The men’s and women’s college basketball transfer portal closed on Tuesday, meaning that if you’re not in the portal then you’re not moving.
The only way a student-athlete can transfer now is if their coach leaves, which opens an automatic 30-day window to test the market.
That doesn’t mean that players are done committing to school. So long as a player is in the portal, they can find a new school. But they better hurry — the scholarships are dwindling. Plus, until the House vs. NCAA case is settled, rosters are set at 13.
And, the judge in the case is holding up the final settlement until they determine how to grandfather in current student-athletes (which is something these schools should have thought of to begin with).
Here are this week’s biggest winners and losers in the Big 12.
Losers: Portal Volume
This is some crazy stuff we’re seeing in the portal, just in terms of sheer numbers.
You’re telling me there is a landing place for all of these players? There isn’t — at least not in Division I.
And just look at the men:
Some of these players are better off staying where they are, if we’re being honest.
Winners: Cincinnati’s Big 12 Transfer Team
With the portal closing, many schools are starting to officially announce their new players. Most wait until after the deadline so they have the scholarship signed and in-house.
The Bearcats officially announced five portal signings, and four of them have Big 12 ties — Jalen Celestine (Baylor), Kerr Kriisa (Arizona and West Virginia), Sencire Harris (West Virginia) and Moustapha Thiam.
Remember when a former Big 12 school told a current Big 12 school they wouldn’t release a walk-on to play immediately? That was Texas Tech telling that to Oklahoma about quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Man, those were the days. Now, you’re basically scouting your transfer class each game night.
Losers: Kansas (I Think)
Perhaps this is just the hangover the last two seasons. Perhaps it’s the fact that the last connections to the 2022 national championship team are gone. But, so far, I’m not feeling it.
Now that the portal is closed, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello did a Top 25 based on how teams did in the portal. Kansas was No. 18, up from No. 19. This was the Jayhawks’ projected starting lineup based on what is on the team now:
Darryn Peterson (No. 2 in ESPN 100)
Melvin Council Jr. (14.6 PPG at St. Bonaventure)
Jayden Dawson (13.9 PPG at Loyola Chicago)
Tre White (10.5 PPG at Illinois)
Flory Bidunga (5.9 PPG)
It’s a brand new world when you look at that lineup and the only continuity is Bidunga.
Winners: TCU Women
No, this isn’t just about Olivia Miles, although managing to lure the projected No. 2 overall WNBA selection to Fort Worth is quite the coup.
It’s as much about this:
This looks like coach Mark Campbell isn’t content to just shelve the high screen-and-roll offense he used with Sedona Prince because she and Hailey Van Lith are gone.
If you’re wondering who is going to play the Van Lith role, well, don’t forget that Maddie Scheer — the Kentucky transfer who couldn’t play last year — will be back.
Man, could you imagine how good TCU would have been last season he SHE been able to play? Good lord.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
