Eight years ago, the NCAA started monitoring the number of players transferring to other Division I basketball programs. That number grew from 385 players in 2003-04 to 442 in 2008-09.
“We’re an instant gratification society,” said Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, also the current president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. “Kids want to star and start immediately.”
According to rosters of the 346 NCAA Division I or transitional Division I programs this season, 207 had at least one player who started his career at a different Division I program.
“We’re living in a time where if things don’t go well in a job or a marriage, the easy thing to do is look elsewhere instead of trying to remedy the problem where you’re at,” said Greg McDermott, in his first season at Creighton after a four-year stay at Iowa State was dogged by a steady stream of transfers. “Unfortunately, that’s the world we live in today.”
Of the 65 teams that made the 2010 NCAA Tournament, 35 featured at least one Division I transfer.