2023/2024 Portal News

[kurupt]

Neither am I... but I do think she has potential to be very good under the right coaching staff. Where a more structured system may not be for everyone, it might be just the right fit for someone like her. If she comes to UT I'll trust (and hope for) that to be the case. At this point I'm wondering if maybe we're not going to add anyone from the portal.

I agree with you on that. It seems as if we're not going to add anyone. Also a potential target in Lauren Fields committed to West Virginia. So we continue to run out of options.

 

[Moooooo]

With Lauren Betts commitment to UCLA, it was always going to be tough to pull her out of the Pac-12. Her finalists coming out of high school, included Arizona State, UCLA, Oregon, before committing to Stanford. Other finalists included Connecticut, Notre Dame, Louisville and Baylor.

Former top-recruit Lauren Betts commits to UCLA after freshman season at Stanford

If Betts wanted to come to Texas, you got to take her even though Texas's greatest need is at the perimeter. With Betts off the board, still hoping any two combination of Donarski, Rogers, Paopao, and Celeste (an unlikely dream come true).

I'm not sold on high turnover prone and volume 3 point shooter Taina Mair.

UCLA will play in the B1G starting in 2024-25; doubt that UCLA being in the PAC 12 one more year mattered.

 

[kurupt]

With Lauren Betts commitment to UCLA, it was always going to be tough to pull her out of the Pac-12. Her finalists coming out of high school, included Arizona State, UCLA, Oregon, before committing to Stanford. Other finalists included Connecticut, Notre Dame, Louisville and Baylor.

Former top-recruit Lauren Betts commits to UCLA after freshman season at Stanford

If Betts wanted to come to Texas, you got to take her even though Texas's greatest need is at the perimeter. With Betts off the board, still hoping any two combination of Donarski, Rogers, Paopao, and Celeste (an unlikely dream come true).

I'm not sold on high turnover prone and volume 3 point shooter Taina Mair.

Those things are true, but she does provide an extra ball handler that they desperately need. IMO, one of the reason that Rori struggled so much with her perimeter jump shot is because she was always on the ball. Allowing her to play off the ball at times would help her jump shot.

 

[Moooooo]

If our coaching staff wasn't intent on adding any new transfers, they wouldn't bother following anyone on social media, and bringing in anybody for visits. I believe Vic himself told the media that we needed to add another guard (via the portal) for the upcoming season. Portal entry closes on May 11; but, deciding on final destinations goes through June, I believe, to be eligible for the coming season.

 

[kurupt]

If our coaching staff wasn't intent on adding any new transfers, they wouldn't bother following anyone on social media, and bringing in anybody for visits. I believe Vic himself told the media that we needed to add another guard (via the portal) for the upcoming season. Portal entry closes on May 11; but, deciding on final destinations goes through June, I believe, to be eligible for the coming season.

Oh, I believe that they're interested in bringing in a transfer guard. The problem is whether or not the majority of the transfer guards are interested in them.

 

[Moooooo]

Oh, I believe that they're interested in bringing in a transfer guard. The problem is whether or not the majority of the transfer guards are interested in them.

As was pointed out by others, many posters wondered the same thing one year ago (after we brought in Lauren Fields for a visit, but then she chose Arizona) and we didn't get commitment news of Sonya (June) and Shaylee (July). It's April 18 today. I'm as anxious as anyone to get some news, but I've not changed my mind that we will be adding a new player or two this offseason.

 

[brnkj]

Oh, I believe that they're interested in bringing in a transfer guard. The problem is whether or not the majority of the transfer guards are interested in them.

Al of this.

 

[brnkj]

As was pointed out by others, many posters wondered the same thing one year ago (after we brought in Lauren Fields for a visit, but then she chose Arizona) and we had get commitment news of Sonya (June) and Shaylee (July). It's April 18 today. I'm as anxious as anyone to get some news, but I've not changed my mind that we will be adding a new player or two this offseason.

I'm willing to bet that if Vic can't get someone he feels can fit our very specific needs suitably, he will choose not to pick up anyone.

 

[Moooooo]

We don't need the "majority" of transfer guards to be interested in us. We only need one or two to be interested and join the program, unlike the men's team which needs about 5 transfers at all positions.

 

[UrsusArctos]

I'm willing to bet that if Vic can't get someone he feels can fit our very specific needs suitably, he will choose not to pick up anyone.

I feel we are in desperate need of someone to spell Rori at the point and we need a good/great shooter to replace Morris. We need to pick up someone to do both or two guards to fill the roles. Perhaps you folks think we have someone already who could fill those needs?

 

[brnkj]

Perhaps you folks think we have someone already who could fill those needs?

Good question and I don't know about that... we do have Maul and Gonzales. One we already know about and the other is yet to be seen. Booker's skill set lends itself to helping bring the ball up the court and probably even having the offense run through her some. I've even seen her referred to as a "point forward."

Back to my original remark, notice that the key word I used was "suitably." By that I mean, knowing how Vic is about ball control, he's not going to put the ball in just anybody's hands. I don't think he'll bring anybody in unless he feels they can give us the specific type of quality minutes we need. Honestly I think either Taina Mair or JJ Quinerly would be good fits.

 

[Moooooo]

Based on who will be healthy to start the season, I expect the following starters:

- PG: Rori
- SG: Shaylee
- SF: Shay or Madison
- PF: DeYona
- C: Taylor

So, any transfer we add will either have to be willing to try to beat out one of those players for a starting spot, or join knowing that they will be coming off the bench. Since we mainly appear to be after guards via the portal, someone who can play more than one position (like a combo guard or big guard) increases the number of minutes they could play based on the lineup and matchups.

If an elite guard like Quinerly or Te-Hina Paopao wants to come, then they stand a great chance at winning a starting sport if their defense is up to par.

 

[Moooooo]

 

[brnkj]

Based on who will be healthy so start the season, I expect the following starters:

- PG: Rori
- SG: Shaylee
- SF: Shay or Madison
- PF: DeYona
- C: Taylor

So, any transfer we add will either have to be willing to try to beat out one of those players for a starting spot, or join knowing that they will be coming off the bench. Since we mainly appear to be after guards via the portal, someone who can play more than one position (like a combo guard or big guard) increases the number of minutes they could play based on the lineup and matchups.

If an elite guard like Quinerly or Te-Hina Paopao wants to come, then they stand a great chance at winning a starting sport if their defense is up to par.

Don't be surprised if we pick up a guard, that it's someone capable of stepping into Sonya's spot. Somebody like Quinerly would do just that... and possibly Mair IMO.

 

[Moooooo]

Don't be surprised if we pick up a guard, that it's someone capable of stepping into Sonya's spot. Somebody like Quinerly would do just that... and possibly Mair IMO.

Wasn't Sonya playing W/SF with Holle as her backup? When she went out with injury, Holle stepped in her role. I don't see either Quinerly or Mair being able to play on the wing; they'd get posted up by taller players constantly.

 

[DFW_Horn]

Wasn't Sonya playing W/SF with Holle as her backup? When she went out with injury, Holle stepped in her role. I don't see either Quinerly or Mair being able to play on the wing; they'd get posted up by taller players constantly.

It’s largely academic but I thought Sonya was the 2, Shaylee at G/W. When Sonya went down, Shaylee slid to SG and Shay played the wing. Mair is listed at 5’ 9”, just an inch shorter than the listed heights for both Shaylee and Sonya. Mair is the much more gifted athlete and looks longer than Sonya or Shaylee. Shaylee got much better on defense as the season progressed but it seems to come easier for Mair.

 

[Moooooo]

It’s largely academic but I thought Sonya was the 2, Shaylee at G/W. When Sonya went down, Shaylee slid to SG and Shay played the wing. Mair is listed at 5’ 9”, just an inch shorter than the listed heights for both Shaylee and Sonya. Mair is the much more gifted athlete and looks much longer than Sonya or Shaylee. Shaylee got much better on defense as the season progressed but it seems to come easier for Mair.

You could be right. Since Shaylee was the secondary ball handler, I just assumed she was playing SG. Obviously, when Rori was out with injury Shaylee was playing mainly at PG.

 

[Moooooo]

The thing is, we are stacked with tall guards and W/SF based on height:

5'11 Gisella Maul
6'0 Jordana Codio
6'0 Shay Holle
6'1 Madison Booker
6'2 Ndjakalenga

There would be no reason to play someone like Quinerly or Mair at W/SF; we would need them more at PG/SG, especially defensively to not let those quicker guards get past them. If we went small, then I guess that would be a reason.

 

[loyallonghorn]

If so, it's a good match for both Celeste and Ohio State's full court trapping defense.

 

[DFW_Horn]

There would be no reason to play someone like Quinerly or Mair at W/SF; we would need them more at PG/SG, especially defensively to not let those quicker guards get past them. If we went small, then I guess that would be a reason.

I agree. Mair would be a good 3rd guard to rotate with both Rori (rest) & Shaylee (rest, foul trouble, matchup); a better fit than Sonya was as a 3rd guard for what Vic wants done if he goes to a small/3-guard look.

 

[Born in ATX]

Mair started following the wbb page

This was true throughout the last 3+ days but she appears to have unfollowed that account now (checked it from 2 separate IG accounts just now). She does still follow all the same players and coaches she followed over the weekend and at the end of last week. The only official college WBB account I see a follow from her on at this time is Illiniwbb.

 

[brnkj]

It’s largely academic but I thought Sonya was the 2, Shaylee at G/W. When Sonya went down, Shaylee slid to SG and Shay played the wing. Mair is listed at 5’ 9”, just an inch shorter than the listed heights for both Shaylee and Sonya. Mair is the much more gifted athlete and looks longer than Sonya or Shaylee. Shaylee got much better on defense as the season progressed but it seems to come easier for Mair.

Thank you

 

[brnkj]

The thing is, we are stacked with tall guards and W/SF based on height:

5'11 Gisella Maul
6'0 Jordana Codio
6'0 Shay Holle
6'1 Madison Booker
6'2 Ndjakalenga

There would be no reason to play someone like Quinerly or Mair at W/SF; we would need them more at PG/SG, especially defensively to not let those quicker guards get past them. If we went small, then I guess that would be a reason.

A player like Quinerly would not be recruited to play anything but the starting 2-combo guard, and probably the same to be said for Mair. JJQ is an All-B12 first teamer and All-B12 defensive team as a sophomore and TM All-ACC Freshman team. The ACC was very strong this past season.

Either would be good additions to our squad and would make major contributions IMO. Just a guess and don't mean to be a downer... but we probably won't get either one.

 

[DFW_Horn]

Betts' transfer to UCLA is definitely not about winning. I've considered Cori Close the West Coast Karen Aston for some time now - great recruiter, average coach (at best.) Comparison below really drives that point home.

Neither made the tournament in their first season but Aston never missed again. Close has failed to make the field 4 times (2011-2012, 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2021-2022), both made it to the Elite 8 once.

CDC made the call to let Aston walk and commit big to WBB (Vic), UCLA seems fine with being the 3rd-4th best team in the Pac12 and Sweet 16 exits.

 

[brnkj]

Betts' transfer to UCLA is definitely not about winning. I've considered Cori Close the West Coast Karen Aston for some time now - great recruiter, average coach (at best.) Comparison below really drives that point home.

Neither made the tournament in their first season but Aston never missed again. Close has failed to make the field 4 times (2011-2012, 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2021-2022), both made it to the Elite 8 once.

Agreed. I think UCLA and Southern California recruits itself. I do think adding Betts will improve them quite a bit. They've got quick, athletic perimeter players that like to take chances defensively and Betts should provide them the rim protection that they need. Damn, we need one like her!

 

[DFW_Horn]

They've got quick, athletic perimeter players that like to take chances defensively and Betts should provide them the rim protection that they need. Damn, we need one like her!

I think the same could have been said when Aston had Imani/Brooke/Ariel or Charli/Sug/Celeste/Lashann/Joanne. Elite talent can cover up mediocre coaching to an extent but I'd still cap UCLA as an occasional Elite 8 visitor until they move on from Close.

 

[Moooooo]

Baylor's Jaden Owens has entered the transfer portal. Since she only has one 1 year of eligibility remaining, we might be a good landing spot for her if she wants to stay in state (having already transferred from UCLA back home to the state of Texas) and is okay being a backup at both PG and SG. Plus, Miss. State and Texas recruited her out of high school 4-5 years ago.

 

[brnkj]

Baylor's Jaden Owens has entered the transfer portal. Since she only has one 1 year of eligibility remaining, we might be a good landing spot for her if she wants to stay in state (having already transferred from UCLA back home to the state of Texas) and is okay being a backup at both PG and SG. Plus, Miss. State and Texas recruited her out of high school 4-5 years ago.

I have always said that she has not reached her full potential. She spent her first year at Baylor being recruited over by Mulkey and her next two years under Collen she played much better, but still was a somewhat inconsistent. Like I said of Maier, I think she's the kind of player that could benefit from a really structured system like Vic's.

 

[Born in ATX]

Baylor's Jaden Owens has entered the transfer portal. Since she only has one 1 year of eligibility remaining, we might be a good landing spot for her if she wants to stay in state (having already transferred from UCLA back home to the state of Texas) and is okay being a backup at both PG and SG. Plus, Miss. State and Texas recruited her out of high school 4-5 years ago.

I think we will continue to see a steady trickle of players enter the portal in the next 3 weeks. We only have 2 spots to fill max, so you would think we could find what we need. I do like Owens, although I am not sure how she is as a defender.

 

[brnkj]

I think we will continue to see a steady trickle of players enter the portal in the next 3 weeks. We only have 2 spots to fill max, so you would think we could find what we need. I do like Owens, although I am not sure how she is as a defender.

I'd be a little surprised to see her go somewhere within the B12 where she'd be facing her teammates of the past two and three seasons.