OrangeXtreme
The Mayor of Dewitt
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 230,933
- Like
- 419,306
Hillsman on the large media contingent: "It's like the Final Four." Jokes that his 5 year old asked him if he was in the transfer portal. "Obviously, we've got a lot going on." Said the program is "in a good place. We're not in a panic mode."
Hillsman pushes back on the notion that a lot of transfers aligns with program instability. "We just want to get to a place to where it's our standards. And for us, it's about being athletic, it's about wanting to come in every day and work." Wants players who want to be here.
Hillsman said there's a "wide variety" of reasons for why 11 players entered the transfer portal. He's hopeful media and members of the public aren't jumping to conclusions.
Hillsman said he won't delve into specific individuals who are leaving the program: "What I'm not here to do is to go down this whole roster of people who's in the portal."
Hillsman on the players who transferred out: "At the end of the day, those kids are like my daughters and they're always going to be that way. They're like family to me."
Hillsman on the transfer portal: "It's given student athletes opportunities to pursue other options if they don't feel like they're getting what they need at a certain program." He said it also gives coaches a chance to reload.
Hillsman on the 11 transfers: "I think half is shocking, half is not. I think some of it is just pure attrition. Things happen. You have standards, you have the way you want to play." Over time, he implies, it becomes clear coach/player aren't aligned for that half.
Hillsman on four players transferring to ACC schools: "I have no issues on that. Those are the rules. They can choose to go where they want to go." Believes it's a product of familiarity. The transfers SU is bringing in are largely former recruits. ACC schools know those four.
Hillsman continued: "For me, it's good. Like I said, I view it as a compliment." Believes if ACC schools want SU's players, it's a sign they're capable of contributing.
Hillsman said he was prepared to have 21 players next year and have heavy competition, allowing the best players to play.
Hillsman declines to go over his specific standards for players, which he previously implied weren't always met. Said, broadly speaking, that the bar is set for winning, pressing and scoring.
Hillsman said reasons for players transferring include getting graduate degrees at other schools and wanting to play in different regions. Said there weren't many adversarial conversations. Some players didn't expand on their reasoning.
Hillsman said some of the transfer conversations are as short at 10 seconds. Quick hug, goodbye and well wishes. "I think a lot of stuff is assumed that you're sitting there having these big, long (meetings)."
Hillsman said perimeter shooting and effective guard play were emphases in the transfer market. He believes that's what got SU to the national championship game five years ago. "We always wanted to have a roster that can do that."
Hillsman said this transfer process won't change the way he coaches: "We're going to continue to fight to maximize everything we can out of our players. And we're going to continue to fight for every player on our team so we can win and they can have productive careers here."
Hillsman said freshman guard Priscilla Williams is "healthy" and "back at full tilt" after suffering an upper-body injury in the ACCT.
Last edited:
