Eugene

Sep 29, 2005
14,051
16,131
0
You could see last year the talent was there but the skills needed to be developed. Pike and staff have done a great job with him.
 
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anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy

Guest
Hes been downright phenomenal all year.

Plays with poise, under control, knows his strengths, knows his weaknesses, always in the right spot, hustles, grabs boards, plays D on the 3-5. His leap from his freshman to soph year is insane. I have to imagine pike is showing off eugene to all 2019 forward recruits
 

MadRU

Heisman
Jul 26, 2001
38,145
19,481
98
Remember Eugene was a late edition to the first recruiting class so the staff didn’t get much time to work with him individually prior to his freshman year.

Eugene is a great example of what this staff can do with a willing player.
 
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higgins3

All-Conference
Dec 15, 2012
7,319
2,434
113
I was waiting to either see a post, or start a post about how well Eugene played, and how important Omoyuri was to the team yesterday. Great game for himself, and the team. He could have gone up for a layup at the end, but he stutter stepped, and knew the RAC would lose the roof if the play commenced. Can't blame him.

Delgado had a rival on the floor.

Keep pushing,11. Oh canadaaaaaaa.
 
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scarlet night

All-Conference
Jul 9, 2004
3,181
1,793
66
I love his game and attitude. I'm really enjoying how he's playing now but keep thinking of how good he will be in a year or two.
 
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Scarletnut

All-Conference
Jul 27, 2001
5,475
4,178
77
Hes been downright phenomenal all year.

Plays with poise, under control, knows his strengths, knows his weaknesses, always in the right spot, hustles, grabs boards, plays D on the 3-5. His leap from his freshman to soph year is insane. I have to imagine pike is showing off eugene to all 2019 forward recruits

Nice post kyk, especially since you wanted him off the team after last season. Kudos to Pikiell and staff for seeing his potential and developing his game.
 
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anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy

Guest
Nice post kyk, especially since you wanted him off the team after last season. Kudos to Pikiell and staff for seeing his potential and developing his game.
Yup, as I've said Eugene went from being a kid that legitimately struggle to dribble a basketball last year one of our best players. Pike should go around the country showing tape of Eugene last year versus this year and reel in top forwards in the country
 
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RU_DIO

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
16,867
17,099
113
I think Eugene takes another leap next year when he develops a consistent jump shot. He will be a match up nightmare.
 

FELONIOUSMONK

All-American
Apr 1, 2012
11,909
5,090
0
It is amazing how many of these guys didn't find hoops until they were in high school or were playing soccer overseas somewhere.
 

Sideline20

Senior
Jul 27, 2001
5,434
956
0
Eugene is so easy to root for - heart of a lion, great attitude- hustles to every ball - I started calling him Mike Williams JUNIOR.....lol.......It's insane how much he has progressed....the sky is the limit for Eugene.
 

AshCatchEm

Heisman
Jan 8, 2016
13,884
19,925
113
Yup, as I've said Eugene went from being a kid that legitimately struggle to dribble a basketball last year one of our best players. Pike should go around the country showing tape of Eugene last year versus this year and reel in top forwards in the country
watch souf get drafted next year lol
 

whofrewdatmataRU13

All-Conference
Nov 26, 2017
1,814
1,852
113
I think Eugene takes another leap next year when he develops a consistent jump shot. He will be a match up nightmare.

Yup, he knows thats what he needs to work on as well. Expect him to get up a lot of shots this summer.
 

xkiesterx

Senior
Oct 2, 2005
3,302
558
0
His improvement from last year is absolutely amazing. I don't know that I've ever seen a Rutgers player make such a jump in one year. Last year he was usually a liability.
 

RUAEPI

Sophomore
Dec 6, 2005
2,068
168
0
I followed the play by play on my phone, and he wasn't really popping out in the stats. I came home and watched the game, and your eyes don't lie. That kid is all over the place. he is special and will be a center stone the next 2 years of this team.
 

RUby RED

All-Conference
Aug 9, 2010
1,857
2,683
0
Struggling to figure out if Eugene is my favorite player or not is a good problem to have.
Good problem for sure. Most teams would be lucky to have guys play with half the intensity and passion of Eugene. Throw in the remarkable 1 year improvement and the endorsements of many claiming he worked the hardest of anyone this summer and you’ve got yourself a quality candidate for favorite player
 
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littlenis5

Senior
Jun 21, 2004
1,471
985
113
At this point, I think his floor is all-time fan favorite. If he develops a mid range jumper (which happens a lot for guys in their junior year) and gets more playing time, we’ll be talking all-conference. If he develops an outside shot, NBA scouts will be talking about him as the next Draymond Green.
 
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wheezer

Heisman
Jun 3, 2001
169,833
25,517
113
I wrote this before. John Battle averaged 2 points a game as a frosh. Was in NBA three years later. Can't judge on their freshman year. How hard does the kid work?


You beat me to it. John Battle is the best example of improvement one year to the next
 

RUonBrain

All-American
Apr 29, 2002
8,095
7,531
113
I love the passion he plays with.
Reminds me of Rodman.

The physical expressions on his face after he makes a great play is awesome and I think quite unique. I don't see anyone else doing this. He kind of tucks his chin in and locks his head/neck in place, and gives an intense stare.

It is easier to see this after he gets fouled and he is walking around with stiff limbs and with leg kicks and arms flailing around. Kind of hard to describe, but it is very distinctive and reflects his intensity.

Anyone else notice this and maybe can describe it better?
 

whofrewdatmataRU13

All-Conference
Nov 26, 2017
1,814
1,852
113
I love the passion he plays with.
Reminds me of Rodman.

The physical expressions on his face after he makes a great play is awesome and I think quite unique. I don't see anyone else doing this. He kind of tucks his chin in and locks his head/neck in place, and gives an intense stare.

It is easier to see this after he gets fouled and he is walking around with stiff limbs and with leg kicks and arms flailing around. Kind of hard to describe, but it is very distinctive and reflects his intensity.

Anyone else notice this and maybe can describe it better?

If you re watch his put back dunk you can see Corey imitate this from the sidelines. It's his signiture. Love it
 
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DirtyRU

All-American
Nov 16, 2002
6,514
6,089
113
I am post-Battle as I didnt get into RU hoops until '94 but as far as player development goes jump-wise from one year to the next, since I've been a fan, no one comes even close to the jump EO has made with one exception: Damon Santiago from jr. to sr. year.
 

kcg88

Heisman
Aug 11, 2017
10,862
17,230
0
Eugene didn't play basketball until 10th grade. From what I understand, Peter Kiss' high school career was similar, he didn't really get into it until he was a sophomore. I hope we see a similar kind of improvement with him from last season with Quinnipiac to next season here.
 

KnightDC

Junior
Jan 7, 2002
1,951
390
0
that's how you build a program from ruins. 4-5 stars arent coming; takes great talent evaluation to see the potential in raw kids who have huge upside; then add pieces as you prove your system to more talented recruits, Pike and staff have done a great job.

Continuity of staff has been key as well. one of best recruits this year was Coach Hobbs staying.
 
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KevH

All-Conference
Jul 25, 2001
3,313
2,027
113
Hes been downright phenomenal all year.

Plays with poise, under control, knows his strengths, knows his weaknesses, always in the right spot, hustles, grabs boards, plays D on the 3-5. His leap from his freshman to soph year is insane. I have to imagine pike is showing off eugene to all 2019 forward recruits

Yeah, I can't recall any other player making such a huge transformation in such a short period of time. Praiseworthy and jaw-dropping... kudos to EO and the RU coaching staff.

Edit: Didn't witness Battle's time on the banks, but did see Damon Santiago.
 
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S_Janowski

Heisman
May 24, 2009
13,903
26,494
113
Eugene's wrap-around pass to DeShawn was a thing of beauty. If Freeman had caught it cleanly it would hsve been a dunk and a nice assist for Gene. As it went Freeman got fouled and went to the line for critical FTs.

Didn't realize how nice of a pass that was in person until I saw it on replay. Amazing pass with 1-2 seconds left on the clock.
 

goru7

All-American
Dec 12, 2005
6,415
7,677
113
I am post-Battle as I didnt get into RU hoops until '94 but as far as player development goes jump-wise from one year to the next, since I've been a fan, no one comes even close to the jump EO has made with one exception: Damon Santiago from jr. to sr. year.
Eric Clark senior year and Adrian Hill's senior year and Sean Axani's junior and senior years were extraordinary jumps from prior years. Just a few I remember over the last 40 years.