Portal time and names

[muskieman]

I'm starting it off from Rick Broerinng on Twitter.
Xavier has shown interest in the portal in 11 names.
Do you have any other info? Put it in this thread, which will be pinned. Let's not overrun this tread but keep it to the topic of the tread. I will not comment on these eleven unless there is evidence that it is more than an interest.

[skyhops]

Nze out. This like Craft and Ducharme is soley on Coach Miller. For months many including myself were clamoring for minutes for Nze, but Miller decided that playing our most unathletic big in history (Ciani) was a better idea. By the time the portal entrees are over we will be stuck with a patchwork team again next year. Xavier doesn't have the money and all the other ridiculous demands from Claude either. When Green enters Miller will regret playing a NAIA walkon instead of him. Get ready.

[Kevin Reilly]

Skyhops I was on the Nzeh bandwagon and am sorry to see him go. He was raw but could jump and gave good effort. He really was the only Big who could jump. I disagree about Green. He was supposed to be one of the best shooters in the whole country and ended up shooting 35% from the field and 32% from the three point line. At the end of the year his defense was so bad Miller played the walk on. I believe Green's defense made him almost unplayable. If he goes I wish him the best but I don't see him as a big loss. As far as Claude... at times he is unstoppable but he can't shoot, is very uninterested in defense and is turnover prone. I would not lose a lot of sleep if he left especially if he is demanding big money. I believe Colbert got to play because Miller was revolted by Claude's, Green and sometimes Olivari's effort on defense. We were a 16-18 team with these guys. I hope we can easily replace them. I could be wrong but I don't see any of the current players being that bad of a loss. Again I have no idea if it's all about the N.I.L money now. If it is we may struggle. I believe that we will see a big jump in talent and a team that realizes you have to play defense to win.

[lionelchalmers0]

I’m honestly confused on the whole Claude take by so many. Is he perfect? No. But he’s a big guard that’s pretty capable overall and was by far our best player getting to the basket and best player in the mid range. He was also a sophomore who went from deep role player to THE MAN early in the season and our second leading scorer by the end. The people wanting him to go blow my mind. Q is already gone. If Claude is gone you really expect us to replace the whole back court again and think it’ll be any more effective than this year?

Also…. If you think des is gonna get too much in NIL to keep him, how on earth do you think we’re gonna bring in two new guards and a whole new front court that have MORE talent? We’re just gonna find guys happy to take less to come to a school that went 16-18 this year?

In my opinion to make any kind of jump next year we absolutely need des, dayvion, trey, and swain. I’d keep lazar bc I think he has some stretch 4 potential. The rest of the front court can take off. Get a rebounder/athlete/defender 5 and a shooter type. And get one more 3 point shooter.

[Anti-Homer]

I do agree with a lot of Hop's take. Miller is a top-10 tactician as a coach, IMO, but has not managed the roster well at all, since coming back. Craft was considered a top-three shooter in the class, and even with 15–18-point leads in the 2nd half, the only guy who saw meaningful minutes was Claude. Then, though he gave Green some minutes, he had a very short leash, and thus, played tightly. There will be a lot of suitors for him, and rightfully so. He also, finally saw what was so obvious after about game eight: Neither Ciani nor Nemeiksa were skilled, quick, big, or physical enough to compete in the mighty BE.

I don't blame Nzeh. I still don't think he is pretty raw, he showed a lot more potential than the former. If Green and Djoko go into the portal, that absolutely is on Miller. He needs to stop managing players like it is 1970 and play 8-9 guys like Mack, and most other coaches with top 30 teams.

Claude is looking for money, and to play point, and I don't blame him one iota. It is the Wild, Wild, West, so fat cats like Mman and OSD have to sell 3-4 of their 50 luxury cars (MMan has seven Aston Martins as it is) to increase the war chest. From what I understand, as a non-insider, X has a healthy NIL, but that number is relative, obviously.

[Kevin Reilly]

Lionelchalmers0. I don't want Claude to leave. He is our best returning starter. Driving to the basket and overpowering most guards he was excellent at. I think his defensive was very poor. He had heavy feet on defense . Some games he allowed as much offense as he produced between his turnovers and lukewarm defense . Last year over 1,100 players entered the portal. I don't think we will be in the running for the top 75 but there will be plenty of players who would be a upgrade over our current roster. I think this year's team was the least talented Xavier team in over 20 years. So yes i would be very surprised if next year's team isn't a lot more talented. I am not sure what it takes in N.I.L. money to land good players. I heard the Georgia football coach complaining that today's players are more interested in the N.I.L. money than who is coaching them to make them better. If that is the case and it may be than we could be in trouble. Claude made a big jump but I don't think he isn't replaceable .I believe if Claude or any of the key returning players leave we we still be Ok. Miller is a top 10 coach and Xavier is a good school. I think I heard ( Skyhops ) it would take 500,00o to keep Claude. That's a lot of money for a guy who can't shoot or play consistent defense.

[gym from delhi]

If it’s really 500 K then it’s time to move on

[lionelchalmers0]

I do agree with a lot of Hop's take. Miller is a top-10 tactician as a coach, IMO, but has not managed the roster well at all, since coming back. Craft was considered a top-three shooter in the class, and even with 15–18-point leads in the 2nd half, the only guy who saw meaningful minutes was Claude. Then, though he gave Green some minutes, he had a very short leash, and thus, played tightly. There will be a lot of suitors for him, and rightfully so. He also, finally saw what was so obvious after about game eight: Neither Ciani nor Nemeiksa were skilled, quick, big, or physical enough to compete in the mighty BE.

I don't blame Nzeh. I still don't think he is pretty raw, he showed a lot more potential than the former. If Green and Djoko go into the portal, that absolutely is on Miller. He needs to stop managing players like it is 1970 and play 8-9 guys like Mack, and most other coaches with top 30 teams.

Claude is looking for money, and to play point, and I don't blame him one iota. It is the Wild, Wild, West, so fat cats like Mman and OSD have to sell 3-4 of their 50 luxury cars (MMan has seven Aston Martins as it is) to increase the war chest. From what I understand, as a non-insider, X has a healthy NIL, but that number is relative, obviously.

Man your first paragraph perfectly illustrates the issue with the transfer portal era. Steele ran into the same thing. The issue is every year you have this turnover and bring in these 5th year seniors and stuff from smaller schools. Because of their experience sure they’re 10-20% better than the freshmen recruits. Plus, if they transfer they expect big minutes. So, in an effort to win and appease them you play them and don’t give your freshmen enough minutes. They don’t develop. They get pissed and transfer. You replace them with new 5th year transfers from conference USA. Rinse and repeat.

[skyhops]

Agree with Lionel and AH, we have to keep the core and stop swinging and missing on recruits. Supposedly, Claude is looking for 500k, and NBA shooting coach, and a personal trainer to help with his explosiveness (no kidding). Losing Claude would be huge because you can't find that in the portal.

[XU_2011]

If I'm XU I give Claude whatever the heck he wants because without him, this program is going to take a serious step back. You know why his defense was bad at times? Because when Quincy went cold, Des had to carry the offense, driving and taking contact even when the D would clog the paint. You get tired after a while of that. He had some awful games but also was a dominant force in many other games. I'm not sure this team would have won 10 games without him.