9-8 overall (2-4 big ten). Same record as last years squad

[RUDiddy777]

Because im worried about 2 things even with $

1. Pike inability to set aside loyalty to current roster
2. Pike inability to indentify portal talent
3. Pike inability to a be able to attract portal players even with $ given the rep of the program right now

I think he realizes that hell be coaching for his job next season.

 

[RUDiddy777]

Pike will keep Davis, imo. Can’t afford a better PG and Lino needs another year of seasoning.

if we’re gonna keep only 5 guys it should be Davis, Francis, Powers, Buchanan, and Grant.

Think Lino passes JMike in the offseason, he’s just a more talented player. Davis also brings the intangibles - knows the program and defensive schemes, good leader, very hard worker (he’s clearly compensated for a lack of natural talent with hard work). You need him for practices as much as games.

 

[seansherm]

Who do you think (other than Grant which I’m inclined to agree about) will be “overpriced”? The Euros maybe based on what they got this year. But Pike isn’t an idiot - he’s not going to offer either of them what they got this year to stay unless they take off in the last 15 games. Fall won’t be Scarlet Knight next season. That goes without saying.

But who else? Francis isn’t a likely bidding war candidate - his height will keep his cost down somewhay. I’m guessing we will pay market value for him and he’s earned it. Maybe an A-10 team would pay for a veteran power conf PG like J Mike. He’s another one I wouldn’t overpay for, but have to be careful. PGs with power conference experience don’t come cheap.

We may end up shocked at what Francis will be offered by someone. Points draw $'s, whether they should or not. It only takes one team desperate for a scoring guard.

 

[djrc89]

Mods have to chime in but my sense is we have little money comparatively. I think we’re behind every league team, every sec, acc and big east team, every big 12 team, and a bunch of mid majors that only play hoops.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Its very likely Davis needs to be cut loose

I really dont think you can keep all 3 of the other guys. I woul easily take Buchanan over the 2 frosh because he is simply better and if you are bringing back Grant im not keen on the other 2 at all who are offensive blsck holes

We desperately need not one but 2 centers

I think your underestimating the relative price tag of going into the open market to mass overhaul all but like 4-5 guys max. We may have more money to work with than past years but this isn’t supermarket sweep. If we only keep 4-5 players from this year’s roster (we have one frosh commit) we would have 9-10 roster spots to fill in the portal. If we’ve learned nothing else from the past 2 cycles is that mass shopping expeditions haven’t worked well at Rutgers. I’d much rather know what we are getting for the most part and build around that by bringing in a few guys who are already proven successes at the major conference level. We can’t roll the dice again with a bunch of PJ and Dercack types. They will cost more anyway than keeping the frosh.

if the season ended today - the 4 guys who should be replaced IMO would be the Euros, Fall and Ware (if he can’t get on the court now, he’s probably not the answer).

 

[BillyC80]

Think Lino passes JMike in the offseason, he’s just a more talented player. Davis also brings the intangibles - knows the program and defensive schemes, good leader, very hard worker (he’s clearly compensated for a lack of natural talent with hard work). You need him for practices as much as games.

I like Lino but it would take a lot to for him to pass JMike before next season. Davis has the experience and is our leading 3-point shooter at 40%, while Mark is still figuring things out and has yet to make a trey this year, at 0%. Also, Davis is a better rebounder and has a better assist to turnover ratio.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

We may end up shocked at what Francis will be offered by someone. Points draw $'s, whether they should or not. It only takes one team desperate for a scoring guard.

He’s not going to be cheap, but I’m guessing we’ll offer him market off the bat and secure him early. Remember the Knight connection. He might not be an NBA prospect but Tariq is now positioned to have a nice career in Europe. He knows our offense will be focused on featuring him. He’d be stupid to leave. Don’t see it.

 

[Degaz-RU]

I think your underestimating the relative price tag of going into the open market to mass overhaul all but like 4-5 guys max. We may have more money to work with than past years but this isn’t supermarket sweep. If we only keep 4-5 players from this year’s roster (we have one frosh commit) we would have 9-10 roster spots to fill in the portal. If we’ve learned nothing else from the past 2 cycles is that mass shopping expeditions haven’t worked well at Rutgers. I’d much rather know what we are getting for the most part and build around that by bringing in a few guys who are already proven successes at the major conference level. We can’t roll the dice again with a bunch of PJ and Dercack types. They will cost more anyway than keeping the frosh.

if the season ended today - the 4 guys who should be replaced IMO would be the Euros, Fall and Ware (if he can’t get on the court now, he’s probably not the answer).

I would tend to agree with this. If the Euros continue their poor play, I think it's easy to just let them go, and of course Baye Fall will be shown the door. That opens up three spots right there.

You can make an argument to keep the rest of the roster while also still filling those three spots from the portal. In terms of a few of the question marks:

Why would we let JMike walk when he has improved so much and he will be a senior next year? Yes, he has a low ceiling, but he has a higher floor than anyone could have imagined. His 3-pt shooting has improved drastically (over 40% this year on decent volume), his FT shooting has improved (71.6%), his A/TO ratio (which was always good) is an impressive 45 to 17, and his overall scoring has improved. Get old and stay old is the mantra for college basketball, and JMike will be very valuable as a senior as this team matures next year.

Nwuli has promise as a defender and slasher and can possibly fill the McConnell lockdown defender role.

Grant -- he's in a mid-season swoon due to illness, so he needs to get back to what he was earlier in the year. If not, then maybe you let him walk if you're playing Moneyball.

You keep Ware, as he will come cheap, and big men take time to develop. The one non-Euro freshman who is a question mark in my mind is Lino Mark. I like everything he provides, but he's just an awful shooter (16-61 overall for 26.2%, and a staggering 0-14 from 3-pt range). Teams don't have to guard him on the perimeter at all. Unless this improves, I can see Pike wanting a young PG from the portal who doesn't shoot as bad as this.

That said, this discussion is probably premature, as we've got another 15+ games remaining, and a lot of basketball yet to be played.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

I would tend to agree with this. If the Euros continue their poor play, I think it's easy to just let them go, and of course Baye Fall will be shown the door. That opens up three spots right there.

You can make an argument to keep the rest of the roster while also still filling those three spots from the portal. In terms of a few of the question marks:

Why would we let JMike walk when he has improved so much and he will be a senior next year? Yes, he has a low ceiling, but he has a higher floor than anyone could have imagined. His 3-pt shooting has improved drastically (over 40% this year on decent volume), his FT shooting has improved (71.6%), his A/TO ratio (which was always good) is an impressive 45 to 17, and his overall scoring has improved. Get old and stay old is the mantra for college basketball, and JMike will be very valuable as a senior as this team matures next year.

Nwuli has promise as a defender and slasher and can possibly fill the McConnell lockdown defender role.

Grant -- he's in a mid-season swoon due to illness, so he needs to get back to what he was earlier in the year. If not, then maybe you let him walk if you're playing Moneyball.

You keep Ware, as he will come cheap, and big men take time to develop. The one non-Euro freshman who is a question mark in my mind is Lino Mark. I like everything he provides, but he's just an awful shooter (16-61 overall for 26.2%, and a staggering 0-14 from 3-pt range). Teams don't have to guard him on the perimeter at all. Unless this improves, I can see Pike wanting a young PG from the portal who doesn't shoot as bad as this.

That said, this discussion is probably premature, as we've got another 15+ games remaining, and a lot of basketball yet to be played.

I think that makes sense. From Pike’s perspective he may not want to keep both J Mike and Lino due to us already being small at PG. I’d love to add a kid like Caleb who defends the 3, has height but could also run the point alongside Francis.

 

[Simce91]

I would tend to agree with this. If the Euros continue their poor play, I think it's easy to just let them go, and of course Baye Fall will be shown the door. That opens up three spots right there.

You can make an argument to keep the rest of the roster while also still filling those three spots from the portal. In terms of a few of the question marks:

Why would we let JMike walk when he has improved so much and he will be a senior next year? Yes, he has a low ceiling, but he has a higher floor than anyone could have imagined. His 3-pt shooting has improved drastically (over 40% this year on decent volume), his FT shooting has improved (71.6%), his A/TO ratio (which was always good) is an impressive 45 to 17, and his overall scoring has improved. Get old and stay old is the mantra for college basketball, and JMike will be very valuable as a senior as this team matures next year.

Nwuli has promise as a defender and slasher and can possibly fill the McConnell lockdown defender role.

Grant -- he's in a mid-season swoon due to illness, so he needs to get back to what he was earlier in the year. If not, then maybe you let him walk if you're playing Moneyball.

You keep Ware, as he will come cheap, and big men take time to develop. The one non-Euro freshman who is a question mark in my mind is Lino Mark. I like everything he provides, but he's just an awful shooter (16-61 overall for 26.2%, and a staggering 0-14 from 3-pt range). Teams don't have to guard him on the perimeter at all. Unless this improves, I can see Pike wanting a young PG from the portal who doesn't shoot as bad as this.

That said, this discussion is probably premature, as we've got another 15+ games remaining, and a lot of basketball yet to be played.

good post,

to me JMike is must keep, 4 years in Pike's system, good leadership skills, and has improved every year, senior leadership is invaluable, and from the post game action, JMike also seems to have his teammates backs and respect.

Mark's shooting is a major question mark.

I have posted this before, would really like to see how Powers runs the point, very good passer, and great eyes for the cutting teammate, plus he can make the open shot and is solid from the FT line

I can see Nwuli being the next Mag, ( hopefully minus the selfishness) he just need to get some more minutes and learn to play a bit more under control, which will come with experience and maturity

If I'm Pike, Grant has to convince me he wants to be at RU 110%. Right now, and I think JMike gets a lot of credit, many of these guys want to be at RU, Last years players would have gone 0 for the B1G schedule, but most of these guys haven't given up and are playing 110%

I would like to see Pike bring Zrno off the bench, much like what he has done with Francis, perhaps at the 8 minute mark of the 1st half and see if watching the opponent from the sidelines helps him see where he can get clean looks

Have to find the money for a quality 5, if RU wants to dance

 

[RUDiddy777]

I would tend to agree with this. If the Euros continue their poor play, I think it's easy to just let them go, and of course Baye Fall will be shown the door. That opens up three spots right there.

You can make an argument to keep the rest of the roster while also still filling those three spots from the portal. In terms of a few of the question marks:

Why would we let JMike walk when he has improved so much and he will be a senior next year? Yes, he has a low ceiling, but he has a higher floor than anyone could have imagined. His 3-pt shooting has improved drastically (over 40% this year on decent volume), his FT shooting has improved (71.6%), his A/TO ratio (which was always good) is an impressive 45 to 17, and his overall scoring has improved. Get old and stay old is the mantra for college basketball, and JMike will be very valuable as a senior as this team matures next year.

Nwuli has promise as a defender and slasher and can possibly fill the McConnell lockdown defender role.

Grant -- he's in a mid-season swoon due to illness, so he needs to get back to what he was earlier in the year. If not, then maybe you let him walk if you're playing Moneyball.

You keep Ware, as he will come cheap, and big men take time to develop. The one non-Euro freshman who is a question mark in my mind is Lino Mark. I like everything he provides, but he's just an awful shooter (16-61 overall for 26.2%, and a staggering 0-14 from 3-pt range). Teams don't have to guard him on the perimeter at all. Unless this improves, I can see Pike wanting a young PG from the portal who doesn't shoot as bad as this.

That said, this discussion is probably premature, as we've got another 15+ games remaining, and a lot of basketball yet to be played.

I still can’t get over how Baye was a 5* and considered an early entry to the draft at one point.

 

[RUDiddy777]

I think that makes sense. From Pike’s perspective he may not want to keep both J Mike and Lino due to us already being small at PG. I’d love to add a kid like Caleb who defends the 3, has height but could also run the point alongside Francis.

Wonder if we already have that guy on the roster in Dorian Jones (and will he still be here next season)

 

[bac2therac]

No and no