In an era where the transfer portal dominates the college basketball conversation, the Big 12 Conference has been… unusually quiet.
Yes, there’s an important caveat here: the portal hasn’t officially opened yet, with April marking the true start of the frenzy. Still, in today’s landscape, that technicality doesn’t usually slow things down. Players can, and often do, announce their intentions to enter the portal well before it officially opens.
That’s what makes the current silence across the Big 12 so notable.
So far, there’s been very little movement in terms of early declarations, especially when compared to other conferences where names have already begun to trickle in. Typically, this time of year is filled with speculation, social media announcements, and roster shakeups. Instead, the Big 12 has largely remained intact.
The most notable departure to this point comes from the Colorado Buffaloes, where freshman standout Isaiah Johnson has indicated his intention to enter the portal. That’s a significant loss, considering Johnson set Colorado’s freshman scoring record and quickly established himself as a key piece for the program.
Beyond that, though, it’s been quiet. Really quiet.
And for coaches across the conference, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Roster continuity has become increasingly rare in modern college basketball, especially in a league as competitive as the Big 12. Fewer early departures mean more stability, more returning production, and potentially a smoother transition into the offseason as teams begin to evaluate needs and build through both recruiting and the portal itself.
Of course, this calm likely won’t last.
Once the portal officially opens in April, expect movement to pick up quickly. The Big 12 is too deep, too competitive, and too visible nationally to avoid the annual wave of entries and exits. But for now, the league is experiencing something rare in today’s game: a moment of relative roster peace.
Whether that holds or simply delays the inevitable will be one of the more interesting storylines to watch as the offseason ramps up.
