Dykstra in Portal

[saintcat40]

And now Picton too???? This is extremely disheartening. I might have to switch to just being a high school sports fan.

[imacat]

Here is my take, so feel free to roast away.

NONE OF THIS changes my fandom or love of sports. I will always remember Dykstra shot VS gris, will always remember the magical run the men had over the last 4 years, the speed at which the womens team played last year. These players are like shooting stars. It doesn't last forever, but will be remembered long after they die out. I appreciate the time they spent at MSU, and will enjoy seeing where their journey takes them in the future. Once a Cat, always a Cat.

I also look forward to seeing how any new faces will do once they put on the Blue and Gold. It is an exciting time (especially in for Womens team). Let's enjoy the journey, and be just as loud in The Brick next year... Stand up and Cheer, for this is dear MONTANA STATE!!

I can’t pretend I am not disappointed but I feel the same as you. This takes nothing away from the magical season we just experienced. I am grateful to Picton and Dykstra for their major contributions to that.
I am looking forward to next season. I will be there, cheering them on.

[Camo_Cat]

I'm done y'all. I'm taking my money and my interests elsewhere. I'm firmly in the belief that this was never the intent of NIL and the portal, but it's killed all interest in college sports for me. I'll invest my time back into my other passions that usually take a back seat to Bobcat athletics. More time and money for me to hunt, fish, play golf, and ski.

I'm old school. Gone are the days of watching an athlete come into the program as snot-nose high schoolers and get to watch them develop into grown-ass adults right before our eyes. To see an athlete build relationships with the school, community, and fans over the course of 4-5 years. The Tommy Mellott's, Troy Andersen's, Tyler Patterson's will be a thing of the past. Let alone, forget about the athlete who shares our passion for MSU and comes to play for the Bobcats because it was their dream, rather than how much they can get paid or will it launch them into their bigger and better NIL deals.

I'm through with basketball. I've got about one more season of football left in me before the passion is gone. For those of you who choose to remain, good on ya. I've grown too old to give a damn anymore...

[Common Cat]

I'm done y'all. I'm taking my money and my interests elsewhere. I'm firmly in the belief that this was never the intent of NIL and the portal, but it's killed all interest in college sports for me. I'll invest my time back into my other passions that usually take a back seat to Bobcat athletics. More time and money for me to hunt, fish, play golf, and ski.

I'm old school. Gone are the days of watching an athlete come into the program as snot-nose high schoolers and get to watch them develop into grown-ass adults right before our eyes. To see an athlete build relationships with the school, community, and fans over the course of 4-5 years. The Tommy Mellott's, Troy Andersen's, Tyler Patterson's will be a thing of the past. Let alone, forget about the athlete who shares our passion for MSU and comes to play for the Bobcats because it was their dream, rather than how much they can get paid or will it launch them into their bigger and better NIL deals.

I'm through with basketball. I've got about one more season of football left in me before the passion is gone. For those of you who choose to remain, good on ya. I've grown too old to give a damn anymore...

Hang in there Camo. You’ll never know what comes our way.

[mslacatfan]

I'm done y'all. I'm taking my money and my interests elsewhere. I'm firmly in the belief that this was never the intent of NIL and the portal, but it's killed all interest in college sports for me. I'll invest my time back into my other passions that usually take a back seat to Bobcat athletics. More time and money for me to hunt, fish, play golf, and ski.

I'm old school. Gone are the days of watching an athlete come into the program as snot-nose high schoolers and get to watch them develop into grown-ass adults right before our eyes. To see an athlete build relationships with the school, community, and fans over the course of 4-5 years. The Tommy Mellott's, Troy Andersen's, Tyler Patterson's will be a thing of the past. Let alone, forget about the athlete who shares our passion for MSU and comes to play for the Bobcats because it was their dream, rather than how much they can get paid or will it launch them into their bigger and better NIL deals.

I'm through with basketball. I've got about one more season of football left in me before the passion is gone. For those of you who choose to remain, good on ya. I've grown too old to give a damn anymore...

Sadly, this about sums up exactly how I feel.

[MSU01]

Silly me for thinking Coach Bin, team chemistry, MSU's great environment, and culture would keep kids here. I'm disgusted with this. Please don't move to another Big Sky team so I have to root against you like I rooted against Leah Beattie after she left.

It probably isn't completely outside the realm of possibility that she winds up at Northern Colorado to play with her sister.

[lutecat]

When I saw Dykstra was in the portal I was disappointed but I could deal. Hannah Robbins hasn't been talked about either being in the portal but again I can deal. Her brother passed away and she needs to do what's best for her. But she got amazing support for the team this year.

When I see Natalie in the portal it's a gut punch. She's my favorite player. When I listened to the presser after the Ohio State game and how well she handled herself I was beyond excited for next year. I could see the strides she made last year to this year. She talked about the future of the team in her comments. I'm so disappointed. I've never followed Bobcat women to the extent I did this year. Or watched as many games. This sucks. It really sucks.

[tetoncat]

I'm done y'all. I'm taking my money and my interests elsewhere. I'm firmly in the belief that this was never the intent of NIL and the portal, but it's killed all interest in college sports for me. I'll invest my time back into my other passions that usually take a back seat to Bobcat athletics. More time and money for me to hunt, fish, play golf, and ski.

I'm old school. Gone are the days of watching an athlete come into the program as snot-nose high schoolers and get to watch them develop into grown-ass adults right before our eyes. To see an athlete build relationships with the school, community, and fans over the course of 4-5 years. The Tommy Mellott's, Troy Andersen's, Tyler Patterson's will be a thing of the past. Let alone, forget about the athlete who shares our passion for MSU and comes to play for the Bobcats because it was their dream, rather than how much they can get paid or will it launch them into their bigger and better NIL deals.

I'm through with basketball. I've got about one more season of football left in me before the passion is gone. For those of you who choose to remain, good on ya. I've grown too old to give a damn anymore...

You should announce you are in the portal and will be transferring as a fan to you favorite hobby

[lutecat]

Where does this leave us at point next year? Will Dylan be ready? She's literally the only point guard currently on the roster. Her sister is highly touted. But she'll be a freshman.

[MSU01]

Where does this leave us at point next year? Will Dylan be ready? She's literally the only point guard currently on the roster. Her sister is highly touted. But she'll be a freshman.

I don't think we know yet exactly what Dylan's injury was. Even if she returns for a full season MSU will need to find someone out of the portal to replace Natalie if only for depth at that position.

[lutecat]

I'm going be out for a while. I was checking this board daily just for women's basketball news. I loved this team. I have to take a break with this news.

[aucat]

Well, I actually feel sorry for the players. There is really something to be said for attending a good university for four years and getting a good education, your degree, and being a proud alumnus for the rest of your life. Anyone who has ever played team sports on any level know that when you play on a team throughout your career, whether it be at a high school or a college, you take it with you forever.

This jumping around from team to team. I guess in the power conferences we are talking about some life changing money for some. But at this level?

What really hurts is how faithful the Bobcat fans have been to the women's team this year. I don't know where this is going to end up, but it is going downhill fast.

I have to agree with another poster who said that high school basketball is starting to appear more interesting to follow.

[nanacat]

Was looking forward to watching the ladies next year, see what they could continue to do after this historic year. Now? Not feeling it.

[Joe Bobcat]

With all the insanity of NIL and portal transfers over and over again I often find myself chanting
SERENITY NOW! SERENITY NOW!



It doesn't seem to be helping.

[lutecat]

When Kola and Darian portaled out to use their covid year Coach Bin liked their Instagram posts announcing it. She hasn't liked these players posts. My guess is this is a surprise to her.

[Furious George]

Will be interesting to see if anyone ends up in Santa Clara. I was also curious to see if she ended up with her sister here... or somewhere else. Also... the silly political climate has made it really awkward all of a sudden for Canadian kids. Final awkwardness... Deedin coming back from injury and not getting a single minute of play in the tournament game. She struggled to get back and never fully got back... but griz championship game had her better than I'd seen all year. Making the trip but not getting a minute of play in your last collegiate game after coming back had me a bit concerned for the message that sent to the rest of the team. That was tough to see as a fan.

[BobcatDel]

Will be interesting to see if anyone ends up in Santa Clara. I was also curious to see if she ended up with her sister here... or somewhere else. Also... the silly political climate has made it really awkward all of a sudden for Canadian kids. Final awkwardness... Deedin coming back from injury and not getting a single minute of play in the tournament game. She struggled to get back and never fully got back... but griz championship game had her better than I'd seen all year. Making the trip but not getting a minute of play in your last collegiate game after coming back had me a bit concerned for the message that sent to the rest of the team. That was tough to see as a fan.

Guess we were watching a different Griz championship game…..she only played 2 min in that game…no rebounds, no shots, no blocks, no steals, no free throws. She was indeed coming back well but there seem to be some late season developments which I am not aware of. But Lexi is tough and if there is any way she can, she will make it back….

[Bobcat4Ever]

Another punch to the gut. If Marah has graduated and needs to move on to further her education while still having eligibility, I can deal. Natalie, not so much. Just have to stop investing my emotions in our players and watch dispassionately. Already pretty much there with men’s basketball, on the way there with football, now the greatest joy I get from MSU athletics is being sapped. At least rodeo hasn’t found the NIL portal … yet.

If I have to watch dispassionately (very good description) I can find less emotionally expensive ways to do that. I can watch poker replays or learn how to raise white gardenias in the Pasadena area with no passion and no energy wasted keeping passion at bay.

These are both gut punches. Watched South Dakota St (vs UConn) — they were eaten alive, but it was okay as UConn was playing basketball and not roller hockey. The announcers talked about the Jackrabbits which have been a model for our development (see Costello, L.). They had NO transfers, and the starters were all upperclass students who had played an individual total of 530 games for the ‘Rabbits! I smugly thought, that’s the track we are on! Whoa, Nellie, that train just jumped the tracks.

I feel terribly for Coach Bin —glad she got the contract redone before this. I’m sure she’ll put on the brave coach face and say it’s just how it is, but she builds her program with one kind of brick — players. And when they leave early for, if you can believe what they say, no fault of MSU or the WBB program, it must be really hard to keep it together. I remember Coach saying once (when she brought in Leia Beattie as a sixth) that she never wants more than five new players in a year as it is just too much work. She is very personally involved with her players, and her work load just jumped from four freshman to six players. I won’t be surprised to see Picton’s scholarship go empty with four new guards coming in, provided that Dylan is back in top form.

I can’t see these transfers being NIL-based. No life altering money here. But maybe since you only get 20-25 minutes on a 30-win team, playing time matters. There were far less injuries than usual, perhaps because minutes were spread better. 25 minutes over 34 games isn’t like 34-36 minutes if wear and tear.

Ms. Esme Morales came to MSU because she knew Coach could help her along the path to a pro career. Maybe some friction over that? I’d say every player got their status elevated as a player on that team this year. Not a situation to walk away from.

This team was really fun to be engaged with this year. We attended the Thanksgiving Classic in Las Vegas and were one big snow away from being in Boise for the first time. We had family from Idaho to Iowa to New York following along on ESPN+. I don’t even want to share this news.

[Bobcat4Ever]

Ouch. I have been a sports fan my whole life, but I am wondering how long I will continue to be. The human interest aspect of following individuals and cheering for them because they are on your team is really disappearing. I don’t like this whole new landscape.

The level of apathy I've felt over the last few years is remarkable.

The kind of apathy that keeps you awake at night?

[imacat]

We have an exceptional coach in Trish Binford who has remained loyal to MSU for twenty years and some of us are going to stop supporting her program because a few young kids chose to move on? I don’t get that mentality.
The Cats will be contending for the Big Sky crown next season. I am confident of that.
GO CATS!!!!