2026 Transfer Portal Wishlist

[tower912]

Portal wish list
1.  New AD
2.  New head coach
3.  Entirely new roster

4. New message board.

[Jay Bee]

4. New message board.

5. New (old) nickname.

[Pakuni]

4. New message board.

The dentists' underboard will be up and running any day now.

[Scoop Snoop]

6. Automatic lifetime banning of scoopers who receive 100 thumbs down votes. Farley, Fieldhouse, Willie are just a few who would be SO gone.

[tower912]

7. Eliminating the filters when you are insulting other posters.

[Daniel]

Tough season, team mentally expended, losing a rotation player first first time . . . Logical to think it's t8me to try a modified approach.    Makes sense, and Shaka will do it

[WhiteTrash]

Interesting article out of Connecticut, comparing and contrasting the portal approaches of Hurley, Shaka, and Pitino.  In it, Shaka expresses admiration for how Izzo, Painter, and Hurley recruit and develop their own while using transfers to augment. 

Perhaps Shaka is recalibrating. 

Looking forward to seeing how it plays out.

Wait, what??? Shaka is abandoning his core principles???? 

Not surprised, he's a great coach and smart guy, he will adjust. 

[rocky_warrior]

Link?

And, of course, he's recalibrating...he's been reading MU Scoop.

This is what I found: https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/article/ncaa-transfer-portal-st-johns-marquette-dan-hurley-21277022.php

"I think the UConns, the Purdues, the Michigan States, in terms of sustaining success from year to year, that appears to be the way to go about it," Marquette coach Shaka Smart told CT Insider. "What those guys have done through the combination of their high school recruiting, retention and transfer recruiting is they've kept their talent and their culture at a very high level. And that gives you a chance to win."

And maybe that's the route Smart will take after this borderline disastrous season. Barring a Big East Tournament miracle (or Dwyane Wade returning to finish out his college eligibility), the Golden Eagles' streak of four straight NCAA tourneys will come to an end. In fact, it'll take everything for them to avoid finishing in the Big East basement.

But then also...

But Smart is steadfast in his belief that incoming portal players should not be paid more than guys who are already in the program. There's a tier-system that Marquette employs when paying players, and Smart is loathe to depart from it.

And he also doesn't like dealing with agents in those situations. He'll deal with agents in other situations, including incoming freshmen. But not with veteran college players looking for a bigger payday.

[tower912]

It is a fine needle to thread.   

[mug644]

Link?

And, of course, he's recalibrating...he's been reading MU Scoop.

Found the article that Tower referenced: https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/article/ncaa-transfer-portal-st-johns-marquette-dan-hurley-21277022.php

Looks like Rocky beat me to it. That's why he rakes in my subscription fees.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

The dentists' underboard will be up and running any day now.

Is that where Rico is?  He went looking for his adversaries?

[WhiteTrash]

It is a fine needle to thread.   

True, but I like Shaka's chances to do so.

Unlike some/a few here, I feel like MU has a lot to offer: Shaka, a very good offensive system, facilities, fan support, P5 level of funds, BE exposure, Real Chili. 

[Small Orange Soda]

But Smart is steadfast in his belief that incoming portal players should not be paid more than guys who are already in the program. There's a tier-system that Marquette employs when paying players, and Smart is loathe to depart from it.

And he also doesn't like dealing with agents in those situations. He'll deal with agents in other situations, including incoming freshmen. But not with veteran college players looking for a bigger payday.

Is this common?

[illiniwarriors]

He refused to deal with Morillo's agent and he went to Illinois after months and months of recruiting.

[tower912]

Egbuono had an agent.

[tower912]

He refused to deal with Morillo's agent and he went to Illinois after months and months of recruiting.

And you should probably change that to 'he refused to negotiate'.   He has been clear that an agent doesn't change what a player is paid by MU.   Perhaps an agent can help with outside money.

[rocky_warrior]

Egbuono had an agent.

The article says he refuses to deal with transfer portal agents??  It's not a direct quote though.

It also says "incoming portal players should not be paid more than guys who are already in the program."... What's unclear... If you're coming in as a senior, you can at least get senior MU money right?  Not first year MU $$?

That would obviously be a hindrance to portal negotiations.

[tower912]

I think the crucial word is 'negotiate'.

[Zog from Margo]

Not sure how the tiered system awards performance. Hard to argue that James is not worth more than a lot of the upperclassmen. Maybe there's a performance bonus.

[panda]

Not sure how the tiered system awards performance. Hard to argue that James is not worth more than a lot of the upperclassmen. Maybe there's a performance bonus.

Shaka mamdani smart smh

[illiniwarriors]

Egbuono was represented by his parents who were his agents.Morillo had an actual agent. Many parents and family members act as agents.