2024 Transfer Portal Thread

[TheMookieMonster]

Since he's tampering with Awaka, I hope they nail his ass.

This is a fake account. Another Richard G West.

 

[walkenvol]

ZZ was tired and showed it in his shooting. Almost every shot , field and free throws, were short and hit the front of rim. This is the a telling reaction of being fatigued. A little more rest during the season would have likely have helped him later in the season and in the tournaments.

Jeez dude - do you not understand several of our guys were battling illness? ZZZ wasn’t tired acting all year playing heavy minutes. Do you really think it all caught up to him in one game and would have been avoided if he had played 5 fewer minutes in the preceding games?

 

[CAVPUT]

That’s 5 starters who don’t shoot over 34% from 3, no thanks.

I try to avoid it, but I often imagine what this years team would have looked like without Knecht. Depressing. I'm all for length and defenders, but man, we need shooters everywhere. Never, ever would have imagined a team with Knecht, Gainey and Vescovi would have shooting droughts like they did. Really thought there'd be no chance they all would go cold at once. Knecht's ability to take it to the rim and his midrange game was a life saver at times. Hope Barnes gets greedy for offense in the portal. Outside of maybe Carr and ZZ, I'm wondering where our offense is going to come from regularly next year.

 

[sami]

ZZ was tired and showed it in his shooting. Almost every shot , field and free throws, were short and hit the front of rim. This is the a telling reaction of being fatigued. A little more rest during the season would have likely have helped him later in the season and in the tournaments.

It's not Rick's way, but I'd love to see him go deeper into the bench early-mid season, and have said as much the last few years. The benefits are a fresher group in March and a potentially deeper group in big games late to deal with injuries/illness/fatigue. It's just not how he does things.

 

[Chaz-Vol]

I don’t think anything is done, it was talked about in this thread yesterday, he’s a guy to watch. If Tennessee continues with more small ball how many minutes are there for for the 4 bigs this next year? I’m sure Awaka is looking at that and asking himself, and the staff, that same question.

This would suck if it comes to fruition with improvements Awaka has been making and that he still has 2 more years to play. Portal season taketh and giveth.

 

[CAVPUT]

I think I’d rather have Tyson than that big. Thomas would fill the JJJ role at the 4 when we go small. We have lots of bigs already and I think JP could be a 4 when we go big. I’m thinking:

ZZ/Rice
Lanier/Gainey/Carr
Tyson/Mashack/Carr
Thomas/Estrella
Aidoo/Awaka

Reserves: Phillips, Boswell

That’s a lineup that can score with some fantastic shooters, guys who can get to the basket, and solid posts.

Not that excited by Rice. That 27.5% from 3pt is troublesome. Young guy I know, but....

 

[MoCo_Vol]

At this point I'd rather wait until we get commitments to speculate starting lineups.

1 thing is certain ZZ is the starting PG and will be a 32+ mpg just like TJ Ford was for Barnes at Texas

And if you review that team again...

Ford (6'0" G)
Ivey (6'3" G)
Mouton (6'5" G)
Buckman (6'8" F)
Thomas (6'8" C)

So if Barnes can find a Buckman like F that can hit pretty good from deep but is only taking 2 or 3 a game and rebounds like a man man then that's a good fit. Saint Thomas is the best fit I've seen for that specific role.

Dubar probably could do it too, but he takes more outside shots and has been more of a wing guy.

 

[Berry4Heisman14]

I’d rather have awaka than aidoo

 

[CAVPUT]

This is a fake account. Another Richard G West.

Please no....not another one. They're reproducing?? Heaven help us.

 

[CAVPUT]

I’d rather have awaka than aidoo

Both have attractive qualities. Combine them and we're cooking with bacon fat.

 

[walkenvol]

I’d rather have awaka than aidoo

Then who’s our rim protector? With our style of defense, we need someone to challenge guys at the rim when they drive past our pressing perimeter defense.

 

[TrippieRedd]

In all honesty I’m doing everything I can to keep Awaka and Aidoo. Chemistry is a big thing in basketball, imagine having ZZ and 3-4 new starters, could be an Arkansas situation from this past season, all new guys, didn’t play as a team.

 

[OrangeInKy]

Please no....not another one. They're reproducing?? Heaven help us.

He tweeted a year ago about Mahomes being under investigation for PED’s and people still run with his stuff. You’d think people would take 60 seconds to just scroll through his history of tweets or use the Google

 

[SGMVols]

Couple of 7' post players hit the portal today.

Wonder if we have any interest in either? Think one is from FSU

I don’t think we’re taking any bigs unless one of the current guys decides to leave. We are losing 4 guards. That is the focus right now

Possible exception would be Chinyelu. We finished 2nd for him in his high school recruitment

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

He tweeted a year ago about Mahomes being under investigation for PED’s and people still run with his stuff. You’d think people would take 60 seconds to just scroll through his history of tweets or use the Google

The tweet is fake, but Pitino tampering is a real thing. Awaka staying/going isn’t just about St. John’s either. He wasn’t being compensated fairly compared to others, and wants a larger role. We’ve tried very hard to address his concerns, and the team is leaning on him to stay, but it’s tenuous.

 

[OrangeInKy]

The tweet is fake, but Pitino tampering is a real thing. Awaka staying/going isn’t just about St. John’s either. He wasn’t being compensated fairly compared to others, and wants a larger role. We’ve tried very hard to address his concerns, and the team is leaning on him to stay, but it’s tenuous.

Right. I’m talking about the tweet and him being under investigation. Pitino is known for that. I’ve heard about the Awaka thing for weeks. Basilio, who knows nothing according to most here, has been saying St John’s was messing with him for weeks. I know Pitino is scum, it’s the fake reports/reporters I’m talking about.

 

[CNeagleVolFan]

Zeigler wasn't gassed from playing 35 minutes, he was gassed from playing 40 and dealing with the virus running through the team. It has been mentioned many times how the guy plays 35 minutes and looks like he could play 35 more, he hardly ever gets tired. You’re likely talking about one of the favorites for the Cousy award, you aren’t cutting back his minutes to a damn near career low.

Also, Mack isn’t going somewhere for 12-15mpg, and I definitely wouldn’t say that’s considered plenty of minutes.

Has anybody ever told you that you come off like a know it all sometimes? I’m giving you my opinion, and you’re throwing it back in my face.

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

What's the current thought on pulling in Cade Tyson from Belmont? Seems that the bluest of the blue bloods are pushing hard for the guy (UNC, Duke, Kentucky) and we are somewhere in the mix.

Would be something to land the guy. He's not Knecht, but he has some really strong shooting statistics, hard worker, and plays with some intensity.

 

[SGMVols]

What's the current thought on pulling in Cade Tyson from Belmont? Seems that the bluest of the blue bloods are pushing hard for the guy (UNC, Duke, Kentucky) and we are somewhere in the mix.

Would be something to land the guy. He's not Knecht, but he has some really strong shooting statistics, hard worker, and plays with some intensity.

He is from NC. Hard to see us beating out both Heels and Devils.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Has anybody ever told you that you come off like a know it all sometimes? I’m giving you my opinion, and you’re throwing it back in my face.

No. No one has ever said that. That aside, I don’t think you’ll find many who believe that Barnes is going to back off minutes for ZZ by much, if at all.

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

He is from NC. Hard to see us beating out both Heels and Devils.

Good point. But, there's always a possibility that a kid like that will look at the body of work and see what a program has done for players of a similar scope as themselves and give them a chance. If based on geographics alone, Knecht coming to Tennessee would have been looked at as a long-shot.

However, again, you make a good point. I hate it, because the few times I watched Belmont this year, Cade looked the part and was lethal from beyond the 3pt line. Could see him fitting in really well in our system.

 

[CAVPUT]

I don’t think we’re taking any bigs unless one of the current guys decides to leave. We are losing 4 guards. That is the focus right now

Possible exception would be Chinyelu. We finished 2nd for him in his high school recruitment

Gotta wonder how a coach deals with guys on the portal fence? Deadline for making a decision? One would think that if they were going to jump, they'd have to move soon unless they're negotiating behind the scenes? Barnes can't just go out and grab a post then tell a guy like Awaka that he has no spot, right? When does the door to enter the portal close? Man, it's gotta be a real headache to deal with this and manage a roster.

 

[vol9799]

No. No one has ever said that. That aside, I don’t think you’ll find many who believe that Barnes is going to back off minutes for ZZ by much, if at all.

Seems like it's more likely that he'd play 2 pg at the same time to make ZZ's minutes easier, rather than backing off his minutes noticeably.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Gotta wonder how a coach deals with guys on the portal fence? Deadline for making a decision? One would think that if they were going to jump, they'd have to move soon unless they're negotiating behind the scenes? Barnes can't just go out and grab a post then tell a guy like Awaka that he has no spot, right? When does the door to enter the portal close? Man, it's gotta be a real headache to deal with this and manage a roster.

Players want to get in the portal asap. We typically make the case for next year and they decide quickly. If we make it til Monday/Tuesday with Awaka, I’ll feel a lot better.

 

[Chaz-Vol]

Players want to get in the portal asap. We typically make the case for next year and they decide quickly. If we make it til Monday/Tuesday with Awaka, I’ll feel a lot better.

How are things looking with Aidoo and rest of the freshmen?