- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
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"Penciled in" is not told they would be a starter.I mean, you're wrong, on some of these at least. We went up against some of the biggest transfer names for Spencer. He visited Miami (coming off Final Four with success with transfers like Omier and Pack) who had Life Wallet NIL money. We knew we had a hole at the 2 and he was absolutely penciled in to be a starter from Day 1.
Newton also was penciled in to start. There was some internal questioning about whether Jackson would play PG and Newton play more of a combo role, but that's it. He was always thought to be in the starting lineup (though Diarra pushed him in practice because Diarra is more Hurley's "style" of player and brought more intensity in the workouts). He was coveted, though the transfer portal wasn't as en vogue when he came out and we had the inside track from our AAC days so he only visited us. He was All-Conference AAC with multiple years remaining. People wanted him.
As you say, Cole wasn't brought in to start, but that's because he had to sit out a year. Martin was more "in the mix" because he needed to get a waiver or he wouldn't have been immediately eligible. He won the job early on, he was starting game 2 he played for us.
For a top 20 transfer, yeah, you probably have to make promises to them. Our guys weren't top 20 transfers. The conversation to these transfers is "we have a hole at this position, there is lots of playing time to be earned". Can anyone show where Hurley has said so and so was promised a starting role. Show me.. Ive never seen it. You make those promises to a player and the moment things dont pan out youve got pissed off people and bad chemistry.Lol. UConn would not have gotten commitments from Newton & Spencer without guaranteeing them a starting job, that’s how this work man. And yes, they were absolutely coveted recruits, what are you even talking about?. And RJ Cole? Let’s not forget he had an official visit lined up to Alabama before he committed, Nate Oats wanted him.