2024 Transfer Portal Thread

#3,978
#3,978
I was more a fan of Awaka before he decided to try and take the program hostage. I hated it, but kind of understood when he jumped in the portal with the expectation Aidoo was staying. But then Aidoo jumps in the portal. If he really wants to be here, he's had plenty of time to withdraw. Choose to be a Vol or lose your spot.
 
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#3,979
#3,979
bleedingTNorange said:
Yea, feels like best case if you land Okpara with 4 spots remaining would likely be just 2 impact transfers, maybe Lanier (if he enters) and Igor since Tyson is looking less likely. Leaves room for 2, can take the HS project big and then that’s why I’ve mentioned Anderson, would he be someone you could add that’s ok with not a role this year? If so that seems like a major win/win to me.
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If we don't get Tyson, I'd be cool with Anderson. I agree with you, he isn't going to be someone who demands alot of minutes and has multiple years to develop. He already knows how to shoot. Barnes can teach him everything else.
 
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#3,982
#3,982
Weezer said:
I was more a fan of Awaka before he decided to try and take the program hostage. I hated it, but kind of understood when he jumped in the portal with the expectation Aidoo was staying. But then Aidoo jumps in the portal. If he really wants to be here, he's had plenty of time to withdraw. Choose to be a Vol or lose your spot.
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Not sure about him taking the program hostage. I read his actions as a kid who wants some promise of minutes. With Aidoo and Estrella that would be difficult. Bring in Igor and the 4 might not be a spot he'd see a lot of minutes either. Kinda see it as him wanting to see what we do with the roster via the portal.
 
#3,984
#3,984
wtmvol said:
And losing to Miami in 2023 had nothing to do with having an undersized post. Miami ran a 4 guard lineup with a post even shorter than 6’8.
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Okay so they lost to a similar sized team.


Makes me feel great.

Miami beat a similar sized Texas team after that. Then lost to a team that had size…UCONN. Let’s not make it sound like they beat teams that had guys over 6’10 starting
 
#3,985
#3,985
Weezer said:
I was more a fan of Awaka before he decided to try and take the program hostage. I hated it, but kind of understood when he jumped in the portal with the expectation Aidoo was staying. But then Aidoo jumps in the portal. If he really wants to be here, he's had plenty of time to withdraw. Choose to be a Vol or lose your spot.
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Yeah, I'm a huge Awaka fan but even I think this dragging out is becoming untenable. Barnes said earlier this week that some players would be welcomed back and others may not due to circumstances. It is obvious the door is open for Awaka but closed for Aidoo, but he won't wait forever and his responsibility is to build the best team possible. If Awaka is threatened by Okpara than he may be better served looking elsewhere. I think both can co-exist but Barnes isn't going to give guarantees to anyone including the license for Awaka to determine who the coaches go after in the portal. Suspect he would be less threatened by Milicic but Milicic presence doesn't prohibit us going after Okpara either.

Awaka has to learn now that you have to compete for time and not just expect it to be given to you. Certainly not going to be given to him if he elects to play professionally anywhere in the world in the years to come. Wherever he ends up, back at UT or elsewhere, I think he will be a valuable contributor and a very good college basketball player.
 
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#3,987
#3,987
Stoerner Fumbles said:
Going into the weekend, hope was fading with Tyson and everyone thought he’d be done Friday night with the news of Ingram entering draft. It’s odd that he hasn’t announced, but I have heard nothing that gives me hope. Time elapsing is always good for our side. Friday we felt like we were leading a two horse race with Igor. I can’t read the Awaka situation as it has been all over the map. I have to think he’s gone if we sign a true 5, but he wouldn’t be bothered by Igor.
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It’s just a gut feeling but I wouldn’t be to surprised that we’ll have some sort of good news tomorrow.
 
#3,990
#3,990
VolArmy74 said:
Are we content with Mashack/Gainey running PG if ZZ has an issue? Feels like we could use more depth there. I was hoping we'd have landed Mack as a PG for the future. I imagine next year we may be in a situation of all-in for the PG position in the portal, if we don't add one this season.
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No transfer wants to come to a team with limited minutes just to dispel ZZ for being tired we have other ball handlers on the team that can do that role
 
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#3,991
#3,991
bleedingTNorange said:
Not many guys are going to be attracted to backing up a likely front runner for the Cousy award.
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💯 plus both Chaz Lanier or Roddy Gayle Jr has helped their teams at the point similar to how Vescovi helped zz at point. So if we get one of those two we would be great in that department...
 
#3,992
#3,992
allvolrecruiting said:
Awaka is a good player but those arguing in favor of him, acting like he’s a great offensive player to prove you point is an interesting choice lol
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We have not seen the best of Awaka as a Vol, wherever he goes (if no return) he will prove himself, his value & worth. The main reason Awaka didn't get more minutes this past year from them start was due to JJJ's return. Barnes even hinted on that several times in interviews
 
#3,994
#3,994
bleedingTNorange said:
You can look at him multiple different ways, he didn’t put up the points that Aidoo was but at the same time he also wasn’t taking the volume of shots Aidoo was either. He’s an elite level defender who’s also younger than either Aidoo or Awaka, his offensive game is still obviously developing. The biggest thing is he’s proven he can play 25+mpg and not be a constant foul trouble threat, that’s something Awaka hasn’t shown yet. I don’t know that it’s totally fair to compare Aidoo vs. Okpara because the staff wanted Aidoo back, it’s not as if they ran him off, not that they ran off Awaka either but to me the comparison is more between those 2.
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How old is he as Awaka is 19?
 
#3,996
#3,996
TrippieRedd said:
Okay so they lost to a similar sized team.


Makes me feel great.

Miami beat a similar sized Texas team after that. Then lost to a team that had size…UCONN. Let’s not make it sound like they beat teams that had guys over 6’10 starting
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'23 UCONN team was led by Sanogo who was 6'9 245, so not sure if that meets your definition of size. Clingan was a role player in '23 and averaged 13 minutes per game, which is what he played against Miami. Otherwise, outside Sanogo and Clingan, they were a perimeter-oriented team. They beat Miami whether Clingan played his 13 minutes or not.

I get it. Your consistent theme has been you prefer a big guy (6'11-7'0) who is dominate in the paint. Each person has different opinions on what attributes constitute more success on the floor. I don't think I have any set criteria. I'm more concerned about how they play and what they produce regardless of how tall they are. Over the last decade, the most dominate center was Okafor (6'10) in 2015. We have seen over and over again where it isn't necessary to have a dominate big or size for that matter to win it all. If anything, the trend is moving away from bigs and they have become more often role players (6'9 - 6'10 types) on championship teams.

It could be argued that Aidoo was the best tall center UT has had (and we haven't had many) since Steve Hamer. Great season but wasn't enough despite a generational talent in DK and one of the best PGs in the country in Zeigler.
 
#3,998
#3,998
Namorto1 said:
'23 UCONN team was led by Sanogo who was 6'9 245, so not sure if that meets your definition of size. Clingan was a role player in '23 and averaged 13 minutes per game, which is what he played against Miami. Otherwise, outside Sanogo and Clingan, they were a perimeter-oriented team. They beat Miami whether Clingan played his 13 minutes or not.

I get it. Your consistent theme has been you prefer a big guy (6'11-7'0) who is dominate in the paint. Each person has different opinions on what attributes constitute more success on the floor. I don't think I have any set criteria. I'm more concerned about how they play and what they produce regardless of how tall they are. Over the last decade, the most dominate center was Okafor (6'10) in 2015. We have seen over and over again where it isn't necessary to have a dominate big or size for that matter to win it all. If anything, the trend is moving away from bigs and they have become more often role players (6'9 - 6'10 types) on championship teams.

It could be argued that Aidoo was the best tall center UT has had (and we haven't had many) since Steve Hamer. Great season but wasn't enough despite a generational talent in DK and one of the best PGs in the country in Zeigler.
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Thank you for having the best response in the thread.

I should have never said Awaka sucks, frustrating as hell would have been better.
 
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