2025 Portal Tracker

[spiderman]

Is he any good though? I said what "good" big. Hopefully, we llearned our lesson with GW3. And, Kwesi.

if he was killing it he'd stay at Providence or transfer up.

he's a guy with offers out of high school from Providence, Miss St, WVU, Texas A&M and Va Tech. maybe they were all wrong. but he was way out of our range as a high school recruit and I assume is looking for a level where he can play.

as an appropriate example, GW brought in Rafael Castro as a transfer from Providence last year after he too barely played for 2 years there. he had averaged 2.5 ppg in 8.1 mpg.

the kid pretty much dominated the A10 this year with 14 ppg and 9 rpg.

I'm saying we should at least take a look at DeLaurier to replace Soulis. he's potentially an exciting big man from VA in the portal.

 

[VT4700]

because he's a talented developing big man with 2 years remaining?

He was here 2 years and couldn't beat out Walz or Beagle. No thanks.

 

[kneepadmckinney]

Agree that we should be able to make some inroads in HS recruiting, since the big schools are pretty much getting out of that business. Problem is that we weren't great at it before, so I don't know how good we will be now. Plus, we also should be able to grab proven college players in the portal ourselves. Feels like we ought to be able to land at least one HS recruit each year who can play and contribute immediately. He may transfer after that, but it's the game we need to play.

This is kind of my point. I think HS recruiting is now where the inefficiency is. I'd try to exploit that as best as possible.

 

[VT4700]

This is kind of my point. I think HS recruiting is now where the inefficiency is. I'd try to exploit that as best as possible.

I definitely see your point, and would normally agree about maybe adding a developmental big with our last spot, but our current roster still needs an impact guy. If we had Jacob, Grant and everyone returning, sure add any developmental guy. But, we have guys returning who won 8 D1 games last year. I don't want to ever just give up on a year before it even starts. The portal can get you well in a hurry, and with so many holes on our roster, we should look to add immediate help with every portal addition.

 

[kneepadmckinney]

I respect that school of thought, even though it would not be my preference.

 

[kneepadmckinney]

Or maybe I should say...

 

[AnnapSpider]

Nobody on the planet talks about that billboard more than you. That’s a fact. I’ve told you before and I’ll tell you again — seek heland the counselor said that I should drop it. She said- “There is no changing an immature person. They

I did, and the counselor said I should just drop it. She said, “ there is no changing an immature person. They think they are funny, even when they’re not slightly amusing.” So, I’ll take her advice and let you continue to be childish.

 

[spiderstudent17]

 

[SFspidur]

So did he visit or not? Odd to just be in a “heard from” list when he was supposedly visiting last week.

 

[MrTbone]

"Hey Ryan, looks like you have very little interest in the portal, and u aren't good enough to beat out Walz and Beagle.....but we'll take u back"??? Why?

I actually felt like Soulis brought more to the table than beagle towards the end of the season. He was actually getting as much or more time than the beag in Feb. maybe he was being given a shot or maybe the staff saw something. Or maybe beags was injured.

 

[97spiderfan]

If we were bringing him in from another school as a transfer right now, would anyone be excited about adding him? I doubt it. I think we need to bring back a much higher impact transfer with our final portal slot.

 

[spiderman]

If we were bringing him in from another school as a transfer right now, would anyone be excited about adding him? I doubt it. I think we need to bring back a much higher impact transfer with our final portal slot.

I would, but I like big men.

wait ... that didn't come out right.

 

[GKiller]

 

[spiderstudent17]

Our current torvik projection is 9th.

2025-26 Projections - - Customizable College Basketball Tempo Free Stats - T-Rank

T-Rank College Basketball Ratings and Rankings. And fun.

barttorvik.com

 

[spiderman]

Our current torvik projection is 9th.

ranked 120? huge step in the right direction after finishing 258th last season.

 

[97spiderfan]

ranked 120? huge step in the right direction after finishing 258th last season.

When you finish 258th playing in the A-10, there literally is only one place you can go.

 

[Eight Legger]

When you finish 258th playing in the A-10, there literally is only one place you can go.

To the Patriot League.

 

[SFspidur]

Allenspach is headed to Mason.

 

[8legs1dream]

Allenspach is headed to Mason.

GM must have liked what they saw in their NIT matchup with Samford.

 

[SpiderGuy]

If we were bringing him in from another school as a transfer right now, would anyone be excited about adding him? I doubt it. I think we need to bring back a much higher impact transfer with our final portal slot.

So right now we have 2 centers that run out of eligibility this coming season. We have no incoming freshmen or transfers from the portal as centers. This doesn’t look like a good situation. Did I get that right?

 

[VT4700]

So right now we have 2 centers that run out of eligibility this coming season. We have no incoming freshmen or transfers from the portal as centers. This doesn’t look like a good situation. Did I get that right?

There is also something called the transfer portal, which allows u to get a proven 5 who can immediately step in next year and be a better option than those who either transferred or used up their eligibility.

 

[gcarter52]

So right now we have 2 centers that run out of eligibility this coming season. We have no incoming freshmen or transfers from the portal as centers. This doesn’t look like a good situation. Did I get that right?

Yes

 

[SpiderGuy]

So right now we have 2 centers that run out of eligibility this coming season. We have no incoming freshmen or transfers from the portal as centers. This doesn’t look like a good situation. Did I get that right?

There is also something called the transfer portal, which allows u to get a proven 5 who can immediately step in next year and be a better option than those who either transferred or used up their eligibility.

You did see I referenced the portal, correct? Saying we can “get a proven 5 who can immediately step in…” is one thing. Actually getting a proven 5 is another thing. The portal is a tricky thing to maneuver, and I’m just not sure but hopeful we can get a legit 5 to step in and replace Waltz / Beagle regardless of what people think of their skills. The bottom line is that we would be in need of a starter and backup at 5 next year. Would be nice to have one in the fold now in preparation for that.

 

[kneepadmckinney]

So right now we have 2 centers that run out of eligibility this coming season. We have no incoming freshmen or transfers from the portal as centers. This doesn’t look like a good situation. Did I get that right?

Yes. And I don't think it is as easy as snapping your fingers in the transfer portal. We'll need at a minimum 2 centers/pivots next year. I find that to be a challenge, and it is why I have advocated to use our last spot this year on a developmental big (either a freshman or a rising soph)

 

[spiderstudent17]

Yes. And I don't think it is as easy as snapping your fingers in the transfer portal. We'll need at a minimum 2 centers/pivots next year. I find that to be a challenge, and it is why I have advocated to use our last spot this year on a developmental big (either a freshman or a rising soph)

It worked with Neal Quinn when Walz was coming in as a freshman and we had Matt Grace. Yes, this is different now, but I think we can land a good center when the time comes. It’ll certainly help if we have a good season next year. Having a developmental big as a freshman isn’t as important now with the transfer portal.

 

[GKiller]

It worked with Neal Quinn when Walz was coming in as a freshman and we had Matt Grace. Yes, this is different now, but I think we can land a good center when the time comes. It’ll certainly help if we have a good season next year. Having a developmental big as a freshman isn’t as important now with the transfer portal.

but we r carrying 5 developmental guards and forwards on roster. It's at least as equally as important as them, tho probably moreso bc the others r more interchangeable than a pure 5.

 

[spiderman]

we'll be an attractive landing place for 2 transfer centers and hopefully a high school big.

 

[Spiders4ever]

I wonder if the Spiders had any interest in Michael Belle who wound up going back to VCU.

Not a good shooter, but can defend and rebound.

 

[97spiderfan]

Yes. And I don't think it is as easy as snapping your fingers in the transfer portal. We'll need at a minimum 2 centers/pivots next year. I find that to be a challenge, and it is why I have advocated to use our last spot this year on a developmental big (either a freshman or a rising soph)

So if it were me, I would be still looking for the highest impact player for this year. Our roster is full of developmental players, we need players who can hoop this year. Worry about next year, next year. As long as the portal exists as it does now, 4 year roster building is a bit of an outdated concept.

 

[RichmondNative]

There is also something called the transfer portal, which allows u to get a proven 5 who can immediately step in next year and be a better option than those who either transferred or used up their eligibility.

Has this happened at UR? The one possibility below…

It worked with Neal Quinn when Walz was coming in as a freshman and we had Matt Grace.

Worked = 15-18, 11th place in A10. Awesome.
Fortunately, Quinn had 2 yrs of eligibility and became a key piece the following year but the primary driver of success was a perfect fit one year PG.

we'll be an attractive landing place for 2 transfer centers and hopefully a high school big.

3 bigs in one recruiting cycle. I’ll put the ranch on the under

So if it were me, I would be still looking for the highest impact player for this year. Our roster is full of developmental players, we need players who can hoop this year. Worry about next year, next year. As long as the portal exists as it does now, 4 year roster building is a bit of an outdated concept.

Hope springs eternal. Looking for an 8th place finish are we? Can’t see anything other than a developmental year in store. Sure there is plenty of change in college basketball, but none with the Men’s basketball program at UR.

 

[MrTbone]

There is also something called the transfer portal, which allows u to get a proven 5 who can immediately step in next year and be a better option than those who either transferred or used up their eligibility.

I think King is the only transfer who came in and was super successful right away.

There’s not a ton of evidence that we can just grab a guy from the portal and plug him in.

I think you’re correct that this is the plan, it just doesn’t feel like a great plan.

 

[VT4700]

I think King is the only transfer who came in and was super successful right away.

There’s not a ton of evidence that we can just grab a guy from the portal and plug him in.

I think you’re correct that this is the plan, it just doesn’t feel like a great plan.

I don't think we need our 5 to be super successful. It's a guards game now. Quinn gave us 9.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg his 1st year here (and Tyler averaged 19 ppg, but our guard play wasn't good so we didn't have a good year). Also, Bigs, in his 1st year, gave us 7.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg and didn't even start. Roche made 52 3s at 38.5% his 1st year here. With good guard play, what Quinn, Bigs, and Roche gave us their 1st years here is more than enough for us to be good.

Also, in his 1st year here, Delonnie averaged 9.3 ppg playing with King ( who was as good as they come 1st year here). You are a very tough grader saying we have little evidence we can just grab guys from the portal and plug them in.

 

[urfan1]

For transfers to be successful we will need to tweak/simplify the system.

 

[kneepadmckinney]

So if it were me, I would be still looking for the highest impact player for this year. Our roster is full of developmental players, we need players who can hoop this year. Worry about next year, next year. As long as the portal exists as it does now, 4 year roster building is a bit of an outdated concept.

This is why the NY Football Giants win 3-5 games a year.

 

[plydogg]

I don't think we need our 5 to be super successful. It's a guards game now. Quinn gave us 9.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg his 1st year here (and Tyler averaged 19 ppg, but our guard play wasn't good so we didn't have a good year). Also, Bigs, in his 1st year, gave us 7.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg and didn't even start. Roche made 52 3s at 38.5% his 1st year here. With good guard play, what Quinn, Bigs, and Roche gave us their 1st years here is more than enough for us to be good.

Also, in his 1st year here, Delonnie averaged 9.3 ppg playing with King ( who was as good as they come 1st year here). You are a very tough grader saying we have little evidence we can just grab guys from the portal and plug them in.

I think in the Mooney offense we need All-A10 level play at the 1 and 5. When we’ve had that, those two players have been able to elevate the guys around them. When we don’t have stars at those two spots, it doesn’t matter what the rest of the team looks like.

I’m with you 100% that it is a guards game. We absolutely need a star at the 1. Our success starts there. But when we have a TJ or GG it just gives us such an advantage. Like having another guard out there with the vision and playmaking.

I do agree with you that we’ve had success bringing in transfers the last 5(?) years. In this new era you have to hit in the portal every year. I don’t think we brought in a bad class in the portal last year, the problem was that we needed to upgrade at the 1 and 5 and didn’t. We got completely exposed at those positions this year. It resulted in everybody else being asked to do more than they could and they just crumbled.

 

[GKiller]

I don't think we need our 5 to be super successful. It's a guards game now. Quinn gave us 9.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg his 1st year here (and Tyler averaged 19 ppg, but our guard play wasn't good so we didn't have a good year). Also, Bigs, in his 1st year, gave us 7.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg and didn't even start. Roche made 52 3s at 38.5% his 1st year here. With good guard play, what Quinn, Bigs, and Roche gave us their 1st years here is more than enough for us to be good.

Also, in his 1st year here, Delonnie averaged 9.3 ppg playing with King ( who was as good as they come 1st year here). You are a very tough grader saying we have little evidence we can just grab guys from the portal and plug them in.

But aren’t we needing/asking this last guy - the 14th ship guy - to be ultra successful, not just plug in, to have any chance to challenge for top 4?

 

[MrTbone]

I don't think we need our 5 to be super successful. It's a guards game now. Quinn gave us 9.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg his 1st year here (and Tyler averaged 19 ppg, but our guard play wasn't good so we didn't have a good year). Also, Bigs, in his 1st year, gave us 7.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg and didn't even start. Roche made 52 3s at 38.5% his 1st year here. With good guard play, what Quinn, Bigs, and Roche gave us their 1st years here is more than enough for us to be good.

Also, in his 1st year here, Delonnie averaged 9.3 ppg playing with King ( who was as good as they come 1st year here). You are a very tough grader saying we have little evidence we can just grab guys from the portal and plug them in.

I don’t know that im that tough of a grader. We were a pretty poor team the first year that Quinn/bigelow/roche transferred. Stats aside, you’d be hard pressed to convince me otherwise. Quinn struggled on defense, Bigelow couldn’t make a 3pt shot, and Roche in spite of being a good 3pt shooter was 6th on the team in scoring and was at 6.9ppg, he didn’t play enough.

All of which is to say, those guys weren’t bad but they were broadly better inyr2 except Roche who regressed further. It just seems to take most guys a couple of years to settle in here. King to me was an aberration, and Neskovic was the next closest but in part because there was no other scorer on the team this past season.

I’m just skeptical that a transfer is going to come in and really set things off but perhaps that’s not what you’re suggesting, it sounds like you’re saying he just needs to be passable.

 

[gospidersgo]

Yes, we are in need of drastic upgrades at basically every position. Incremental improvements, slightly better guys may help us sneak into the top 10 of the conference this year and that's not good enough for this Spider fan.

 

[spiderman]

... to have any chance to challenge for top 4?