and forth on renewing tickets towards end of the year. But I am with Pitino. Look forward to watching something different, and in the future bigger schools/games in the non con. Prolly too late to get the new scheduling philosophy in place for this upcoming season.