Entering the portal - 2026

[Inyatkin]

I will admit that I too have been slow to accept the current state. I respected the Calhoun process so much growing up that I was more than okay with a down season here and there. The Rip freshman year, the Thabeet class, even Kemba's SO season were all around .500 and preceded championships or big runs. The Calipari and then Krzyzewski way looked cheap, sleezy and boring.

However, if you don't build your team to win now every season then you are left in the dust. Things will change, whether a salary cap and/or pension or multi-year contracts are instituted, but until then this is what we have to do. I do not want Solo Ball to leave but Mullins needs to be the starting 2 guard and that's all there is to it.

Reality bites.

There's every indication Solo and Mullins will start next to each other and both with thrive. Solo being here does not hurt Mullins at all.

 

[HW611]

What in the world is your point then? You’re tacitly acknowledging that the talent level does not equate. How does it make sense that developing and then excelling against high level comp is a bad thing? Steph would’ve portalled in a heartbeat if it was a thing. Would that have been a bad move?

I’m implementing a new rule where if you don’t get something after 3 posts of me explaining it we got to move on.

 

[Bigbrad1029]

I will admit that I too have been slow to accept the current state. I respected the Calhoun process so much growing up that I was more than okay with a down season here and there. The Rip freshman year, the Thabeet class, even Kemba's SO season were all around .500 and preceded championships or big runs. The Calipari and then Krzyzewski way looked cheap, sleezy and boring.

However, if you don't build your team to win now every season then you are left in the dust. Things will change, whether a salary cap and/or pension or multi-year contracts are instituted, but until then this is what we have to do. I do not want Solo Ball to leave but Mullins needs to be the starting 2 guard and that's all there is to it.

Reality bites.

I’m sure that Mullins Dad / team made him playing the 2 part of the negotiation to agree to stay…..he will thrive and possibly become a good secondary ball handler ala Spencer on 24 team, while Landrew / Ross can play the Castle role as a shut defender rebounder on the wing with added ability to sc from three levels….

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Where did I say I liked him?

He joined yesterday, and that was his first post.

 

[Scrutineer]

Change of heart > back to the coaches portal😉

Better offer from UConn?

 

[Inyatkin]

I’m sure that Mullins Dad / team made him playing the 2 part of the negotiation to agree to stay…..he will thrive and possibly become a good secondary ball handler ala Spencer on 24 team, while Landrew / Ross can play the Castle role as a shut defender rebounder on the wing with added ability to sc from three levels….

You're sure of this, are you

 

[Phoenixhusky]

Mullin’s dad did say in his interview yesterday that his son didn’t get to show his ball handling skills. That he was able to bring the ball up a lot during high school and he’s looking forward to showcasing those skills next year

 

[3rdbass]

We are not

I guess we are now after potentially missing on the other 2 bigs we wanted.

 

[OceanDoggie]

At 190lbs the Machot kid would be the lightest kid on the Roster.

 

[Bigbrad1029]

Mullin’s dad did say in his interview yesterday that his son didn’t get to show his ball handling skills. That he was able to bring the ball up a lot during high school and he’s looking forward to showcasing those skills next year

Exactly!

 

[RuffRuff]

I'll give you a cookie if you answer a question directly. I'll even let you do you time machine magic and answer one from years ago.

Do we have a "scout off" going on? Husky429 with his six shooter facing off with HW611.

Let's see which of you two goliaths get closer to the top ten picks of the draft.

 

[willstafa24]

There's every indication Solo and Mullins will start next to each other and both with thrive. Solo being here does not hurt Mullins at all.

Personally I don't think that's correct. Mullins at the 2 allows Khamenia to slide to the 3 and then for us to either let Landrew play the 4 or to grab a guy in the portal. This was the plan if Freeman came on and it was planned bc it's obvious that Solo is better suited to come off the bench. I love Solo but the reality is that he is a shooter and not much else.

Out of loyalty Hurley may elect to start Ball but I think he's seen what that looks like (Samson over Tarris) and he's accepted the reality of this sport right now.

 

[Inyatkin]

Personally I don't think that's correct. Mullins at the 2 allows Khamenia to slide to the 3 and then for us to either let Landrew play the 4 or to grab a guy in the portal. This was the plan if Freeman came on and it was planned bc it's obvious that Solo is better suited to come off the bench. I love Solo but the reality is that he is a shooter and not much else.

Out of loyalty Hurley may elect to start Ball but I think he's seen what that looks like (Samson over Tarris) and he's accepted the reality of this sport right now.

I mean, if we’re just going to make stuff up, sure, have at it

 

[aceboon]

I doubt there would be these "Solo/Braylon can't play together" discussions if either of them would have made wide open 3s consistently at the level we were expecting coming into the season

 

[willstafa24]

I mean, if we’re just going to make stuff up, sure, have at it

Making what up? It's my opinion and I even admitted that Hurley may start Ball. You think the two don't effect each other on the court and I disagree. Can you expound on why you think Ball and Mullins would work starting together?

 

[Excalibur]

I’m implementing a new rule where if you don’t get something after 3 posts of me explaining it we got to move on.

You'll do better in life when you realize that if nobody gets your point (particularly those brighter than you), the problem is not with the recipients. Self-awareness is a skill that can be developed.

 

[navery12]

Making what up? It's my opinion and I even admitted that Hurley may start Ball. You think the two don't effect each other on the court and I disagree. Can you expound on why you think Ball and Mullins would work starting together?

Happy to. We played in the national championship game with those 2 starting together 2 weeks ago

 

[Inyatkin]

Can you expound on why you think Ball and Mullins would work starting together?

34-6 (17-3)

 

[willstafa24]

Happy to. We played in the national championship game with those 2 starting together 2 weeks ago

Are you referring to the 35% shooting the two combined for in the tourney? And not for nothing but Ball scored 11 points with 1 turnover and nothing else in that final.

 

[willstafa24]

34-6 (17-3)

That's not evidence of them playing well together. That could be despite the conflict or that we could have had a more successful season if Ball came off the bench. No on knows but that's not proof of anything.

 

[husky429]

Do we have a "scout off" going on? Husky429 with his six shooter facing off with HW611.

Let's see which of you two goliaths get closer to the top ten picks of the draft.

The difference between me and the dude whose mommy never told him "no" is I'd never tell you I'm always right and I'll admit when I'm wrong.

 

[Inyatkin]

That's not evidence of them playing well together. That could be despite the conflict or that we could have had a more successful season if Ball came off the bench. No on knows but that's not proof of anything.

You said regarding Hurley that "he's accepted the reality of this sport right now" and compared the situation to Reed and Samson Johnson.
There is zero reason to think this is true and that Solo won't start. As to your other point, if two starters don't play well together you don't typically win 34 games

 

[willstafa24]

You said regarding Hurley that "he's accepted the reality of this sport right now" and compared the situation to Reed and Samson Johnson.
There is zero reason to think this is true and that Solo won't start. As to your other point, if two starters don't play well together you don't typically win 34 games

I said, "I think he's seen what that looks like (Samson over Tarris) and he's accepted the reality of this sport right now.". I think.

Again, it was just my opinion and you said I was making things up. There certainly isn't zero reason Solo doesn't start. Also, 'typically' leaves room for the possibility so maybe this year's team was the exception. It's clear that Mullins did not shoot as well as he can and Solo was awful. That's reason enough to evaluate starting both of them.

 

[boog204]

I’m implementing a new rule where if you don’t get something after 3 posts of me explaining it we got to move on.

Something, something common denominators….

 

[tzznandrew]

Even today, Ajay Mitchell may be better than all the transfer ups.

But he was drafted in the second round.

Yaxel won't be. Stirtz won't be.

In that same draft class, Cam Spencer is certainly NOT getting drafted, even in the second round, if he stays at Rutgers (or Patriot League).

There is a value to playing a lot, so but when you're clearly head and shoulders above the competition, better to level up. This isn't coming from someone who likes the consequences as a fan of college basketball in general, but UConn will benefit for the foreseeable future.

 

[boog204]

Do we have a "scout off" going on? Husky429 with his six shooter facing off with HW611.

Let's see which of you two goliaths get closer to the top ten picks of the draft.

All we need is you doing a steady “Dusty” chant…

 

[tzznandrew]

You yourself admit later that the portal era is new. But transferring up doesn't work because there's no "high-level" NBA players produced in what, 2 years? 3?

How many guys are "high level" NBA players in year 1 or 2 of their careers? How many of those guys are from mid-majors?

What percentage of high level NBA players stick in college more than one year? More than two?

Most of the All-NBA players were identified as such well before they started college, so we're talking about exceptional role players and late bloomers, and it will always benefit them from seeing the toughest competition.

 

[tzznandrew]

There's every indication Solo and Mullins will start next to each other and both with thrive. Solo being here does not hurt Mullins at all.

If only there were evidence that they could co-exist, like, say, a year in which they both started their team played in the title game...

 

[RuffRuff]

There is an argument to be made that they could have been 40-0 with a NC.

That's not evidence of them playing well together. That could be despite the conflict or that we could have had a more successful season if Ball came off the bench. No on knows but that's not proof of anything.

All we need is you doing a steady “Dusty” chant…

You're welcome, was accurate on UM too. Maybe start squirming less and listening more.You can pretend Dusty isn't a great coach, because for some reason it takes away from Hurley. I'll live in the reality that Hurley is a great coach, but so is Dusty. Would seem reasonable.

 

[tzznandrew]

Mullin’s dad did say in his interview yesterday that his son didn’t get to show his ball handling skills. That he was able to bring the ball up a lot during high school and he’s looking forward to showcasing those skills next year

That's because he was hurt, not because of Ball. There were 100% moments in which he brought the ball up. Just rewatched the Duke game and it definitely happened. UConn has a PG, but it doesn't always need Demary to lead the action.

It doesn't matter which "number" he plays. He'll continue to get the chance to initiate offense, particularly if he is healthy.