Burn the Shirts

[GKiller]

Right, and who is determining that next year’s class is the starting point for the “next best class ever” and not the class after that or after that? That narrative just doesn’t make sense to me. There is no way I see Mooney intentionally not wanting to play the best roster he can each and every year in order to preserve his job.

he probably misjudged his talent level. This is a coach that had both Jaynel and Noyes beat out Dji. it looks bad if he burns the shirts now & every game that goes by lowers the chances as u said. personally i never expected Moon to reverse himself on the shirts. just didn't like the decision to begin with.

it doesn't matter what the reasons are for the next best class, but don't be naive the #NBC next best class stuff is coming. and u can run that narrative with larger class and some positional variability which the two redshirts will add to the 3 incoming. if he's coming off a crappy year the odds for said narrative go up. Bestclassever came up when he was starting to feel pressure. U probably think we hired Joe Lunardi for scheduling consulting. lol. as long as mcglothin & Jrob don't transfer out we'll start to hear this. let it build a little. Moon's soliloquy on guys now wanting to stay 4 and 5 years was the seed.

 

[spiderman]

I hear this argument every year. It’s just empirically inaccurate. We have had guys like Noyes last year who was clearly a miss as a starter. He ended up barely playing even after he was apparently healthy.

Maybe there’s a difference between a bench guy and a way down the bench guy, but there’s been a demonstrable pattern many of the “rebuilding” seasons where the coaching staff misreads who should be getting minutes.

Given that, we should be open to playing everyone. If they still choose to redshirt so be it, but I think guys make the decision when one factor is they’re told how little time they might get. That changes when you tell them they are going to get some run.

I think I said that.
Mooney and staff see these guys every day. if what they see says JRob and BMcG should be getting decent time over the other 4 forwards, of course tell them and they can burn the shirt and start playing. we're not tied to the redshirts.

but if he doesn't see them being better than the alternatives, then you don't. I know the other 4 forwards aren't lighting it up, but that doesn't mean they aren't good players. didn't 17 say he saw practices in the preseason and felt both freshmen were behind the others?

 

[72Spider]

Was it JRob who was introduced during a timeout last year and a highlight video was shown on video boards? Don't remember our ever having done that before for a recruit. Made it appear he would be an immediate contributor.

 

[spiderstudent17]

he probably misjudged his talent level. This is a coach that had both Jaynel and Noyes beat out Dji. it looks bad if he burns the shirts now & every game that goes by lowers the chances as u said. personally i never expected Moon to reverse himself on the shirts. just didn't like the decision to begin with.

it doesn't matter what the reasons are for the next best class, but don't be naive the #NBC next best class stuff is coming. and u can run that narrative with larger class and some positional variability which the two redshirts will add to the 3 incoming. if he's coming off a crappy year the odds for said narrative go up. Bestclassever came up when he was starting to feel pressure. U probably think we hired Joe Lunardi for scheduling consulting. lol. as long as mcglothin & Jrob don't transfer out we'll start to hear this. let it build a little. Moon's soliloquy on guys now wanting to stay 4 and 5 years was the seed.

When we heard the best class ever narrative it was Gilly/Golden/Cayo/Sherod. They weren’t all meant to be in the same class but it turned out that way with redshirting. I’m not going to debate whether this was in fact Richmond’s best class ever or not, but I think it’s pretty fair to say that it turned out to be one heck of a class in terms of talent. Golden winning 4 or 5 all A10 conference awards, Gilly with all time NCAA leaders, and the records they all had in UR history. Of course, I know you’re going to say that this really good class only had 1 NCAA tournament (2 if you’re feeling generous with the 2020 NCAA). That’s fair and why I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s the best class ever.

But it was appropriately hyped up, the class delivered with an A10 tournament + NCAA win, and the decision to keep Mooney so that class wouldn’t transfer their last year (which is super rare today and those guys could’ve gone anywhere in the country) turned out to payoff. I know I’ve only followed Richmond for about a decade or so, but I haven’t really heard this “next best class ever” narrative being overly used. It was used for 2022 class and that was certainly fair.

 

[spider23]

My god sman, you have become the biggest moon defender in the last month. He does see these guys every day and misjudged talent most years. Hell, he hated playing Dji. Loved him some Noyes. They showed practice highlights and Noyes had ZERO lateral movement. Was getting burned in the Freaking highlights they were sharing. Dji had to force him to play him. Oh yeah, he was probably holding him down because his dad was posting on here. Circus.

 

[GKiller]

I know I’ve only followed Richmond for about a decade or so, but I haven’t really heard this “next best class ever” narrative being overly used. It was used for 2022 class and that was certainly fair.

I don't think u r following. Next best class hasn't been used yet. That's what some of us r saying is coming bc we can read Mooney. The 2022 class was good. I never said otherwise. the pr part was purposefully initiated when he felt under a little pressure.

 

[MrTbone]

I think I said that.
Mooney and staff see these guys every day. if what they see says JRob and BMcG should be getting decent time over the other 4 forwards, of course tell them and they can burn the shirt and start playing. we're not tied to the redshirts.

but if he doesn't see them being better than the alternatives, then you don't. I know the other 4 forwards aren't lighting it up, but that doesn't mean they aren't good players. didn't 17 say he saw practices in the preseason and felt both freshmen were behind the others?

Yes, they see them every day yet still seem to regularly make observationally bad decisions regarding who should be starting five and top of bench.

Do you think mcglothin is a notably weaker player than jack graham? I don’t.

I don’t recall any observations about the freshmen. It’s entirely possible they are dramatically further behind but I doubt it.

 

[spiderstudent17]

I don't think u r following. Next best class hasn't been used yet. That's what some of us r saying is coming bc we can read Mooney. The 2022 class was good. I never said otherwise. the pr part was purposefully initiated when he felt under a little pressure.

So Mooney has only used that narrative, which seemed fair to do so, once in 10+ years. And based off that some are saying that he will hypothetically use it again in the future as well as purposefully redshirt players to try and preserve his job. Don’t you think that’s all a bit of a stretch?

 

[VT4700]

So Mooney has only used that narrative, which seemed fair to do so, once in 10+ years. And based off that some are saying that he will hypothetically use it again in the future as well as purposefully redshirt players to try and preserve his job. Don’t you think that’s all a bit of a stretch?

LOL...not on here it's not. Par for the course on here.

 

[spider23]

Yes, they see them every day yet still seem to regularly make observationally bad decisions regarding who should be starting five and top of bench.

Do you think mcglothin is a notably weaker player than jack graham? I don’t.

I don’t recall any observations about the freshmen. It’s entirely possible they are dramatically further behind but I doubt it.

Good point about Graham. I can't belive, the POY in Ohio, top 100 recruit is under this guy. Graham was totally shook vs Mt. Olive. We heard from Mooney how great GW3 looked. And we saw that Graham can't handle the ball. Yet he was getting minutes over GW3??

 

[spider23]

4700, any theories on GW3?

 

[spider23]

So Mooney has only used that narrative, which seemed fair to do so, once in 10+ years. And based off that some are saying that he will hypothetically use it again in the future as well as purposefully redshirt players to try and preserve his job. Don’t you think that’s all a bit of a stretch?

Omg, Mooney has brainwashed you. Just like his bi$%# PQ. You are owned.

 

[VT4700]

4700, any theories on GW3?

I wish I knew. I was buying the hype and wanted him to start because I knew we needed shooting. We still do. We can't shoot! Well, we can shoot, we just can't make. Anyway, is it possible he is just not very good? I used the TJ Power example earlier. If you watch Power for just 1 minute, you can see he is just not a good basketball player. I hope that is not the case with GW3, but if he is healthy, and there is no discipline in the doghouse thing going on, what other reason could it be?

 

[spider23]

Other reason. Mooney has some odd loyalty to Graham, who couldn't dribble two feet against a D2 school. That is a theory.

 

[spiderstudent17]

I wish I knew. I was buying the hype and wanted him to start because I knew we needed shooting. We still do. We can't shoot! Well, we can shoot, we just can't make. Anyway, is it possible he is just not very good? I used the TJ Power example earlier. If you watch Power for just 1 minute, you can see he is just not a good basketball player. I hope that is not the case with GW3, but if he is healthy, and there is no discipline in the doghouse thing going on, what other reason could it be?

I think this is one of the biggest surprises this season. I think we may have all been a little too optimistic with GW3 given his top 100 ranking and coming from Michigan, and perhaps overlooking too much the fact we haven’t seen a lot of game minutes from him. I wasn’t surprised that he wasn’t starting, but to not get any sort of minutes especially with how things have started this year, certainly has been surprising.

 

[RichmondNative]

Let’s be real here. The 2022 class is a one time only thing. It is the product of the extra Covid year. All those guys got at least one extra year in the UR program and many had more than one. The “core” of that class also had the 2 horrific years in a row. So was that class really that much better?

To me the fact of the matter is the current leadership simply has not been able to recruit and sign top tier mid-major talent. What they have been able to do is to get players that were passed over by others and get the most out of them but needing multiple years to do so. Since I have been closely following the Spiders (2010-2011 til now), there has never been a a great recruiting class. There has always been like 2 promising players and a bunch long shots. So to think that suddenly a switch can flip and UR gets a full “class” is folly. History is history.

The performance by Mooney and company had been deemed “good enough” and the record books show what that performance has been and will continue to be. You can hope for the best all you want and there will be the occasional season when everything aligns, but sustaining success - no way.

All that being said, I like going to the games, supporting the players, and participating in the Forum. But I am not delusional and know exactly what I am going to get. Apparently the administration and those footing the bill know and accept it too.

 

[spider23]

Well said Native. Good realistic attitude. I am going to get back in line, Paul Q...er I mean Nurse Ratched is handing out meds for spidernation now and have to get mine.

 

[GKiller]

So Mooney has only used that narrative, which seemed fair to do so, once in 10+ years. And based off that some are saying that he will hypothetically use it again in the future as well as purposefully redshirt players to try and preserve his job. Don’t you think that’s all a bit of a stretch?

Is it a stretch to expect better than 9-25 vs vcu, or more than 3 NCAAs in 20 years, or less than 40% .500 or lower down years, or not have an embarrassingly weak schedule w two d2s for a 20 year coach?

No no no & no

Remember this is same coach that called us “one of the top basketball programs in the NATION”

So no it’s not a f’ing stretch

 

[kneepadmckinney]

I hate bye weeks.

 

[SpiderTrap]

if they're clearly going to get a lot of time because they look better in practice than AP, Dusan, Roche and Tanner, then they should. but if they're going to get a few garbage time minutes like the 25 minutes Tanner got last year ... then they shouldn't waste the year.
practice, drill, lift, eat right, and get 500 shots up per day.

Practice, Drill, Lift, Eat right, and get 500 shots per day ........ and then hit the transfer portal.

 

[RichmondNative]

Practice, Drill, Lift, Eat right, and get 500 shots per day ........ and then hit the transfer portal.

This is an option, but in my opinion the type of student athlete that Richmond typically attracts is not one who is looking to jump. They come to Richmond because they like the academic profile of the school too.

One of Mooney’s strengths is building a team culture as evidenced by the billboard reactions. I don’t see a bunch of A10 caliber players leaving “early”. Yes, there are ones who don’t use all their eligibility at Richmond, but they do get their degree. I am sure this scores big with the administration and I wholeheartedly agree with this one thing.

 

[97spiderfan]

how'd that work so far for Tanner? he's down a year (for 25 minutes) and doesn't seem more ready from all that extra focus last year.

there's no "one size fits all" answer. redshirts don't always work out. not redshirting after being told you won't likely earn much time doesn't always work out either. they made their decision. they play scout team this year.

Maybe Tanner is just not an A-10 caliber starter. And again, if either of the two currently redshirting freshman were that good, they would be playing this year. If Tanner was good enough last year, Mooney would have found time to work him in the rotation. Tanner is not any worse off for not taking the redshirt last year and if 2 years in, he is not contributing do we really want him taking up a scholarship spot for another year.

Mooney's history of redshirting players is not a good one, not sure why we are placing trust in him now.

 

[97spiderfan]

Yes, they see them every day yet still seem to regularly make observationally bad decisions regarding who should be starting five and top of bench.

Do you think mcglothin is a notably weaker player than jack graham? I don’t.

I don’t recall any observations about the freshmen. It’s entirely possible they are dramatically further behind but I doubt it.

And let's not even discuss how a walk-on (Graham) is in the rotation over GW3, one of our big transfer gets this year.

 

[SpiderTrap]

This is an option, but in my opinion the type of student athlete that Richmond typically attracts is not one who is looking to jump. They come to Richmond because they like the academic profile of the school too.

One of Mooney’s strengths is building a team culture as evidenced by the billboard reactions. I don’t see a bunch of A10 caliber players leaving “early”. Yes, there are ones who don’t use all their eligibility at Richmond, but they do get their degree. I am sure this scores big with the administration and I wholeheartedly agree with this one thing.

But do you think there is a difference when your redshirting for a A10 title team (last year) and when your redshirting for a team that is 4-4 and at the bottom of the NET. Think guys are more willing to stick around when the team is winning than losing. And redshirting, from the player point of view - doesn't hurt them. If the coaches came to these players and said - its unlikely you will play this year, would you like to redshirt - they might as well do it. It preserves that extra year for when they stay or if they transfer.

 

[spider23]

Yep, I ranted on that on another thread 97 . Unfortunately, the skill set I have seen out of Graham is more of a wing, he has really struggled handling the ball in games against pressure. But he does not do enough at wing to justify minutes. So not sure how GW3 is behind him, though I am willing to believe 47's comp to TJ Power, maybe the HS hype was unjustified. Hoping that is not the case, but hard to come to other conclusion so far. Still hoping this is some mooney discipline or loyalty benching, and he can be a producer at some point this season.

 

[8legs1dream]

Sorry guys, I have a hard time believing that Mooney is playing 3D chess here and intentionally redshirting players to try and push the narrative of keeping his own job down the road because this class will be like the Gilly/Golden/Sherod situation where “one more year” to see great results. I think it’s hard to fully anticipate how any player - especially from high school - will adjust to level college of play and after seeing the way they played against our roster in practice, felt that they would be getting very limited minutes during the season. Because of that, I’m sure they had a conversation about the fact that garbage minutes here and there may not be worth losing a year over and they can take this time to develop more to the college game. A decision McGlothin/Robinson agreed was in their best interest. To say it’s to claim the “one more year. Next best class ever” argument doesn’t carry as much weight nowadays because we have seen many guys (Burton, Dji, Fore) use their last year of eligibility to play at a higher program. So there’s no guarantee they will even stick around anyways.

just look at his history, has he been more successful at winning meaningful basketball games or receiving contract extensions?

 

[spiderman]

Do you think mcglothin is a notably weaker player than jack graham? I don’t.

of course not.
McGlothin chose the option to redshirt because of the talented forwards above him ... AP, Dusan, Roche and Tanner. whether or not all of them were ahead of him didn't matter. enough where he likely wouldn't get a ton of early time. so he chose 5 years of college and NIL (here or somewhere else) over 4 years plus a few minutes of playing time. a year in the weight room wouldn't hurt either. he didn't enter built like JRob.

nobody expected AP, Dusan, Roche and Tanner to struggle. if we did we wouldn't have suggested to shirts to JRob and McG.

but I doubt Graham ever entered the calculation. he doesn't look like an answer. he's a typical looking non-scholarship guy ... for now anyway. why he's playing over GW3 is a question. in the very few minutes GW3 got, he didn't look quick at all to me. maybe he wasn't 100%. but not a good sign to be behind Graham.

 

[spiderman]

My god sman, you have become the biggest moon defender in the last month. He does see these guys every day and misjudged talent most years. Hell, he hated playing Dji. Loved him some Noyes. They showed practice highlights and Noyes had ZERO lateral movement. Was getting burned in the Freaking highlights they were sharing. Dji had to force him to play him. Oh yeah, he was probably holding him down because his dad was posting on here. Circus.

I'm not defending Mooney. I'm saying impulsively looking to burn these shirts without having a clue how these 2 look in practice is a panic move. If McG can't handle AP (e.g.) in practice, why would he get time over him in games?

 

[RichmondNative]

But do you think there is a difference when your redshirting for a A10 title team (last year) and when your redshirting for a team that is 4-4 and at the bottom of the NET. Think guys are more willing to stick around when the team is winning than losing. And redshirting, from the player point of view - doesn't hurt them. If the coaches came to these players and said - its unlikely you will play this year, would you like to redshirt - they might as well do it. It preserves that extra year for when they stay or if they transfer.

Sure. But it depends on the individual. Could be one who likes a challenge and wants to be part of the solution to bringing the program back to its winning ways. At least they know the opportunity next year is real. If you had a team firing on all cylinders, you may have a second year of disappointment trying to get into the rotation.

Definitely agree that the player isn’t really losing anything and that is why they chose to take the redshirt.

If Mooney does lose these guys in the next 1-2 years and they go to an equivalent or better program and excel, then the one thing I think he does well would be gone. One would hope at that point UR would have to make a change. Of course, another possibility is a transfer “down” and then one has to wonder why the talent evaluation process is so bad.

 

[SpiderTrap]

I wonder if this is happening already or will happen as more time progresses - player A goes to a school, and gets little to no playing time, maybe even redshirts. They can try to call other schools that recruited them on the same level to transfer or maybe they transfer down a little, get immediate playing time, where they can put good numbers - and then this allows them transfer up and over their original school?

Wonder if there is any stats on that from the portal - kids going down for 1-2 years, only to go back up at the end.

DJI is sort of example of this - just never stepped foot on wake campus. Started with committment to wake, transfer down to UR, plays there - then transfers back up to LSU. Wonder how often this happens - and again, not so much like DJI, more like a guy goes to a school for 1-2 years (maybe redshirts) and then goes down and back up.

 

[brooklyn brownstone]

One comment I have in all of this is I've been pleasantly surprised by the passing ability and rebounding ability that AP has shown.

If he could start to make shots to go along with this, would do a lot to ease this discussion. I love having a 6'8" wing forward who can grab boards and (in theory) drill 3s, we just haven't seen in games what the practice hype told us was true.

 

[VT4700]

Talented freshman should be ready to play their freshman year. Most play basketball year round now, and have played hundreds of competitive games. I was excited about McGlothin and Robinson, but have lost a lot of hope about them. I have no choice but to wonder how good they could be if they can't see the court with the team we are putting out there this year. Guys that not only beat our freshmen out, but sent them to redshirt status are now 10-47 (21.3%) and 10-40 (25%) from 3. Next year, will our freshmen be just another Tanner, who is making no impact at all his 2nd year here? I would guess yes to that right now. Tyler played 14 mpg as a freshman and we had a dramatically more talented team then. I'm not asking or expecting our freshmen to be as good as Tyler. But, A-10 quality players should be ready to help day 1. Same with GW3. We are down 40 yesterday, and no thought to put GW3 in until the final 2 minutes. So, you can't help but question his talent level as well.

So, that being said, we need to find some major additions in the portal next year. Focus on a couple studs like King and Bigs who will make a major impact instead of bringing in 5 maybes like this year. Maybe things could change with them, but none of the 5 looks close to 1st or 2nd team A-10 quality right now.

As for yesterday and this year so far, the talent and fit is just not there with this team. I'm not as focused about the in game criticism that I hear about on here. I don't see a whole lot we can do differently with this team. Our team can't shoot, we look slow and not very athletic, we don't have solid inside scoring threats, and we will continue to struggle on offense all year. But, I will criticize our coach and staff for the roster we have this year. We misjudged guys in the portal and I guess misjudged our freshmen recruits as well. So, our lack of talent we are putting out on the floor is obviously 100% on them. Every possession is a struggle with this team, and I don't know how it can get better. The coach in me wants to fix things, but I don't see how. I honestly don't know what could have been done differently yesterday to not lose by 40 some. That is where our talent level is right now, and that is the most disappointing thing to me. As many of you know ( and hate), I am almost always optimistic about us, but this could be the first year I have no hope entering the A-10 tourney.

 

[97spiderfan]

Talented freshman should be ready to play their freshman year. Most play basketball year round now, and have played hundreds of competitive games. I was excited about McGlothin and Robinson, but have lost a lot of hope about them. I have no choice but to wonder how good they could be if they can't see the court with the team we are putting out there this year. Guys that not only beat our freshmen out, but sent them to redshirt status are now 10-47 (21.3%) and 10-40 (25%) from 3. Next year, will our freshmen be just another Tanner, who is making no impact at all his 2nd year here? I would guess yes to that right now. Tyler played 14 mpg as a freshman and we had a dramatically more talented team then. I'm not asking or expecting our freshmen to be as good as Tyler. But, A-10 quality players should be ready to help day 1. Same with GW3. We are down 40 yesterday, and no thought to put GW3 in until the final 2 minutes. So, you can't help but question his talent level as well.

So, that being said, we need to find some major additions in the portal next year. Focus on a couple studs like King and Bigs who will make a major impact instead of bringing in 5 maybes like this year. Maybe things could change with them, but none of the 5 looks close to 1st or 2nd team A-10 quality right now.

As for yesterday and this year so far, the talent and fit is just not there with this team. I'm not as focused about the in game criticism that I hear about on here. I don't see a whole lot we can do differently with this team. Our team can't shoot, we look slow and not very athletic, we don't have solid inside scoring threats, and we will continue to struggle on offense all year. But, I will criticize our coach and staff for the roster we have this year. We misjudged guys in the portal and I guess misjudged our freshmen recruits as well. So, our lack of talent we are putting out on the floor is obviously 100% on them. Every possession is a struggle with this team, and I don't know how it can get better. The coach in me wants to fix things, but I don't see how. I honestly don't know what could have been done differently yesterday to not lose by 40 some. That is where our talent level is right now, and that is the most disappointing thing to me. As many of you know ( and hate), I am almost always optimistic about us, but this could be the first year I have no hope entering the A-10 tourney.

Couldn't agree more with all of this. Well said. The portal misses are bad but I'm more concerned as you said about the freshman not playing, if they can't beat out this JV squad we are rolling out, that should be alarming. Likewise Tanner has showed me nothing yet and he was given all of this love on here and by coach. He was given a starter position and 10 games in, he has lost what 3-4 games into the season. Most worrisome is I don't see one basketball skill in him that would leave me to believe he just needs seasoning. Not a great shooter, not a high energy guy, not super athletic, very tentative in everything he does.

And how bad must GW3 be, if he can't get (meaningful) minutes in a 40 plus point blowout and is being beat out for playing minutes by a recruited walk-on, who hasn't shown us anything either.

The roster is bad this year and I don't see a lot that you can hang your hats on for next year either. And if you are waiting for Mooney to pull of some portal magic in the off season, I guess I would ask, how are the 4 guys he brought in this year in the portal doing? Certainly, not magical.

 

[VT4700]

I'm not waiting on portal magic like it will definitely happen, but am saying we have to have portal magic to be good next year.

 

[spiderman]

to me this is the dark side of NIL and the portal.
I think we recruited talented HS kids. but then you hit the portal and pay big money to these older transfers ... you're going to play them. and for the money, you probably aren't going to give up on them quickly.

without adding all the transfers, maybe our young guys are getting valuable time and starting their clocks so they can actually become the "next best class".

 

[8legs1dream]

I'm not waiting on portal magic like it will definitely happen, but am saying we have to have portal magic to be good next year.

But we definitely shouldn't place any of the blame for this on the 20 year coach, right?

 

[VT4700]

to me this is the dark side of NIL and the portal.
I think we recruited talented HS kids. but then you hit the portal and pay big money to these older transfers ... you're going to play them. and for the money, you probably aren't going to give up on them quickly.

without adding all the transfers, maybe our young guys are getting valuable time and starting their clocks so they can actually become the "next best class".

Don't you think GW3 got some good NIL? Wouldn't surprise me if he got the most, and a walk on is ahead of him.

 

[spiderman]

Don't you think GW3 got some good NIL? Wouldn't surprise me if he got the most, and a walk on is ahead of him.

good point. but GW3 is only a sophomore and there were returning starting guards. would expect some role though. certainly wouldn't expect him behind Graham.

but AP and Dusan coming in lead McGlothin and JRob to redshirt. doubt they redshirt otherwise.

 

[97spiderfan]

good point. but GW3 is only a sophomore and there were returning starting guards. would expect some role though. certainly wouldn't expect him behind Graham.

but AP and Dusan coming in lead McGlothin and JRob to redshirt. doubt they redshirt otherwise.

Dusan is a 1 year rental on a team going no where. When do we say, we need to start building for the future and play the young guys. It is probably a tad to early for the teams morale to throw in the towel on this year, but if I'm on the coaching staff, those are some of the discussions you have to have internally. The guys we have playing right now are clearly not getting it done, do we pull one or both redshirts to begin to prepare for the future.

Plus maybe one of the freshman can give us a spark. Lord we need a spark, we need some type of hope right now.

 

[spiderstudent17]

A lot of very good points shared above and I agree with what VT4700 and 97 posted. Personally, I have not given up quite yet that our staff will be able to do a good job with the portal on a yearly basis, but am becoming more ambivalent. Right now we have a record of 1-1 with success of transfers in this new immediate play/NIL transfer era. Last year we hit all our needs on the portal and saw the impact it had on our season. This year we missed on the talent, despite on paper the team looking good coming into the season. I think the jury is still out on whether this staff will remain capable of identifying and bringing in talented player who mesh well and fit our system for 1-2 years. If we continue to miss on the portal and our high school recruits are not getting any sort of meaningful minutes, even in a season like this, then that will become a big problem.