Entering the portal - 2026

[gsmooth]

Lewis got to play 30mpg with the ball in his hands from day 1 and is still entering the portal, this era of cbb is wild. I figured Lewis/Perkins/Lindsay would be a given to return and Willard could build out the rest of the roster from there.

When seeing this at first my reaction was to be suprised. Acaden was given the keys to the car and had a very good year with 30 mpg. My thought was "why would he leave?". Again this was my visceral initial reaction, but when taking 60 seconds to think about it more ........ the quotes below are good explanations.

I think a lot of the high profile portal entries are plays for more NIL from their teams. Getting kind of ridiculous, but I expect Nova to pay him and he stays.

I know the EO itself is BS, but I hope that those rules somehow get legally implemented to curb the insanity.

Gets to the point where unless you really are connected to a program, the default is to test and put yourself out there.

We have to remember, or maybe it's just me that has to remember, these guys have agents, handlers, and family that influence the player and that want more money. It's not necessarily the player, in this case Acaden Lewis demanding a change. And if that means ultimately transferring to another school or simply using other schools to leverage a bidding war to get your current school to pay more, so be it.

 

[uconn_jack]

Do you really think it works like that? He's 4/10 and 4/14 with a logo shot and a banked three baked in. I honestly don't see his stock moving at all off these last two.

If anything, Tarris has upped his stock considerably - I didn't think so at first, but this has just been beyond unreal in terms of his tourney performance.

Even scouts are human. Winners get more attention. I'm not saying Mullins was off their radar, he was till goong first round, but if we had lost to Duke, the last impression of Mullins for scouts would have been 10 games of crappy shooting and meh play. So yes, I think the last 2 games has helped his draft stock enough to make it even harder to consider staying.

 

[Slim Marlo]

We need a 5 badly and a 4 no doubt. Reibe will be a good one (there are rumors his team wasn’t happy) but you saw why we need someone as good or better. And the 4 is huge as well. Maybe JR County becomes a Wagler?

Hoping our freshman guard comes in and plays like a top 8 draft pick is a crazy expectation

 

[WeAreUCONN]

Riding endorphins off a couple wins isn't a great view. This is a very wrong take.

I say this with 💯 truth. I was speaking to someone who went to the Big East tourney. On the train ride home, they were speaking with an older gentlemen, just small talk because they were both UConn fans. This older gentlemen claimed he had dinner with the Mullins family in NY City during the tourney. He stated there’s Zero Chance that Mullins returns after speaking to his dad at dinner. So there’s that.

 

[Nameless]

Not sure what to think about this kid. Hopefully the BE can retain him, or else another year of a lot going out with who knows what's coming in. The Nijel James watch is on.

What do you mean by the Nigel James watch is on? If you're talking about him potentially transferring, he announced before their season even ended he was returning to Marquette

 

[Nameless]

Lewis got to play 30mpg with the ball in his hands from day 1 and is still entering the portal, this era of cbb is wild. I figured Lewis/Perkins/Lindsay would be a given to return and Willard could build out the rest of the roster from there.

I'm thinking he is just testing the waters of both the portal and the draft and will go where the money leads him. There's a chance he returns but I'm definitely not a fan of the mercenary mentality

 

[Fan1978]

He was one of the best defenders on the team. That was his job and role.

He started off as a really good 3 and D player. Then the 3 fell all the way off later in the year. And he was the last offensive option on the floor.

He should’ve found somewhere that he could stay and continue to get better and earn more trust from the stuff to shoot more offensively as he got better. Transferring is only going to reset the trust he needs to earn in a staff and teammates.

How many rebounds in 20 minutes? Guy was a total non factor

 

[aceboon]

I think a lot of the high profile portal entries are plays for more NIL from their teams. Getting kind of ridiculous, but I expect Nova to pay him and he stays.

I know the EO itself is BS, but I hope that those rules somehow get legally implemented to curb the insanity.

Nova pages seem to think he's gone

 

[Fan1978]

Because it’s a board rule…and a wing is a wing

Because his dad mentioned him staying and he is physically not ready for NBA. If he leaves, he may be headed down hawkins parh. If he stays and gets stronger he will play 10-15 years in NBA

 

[Fan1978]

I say this with 💯 truth. I was speaking to someone who went to the Big East tourney. On the train ride home, they were speaking with an older gentlemen, just small talk because they were both UConn fans. This older gentlemen claimed he had dinner with the Mullins family in NY City during the tourney. He stated there’s Zero Chance that Mullins returns after speaking to his dad at dinner. So there’s that.

This is better than chief urinal talk

 

[gsmooth]

Nova pages seem to think he's gone

That's a damn shame if Nova loses him.

 

[3rdbass]

Nova pages seem to think he's gone

He has chance of NBA. I guess just testing what he will need to do to make it in the NBA. Sucks Villanova couldn't keep him.

 

[Drfla]

He was 5-14 with a three point bank shot last night, made some awful decisions. I think people have to slow their roll. He made a key shot off a nice set and we won, keep it in perspective.

What awful decisions?

 

[RuffRuff]

What awful decisions?

He made a couple - got stuffed forcing a baseline jumper, retained the block, then threw a pass away as one example.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Carlton played at the wrong time. 10 years earlier or 10 years later, he would have been a major contributor. The generation of analytics that existed when he played at UConn de-emphasized interior play, and has since been proven wrong.

Ehh, he got plenty of offensive looks here. The issue is he wasn’t that good. He got up almost 7 shots a game in 20 minutes his last year as a starter here and shot under 50%. That’s not good as a post player that exclusively works in the paint. Defensively he also just didnt fit well with what Hurley was trying to run.

 

[djct1999]

He was 5-14 with a three point bank shot last night, made some awful decisions. I think people have to slow their roll. He made a key shot off a nice set and we won, keep it in perspective.

Mullins has been less than 100% all season and his injuries without question hampered his shot. You put him in a gym with any gm and they are walking out wanting to draft him. He will absolutely be drafted in the lottery and your bias is absurd.

 

[RuffRuff]

Mullins has been less than 100% all season and his injuries without question hampered his shot. You put him in a gym with any gm and they are walking out wanting to draft him. He will absolutely be drafted in the lottery and your bias is absurd.

My bias? I'd love for him to get drafted in the lottery. If it's bias you're looking for, I'll grab you a mirror.

Check in with me on draft day or announcement they're coming back to Uconn day.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Nova pages seem to think he's gone

Players like Lewis are the reason so many coaches don't bother with high school players anymore.

 

[boog204]

Lewis got to play 30mpg with the ball in his hands from day 1 and is still entering the portal, this era of cbb is wild. I figured Lewis/Perkins/Lindsay would be a given to return and Willard could build out the rest of the roster from there.

Always seemed like Lewis wanted more than Nova. Wouldn’t be shocked if he’s supremely paid to be the guy, as it seems he wanted from the start, at Kentucky or St Johns.

 

[RuffRuff]

Always seemed like Lewis wanted more than Nova. Wouldn’t be shocked if he’s supremely paid to be the guy, as it seems he wanted from the start, at Kentucky or St Johns.

Poaching kids from your own conference has a certain stench to it. Especially if it's from a former mentor.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Poaching kids from your own conference has a certain stench to it. Especially if it's from a former mentor.

This is Rick Pitino we're talking about.

 

[Ripper32]

I say this with 💯 truth. I was speaking to someone who went to the Big East tourney. On the train ride home, they were speaking with an older gentlemen, just small talk because they were both UConn fans. This older gentlemen claimed he had dinner with the Mullins family in NY City during the tourney. He stated there’s Zero Chance that Mullins returns after speaking to his dad at dinner. So there’s that.

They auctioned off his locker which was another tell.

 

[mauconnfan]

Hoping our freshman guard comes in and plays like a top 8 draft pick is a crazy expectation

Do you think I expect it from my post? 🤣🤣 it’s hilarious that you determined that.

You do know Wagler was lucky to be Top 200 right, kind of where I was going.😳

 

[JungleLobo]

Dont need wings!!!

Need a starting 4 and a backup 5.

 

[boog204]

Poaching kids from your own conference has a certain stench to it. Especially if it's from a former mentor.

Yep… and?

 

[JungleLobo]

We're going to have a guy that can shoot at the 4. Reibe took 13 3's all year and 5 of them were against Arizona. It's a nice skill that hopefully teams will have to respect, but it's not something we're going to be relying on in our offense

Here’s the guy: BREAKING: Sam Orme to Enter Transfer Portal

 

[djct1999]

My bias? I'd love for him to get drafted in the lottery. If it's bias you're looking for, I'll grab you a mirror.

Check in with me on draft day or announcement they're coming back to Uconn day.

Will do.

 

[TheRogers]

Is the UCONN section in 101 or 126

 

[Edward Sargent]

He has chance of NBA. I guess just testing what he will need to do to make it in the NBA. Sucks Villanova couldn't keep him.

6'2" PG that can't shoot - no chance he will be drafted

 

[Drumguy]

They auctioned off his locker which was another tell.

they are demolishing the whole locker room, not much of a tell.