Palmquist

[Miggins]

If he can develop into an average (Rutgers) defender I think the guy can really be a serious contributor/starter next year.
6-8 with good wingspan, and he shoots very high. Most defenders will not be able to block his shot, unless they put a 1 or athletic 2 on him (which most teams won't)
Think he can shoot high 30's from 3 over an extended period, and does not need space to do it. His shot looks consistent, and he does not seem pressured even with someone in his face.

 

[RUBigFrank]

His defense has improved over the last few games -tho not where it needs to be

 

[Scarlet Shack]

His defense is better. Step in the right direction to be on the floor so his outaise ahoootng can be a diffeenxe maker….

 

[JudgeSmails56]

Met him and pike on his recruiting visit years ago.. glad to see he’s becoming a contributor.

 

[patk89]

Sat a few rows from his dad at MSG/Mich State. Father is totally into RU hoops by the look of it. Wearing a Palmquist jersey. Looked like he could play power forward.

 

[rob kight]

Sat a few rows from his dad at MSG/Mich State. Father is totally into RU hoops by the look of it. Wearing a Palmquist jersey. Looked like he could play power forward.

Sign him up

 

[Scarletnut]

The question I have, and I know this is hindsight, is why couldn't Palmquist have been integrated into the games earlier in the year before Mag went down. Maybe a few minutes every game. Instead, I have to believe most of us are surprised at his contributions at this point. Maybe he would have made a difference in some of our earlier close losses.

 

[RUBigFrank]

Love the Swede. Not sure what happened to Reiber - but Palmquist had taken his minutes. Dean was very functional last season.

Need to develop both for better depth next season.

 

[MiloTalon13]

It depends on who transfers.
He's played mostly 4 - that means next year he's competing for minutes with Mag/Hyatt/Chol/Ndongo/Reiber and Wolf. That's a lot of guys for the 4 spot and backing up Cliff.

Barring 3-4 transfers, Mag taking longer than expected to come back and/or other injuries, it's tough to see Palmquist being a big contributor or starter next season.

 

[Big East Beast]

He’s a spot up shooter but doesn’t seem to have much interest in mixing it up on either end.

With Simpson, JaMichael Davis and Miller at PG next year, our offense will look quite a bit different and I expect a more open, up-tempo style so he could play an important role especially if Griffiths isn’t ready for starter minutes and/or Mag does not return 100%.

In any case, the last few weeks this season are huge for him to show what he can do.

 

[Miggins]

It depends on who transfers.
He's played mostly 4 - that means next year he's competing for minutes with Mag/Hyatt/Chol/Ndongo/Reiber and Wolf. That's a lot of guys for the 4 spot and backing up Cliff.

Barring 3-4 transfers, Mag taking longer than expected to come back and/or other injuries, it's tough to see Palmquist being a big contributor or starter next season.

Agree its crowded, but really see Ndogno, Reiber and Wolf all more competing for time at the 5 vs. the 4

 

[RU-ROCS]

He’s a spot up shooter but doesn’t seem to have much interest in mixing it up on either end.

With Simpson, JaMichael Davis and Miller at PG next year, our offense will look quite a bit different and I expect a more open, up-tempo style so he could play an important role especially if Griffiths isn’t ready for starter minutes and/or Mag does not return 100%.

In any case, the last few weeks this season are huge for him to show what he can do.

Fair assessment, but in this day and age it would be very tough for Pike to sit a 5-star recruit like Griffiths, even if he is not quite ready.

 

[LawDegreeandFishbowls]

Something that I like about Palmquist is his shot never seems to miss to the side. If he misses it’s either too short or long, but I can’t remember him missing to the side. Great sign that he has a repeatable stroke and his shooting % should remain high. I think he’s carved out a role for himself that frankly we haven’t had in a while.

 

[MiloTalon13]

Fair assessment, but in this day and age it would be very tough for Pike to sit a 5-star recruit like Griffiths, even if he is not quite ready.

More likely to let a guy play through mistakes when he has that much more potential than anyone in your program.

 

[Knight Owl]

Something that I like about Palmquist is his shot never seems to miss to the side. If he misses it’s either too short or long, but I can’t remember him missing to the side. Great sign that he has a repeatable stroke and his shooting % should remain high. I think he’s carved out a role for himself that frankly we haven’t had in a while.

Yeah…His elbow is locked and loaded for sure.

 

[scarletnewyorker2006]

Not sure about starting but if his defense continues to improve I’d love to have him be a nice bench player. I don’t see him starting over Mag or Griffiths next season (if GG is the stud we hope him to be). If we lose Cliff, next season will be more likely an NIT season, which is fine after making the dance 4 straight years, especially when you consider in 2024 and 2025 we could be a top 25 team.

 

[bigmatt718]

Love the Swede. Not sure what happened to Reiber - but Palmquist had taken his minutes. Dean was very functional last season.

Need to develop both for better depth next season.

I'm not 100% sure Reiber will be here next year at this rate. Might graduate and move down a level to get more PT.

 

[Loyal_2RU]

He’s a spot up shooter but doesn’t seem to have much interest in mixing it up on either end.

With Simpson, JaMichael Davis and Miller at PG next year, our offense will look quite a bit different and I expect a more open, up-tempo style so he could play an important role especially if Griffiths isn’t ready for starter minutes and/or Mag does not return 100%.

In any case, the last few weeks this season are huge for him to show what he can do.

Steve Hefele role

 

[Yeah Baby]

There are certain combos that do not work Defensively. Also game dependent because PSU played small but Cliff still had a monster D game on the hedge and no freebies underneath.

Really happy to see O hits some big 3’s for us this year. Team player.

 

[Scangg]

No real chance Oskar starts next year. He can play his way into a bench role if he finishes strong

It is crowded at the 4 as mentioned. Mag Hyatt Chol Ndongo unless Hyatt leaves or Mag has set backs in rehab

Also possible he moves on for a bigger role at a lesser conference

 

[RedChucken123]

I rewatched the second half yesterday because why not. Lmao. His presence and potential to immediately pull the trigger and drain the 3 does so much more than some of us realize. Notice how he has been the one feeding Cliff in the post? If Cliff gets doubled by Oskar’s guy, Oskar can punish them. Just having Oskar on the floor opens up more space for drives and post-up moves.

 

[MiloTalon13]

I rewatched the second half yesterday because why not. Lmao. His presence and potential to immediately pull the trigger and drain the 3 does so much more than some of us realize. Notice how he has been the one feeding Cliff in the post? If Cliff gets doubled by Oskar’s guy, Oskar can punish them. Just having Oskar on the floor opens up more space for drives and post-up moves.

Totally agree. Shooters make more space for everyone else.
If we had 3 shooters, Cam, Griffiths and Chol/Oskar or whoever on the floor at the same time, we would not only score more but be much more efficient doing it.
I don't think it will be Oskar, but it would be great for him if it is.

 

[RU-ROCS]

Something that I like about Palmquist is his shot never seems to miss to the side. If he misses it’s either too short or long, but I can’t remember him missing to the side. Great sign that he has a repeatable stroke and his shooting % should remain high. I think he’s carved out a role for himself that frankly we haven’t had in a while.

Good point. IIRC, he was the best 3-point shooter in Jr. international play just before coming to RU. So 3-point shooting is in his DNA.

 

[Yeah Baby]

Totally agree. Shooters make more space for everyone else.
If we had 3 shooters, Cam, Griffiths and Chol/Oskar or whoever on the floor at the same time, we would not only score more but be much more efficient doing it.
I don't think it will be Oskar, but it would be great for him if it is.

Penn St has a lot of 3 pt shooters and we held them to 45 and 56 pts. I think it can work at times but there are other ways to win games as we have seen.

 

[dpwhite]

One thing Pikiell said on his podcast a few weeks ago: Paul, Caleb and Oskar will be walking on senior night. And while that doesn't mean Oskar and Paul won't be back, it was eye opening. I forgot that Oskar actually enrolled in 2020 right before COVID.

 

[Degaz-RU]

The hope is that Pike feels comfortable playing more than a 7-man rotation like he did most of this year. I don't think Oskar would start, but he can certainly carve out a consistent 15 mpg role on this team.

G - Mulcahy, Davis
G - Spencer
G - Simpson/Griffiths
F - Mag/Hyatt/Oskar/Chol
C - Cliff, Woolf, Ndongo

My guess is that Mag is out until January, so we will need the other guys to step up. There's definitely a role for all of them.

 

[MiloTalon13]

Penn St has a lot of 3 pt shooters and we held them to 45 and 56 pts. I think it can work at times but there are other ways to win games as we have seen.

Penn State shot 4-26 and 8-29 it definitely does not help if you shoot like that
We are 10-2 in the Big Ten when the other team shoots < 40% from 3
Iowa - 44% and 50% w lost both
Michigan St - 55% they win, 19% we win
Indiana - 42% they win, 24% we win
Ohio St - 42% they win (sigh) 38% we win
Nebraska - 43%
Illinois and Michigan are the only 2 losses where opponents shot under 40% from 3

 

[Miggins]

Penn St has a lot of 3 pt shooters and we held them to 45 and 56 pts. I think it can work at times but there are other ways to win games as we have seen.

I am not saying we become a 3 point shooting team due to Oskar. However he would be a great compliment to our offense, because I think it gives us a scoring option for ~near double digit points a game that MOST teams will have trouble defending.

If he simply can shoot over 90% of the people guarding him, he can just hang in corner and help space the floor for us.

Unfortunately our other 3-pt shooters, can be often taken out by aggressive/athletic guards, and we cannot typically make those teams pay by driving the hoop.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Love the Swede. Not sure what happened to Reiber - but Palmquist had taken his minutes. Dean was very functional last season.

Need to develop both for better depth next season.

To my eye it looks like Dean takes time off on defense to become a spectator. You can always find players doing the same.. but the way our starters have to accrue minutes playing tough active D it is a bit more understandable than when a sub does it.

I have seen Dean float to the corner on O for a possible three should he be passed the ball and then just stay there when a shot goes up from someplace else. Watches. That's unacceptable.

 

[Scarletnut]

Its really amazing that after 3 1/2 years of Oskar, we're finally talking about him in a positive light. Happy for the kid.

 

[L&IC]

what I like is how he opens up the middle of the floor even if he isnt shooting. Our high pick and roll was working in part due to Oskar and Cam in the corners and their men not being able to sag too much. Too often our shooters dont have a quick catch and shoot allowing defenders to sag and then close out on them

 

[Skull83]

I've been trying to think of someone esle that stuck with the program for years even though he wasn't playing much and then all of a sudden became a contributor. Then I remembered Robin James from the early 90s. He hardly played at all his first two years, got a little action his junior year, and then out of the blue his senior year he played 16 minutes a game and hit almost 40% of his threes.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

I've been trying to think of someone esle that stuck with the program for years even though he wasn't playing much and then all of a sudden became a contributor. Then I remembered Robin James from the early 90s. He hardly played at all his first two years, got a little action his junior year, and then out of the blue his senior year he played 16 minutes a game and hit almost 40% of his threes.

I think there was a time where RU went maybe 4 or 5 full seasons without a player starting his career at RU and making it through all 4 years. It was a list of transfers in and out, JUCOs etc.

I think Mike Williams may have been the initial or only Eddie Jordan 4 year recruit that sustained himself from frosh to senior year.

Since then or Pike arriving, we have now gotten a solid or consistent 4 or 5 year cycle out of players.....Geo Baker, Myles Johnson, RHJ, Caleb McConnell and now Palmquist, Mulcahy appear on the way to keep a simple concept, in place.

 

[Scarlet Beach]

Oskar seems like the ultimate team guy who stayed ready in case the opportunity for him to contribute arose, as it has recently. So he's gotten the opportunity to show that he's got some skills and has certainly stepped up when he has been needed. I had previously seen that he is scheduled to graduate in May (which is an impressive achievement for a student-athlete in 3.5 years + summers, especially since English is not his first language). Whatever he decides to do with his remaining eligibility after this season, he certainly seems to be the type of person who will be successful in life, in whatever path he choses.

 

[Yeah Baby]

Oskar seems like the ultimate team guy who stayed ready in case the opportunity for him to contribute arose, as it has recently. So he's gotten the opportunity to show that he's got some skills and has certainly stepped up when he has been needed. I had previously seen that he is scheduled to graduate in May (which is an impressive achievement for a student-athlete in 3.5 years + summers, especially since English is not his first language). Whatever he decides to do with his remaining eligibility after this season, he certainly seems to be the type of person who will be successful in life, in whatever path he choses.

Good post. The kid has done everything we could have asked of him. I applaud his performances coming so late in the season like this and making big shots for us.

 

[littlenis5]

What Oskar has shown is
1. Willingness to play a role offensively
2. Willingness to do dirty work EVERY PLAY defensively

He may never be the best defender because of foot speed limitations guarding wings or size guarding bigs, but he shows effort and has improved his positioning. For two years now he’s shown toughness.

This is why he will play over Dean all the time, and why I think he’s carved out at least a 5-10 minute role if he’s back next season. It would be hard not to if he continues shooting ~40% from 3.

 

[MiloTalon13]

When you talk about the culture of a program, Palmquist being ready to step up when he had every reason NOT to be, that's culture driven.
A great reflection on the kid's character too.
It's a great time to be a Rutgers basketball fan

 

[NightKnight]

When the world has you down and it's hobnailed boot is on your throat, you try all you can but circumstance is against you and lady luck is making out with your worst enemy in the parking lot, remember Oskar Palmquist, stranger from a strange land. He kept working at it and waiting for a glimmer of light to signal the door had cracked open ever so slightly. The world turns, as it does, and he was ready. The world may turn again, as it does, and he may well be put back up on a shelf. At least he will have the deep satisfaction of knowing that when he had his chance, he took it and was ready for it.

 

[Scangg]

What Oskar has shown is
1. Willingness to play a role offensively
2. Willingness to do dirty work EVERY PLAY defensively

He may never be the best defender because of foot speed limitations guarding wings or size guarding bigs, but he shows effort and has improved his positioning. For two years now he’s shown toughness.

This is why he will play over Dean all the time, and why I think he’s carved out at least a 5-10 minute role if he’s back next season. It would be hard not to if he continues shooting ~40% from 3.

Effort is definitely there. He also has shown he is willing to try to step in and draw a charge

 

[JavaDunk18]

Thursday could be another big night for Oskar…
Simpson getting into lane will open up opportunities for Everybody.