Rutgers’ Steve Pikiell addresses Paul Mulcahy’s transfer, hints at portal plans, praises star freshman
Fonseca - Pikiell on Big Ten this morning - Sirius XM
- Thread starter MiloTalon13
- Start date
Coach Pikiell really gets it. Just like he always talks about enjoying the journey(season) and not just always worrying about the end result.
Of course he knows what the end results and goals are, but he realizes that we are really in changing times. I am so very proud that he is our coach and believe he will continue to make us better.
Best of Luck,
Groz
Of course he knows what the end results and goals are, but he realizes that we are really in changing times. I am so very proud that he is our coach and believe he will continue to make us better.
Best of Luck,
Groz
Well there it is. Gavin a Day 1 starter and impact player. Plus it appears Jamichael will be pushing Noah for minutes and plays 12-20 per game depending. Pike seems pretty certain about these guys when he mentions them with Ron, Caleb and Montes as Day 1 starters and playing 15-20 minutes a game as freshman. We will definitely be more uptempo in offense . Cliff and Derek should flourish in the uptempo attack. Gavin will be the perfect trailer or take it coast to coast himself.
It will be a different team philosophy wise and more offensive minded than defensive minded. No more 60 point death matches.
If anyone is surprised that Pike thinks Gavin can be freshman of the year on the B1G they haven’t been paying attention. Heck, we had more than a few fans who didn’t even have Gavin in the starting 5.
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To be fair, we just lost 2 starters to the portal and another will start the season injured. He better start with the roster we currently have.
And a starter graduated. We very likely play the first game with 4 new starters compared to last season's most common starting lineup - not counting Hyatt or Simpson as full-time starters.
Change is scary, but change can be good too. We will be better this year than last.
Need to see who else is added. Right now RU is not better. They lost way too much experience and guys who know the system.
Even without transfers or injuries, a reasonable argument could be made for GG starting over the other options.
Fernandes, Spencer, Mag, Clif would have been locks.
Last spot is Mulcahy (playing off ball on the wing), Simpson (playing off ball on the wing), Hyatt or Gavin (Top 20 recruit who specializes off ball on the wing shooting).
Unless HC Pike was forcing Mulcahy into the starting lineup because of "seniority".
Remove just Mag and GG had to start.
I expect a bottom 3 B1G finish next season
2024-25 should be much better if there is still college basketball
In a few months, it will be comical that people thought Hyatt or Paul would start over Griffiths.
Hyatt was always a bench player. Paul was a 3 year starter. He wasn’t moving to the bench. That’s comical.
I expect us to be better than 9th this year. We upgraded at PG, we have an experienced Simpson, Gavin is more talented than anyone we had last year, and Cliff should be improved. We also get back Mag.
Perhaps.
But is that because of merit of starting as an off ball wing or legacy of being on the team for years in a different position and role?
Based on merit - a reasonable argument could be made that GG v. Mulcahy isn't as cut and dry as you make it seem.
But again, head coaches (all of them - not calling out HC Pike) don't always play their best players all the time for a variety of reasons.
Hyatt started half of the games last season (17 out of 34). There were posts here saying he'd start over Gavin.
Paul is gone, hypotheticals on if he stayed aren't worth the time.
Hmmm. I should have been more clear - hypotheticals that are never going to happen like "if Cam or Paul were here". Zero interest to me.
Interesting hypotheticals - how good will we be if Griffiths is one of the most impactful freshmen in the country?
Don't think so. We'll see at end of season.
I would guess a small part of HC Pike is relieved Paul transferred.
It removes the choice for him:
- Start Paul, a team captain and legacy player who might be less qualified to play as an off ball wing
- Start GG, an incoming (but highly regarded) freshman who might be more qualified to play as an off ball wing
Start Gavin and Paul (and maybe other upper classman) potentially get upset over Gavin not "earning it yet" and being handed a starting role.
Rutgers fans aren’t accustomed to seeing players of Gavin’s caliber enter the program.
Kid is a major stud. Gotta get him lots of minutes right away.
I’m skeptical of buying in on anyone until I see them. I call it the Jaden Jones effect. I bought in to the hype on him. Even believed fans on here who said he’d start for sure. I’m not saying GG will be like him. But I will wait to see him play a D1 game to get excited.
Most here have no clue how to evaluate talent
If it makes you feel better, Jones was not in the same stratosphere as GG as a recruit.
I don’t really follow recruiting - was Jaden a 4 star kid? What was his national ranking? I just recall many of our fans saying he was a day one starter for sure.
You're 100% right - people were projecting him like that.
I distinctly remember a thread "Who does Jones replace in the starting lineup?" or something like that before the season started.
You are right but 5 star kids underperform every year. I love GG’s game and I expect him to contribute immediately but it’s hard to rely on a freshman in the Big Ten. Even the ones that do perform at a high level usually have issues with consistency.
Where did Jones play AAU?
Griffiths played EYBL for Expressions Elite - I think the greatest certainty in evaluating HS players comes from watching them play in the EYBL.
I have no idea how coaches evaluate players from all different levels and compare them to each other.
I totally expect the ups and downs of a freshman, just at a higher level than usual. Call it a gut feeling, but it seems like it’s been nothing but positive press for GG in the past year. I remember some red flags with Jones.
I think GG will be a stud, but I can understand anyone being hesitant about being 
on a player regardless of how he is rated.
Remember: Wally Judge was a 5-star.
on a player regardless of how he is rated.Remember: Wally Judge was a 5-star.
Who has been consistent on this team in forever? Everyone who has played for us has been up and down.
This team also gets time to work out in august in europe. Very beneficial way to bond this new team together.
Comparing Jaden Jones to Gavin. Gotta love some fans. Ha