astutegriz said:
I think it will hurt UM. Travis has a strong desire to build from the high-school level. He wants to recruit talent, let them gel for four years together, and put out a cohesive product where everyone can anticipate everyone else's move. It takes time and commitment as youth cannot compete well with experience, as evidenced by this year. But if we maintain this cohesive product over years, we will be REALLY good. Great formula and we are recruiting like UM never has before, so the biggest challenge now is keeping them around for four years. And along comes the portal and new transfer rules. Couldn't have come at a worst time for UM. But, so far we are keeping that nucleus and the players believe.
Two thoughts. First, Travis historically liked to build by recruiting high school kids. But may have to change if we are to stay at the top of the conference. It should surprise no one the number of kids entering the transfer portal now, at every level. Building a roster of 13 players from strictly high school recruits will cause us to lose our competitive edge in the conference. We need depth at every position, and hitting-on 12-13 high school recruits able to excel at this level is a stretch. Thus, many of the fringe starters will transfer, leaving open scholarships each year. If Travis fills all of these with high school recruits, how many will be able to make an impact as freshmen? UM has had several transfers who immediately "fit-in" with the team, Bruenig, Rorie being mentioned as well as another 6'7" forward who played two years here whose name I can't recall, but who quickly became the star of the team (was his name Williams???)
Secondly, the other Big Sky teams will be signing transfers, which has the potential to make them much better. If we don't adapt to the new environment, I believe we will regret it.
I equate the transfer portal to the drain in a sink.......... water can escape down the drain, and water can be added via the spout. My belief is that there will be more water added (transfer players moving down to mid-majors to get more PT), than water going down the drain (great players moving up from Mid-major to elite programs).
I think many of you will use the two EWU brothers as example of losing kids to bigger programs. But, there were extenuating circumstances with that program with the coach leaving, uncertainty about the school's commitment to Div.I sports, etc. I think it will rare that Big Sky players transfer upward.