I was super critical earlier this year but he's giving incredible effort on both sides of the ball. We'd be screwed without him.
Apologies to Caleb
- Thread starter Salvi's Headband
- Start date
Harpers offensive heroics in the purdue game aside, Caleb has been UNQUESTIONABLY the most impactful player for RU over the last 5 games or so.
Don't think an apology is in order as he was legitimately the worst power conference player in the country for three weeks. The version we've gotten lately is what I've been hoping to see and certainly deserves praise.
I do hope he uses his extra year here although my guess is that's unlikely (no geographical ties and all of the guys he came up - Ron, Geo, Myles, Tez) will be gone.
Cliff is the one guy we absolutely can't lose next off-season. But Caleb would be next up for me. Jones is third because of his potential but he hasn't shown us anything.
I do hope he uses his extra year here although my guess is that's unlikely (no geographical ties and all of the guys he came up - Ron, Geo, Myles, Tez) will be gone.
Cliff is the one guy we absolutely can't lose next off-season. But Caleb would be next up for me. Jones is third because of his potential but he hasn't shown us anything.
I have always loved Caleb’s game. Admittedly, he was off to a very rough start but he always hustles plays great defense and rebounds
Caleb’s energy reminded me last night of Jacob. The bad news is that it stands out.
Watch what players are trying to get the team in to huddles and encouraging each other. Caleb, Mag, Jalen and Paul. Pay attention to who isn’t.
I think your tri captains next year are Cliff, Caleb and Paul. I am bullish about next year. Obviously I am taking a leap of faith with the portal.
Watch what players are trying to get the team in to huddles and encouraging each other. Caleb, Mag, Jalen and Paul. Pay attention to who isn’t.
I think your tri captains next year are Cliff, Caleb and Paul. I am bullish about next year. Obviously I am taking a leap of faith with the portal.
Caleb and Pike seem to have grown closer. Pike is more or less giving him free reign and trusts him implicitly. As of now gotta think he's staying.
So the implication by some in this thread are that Baker and Harper are to blame and that we'd somehow be better off without them. After last year ended, the same people pushing this said the supposed "problem" players were Jake and Mathis.
It's ridiculous. I actually shudder to think what this team will look like without Baker and Harper next year unless the coach unexpectedly reels in a big fish in the transfer portal. Right now, this is a below average Atlantic 10 team without 0 and 24.
It's ridiculous. I actually shudder to think what this team will look like without Baker and Harper next year unless the coach unexpectedly reels in a big fish in the transfer portal. Right now, this is a below average Atlantic 10 team without 0 and 24.
Last edited:
If you are making the implication that I have implied......I thought losing Jacob was a huge loss and may have dropped hints that the alleged "chemistry" angle definitely took 2 parties.
I will come out and say it....there is a disconnect between what I think this program's identity is and the leaders of the team. That is a huge problem and I said it or implied it before the season. When shots fall and the crowd is in to the game everything is fine. I counted 4X in the 1st half alone where one of our leaders was in a position to move one step to help dribble penetration. He either watched or moved with his arms and not feet. Our leaders also were absent during the offseason with stength and conditioning.
Lots of posters should be ashamed of the things they said about Caleb.
He was in a terrible slump no doubt but if you paid any attention to Rutgers basketball the past few years you would have realized the value he brings (when healthy) and would have had some patience until he broke out of his funk.
He was in a terrible slump no doubt but if you paid any attention to Rutgers basketball the past few years you would have realized the value he brings (when healthy) and would have had some patience until he broke out of his funk.
I agree. I will say that some of the blame, for the way Caleb’s early woes hurt us, goes to Pike. He should have directed Caleb to focus on shooting inside the arc until his shooting rhythm was back in sync.
Caleb appears to have done just that in recent games. It took 5 games and going 0-10 from the arc with several air balls before Caleb adjusted and took no 3-point shots at UMass and only two against Clemson (he made one of those).
In the last three games Caleb is 2-6 on treys, and it’s worth noting that he had 0 attempts from behind the arc against Purdue.
Clearly we need Caleb to do his thing — defend, steal, rebound, assist and score, but his scoring from beyond the arc is best when coming from limited attempts (0, 1, or 2 per game).
Last edited:
Caleb was your best player yesterday. With that said, Big Cliff is lightening quick for a big man.
That dunk with his left was impressive.
Even when he couldn’t hit the side of the barn, he was still giving 110% and hustling his butt off. Need more of his work ethic.
It’s interesting to see that Caleb is still struggling mightily with his shooting stroke. Still pushing the ball most of the time. But when he released the ball right it’s a thing of beauty. I was watching him on the free throw line last night at one point and he was jeckyl and Hyde. First stroke was a shot put push and missed badly. Second shot was a smooth release and was perfect. If he can groove the stroke he will be even more effective. His energy is great and ge seemed to get a million first half rebounds. We need more active, athletic guys on the floor. Bring us more Mag as well…getting better each game.
Caleb was 4-4 from the free throw line last night.
Unfortunately Caleb is consistently inconsistent. He'll have a few good games, and you're like finally he's the player I always knew he was going to be.....and then he falls apart. When he's on, he's a complete player and I really love his game because he's a serious Plus. When he's off, it's unfortunately land of the lost and you're left wondering what the heck happened.
The criticism of Caleb early is as unwarranted as the criticism of Paul now. Guys have slumps. Guys bounce back.
Yes both guys had stretches where they didn't play well. But trying to change their game or saying they're not Big 10 caliber based on a few games is silly when they spent the 3 previous seasons proving otherwise.
Yes both guys had stretches where they didn't play well. But trying to change their game or saying they're not Big 10 caliber based on a few games is silly when they spent the 3 previous seasons proving otherwise.
How about not allowing your man to get past you consistently, which breaks down the defense?? At some point, getting people together for a huddle, isn't as effective as moving your feet and trying to draw a charge.....how about being given the ball and free reign to dribble with your back to the defense and your teammates and calling that as a leader of the offense??
If we are holding everyone to the same standards and accountability, we can have a legitimate and fair discussion about phantom things such as body language and other nonsensical things. It is year 3 for someone asked and who wants to be the Point guard and the most important thing we are referring to is gathering teammates for a huddle after a foul??.....where does playing fundamentally sound basketball, moving the ball and cutting without it, or actually scoring, factor into the equation?? Is the player improving year to year at what he is asked to do??
There are things that are obvious if I just look at a stat sheet....?? Are we talking "intangibles " as the leading indicator or leadership, or are we talking about how much additional work and pressure falls on "0 & 24", playing 4 on 5 on both ends of the court....??
NJH....I am with you. I'll bet we are in total agreement and there is a double standard. I think I am even more bearish than you when it comes to him as a player.
I completely disagree about the impact of our leaders in respect to their leadership skills and the percent of possessions they give max effort and strength and conditioning that wasn't done in the offseason. They set the tone for the team as seniors, captains and best players on the team.
BTW...counted 4X in 1st half alone 24 was 1 step away from taking the charge and refused to move his feet. That isn't a minor problem, it is a MAJOR problem.
Let me know if you ever need to seats to a game. If I have an extra I'd love to watch a game with you.
I completely disagree about the impact of our leaders in respect to their leadership skills and the percent of possessions they give max effort and strength and conditioning that wasn't done in the offseason. They set the tone for the team as seniors, captains and best players on the team.
BTW...counted 4X in 1st half alone 24 was 1 step away from taking the charge and refused to move his feet. That isn't a minor problem, it is a MAJOR problem.
Let me know if you ever need to seats to a game. If I have an extra I'd love to watch a game with you.
My buddy who I was sitting with and is a SHU fan was praising that he was our best player on the floor. He's always been one of my favorites through out the years but the first couple games of the season were definitely some WTF moments. Glad he has turned it around.
Perhaps it went in and was just an ugly push. Point is that his stroke is inconsistent. When he gets it consistent he will perform even better.
No Offense but why be critical in the first place? Happy to read this post but these guys all go through rough patches. It’s never about effort with this guy so I give him more slack than anyone and if I am critical it’s under my breath for any of these guys. I can’t do what they do so I keep my mouth shut.
I can’t believe we are having posts about people criticizing a player shooting 13% from the floor over what like 6 games who then immediately begin to praise him as he begins to play better as an outrage. It’s why we’re all here lol
Anyway, Caleb being an offensive option for us is huge in our hopes of a .500 season.
Anyway, Caleb being an offensive option for us is huge in our hopes of a .500 season.
Telling a player not to shoot is the worst thing Pike can do. He was wide open and he needs to take those shots. His Defense is so good he has to be on the court but he can’t be a liability in Offense either.
For team chemistry you need guys like Mag and Caleb to do what they do so other guys can focus on what they do. The chemistry worked very well against Clemson and Purdue and that’s because Mag and Caleb scored as well as their great D. Miller needs to take that step Offensively to play more. Jones needs to just get comfortable out there on both ends of the court. They will both develop and one will score more but the other will keep us in games with his D.
Saying he needs to shoot better is fine. What I read on this board was moronic. You can’t defend stupidity.
Yeah, Caleb is a key "X Factor" on this team. When he's able to be a third option as a scorer, it really takes pressure off of Harper and Baker, but when he doesn't score, it's sometimes like playing 4 on 5 on offense, as his "bad nights" are often REALLY bad.
Really happy that Caleb seems to have gained confidence and is playing well now.
Really happy that Caleb seems to have gained confidence and is playing well now.
I’m in the camp that every good open look should be taken, so we agree there. But it was obvious by the second game that something was wrong with Caleb’s shot from deep (deep twos as well as threes). So my suggestion was related to having him play to his strengths.
For example, Cliff has a good shooting form. I’m willing to bet that if he took 2 or 3 shots from deep, he’d make at least one (it would also help to pull the opposing big man out to create space for our offense to maneuver).
So why doesn’t Cliff take a couple of treys per game? Many would say that’s not playing to his strength. If he missed his first 10 in a row we’d all be saying he shouldn’t be taking those shots. That’s all I meant with Caleb in those early games. But that’s hopefully all behind us now.
Does anyone have stats on how many charges everyone on our team has drawn this season?
Does ANYONE even TRY to take a charge?
Eugene was elite at it. (Maybe he tried too often).
Taking a charge demonstrates toughness.
The difference between him and the guys given shorter leashes is that even at his worst offensive point he was still bringing value on the defensive end which is why Pike continued to play him. He’s easily this team’s best defensive player. Defense is always important, but the absence of your best defender tends to have a bigger impact when the other guys on the team aren’t that good on defense.