Transfer Portal 21-22

[Rickster]

I guess it's the conservative part of me but why take a chance on ending up worse off unless there has already been something agreed to that the public is unaware of?

 

[therickbol]

So what do you think is their motivation to go to another school? Annie was clearly the star at MTSU and Aislynn was option #2. They'd have a hard surpassing that, unless they went down in the school competitiveness, not up.

I don't know an answer to that. My assumption is it had to do with them all playing together. If they end up at different schools then we will find out that is not the case.

 

[Volfan1000]

I am surprised that the Hayes sisters are leaving MTSU.

 

[stlvolsfan]

Darby will play...

I agree

 

[stlvolsfan]

If Tess plays, that means she's taking minutes from Horston, Burrell, Wynn, Puckett, Salary and Rennie. The odds aren't in her favor, and if she beats out the freshmen for minutes, then that would be cause for concern as to how good this freshmen class actually is.

Nothing against Tess, but she's not a SEC-caliber player who would be getting game minutes outside of mop-up duty (if that)

I think she’s serviceable. I think she can give us 10 quality minutes a game.

 

[Memvol44]

I don't think it's rude to call it what it is: she has a sweet shot when she has her feet set, but she can't create her own shot. She was a longshot to make the rotation from day 1 because there were better players already on the team and better prospects coming in behind her, and it will be an uphill climb for her to win some minutes. It's no different from the position that Rennie and Saunders are in. While she can improve some things in her game, she still doesn't have a particularly high ceiling because she lacks speed and athleticism...which Tennessee particularly needs at the wing position.

She may be a bit slow,not any slower than those Mich. girls, she is athletic.

 

[creekdipper]

I do get a bit tired hearing about all these players who supposedly "can't create their own shot." Especially when I see lots of perimeter shooters who get open and spot up and then fill it up. Then we see players who try to "create their own shot" who then travel, drive into traffic, get blocked, get tied up, have the ball poked away, or throw up a wild, unortodox shot with little chance of going in. "Creating your own shot" can be as simple as a jab step, pump fake, fake pass, side step, etc. It doesn't have to be fancy.

I'd much rather have pkayers who can actually make their shots and finish strong than players with showy crossovers and spin moves who shoot low percentages.

 

[Amb3096]

To play together. Would not be shocked if their parents tried to pressure the MTSU staff into taking all 4 of them. If they refused their nutty parents decided they would take their “business” elsewhere.

I saw somewhere that Acacia released her list of finalists back in January: MSST, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Iowa, UNC, Clemson, and GT. I was surprised that ND and MSST weren't part of her finalists. It seemed that her and Alasia weren't necessarily angling to play with the 2 older sisters, so I wonder what changed?

I think that they'll soon find out that it's hard to find a school that will take four 5'7 players who all essentially play the same position no matter how good Anastasia is. I wonder if she plans on playing one or two more years, since Acacia won't be joining them next season and Annie is really the main draw for a school willing to take a package deal.

 

[37620VOL]

I'm sure etsu would consider taking all the Hayes girls once they find a new coach.

 

[Amb3096]

I do get a bit tired hearing about all these players who supposedly "can't create their own shot." Especially when I see lots of perimeter shooters who get open and spot up and then fill it up. Then we see players who try to "create their own shot" who then travel, drive into traffic, get blocked, get tied up, have the ball poked away, or throw up a wild, unortodox shot with little chance of going in. "Creating your own shot" can be as simple as a jab step, pump fake, fake pass, side step, etc. It doesn't have to be fancy.

I'd much rather have pkayers who can actually make their shots and finish strong than players with showy crossovers and spin moves who shoot low percentages.

Right. Angie Bjorklund comes to mind. She wasn't the fastest player, but she did have enough moves that she could find ways to get open for her shots and converted at a good clip. Angie was also the #2 player in her class. Tess finished her freshman year shooting 31% from the floor and 33% from deep in limited minutes. And that's on offense, which should be her strength. She would get exploited badly trying to guard SEC wings. So forgive my skepticism...but I've seen nothing from her to suggest that she's the answer or should be playing more minutes.

 

[Rickster]

Perhaps todays version but I believe we see a different and improved player after another year of development. In fact, I expect everyone will get better if last year is a true example of how effective Kellies development process is.

 

[Amb3096]

Perhaps todays version but I believe we see a different and improved player after another year of development. In fact, I expect everyone will get better if last year is a true example of how effective Kellies development process is.

If there wasn't an incoming freshman class that has some talent on it, I would agree with you. But with Horston/Burrell expected to lead the team from the wing and Wynn/Puckett (and Pisotte the next year) coming in, I don't see much opportunity for Tess...unless she surpasses those players in production, which doesn't seem likely given their upside and her limitation.

 

[VolBall09]

I saw somewhere that Acacia released her list of finalists back in January: MSST, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Iowa, UNC, Clemson, and GT. I was surprised that ND and MSST weren't part of her finalists. It seemed that her and Alasia weren't necessarily angling to play with the 2 older sisters, so I wonder what changed?

I think that they'll soon find out that it's hard to find a school that will take four 5'7 players who all essentially play the same position no matter how good Anastasia is. I wonder if she plans on playing one or two more years, since Acacia won't be joining them next season and Annie is really the main draw for a school willing to take a package deal.

Or they had decided in advance this is what they were going to do

 

[Volfan2012]

Portal up to almost 100 Power five players and 194 Grad Transfers. A lot of players to find a home.

 

[Amb3096]

Or they had decided in advance this is what they were going to do

About half of Acacia's choices aren't viable if that's their plan. Maybe GT, LSU or Clemson might be desperate enough...

 

[Rickster]

Portal up to almost 100 Power five players and 194 Grad Transfers. A lot of players to find a home.

With those numbers, I wonder how many have to return because they can't find anything equitable?

 

[Volfan2012]

With those numbers, I wonder how many have to return because they can't find anything equitable?

I think a lot of them can move to a MId Major without much problem. I only see something around a hundred that may get a P5 scholarship offers and over half of them are Grad Transfers. There are about five different players that I wish Tennessee would offer and one in particular am very high on think she could totally take almost all of Davis Scoring loss.

 

[Volfan2012]

About half of Acacia's choices aren't viable if that's their plan. Maybe GT, LSU or Clemson might be desperate enough...

LSU has lost some players to the portal so that could definitely be an option.

 

[RAVOL]

Perhaps todays version but I believe we see a different and improved player after another year of development. In fact, I expect everyone will get better if last year is a true example of how effective Kellies development process is.

and Coach was only able to work some with team due to Covid this off-season should yield even greater results to those who strive to get better. In CHRIST Alone

 

[glv98]

With those numbers, I wonder how many have to return because they can't find anything equitable?

I asked about that yesterday. Many are called, not all are chosen. Awkward to the max to have to go back to the team and coach you tried to break up with. Does a team have to take a player back?

 

[madtownvol]

If there wasn't an incoming freshman class that has some talent on it, I would agree with you. But with Horston/Burrell expected to lead the team from the wing and Wynn/Puckett (and Pisotte the next year) coming in, I don't see much opportunity for Tess...unless she surpasses those players in production, which doesn't seem likely given their upside and her limitation.

You could be right but we only a saw an injured Tess who had limited practice time through most of the season. A player can look quite different with a good off season. I saw a lot of promise in her brief appearances during the tourney run. She does not panic under pressure. She does not force passes, she moves well off the ball and she seemed pretty athletic actually. On the other side, injuries happen; sometimes freshman recruits have adjustment problems. It is easy to envision lots of scenarios where Tess is important in the rotation. Most of all, players who can hit 3's consistently will get minutes.

 

[Amb3096]

Most of all, players who can hit 3's consistently will get minutes.

Maybe, but that didn't lead to minutes for Jessie Rennie, who was the best outside shooter last year.

If Tess can hit the three in games, that would be one thing. But hitting 50 in a row unguarded might show she has a consistent shot, but doesn't prove that she could make those shots under pressure.

We'll find out next season, but money is on Puckett, Wynn and Salary being the main wing bench contributors off the bench.

 

[madtownvol]

Maybe, but that didn't lead to minutes for Jessie Rennie, who was the best outside shooter last year.

If Tess can hit the three in games, that would be one thing. But hitting 50 in a row unguarded might show she has a consistent shot, but doesn't prove that she could make those shots under pressure.

We'll find out next season, but money is on Puckett, Wynn and Salary being the main wing bench contributors off the bench.

Fair point. Rennie shot 47% last season but she was a defensive liability.Tess is a bigger, more physical player so she might fit better in the scheme. But, I agree she has to prove that she can deliver when it matters.

 

[VolBall09]

Portal up to almost 100 Power five players and 194 Grad Transfers. A lot of players to find a home.

I’m hoping our improvements across the board will help us in the portal. Really have a good feeling we can bring in a couple big puzzle pieces. We played a fun brand of basketball this season and we’re, IMO, moving in the right direction.

 

[VolBall09]

One positive I think we are seeing from the relaxation of transfer rules is that coaches can relax.

It totally takes the stigma of having a lot of transfers out of the job. You look across the board this season and it’s obvious that it can’t all be personal, it’s just commonplace. Countless reasons people want to move around. It isn’t all bad as far as I can see!

This means coaches can get back to coaching and quit worrying about feelings a bit. If you can’t hang and it’s not your vibe - jump in the portal, no hard feelings. With so many high profile and high efficiency mid major transfers available it’s no longer an issue of filling your team. Recruitment is officially open season once you’re in college and battle tested. Within the next few season I think the transfer portal will be discussed considerably more than high school recruiting. Seems we are seeing that already.