Donnie Freeman in the portal

[Irt4su]

I saw no moves with his back to the basket and I am not sure he could dunk on the regular. That said, he did get hurt a lot so there is that. Very talented kid but played using Island Time clock instead of full throttle. Really likeable, but not an alpha. No urgency and too content standing around the 3 point line. Hope someone gets the best out of him, but I am as sad to see him go as I was Benny and now JJ. He can be great, but its up to him.

 

[Nicknack]

When I close my eyes and think of Donnie, I see fade away jumpers and a dude unwilling to impose his will. He's got immense talent, no dispute there. I just think he plays soft and takes more difficult shots than he should.

That all said, I'm conflicted on whether I'm happy he's moving on or not. I guess it depends on who we replace him with but I think we might find a better fit for GMac's team even with a guy in the portal who might not be quite as talented.

 

[Sherman20]

Providence?

Hodgson was his primary recruiter at Alabama. He would’ve probably went there if BH hadn’t left for the Arkansas State head coaching job. That opened the door for Red and Straughn to move into the pole position.

 

[CapitalO]

So long Donnie, we can get a lot more with the money we would’ve spent on you. Good riddance. Looks like the team will be built around Sadiq, and Kiyan I hope we get an answer on the status of Kingz soon add Doty and the Euro dude and Souare for now and then hopefully in the next few days we start to bring in some excellent portal players with a lot of money available to build the roster. I’m really hoping we don’t have a 13 man roster 11 / 12 players is plenty.

 

[LpoolNative]

When I close my eyes and think of Donnie, I see fade away jumpers and a dude unwilling to impose his will. He's got immense talent, no dispute there. I just think he plays soft and takes more difficult shots than he should.

That all said, I'm conflicted on whether I'm happy he's moving on or not. I guess it depends on who we replace him with but I think we might find a better fit for GMac's team even with a guy in the portal who might not be quite as talented.

 

[RedtheGOB]

And I should have said in my comment, that in retrospect, Syracuse was probably not a good fit for Donnie. There is really no evidence that the coaches pushed him hard on either end of the floor. But, that said, as much as Nate Oats believes in his own coaching ability, would he put Donnie as his number one NIL target.

The whole injury thing with him was such a mess too. Remember every time he got hurt. It was like his doctors or his people or his whatever had to just keep waiting and seeing.

How do you even push a guy that only played like 60-70% of the games over 2 years.

 

[Starman]

He’s already been linked to Kentucky and Michigan. Alabama will probably be in the mix too like others said. He’s not transferring down.

After the coaching search, I can't call transfering to Providence as transfering down.

 

[granthath9]

After the coaching search, I can't call transfering to Providence as transfering down.

It is objectively transferring down for a guy with his talent. No reason for him to go to the 3-5 best big east team when he can go contribute to an SEC school, make the tournament, and earn 3-4 million while doing it while also not having to carry a bigger weight like he would at school like Providence.

 

[capeorange]

I'll call it now - he goes to Providence with Hodgson.

Hodgson thrives with blue collar players, Donnie is not one of those.

 

[dasher]

Just as a reminder, it is possible to come back after going in to the portal. So let's not close the door on anyone until they sign elsewhere and overly bash these guys

JB already did that and that really upset the Freeman camp.

 

[M2MPrinciples]

Not saying I'm betting on it, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Freeman thrive somewhere with proven coaching and an ability to develop big men. Maybe an A10 or lower-tier BE team.

 

[PauliePeppas]

After the coaching search, I can't call transfering to Providence as transfering down.

It is

 

[granthath9]

JB already did that and that really upset the Freeman camp.

No surprises here

 

[sufan59]

JB already did that and that really upset the Freeman camp.

 

[cusefan88]

JB already did that and that really upset the Freeman camp.

Do you think Gmac will ask JB to dial down his public comments?

 

[PeteCalvin]

He’s already been linked to Kentucky and Michigan. Alabama will probably be in the mix too like others said. He’s not transferring down.

Wherever he plays next year, I predict we will play that team somewhere, somehow. It’s like fate. Maybe he and George can run it back in Bluegrass Country?

 

[NineOneSeven]

Should have been our best player every game. Something was clearly off though, and obviously coaching didn’t help.

But I’m glad I won’t ever have to see him have no idea how to pass out or a double team again.

I’m okay with this. Especially given money matters now in college sports (yay, college athletics!)

 

[dasher]

After the coaching search, I can't call transfering to Providence as transfering down.

Yeah, let's not a little thing like 48-10 all time head to head matter.

 

[Millhouse]

This is minor league baseball at this point. In and out, rooting for shirts and eating a hot dog and watching the zooperstars and not really caring about what happens in the game

Let's make this like pro sports but with no contracts, this is gonna be great

 

[jdubs30]

I know people are linking him to PC because of Hodgson but I really think he levels up to the SEC.

He’d look amazing with talent around him

 

[Starman]

It is objectively transferring down for a guy with his talent. No reason for him to go to the 3-5 best big east team when he can go contribute to an SEC school, make the tournament, and earn 3-4 million while doing it while also not having to carry a bigger weight like he would at school like Providence.

Sure, it would be transfering down from a SEC school. We're not a SEC school. It's not transfering down.

Yeah, let's not a little thing like 48-10 all time head to head matter.

Like that matters in todays landscape. You spent all of the coaching carousel saying that we weren't attracting anyone good because we had no nil. Providence ended up with a better coach and (as far as we can tell) more nil. I'm not even saying they're better and more serious than us, but Providence is not a step down.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Souare too.

Soare hasn't announced yet, but Fennell has.

 

[JustPherU]

JB already did that and that really upset the Freeman camp.

The truth hurts sometimes

 

[IthacaMatt]

Hope he can stay healthy wherever he goes.
I'm glad he decided to pursue other opportunities.

I honestly don't care. I don't feel like he made any impact for us at all.

 

[Bulldog04]

Donnie reminds me of Andray Blatche. I played against Dray and he was a good player but didn’t like to be coached super hard. However, Erik Saroney knew he could be really good and he got it out of him and got him nba ready. Donnie thought Red would do the same with him which is why he stayed, but that didn’t happen. And I don’t know if Gmac and Donnie were that close at all. I know he’s a good player, but I don’t think he trusts Gerry yet and wants a real proven coach