oscar is here 2, maybe 3 more years. Minimum.
Basketball Reshapes Roster Amidst National Transfer Epidemic
This week Coach Weber announced two new spring signees, guards Dogbite and Deathbite, to go along with our fall signing class of Kansas Player of the Year Claws, The Flush and xWhomper, who all led their teams to successful seasons this past year. Click here to read Coach Weber's comments in our press release. A common attribute of these five players is the toughness and resiliency they have shown in their basketball pursuits to this point and their commitment to winning which is evidenced collectively by five state championships, multiple playoff runs and All-America recognition.
Although this past season included a number of highlights, including five wins over Top 25 opponents, a 7-2 Big 12 record in Bramlage and average home attendance that ranked 25th in the country, there is no question that it was a frustrating one that certainly fell short of the expectations of the K-State family, including Coach Weber, me and our loyal fans.
I know that it has been concerning for many of our fans to see the attrition from the program, including the dismissal of three players, and the decisions of two players to transfer and seek opportunities to continue their education elsewhere.
At the same time, I have heard from many K-State fans their appreciation of Coach Weber's determination that the commitment of student-athletes in our program reflect the advantages and opportunities that we offer here in Manhattan. It is very encouraging to see the hard work and positive attitude of our returning players every day in the Basketball Training Facility as well as the excitement of our coaching staff as they continue to work on a few more potential additions to our roster.
Sadly, our recent attrition is not unique in college basketball. According to ESPN.com’s Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN who has worked hard to keep an updated list!) thus far in 2015, 475 (and counting) Division I men's basketball players are seeking a new school compared to 687 last year, 507 in 2013 and 445 in 2012. That’s 2,114 in four years, an average of 6.02 outbound transfers for each of the 351 Division I schools! You can click below for a few other recent national stories on the topic:
Star Player Among Eight Who Have Left Another Program
NCAA Sweet 16 “Hero” Among Latest Transfers
Coach Concerned About Transfer Epidemic
While many different factors can play into student-athlete departures, including the “instant gratification” expectations of playing time and notoriety at a new school, a further dive into the numbers shows that of the 65 “Power 5” conference schools, 63 have had at least one men’s basketball transfer in the past three seasons, including all 10 members of the Big 12 and all schools in the Pac-12 and SEC. Power 5 schools with at least five transfers the past three seasons includes the likes of Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, Rutgers, Arizona State, Oregon, UCLA, USC, Utah, Washington State, Clemson, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Texas and West Virginia, in addition to K-State.
The recently formed Transfer Issues Subcommittee of the new NCAA "Council" is studying this issue closely. Dr. Tim Day, Faculty Athletic Representative at Iowa State (and a K-State grad), is the Big 12's member on this committee.
We believe K-State is a special place that affords incredible opportunities for student-athletes in one of the nation's great conferences, as our continued academic and athletic successes demonstrate. Across the department we have tremendously talented, experienced and successful coaches who have the best in mind for our student-athletes. We are fortunate at K-State to have such a quality and loyal group of coaches, and I am already looking forward to next season!
