I'm not concerned with the players who are in the portal, and in saying that, I'm not trying to trash them. But there are better ones to replace them. If I'm Madsen, I go after Hunter Dickinson. Solid big man, all academic, grad transfer. I don't know if he has two years or one year because he's technically a junior. But I'd solidify the middle. THEN, I'd go after a starting point guard and build from that.
Why in the world would he convince any of those players to return? I appreciate the hard work they put in, they are Cal Bears, but several things:
1. They chose to move on (or at least enter the portal), *before* finding out who the new coach was going to be. What does this say about them?
2. Only Alijiki (fixed) hasn't graduated, the other 3 are graduating, so in order for them to remain at Cal, they actually have to get *admitted* to grad school. In case people haven't noticed (or remembered), Cal is literally one of the most difficult grad schools to get into. It's a primary reason Cal doesn't get a lot of grad transfers, even though there's now a certificate program.
3. These players are all replaceable. They only help with depth, but sometimes it's better to move on from players who were part of a team that put together the worst 4 year run in school history. Madsen should go get his players and get better players, I can't think of any reason to be "faithful" to these guys. I appreciate their hard work, and Fox clearly was a major contributing factor to the lack of their success, but a clean split is best for all parties.
If I read it correctly the players who have entered the portal have potentially forfeited their scholarships, meaning that the university is not required to renew them. It will be up to Madsen to evaluate the available talent in the portal and then decide what pieces are desirable and would be good fits for Cal.
I'm not concerned with the players who are in the portal, and in saying that, I'm not trying to trash them. But there are better ones to replace them. If I'm Madsen, I go after Hunter Dickinson. Solid big man, all academic, grad transfer. I don't know if he has two years or one year because he's technically a junior. But I'd solidify the middle. THEN, I'd go after a starting point guard and build from that.
Do appreciate how that pic is going to make furdies throw up a little each time they see it…
Why in the world would he convince any of those players to return? I appreciate the hard work they put in, they are Cal Bears, but several things:
1. They chose to move on (or at least enter the portal), *before* finding out who the new coach was going to be. What does this say about them?
2. Only Alijiki (fixed) hasn't graduated, the other 3 are graduating, so in order for them to remain at Cal, they actually have to get *admitted* to grad school. In case people haven't noticed (or remembered), Cal is literally one of the most difficult grad schools to get into. It's a primary reason Cal doesn't get a lot of grad transfers, even though there's now a certificate program.
3. These players are all replaceable. They only help with depth, but sometimes it's better to move on from players who were part of a team that put together the worst 4 year run in school history. Madsen should go get his players and get better players, I can't think of any reason to be "faithful" to these guys. I appreciate their hard work, and Fox clearly was a major contributing factor to the lack of their success, but a clean split is best for all parties.
If I read it correctly the players who have entered the portal have potentially forfeited their scholarships, meaning that the university is not required to renew them. It will be up to Madsen to evaluate the available talent in the portal and then decide what pieces are desirable and would be good fits for Cal.