2025 Transfer Portal Thread

[TrippieRedd]

Would shack be willing to come off the bench if it is approved?

Need scorers off the bench.

Shack needs to put his degree to use.

 

[Jean-Claude van Manning]

i think we've seen enough times that ZZ at PG will not get us to the Final Four

This is silly. KC was the lead guard year 1. Year 2 he was injured. Year 3 we ran into Edey and Purdue and lost by 6. And Year 4 we went out to one of the best KenPom teams of all-time.

Get real.

 

[cncchris33]

Again, take this as you will. Basilio said in his blog yesterday than ZZ is open to playing with Gillespie if the 5th year comes to fruition. I imagine Gillespie would play off ball & spell ZZ at point as needed.

Was just coming to post this. He also hinted that Gillespie may be willing to coexist. How he would know that...no idea. We've given the blueprint for how to PGs can coexist with Chandler and Zeigler, and to an extent, Bone and Turner. It's doable and we've shown it is, but it may be tough to convince JG that he'll get his time there. Gillespie, if he's an NBA prospect, isn't a 2G, so he needs to show his worth at the PG position. Now the kicker is that with the 5th year ruling, he could potentially have the spot all to himself the following year.

 

[TNBV]

i think we've seen enough times that ZZ at PG will not get us to the Final Four

Neither will the name UT on our jersey. Dumb analysis.

 

[CornbreadVol]

Was just coming to post this. He also hinted that Gillespie may be willing to coexist. How he would know that...no idea. We've given the blueprint for how to PGs can coexist with Chandler and Zeigler, and to an extent, Bone and Turner. It's doable and we've shown it is, but it may be tough to convince JG that he'll get his time there. Gillespie, if he's an NBA prospect, isn't a 2G, so he needs to show his worth at the PG position. Now the kicker is that with the 5th year ruling, he could potentially have the spot all to himself the following year.

A backcourt of ZZ/Gillespie/McNeely/JG is absolutely filthy

 

[TNBV]

Our problem was never ZZ at point guard. Our problem was being about 2 scoring options shy. We have no inside scoring game and we have only 1 true outside scoring threat. If you are counting on you point guard to be your primary scorer, you should not plan on going far.

 

[Volprofch05]

Betcha Okpara would be happy if ZZ returned

 

[cncchris33]

Our problem was never ZZ at point guard. Our problem was being about 2 scoring options shy. We have no inside scoring game and we have only 1 true outside scoring threat. If you are counting on you point guard to be your primary scorer, you should not plan on going far.

This. I just posted the same thing in the other thread. It's especially true when your PG is 5'-8, yet is one of only two guys with a demonstrated ability to get to the rim. Keep him and then go get guys who can get their own shot, either from 3 or driving the ball so ZZ doesn't necessarily have to.

 

[Nico ee-ah-MAH-LAY-ah-va]

Our problem was never ZZ at point guard. Our problem was being about 2 scoring options shy. We have no inside scoring game and we have only 1 true outside scoring threat. If you are counting on you point guard to be your primary scorer, you should not plan on going far.

This is why Lanier evaporated against both Kentucky and Houston, along with other games this season when we really needed him. Put your best defender in tight coverage on Chaz (Knecht the year before but he was better in all aspects) and watch us flounder if a combination of ZZ, Gainey, and our bigs can't hit anything. Mashack, a true VFL and somebody we will all remember fondly, didn't exactly help with his lack of offensive execution. You could tell the defense just sort of ignored Mashack when he had the ball because he just wasn't much of a threat.

Successful teams have more than one primary option and multiple hot hands per night, both inside and out. We were not going to win the big dance with only one knockdown shooter with a secondary cast of "sorta maybes, depends on the night" type scorers. Our ceiling is high but not championship high until we fix those holes and become consistent.

 

[Nico ee-ah-MAH-LAY-ah-va]

I have mixed feelings if ZZ or Mashack decide to return. It would be nice because we know they have been in big games and can play incredible defense, but on the other hand I think it is time to get some new blood in here for something different. Plus, we want that Maryland kid so having ZZ there kinda hurts us in that convo.

Gainey on the other hand I would love to have back. He really matured a lot this season and become a consistent outside threat. Give him a good PG, along with a balanced attack with aggressive bigs on the inside, and we could see another deep run.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

i think we've seen enough times that ZZ at PG will not get us to the Final Four

That’s a misguided statement.

 

[Vols All Day]

I have mixed feelings if ZZ or Mashack decide to return. It would be nice because we know they have been in big games and can play incredible defense, but on the other hand I think it is time to get some new blood in here for something different. Plus, we want that Maryland kid so having ZZ there kinda hurts us in that convo.

Gainey on the other hand I would love to have back. He really matured a lot this season and become a consistent outside threat. Give him a good PG, along with a balanced attack with aggressive bigs on the inside, and we could see another deep run.

I don't think any of the players that have come back have improved. JF, SV, and JJJ did not improve their last year. I don't see much room for improvement from ZZ or JM. However, I would like to see what Gainey could become with one more year.

 

[Mountvol]

That’s a misguided statement.

On top of that it would be funny if ZZ did get another year and we told him no thanks. Some otb would have their heads spinning at how fast one of the teams currently in the FF would try to get him on next years roster.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

This. I just posted the same thing in the other thread. It's especially true when your PG is 5'-8, yet is one of only two guys with a demonstrated ability to get to the rim. Keep him and then go get guys who can get their own shot, either from 3 or driving the ball so ZZ doesn't necessarily have to.

Agree, strongly. If Igor’s stock trended up alongside Gainey, we’d have been balanced enough to score in the lane and/or get better looks outside. Unfortunately it didn’t. Cade and Felix are lob and putback guys. That just doesn’t draw enough focus from a defense. When I saw Houston’s guards blowing through screens and holding Lanier down, I literally said “Oh no”. Houston had seen enough of ZZ scoring on the drive that they dropped a big on him anytime he had a step on his man. A guy that size isn’t going to get a ball over two guys in the lane. The true story of the mythical “5th year” has many more steps involved than the yahoos commenting understand. It isn’t a guarantee and it won’t be done for awhile , if it does.

 

[allvolrecruiting]

i think we've seen enough times that ZZ at PG will not get us to the Final Four

He was certainly the reason we couldn't stop Edey last year

 

[cncchris33]

I have mixed feelings if ZZ or Mashack decide to return. It would be nice because we know they have been in big games and can play incredible defense, but on the other hand I think it is time to get some new blood in here for something different. Plus, we want that Maryland kid so having ZZ there kinda hurts us in that convo.

Gainey on the other hand I would love to have back. He really matured a lot this season and become a consistent outside threat. Give him a good PG, along with a balanced attack with aggressive bigs on the inside, and we could see another deep run.

Mashack, I'm with you. We can't afford to have a guy get 25-30 mpg and do next to nothing on offense.

However, the bolded statement makes not wanting ZZ back a strange premise. If ZZ and Gillespie are willing to coexist, no reason not to want ZZ back. Gives Gainey and everyone else two more than capable PGs.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I just wonder if the series of events that follow are JG comes to the Vols, a fifth year is approved, and ZZ wants to come back - is there going to be hurt feelings somewhere?

Not if you’re transparent there shouldn’t be

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Regardless I think it’s prudent to move forward as if it’s not going to happen.

Otherwise you end up with a bunch of unused roster spots AGAIN.

Bingo

 

[BatteredVol44]

If ZZ, Mashack, and Gainey all want to return there's no way we can keep everybody right?

 

[bleedingTNorange]

If zig comes back I dont see Gillespie coming. He is willing to take less money, but not sit on the bench. He wants to start.

The issue is the timing, the 5th year thing would be announced long after these portal guys committing

 

[Volprofch05]

If ZZ, Mashack, and Gainey all want to return there's no way we can keep everybody right?

We have plenty of scholarships open, but it’s just a question of whether everyone wants to sign up for that based on playing time

 

[ABtheVolsfan92]

The 5 year thing is not going to go into effect until next years crop of players. It'd be too much chaos to okay it for guys that should be done playing

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Full staff is enroute to visit Gillespie, trying to get this one locked down

 

[TrippieRedd]

Full staff is enroute to visit Gillespie, trying to get this one locked down

Gotta do the Kongbo and get him an ice cream cone

 

[BatteredVol44]

We have plenty of scholarships open, but it’s just a question of whether everyone wants to sign up for that based on playing time

Yeah Gillespie is not gonna fly for less minutes bc of ZZ's presence. He wants to start and honestly I think he should I think ZZ's height has been too much of a barrier for him.