Loyality and the Portal

[CocoHusky]

I have had a lot of myths destroyed during my extended time on the planet. The ones you bring up aren’t included. Geno is on record talking to Paige about playing time.

And the portal is new. It also changes everything because players can transfer without losing a year. We are seeing a multi number of players from almost every team entering the portal. That kind of movement never came close to happening before the portal. Do you think that’s a coincidence?

My myths are in tact. Yours seem shaky.

Geno is on record a stating that Paige doesn't like to come out of games and he is also has been record as saying he does not like the way the team looks when Paige is not out there on the floor. I could see how you would mistake that as a conversation about more playing time for Paige who was the National Player of the year who just happen to average 36.2 MPG in her freshman season- good one!

The point has already been made that immediate eligibility for everyone changes everything and is the most significant aspect of the portal. The transfer portal has been around since 2018. Immediate eligibility for everyone did not come into existence until 2021. Your myth however center around the erroneous claim that the portal is a "new tool" for Geno to improve the roster. The UCONN roster has included 1 or more transfers since 2014-15 and will continue to do so through the 2022-23 season. Geno has been using transfers to improve the roster=nothing new! And not to further blow your mind but immediate eligibility is also not new for some transfers-ever heard of Jessica Shepard?

 

[LoboDays]

Regardless of what has or hasn’t happened, the portal, as it is being used today, has changed the sport. Players of different abilities are leaving their current programs in droves for different reasons. One of those reasons is the result of being told where your future is if you stay.

Many here seem think that it was made clear to Piath where her future stood in an honest and polite assessment. I don’t think Geno lined up the players and said: “everyone with a future here, take one step forward………where you going Piath?” But the message was there.

Regarding the quality of players entering the portal….. coaches aren’t looking for an AA. They are looking for a player to fill a need. A player that will improve the team. It may be true that the majority of players entering the portal are not candidates to join an elite program…..but not all of them.

Whatever your opinion may be, the teams we root for will see players leave. And new players come in for a year or two. We won’t be able to watch all our players grow and evolve to valuable contributors. Some will be replaced.

That environment is a sad fact. And it won’t be long before we see a very significant player enter the portal.

 

[visitingcock]

Question: When a H.S. student SIGNS a letter of intent ... a written contract as
I think of it, is the school and the H.S. student commiting to four years?
In a different context, or the same context, the similiar question: Can a play
opt to sit on the bench, i.e. not play per the coach's discretion, and "complete'
the original " contract' to obtain her four years of education? I recall major
league baseball players signing long contracts, not living up to their potential
( whatever that might be), and the baseball team having to pay out the
remaining of their obligation. Please help me.... is the concept different?.
Could Piath have decided to stay at UCONN and collect the remaining
two years of the agreement? thanks for any insights and clarifications. Z

Varies by school.

South Carolina gives 4 year guarantees to ALL student athletes on scholarships.
Yes, a player can ride the bench for 4 if she chooses. In fact, even if Dawn were to tell her not to practice, her scholly is guaranteed.

We have one who will be a senior next year. She was initially a walk on who came in with our excellent 2019 class. She was awarded a scholly her sophomore year. The other players in her class love her but she’ll never be anything but a deep bencher. I doubt she even considers transferring. As a senior, I would love to see her get one start against Clemson because she is a home state girl.

 

[CocoHusky]

Regardless of what has or hasn’t happened, the portal, as it is being used today, has changed the sport. Players of different abilities are leaving their current programs in droves for different reasons. One of those reasons is the result of being told where your future is if you stay.

Many here seem think that it was made clear to Piath where her future stood in an honest and polite assessment. I don’t think Geno lined up the players and said: “everyone with a future here, take one step forward………where you going Piath?” But the message was there.

Regarding the quality of players entering the portal….. coaches aren’t looking for an AA. They are looking for a player to fill a need. A player that will improve the team. It may be true that the majority of players entering the portal are not candidates to join an elite program…..but not all of them.

Whatever your opinion may be, the teams we root for will see players leave. And new players come in for a year or two. We won’t be able to watch all our players grow and evolve to valuable contributors. Some will be replaced.

That environment is a sad fact. And it won’t be long before we see a very significant player enter the portal.

I don't understand your newly found irrational fear of the portal or the fear of additional players transferring form UCONN. I can absolutely guarantee you that other very talented UCONN players will decide to transfer maybe even as early as tomorrow. In the history of women's college basketball has a more talented player than Elena Delle Donne transferred from any university? UCONN survived then and it will in the future-have no fear.

What is most irksome about what you and "others" are alleging ( Piath was encouraged or asked to leave to make room for a portal player) is typified by the title of this thread with the use of the word loyalty. Apparently you perceive that loyalty as as only working one way-from Geno to his players. Shouldn't loyalty be a two way street? That was a rhetorical question. Two way loyalty would mean there was no portal and that would certainly alleviate your fears -but it would probably be replaced by a new one. Geno's job is to put the most talented team on the floor possible and given the amount of talented players in the portal he would be negligent to not evaluate the players in the portal. Likewise Piath would be negligent to not honestly evaluate her situation and if possible move towards a better one. I'm fairly certain that is what happened here because that is exactly the same thing that is going on at every college in the US.

 

[LoboDays]

Loyalty goes both ways as I mentioned in the original post

 

[Biff]

Loyalty goes both ways as I mentioned in the original post

I think you mean to say loyalty should go both ways, at least that's what I'm understanding from this thread. Additionally, you are continually implying, without evidence of any kind that I've seen, that loyalty has somehow not been given from Geno. You go on to fabricate arguments to support your implication as true.

None of your arguments rise above the level of speculation and are completely inconsistent with UConn past practices.

You don't know the details of what went into this decision and none of us likely ever will so stop spreading your theory as if it's an indisputable fact. Not only is it disputable, based on historical evidence it's pretty unlikely.

 

[LoboDays]

I think you mean to say loyalty should go both ways, at least that's what I'm understanding from this thread. Additionally, you are continually implying, without evidence of any kind that I've seen, that loyalty has somehow not been given from Geno. You go on to fabricate arguments to support your implication as true.

None of your arguments rise above the level of speculation and are completely inconsistent with UConn past practices.

You don't know the details of what went into this decision and none of us likely ever will so stop spreading your theory as if it's an indisputable fact. Not only is it disputable, based on historical evidence it's pretty unlikely.

These are my opinions. Where have I ever said they were indisputable facts? IMO , the portal was a game changer in different ways. I shared my opinions about it. Thanks for allowing me to do so.

 

[Skeets]

The portal and immediate eligibility changes many things. I'm pretty sure one of those things is the level of angst a coach may have when a player announces they want to transfer. The coach can go shopping in the portal for another player, maybe as good or better than the player leaving. Prior to the portal, if all the HS kids were snatched up the coach didn't have very many good options. This portal situation weakens, but hopefully doesn't eliminate, "loyalty" on both ends of the relationship.

Over the years I gravitated from MBB to WBB basketball because of the ability to watch young people grow into successful adults for 4 years, rather than "1 and done". The portal isn't helping that.

 

[freshler40]

The portal and immediate eligibility changes many things. I'm pretty sure one of those things is the level of angst a coach may have when a player announces they want to transfer. The coach can go shopping in the portal for another player, maybe as good or better than the player leaving. Prior to the portal, if all the HS kids were snatched up the coach didn't have very many good options. This portal situation weakens, but hopefully doesn't eliminate, "loyalty" on both ends of the relationship.

Over the years I gravitated from MBB to WBB basketball because of the ability to watch young people grow into successful adults for 4 years, rather than "1 and done". The portal isn't helping that.

There is some and good truth in all these comments. Freedom of movement is a basic condition in this country but NCAA sports has, with Washington approval. removed that for some time. I get the loyalty thing, nice if it works both ways. Portals leave indentureship in the past but bring much uncertainty to the sports world. We will survive.

Look at baseball teams, football as well, moving to other cities, entire teams, were they loyal to their local fans? When the Dodgers moved to LA many years ago I could not long follow them due to time issues and lack of then local coverage. My team drifted away. Money was the big thing. It continues to rule sports. Where on line betting brings us we fear to know.

 

[Zarathustra]

Varies by school.

South Carolina gives 4 year guarantees to ALL student athletes on scholarships.
Yes, a player can ride the bench for 4 if she chooses. In fact, even if Dawn were to tell her not to practice, her scholly is guaranteed.

We have one who will be a senior next year. She was initially a walk on who came in with our excellent 2019 class. She was awarded a scholly her sophomore year. The other players in her class love her but she’ll never be anything but a deep bencher. I doubt she even considers transferring. As a senior, I would love to see her get one start against Clemson because she is a home state girl.

NICE! Thanks for the Gamecock perspective. I learn something every day!! Z