Does Pike have what it takes to make tough decisions

Dec 5, 2022
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I also think people like @Scangg and @FinalFourOrBust need to check their expectations for the 24-25 season or set themselves up for disappointment. 4* and 5* freshman are still freshman. And they dont just dominate the conference on day 1. @Geo_Baker_1 talked about this on his pod. How the upperclassmen have such an advantage and why they never blinked against 5* frosh they faced.
Are you aware that those freshmen are allowed to come back for their sophomore seasons and get even better? I’m not sure you did. You’re moving goalposts from he can’t recruit good enough to he can’t work the portal good enough. Then once he works the portal well you’ll move the goalposts again. Sad.
 
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fluoxetine

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For better or for worse I don't think you really tell players they have to leave. If you are recruited and you put in the requisite effort in practice and workouts, conduct yourself properly, etc. you should have a scholly for four years if you want it. That doesn't mean you get minutes, and Pike should (and I assume will) be completely honest about what people's minutes are likely to look like going forward.

Now, that doesn't apply to someone like Paul who would be on the extra COVID year. I would have no problem with Pike telling him "thanks but no thanks" if I thought it made sense... I think we are better off if Paul returns though.
 

FIJI'83

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The dream season should be in 25 if Griffiths sticks around and the superclass are sophomores and Ace and Dylan come and stay for a second year

I've actually made the same points as Geo before but top 5 type overall players should be very good as freshman too. Ace Dylan and Griffiths aren't projects
There is zero chance Dylan Harper stays more than 1 year in college and probably the same goes for Ace. I obviously would love to have those guys for a year but the problem is that it will only be for that 1 year. Jalen Hood-Schifino on Indiana looks like he can easily be the best player in the Big Ten down the road if he stays for a few years but I see him in the lottery on every NBA Mock Draft I look at so he is def leaving thats what happens with these top guys
 

GORU2014

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I totally agree with you. However most here dont. People will point to where RU was prior to pike. The bar was buried, not a high bar to exceed. We now have a top 25 highest paid HC, a top 10 facility and a top 5 home court in the nation. The ceiling should be higher
The ceiling comments are back?

Talk about scripted. Hopefully this works out like your “we don’t run an offense” comments did during the PSU game.
 
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If we lose at home to Northwestern we are out of the tournament so I'm not sure how we are on the verge of anything when Northwestern can easily come and beat us. Not saying they will but acting like its still a lock Rutgers will be in the tournament is ridiculous
So you’re just gonna ignore most bracketologist who are saying we’re probably in even if we lose out? It’s far from a lock but very possible. Please start paying attention before you start throwing tantrums.
 

bac2therac

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For better or for worse I don't think you really tell players they have to leave. If you are recruited and you put in the requisite effort in practice and workouts, conduct yourself properly, etc. you should have a scholly for four years if you want it. That doesn't mean you get minutes, and Pike should (and I assume will) be completely honest about what people's minutes are likely to look like going forward.

Now, that doesn't apply to someone like Paul who would be on the extra COVID year. I would have no problem with Pike telling him "thanks but no thanks" if I thought it made sense... I think we are better off if Paul returns though.


i dont think you outright say it, im sure some of the more forceful coaches have a method of doing it

I hated the extra covid year for everyone, I know it helped us by I think its overkill. they never lost a season
 
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bac2therac

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So you’re just gonna ignore most bracketologist who are saying we’re probably in even if we lose out? It’s far from a lock but very possible. Please start paying attention before you start throwing tantrums.
like who....no one is saying that..most are saying including brad and me that RU could still get in at 18-14 but we also easily could be left out
 
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fluoxetine

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i dont think you outright say it, im sure some of the more forceful coaches have a method of doing it

I hated the extra covid year for everyone, I know it helped us by I think its overkill. they never lost a season
Right.. again for COVID year it's fine. For normal situations it rubs me the wrong way. I know at this point it is basically a business but I still don't quite view it that way.

For the most part I think that kids who make their way onto a power 5 basketball roster want to play and so you will have natural turnover from guys when the writing is on the wall regarding minutes. But if somehow you manage to recruit a bunch of bad players who try hard and are fine riding the bench.. well you should just be stuck with it IMO.
 
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FIJI'83

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Are you aware that those freshmen are allowed to come back for their sophomore seasons and get even better? I’m not sure you did. You’re moving goalposts from he can’t recruit good enough to he can’t work the portal good enough. Then once he works the portal well you’ll move the goalposts again. Sad.

Hey Idiot look at this Mock draft. The 3 best freshman in the Big Ten are all projected to go in the top 20 of the draft. Top level freshman don't stay in college more than 1 year
 

fluoxetine

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because i just dont think Pike is cut out like that
But that seems less tough than forcing him out. So wouldn't even be willing to give him less minutes then no way he tells him to leave, IMO.

I think Pike would cut his minutes if he actually thought it gave us the best chance to win.
 

fluoxetine

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Hey Idiot look at this Mock draft. The 3 best freshman in the Big Ten are all projected to go in the top 20 of the draft. Top level freshman don't stay in college more than 1 year

That blank white space is the mockiest mock draft I've ever seen.
 

FIJI'83

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That blank white space is the mockiest mock draft I've ever seen.

Hahaha sorry the link not working for some reason.
14. Utah Jazz (via Timberwolves): Jalen Hood-Schifino (Indiana, PG/SG, Freshman)
15. Utah Jazz: Jett Howard (Michigan, SG/SF, Freshman)
17. Atlanta Hawks: Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State, SG/SF, Freshman)
 
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Hey Idiot look at this Mock draft. The 3 best freshman in the Big Ten are all projected to go in the top 20 of the draft. Top level freshman don't stay in college more than 1 year

If Rutgers has three guys good enough to get drafted in the lottery then I’ll take my chances with the 2024 season. Also Dylan is 6-4 right now. If he doesn’t grow he’s not a lock for the lottery.
 

FIJI'83

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If Rutgers has three guys good enough to get drafted in the lottery then I’ll take my chances with the 2024 season. Also Dylan is 6-4 right now. If he doesn’t grow he’s not a lock for the lottery.
Im sorry but Dylan Harper is ranked 2nd in the class by both ESPN and 247. Rivals has him 10th right now and a lot of talk they will be moving him up. He can literally decide to not play at all in college and he will be a top 10 pick.
 
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Im sorry but Dylan Harper is ranked 2nd in the class by both ESPN and 247. Rivals has him 10th right now and a lot of talk they will be moving him up. He can literally decide to not play at all in college and he will be a top 10 pick.
I guess you’re new to this. Lively and whitehead on Duke were the 2nd and 3rd ranked prospects last year and now both are projected end of the first round at best.
 

BlockR

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Brad literally said today he thinks we make it even if we lose out. Geo retweeted it.
How would that happen if Penn stare beats Maryland sunday? They just beat Northwestern also.
NIT for certain if RU loses to Northwestern
 
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How would that happen if Penn stare beats Maryland sunday? They just beat Northwestern also.
NIT for certain if RU loses to Northwestern
Do you think the bubble is just us vs penn state? Also we were an 8th seed and penn state wasn’t even in the tournament before today. We had room to spare.
 

fluoxetine

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Do you think the bubble is just us vs penn state? Also we were an 8th seed and penn state wasn’t even in the tournament before today. We had room to spare.
I hope we never find out, but I don't think we get in at 18-14.

We need to win one more game (either NW or BTT) to make it to Dayton.
We need to win two more games to make the main bracket.

Obviously just opinion and obviously depends what other teams do.
 

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I'm wondering if maybe Aundre Hyatt will never suit up for Rutgers again after what I heard from Pikiell after the game.
 
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I hope we never find out, but I don't think we get in at 18-14.

We need to win one more game (either NW or BTT) to make it to Dayton.
We need to win two more games to make the main bracket.

Obviously just opinion and obviously depends what other teams do.
I’m not saying it’s a definite we’d make it but it’s definitely possible. We really weren’t even close to the bubble before today. Either way we aren’t winning a game so whatever.
 

fluoxetine

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I'm wondering if maybe Aundre Hyatt will never suit up for Rutgers again after what I heard from Pikiell after the game.
You mean you think Hyatt is going to take extreme offense to the comments and demand a trade like Ben Simmons? Because that's the only way that happens.
 

fluoxetine

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Realistically we have at least two more games.. we'll be favored against NW. Not sure who we'll play in the BTT but I doubt we'll be huge underdogs. So we should be 75% or so to get a win. It doesn't FEEL that way, but it's probably true.
 
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Realistically we have at least two more games.. we'll be favored against NW. Not sure who we'll play in the BTT but I doubt we'll be huge underdogs. So we should be 75% or so to get a win. It doesn't FEEL that way, but it's probably true.
If we have to play Illinois is the 8-9 game I don’t see how we win. That would be a brutal draw. Not like we can complain since we did it to ourselves.
 

fluoxetine

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If we have to play Illinois is the 8-9 game I don’t see how we win. That would be a brutal draw. Not like we can complain since we did it to ourselves.
We probably go off as a slight favorite if that game were played tomorrow. I dunno. Not more than a point or two dog at worst.
 
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We probably go off as a slight favorite if that game were played tomorrow. I dunno. Not more than a point or two dog at worst.
Yea probably only a small underdog but they’re the last team I’d want to play outside of Purdue. They’re just so much more talented and athletic than us.
 

goru7

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Last time I checked only Griffiths will be on the roster next year so if all you care about is what's going to happen in 2024 thats good for you then. This thread is about changes needed to be made for next year because I want the team to win now while they still have Cliff, Mag, and Spencer who will all be gone after next year.
You are losing your grip on reality. Mag went down , changed how we play , then our point guard has had the worst stretch for a senior that I can remember as he clearly cost the game tonight ,, almost cost Penn State , cost us Indiana , decided to become Ben Simmons but with multiple turnovers.
You talk recruiting for 2023 and Pike is bringing in Griffiths , could be the best shooter in the country to team with Cam. You are bringing in Lamichael Davis , ACE’s teammate having a real good year and a fast point guard to play with Derek. And Baye Ndongo , who is a skilled 6’9 guy that can dribble , drive, shoot , play defense and shot block , who will play a ton with Mag. We have not even gotten to 2024 which you do not want to talk about. Not sure if Cliff comes back but if he does , that seems like some good improvement especially offensively.
Your post should be centered on Paul’s regression that is now costing us games , the failure of the upperclassman in general in all our losses except Temple , where everyone of them Paul , Hyatt Cliff Caleb and Cam have in multiple games not played up to their capabilities. If the players who have had bad bad games only had average games we have 3-4 more wins.
 
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RUby RED

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Lot of people in this thread sleeping on the importance of continuity. Is there deadweight on the roster? Absolutely — and certain tough convos will need to be had with 2-3 guys. But asking to get rid of 5-6 guys and overhaul the entire roster is too much.

Paul has a place on this team next year if he wants it, there’s no doubt about that. I’d agree his role should be different (less mins at PG), but think he’ll be back. Poor play or not the last month, the only reason you could justify giving him the boot is if Pike feels his attitude negatively affects the team more than his vet presence helps