Dick Vitale clears up comments on transfer portal after slamming new process

ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale made some major headlines last week when he blasted the NCAA and the transfer portal. The longtime hoops commentator said the portal created “chaos” and was destroying the game.

Vitale clarified some of those comments with a series of tweets later in the week. He agrees that if a coach changes jobs or his fired, all players should have the chance to transfer without penalty. However, Vitale still believes having over 1,200 players in the portal is bad for college basketball.

Here are Vitale’s recent comments on Twitter:

I give up talking the transfer portal as when trying to make sense for the @NCAA they just simply don’t listen & could care less what is right. Someone pls explain to me how does having over 1200 players in the transfer portal GOOD FOR THE GAME .

I want to get one thing straight here. I have zero prob with players transferring in many cases it it is beneficial .However allowing players to transfer w/o sitting out has totally changed the entire landscape of college hoops . It has created chaos as over 1200 r in the portal.

“Let me be clear here to all those that say it is not fair that coaches have the right to move on & do not sit out. This can be SOLVED simply by having an @NCAA rule that states if a coach leaves ALL the players on his team have the option to transfer w/o sitting out.”

Here is the initial tweet Vitale sent out regarding the transfer portal:

“This transferring all over the place is going to destroy our great game,” Vitale wrote on Twitter. “The NCAA should think twice before officially making it that players can transfer w/o sitting 1 yr. The CHAOS going on is SICKENING! Only should allow players to transfer w/o sitting when a coach leaves.”

With coaching changes, COVID-19 concerns and a blanket waiver for all winter student-athletes, the transfer portal has been as busy as ever in college basketball.