Culture of Transfers?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I don't mean to single you out, Stache, because this "building for the long-term" fiction is a recurring theme from more posters than I can count on Scoop.

Wojo's best player in his first year was a one year graduate student. His best player in year two was a one and done freshman and he went hard (albeit unsuccessfully) after several one year grad transfers and two year jucos. This year we're in the grad transfer game again. His objective is win now. If he can't get the players to win now he reverts to plan B, which is to win later.

I can't speak for everyone, but I know when I talk about building long term all I mean is that Wojo looks at the long term before the short term. For example, everyone is clamoring for a grad transfer big to play next season. I think Wojo would take one, but not if it means not getting a Khalif Young or Dylan O...ski. Wojo is already looking ahead and seeing that if he doesn't recruit a big for the 17-18 season, we are going to have Matt Heldt and that's it in the post. The need for a 17-18 big is greater than the need for a 16-17 big. Other coaches might not think that way. They might the think, the need for a 17-18 big is greater but I have more time to fill it. I'll get a grad transfer PF this year and worry about 17-18 later. That could work fine, but if the coach never gets that 17-18 big, than you could be in huge trouble down the road.

Also, as pointed out in other threads, Wojo's never had full scholarships to work with before. Matt Carlino didn't take a spot from anybody because we had other schollies to fill. Same with Henry and Damion Lee. Now, if he gets a Savon Goodman, it actually means sacrificing a potential two, three, or four year contributor because there is no more schollies to give.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

I can't speak for everyone, but I know when I talk about building long term all I mean is that Wojo looks at the long term before the short term. For example, everyone is clamoring for a grad transfer big to play next season. I think Wojo would take one, but not if it means not getting a Khalif Young or Dylan O...ski. Wojo is already looking ahead and seeing that if he doesn't recruit a big for the 17-18 season, we are going to have Matt Heldt and that's it in the post. The need for a 17-18 big is greater than the need for a 16-17 big. Other coaches might not think that way. They might the think, the need for a 17-18 big is greater but I have more time to fill it. I'll get a grad transfer PF this year and worry about 17-18 later. That could work fine, but if the coach never gets that 17-18 big, than you could be in huge trouble down the road.

Also, as pointed out in other threads, Wojo's never had full scholarships to work with before. Matt Carlino didn't take a spot from anybody because we had other schollies to fill. Same with Henry and Damion Lee. Now, if he gets a Savon Goodman, it actually means sacrificing a potential two, three, or four year contributor because there is no more schollies to give.

With the proliferation of transfers in college bball, I dont know that coaches have the luxury of completely thinking this way.  You cannot bank on a high percentage of your existing roster staying - or in the case of Buzz you need to turn over the non-productive part of your roster to get better.  Additionally there is too much money tied up in this thing to have only a long-term focus. 

This 'open scholly' theory of 1 year players sounds nice, but my bet is Wojo's priorities are 1. make the team as good as possible next year 2. dont completely burn yourself in out years. 

Wojo could very well be playing 'the long game', but I think putting a tourney appearance on the board for 16-17 is more important at this stage in his career.

[brandx]

I can't speak for everyone, but I know when I talk about building long term all I mean is that Wojo looks at the long term before the short term. For example, everyone is clamoring for a grad transfer big to play next season. I think Wojo would take one, but not if it means not getting a Khalif Young or Dylan O...ski. Wojo is already looking ahead and seeing that if he doesn't recruit a big for the 17-18 season, we are going to have Matt Heldt and that's it in the post. The need for a 17-18 big is greater than the need for a 16-17 big. Other coaches might not think that way. They might the think, the need for a 17-18 big is greater but I have more time to fill it. I'll get a grad transfer PF this year and worry about 17-18 later. That could work fine, but if the coach never gets that 17-18 big, than you could be in huge trouble down the road.

Also, as pointed out in other threads, Wojo's never had full scholarships to work with before. Matt Carlino didn't take a spot from anybody because we had other schollies to fill. Same with Henry and Damion Lee. Now, if he gets a Savon Goodman, it actually means sacrificing a potential two, three, or four year contributor because there is no more schollies to give.

I agree with your side of the argument, Eagle.

Just because he has taken short term guys doesn't change that belief or mean that he doesn't prefer bringing in freshmen. Wojo has his ideas about how a team needs to be built, but a coach still has to do what he needs to do - and on a short roster, that sometimes means bringing in short-term guys.

[ChicosBailBonds]

One year transfers make sense when the transfer is the missing link for a very good team. Trent Locket filled that bill. Carlino was a better player than Locket, but the team still sucked with him, so signing a four year player may of made more sense. Getting a transfer last year could of made that team very good. Unless the transfer is a physical rebounder/defender it does not make much sense to take a one year transfer this year.

Maybe, but look at the perception issues also.  With that lineup, adding another 4 year player would have added very little in the short term, and part of what Wojo needed to do was at least have "some" success and some wins in his first year.  With the transfers, non-commitments, and such, he was a stop gap only. 

End of the day, we are still young for next year, but certainly not as young....which we were so ridiculously on one side of that equation this season.  Looking forward to next season.

[VegasWarrior77]

It will be interesting to see how much we move up the "age chart".  Weren't we the eighth youngest of 351 D-1 teams?