Portal season (Abson, Spillers, etc)

[appgrad95&97]

Just imagine if shortly after the Wake loss, Kerns made a statement about the historic season, thanked the players and the fans. And said something about taking more stairs next year...

Go back and listen to the postgame show from our radio broadcast. He basically said all of this.

Spot on, JTApps1. I heard it that night on the post-game show while still "cryin' in my beer." Kerns was understandably disappointed, but he complimented the entire App State MBB family on a truly historic season (players; players' wives or significant others; players' parents; coaches and their families; player development staffers; non-coaching staffers (Strength/Conditioning staffers, trainers, managers); MBB Office staff; cheerleaders' pep band; students; radio broadcasting and engineering group; etc, etc (Trust me. he didn't leave anyone out.)

Kerns then signed off with his familiar "Go Mountaineers--Take the Stairs!"

I just re-watched the entire thing. The only forward looking statement was about this team being honored years from now. There wasn't a hit about what we'd have coming back or next season. Now he was obviously disappointed about the loss. But there was nothing in that presser that would make me think he expected the team to make another run next year.

[appdaze]

Bronny james is considering the portal according to reports. If I'm Kerns I would throw out a pitch because Bronny will be looking for a school where he can start and put up double digit points to make himself look more draftable. Normally I would say no to that circus, but given our current roster I say yes to that circus because other portal players would come play with him.

It's a wild long shot of course.

[JTApps1]

Just imagine if shortly after the Wake loss, Kerns made a statement about the historic season, thanked the players and the fans. And said something about taking more stairs next year...

Go back and listen to the postgame show from our radio broadcast. He basically said all of this.

Spot on, JTApps1. I heard it that night on the post-game show while still "cryin' in my beer." Kerns was understandably disappointed, but he complimented the entire App State MBB family on a truly historic season (players; players' wives or significant others; players' parents; coaches and their families; player development staffers; non-coaching staffers (Strength/Conditioning staffers, trainers, managers); MBB Office staff; cheerleaders' pep band; students; radio broadcasting and engineering group; etc, etc (Trust me. he didn't leave anyone out.)

Kerns then signed off with his familiar "Go Mountaineers--Take the Stairs!"

I just re-watched the entire thing. The only forward looking statement was about this team being honored years from now. There wasn't a hit about what we'd have coming back or next season. Now he was obviously disappointed about the loss. But there was nothing in that presser that would make me think he expected the team to make another run next year.

I think you are talking about the NIT postgame video press conference. I said to listen to our radio postgame interview.

[AppSt94]

Here you go.

https://x.com/petethamel/status/1775542 ... Y_9YKLG_wA

Ya’ll can find something else to focus on.

[agentpaul001]

Here you go.

https://x.com/petethamel/status/1775542 ... Y_9YKLG_wA

Ya’ll can find something else to focus on.

Awesome to see! Not to mention when its tough to bridge annual dollar value all the better to push length when you can.

Fingers crossed we see a few portal guys return.

[BambooRdApp]

Here you go.

https://x.com/petethamel/status/1775542 ... Y_9YKLG_wA

Ya’ll can find something else to focus on.

Awesome

[311neers]

Excellent!! Now go and get our 9 guys back out of the portal. We will still speculate on why 9 guys left even though Kerns was returning.

I can't wait for the "I'm back home" posts from our guys in the portal deciding to return to App. Revenge season incoming!

[Bigdaddyg1]

If those dudes decided to come back and we add a couple of scorers off the free agent portal could be interesting.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

Before we allow anyone back, they should be required to pass a free throw shooting test.

[proasu89]

If those dudes decided to come back and we add a couple of scorers off the free agent portal could be interesting.

Have we found some money that we didn’t have 10 days ago?

[AppSt94]

Before we allow anyone back, they should be required to pass a free throw shooting test.

In the words of Sheldon Cooper. “It’s funny because it’s true.”

[Bigdaddyg1]

If those dudes decided to come back and we add a couple of scorers off the free agent portal could be interesting.

Have we found some money that we didn’t have 10 days ago?

First word was IF. Kind of odd set of events. Best season in a long time, whole team exits, coach considered at least a warm commodity, coach stays with big extension but has no team. One could figure on a couple dudes leaving but if they were a happy bunch why all of them?

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

Perhaps Kerns encouraged them to test the waters and make the most of better opportunities should they present themselves but that if not, he’d welcome them back. Builds trust and loyalty with ones that do come back and shows he cares about them over his own success.

[BUTCH1991]

IF - the biggest word in the dictionary.

[kornegaylw]

Perhaps Kerns encouraged them to test the waters and make the most of better opportunities should they present themselves but that if not, he’d welcome them back. Builds trust and loyalty with ones that do come back and shows he cares about them over his own success.

I can see a scenario where before/during the SB tournament schools were seriously courting Kerns. The players knew it was happening or suspected it. Kerns was real with them about it situation as he should be and told them to hit the portal early when it opened so they could get in somewhere else.....THEN when we didn't make the NCAA and lost early in the NIT the offers either dried up or weren't as enticing as they were for Kerns (I bet Keats staying at NCSU had a trickle down affect that caught up to Kerns). At that point DG and boosters steped in and made an offer that was both App & Kerns friendly that probably includes commitments to improve the infrastructure of the program. Also I can't imagine that Kerns takes an extension like this without knowing he's getting at least some of his guys back from the portal....Why stay and rebuild at a place where expectations are going to be high even if you lost your team?

[appst89]

Excellent!! Now go and get our 9 guys back out of the portal. We will still speculate on why 9 guys left even though Kerns was returning.

I can't wait for the "I'm back home" posts from our guys in the portal deciding to return to App. Revenge season incoming!

Don't you know you're never supposed to speculate? We have people here who tell us what we are supposed to know, and we shouldn't worry about, or discuss, anything else.

[proasu89]

If those dudes decided to come back and we add a couple of scorers off the free agent portal could be interesting.

Have we found some money that we didn’t have 10 days ago?

First word was IF. Kind of odd set of events. Best season in a long time, whole team exits, coach considered at least a warm commodity, coach stays with big extension but has no team. One could figure on a couple dudes leaving but if they were a happy bunch why all of them?

To your point, I do hope some decide to stay.

[appfanjj]

If those dudes decided to come back and we add a couple of scorers off the free agent portal could be interesting.

Have we found some money that we didn’t have 10 days ago?

First word was IF. Kind of odd set of events. Best season in a long time, whole team exits, coach considered at least a warm commodity, coach stays with big extension but has no team. One could figure on a couple dudes leaving but if they were a happy bunch why all of them?

To your point, I do hope some decide to stay.

Would love to have Harcum back.

[proasu89]

And Marsh.

[Stonewall]

Not likely.