Robert Sacre believes 'the transfer portal is a problem' in NCAA men's basketball

'You’re not focused on what’s at hand,' Sacre said on Talking Zags. 'There are too many distractions when it comes to the portal.'

Along with name, image and likeness, the new one-time transfer rule in NCAA Division-I men's basketball has completely altered the landscape of college athletics.

And it's not just about how coaches recruit players, but when as well. For men's basketball, the transfer portal window will already be open before the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament tip off by the third week in March. Programs looking to make a deep run in the postseason now also have to think about the future regarding potential players that could help the team next season (or losing a player to the portal).

Case in point, Gonzaga assistant coach Stephen Gentry said on Talking Zags that last season the Bulldogs met with Graham Ike on a video call just hours before their matchup against UCLA in the Sweet 16. 

The transfer portal has been a key building block for Mark Few, as he brought in Ryan Nembhard and Steele Venters in addition to Ike over the course of last offseason. Considering Gonzaga's standing as one of the top programs in college basketball, the coaching staff is again charged with keeping tabs on the portal while preparing for the postseason.

Former Gonzaga standout Robert Sacre joined Talking Zags with Adam Morrison and Dan Dickau to discuss why the timing of the transfer portal is a problem that the NCAA needs to solve, and much more. Watch the full episode in the video above.

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Produced by Thomas Gallagher. 

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