2023/2024 Portal News

Well somebody likes and respects her. It may take her awhile to build a consistent program, unless she starts getting better recruits like Maupin.

 

that’s a big time addition to the portal. She’s one heck of a player. Don’t think Texas will pursue because we are stacked at the forward position. I’m sure she goes back home to Michigan.

 

WVa lost to AZ today. Quinnerly was leading scorer for her team with 19. Will she hit the portal soon? If so, should probably wait until teams she might be interested in have finished their seasons.

 

I mean, Louisville had a couple enter the portal this week, and we had one (although she hasn't been part of the program in months). Today is Friday, so if her plans are to enter the transfer portal, I could see Sunday or Monday being realistic days.

 

She could have teams she’s interested in both categories. Nevertheless if it were me, the sooner the better why limit yourself?

 

Belmont WBB Associate HC. Heh.

 

So, they're in the tourney. Hmm...

 

Belmont lost in the First Round of the WNIT Thursday night

 

Looks like more than one person at WVU was in the portal!

 

Shocked that the transfer portal has gotten THAT out of hand. (feigned surprise) Not!

 

So, other schools trying to recruit players from a WNIT-quality program?

 

Now that her head coach has bolted for Minnesota, I guess it makes sense if Quinerly was planning to enter the transfer portal sooner rather than later. Perhaps she's known about losing her head coach for a week or two.

 

A new name just entered the portal Taylor Valladay from Virginia. Trust me when I tell you I would go after her. She is fast, smart, and defensively motivated. I’ve seen her play several times and she would fit perfectly with our system and she can shoot the 3 efficiently.

 

Two years at Marquette, two years at Virginia. So, one year left. Vic has made one and dones work in the past. Don't know much about her, but I personally would rather have a two-year guard, unless of course Taylor is just outstanding.

 

I’m choosing to look forward to avoid the hurt of tonight so I post in here. I don’t want anybody to transfer BUT I do have 2 or 3 in mind that I think might. Right now we have 5 bigs coming back Amo,Amina,Tay,Faye,Gatson. We have 4 wings Shay, Codio,Booker, Jak. We have 2 guards Shaylee & Maul. 1 PG Rori. Not counting Abbi and current walk-on TBH. If Abbi PlayStation significant role b4 her jr year I’ll be shocked no shade but she needs development no matter how tall she is. So we need GUARDS. I don’t know how many scholarships we would have. If everybody stays I think only 1 but I honestly think people are going to be gone. My candidates are Gatson, Codio, and 1 more surprise one but I’m a nobody and could be wrong. Gatson don’t want to stay and be 2nd to AMo once again once she gets better. Codio just cause I believe her and Mitchell from the men are dating and if he leave for draft( I think he needs to stay) I think she goes.

 

After 3 years Vic as to put a premium on offense and will go after somebody who can make shots. I thought for sure he found it in Shaylee and Sonya but IMO he tried a lil to hard to change them into defensive monsters which did happen at times. But in all 3 years he’s been our coach we’ve struggled scoring or scored just enough because our defense was so hellish. The teams that where his best at Miss State was when he had basically 3 PG on the floor and 1 wing or a stretch 4 type and a big big down low. They were hellish on D and could give buckets. Mo Williams, Jaz, Jordan danberry, Blair, roniesha at guards and Vivians,Bibby, Jackson at 4 and big T, Jessica Carter, and the one he had before big T she had a African name I believe and I don’t wanna butcher it. Vic had the formula he just needs to gather all the factors.

 

He has his PG1 (Rori) but needs other guard guards in my opinion. AMo, Amina, Booker more his style at the 4 but all need to grow there offense leaps and bounds. Tay and Faye are good bigs but not dominant. Hopefully Tay will be motivated to get healthy and really take her game to next level and Faye in spot minutes could be 6th woman of the year type player. Shay every team needs her she fits his Dominic Dillingham mold she hits enough of her open shots and plays solid D. I know Shaylee is good but she needs to change herself to great especially if she wants to play at the next level. If she stays she needs to embrace being a dawg every game, every possession instead of disappearing like she did at times this year then get mad and come back and torch a team for 20. She need to be that every night. Rori needs to hold herself accountable as well. I get it she had to a lot so some things you can tell fell by the waste side. Her FTs and 3 ball need to get better period for her to be considered that PG in the country. I think she knows that and will address it.

 

If anyone was watching on TV, when Vic pulled Gaston in the first quarter, she seemed to have walked by brushing him off as she was coming off the court with him fussing at her. He then went and got her and made her go back to the bench chewing her out fiercely. From the TV camera view you saw a man sitting behind the Texas bench who looked like her father, he was watching the whole incident and the look on his face was not one that seemed pleased. Something seems to be going on with Gaston. She hasn't been the same the last few games. Not that she hasn't produced, but she seems to be a bit checked out. I have sensed that there may be something a little off with the team since that Baylor loss. In the post game presser Vic expressed, in so many words, his disappointment in Gaston's play. I'm also expecting some portal activity and she just may be one of them.

 

He has demeaned her on more than 1 occasion, and criticized her in the PC. Same with Faye. Wouldn't surprise me at all it they were both gone.

 

Vic is not easy to play for, nor are any of the top coaches. The job he's done this year dealing with all the adversity can't be denied. Trust me, the other coaches in the conference wouldn't have just GIVEN him the COY award. They understand what he has done with so little to work with.

I don't think Gaston likes the psychological pressure of being a go-to player, and doesn't handle the demands of it well. It's especially magnified with the short bench we've had and the amount of minutes our players have been required to play. It's been a tough season in that sense.

Lots of work to do over the next few months and I hope (and trust) that Vic will roll up his sleeves and get to work. This portal season and the 2024 recruiting class is going to be critical.

 

I really hope we don't lose any assistant coaches - I think that hurt that it took so long to get the staff complete for this year.

 

I agree. I don't see the ones we have on staff leaving though, but one never knows.

 

That's certainly true, but if there's anything I've learned in my countless years in the business world, along with the countless books I've read on management, is you compliment in public, criticize in private.

I haven't seen any other top coaches criticizing like that in public, and have certainly never seen it from Geno, Tara or Jody.

 

As much as I like Vic as our coach, I can't say that I disagree with your statement. I'm not understanding what's going on there but something is. I'm guessing time will reveal.

 

Give me some examples of him critizing in public because there were a few times yesterday where he evaded the question when he could have easily thrown the players under the bus. And if you haven't seen it from Geno then you must not be paying attention.

 

In the postgame presser last night, Vic was asked about pulling D in the first quarter and leaving her out. In addition to explaining that he didn't want her to pick up another quick second foul, he stated that there are things that happen in a game that he sees as a coach that fans probably don't. He also read D's stat line and said that it looks pretty good on paper, but there is more that goes into playing a game than stats. While I don't think that's actually DEMEANING, it was definitely expressing a displeasure for her overall play. I myself call it holding people accountable just as he holds himself accountable. You're right... Geno has done it pretty regularly also and other coaches have also.

 

I really don't recall Vic saying things in post-game pressers that drag down players; maybe he did and I missed it. Maybe it's different interpretations of what he stated.

I definitely remember him praising players like Gaston and Faye in some of those post-game pressers.

 

She was in the game only a couple of minutes, correct? It was so obvious that he was unhappy when he sat her down - broadcasters commented on it. The public display was probably not appreciated by her or her parents, and teammates.

 

As far as offseason transfers, we have 2 scholarships available. In the post-game radio interview, Coach Lovato told Craig Way that "we return everyone next season except Sonya". I'm guessing that's more a blanket statement regarding eligibility, and not necessarily that every player has given an assurance that they won't be entering the transferring portal. Prior to that interview, I heard Craig Way state that Gonzales had confirmed that she'd be returning next season; unless that was recent, I thought she was still undecided.

 

I know folks are speculating about who might opt to leave; none of us know for a fact, and none of us know all the reasons when someone moves on.

Based on the names that a few have mentioned, here's what I'll say in response:

- DeYona Gaston: Has been at Texas 3 seasons. She's a starter next season at PF as Aaliyah Moore's rehab probably won't be completed until like December (she was hurt December 2022). No incoming players at her position. Unless she plans to graduate early, leaving would mean not all her credits could transfer, and she wouldn't get a degree from Texas where she's possibly completed 3/4 of the work. If she does graduate early, her transfer options could make more sense.

- Jordana Codio: Just depends how happy she is at Texas after redshirting this season due to injury.

- Ndjakalenga: I worry about her being so far away from home and possibly homesick. Wanting to play closer to home or not believing she fits in Vic's system could be reasons why she'd choose to transfer out.

- Muhammad: I think she's a great fit for Vic's system. It could come down to where she sees herself on the depth chart and if she's being utilized the way she wants.