It’s just starting!

I just do not understand the logic of opening the portal during the opening week of March Madness.

(03-18-2024 03:00 PM)Springfield Soxfan Wrote:  I just do not understand the logic of opening the portal during the opening week of March Madness.

68 teams have happy players----the other 300 don't.....including those in the NIT and whatever three letter combo they can come up with.

Kind of what I figured. There was no way all these players were injured. Maybe they and Burno had honest conversations and said they were transferring so Burno told them he was going to give their mins to other players.

I assume this means Coit, Russell, and Yanic are staying.

My guess is it doesn’t mean that

(03-18-2024 03:41 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Kind of what I figured. There was no way all these players were injured. Maybe they and Burno had honest conversations and said they were transferring so Burno told them he was going to give their mins to other players.

I assume this means Coit, Russell, and Yanic are staying.

What? Like 2,000 kids are going to enter the portal in the next few weeks, I dont think Nutter and Amos going in today means they weren’t hurt nor do I believe it means everyone else is staying.

(03-18-2024 05:26 PM)7 Wrote:  

(03-18-2024 03:41 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Kind of what I figured. There was no way all these players were injured. Maybe they and Burno had honest conversations and said they were transferring so Burno told them he was going to give their mins to other players.

I assume this means Coit, Russell, and Yanic are staying.

What? Like 2,000 kids are going to enter the portal in the next few weeks, I dont think Nutter and Amos going in today means they weren’t hurt nor do I believe it means everyone else is staying.

I agree. There's basically no rhyme nor reason to the portal and who decides to enter into it.

As for there being 68 teams with happy players (Milwaukee Pilot), I wouldn't bank on that being true.

The way I think this works is it gives the teams who's seasons are over a head start on the portal even though there will be other players enter later and there will most definitely be additions on all of those 68 teams as well as departures.

But none of this has made any sense the past few years anyway so why should this?

(03-18-2024 05:26 PM)7 Wrote:  

(03-18-2024 03:41 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Kind of what I figured. There was no way all these players were injured. Maybe they and Burno had honest conversations and said they were transferring so Burno told them he was going to give their mins to other players.

I assume this means Coit, Russell, and Yanic are staying.

What? Like 2,000 kids are going to enter the portal in the next few weeks, I dont think Nutter and Amos going in today means they weren’t hurt nor do I believe it means everyone else is staying.

Nutter is seen in the pics above working out and playing basketball. He just magically got healthy right after the season ended?

If he quit the last few games to prepare to leave, they should charge him room and boards and tuition for the semester.

Keep in mind many players will enter the portal in search of something they won’t be able to find and then return to their school. I bet NIU gets at least 1 of these.

The Zion Russell Era has come to an end.

So much for the expanded playing time theory.

(03-18-2024 08:43 PM)Big Red Wrote:  The Zion Russell Era has come to an end.

He's probably going to have to move down a level, or since he is from Maryland maybe he can get lucky with an offer to play at a smaller D1 school like American University or UMBC.

(03-19-2024 04:17 AM)HuskieJ Wrote:  So much for the expanded playing time theory.

He only really played because McPherson, Phil, and Muhammed were out. Before that he was barely getting playing time.

I'm fine with him leaving, he wasn't good for an experienced junior year player.

Hopefully Durosinmi enters the portal too.

Burno shouldn't waste time with HS players. For every experienced player he lost to transfer he needs to get transfers in return. Otherwise he's going to be lucky to get the 9 wins he had this season.

(03-19-2024 06:55 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(03-19-2024 04:17 AM)HuskieJ Wrote:  So much for the expanded playing time theory.

He only really played because McPherson, Phil, and Muhammed were out. Before that he was barely getting playing time.

I'm fine with him leaving, he wasn't good for an experienced junior year player.

Hopefully Durosinmi enters the portal too.

Burno shouldn't waste time with HS players. For every experienced player he lost to transfer he needs to get transfers in return. Otherwise he's going to be lucky to get the 9 wins he had this season.

I think I agree. Do not waste any time on HS players anymore. Go ahead and build a new portal team each year. The only problem is that we do not have even a few $s in NIL to attract anyone. There is no more loyalty where you develop players and get a return on that investment. Everyone is a free agent each year. If this is the way the game is played now, go ahead and jump in with both feet. Each year you put together a nomadic group of players and see what happens. I would even focus on getting the 5 best Grad transfers you can find.

(03-19-2024 07:45 AM)HuskieJ Wrote:  

(03-19-2024 06:55 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(03-19-2024 04:17 AM)HuskieJ Wrote:  So much for the expanded playing time theory.

He only really played because McPherson, Phil, and Muhammed were out. Before that he was barely getting playing time.

I'm fine with him leaving, he wasn't good for an experienced junior year player.

Hopefully Durosinmi enters the portal too.

Burno shouldn't waste time with HS players. For every experienced player he lost to transfer he needs to get transfers in return. Otherwise he's going to be lucky to get the 9 wins he had this season.

I think I agree. Do not waste any time on HS players anymore. Go ahead and build a new portal team each year. The only problem is that we do not have even a few $s in NIL to attract anyone. There is no more loyalty where you develop players and get a return on that investment. Everyone is a free agent each year. If this is the way the game is played now, go ahead and jump in with both feet. Each year you put together a nomadic group of players and see what happens. I would even focus on getting the 5 best Grad transfers you can find.

I tend to agree. Obviously if you get a chance to nab a guy like Amos, you have to and physically, Jayden Mott is a good replacement but again...he's a HS Senior and who knows if he'll develop or what he'll turn into. I honestly don't know much about him other than a little video that's like a year old and his composite rating is 3.15*. I looked to see a comparison to Amos and VC doesn't have his rating up anymore but I don't recall him being super highly rated but had some air his senior year and he stuck with the early commitment.

But as for replacing the spots vacated by Nutter, Amos and Russell (I'm counting Mott as replacing Phil since that was in the works way back), just go out and get transfers. You can get really good players from JUCO and DII and low-major schools. It doesn't have to be guys transferring down from major conferences. A lot of times that doesn't work out.

So, just fill in with guys who have 2 or 3 years of eligibility who show an ability to shoot from the outside and make free throws.

As for Duro, I'm on the fence. He's clearly our 3rd big (maybe even 4th if you include Butler even though the height is quite different), but we don't have the most depth there so, currently, I'm okay with him being a body to throw out there.

But if there's a better option, then yeah, I'd love to see him go and upgrade the spot.

Edit: With all that said, if Tyson Acuff wanted to come to NIU for his last year, I'd be down with that.

This is one of the reasons why I gave up my support of NIU athletics - and ALL college sports teams. By accident, you can get decent players and then they’re gone to the portal. College sports are no longer the same as when I enjoyed them.

Think of the NIU greats in football and basketball. Think they’d stick around with the portal and NIL money calling them?

I no longer root for any pro teams, either. I will now enjoy my autumns with walks in nature and winters staying out of the cold and snow.

(03-18-2024 08:43 PM)Big Red Wrote:  The Zion Russell Era has come to an end.

Now to me THIS is a sign Coit is staying

(03-19-2024 08:13 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  This is one of the reasons why I gave up my support of NIU athletics - and ALL college sports teams. By accident, you can get decent players and then they’re gone to the portal. College sports are no longer the same as when I enjoyed them.

Think of the NIU greats in football and basketball. Think they’d stick around with the portal and NIL money calling them?

I no longer root for any pro teams, either. I will now enjoy my autumns with walks in nature and winters staying out of the cold and snow.

I reduced my football season tickets from 4 to 2 this season. Mostly because you can buy single game tickets for cheaper with all the promos they run and I will donate the money I would have spent on two more season tickets. The tax deduction is more useful to me. Not like I need to worry about the stadium selling out and single game tickets being hard to get.

(03-19-2024 08:13 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  This is one of the reasons why I gave up my support of NIU athletics - and ALL college sports teams. By accident, you can get decent players and then they’re gone to the portal. College sports are no longer the same as when I enjoyed them.

Think of the NIU greats in football and basketball. Think they’d stick around with the portal and NIL money calling them?

I no longer root for any pro teams, either. I will now enjoy my autumns with walks in nature and winters staying out of the cold and snow.

It's just different. And that's okay. I, as well as many other sports fans, ar some point come to realize we root for the uniform...or laundry, if you will. And it matters not WHO is wearing that uniform but that that is our uniform.

It would be great to have players who spend thri entire career in the uniform but that just isn't reality in any sport anymore and if you're into it....you just adjust.

But I too am less committed than I've ever been. That's why I selfishly love the weeknight games. I rarely go to games anymore so when they fit into my schedule (weeknights is really convenient for me to watch on tv), I'm in favor.

And just like you. Man there is way too much to do on a Fall weekend for me to spend at or watching a game.

But I'm still a fan, I still pay attention and I'm still invested from an emotional standpoint.

I'm just not going to get worked up over a guy leaving for a marginally better situation. Now don't get me wrong....I'll judge that decision and hope the lessons of our predecessors teaches those to come. But I know young people are misguided, are often selfish and make self-serving decisions when they have full control over their decisions with no guard rails.

So, I'm not sad to see Russell leave as I had moved on from him a long time ago. As for Nutter and Amos....yeah it sucks. They were integral parts of the team and, had they stuck with it, could have been a major nucleus to build around.

But they took the easy road and, as far as I'm concerned, screw them. I hope they fail. If they succeed, I dont care. I only want guys wearing the black and red in DeKalb to succeed.

Everyone else is the enemy and they have chosen their path.