Transfer Portal Starting to Load

[UCFan1513]

Good thing is we have Hurley who can get the most out of guys. Just go through and look at the top portal guys last year, a lot of them weren’t even that good or worth the price they got. Hope is UConn gets one stud & finds quality that isn’t necessarily “top transfer” type players. I believe in the staff and their ability to do that. Does really speak to the urgency of getting into a power conference & hopefully that day comes soon. The whole structure of college athletics is silly right now, no other pro sports leagues operate in this manner. But we have to do what we have to do in order to compete.

Exhibit one: The 2024-25 Kansas Jayhawks

 

[bendm]

I think Stew should be good enough to start with the right offseason. He showed some very good growth in season, especially defensively.

D is my concern with him. If Ball, Mullins, Stew, Reed are all starting we’ll have an even worse defensive team than this year.

So much so that I’m not opposed to bringing in a big athletic PF that can play elite D even if they can’t stretch the floor eg Malik R. Our Offense can take a step back and still be good enough but the D needs to take a few steps forward.

Auburn and Houston both start 2 bigs that don’t really stretch the floor compared to a guy like AK.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

D is my concern with him. If Ball, Mullins, Stew, Reed are all starting we’ll have an even worse defensive team than this year.

So much so that I’m not opposed to bringing in a defense-first PF that can’t stretch the floor eg Malik R. Our Offense can take a step back and still be good enough but the D needs to take a few steps forward.

Every time I see someone say Stew got better defensively, I wonder what team they were watching. He needs to work on his D. It was just a couple games ago he got faked so badly in the lane that he reminded me of Kemba "breaking" McGhee's ankle. It seems like he has the athleticism, but maybe not the desire to play D.
Any player UConn looks to bring in has to be slightly above average defensively at the minimum. We saw yesterday how key defense is to what UConn does. For the point guard I would value defense and breaking down a defender on O over other metrics like 3 pt shooting. This team played much better, including in the 2nd half yesterday, when Hass was aggressive in getting by his man. We need someone to create space by drawing defenders.

 

[superjohn]

On the Xavier board they think Conwell and Swain are gone. Both would look good here.

 

[Fatroony5]

 

[HuskyHawk]

It will be telling how our staff feels about Adams/Furphy/Mullins based on how aggressively we pursue 2/3s in the portal. We have enough bodies to cover the wings between them and Solo. But they may not be sold on everyone contributing right away.

I think PF is an interesting position to watch. AK? Stewart? Abraham? Transfer?

 

[FlexOnEm]

Pierre from Providence and Swain from Xavier are in the portal.

 

[TroyHall98]

I think PF is an interesting position to watch. AK? Stewart? Abraham? Transfer?

I am very concerned about the 1 spot. Who do we have aside from Nowell? Do we really hand the keys to an undeveloped Nowell?

 

[Iluvsuebird]

D is my concern with him. If Ball, Mullins, Stew, Reed are all starting we’ll have an even worse defensive team than this year.

So much so that I’m not opposed to bringing in a big athletic PF that can play elite D even if they can’t stretch the floor eg Malik R. Our Offense can take a step back and still be good enough but the D needs to take a few steps forward.

Auburn and Houston both start 2 bigs that don’t really stretch the floor compared to a guy like AK.

how can you possibly know that??? Mullins has height and reach. We know nothing about his motor yet. Adams is 6'5" himself. I will predict that Alex comes back to anchor our team. And I do not care about being mocked, I still think Liam comes back. Something about this kid tells me that he does not want to go out without a ring.

 

[ToolzieFan]

It’s hard to keep up with all the activity, but here’s a Big East player with NBA upside hitting the portal.

 

[ToolzieFan]

One of the biggest names so far. We offered him in 2021, FWIW.

 

[NotADime89]

I am very concerned about the 1 spot. Who do we have aside from Nowell? Do we really hand the keys to an undeveloped Nowell?

2 words. Transfer Portal. Staff has been clear they have a big PG at the top of their wish list

 

[aceboon]

Miller probably taking Swain with him to Texas

 

[TroyHall98]

2 words. Transfer Portal. Staff has been clear they have a big PG at the top of their wish list

Thanks for the color.

 

[bendm]

how can you possibly know that??? Mullins has height and reach. We know nothing about his motor yet. Adams is 6'5" himself. I will predict that Alex comes back to anchor our team. And I do not care about being mocked, I still think Liam comes back. Something about this kid tells me that he does not want to go out without a ring.

I watched the games so I know that AK is a better defender than Stew. And I can read scouting reports which tell me that Mullins is 2” shorter and at least 25 lbs lighter than Liam. I don’t care how good his motor is he will have trouble guarding big wings

 

[HuskyHawk]

I am very concerned about the 1 spot. Who do we have aside from Nowell? Do we really hand the keys to an undeveloped Nowell?

I think we are all expecting a transfer PG with some size. I was hoping Nowell would get some run and show something but recent comments suggest he won't be the guy. Can't say more.

What is the April 9th date all about?

 

[HuskyHawk]

I watched the games so I know that AK is a better defender than Stew. And I can read scouting reports which tell me that Mullins is 2” shorter and at least 25 lbs lighter than Liam. I don’t care how good his motor is he will have trouble guarding big wings

Yeah, I think Mullins is really a SG. Could put in spot duty at the 3, but that can't be his primary position unless he's a lot bigger than he seems.

 

[husky429]

We recruited Mgbako a bit out of HS. Would be a decent AK replacement. Not sure about his shooting and passing--never seen him play. But the other #s look nice.

 

[Jaydumo20]

So he’d go from Bobby to Danny? Interesting.

I keep on having this recurring thought:
They've coached together in the past. Luke and KY will move on at some point. Would Bobby ever coach at UConn with his bro? How loyal is he to 'Them'? The Hurley bros on the recruiting trail would be tough to beat.

 

[bendm]

Yeah, I think Mullins is really a SG. Could put in spot duty at the 3, but that can't be his primary position unless he's a lot bigger than he seems.

And idk what the odds of bringing in 3 transfer starters is, so if both Liam and AK leave then I think Mullins would start alongside Ball.

 

[superjohn]

And idk what the odds of bringing in 3 transfer starters is, so if both Liam and AK leave then I think Mullins would start alongside Ball.

It's why Hurley has talked about bringing in a big point guard.

 

[Slick]

I watched the games so I know that AK is a better defender than Stew. And I can read scouting reports which tell me that Mullins is 2” shorter and at least 25 lbs lighter than Liam. I don’t care how good his motor is he will have trouble guarding big wings

The difference is according to reports Mullins is much more athletic than Liam. He will get a little bigger and stronger before he gets here

 

[RuffRuff]

And idk what the odds of bringing in 3 transfer starters is, so if both Liam and AK leave then I think Mullins would start alongside Ball.

Mullins if not a starter would still be a significant part of the rotation. I wouldn’t want to be in any position where we are reliant on a freshman without having sufficient insurance in place. We learned that this year with Liam.

350 names in the portal.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

We are going to have to ante up to retain a lefty shooter.

When Dan Hurley said half his team has already had offers (a few weeks back, on 60 minutes) he wasn't kidding. Those working outside of the rules aren't playing games.

Many here assumed the half in question was players who weren't seeing a lot of court time, they were not the primary targets.

 

[Edward Sargent]

It’s hard to keep up with all the activity, but here’s a Big East player with NBA upside hitting the portal.

25% from 3 on 28 attempts - ah no. Besides he may be following Miller to Texas

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I saw the kid from Howard referred to as "the most tampered with player in college basketball." I assume the bidding war is going to be nuts if he doesn't know where he's going already.

 

[DFW HOYA]

Oh that's why he seemed familiar. Fall River area seems to be on a roll of late.

Fall River hasn't been on a roll since the mills left town.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

My bones say Alex isn’t coming back. He probably has zero to gain by coming back as his tape is out and he’s a year older, other than NIL that trumps what he’s getting on a 2 2 way.

That is a pretty big "other than".

 

[Coach J]

2 words. Transfer Portal. Staff has been clear they have a big PG at the top of their wish list

Jacob Furphy is a 6'6" PG, not sure if he is quick enough to play in the states right away, but the staff went after him for a reason. I think Mullins most likely starts unless both Liam and AK come back. Also I am excited about Darius Adams he shows some of the playmaking going to the hoop that Castle did, now if he can play that good lock down defense on the perimeter that Castle did then we are back in business.

 

[bendm]

Mullins if not a starter would still be a significant part of the rotation. I wouldn’t want to be in any position where we are reliant on a freshman without having sufficient insurance in place. We learned that this year with Liam.

350 names in the portal.

So you don't think stew and Ross as upperclassmen qualify as insurance? Both would get PT at the 3.