Transfers

[vuny98]

I'd rather have someone who wants to be there and work hard on the team. The grass isn't always greener elsewhere. Clay was given a ton of minutes and a lot of opportunities this year, but he didn't have a good year and won't be hard to replace. I'll be interested to see where he ends up and wish him well. I can't see him moving to power 5 with the year he had and his jump shot.

I think that he could have a Skara kind of career at a lower to mid level P5 school. Come off the bench for a year, get some starts the next primarily as a defensive specialist scoring the occasional basket. A contributor but not the focus, unless of course he finds his shot somehow. Then his ceiling could be higher. It would have to be at a school that is confident they can help him find it.

As we saw with Bakari a few years ago, a P5 team will take a guy like Clay in a heart beat. He has proven that he can play college basketball, has some skills and can complement a team. That being said, he likely won't start, but probably get a good 10-15 mins a game. The gamble on his end would be can he prove enough to work himself into a starting position. Assuming he goes to a lower level P5 school, I don't see why he couldn't over time if he finds his shot. Players like Clay sometimes need another guy to be the #1 and take the pressure off. This year, he was getting a lot of the defensive attention. He won't have that at a P5 school, so he may have the opportunity to take 5 shots a game, play good defense, and be a good role player. But he won't be the star.

[vu72]

so he may have the opportunity to take 5 shots a game, play good defense, and be a good role player. But he won't be the star.

Totally agree.  With Bakari, he wasn't even starting at Valpo.  I just don't understand the thinking unless it is people telling Donovan that he WILL be a star at a higher level.  Otherwise
, why wouldn't he stay and be a starter.  I guess the same could be said about JFL.  He had some good games and did start but not being THE guy will not get him into a high level Euro league.

[vu72]

Bradley just lost three guys including Terry Nolan and McAdoo, two guys who beat us up pretty well.

[crusader05]

And Bradly, although they struggled this year, is coming off two back to back years of winning the conference tournament(even if they missed out on dancing last year). 

Just wanted to edit to add this tweet that was just sent out. It seems for this player at least some of it may have to do with how things were handled?
https://twitter.com/MLBLarry/status/1370028893134938112

[valpotx]

I don't disagree with Terry, at all.  Assuming that he was fully cleared, as he mentions, the current social climate calls for any sexual allegation to immediately cast guilt on the accused, once it hits the public eye.  To be fair, it used to be the other way around years ago, where the accuser was ignored and belittled, which does still happen a bit.  There has to be a middle ground where until you have some type of legitimate reason/proof to withhold playing time, that these players aren't immediately suspended. 

[bb33]

And now we are officially have no seniors unless some of our current seniors come back.  Sacky is in the portal.  I get emotionally invested in these kids so it's hard to see them go.  I am sure we will get equivalent pieces to replace the ones were lost (except maybe Donovan), and our freshmen will have lots of opportunities to become leaders on the court.

[vu72]

And now we are officially have no seniors unless some of our current seniors come back.  Sacky is in the portal.  I get emotionally invested in these kids so it's hard to see them go.  I am sure we will get equivalent pieces to replace the ones were lost (except maybe Donovan), and our freshmen will have lots of opportunities to become leaders on the court.

Not shocked. The handwriting was on the wall--seriously reduced playing time.  Indiana State has a flood is transfers including Cooper Neese.

[VUBBFan]

Mileek just hit the portal too. Although it's not that much of a hit since he was a senior. We just don't get an extra year from him.

[mj]

The transfer bug is now a pandemic. Thanks NCAA.

[crusader05]

I currently share this view point right now.
https://twitter.com/TSeghetti11/status/1370430193282773001


I think the numbers are what's overwhelming but when you realize two are graduating seniors, one's a walk one and the other one only sees garbage minutes, it looks less overwhelming.

[bb33]

I think Good News can help the team a lot next year, so I hope he sticks around. 

I agree only Clay was a real hit.  He marks all the boxes and he has yet to realize his full potential.  I think teams are going to take a chance on him. The seniors will get chances since they are immediately eligible.   For the others, it's a big gamble.  But maybe they were told to look at their options. 

[crusader05]

I do wonder if there's a feeling like (and I believe I said this already before) that this is the year to enter before the scholarship constraint really hits in and you need to be exceptional to get the spot or settle for transferring down.

[oklahomamick]

So we are going to be young again? 

I feel for Matt.  Recruiting is the worst part of college coaching.  Now, not only do you have to recruit players into your program but you have to recruit them to stay. 

All these players transferring out over the years will hurt our APR if they don't graduate from the institution they end up landing at. 

[crusader05]

I mean still young but at least 4 of our incoming class got good minutes and showed signs. If we Keep Krikke, and have a Morgan or Gordon stay on. and recruit some post players with experience I don't think we'll lose that much. 

[VU2014]

Every frickin year this happens to Valpo. I'm so tired of the transfers. Sackey wasn't perfect but he's a very experienced senior PG. you can't make up for experience. And he was a team leader this hurts.

https://twitter.com/verbalcommits/status/1370418408093847555?s=21

[VU2014]

I am very afraid of what this tweet means... after today's news

https://twitter.com/sheldonnn13/status/1370351870045216771?s=21

[bb33]

I can see Gordon staying.  He's already in grad school and has one more year.   


There are almost 380 names in the portal.   I am sure the coaches are already looking for some quality replacements.

[oklahomamick]

Cant afford Edwards leaving.  He has a high ceiling. 

If we lose Edwards and one of Kirke or JO, does Lottich get some heat?  Or does he get a pass because a lot of programs lose players to the transfer portal. 

[vuny98]

While I appreciate everything Mileek and Sackey have contributed over their time here, this is of zero concern to me. I've been critical of both over the last few years, so this is not just a case of sour grapes for them leaving.

Sackey was not good this year. He wasn't much better before this year. Whether said to him explicitly or if he sensed it, he was not going to be a starter next year. He was given every opportunity to hold onto that spot and it did not work out.

Mileek was never during his time here able to give us consistency. He would foul out in 10 mins on the floor. Was hot and cold shooting and his defense and rebounding was not what it needs to be. He also was given every opportunity to hold a starting position and it did not work out. (one thing I will say in his defense is that he played out of position for much of his time here out of necessity, but that's also likely the reason he was given so many chances and minutes)

It would be nice to have either of them off the bench for depth, but late in their college career, I'm sure they want more than that. Either come off the bench some where bigger or start and play big minutes somewhere smaller.

[valpopal]

The Crusader has now entered the Transfer Portal. 

[vuny98]

I can see Gordon staying.  He's already in grad school and has one more year. There are almost 380 names in the portal.   I am sure the coaches are already looking for some quality replacements.

Gordon is also on the Crusader name change committee, so I would suspect he accepted that role with some sense of commitment to the University.

[wh]

I am very afraid of what this tweet means... after today's news

https://twitter.com/sheldonnn13/status/1370351870045216771?s=21

Click on the tweet, and this reply pops up:

https://twitter.com/coachmikesouza/status/1370407132600930309

Some player development coach in Florida who obviously knows Sheldon well. "Talked with coach yesterday." (What coach? Who?) "So happy for you and what's to come." (What the heck does that mean?)

Putting his tweet and that reply together, my guess is he's gone. Sure hope I'm wrong.

[humbleopinion]

If Lottich was totally honest with the players in their end-of-season meetings, I'm sure that both Mileek and Daniel would have heard that they should not expect to have increased playing time in the coming year.  Some of you have a better idea than I do what happens in those meetings but I can certainly imagine that these two players were not pleased with what they heard.

[AlecPeters101]

Had to log in to my 5 year old account just to share some inside knowledge. I know some kids on the team. I hear players f*>'king hate Matt lottich. Dudes a douche. Take that how you will. Thank you, I will be taking no further questions.

[hailcrusaders]

The Crusader has now entered the Transfer Portal. 

I think he entered a few weeks ago. (Sorry, too soon. And yes I'm still bitter about it)
In all seriousness, these are names of players who've played a lot of minutes in a Valpo uniform, so it sure doesn't feel good to hear about them leaving. The silver lining is that they are not the future of the team. I do think next season will be very telling: we need to show some substantial improvement instead of just treading the waters of mediocrity as we have been since Peters graduated. imo bets are off this season given the circumstances, but we need wins and a relative lack of transfer-outs by this time next year for players, recruits, and us fans to feel confidence and excitement about the future of the program. If that doesn't happen, then we need to think hard about how to change the culture here.