Baylor Basketball's Miro Little Enters the Transfer Portal

No surprise here. I can't believe some of our fans actually argued with me trying to tell me he was going to get playing time. I said he would transfer out by December. The writing was on the wall. He was way too slow to play Big 12 style ball. He's a mid major player and that was evident from the first time he stepped on the court. I'm just glad he did it now so we can replace the position with someone who can actually contribute.

Hope he does well at FAU or whatever mid major he goes to. He seemed like a nice guy.

Can't type today sheesh.
Little isn't that bad, but he's still a year away from being a contributor. It never hurts to have added depth as we see almost yearly injuries pop up and it's always good to have solid rotation players

IowaBear said:

---

Can't type today sheesh.
Little isn't that bad, but he's still a year away from being a contributor. It never hurts to have added depth as we see almost yearly injuries pop up and it's always good to have solid rotation players

---

I don't disagree with that but he didn't come here to be a bench warmer. He will have many more opportunities to play somewhere else and that will probably end up making him more happy anyway. The bonus is that Coach Drew may now bring in a transfer who could have contributed a lot more or hopefully since we have enough guards find a big body for us.

EvilTroyAndAbed said:

---

The "I told you so" posts are the most annoying posts. Just wish the kid well. You don't get points for your predictions.

---

You don't get points for telling people what to do although as often as you seem to try to be everybody's ruler as to what they can and can't say it would appear you think you do.

I still think he'll be a good player, not next year, but the following year. In this era of the portal there's little room for 3 years to quality minutes project guys who cant beat out players playing out of position.

Hope he enjoys FAU with Jakus.

Who knows maybe he transfers back in a couple years, I would not be completely shocked.

We REALLY need some guards though this roster is super thin and now only has one True PG on the roster once again.

Wish him well. As with the Lohner transfer it opens up another roster spot to (hopefully) bring in a portal transfer that can immediately be more than just a limited role player with minimal scoring capability.

Big12Fan2024 said:

---

EvilTroyAndAbed said:

---

The "I told you so" posts are the most annoying posts. Just wish the kid well. You don't get points for your predictions.

---

You don't get points for telling people what to do although as often as you seem to try to be everybody's ruler as to what they can and can't say it would appear you think you do.

---

You know what? You're right. You knew he wasn't gonna be any good and you told everybody a long time ago. Way to go buddy! I bet you feel great now!

IvanBear said:

---

I still think he'll be a good player, not next year, but the following year. In this era of the portal there's little room for 3 years to quality minutes project guys who cant beat out players playing out of position.

Hope he enjoys FAU with Jakus.

Who knows maybe he transfers back in a couple years, I would not be completely shocked.

We REALLY need some guards though this roster is super thin and now only has one True PG on the roster once again.

---

Wright and Roach will split the PG minutes, so we are good there. I also anticipate those 2 guys playing together in spurts. Our backcourt is loaded but I wouldn't be surprised if we don't get another from the portal as Love health insurance.

Crawfoso1973 said:

---

IvanBear said:

---

I still think he'll be a good player, not next year, but the following year. In this era of the portal there's little room for 3 years to quality minutes project guys who cant beat out players playing out of position.

Hope he enjoys FAU with Jakus.

Who knows maybe he transfers back in a couple years, I would not be completely shocked.

We REALLY need some guards though this roster is super thin and now only has one True PG on the roster once again.

---

Wright and Roach will split the PG minutes, so we are good there. I also anticipate those 2 guys playing together in spurts. Our backcourt is loaded but I wouldn't be surprised if we don't get another from the portal as Love health insurance.

---

Oh I agree, I expect them to both play in spurts and I hope Wright is as ready as people on this board think he is. But Roach is more combo guard than a point.

I would still think we need someone who can play point on this roster in the event one of those guys gets injured, and in the anticipation we can continue to develop a point guard. Maybe someone who's more a defensive specialist or a guy who's more of a distributor than scorer, it's for sure a role player type backup guard we need.


Plus if Wright is like everyone on the board keeps saying he's not staying very long...

Crawfoso1973 said:

---

IvanBear said:

---

I still think he'll be a good player, not next year, but the following year. In this era of the portal there's little room for 3 years to quality minutes project guys who cant beat out players playing out of position.

Hope he enjoys FAU with Jakus.

Who knows maybe he transfers back in a couple years, I would not be completely shocked.

We REALLY need some guards though this roster is super thin and now only has one True PG on the roster once again.

---

Wright and Roach will split the PG minutes, so we are good there. I also anticipate those 2 guys playing together in spurts. Our backcourt is loaded but I wouldn't be surprised if we don't get another from the portal as Love health insurance.

---

We're good there if Wright's as good as advertised. If he's not, that will be a hole because Jayden Nunn is not a point guard.

I said about a month ago that I thought taking another guard would push Little out of the program, so I'm not surprised by this news. And I don't blame Drew for choosing to pursue an experienced point guard, especially one as accomplished as Roach. But that does put a lot of pressure on a freshman to be ready to play at a high level from the jump next season.

Crawfoso1973 said:

---

Big12Fan2024 said:

---

He's a mid major player and that was evident from the first time he stepped on the court.

---

Waaaayyy premature for this kind of prediction. I agreed there wouldn't be a path for many minutes next year, but the long-term potential is still there. Transferring to somewhere he can get more opportunity will speed up his development process.

---

Agree completely. Most here would have said the same thing about Jamal Shead when he was averaging 3.3 points per game in less than 10 minutes per game as a freshman.

Players develop over time and with experience.

Unfortunately (in my humble opinion), we've largely abandoned that aspect of our program, opting instead to recruit over every young player who's not ready to contribute immediately. The portal gives you that ability and Scott Drew prefers that route, which is his prerogative.

It's a tough balance for every program to strike, but we have chosen to become a reload program over a developmental one. Hopefully we'll get the right mix of pieces here at some point.

The Roach signing gives Wright a much better situation to ease his way in compared to Walter last year or Keyonte the year before. Wright will be able to come off the bench which is much less pressure. That should also lead to a more efficient game overall since he won't need to lead the team in field goal attempts the way Walter and Keyonte needed to.

I just don't see how we don't add another point guard, you've got to have 3 guys on the roster who can play point, Drew has seen how ugly it gets when we don't have someone who can run the point thanks to injuries.

Crawfoso1973 said:

---

The Roach signing gives Wright a much better situation to ease his way in compared to Walter last year or Keyonte the year before. Wright will be able to come off the bench which is much less pressure. That should also lead to a more efficient game overall since he won't need to lead the team in field goal attempts the way Walter and Keyonte needed to.

---

I'm operating under the assumption that Wright would have been in a pretty even time share with Miro if he had stayed. And that duo would have taken their lumps and gone through their growing pains, but I don't think the expectations would have been as high in that case as they will be next year.

With Roach as our starter, we're likely going to be a preseason top-10 team. As our only other viable point guard option, Wright is going to be expected to play at that level, whether he's actually ready to or not. I think that's a more pressure-filled situation than it would have been had we opted to roll with the five-guard rotation we had.

Why do so many people keep thinking Scott was ever going to start Wright. There was never a scenario where he's not bringing in a point guard to replace Dennis if it wasn't Roach it would have been someone else.

This board would have lost it's mind if we started Little last year. He was a very highly regarded freshman recruit like Wright. It's silly so many people think Wright is ready to start on a big 12 team coming straight out of high school and not regarded as a 5 star player. Heck even 5 star point guards typically have it rough. Doesn't mean he can be an awesome contributor, but it does mean it's unrealistic to build a roster where he's assumed to be.

IvanBear said:

---

I just don't see how we don't add another point guard, you've got to have 3 guys on the roster who can play point, Drew has seen how ugly it gets when we don't have someone who can run the point thanks to injuries.

---

I don't think we can afford to add another guard without the risk of losing someone else. A rotation can't support six contributing guards. There just aren't enough minutes. If we were to add another guard, somebody would have to become a garbage time guy, and none of them would want or be willing to do that.

I wonder if there are any point forwards available in the portal. That might be the best solution if such a fit is available.

Crawfoso1973 said:

---

bear2be2 said:

---

Crawfoso1973 said:

---

Big12Fan2024 said:

---

He's a mid major player and that was evident from the first time he stepped on the court.

---

Waaaayyy premature for this kind of prediction. I agreed there wouldn't be a path for many minutes next year, but the long-term potential is still there. Transferring to somewhere he can get more opportunity will speed up his development process.

---

Agree completely. Most here would have said the same thing about Jamal Shead when he was averaging 3.3 points per game in less than 10 minutes per game as a freshman.

Players develop over time and with experience.

Unfortunately (in my humble opinion), we've largely abandoned that aspect of our program, opting instead to recruit over every young player who's not ready to contribute immediately. The portal gives you that ability and Scott Drew prefers that route, which is his prerogative.

It's a tough balance for every program strike, but we have chosen to become a reload program over a developmental one. Hopefully we'll get the right mix of pieces here at some point.

---

I think the transfer portal has dealt all coaches this hand and to be competitive every program is forced to reload every offseason or get left in the dust. It's an arm's race and you have to go all in every offseason or get blown away by your competitors loading up their rosters. Also it's hard to develop players and get them to stick around the way we did in the past because they will just leave to go somewhere else if they don't see a clear path to playing time. The only way this vicious cycle can be broken is if the NCAA does something to reign in the transfer portal. As a fan I hate it but I don't blame the coaches for playing the game by its current rules.

---

We've already been around and around on this topic. And while I agree that the portal has changed the state of play, there still is a place for the developmental program in college basketball. We have a great example in our own league with Houston.

To do it, though, you have to commit to your homegrown players and give them roles and minutes they may or may not be ready for. That means not bringing in one-and-done freshmen to steal upperclassmen's minutes or hitting the portal immediately to fill every hole.

Sampson did it with Shead and Sharp and both of his bigs. When it's a guy's time, it's his time, and they expect those guys to rise to the expectation level of the program. So far, it's worked out pretty damn well for them.

We have chosen to go a different route, and that's fine. But let's not pretend like it's not an active choice.

I think Wright is a total stud and I think the only thing holding him back from going one-and-done are his lack of NBA measurables. He will get all the minutes he can handle and he is not a developmental player the way Little was / is. That said it is tough to be thrown to the wolves as a freshman starter at PG, so I agree we absolutely needed another guard from the portal. Thrilled we were able to get Roach and we probably need another one.

bear2be2 said:

---

IvanBear said:

---

I just don't see how we don't add another point guard, you've got to have 3 guys on the roster who can play point, Drew has seen how ugly it gets when we don't have someone who can run the point thanks to injuries.

---

I don't think we can afford to add another guard without the risk of losing someone else. A rotation can't support six contributing guards. There just aren't enough minutes. If we were to add another guard, somebody would have to become a garbage time guy, and none of them would want or be willing to do that.

I wonder if there are any point forwards available in the portal. That might be the best solution if such a fit is available.

---

I'm still not convinced Love or Nunn one of the two isn't hitting the portal here in the last minutes.

But yes you do need 6 guards with the way Drew has this current team built. Unfortunately this isn't the 2020/2021 guard roster where we have 3 guys who can handle point so we can get away with only carrying 1 additional true point guard and then a Omot/Mayer type. Right now we have 1 guy who can (Raoch) and 1 freshman (Wright), those are the only two guys with the skillset to run point. Nunn and Love are in no way guys who can run the point well. VJ maybe can distribute but that's not who he's expected to be. I don't see how we can't bring in another guy.


I do think you need a role player someone who's not going to risk contending for starter point guard on this roster, it's a Dale Bonner type I'm thinking. You need that because without that one injury destroys the team. I agree though, get a stud and it probably pushes Nunn or Love (whoever isn't starting away).

IvanBear said:

---

bear2be2 said:

---

IvanBear said:

---

I just don't see how we don't add another point guard, you've got to have 3 guys on the roster who can play point, Drew has seen how ugly it gets when we don't have someone who can run the point thanks to injuries.

---

I don't think we can afford to add another guard without the risk of losing someone else. A rotation can't support six contributing guards. There just aren't enough minutes. If we were to add another guard, somebody would have to become a garbage time guy, and none of them would want or be willing to do that.

I wonder if there are any point forwards available in the portal. That might be the best solution if such a fit is available.

---

I'm still not convinced Love or Nunn one of the two isn't hitting the portal here in the last minutes.

But yes you do need 6 guards with the way Drew has this current team built. Unfortunately this isn't the 2020/2021 guard roster where we have 3 guys who can handle point so we can get away with only carrying 1 additional true point guard and then a Omot/Mayer type. Right now we have 1 guy who can (Raoch) and 1 freshman (Wright), those are the only two guys with the skillset to run point. Nunn and Love are in no way guys who can run the point well. VJ maybe can distribute but that's not who he's expected to be. I don't see how we can't bring in another guy.


I do think you need a role player someone who's not going to risk contending for starter point guard on this roster, it's a Dale Bonner type I'm thinking. You need that because without that one injury destroys the team.

---

We've never had six guards in our rotation. Even playing three guards at a time, there aren't enough minutes to go around.

Five is the most a rotation can support, and even that is pushing it.

bear2be2 said:

---

IvanBear said:

---

bear2be2 said:

---

IvanBear said:

---

I just don't see how we don't add another point guard, you've got to have 3 guys on the roster who can play point, Drew has seen how ugly it gets when we don't have someone who can run the point thanks to injuries.

---

I don't think we can afford to add another guard without the risk of losing someone else. A rotation can't support six contributing guards. There just aren't enough minutes. If we were to add another guard, somebody would have to become a garbage time guy, and none of them would want or be willing to do that.

I wonder if there are any point forwards available in the portal. That might be the best solution if such a fit is available.

---

I'm still not convinced Love or Nunn one of the two isn't hitting the portal here in the last minutes.

But yes you do need 6 guards with the way Drew has this current team built. Unfortunately this isn't the 2020/2021 guard roster where we have 3 guys who can handle point so we can get away with only carrying 1 additional true point guard and then a Omot/Mayer type. Right now we have 1 guy who can (Raoch) and 1 freshman (Wright), those are the only two guys with the skillset to run point. Nunn and Love are in no way guys who can run the point well. VJ maybe can distribute but that's not who he's expected to be. I don't see how we can't bring in another guy.


I do think you need a role player someone who's not going to risk contending for starter point guard on this roster, it's a Dale Bonner type I'm thinking. You need that because without that one injury destroys the team.

---

We've never had six guards in our rotation. Even playing three guards at a time, there aren't enough minutes to go around.

Five is the most a rotation can support, and even that is pushing it.

---

That's why I'm not convinced we won't make a move that pushes out one of our 2 guards.

IvanBear said:

---

bear2be2 said:

---

IvanBear said:

---

bear2be2 said:

---

IvanBear said:

---

I just don't see how we don't add another point guard, you've got to have 3 guys on the roster who can play point, Drew has seen how ugly it gets when we don't have someone who can run the point thanks to injuries.

---

I don't think we can afford to add another guard without the risk of losing someone else. A rotation can't support six contributing guards. There just aren't enough minutes. If we were to add another guard, somebody would have to become a garbage time guy, and none of them would want or be willing to do that.

I wonder if there are any point forwards available in the portal. That might be the best solution if such a fit is available.

---

I'm still not convinced Love or Nunn one of the two isn't hitting the portal here in the last minutes.

But yes you do need 6 guards with the way Drew has this current team built. Unfortunately this isn't the 2020/2021 guard roster where we have 3 guys who can handle point so we can get away with only carrying 1 additional true point guard and then a Omot/Mayer type. Right now we have 1 guy who can (Raoch) and 1 freshman (Wright), those are the only two guys with the skillset to run point. Nunn and Love are in no way guys who can run the point well. VJ maybe can distribute but that's not who he's expected to be. I don't see how we can't bring in another guy.


I do think you need a role player someone who's not going to risk contending for starter point guard on this roster, it's a Dale Bonner type I'm thinking. You need that because without that one injury destroys the team.

---

We've never had six guards in our rotation. Even playing three guards at a time, there aren't enough minutes to go around.

Five is the most a rotation can support, and even that is pushing it.

---

That's why I'm not convinced we won't make a move that pushes out one of our 2 guards.

---

It would be really stupid IMO to push out a plus shooting guard for a third point guard. I don't see Drew making that decision.

You'd be much better off trying develop Nunn's skills enough to be play three to five minutes a game at the point and try to find a forward in the portal who can handle the ball in a pinch.

bear2be2 said:

---

IvanBear said:

---

bear2be2 said:

---

IvanBear said:

---

bear2be2 said:

---

IvanBear said:

---

I just don't see how we don't add another point guard, you've got to have 3 guys on the roster who can play point, Drew has seen how ugly it gets when we don't have someone who can run the point thanks to injuries.

---

I don't think we can afford to add another guard without the risk of losing someone else. A rotation can't support six contributing guards. There just aren't enough minutes. If we were to add another guard, somebody would have to become a garbage time guy, and none of them would want or be willing to do that.

I wonder if there are any point forwards available in the portal. That might be the best solution if such a fit is available.

---

I'm still not convinced Love or Nunn one of the two isn't hitting the portal here in the last minutes.

But yes you do need 6 guards with the way Drew has this current team built. Unfortunately this isn't the 2020/2021 guard roster where we have 3 guys who can handle point so we can get away with only carrying 1 additional true point guard and then a Omot/Mayer type. Right now we have 1 guy who can (Raoch) and 1 freshman (Wright), those are the only two guys with the skillset to run point. Nunn and Love are in no way guys who can run the point well. VJ maybe can distribute but that's not who he's expected to be. I don't see how we can't bring in another guy.


I do think you need a role player someone who's not going to risk contending for starter point guard on this roster, it's a Dale Bonner type I'm thinking. You need that because without that one injury destroys the team.

---

We've never had six guards in our rotation. Even playing three guards at a time, there aren't enough minutes to go around.

Five is the most a rotation can support, and even that is pushing it.

---

That's why I'm not convinced we won't make a move that pushes out one of our 2 guards.

---

It would be really stupid IMO to push out a plus shooting guard for a third point guard. I don't see Drew making that decision.

You'd be much better off trying develop Nunn's skills enough to be play three to five minutes a game at the point and try to find a forward in the portal who can handle the ball in a pinch.

---

Nothing in Nunn's game has shown me that's a real possibility, but I think it more depends on who you would potentially land. If you could get another top flight combo guard (maybe one of these guys who haven't' hit the portal yet who will), then yeah it sucks but that woudl be improvement over a guy who can't play anything but the 2.

The offense we run thrives with combo guards not true shooting guards, I think we saw some of the limitation on that last year with only one guy getting any minutes that could facilitate.

I do like the forward Idea I'm just not sure that player exists in the portal.

I guess we also have to factor in the architect of our offense is now gone, so things will change.

They started with under followed guys. There was no demand for many of their guys as freshman. So they built the pipeline that way. Now their construction is conducive to keep it that way since they aren't elite recruiting the HS level.

Drew is trying to reset some but it's hard deep in the portal era. Stuck in a cycle. Now if we get an experienced Junior big with another year, we'll be back on a more sustainable path. I don't think he's choosing a different way. He's just not going to take a down year to fully reset. He's trying to do it while balancing maximizing each year. It's tricky now.

At present you have a point. Their (Hou) roster is pretty crowded with a bunch of good, not great (assuming Shead sticks with the pros), players. Recipe for a few of those guys to not get solid playing time. Am surprised a few of their guys don't leave. But Sampson has consistently convinced them to play roles rather than pursue more elsewhere.

But you risk starting the cycle over again by bringing in another guy. An existing player would probably transfer and you're back where you started. It would be harder to bring in a guy decent but not good enough to start. You're risking bringing in a guy that's unplayable.

Keep the guards you have, pull ahead and close on a very good portal big. Then fill the wing with a guy that can do secondary ball handling. That would be the roster

Quinton said:

---

But you risk starting the cycle over again by bringing in another guy. An existing player would probably transfer and you're back where you started. It would be harder to bring in a guy decent but not good enough to start. You're risking bringing in a guy that's unplayable.

Keep the guards you have, pull ahead and close on a very good portal big. Then fill the wing with a guy that can do secondary ball handling. That would be the roster

---

This. And develop that secondary ball-handling skill in Nunn during the offseason. Nunn doesn't have to be a PG or even close to one, but can be someone with the starting unit who can at least bring it up and initiate half court offense once in a while to take some of the pressure off the other guards.

Crawfoso1973 said:

---

Quinton said:

---

But you risk starting the cycle over again by bringing in another guy. An existing player would probably transfer and you're back where you started. It would be harder to bring in a guy decent but not good enough to start. You're risking bringing in a guy that's unplayable.

Keep the guards you have, pull ahead and close on a very good portal big. Then fill the wing with a guy that can do secondary ball handling. That would be the roster

---

This. And develop that secondary ball-handling skill in Nunn during the offseason. Nunn doesn't have to be a PG or even close to one, but can be someone with the starting unit who can at least bring it up and initiate half court offense once in a while to take some of the pressure off the other guards.

---

Exactly. We finally get a real offseason with a group of decent players. If Nunn relentlessly worked ball handling and defensive footwork/movement all summer he could be a really good college player.

Jerry Tarkanian said the key to winning is 8 guys who can play and 5 guys who will cheer like crazy. We had that in 2020, 2021 and 2022. So we need another guy who can play.

It's understandable some guys asked to cheer don't want to cheer their whole career…Their easier to find than guys who can play.

Quinton said:

---

Crawfoso1973 said:

---

Quinton said:

---

But you risk starting the cycle over again by bringing in another guy. An existing player would probably transfer and you're back where you started. It would be harder to bring in a guy decent but not good enough to start. You're risking bringing in a guy that's unplayable.

Keep the guards you have, pull ahead and close on a very good portal big. Then fill the wing with a guy that can do secondary ball handling. That would be the roster

---

This. And develop that secondary ball-handling skill in Nunn during the offseason. Nunn doesn't have to be a PG or even close to one, but can be someone with the starting unit who can at least bring it up and initiate half court offense once in a while to take some of the pressure off the other guards.

---

Exactly. We finally get a real offseason with a group of decent players. If Nunn relentlessly worked ball handling and defensive footwork/movement all summer he could be a really good college player.

---

There's no reason to believe he didn't work that last year either when we were arguably even more thin on point guards, with only one viable guy on the roster to get minutes.

Also I too love the idea of building guys up, but we're not signing one year players like VJ, Roach, and going after guys like Aidoo and others who only have one year of eligibility to have a development year. We've got holes in the 2024-2025 roster that have to be filled now or it's pointless to even seek out one year dudes. I'm not saying don't pick up someone who's multi year from the portal, I think we went after some guys in that vein and just haven't landed them for whatever reason. I am saying even if we address the power forward issues I'm hard pressed to pick group of guards to lead us to a conference or NCAA championship next season with the lack of ball handling.

I think Nunn will (hopefully) get better at defense, but i didnt' see anything in his game last year that says he's got potential to develop at the point.