PLUS: Auburn’s entire Final Four roster is gone, women’s portal news, Tennessee….
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InsideHook

If you thought things were going to quiet down after the transfer portal closed on Tuesday, you’ve probably been doing some re-thinking. That was just the date that players were allowed to declare their intent to switch schools. They still have plenty of time to decide where they’re going next. We also have the added confusion of seeing a slew of last-minute entries of players who have exhausted their eligibility. Those decisions were made because of the legal wrangling that is taking place over the question of whether the NCAA can enforce its eligibility limits. Which is ludicrous, because if the NCAA can’t enforce something like that, what can it enforce?

That’s one of many questions that will hopefully gain some clarity when and if Judge Claudia Wilken approves the settlement reached in the House vs. NCAA case in the next two weeks. That process has hit a late (and eminently predictable) snag over the matter of roster limits, but it’s clear that the NCAA will fold its hand (also eminently predictable) and pave the way for the settlement to be approved. Because the last thing the NCAA (whatever that is) wants is several more years of the chaos that we are currently seeing.

That’s a lot to keep track of, but fortunately our partners at The Portal Report have updated their Top 50 transfer rankings, not just in terms of the order of the players but where everyone is going (or thinking of going). As an indication of the state of affairs, Chris Dortch checked in with Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, who went to a Final Four this year but still has to replace his entire roster, just like Baylor’s Scott Drew and several others are having to do.

I’ve also chimed in today with a ranking of my top 10 coaching hires from the 2025 carousel. More than 50 schools made a change at the top, so once again, I felt it was my sacred duty to put everything in order, and get predictions on the record that people can make fun of down the road when they turn out to be epically wrong.

It’s all just another great day to be a college hoops fan! Have a terrific Saturday and thanks as always for your support of Hoops HQ.

— Seth

InsideHook

Seth’s Coaching Carousel Rankings: the Top 10 Hires of the Offseason

By Seth Davis

Amidst all the sound and fury surrounding Portal Madness, there is much wreckage to sift through regarding the 2025 coaching carousel. More than 50 schools experienced a change at the top, and the urgency to find replacements was enhanced by the opening of the transfer portal during the second week of the NCAA Tournament.

Everything happened so quickly, it was hard to keep up. Now that the dust has settled, it’s time to rank the top 10 coaching hires in men’s college basketball. Here’s my list, from the bottom up:

10. Kevin Willard, Villanova

Willard had a career 57.4 percent win percentage at Iona, Seton Hall and Maryland. Between his experience, his Big East roots and Villanova’s healthy financial support, Willard should be able to move things in a positive direction following Kyle Neptune’s disappointing three-year tenure.

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InsideHook

After a Final Four Run, Auburn Is Rebuilding From Scratch

By Chris Dortch

On April 5, Auburn played Florida for the right to compete in the NCAA championship game. Now, coach Bruce Pearl and his assistants have to rebuild their roster from scratch. Unless 6-foot-1 freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford pulls his name out of the NBA Draft pool — and he’s climbing up the mock draft boards into the late first round — none of the players from the Final Four team will return in 2025-26.

Such is life in college athletics these days. Just like Baylor coach Scott Drew, Pearl is starting over, a prospect that five years ago was unheard of for a program of Auburn stature. NIL and unlimited transfers have made roster continuity seem like a relic that went out with high-top canvas sneakers.

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Ament is the highest-rated recruit in Tennessee history. Rick Barnes told Hoops HQ how he plans to use him.
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UPDATED April 24, 2025. Boogie Fland was a last-minute addition to the portal before it closed on Tuesday. And he enters our updated Top 50 rankings.
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The women’s transfer portal officially came to a close Wednesday, and the past two weeks saw several major commitments, loads of offers and interest, and a plethora of last-minute entries.
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As a pending lawsuit opened the possibility of extra eligibility, several fifth-year seniors entered the portal just in case they can keep playing — and earning money.
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Sure, a lot of top transfers still haven’t committed to new schools. But these teams already have done yeoman work in the portal.
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Baylor has been one of the nation's top programs, but its NIL budget is modest. Now Scott Drew has to rebuild a roster that emptied out completely.
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Jerry Tarkanian and Lute Olson were bitter rivals. There are hurt feelings now that Josh Pastner, an Arizona grad and Olson disciple, is the new man in charge.
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The 36-year-old assistant left Durham before the start of the postseason. His recruiting haul for the Hurricanes includes a freshman who backed out of his commitment to the Blue Devils.
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The Illini have been slow to replace their losses in the transfer portal, but the program got a major commitment on Tuesday and another might be coming soon.
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With Mark Mitchell and Anthony Robinson II expected to return and some quality transfers on the way, the Tigers are ready to make more noise next season
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