We’ve talked about this a little before, but NIT stars are dominating the transfer portal. The best player in it? Kadary Richmond. Also in the top 25? Robbie Avila, Deivon Smith, Sean Pedulla, and Tony Perkins. More follow. Overall, there are twice as many players from this year’s NIT Final Four at the top of the transfer portal rankings than there are from this year’s NCAA T*urnament Final Four. And yet the haters continue to pretend the NIT is the less talented tournament. Ha!
Revisiting the Opt-Outs
Speaking of the portal, I think it’s early enough to revisit coaches using it as an excuse to opt out of the NIT. We don’t want to dwell on the opt-outs—it was a great NIT in part because buttholes like Jeff Capel weren’t part of it—but we do anticipate that NIT opt-outs will be a huge discussion next year, so we want to get on top of it.
Was the transfer portal opening so early a reason coaches didn’t play? I think so. I do believe coaches thought they needed to be recruiting. But something like 99% of transfers didn’t commit until the NIT was completed, and there are still transfers entering the portal today, four weeks after the NIT Final Four.
Hopefully, the NCAA just moves the opening of the portal back a few weeks. But either way, it’ll be harder to see the portal as a legitimate reason next year for opting out. Whether that means fewer opt-outs or a different excuse is what remains to be seen.
Is Spin Rate Breaking the NBA Too?
Do I have a bad memory or are tons of NBA players hurt right now? Jamal Murray was a gametime decision last night. Giannis and Damian Lillard are out. Tyrese Haliburton was questionable for a few hours there with back spasms. The list goes on and on and on.
The real reason behind this is probably that we know more about injuries than we used to, thanks to a host of factors ranging from gambling becoming more mainstream to players getting softer. The standard scapegoat from players is probably the anti-load management rules. But the most fun reason to throw out there is that this is because of spin rate—the thing evidently causing every pitcher in baseball to get Tommy John surgery except for those born with supernatural throwing power, like Joe Kelly.
Should Kawhi Leonard Have Retired?
Speaking of injured NBA players!
We will always remember Kawhi Leonard as the load management man. That will be his identity. The guy was the Finals MVP twice. He smoked LeBron’s Big Three in 2014. And we will remember him for sitting on the bench looking like his mind is anywhere but the arena while his team plays basketball.
I know, I know, he made a lot of money because he kept playing. But what if he’d hung ‘em up early instead? He played the most games this year that he’s played since 2017, and now his knee’s too inflamed to keep doing it? And he’s supposed to be an Olympian? This has been leading to this point. I think the only option is for him to go play through the injury, blow out his knees, and be carried off the court a hero. It’s the only play to win back our lasting respect.
Etc.
The NIT, and Other College Basketball Pet Interests:
- Hmm. So this isn’t our NIT, and it isn’t part of college basketball, but there’s a college tennis NIT coming up. Eight teams in each tournament, both the men’s and the women’s. Starts on Sunday, runs through Wednesday. This is the second year the tournament is happening. In this case, NIT stands for National Invitational Tennis.
Chicago:
- Boy, brutal one last night for the Mets, eh? Cubs might’ve finished their season. They had a nice run going there a couple weeks ago, but this is six losses in eight games, and it seems like everyone in the Mets world wants to know when they can throw in the towel. With three games left against the Cubs this week, I would suggest that moment be right now. Let it go, Mets. Let this season end.
Joe Kelly:
- Another strong outing by Joe Kelly last night. I believe it was his first 100-mph night of the year. No strikeouts, but very sharp, only allowing the one base hit. Scoreless again, too.
