Entering the portal - 2026

[Magic32]

I would think Ball hits the portal if Mullins comes back. Why would he accept a 6th man role?

Could probably make more at UConn, even as a 6th man because he has an established fan base and it surely seems like he bleeds blue with that tattoo. Shooting percentage and defense aren't as appealing as many in the portal but I'd love to have him back.

 

[RuffRuff]

Not sure what happened to the UConn interest thread. Know nothing about this kid, but UNM has pumped out some great transfers over the years (Dent, Toppin). It feels like the league with the best transfer talent.



Illinois has one interesting recruiting model.

 

[MrJama100]

100% - it's low character. You're part of a team, have teammates counting on you and are lucky enough to be part of a tourney run to the CG and you come out looking like you at a sh$t sandwich and look lifeless. His minutes in the CG looked like he didn't care. Go take your three pointers and your 50% FT shooting to UK.

In his 39 minutes in the tourney he had 6 pts and 3 rebounds and 10 fouls.

I think this is why we need to give more credit to Mahaney. I'm sure he, his group, and our coaching staff all knew he was going to transfer. Yet he played his best down the stretch, and was an asset. Rather than disconnect, he stepped up. I wish Reibe did the same, but we all saw him fade away. Not everyone works out.

 

[superjohn]

Not sure what happened to the UConn interest thread. Know nothing about this kid, but UNM has pumped out some great transfers over the years (Dent, Toppin). It feels like the league with the best transfer talent.



Illinois has one interesting recruiting model.

We don't need a shooting guard, we're set up better than anyone in the country at that position.

 

[gsmooth]

Biggest splash by far

 

[MrJama100]

Could probably make more at UConn, even as a 6th man because he has an established fan base and it surely seems like he bleeds blue with that tattoo. Shooting percentage and defense aren't as appealing as many in the portal but I'd love to have him back.

Don't sleep on Solo. He was injured all last year, and he still made some great plays. His rebounding in the NCAAs saved the Duke game, if not others. He may be a star again next year.

 

[gsmooth]

Vision lol. More like an aggressive offer.

Those two costed a lot for sure and you know they won't be driving around a jalopy like this...

in Louisville.

We will most likely never know, but I want to know what caused Flory Bidunga to leave Kansas in the first place. Were they just not meeting his price, or his agent's price?

 

[gsmooth]

My two goals are 1) UConn wins, and 2) no one else repeats, so I'm happy to see Louisville buying the best guys this time instead of Michigan

My goals every year are 1) UConn wins, but if they can't then 2) no one repeats, and 3) Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and Kentucky don't win. So yes, seeing Louisville acquire two blue chip transfers doesn't bother me at all.

 

[AllHusky]

We have history within the last 5 years that absolutely supports @navery12 ’s point.

I hope we are not counting on Stewart and Ross as starters or next year !

One will start

 

[Bigbrad1029]

My goals every year are 1) UConn wins, but if they can't then 2) on one repeats, and 3) Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and Kentucky don't win. So yes, seeing Louisville acquire to blue chip transfers doesn't bother me at all.

Great goals ! lol

 

[AllHusky]

I said it early this year. We have enough wing type guys. We need a Power Forward à la the Mailman. A Yaxel type guy. I wondered why we didn’t really push to get him this year. JP Toppin, Zuby, for you old guys Anthony Mason or Charles Oakley.

Hazel came with Dusty from FAU, yes?

 

[DCKembaFan]

My goals every year are 1) UConn wins, but if they can't then 2) no one repeats, and 3) Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and Kentucky don't win. So yes, seeing Louisville acquire to blue chip transfers doesn't bother me at all.

True, that's a good addition to the list. Also not Syracuse obviously, but that isn't happening anytime soon anyway

 

[gsmooth]

Great goals ! lol

I do what I can 😊

 

[Scrutineer]

Given that Landrew has never played a second of college basketball, thinking he’ll start over a guy who is a first round pick is a choice.

This is the Boneyard, isn't it?

 

[uconnfan68]

Estonia is a Baltic state, not a Balkan state. Underwood must be a bit confused.

Close enough.

 

[Vuce]

If this is true and Louisville spent $9 mil on two guys the NIL budgets are about to take another leap. Another year or two and this will be the standard for top 30 players in the portal. Escalation won’t stop

 

[king conn]

If this is true and Louisville spent $9 mil on two guys the NIL budgets are about to take another leap. Another year or two and this will be the standard for top 30 players in the portal. Escalation won’t stop

And here is your starting point for the new ncaa clearing house

 

[uconnfan68]

And here is your starting point for the new ncaa clearing house

And an asterisk if they win.

 

[Horatio]

My goals every year are 1) UConn wins, but if they can't then 2) no one repeats, and 3) Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and Kentucky don't win. So yes, seeing Louisville acquire two blue chip transfers doesn't bother me at all.

Exactly!!!! My exact thoughts. The pettiness is NECESSARY

 

[superjohn]

If this is true and Louisville spent $9 mil on two guys the NIL budgets are about to take another leap. Another year or two and this will be the standard for top 30 players in the portal. Escalation won’t stop

We don't know what they are being paid and we don't know the future.

 

[BGesus4]

If this is true and Louisville spent $9 mil on two guys the NIL budgets are about to take another leap. Another year or two and this will be the standard for top 30 players in the portal. Escalation won’t stop

That’s news to me that 30% spent 9m or more - that’s like 100 schools

 

[RuffRuff]

The all euro 5 is almost complete

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Another portal guy w UConn interest:



16.4 ppg, 44 3P%

 

[Vuce]

We don't know what they are being paid and we don't know the future.

Half the topics on this board are about the future.

 

[FearThePups]

Hazel came with Dusty from FAU, yes?

Yaxel came from University of Alabama Birmingham so not with Dusty. Kentucky was going to pay Yaxel $7M but he turned it down to play for Dusty at Michigan who had brought FAU to the final four a few years back.

 

[RuffRuff]

Yaxel came from University of Alabama Birmingham so not with Dusty. Kentucky was going to pay Yaxel $7M but he turned it down to play for Dusty at Michigan who had brought FAU to the final four a few years back.

What is going on in that situation if that is true? In no world does a kid pass up on millions. So either it's:

1) Not true
2) Something weird with UK NIL
3) NO one wants to play for Pope

 

[BigTenFan]

I hope Louisville crashes and burns next season.
How do you build a team whem you spend that kind of money gir two players who are strictly mercenaries.
No Thanks....

 

[HW611]

Flory committed to Louisville.

Wouldnt be the first or last time some insiders were wrong.

 

[FearThePups]

What is going on in that situation if that is true? In no world does a kid pass up on millions. So either it's:

1) Not true
2) Something weird with UK NIL
3) NO one wants to play for Pope

It’s definitely number 2 and perhaps number 3 as well. It was reported in a few places that Lendeborg wanted to improve as a player, hence wanting to play for a Dusty May or Danny in our case. I’m sure Michigan would pay Yaxel more that we would. So he got more money from Michigan than staying at UAB, not as much if he went to KY and felt he’d improve his game. That’s what I think Reibe did not think through.

 

[RuffRuff]

It’s definitely number 2 and perhaps number 3 as well. It was reported in a few places that Lendeborg wanted to improve as a player, hence wanting to play for a Dusty May or Danny in our case. I’m sure Michigan would pay Yaxel more that we would. So he got more money from Michigan than staying at UAB, not as much if he went to KY and felt he’d improve his game. That’s what I think Reibe did not think through.

My call - Reibe ends up playing the 4, guess is UK. I don't think the kid has any interest in banging, wants to face the basket. I bet Pope the Dope looks to keep up with some of these other teams doing the big at the 4 and uses it to get him.