Why UConn MBB coach Dan Hurley handles NCAA transfer portal better than Big East foes

[superjohn]

It's true, but I'm a little bit worried that they are pivoting and going away from the formula that worked and no longer signing those 4*s. We have this backbone with Alex/Solo/Jaylin/Jayden now, but we have no sophs left who were recruits, our only freshman this year is a 1-and-D potentially, and next year only County seems like that type of guy (Landrew more of the 1-and-D).

Abraham and Nowell seems to have spoiled the recipe, so they're pivoting to mostly multi-year transfers and a 1-and-D per class now.

We're going to have Demary, Solo, Reibe, Stewart, and Jayden Ross back next season and Landrew and County aren't expected to be one and dones. This isn't considered a good class and there was no bigs worth going after. Get another high impact center, a backup point guard, and a power forward/wing in the portal. We'll have a big haul in the '27 high school class and get some high impact guys in the portal like we always do.

 

[auror]

We're going to have Demary, Solo, Reibe, Stewart, and Jayden Ross back next season and Landrew and County aren't expected to be one and dones. This isn't considered a good class and there was no bigs worth going after. Get another high impact center, a backup point guard, and a power forward/wing in the portal. We'll have a big haul in the '27 high school class and get some high impact guys in the portal like we always do.

I did forget about Reibe, so that's on me. And Furphy really. Brain fart.

 

[pj]

Can schools do that? I don't think they can. I thought the revenue sharing had to come from athletic department generated revenues, like ticket sales, media contracts, sponsorships, etc. 22% of these revenues, capped at $20.5 million, and increasing 4% annually for the first 2 years and then it will be re-evaluated. Not sure how the NCAA will enforce most of this stuff but at least that's the theory behind revenue sharing.

Why can't the athletic department sell T-shirts for $1 million each, and have the guy buy 20?

 

[uconngb]

Why can't the athletic department sell T-shirts for $1 million each, and have the guy buy 20?

Now that’s a very interesting question

 

[HuskyHawk]

I did forget about Reibe, so that's on me. And Furphy really. Brain fart.

If I'm honest, Reibe could be the best center in the country next year. He's damned close to being better than Reed now. Not sure we've had any freshman exceed my expectations more.

 

[RuffRuff]

It's true, but I'm a little bit worried that they are pivoting and going away from the formula that worked and no longer signing those 4*s. We have this backbone with Alex/Solo/Jaylin/Jayden now, but we have no sophs left who were recruits, our only freshman this year is a 1-and-D potentially, and next year only County seems like that type of guy (Landrew more of the 1-and-D).

Abraham and Nowell seems to have spoiled the recipe, so they're pivoting to mostly multi-year transfers and a 1-and-D per class now.

Furphy and Reibe?

 

[RuffRuff]

If I'm honest, Reibe could be the best center in the country next year. He's damned close to being better than Reed now. Not sure we've had any freshman exceed my expectations more.

I'm with you on this one. I'd have to think next year's assumed roster walks in preseason 1.

 

[DFW HOYA]

I don’t see why Georgetown hasn’t been able to follow the formula under Cooley. I’d bet Nova gets there soon. X too. Feels like DePaul, Butler, PC are hopeless. But Hurley has it figured out

The money isn't there as people think and 4,000 a game doesn't offer much revenue to share. More impactful, perhaps, is that players tend to want to go to programs that are visible, especially in March. Georgetown is not atracting players who want to end their career there.

 

[uconnyankee]

It's true, but I'm a little bit worried that they are pivoting and going away from the formula that worked and no longer signing those 4*s. We have this backbone with Alex/Solo/Jaylin/Jayden now, but we have no sophs left who were recruits, our only freshman this year is a 1-and-D potentially, and next year only County seems like that type of guy (Landrew more of the 1-and-D).

Abraham and Nowell seems to have spoiled the recipe, so they're pivoting to mostly multi-year transfers and a 1-and-D per class now.

Is our only 1 and D freshman Furphy, Reibe, or Mullins?

Hurley is successful because he goes after specific players that fit his system, have a certain character, and believe in him as a coach.

He recruits out of HS to get high-level talent. He utilizes the portal to fill in gaps where needed. The level of precision on the transfer portal is probably best in country. Sure Mahaney didn’t quite workout but he seems to be the exception

 

[Excalibur]

Ummm - correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Revenue Sharing just allowing the schools to pay players directly up to $20.5M and NIL is not part of the cap (ie. Subway or Coke or Aetna can still pay players for NIL)?

If that's the case, then big schools with big donors will still spend upwards on NIL contracts outside of Revenue Sharing.

Revenue sharing helps smaller schools, but it doesn't balance the ledger vs some schools like BYU or Oregon.

Correct. The cap on revenue sharing is of little benefit to the Big East schools. SEC/B1G/BYU can still spend those schools into the ground.

 

[HooperScooper]

Correct. The cap on revenue sharing is of little benefit to the Big East schools. SEC/B1G/BYU can still spend those schools into the ground.

But only if they don’t want to be competitive in football by not spending enough there.

 

[boog204]

Hurley has the formula. It starts with him being the lovable psychopath that he is

He recruits good 4 star players who are absurdly loyal like him, and they bring continuity. See: Karaban, Samson, Solo, Stewart, Ross. Sometimes these guys are REALLY good and go pro early. Bouknight, Hawkins, AJax, Adama, Clingan

Then one 5* produces right away, keeps the recruiting pipeline hot, and they go pro. Castle, McNeeley. Maybe Braylon

Then he takes transfers to fill in whatever gaps the above players still have. Not just the biggest and brightest names, but guys that fill the role that is needed. The full 2023 class, Cam, Tarris, Mahaney, Silas, Malachi, Millender and Koroma. They’ve all hit minus Mahaney

Pitino smugly says he’s never recruiting HS kids, then slaps together whatever band of highly paid misfits he can find. Shaka refuses to go into the portal because he thinks his 3* talent is 5* talent. McDermott has a few transfer hits (Ashworth, Neal, Isaacs pre-injury) but too many misses (everyone this year). Seton Hall has the fiery coach that players can get behind, but no money to get them. I don’t see why Georgetown hasn’t been able to follow the formula under Cooley. I’d bet Nova gets there soon. X too. Feels like DePaul, Butler, PC are hopeless

But Hurley has it figured out

I wonder, though, how much longer the first part (4* loyalty) will continue to exist. We brought in Furphy this year, and I'd like to hope he's a long-term "investment." But, I don't know if there are many Stews or Ross's out there anymore who will be willing to sit and play sparingly on a major team. Those guys are all going to the lower, high D1 teams, getting tons of run and then looking to bounce. Our HS recruit net is super small, and this year was really only the high-end guys. Ross was #113 and Stew was #56. We're not recruiting guys ranked that "low" anymore as the portal system has gotten completely out of control.

All in all, Dan Hurley has mastered the portal as is, and if the basic formula is bring in an OAD, retain a couple, then fill with the portal, then we are golden with that strategy. I just think the "bring in a loyal 4-star" guy and have him wait his turn might be out with Stew and Ross. Nowell and Abraham were the first to prove that.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I wonder, though, how much longer the first part (4* loyalty) will continue to exist. We brought in Furphy this year, and I'd like to hope he's a long-term "investment." But, I don't know if there are many Stews or Ross's out there anymore who will be willing to sit and play sparingly on a major team. Those guys are all going to the lower, high D1 teams, getting tons of run and then looking to bounce. Our HS recruit net is super small, and this year was really only the high-end guys. Ross was #113 and Stew was #56. We're not recruiting guys ranked that "low" anymore as the portal system has gotten completely out of control.

All in all, Dan Hurley has mastered the portal as is, and if the basic formula is bring in an OAD, retain a couple, then fill with the portal, then we are golden with that strategy. I just think the "bring in a loyal 4-star" guy and have him wait his turn might be out with Stew and Ross. Nowell and Abraham were the first to prove that.

You're probably right. I suspect that 4* guys who win national champions as freshmen may be easier to retain. It also depends on how realistic they are. If you're not cracking the starting lineup in year two, then your odds of being an NBA player probably aren't that high. So do you move from a place you like, where you compete for championships just to play more at a place where you probably don't have a shot at a title? If the NIL bag is there, maybe you do, but otherwise why would you go from UConn to a mid tier P5 program?

 

[RuffRuff]

You're probably right. I suspect that 4* guys who win national champions as freshmen may be easier to retain. It also depends on how realistic they are. If you're not cracking the starting lineup in year two, then your odds of being an NBA player probably aren't that high. So do you move from a place you like, where you compete for championships just to play more at a place where you probably don't have a shot at a title? If the NIL bag is there, maybe you do, but otherwise why would you go from UConn to a mid tier P5 program?

I'd say it's unlikely we see a lot more of the 4*'s that choose to stick around without playing time. We already saw what last year was. Adams decided to bounce, Lewis. Kids are going to opt for PT over NC caliber. Illinois' low 4start has turned into a potential lottery pick. Kids are more apt to look at him and ask if that can be them.

And then maybe we pick them off after a year or two elsewhere.

I'm going to be curious as to what happens to Pettiford. He's having an OK year, again slated for the second round. Does he stick in Auburn with Pearl Jr?