Jim Boeheim breaks down how NIL, transfer portal create parity in college basketball

In the age of NIL and the transfer portal, there’s a growing sense of parity around college basketball. Kansas coach Bill Self recently pointed out as much because there’s so much player movement.

Former Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim sees it, as well – but in certain situations. He noted schools such as Ole Miss and Louisville as teams poised for NCAA Tournament runs due to big-time additions.

Three of Ole Miss’ top four scorers transferred into the program, while Louisville added 12 players through the portal this past offseason – including its top eight scorers. Those are two examples Boeheim used as programs that turned things around through the portal.

But he also warned others, such as Kansas, might not find the same success despite talented additions.

“I see it if you look at specific schools. Like, a Mississippi, a Mississippi State, have never been good,” Boeheim told On3 via Zoom. “They got players in the offseason because of NIL. Now, they’re good. They’re good teams. I think you can be at the bottom, like Louisville was in our league, and get to the top.

“I think obviously, it’s not easy to figure out. And mistakes are made in the transfer portal. I think Kansas took a leading scorer from Wisconsin, AJ Storr, and he can’t even play. Can’t even get in the game. So that’s certainly hurt Kansas and their development of where they thought they’d be. But you get more balance because you can get players wherever you are.”

Ole Miss has nine all-time March Madness appearances, but appears in line for a No. 6 seed this year, according On3’s James Fletcher III’s latest Bracketology. It would mark the Rebels’ first tournament berth since 2019. Louisville, meanwhile, won just 12 games over the last two seasons and with 23 wins, is also on the 6-seed line, per On3.

Storr arrived at Kansas as the No. 9-ranked player to enter the portal last year, according to the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings. He averaged 16.8 points for the Badgers before making his way to Lawrence. That number is just 5.9 through 29 starts this year, including four starts.

After securing the No. 2-ranked transfer class in the country, according to the On3 Team Transfer Portal Rankings, Kansas began the year as the No. 1-ranked team in the country. With just two games to go before the Big 12 Tournament, the Jayhawks are unranked, 19-10 overall and 10-8 in conference play.

Jim Boeheim: ‘In one year, you can turn your program around’

If coaches play their cards right, Jim Boeheim said, they can turn programs around right away. Ole Miss and Louisville are both examples of that.

Before Chris Beard arrived in Oxford, the Rebels had not won 20 games since 2018-19 when they last made the NCAA Tournament. They did so in Beard’s first year in 2023-24, finishing 20-12 to just miss out on March Madness. He added seven transfers upon his arrival. This year, Ole Miss is 20-9 with two games to go in the regular season.

Louisville is the most notable example this season, as well. Pat Kelsey inherited a program that won 12 total games in two years under Kenny Payne, but has the Cardinals at 23-6 – well on their way to the NCAA Tournament.

Before the transfer portal created more player movement, Boeheim said it took multiple seasons to build a program. Now, it can happen in one year.

“You don’t have to build a team,” Boeheim said. “Before, if you were at the bottom, it took you two or three years to get back – two or three classes. Now, in one year, you can turn your program around and be a competitive team. You just have to work with it.”

Boeheim is preparing to see how the parity in college basketball translates to March Madness. In addition to his work with ESPN, he’s partnering with AT&T through the company’s “Guaranteed Madness” campaign. He appeared in a commercial alongside Syracuse legend Carmelo Anthony, his son – and Orange signee – Kiyan Anthony and Dwyane Wade ahead of the NCAA Tournament. The ad features a statue unveiling for Carmelo Anthony called “Mini Melo” earlier this month. The sculpture is, in fact, a “mini” Melo.