Two months have passed since Texas basketball appointed Sean Miller as head coach following Rodney Terry’s dismissal. For Miller, the opportunity was too appealing to decline after his tenure at Xavier.
The Longhorns wrapped up a tough inaugural season in the SEC with a 19-16 record, concluding their journey in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Addressing challenges, Miller candidly discussed a secondary issue concerning the SEC, as reported by Pete Thamel of ESPN. He indicated that there is a notable decline in experienced players available in the transfer portal, largely due to the absence of the additional year of eligibility that was offered in light of the COVID pandemic.
Reflecting on his time at Xavier, he noted that many of his players took advantage of that extra eligibility year. He fears the current shortage may negatively impact the overall depth drawn from the transfer portal.
“One thing that’s definitely going to change, and I don’t think it’s talked a lot about in basketball, is the no COVID year,” he remarked. “In our case, we had a number of players in my three years at Xavier that were exercising their fifth year. It’s a year that doesn’t exist right now.”
Miller pointed to the successes of teams like the national champion Florida Gators and the Auburn Tigers, whose achievements were partly credited to the seasoned players from the COVID period.
“Even in the Final Four, when you looked closely at Auburn and Florida, two remarkable rosters, part of their greatness was that they had this gift of a blend of talent, but their older players, they were a big part of their success,” Miller explained.
In 2020, the NCAA permitted player eligibility extension for those impacted by the Pandemic, and many athletes chose to utilize that offered year to complete their college careers.
As Miller articulated, the dynamics of the game are set to evolve.
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The future of Texas and the SEC
The lack of COVID-era players in the transfer portal has significantly diminished the pool of experienced talent. Programs will likely engage in fierce competition over high school recruits and those available through the transfer portal.
This means a ‘first come, first served’ approach may become prevalent. While there will be increased opportunities to nurture younger players, many will essentially be starting from the ground up, even if they have been on a team for a year or two.
Unlike previous seasons when the focus was heavily on leveraging veteran talent, the SEC has reaped enormous benefits from the presence of COVID-affected players. The competitive landscape could considerably shift as teams adjust to the current realities.
For Texas, they appear well-positioned to be a strong contender this season, with returning players like Jordan Pope, Tramon Mark, Nicolas Codie, and Chendall Weaver.
Miller is actively making use of the transfer portal and eyeing recruits for 2026.
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Image Source: Sean Miller @ Instagram
