I'm not inclined to think that UConn is looking to run anywhere in the next few years. They "bet" on football being the only driver of financial security for the athletic department when the Big East broke up and they joined the AAC in 2013. That failed, and they gladly rejoined the Big East when they had the chance, essentially putting their football program out to (independent) pasture.

They also see the history of successful Big East basketball programs leaving to join power conferences because of football. Schools like BC, Syracuse, Pitt, Louisville and ND (though they are a unique situation) show that the grass is not always greener, especially as the football and basketball programs at those schools have all declined.

Add the uncertainty around NIL and the NCAA overall, and I think UConn will wisely allow things to play out, knowing that once cards start to get shuffled, they will be highly desired, because they have a strong b-ball program (including women's) and have a crappy football program (that won't threaten existing top programs in whatever conference is trying to lure them).

All that said, I don't necessarily disagree with the idea that it will be 'when' not 'if' ... just that it isn't happening imminently.

Disappointed that Nugent isn't on the bill to charm the kiddos with: "Well, I make the puzzy purr with the stroke of my hand; they know they gettin' it from me. They know just where to go when they need their lovin' man; they know I'm doin' it for free ... I give them cat scratch fever!"

Quote from: milwaukee expat on February 02, 2026, 01:30:46 PMI do think we have more talent than SH. We bring this team back they will be better and competitive next year.  A reliable defensive big via portal seems like a no brainer - and I say that as one of the few (only?) fans who think Clark and Hamilton are going to be good eventually.

Our W/L seems to me to be on Shaka/coaches rather than the talent.  In SH game why did he not have DO on Clark the majority of game?  He could have shut him down and Clark was the key to the game. The 1st half of season missed lay ups and open 3s, the substitutions and end game plays - they all point to coaching misses..  Shaka has always played alot of weird combos for what I assume are long term developmental purposes and retention.  It has burned him before.  He has just had a horrible year - it happens.  The long term trajectory this same coach has put us on tho I think is the best one for being consistently in top tier of Big East in the NIL era.  I am with Tower in that the adversity will pay off and Shaka and the team will ultimately be better for it - a shame this season was a loss but thats life.  The long term is we retain our players and they get older and we have an old team full of 23 year old redshirts year after year - in a NIL model we can afford and sustain.  Some of the 5 year bigs other teams got in the portal were probably not much better than Hamilton in year 2/3 of their career but were more than serviceable in year 4/5.  Get a big to smooth over til they get there - I like our guards and wings - stick with them...

Dr. Vs post on the trajectory of our scoring over the years was just devastating. We have no idea if there is an NJ in the 26 class as it is all hope and high expectations. Having said all this I hope you're right, but I'll hold judgement until I see winning performance on the court and our Donors pony up for players for the top 75 HS recruits or transfers.

Quote from: Scoop Snoop on February 02, 2026, 12:07:02 PMGood point. The claims regarding dangerous Latino "murderers" now has a pair of poster boys to validate the charge. 

Of course, that these dangerous Latin murderers so easily passed the requirements to join the Gestapo is another thing ...

I wouldn't blame the Bucks one iota for waiting until after the season.

Quote from: wadesworld on February 02, 2026, 02:12:55 PMIt's literally in a thread titled "2026 Transfer Portal Wishlist."  There are very few players ACTUALLY available right now.  It's just people opining how many players they would like, what positions or skillsets they would like those players to have/be, or potential names from mid or low majors that might make sense or fit.  Minessale is at least from Milwaukee so there's more of a "connection" than some of the other names listed.  And chances are pretty dang high that he'll 1) get paid more by a high major and 2) take his chances at proving he belongs as a high major player after this year.

Sounds good

Quote from: nyg on February 02, 2026, 02:05:02 PMSo no. Thanks, was curious.  Argumentaive postings over complete speculation and whispers.  I'm sure others here will just wait until the portal opens.

His next whisper will be he heard Cam Boozer might not go to draft and loves Shaka's RGV philosophy.

It's literally in a thread titled "2026 Transfer Portal Wishlist."  There are very few players ACTUALLY available right now.  It's just people opining how many players they would like, what positions or skillsets they would like those players to have/be, or potential names from mid or low majors that might make sense or fit.  Minessale is at least from Milwaukee so there's more of a "connection" than some of the other names listed.  And chances are pretty dang high that he'll 1) get paid more by a high major and 2) take his chances at proving he belongs as a high major player after this year.

Quote from: wadesworld on February 02, 2026, 01:56:11 PMHe's from Milwaukee, went to Marquette High, plays in a low major conference and is productive at that level, and his family apparently whispered into MUMike's ear that he has a big offer from Iowa State but he and his family love Marquette.

Haha yeah the Iowa State stuff and all the whispers from him are funny.

But from what I have heard recently, lets just say Shaka and staff are very aware of Minessale... who he is, how good he is, the fact he's gonna portal and his ties to Marquette.  Im still not sure I believe we'll get him, but the staff is well aware of him already, so including him specifically in these kinds of topics isnt unrealistic at all.

Quote from: wadesworld on February 02, 2026, 01:56:11 PMHe's from Milwaukee, went to Marquette High, plays in a low major conference and is productive at that level, and his family apparently whispered into MUMike's ear that he has a big offer from Iowa State but he and his family love Marquette.

So no. Thanks, was curious.  Argumentaive postings over complete speculation and whispers.  I'm sure others here will just wait until the portal opens.

His next whisper will be he heard Cam Boozer might not go to draft and loves Shaka's RGV philosophy.

Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on February 02, 2026, 01:12:17 PMIf the staff leaves it up to the players maybe one more.

If they take matters into their own hands there should be at least 2 more openings to give us 3 spots.

This is where the uncertainty of Shaka's evolution comes into play. It is clear that Shaka has been biased towards his own (and his assistant coaches') assessment of recruits and his ability to develop guys. At the same time, Shaka has implied that he would use the transfer portal if positions open up (and he did in his first year, then after Lewis left--though Wrightsil didn't exactly work out).

But, it has also seemed that Shaka continued to invest exclusively in development, by not saying after a year or two, "well, I don't see this working out going forward." (Though maybe he did that with Al Amadou.)

As this season has shown, that assessment and development are not guaranteed, and he'll need either notable roster turnover or remarkable development for next year to exceed this year.

Ultimately, is he going to be willing to either winnow the chaff from the team (ie, ask/tell players to move on to other places) in order to have additional roster spaces (that would hopefully be filled by transfers), or is he going to double down on his commitment to development? Said differently, is he so committed to relationships and to supporting his players that he'll be willing to keep guys (who may not play much) just because those guys want to stay, perhaps at a cost of a better season next year, with more victories than this year?

As I've said, I hope Shaka tells at least two current roster players that they should leave the program, giving him at least 3 open scholarships heading into the off-season. And, I'll be totally fine if the public explanation (spin) on that so-and-so is heading to somewhere that they can expand their wings and move forward with their b-ball "careers" on a new path is for their own development and growth, and the relationship between Shaka and that player will remain strong.