Less than a week after Selection Sunday, several Cincinnati Basketball and Xavier Basketball players are entering the transfer portal. Presenting an off-season challenge for both program’s. While prompting a question that was already lingering around.

Six Cincinnati players have entered the transfer portal in the last week. Four are freshmen, one is a sophomore and one is a red-shirt junior. The freshmen are Tari Eason, Mike Saunders Jr., along with Madsen twins Gabe and Mason. Cincinnati Sophomore Zach Harvey and red-shirt junior Mamoudou Diarra also entered the transfer portal. Along with Xavier sophomore’s Daniel Ramsey and KyKy Tandy.

These transfers and missing out on the NCAA Tournament present hefty off-season challenges. For Cincinnati head coach John Brannen and Xavier head coach Travis Steele. To boost their rosters in the wake of these transfer announcements. Plus, improve on the areas that contributed to both teams missing out on March Madness. Such as Xavier’s struggles to hold onto a lead and Cincinnati’s rebounding and free throw struggles.

In a Cincy Sports Journal article last week, I wrote about how some pre-pandemic on-court trends persisted for Cincinnati and Xavier this year. To a degree, Cincinnati’s struggles this year aren’t surprising in hindsight. Due to star players Tre Scott and Jarron Cumberland’s graduations. Xavier’s March collapse this year mirrored their March collapse last year. In both years, Xavier lost their last two regular season games and lost in the first round of the Big East Tournament. Nevertheless, the pandemic was a massive contributing factor. Behind Xavier and Cincinnati’s on and off-court woes this season.

Both teams endured nearly month long pandemic pauses between games this season. The Xavier Musketeers had a 20 day pause in January. Followed by a win at Butler Basketball and then another roughly two week-long pause. Xavier’s first pause came at a time when they were playing like a tournament worthy team. They were 11-2 overall and 3-2 in Big East play at the time.

After that first pause, the Musketeers won just three of their remaining nine games. Crumbling in March with three consecutive losses. After beating ranked Creighton Basketball on February 27th. Xavier just couldn’t find a consistent rhythm after their pandemic layoffs. In one game, they would lag consistently behind after a poor start. In another, they would fade off in the second half after a phenomenal first.

The Cincinnati Bearcats season went in the opposite direction after their 24 day long pause. Cincinnati began their season on a bad note but surged after the pause. One constant throughout the season was players opting out. Something Xavier didn’t face during the course of the season. Opt-outs likely contributed to at least three Bearcats entering the transfer portal. Gabe Madsen, Zach Harvey and Mamoudou Diarra opted out during the season. Diarra opted out last December and opted back in later that month.

While it may be tempting for some to blame the head coaches for these transfers. It’s worthwhile to note the disruptive effect of this pandemic on college athletes. The pandemic effected their classes, practices and their daily routines. Along with their interactions with coaches, fellow athletes, professors and classmates. In Cincinnati’s case, it likely hampered younger players ability to connect with John Brannen.

Then add in missing out on the pinnacle event in an athletes sport. After a season where losses, postponements and cancellations piled up. Along with dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks on campus and within the team. That’s quite a stressful situation for an 18-24 year old person to deal with. Making any student-athlete’s decision to transfer after this academic year more understandable.