I can tell we are heading into a new era of making excuses i.e. "The transfer portal has changed everything."

Yeah we all realize that and understand it is impacting sports everywhere. So what?

Head coaches choose the high school players they want to recruit  and those they offer out of the transfer portal. They don't necessarily choose all those who exit the team to the transfer portal.

It is obligatory Mullens is backing up Graves and most likely with 6-years and $7 million remaining on the latter's contract, Mullens options are limited.

But the transfer portal is the least of Graves problems regardless of how optimistically Mullens thinks a 9th place finish and missing the NCAA Tournament might be.

Personally I think Graves paid a price from which he is still dealing with consequences when he publicly called out the team at the end of the 2021-22 season(see link below)

Hence every woman from the much hyped 2020 recruiting class has left the program.

I am not suggesting there were not some attitudes or players who needed to move on but you don't go public with that kind of beat down and not face some consequences.

In the bigger reality I think it hurt his reputation with players, high school or from the transfer portal who might consider coming to Oregon and it wouldn't surprise me if it was used as negative recruiting by other head coaches.

Football I think you can make broad public criticisms and get away with it. Basketball because of a relatively small number of players it is much more personal. And if you are one of five starters it is very personal.

I think both Altman and Graves are struggling with leadership and communication issues. Neither is now a "stupid coach" but their styles needs some adjusting.

https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2023/05/rob-mullens-confident-oregon-womens-basketball-kelly-graves-will-get-us-back.html

https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/33552849/oregon-women-basketball-coach-kelly-graves-calls-players-ducks-fall-2ot