According to Verbal Commits 120+ players 6'8" or taller have to be 2 of them who can play significant minutes that the coaching staff can convince to play here.

Verbal Commits says that Payton Sparks from Ball State is in the portal…

(03-16-2023 02:16 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  Verbal Commits says that Payton Sparks from Ball State is in the portal…

H went into the Portal after James Whitford was fired after last season and then redrew to play when the new coaching came onboard. Would be a huge get for Toledo but I think he is probably looking for a home with a Power 6 School. Maybe Cochran has an in with him since they played together last season at Ball St!

(03-16-2023 02:32 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  

(03-16-2023 02:16 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  Verbal Commits says that Payton Sparks from Ball State is in the portal…

H went into the Portal after James Whitford was fired after last season and then redrew to play when the new coaching came onboard. Would be a huge get for Toledo but I think he is probably looking for a home with a Power 6 School. Maybe Cochran has an in with him since they played together last season at Ball St!

He supposedly had offers from both Purdue and Indiana last season when he hit the portal but felt a need to give the Ball State staff a chance...my guess is he ends up in the Big Ten with one of his home state schools this year.

(03-16-2023 12:58 PM)emanoh Wrote:  Farmer is surprising. My guess he wants to Start, like everyone else on the team. He was fun to watch and really helped in a few games coming off the bench.

I think he would be starting. Surprising because K played him when honestly, most coaches wouldn't have after his performance early on last year. They'd have said he needed a red-shirt.

Still, it's his career. If anything, that UM game would have shown him he can compete in the BIG 10, if he can find a team that takes skinny guys. Maybe he can catch on with an upper mid-major.

He was becoming a fun player to watch and am puzzled why someone would leave a place that stuck with him when he was playing poorly. UT fans should wish him the best even if he doesn't stay.

(03-16-2023 03:41 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  

(03-16-2023 12:58 PM)emanoh Wrote:  Farmer is surprising. My guess he wants to Start, like everyone else on the team. He was fun to watch and really helped in a few games coming off the bench.

I think he would be starting. Surprising because K played him when honestly, most coaches wouldn't have after his performance early on last year. They'd have said he needed a red-shirt.

Still, it's his career. If anything, that UM game would have shown him he can compete in the BIG 10, if he can find a team that takes skinny guys. Maybe he can catch on with an upper mid-major.

He was becoming a fun player to watch and am puzzled why someone would leave a place that stuck with him when he was playing poorly. UT fans should wish him the best even if he doesn't stay.

Frankly ... I think immediately after the basketball season ends -- and for almost all it is a bitter ending -- the emotions are both high and raw for both players and coaches.

Really wish some of these decisions had at least a 7-day window after the last game, if not 14. Probably most would have the same outcome, but for guys like Farmer, a little time away might actually get him closer to coming back, if that makes sense.

Trouble is, he (and a lot of players just like him) could make a move that either lands him in the same situation -- coming off he bench -- that he is in now. So what good is that??

Or, he becomes a good starter on an average/bad team. Bitter as it tastes right now, all these guys leaving UT are a lot closer to the NCAA as a Rocket than they probably will be where they end up.

Just look at Kent State -- their 2022 season blew up before the MAC title game last year. But the bulk of those players stayed, and had a better season in 2003.

It's bitter ... but swallow and get better instead of spitting it out and moving on.

My opinion.

(03-16-2023 04:03 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(03-16-2023 03:41 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  

(03-16-2023 12:58 PM)emanoh Wrote:  Farmer is surprising. My guess he wants to Start, like everyone else on the team. He was fun to watch and really helped in a few games coming off the bench.

I think he would be starting. Surprising because K played him when honestly, most coaches wouldn't have after his performance early on last year. They'd have said he needed a red-shirt.

Still, it's his career. If anything, that UM game would have shown him he can compete in the BIG 10, if he can find a team that takes skinny guys. Maybe he can catch on with an upper mid-major.

He was becoming a fun player to watch and am puzzled why someone would leave a place that stuck with him when he was playing poorly. UT fans should wish him the best even if he doesn't stay.

Frankly ... I think immediately after the basketball season ends -- and for almost all it is a bitter ending -- the emotions are both high and raw for both players and coaches.

Really wish some of these decisions had at least a 7-day window after the last game, if not 14. Probably most would have the same outcome, but for guys like Farmer, a little time away might actually get him closer to coming back, if that makes sense.

Trouble is, he (and a lot of players just like him) could make a move that either lands him in the same situation -- coming off he bench -- that he is in now. So what good is that??

Or, he becomes a good starter on an average/bad team. Bitter as it tastes right now, all these guys leaving UT are a lot closer to the NCAA as a Rocket than they probably will be where they end up.

Just look at Kent State -- their 2022 season blew up before the MAC title game last year. But the bulk of those players stayed, and had a better season in 2003.

It's bitter ... but swallow and get better instead of spitting it out and moving on.

My opinion.

Solid

(03-16-2023 02:16 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  Verbal Commits says that Payton Sparks from Ball State is in the portal…

reactions on the Ball State Fan Board -

"He's damned good out our "level" but once he goes to the highest level he's gonna have 3 guys just like him to compete against for playing time, and the opponents will have huge guys to throw at him. His one move of "bull defenders over" won't necessarily work in the Big 10. Big dudes are gonna keep him off the block so he'll have to be able to step out and hit 15 footers consistently."

"I totally wish him the best but 6’9” with no outside game puts him at a disadvantage going up against the Big Ten guys he wants to play against every night."

https://overthepylon.boards.net/thread/5...rks-portal

(03-16-2023 06:20 PM)Sleepy Wrote:  

(03-16-2023 02:16 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  Verbal Commits says that Payton Sparks from Ball State is in the portal…

reactions on the Ball State Fan Board -

"He's damned good out our "level" but once he goes to the highest level he's gonna have 3 guys just like him to compete against for playing time, and the opponents will have huge guys to throw at him. His one move of "bull defenders over" won't necessarily work in the Big 10. Big dudes are gonna keep him off the block so he'll have to be able to step out and hit 15 footers consistently."

"I totally wish him the best but 6’9” with no outside game puts him at a disadvantage going up against the Big Ten guys he wants to play against every night."

https://overthepylon.boards.net/thread/5...rks-portal

and those teams aren't going to bring him in (or one of ours) if they don't think they can use that player to fill an immediate needs. These coaches get paid millions to make decisions that will allow them to keep making millions, not to to deprive Ball St or Toledo of a player.

(03-16-2023 09:33 AM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Verbal commits tweeting today that Jacobi, Wilson, Davis and Wallace are all in the portal.

None of these players were likely to get much playing time next year.

Farmer was the only player that showed significant talent of the players entering the portal and he would have had a tough time getting on the court. Farmer would be playing for the same position as Moss, Mattox and Cochran and all would be juniors eligibility wise.

(03-16-2023 08:56 PM)WHRocket Wrote:  

(03-16-2023 09:33 AM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Verbal commits tweeting today that Jacobi, Wilson, Davis and Wallace are all in the portal.

None of these players were likely to get much playing time next year.

Farmer was the only player that showed significant talent of the players entering the portal and he would have had a tough time getting on the court. Farmer would be playing for the same position as Moss, Mattox and Cochran and all would be juniors eligibility wise.

I think Farmer more valuable in the front court. I think he'd be getting 25 minutes split between guard and wing. More depending on what comes in in the way of true forwards.

6-5 skinny guy with a lot of speed, but not a starter, would wear down after significant minutes on the court.

The Farmer transfer makes little sense. He won’t go to a better school to start so either he looks D2 or a lower tier D1 program where he could possibly start and be a leading scorer

I think Farmer was a 6th man on a 25 win team... he could start at legit good mid majors... Even poor high majors who need a slasher and a leader. I could see him thrive at a Cleveland State, or NKU easily. Even a Minnesota could use his skill set to mix it up from a slow 3 pt oriented offense. He goes to the line and gets steals.

(03-16-2023 10:39 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  I think Farmer was a 6th man on a 25 win team... he could start at legit good mid majors... Even poor high majors who need a slasher and a leader. I could see him thrive at a Cleveland State, or NKU easily. Even a Minnesota could use his skill set to mix it up from a slow 3 pt oriented offense. He goes to the line and gets steals.

I think that’s a very optimistic look. He’s not a good shooter, not a threat from 3 pt land, averaged 6.0 ppg. His strengths are taking the ball to the basket and defense but neither stand out. I don’t know how you see any program from the Big 10 or similar takes a look at him. I believe Toledo was the highest level he could go

Farmer will go to a place that doesn't have a logjam at his position. With Cochran coming back and the new point guard recruit almost certainly getting immediate minutes, we have five players ahead of Farmer at the three guard positions (assuming Dennis returns).

(03-17-2023 02:33 AM)Rocket_Fanatic Wrote:  

(03-16-2023 10:39 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  I think Farmer was a 6th man on a 25 win team... he could start at legit good mid majors... Even poor high majors who need a slasher and a leader. I could see him thrive at a Cleveland State, or NKU easily. Even a Minnesota could use his skill set to mix it up from a slow 3 pt oriented offense. He goes to the line and gets steals.

I think that’s a very optimistic look. He’s not a good shooter, not a threat from 3 pt land, averaged 6.0 ppg. His strengths are taking the ball to the basket and defense but neither stand out. I don’t know how you see any program from the Big 10 or similar takes a look at him. I believe Toledo was the highest level he could go

Not yet the threat from 3 point that the others were. Milner was zip threat, two years ago. Farmers speed, quicks and most importantly, learning curve have all been impressive. Whether he continues to develop elsewhere as well as he could here?

I like the Cleveland St coach, think a good job been done. Same Youngstown. There are lesser teams with better chances to dance. I think long run? He brings skills and metrics neither RJ, Maddox, Cochran nor Moss brings. If he's been getting along with everyone and if he can break the starting five, which I think he can unless K says we don't need those skills as much as the others, he'll develop further here. He fills our Jaden Ivey role. If K sees his skills as specialty skills? Go somewhere he's needed on the first line.

Be stupid to lose him. Be stupid to cater to him also. Crap happens. For me? He has more upside metrics and potentially equitable skills sets than Maddox or Cochran, both extremely good players.

(03-17-2023 09:33 AM)eastisbest Wrote:  

(03-17-2023 02:33 AM)Rocket_Fanatic Wrote:  

(03-16-2023 10:39 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  I think Farmer was a 6th man on a 25 win team... he could start at legit good mid majors... Even poor high majors who need a slasher and a leader. I could see him thrive at a Cleveland State, or NKU easily. Even a Minnesota could use his skill set to mix it up from a slow 3 pt oriented offense. He goes to the line and gets steals.

I think that’s a very optimistic look. He’s not a good shooter, not a threat from 3 pt land, averaged 6.0 ppg. His strengths are taking the ball to the basket and defense but neither stand out. I don’t know how you see any program from the Big 10 or similar takes a look at him. I believe Toledo was the highest level he could go

Not yet the threat from 3 point that the others were. Milner was zip threat, two years ago. Farmers speed, quicks and most importantly, learning curve have all been impressive. Whether he continues to develop elsewhere as well as he could here?

I like the Cleveland St coach, think a good job been done. Same Youngstown. There are lesser teams with better chances to dance. I think long run? He brings skills and metrics neither RJ, Maddox, Cochran nor Moss brings. If he's been getting along with everyone and if he can break the starting five, which I think he can unless K says we don't need those skills as much as the others, he'll develop further here. He fills our Jaden Ivey role. If K sees his skills as specialty skills? Go somewhere he's needed on the first line.

Be stupid to lose him. Be stupid to cater to him also. Crap happens. For me? He has more upside metrics and potentially equitable skills sets than Maddox or Cochran, both extremely good players.

Farmer had one of the quickest moves to the basket since Justin Hall !!

(03-16-2023 12:20 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  Maddox still has a few MAC teams for whom he hasn’t played. He may try a directional Michigan or Buffalo to pick up that fourth MAC state.

I thought Maddox left a school in California to join the Rockets. What did he do before that or did he dabble with other MAC schools before coming to UT? Am I thinking of the wrong Maddox?

(03-17-2023 11:00 AM)MotoRocket Wrote:  

(03-16-2023 12:20 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  Maddox still has a few MAC teams for whom he hasn’t played. He may try a directional Michigan or Buffalo to pick up that fourth MAC state.

I thought Maddox left a school in California to join the Rockets. What did he do before that or did he dabble with other MAC schools before coming to UT? Am I thinking of the wrong Maddox?

I believe they were referring to Cochran and mistakenly said Maddox since Cochran is the one who has played for 3 MAC teams