UConn's Dan Hurley: '50 percent of my roster is considering going in the portal'

Speaking on the show 60 Minutes on Sunday night in an interview, UConn head coach Dan Hurley opened up about the challenges of retaining a roster in college basketball. Hurley’s Huskies have won two consecutive national championships and open the Big East Tournament this week.

“Fifty percent of my roster or more is at least considering going in the portal, if not already knows what school that they’re going to,” Hurley said.

With Selection Sunday slated this upcoming weekend, the 30-day NCAA transfer portal officially opens after the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 24, and closes on Tuesday, April 22. Hurley, who is in his fifth season at UConn, said some players already know how much money they’ll command in the portal.

“Yeah, and in a couple of those cases, they’ve already talked to the coaching staff at future school and have an idea of what their NIL is going to be there,” he said.

The No. 3 seed in the Big East Tournament, UConn will look to become the first program to win three consecutive national titles since John Wooden at UCLA. Hurley’s team wrapped up the regular season with a 22-9 record.

Meanwhile, Hurley is working on keeping his roster together. The Huskies are expected to lose Hassan Diarra, Samson Johnson and Alex Karaban to graduation, as the trio were recognized on Senior Day. True freshman Liam McNeeley is on track to being an NBA lottery pick this summer.

UConn is expected to return Solo Ball, Jaylin Stewart, Jayden Ross, Yousouff Singare, Tarris Reed Jr., Aidan Mahanay, Ahmad Nowell and Isaiah Abraham. But Hurley is referring to that group as potential portal targets.

Current rules in college basketball allow players to transfer multiple times in their careers. Players are also allowed to negotiate NIL deals before they announce their commitments in high school recruiting and the portal.

“The level of volatility in college sports, this has now become a year-to-year proposition,” Hurley said. “The game has changed completely.”