I saw one broadcast that gave the number of international players in the NBA as 25%. If this continues to increase, some other country is going to win a gold medal, especially if the US continues to throw teams together at the last minute and expect them to mesh. One advantage the US continues to have is the level of coaching. Hard to beat Coach K, then Popovich (with Steve Kerr assisting).

I have the same issues with the transfer portal as I have with the post-freshman eligibililty for the NBA.

For the coaches, it really cuts into their ability to develop a player within a certain scheme and enjoy that development under their tutelage. College level coaching is much more of a teaching role than the NBA and many freshmen who leave suffer from a lack of being well taught. For transfers, a coach must accommodate his teaching within the framework of what a colleague has already taught. It must really be a challenge to do so and the best coaches now must certainly be able to adapt to that.

For the team and for what my ideal of basketball is, it undercuts a major value of the sport--teamwork. I used to watch Aggie teams evolve under Bob Hamilton to a lose group of guys to a set of mind-readers on the court. I cannot believe a one and done situation, whether it be frosh or transfers, to be as good as having the same players together for two to five years.

For the fans, at least speaking for myself, it is certainly disappointing to see a player leave before their eligibility is up and to have trouble even remembering from year to year who is on the team. I much prefer to see the same players over the years. I think it fosters loyalty.

For the players, well, I suppose most of them like it, but I would like to know why they decide to transfer, especially seniors. I wonder how many of them suffer academically? I see where it makes sense for a graduate transfer, but for those not bound for the NBA, it could likely lead to a longer time to finish a degree. I note that Matt Bradley left Cal for San Diego State and it is no slam on SDSU to suggest that Bradley's degree from Cal would have been a much stronger credential (assuming he might need it one day).

I must be missing something? If the change results in allowing any player to transfer without sitting a year, how different is this from the transfer portal? It looks like the only change is to eliminate the one year of not being able to play. Isn't the benefit of the portal to allow players to declare their intention to transfer then move to any school that wants them?

Here is an explanation of how the transfer portal works: https://www.ncaa.org/static/champion/what-the-ncaa-transfer-portal-is/ Of some interest is the section on the waiver of the requirement that a player sit out one season after transfer. It does not sound that easy to get a waiver, but it must not be that hard in reality because I see so many players in the NCAA men's tournament, at least, who are playing for their new school right away. It will be of interest to the Big West that Hawaii has 6 players who have entered in the portal including their two best starters from this past season, Justin Webster and James Jean-Marie.

riveraggie: I don't know if the rules are different for basketball, but I know I heard that at least one player in the NCAA tournament had graduated in December and retained his eligibility through spring.

I love to watch the East Coast commentators puzzle over how good the Pac-12 is, although I have to admit, the conference hasn't been great the last three years or so. Now they've got 4 schools in the Sweet 16 (for only the third time ever) and at least one guaranteed to go to the Elite 8 since Oregon plays USC. Still, I don't see any of them getting to the Final Four.

With none of my top teams even in the tournament, I tend to root for the west coast teams and the cinderellas (teams seeded below 12). This year, there are more than usual of both, with one west team a good shot at winning the whole thing for the first time since 1997 when Arizona did it. This year, there are 5 west coast teams and 4 cinderellas. The latter is a tournament record.

I'm not fond of UCSB either, but I figure the better any Big West team does in the NCAAs the better it reflects on UCD. I actually picked the Gauchos to beat Creighton in my brackets, but I often pick a Big West team to win the first round, which is why I never do well in these bracket contests. I'm too biased (or stupid). Why is it when a really good player like Sow gets a chance for the game winner against the Aggies, he puts it in, but in a game like today, he misses the bunny. I also regret that I got so wrapped up in the basketball tournament I totally missed the football game.

There are so many different FCS polls. Does anyone know which one has the most credibility, i.e. perhaps for seeding in the playoffs?

The Big 12 has 10 teams and the Atlantic 10 has 14, including St. Louis. The Big Sky has a team on the west coast and in California. The Western Athletic Conference includes Chicago State. Math and Geography are no longer important subjects in higher education, I guess.

Big West Trivia: The conference can claim one NCAA championship from 1990 when UNLV was a member and, under Jerry Tarkanian, the Running Rebels beat Duke 103-73 (which is, I think, the largest margin of victory in NCAA men's basketball tournament history). For what it's worth, the other Big West members back then were UCSB, Fresno State, Long Beach State, UCI, Cal State Fullerton, Pacific, San Jose State, New Mexico State and Utah State. From 1983 to 1991, if I figured this right, there were at least three years when teh Big West got more than one NCAA invitation, thanks to UNLV.

Weber State is not ranked #2 without reason. I missed the first half, but the Wildcats are very good on offense, defense and special teams. No shame in losing to them especially at their house--with fans.

Great run by Larison, followed by fouled up game management!

Yes, they need to throw on first down, mix things up more. And stop trying QB runs. It's a one score game. Time to shift the momentum.

I hope the Ags open up the offense now.

Thanks, DrMike

ESPN has nothing about this game. Anyone know what website shows halftime stats?

Just tuned in. Aggie defense must have been playing exceptionally well.

I can't recall any game where three players on the same team fouled out in regulation.

Does anyone know how the NCAA extension of eligibility is going to work for next year? For example, do players who have already used a redshirt year get another one? If a player is able to graduate and cannot get into a grad program get another year? I'm thinking about whether guys like McLaughlin and Taze Moore of CSUB will be around next year? How about Koehler?