Transfer Portal 2025

I think some are forgetting Leila Phelia is on this team. We only got a glimpse of her. She was that other player who can create her own shot along with Booker. With Phelia, Booker, and Lee, I'm not concerned about "shooting".
 
Plus, when in a close game in the fourth quarter, you need to have that core group on the floor that best understands time and score, importance of execution with every possession, and the ability to carry that out. Typically that's not going to happen when substituting in masses like a revolving door.
This, plus what 6721 said. I've seen no evidence that subbing 5 players every 10 min is a better recipe for winning a NC vs having good depth so that you can sub in 1-2 players for 7-10 min, then the next 2 and so on so you don't take a hit when 2 go out.

Vic is still building that kind of talent, but it doesn't help when you lose 2 key contributors, if not starters. Once Moore and Phelia went down, there were only 2 players to sub in that didn't cause problems. And possibly Codio who seemed to never get a chance to show if she coulda been the 3rd one.
 
I think some are forgetting Leila Phelia is on this team. We only got a glimpse of her. She was that other player who can create her own shot along with Booker. With Phelia, Booker, and Lee, I'm not concerned about "shooting".
I'm glad I'm not the only one who understands what type of "dynamic 2 guard" Phelia is.
🤜🤛
She was a BEAST playing for Michigan (hence the All Big 10 honors). Sometimes it seems there are those on this board who watch no other games than our own.
 
I would assume so... she was on the team bench the entire season.
Well, on the bench for all but 8 games and with significant minutes
Screenshot 2025-04-15 at 5.02.38 PM.png
 
Also, Vic likes that two-headed monster rotation that can give a different looks in the middle, and Kyla only has one season left. I imagine the development or our newest "giant" will grow by leaps and bounds going up against Oldacre daily for a whole year.
Everyone here knows I have been very critical of Vic's recruiting of good post players here over the years.

But I will be the first to admit that Vic made a great choice with Kyla and has made her an even better post player. Remember, Vic recruited hard from high school but she chose Miami.

Now the same with Breya Cunningham. Vic lost that recruiting battle to Arizona. Very confident that Breya will also grow her skill set on the 40 acres.

And now getting LuLu Hose. I can tell just from her mobility and range that she will actually see the floor next year, backing up Kyla.

I am so giggly right now, I want to dance!
 
The trend in the SEC, with some of the better teams, is to have enough depth to sub 5 players every 5 minutes like Tennessee, Oklahoma, SC, and Mississippi. I don't know if this is Vic's style, but I think it is definitely an advantage in this league as the season progresses, especially at the end of the season. I know Rori, and Madison take pride in their conditioning, but they both looked tired at the end of games with some these better teams, and did think it affected their shooting sometimes. So I'm sure Vic is looking for more depth, but I'm not sure he is looking for 10 players he can every 5 minutes. I think he may also be looking for players that can play different positions.
This 5 for 5 strategy is as old as the game. In 1958, my junior high coach used it…..substituted 5 for 5 half way through each quarter…..every game. I have seen it used in every level of basketball except NBA. My initial opinion was…..and still is…..it’s a lazy-coach philosophy. Rarely does it lead to observable consistent positive results. I’m sure yall can come up with some examples proving this wrong. But at my position in life, I think I’ll just stay with that. Good if Tennessee makes it work. I’m rooting for it not to work for Land Thieves.
 
She’s on campus and I hope Vic can catch up and lock her down. Oklahoma is the front runner followed by ucla as of now.
That doesn’t sound good for us. I do believe she has a greater chance with us to win championships with her one-year left. She could play the 4 and be phenomenal. She could play the same role Victoria Vivians played for Vic 2017-2018 squad.
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one who understands what type of "dynamic 2 guard" Phelia is.
🤜🤛
She was a BEAST playing for Michigan (hence the All Big 10 honors). Sometimes it seems there are those on this board who watch no other games than our own.
Phelia isn't what I would consider to be dynamic. IMO she's more of a SF than a 2 guard who can consistently create their own shot. And can also shoot at a decent percentage from three. The problem is that instead of a having a 2 guard who can score/create their own shot in bunches, Vic has recruited three players in Phelia, Jordan, and Aaliyah that are more small forwards than 2 guards. Phelia and Jordan struggle to create their own shot and shoot the ball well against good man to man teams like South Carolina.

Although I think that Aaliyah Crump is also more of a small forward, I do think that her ability to create and shoot the ball well is better than Phelia and Jordan Lee's. I just wish that she was a 2 guard. So, I'll say it again, I just don't understand how you can watch opposing teams constantly play sagging man to man and zone against your team if you're Vic and not go out and get more shooting help for Booker. It should have been THE top priority. It makes no sense.
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one who understands what type of "dynamic 2 guard" Phelia is.
🤜🤛
She was a BEAST playing for Michigan (hence the All Big 10 honors). Sometimes it seems there are those on this board who watch no other games than our own.

Oh, she's a fantastic player. I'm concerned what her eye injury will do to her career.
 
Phelia isn't what I would consider to be dynamic. IMO she's more of a SF than a 2 guard who can consistently create their own shot. And can also shoot at a decent percentage from three. The problem is that instead of a having a 2 guard who can score/create their own shot in bunches, Vic has recruited three players in Phelia, Jordan, and Aaliyah that are more small forwards than 2 guards. Phelia and Jordan struggle to create their own shot and shoot the ball well against good man to man teams like South Carolina.

Although I think that Aaliyah Crump is also more of a small forward, I do think that her ability to create and shoot the ball well is better than Phelia and Jordan Lee's. I just wish that she was a 2 guard. So, I'll say it again, I just don't understand how you can watch opposing teams constantly play sagging man to man and zone against your team if you're Vic and not go out and get more shooting help for Booker. It should have been THE top priority. It makes no sense.
What really makes no sense is how Vic has made four Elite 8 appearances.. one with a Final Four... in his first five years with far less overall talent on his roster than other teams with comparable achievements during that span. I can recall a time when Texas had nine or ten McDonald's All-Americans and couldn't even win the Big 12. While I would definitely also like to see better perimeter shooting, and I do agree it has been a thorn for us, at the end of the day I'll take Vic's results over those of the previous two coaches.... any day, all day, every day.
 
Last edited:
LSU picked up another one year player. I remember her from when we played ECU in the first round a couple of years ago. She was an impressive freshman at that time.

 
Last edited:
Phelia isn't what I would consider to be dynamic. IMO she's more of a SF than a 2 guard who can consistently create their own shot. And can also shoot at a decent percentage from three. The problem is that instead of a having a 2 guard who can score/create their own shot in bunches, Vic has recruited three players in Phelia, Jordan, and Aaliyah that are more small forwards than 2 guards. Phelia and Jordan struggle to create their own shot and shoot the ball well against good man to man teams like South Carolina.

Although I think that Aaliyah Crump is also more of a small forward, I do think that her ability to create and shoot the ball well is better than Phelia and Jordan Lee's. I just wish that she was a 2 guard. So, I'll say it again, I just don't understand how you can watch opposing teams constantly play sagging man to man and zone against your team if you're Vic and not go out and get more shooting help for Booker. It should have been THE top priority. It makes no sense.
Even Arial Atkins struggled creating her own shot against the best teams. HVL couldn't create her own shot vs Texas.

If you expect any team to get a Page Beckers, JuJu W, Caitlyn Clark every year you will be sorely disappointed. Unrealistic expectations is something else you are very good at.
 
What really makes no sense is how Vic has made four Elite 8 appearances.. one with a Final Four... in his first five years with far less overall talent on his roster than other teams with comparable achievements during that span. I can recall a time when Texas had nine or ten McDonald's All-Americans and couldn't even win the Big 12. While I would definitely also like to see better perimeter shooting, and I do agree it has been a thorn for us, at the end of the day I'll take Vic's results over those of the previous two. coaches.... any day, all day, every day.
It all goes back to what I said. Vic is a great coach not a great recruiter. No one is questioning his coaching ability. I'm questioning his underwhelming recruiting from the portal. There's no reason why Vic shouldn't have gotten help for Booker. The inability to shoot/create shots consistently from the three point line was their weakness and he hasn't addressed it. Again, it makes no sense.
 
Even Arial Atkins struggled creating her own shot against the best teams. HVL couldn't create her own shot vs Texas.

If you expect any team to get a Page Beckers, JuJu W, Caitlyn Clark every year you will be sorely disappointed. Unrealistic expectations is something else you are very good at.
When your team can't create/shoot the ball consistently from the three point line you would EXPECT the coach to address that weakness.
 
When your team can't create/shoot the ball consistently from the three point line you would EXPECT the coach to address that weakness.
Have you seen Aaliyah Crump? Do you not think Jordan Lee is a good shooter? Or Booker? Even Carlton is a good shooter just wasn't quite ready for prime time this past season.
 
Coach Lovato, as well, started following Teya Bettice on Instagram, and vice versa.

Lovato also started following 6'2 PF Laura Ziegler (Denmark) from Saint Joseph's on Instagram, and vice versa. She's visited Louisville; not sure who else.

 
We need Kneepens if she shoots 50% from three. We badly need more of an outside threat. I hope Vic would readjust his game to get more three's --- not see them as a last resort but one of our most important weapons.
 
Vic is getting VERY close with his system, his way. He frequently talks about stacking great recruiting classes on top of each other. The portal modifies that formula somewhat, but he's stacked for 5 years now and on the verge of a championship team. He can't control injuries, but he's close to accumulating the quality depth that could make Texas injury proof. Again, Texas is getting very close.

I love this board for the insights and breaking news that several posters consistently provide.

And I'm always entertained by those that want our coach to do it any other way.
 
Back
Top