It's mostly money IMO.

Posted on: March 21, 2019 at 22:52:47 CT

Every player who signs up to play DI basketball has at least an inkling of playing professionally. Whether that means making millions of dollars as a teenager or earning a six-figure salary for a decade overseas, they all at least are aware of the possibility.

That possibility goes away if they're stuck on the bench. If they're not playing and think they could elsewhere, they're going to consider a transfer somewhere with less immediate competition. If they play a lot and play well, they're going to transfer somewhere with a bigger stage.

And working counter to that, the coaches also make insane amounts of money. If you have a scholarship tied up in a freshman who turns out to not be very good, are you going to bust your ass with that kid for the next three years to MAYBE turn him into a competent role player? Or are you going to encourage him to leave so you can just bring in someone you think will be better from day one?

So both player and coach have monetary incentives that influence the transfer market.

And yes, some of it's related to egos. If you're told you're a star all your life then have reality hit you in the face once you get to campus, that's rough. But I don't think that's all that common. The vast majority of college basketball players understand that some work is involved.