[Goose]

I agree with you to a point, Goose. I, too, have no idea about the toxic environment accusations. But I do believe that the team did not perform up to the levels of the accumulative talent.

FWLIW, I agree that given the reputation of the incoming talent plus the somewhat known abilities of the previous team I too expected a better performance.

When Lauren Betts or NiJaree Canady transferred, there was not a mass exodus of non-grad transfers from WBB or Softball. However, WBB is going to miss the NCAA tournament for the third straight season next year while Softball is going to make the tournament for the second straight season after Canady left.

Exactly. The softball team believed they were getting better and that staying would not involve resigning yourself to continually missing the tournament. The basketball team entered a "wait and see" mode when Betts left. There was still talent enough and morale enough to believe good performances and at least Sweet 16 opportunities existed. IMO the freshmen looked at the situation at the end of this year and collectively decided the program was on the way down for the foreseeable future (as many on this board have also). They probably all knew that Somfai wasn't happy and at least might leave. That undoubtedly started them looking. Paye simply didn't have the credibility/relationships with her players to either convince or demonstrate the future would be better, not worse. Allister did.

I don't buy that the transfer rule "encourages" players to leave. Jessica Allister is able to retain enough talent to be competitive, and she has to deal with the same rules as Kate Paye.

At a minimum, it makes it realistic. Sitting out a year was a big risk. More importantly the rule makes it possible for other coaches to plan on acquiring transfer players regularly. That creates a demand for transfers that previously did not exist. That is "encouragement". It is an of very large proportion inducement. This strong demand also inevitably leads to what amounts to "tampering". There are lots of ways to let players you want know in an ongoing manner that you have a place for them if/when they want it. That definitely encourages players to leave. There is a "grass is greener" effect that is quite powerful, especially if you have no confidence in your current program's future. The people recruiting you can say "yes" a lot and later not deliver. You don't know that until you have arrived at your new program.

[Goose]

I agree with you to a point, Goose. I, too, have no idea about the toxic environment accusations. But I do believe that the team did not perform up to the levels of the accumulative talent.

FWLIW, I agree that given the reputation of the incoming talent plus the somewhat known abilities of the previous team I too expected a better performance.

When Lauren Betts or NiJaree Canady transferred, there was not a mass exodus of non-grad transfers from WBB or Softball. However, WBB is going to miss the NCAA tournament for the third straight season next year while Softball is going to make the tournament for the second straight season after Canady left.

Exactly. The softball team believed they were getting better and that staying would not involve resigning yourself to continually missing the tournament. The basketball team entered a "wait and see" mode when Betts left. There was still talent enough and morale enough to believe good performances and at least Sweet 16 opportunities existed. IMO the freshmen looked at the situation at the end of this year and collectively decided the program was on the way down for the foreseeable future (as many on this board have also). They probably all knew that Somfai wasn't happy and at least might leave. That undoubtedly started them looking. Paye simply didn't have the credibility/relationships with her players to either convince or demonstrate the future would be better, not worse. Allister did.

I don't buy that the transfer rule "encourages" players to leave. Jessica Allister is able to retain enough talent to be competitive, and she has to deal with the same rules as Kate Paye.

At a minimum, it makes it realistic. Sitting out a year was a big risk. More importantly the rule makes it possible for other coaches to plan on acquiring transfer players regularly. That creates a demand for transfers that previously did not exist. That is "encouragement". It is an of very large proportion inducement. This strong demand also inevitably leads to what amounts to "tampering". There are lots of ways to let players you want know in an ongoing manner that you have a place for them if/when they want it. That definitely encourages players to leave. There is a "grass is greener" effect that is quite powerful, especially if you have no confidence in your current program's future. The people recruiting you can say "yes" a lot and later not deliver. You don't know that until you have arrived at your new program.