Monday Musings: How Will Syracuse Basketball Use Transfer Portal This Offseason?

The transfer portal has revolutionized roster management across collegiate athletics. College basketball is no different, and some programs have utilized it to completely change its roster from one year to the next. Perhaps there is no greater example than Pittsburgh, which has used several transfers to spark a turnaround that has them sitting atop the ACC standings this season.

Will Syracuse use the portal to fill in its roster gaps this offseason? How aggressive the Orange is likely depends on the decisions of its current players. Will Jesse Edwards, Judah Mintz and Joe Girard return? If so, Syracuse may not have many scholarship slots available. If all three leave, the Orange has the potential to be very aggressive there. But will they?

Jim Boeheim has indicated in a recent postgame press conference that "seven or eight" players have already contacted Syracuse about potentially transferring in. That suggests Syracuse is still a desirable landing spot and the Orange will have the opportunity to bring in experienced players. If it wants improvement and not more of the same, it probably needs to regardless of decisions made by others.

Meaning, even if nearly everyone returns, bringing in depth and competition never hurts. Specifically at forward, where a veteran scoring forward could do wonders.

Boeheim has also noted several times that teams have revamped their rosters using the portal to spark quick turnarounds from one year to the next. Syracuse should utilize that option, then, in order to do the same.

So while much of Syracuse's portal involvement will be based on the decisions of its current players, there is already an acknowledgement that the portal is a valuable asset for programs. Boeheim has admitted as much both last offseason and throughout this current season. Therefore, failing to attack the portal in the event players leave would be refusing to use a tool at your disposal.

It should also, however, give Syracuse fans some hope that if there are departures, the Orange could replace them with comparable or better players. In that scenario, the hope would be not another repeat of the last several seasons but rather an improved team that is comfortably in the NCAA Tournament.

We had heard previously that if Edwards leaves, it is more likely Syracuse rolls with Mounir Hima, Peter Carey and William Patterson as its center next season rather than use the portal to add a veteran presence. However, given Boeheim's recent comments, I think there is a greater chance the portal is at least evaluated than previously thought. If Judah Mintz leaves, I do expect Syracuse to look to the portal for a replacement. One name I am monitoring is JJ Starling at Notre Dame, as head coach Mike Brey is done after the season.

The other variable in this is NIL. Attacking the portal and going after transfer players is one thing. Not having NIL deals to help entice them to come, as other schools undoubtedly will, is another. Without that, it puts Syracuse at a disadvantage in attracting portal talent.

There are a lot of questions and 'what ifs' with the portal, most of which will not be answered until the offseason. However, it provides Syracuse the opportunity to drastically improve its roster in order to be much better next season. Especially if most of the young players return. It is imperative the Orange takes advantage of that opportunity.