2025 Transfer Portal Watch


Is there anybody out there who prefers the new reality of cbb with nil and open transfer?
To me, this is just nuts.
Not saying I prefer it, but I will say the one positive from a Gophers program perspective, it gives a middle to lower of the pack team a much quicker path to relevance. 30 years ago a team with this many seniors would essentially be destined for a multi year rebuild with little hope. Now at least in a P5 league and literally thousands of kids in the portal it's feasible for a quick turnaround.
 

Not saying I prefer it, but I will say the one positive from a Gophers program perspective, it gives a middle to lower of the pack team a much quicker path to relevance. 30 years ago a team with this many seniors would essentially be destined for a multi year rebuild with little hope. Now at least in a P5 league and literally thousands of kids in the portal it's feasible for a quick turnaround.

Search continues for a person who prefers the new reality. 🙂
Is that person out there?
 


Why is the Dinkytown Athletes the sole NIL collective for Minnesota? Should there be a 2nd or even a third collective for Minnesota? Who is to say there cannot be more than one collective? I see future lawsuits coming.
It sounds like you are planning to start a new collective.
 


It’s been mostly fine for football but terrible for basketball.
I would second that. The portal in football is nuts but nothing like what it has become for basketball where entire teams are getting blown up and remade on a yearly basis. The number of college basketball players with 3-4-5 schools on their resume already is getting ridiculous.
 



I would second that. The portal in football is nuts but nothing like what it has become for basketball where entire teams are getting blown up and remade on a yearly basis. The number of college basketball players with 3-4-5 schools on their resume already is getting ridiculous.
Football has very distinct positions. QB especially where only one plays at a time. So the portal spreads the talent around. In basketball in most cases over 50% of the roster play significant minutes. In football it’s nowhere close to that. Guys want to play. Again, spreads the talent around more.
 



I think they need to find a way to legally restrict the transfers to make this system work. That will be the problem. Maybe they can come up with somekind of no compete clause in a contract. Player signs for one year and second year if he leaves he can't sign at the p4 level without sitting out a year. He could still sign and play for a lower level or move up from a lower level and play right away. But the no compete clause kicks in if player is making a lateral move. Not sure if legal or if players would ever agree. I know coaches don't have in thier contracts maybe they should. A lot of business do
 


I think they need to find a way to legally restrict the transfers to make this system work. That will be the problem. Maybe they can come up with somekind of no compete clause in a contract. Player signs for one year and second year if he leaves he can't sign at the p4 level without sitting out a year. He could still sign and play for a lower level or move up from a lower level and play right away. But the no compete clause kicks in if player is making a lateral move. Not sure if legal or if players would ever agree. I know coaches don't have in thier contracts maybe they should. A lot of business do
That type of arrangement was called the NCAA which had its ears pinned back by the courts for setting up a monopoly and restraining trade. That ship has sailed, and it isn't coming back.
 




I think they need to find a way to legally restrict the transfers to make this system work. That will be the problem. Maybe they can come up with somekind of no compete clause in a contract. Player signs for one year and second year if he leaves he can't sign at the p4 level without sitting out a year. He could still sign and play for a lower level or move up from a lower level and play right away. But the no compete clause kicks in if player is making a lateral move. Not sure if legal or if players would ever agree. I know coaches don't have in thier contracts maybe they should. A lot of business do
At some point there had to be contractual agreements regulating the compensation and movement system. It exists in almost all industries in some form, fair or not.
 

Is there anybody out there who prefers the new reality of cbb with nil and open transfer?
To me, this is just nuts.
As I get older, I am trying hard to not compare things with how they used to be, but I am losing that battle each and every day.

To answer your question, yeah, I much preferred the pre-NIL/pre-portal world.
 

At some point there had to be contractual agreements regulating the compensation and movement system. It exists in almost all industries in some form, fair or not.
Agreed, 100%. With the amount of money pouring into college athletics, drastic change was inevitable. It was bizarre to consider the athletes "amateur". So we all pretended to live in that fiction.

The problem is that the structure of the NCAA and various rules with publicly funded institutions essentially made it nearly impossible for us to bend that "fiction" into a workable solutions.

So it's the wild west now. I follow the rules pretty closely and I know what the rules say but and I cannot say with any certainty how the NCAA would rule in Dawson Garcia's eligibility.
 

As I get older, I am trying hard to not compare things with how they used to be, but I am losing that battle each and every day.

To answer your question, yeah, I much preferred the pre-NIL/pre-portal world.
It's natural to do this, especially if things have objectively deteriorated, which they have.

I've said it many times: sports leagues are most popular when they're competitive. To the extent they can, the NCAA needs to act in the interest of their self preservation and health. There's no reason college basketball can't be restored to stability and full health, but it's not going to happen by accident.
 


I think the differnce is you have to put a lot more players on the field and ensure greater contnuity. In basketball, one or two guys can change things dramatically.
I’ve got a theory that football players tend to have a more realistic view of their lot than basketball players. Way too many basketball players think they are on the way to the pros. I think most football players understand their careers could easily be over tomorrow. That changes perspective and I think cuts down on impulsive decisions.
 

I think the differnce is you have to put a lot more players on the field and ensure greater contnuity. In basketball, one or two guys can change things dramatically.
Yeah the only position that can have the impact in a game like a Flagg or Broome are QBs but again, only one QB can play at a time so the talent is spread around more. The portal in football has spread the talent further while it's done the opposite in basketball.
 


It's natural to do this, especially if things have objectively deteriorated, which they have.

I've said it many times: sports leagues are most popular when they're competitive. To the extent they can, the NCAA needs to act in the interest of their self preservation and health. There's no reason college basketball can't be restored to stability and full health, but it's not going to happen by accident.
It will take an act of Congress at this point to do anything that won't get struck down in court. Don't hold your breath.
 

Yeah the only position that can have the impact in a game like a Flagg or Broome are QBs but again, only one QB can play at a time so the talent is spread around more. The portal in football has spread the talent further while it's done the opposite in basketball.

I think too many people are letting recency bias affect their thinking due to this year being top heavy and now think it will always be this way. There's only so much playing time the top schools can offer, so plenty of good players will end up at lesser programs.

The final 4 last year was two 1 seeds, a 4, and an 11. And the two 1 seeds, UConn and Purdue build their rosters with very few transfers.
 

I think too many people are letting recency bias affect their thinking due to this year being top heavy and now think it will always be this way. There's only so much playing time the top schools can offer, so plenty of good players will end up at lesser programs.

The final 4 last year was two 1 seeds, a 4, and an 11. And the two 1 seeds, UConn and Purdue build their rosters with very few transfers.
Biggest concern, and I have heard it from Painter and Niko this week, is that the free transfers and money are damaging the one advantage mid majors had which was development and experience. That was where upsets happened. We’ll see if the mids success declines over time.
 

It will take an act of Congress at this point to do anything that won't get struck down in court. Don't hold your breath.
Not disputing that. As dysfunctional as Congress is, though, this would be something shiny that would capture their attention.
 

Not saying I prefer it, but I will say the one positive from a Gophers program perspective, it gives a middle to lower of the pack team a much quicker path to relevance. 30 years ago a team with this many seniors would essentially be destined for a multi year rebuild with little hope. Now at least in a P5 league and literally thousands of kids in the portal it's feasible for a quick turnaround.
4 teams in the Sweet 16 have new coaches.
 


Here is my solution.

NCAA cant control NIL or put any restrictions on it.
NCAA cant control free trade and limit an individuals right to seek new employment elseswhere (transfers)

What the NCAA can control and still does control is the availability of individuals at a institution. Much like a business has the right to control the number of employees it has.

So my solution would be for the NCAA to make ALL scholarships 2 years instead of one. While still limiting the number of players on a roster. So for basketball.

- 15 Roster players - No more walk ons. If you make the team you get a 2 year scholarship for school.
- All 15 players are on 2 year scholarships. They can leave after one year, but then must sit out a year before playing at new school. If you leave after your two year scholarship is completed you can play immediately at NCAA school.
- If a player leaves after year 1, that roster spot is not open until their scholarship term has expired after year 2.
- Coach suspends player, or kicks them off team. Scholarship still counts against 15 and player still gets to attend class.

No exceptions to rule!
- transfer to be close to family? Sorry, if after 1 year of two year you must sit out a year
- Coach leaves? Sorry, must wait until after your two year scholarship.


Thoughts?
 

It will take an act of Congress at this point to do anything that won't get struck down in court. Don't hold your breath.

The genii is out of the in bottle. No going back. Was fun watching the development of Jordan Murphy, Blake Hoffarber, Andre Hollins over 4 years. That era is over
 
Last edited:





Top Bottom