This is a bummer, but not surprising considering the Instagram follows to Miami. We need at least one more experienced Post player. Hope Barker or Dauda are still options.
I think if Oldacre did not come over to us, Cam would have kept us under consideration. Now with Oldacre gone from Miami, she saw the opportunity of extended playing time there.
Barker recently signed an NIL deal with Adidas. Would her coming to Texas conflict with that since Texas is a Nike school?
Seems to me that the five transfers went to middling-piddling schools in order to secure playing time. Hope it works out well for all of them and that they will be able to enhance those schools' season records.
In the meantime, we lost 4 post players and only got one back. We are one Taylor Jones injury away from being in big trouble. Not the position you want to be in going into SEC play. Hopefully Oldacre and Justice Carlton can help take up the slack.
Has anyone heard anything about Vasconcelos, Barker, or Dauda? It looks like they still have not made a decision yet where they are transferring to.
WOW. They are collecting transfer portal talent at both UCLA (Stanford Lauren Betts last year, Oregon State Timea Gardiner, and Washington State Charlisse Leger-Walker) USC (Stanford Kiki Iriafen, and Oregon State Talia Von Oelhoffen) campuses. Those games UCLA-USC games are going to be appointment viewing. From the outside looking in, it's my impression that Cori Close is similar to Karen Aston. Home run recruiter, lacking in putting her players in the best situation to win. In 13 seasons at UCLA: zero championships, 1 elite 8 appearance.
While we did well in the portal, the unexpected (to me) outgoing transfers hurt our front court depth. We will be a very good team, but I'm not sure we will be as good with quality depth like South Carolina, UConn, USC, and UCLA.
J. Barker is a projected first round pick in the 2025 draft. She's only going into her junior year, so I'm wondering if that means she's in the same situation as Charli Collier with her birthday and will be able to enter the draft after just three seasons of college ball. If that's the case and that 2025 draft projection was not an error... she would have only been a one and done for us anyway. I'm hearing Dauda is going to South Carolina. That makes no sense to me as she'll be competing with Feagan, Kitts, Watkins, Joyce Edwards, and Adhel Tac for playing time.
I know this has been discussed before. Vic's teams are tenacious and have to be in excellent shape to do so. This necessarily means tough practices - and those early morning track activities. Any guess as to how many players don't want to come here because they'll have to work too hard?
I think it’s much more than that. Vic runs a dribble drive offense that is very much guard centric. And he also runs a full court man-to-man press. Both of these systems favor guards over post players. I think many post players like to play in a pro style off fence that will prepare them for the WNBA. but I still trust Vic and his system, proofs in the pudding.
Not to negate your opinion because I agree with you. But look what that "pro-style" offense N.Collen has incorporated at Baylor has done for them... nada.
With limited spots in the WNBA, securing one is very competitive. If you're not a player willing to work your butt off, then you most likely won't succeed at the next level.
It is frustrating to see a program like UCLA stacking these post players (Betts sisters, Timea Gardner, Janiah Barker) and we are struggling at it. Just having Aaliyah, Taylor, Kyla, and Justice will not be enough. If Dauda really is going to South Carolina (another team stacked with post players), then Vasconcelos is the only major option left in the portal.
