Transfer Portal 2026

[swilsonsp4]

Normally, I wouldn't call someone out for a comment like this, but this is completely uncalled for. At least wait until someone posts this a "bad signing" and then rebut the assertion, preferably with facts to support your position. And, at least have the courage to name the opposing viewpoint instead of insinuating - "stats guy(s)."

Some posters need to grow up and stop taking posts personally. This is a forum for discussion, which is based on facts that support one's position. At least "stats guy" - actually "analytics guy," which I explained in another thread and apparently you did not read - supports his assertions with quantifiable measures. I encourage you to do the same and to do it respectfully.

Off the soap box now.

As for Vaden, his former coach at Mt. Union, who is now a UC assistant, obviously persuaded CJC to bring him over to UC. This tells me that he has something to offer UC, at least another 5 fouls per game and an additional practice body. Maybe he is a late bloomer and did not get offers out of HS. Maybe he demonstrated some skill that CJC feels makes him a worthwhile addition. Whatever that is, trust the coaching staff in place to make the right decisions for the roster. They have not steered us wrong yet - nor have steered us right either. Point being it's too early to tell.

Hear, hear.

CJC has stated that he always stashes developmental guys on the bench. He plays up to 13 during the season. We have no way to know Vaden's potential, simply because he faced D3 competition. If a key member of his staff (in this case, Mike Fuline) has coached a player and recommends bringing him aboard, that's fine by me. If Vaden grows into an eventual contributor, great. If not, he really isn't taking up a roster spot, given CJC's philosophy of not playing all 15.

[sedz]

I think I've only referred to two signings as "bad" in all of my years analyzing basketball metrics (since the early days of Ken Pomeroy and Jeff Sagarin). Those were Chris McNeal and Rapolas Ivanauskas, players with horrible metrics even after multiple years in D1 basketball before they came here. I usually say almost nothing about high school or D2/3/Juco guys because there's not much to analyze. I give everyone a chance, whether I like the signing or not. I will root for all of our players and treat them all equally during the season, posting advanced metrics after each game, good bad or neutral.

Vaden appears to be a purely developmental signing. He played less than 16 minutes per game, after just 5 mpg as a freshman. But it's very clear he can block shots. 102 blocks in 452 minutes, or 9 blocks per 40 minutes. Even if he's just a practice player, a guy like that can be useful for our rotation players to work on finishing at the rim. Riley, Colvin, and Fleming are all under 55% at the rim and could use some work.

[Rufus]

As London 'Cat very succinctly posted, having the ability to foul an opponent is a very useful tool in defending the rim. And having a person to absorb those fouls thus preserving someone who starts or is in the normal rotation is smart bball. It was demoaned last week on this forum that we needed at least one more big body, well we have him now. So what if he's a project, if he can contribute any thing at all now who knows what he can become after two three years in the same system. I for one miss the days hen we could watch a raw recruit and watch him develope from year to year. The NIL and transfer portal has denied us fans of this caveat.

ps. This facet of the game completely escaped the last regime

[JBB]

Normally, I wouldn't call someone out for a comment like this, but this is completely uncalled for. At least wait until someone posts this a "bad signing" and then rebut the assertion, preferably with facts to support your position. And, at least have the courage to name the opposing viewpoint instead of insinuating - "stats guy(s)."

Some posters need to grow up and stop taking posts personally. This is a forum for discussion, which is based on facts that support one's position. At least "stats guy" - actually "analytics guy," which I explained in another thread and apparently you did not read - supports his assertions with quantifiable measures. I encourage you to do the same and to do it respectfully.

Off the soap box now.

As for Vaden, his former coach at Mt. Union, who is now a UC assistant, obviously persuaded CJC to bring him over to UC. This tells me that he has something to offer UC, at least another 5 fouls per game and an additional practice body. Maybe he is a late bloomer and did not get offers out of HS. Maybe he demonstrated some skill that CJC feels makes him a worthwhile addition. Whatever that is, trust the coaching staff in place to make the right decisions for the roster. They have not steered us wrong yet - nor have steered us right either. Point being it's too early to tell.

We had a coach WM who recruited ready made
players that were players only not open to development. Look at his record and tell me these guys improved y/y. I recall Kenyon was
was considered raw needing Huggs influence.
Mic was the same, having tenured under Huggs and Pitino.
I feel great about the new direction and the possibilities coaching will have on this program

[longtimefan]

We had a coach WM who recruited ready made
players that were players only not open to development. Look at his record and tell me these guys improved y/y. I recall Kenyon was
was considered raw needing Huggs influence.
Mic was the same, having tenured under Huggs and Pitino.
I feel great about the new direction and the possibilities coaching will have on this program

You can say that about any coach. I think Thiam and Baba showed vast improvement from start to end last season. Day Day certainly got a lot better. Huggins also had Damon Flint, who regressed every one of his four years.

[leo from jersey]

You can say that about any coach. I think Thiam and Baba showed vast improvement from start to end last season. Day Day certainly got a lot better. Huggins also had Damon Flint, who regressed every one of his four years.

I believe that the reason Thiam and Baba had better stats at the end of the year is because JJ sat and Tillery got them the ball. They seemed to have been the same except for getting the ball where they could shoot. I would have liked to have seen VIK under a different coach. Simous went down his last year noticeably, but not on skill but due to his team's selfishness.

[Geaux Juan]

....... Huggins also had Damon Flint, who regressed every one of his four years.

I think that's a bit unfair to Damon Flint. He was recruited as a shooting guard, but every year he had to play point guard because Huggs couldn't recruit a better player to be the PG. Flint made a sacrifice for the team's sake.

[loshow22]

You can say that about any coach. I think Thiam and Baba showed vast improvement from start to end last season. Day Day certainly got a lot better. Huggins also had Damon Flint, who regressed every one of his four years.

Flint was also bogged down with turf toe his sophomore year. He bounced back as a junior and was monumental in the E8 run...having a great tourney until the game against Miss. St.

[red_n_black_attack]

Because of money?

Because he cannot realistically promise that many guys enough playing time.

[red_n_black_attack]

Yeah, but coaches have already graduated, they already have their degrees. I guess we forget these guys are supposed to be students.

Sadly, the student-athlete folly has passed and it is high time we eliminate the ability to transfer if the coach leaves. No pro team does that; the pros are held to their contract. Giving the GM and the University "rights" to the athlete who chooses them is a decent idea. I would not want a draft system where last place gets first pick.