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Pike Really Has to Go...

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FAT MOON

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2006
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dark_check said:
Thanks. Us fans divided and at each others throats does no good for the program or each of us. I hope you don’t agree with all of my suggestions but maybe you do. I’ll add one more, I wish he’d settle on his 7-8 players near the beginning of the season like other teams so we can avoid the Lafayette scares, Kennesaw and CCSU. I’m not saying early upsets don’t happen but it happens to Pike a lot. Anyway, maybe you’re not picking on my suggestions and just saying more money would help Pike play his style with the right players. I can see that. If he could afford a rim protector, a clutch guard like Geo, a mercenary who could fill the RHJ role and a long defender like Caleb then he could repeat 2020 and 2021. But he doesn’t have that money so what do you do other than just blame money?
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I do agree with rotations being a legit concern/cause for criticism. Early season losses happen to high major programs all the time, but it does seem like year after year we are just throwing crap at a wall and seeing if it sticks. Really don't understand why Badalau was starting as long as he was and now he can't even get into the game. I don't think even the biggest Pike homer would say that was well done.

And I do agree with points you made like get more upperclassmen. I just think Pike knows this and the reason he's not is $$$$ related. So the only upperclassmen types we can get are Noah Fernandez and PJ Hayes and I mean...no thanks.
 
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PSAL_Hoops

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FAT MOON said:
I do agree with rotations being a legit concern/cause for criticism. Early season losses happen to high major programs all the time, but it does seem like year after year we are just throwing crap at a wall and seeing if it sticks. Really don't understand why Badalau was starting as long as he was and now he can't even get into the game. I don't think even the biggest Pike homer would say that was well done.

And I do agree with points you made like get more upperclassmen. I just think Pike knows this and the reason he's not is $$$$ related. So the only upperclassmen types we can get are Noah Fernandez and PJ Hayes and I mean...no thanks.
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I don’t think it’s only been about money. Pike was good at developing players over 4 years. He doesn’t really have a track record of instant success with transfers and kids want to go where they expect to have success.
Maybe Francis changes that narrative for him a bit - it’s definitely a feather in Ple’s cap that we brought in an NJIT kid and made him more efficient.
 
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Caliknight

Caliknight

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dark_check said:
Johnny Dawkins at UCF has less money than Pike. It’s about adapting. Is more money better. Sure. But we heard how this was his lunch pail team. They’ll scrap it out in rock fights. Well their defense is beyond terrible. That’s his fortay. He says he needs a rim protector for his style but can’t afford one. So, ADAPT. Don’t be inflexible and keep using it as an excuse.
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How much does UCF have? I find it hard to believe some guy in NJ knows that answer
 
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FAT MOON

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PSAL_Hoops said:
I don’t think it’s only been about money. Pike was good at developing players over 4 years. He doesn’t really have a track record of instant success with transfers and kids want to go where they expect to have success.
Maybe Francis changes that narrative for him a bit - it’s definitely a feather in Ple’s cap that we brought in an NJIT kid and made him more efficient.
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Certainly agree it's not only about money. Do think that is the driving force though.

I mean I know we all just say the "Pike was good at developing players over 4 years" line over and over and I think it is correct overall but let's also not pretend that he didn't have a lot of success with guys he only had for one or two seasons (Gettys/Yeboah/J Young/Spencer/). When he could get older/better players he had a lot more success with them. Which would also lead it back to....$$$
 
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PSAL_Hoops

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FAT MOON said:
Certainly agree it's not only about money. Do think that is the driving force though.

I mean I know we all just say the "Pike was good at developing players over 4 years" line over and over and I think it is correct overall but let's also not pretend that he didn't have a lot of success with guys he only had for one or two seasons (Gettys/Yeboah/J Young/Spencer/). When he could get older/better players he had a lot more success with them. Which would also lead it back to....$$$
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What I meant by “not only being about money” is that having more of it merely clears the prerequisite hurdle to go to bat for desirable players. To actually land these high level portal players, Rutgers can’t simply be in the ball park of other offers. Based on the current state of the program, our coach potentially being on the hot seat, etc. we’d (In most cases) have to significantly outbid many other offers to have a realistic shot at anyone good with options.

There are exceptions, of course. Perhaps there is a native kid from NJ out there looking to come home due to family issues or something like that. But for the most part, in general, we’re either hoping to hit on low major guys the way SHU did this year or hoping the guys we have stick around and develop in the offseason. Even if Pike recruits well à la the SHU model, he also would have to do a much better job early than he has in the past of identifying his top potential on the roster. Denis was our starter throughout the OOC schedule. In reflection, that was just nuts.
 
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dark_check

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dpwhite said:
Johnny Dawkins has been at UCF longer than Pikes and has been to one NcAA tournament in 18-19. Seems more likely he stumbled into the right combo of players
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He’s also got a .600 winning percentage compared to what? Pikes sub .500? But that is irrelevant, as is ncaa appearances, to the context of this conversation. It’s about success in the NIL era. Pike can’t seem to keep up and when a concrete example of doing more with less is given you can’t just excuse it away as luck to defend Pike
 
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dpwhite

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dark_check said:
He’s also got a .600 winning percentage compared to what? Pikes sub .500? But that is irrelevant, as is ncaa appearances, to the context of this conversation. It’s about success in the NIL era. Pike can’t seem to keep up and when a concrete example of doing more with less is given you can’t just excuse it away as luck to defend Pike
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I mean I certainly can
 
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bac2therac

bac2therac

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dpwhite said:
Johnny Dawkins has been at UCF longer than Pikes and has been to one NcAA tournament in 18-19. Seems more likely he stumbled into the right combo of players
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He transitioned a program from non entity in college hoops to ncaa tourney as part of AAC to a gigantic step up in top 3 league this year headed to ncaa and will have a higher seed than Pikes ever had...key point TRENDING UP vs 3 straight sub 500 seasons and WORST ever of his tenure
 
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Fat Koko

Fat Koko

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matei said:
Pike must be back next year because if nothing else, the coach that follows him, whoever that may be, needs to be convinced Rutgers is willing to spend. There needs to be actual evidence, not merely word play, that Rutgers has figured out this NIL thing.
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Rutgers is spending on men's basketball. Rutgers numbers are out and the coaching staff was up 15% in 2025.

Rutgers men's basketball spending is hitting Sweet Sixteen levels but the team has no chance of making the NCAA tournament.

1772339817376.png
 
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-RUFAN4LIFE-

-RUFAN4LIFE-

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Feb 28, 2015
31,945
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Fat Koko said:
Show NIL numbers.

Pike had NIL last season. NBA draft picks 2 and 5. Record 15-17. Pike had NIL and was unsuccessful.

If Pike can't win with 2 NBAers, how many does he need?
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You're out of your league here dude, Pike's main funds were revenue sharing, then the Vegas tourney money and a little NIL from KTR.

And you know this because Richie responded directly to us a back and forth you and I were having on the Round Table. Yet here you are being disingenuous and claiming Pike had NIL...lol.

Also, your last statement shows you know nothing about roster construction but again it's more you being disingenuous.
 
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bac2therac

bac2therac

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-RUFAN4LIFE- said:
You're out of your league here dude, Pike's main funds were revenue sharing, then the Vegas tourney money and a little NIL from KTR.

And you know this because Richie responded directly to us a back and forth you and I were having on the Round Table. Yet here you are being disingenuous and claiming Pike had NIL...lol.

Also, your last statement shows you know nothing about roster construction but again it's more you being disingenuous.
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It was still over $3 million on roster even if RU wasnt paying it
 
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M

matei

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Feb 16, 2026
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Fat Koko said:
Rutgers is spending on men's basketball. Rutgers numbers are out and the coaching staff was up 15% in 2025.

Rutgers men's basketball spending is hitting Sweet Sixteen levels but the team has no chance of making the NCAA tournament.

View attachment 1202996
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I should have been clearer. Spending on all aspects of the program, not merely overpaid staff. This includes players of course.
 
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Fat Koko

Fat Koko

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-RUFAN4LIFE- said:
You're out of your league here dude, Pike's main funds were revenue sharing, then the Vegas tourney money and a little NIL from KTR.

And you know this because Richie responded directly to us a back and forth you and I were having on the Round Table. Yet here you are being disingenuous and claiming Pike had NIL...lol.

Also, your last statement shows you know nothing about roster construction but again it's more you being disingenuous.
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Pike did not have revenue sharing last season. Nobody did. Revenue sharing -- the $20.5 million schools can use to pay players -- made possible by the House settlement began on July 1, 2025.
 
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bac2therac

bac2therac

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-RUFAN4LIFE- said:
And you're point is when the rest of the conference was spending 2-3x this amount?
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Not last year..only a few schools were paying over $6 million in Big 10 for 24'25. . It wasnt until 2025-2026 season the majority was paying more than $6 million
 
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bac2therac

bac2therac

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25-26 spending

Schools believed to be operating with $10+ M in NIL for men’s basketball for this upcoming season (no particular order):

Arkansas, BYU, Duke, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, North Carolina, St. Johns, Texas Tech



Schools believed to be operating with less than $10M but at around $8M:

Auburn, Connecticut, Florida, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State, Miami, Purdue, Tennessee, Texas, UCLA, USC, Villanova, Virginia

Other schools such as Creighton and Syracuse appear to be in that $8M range as well.
 
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RUDivision

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Jan 6, 2023
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tru2ru1 said:
Those numbers have nothing to do with NIL & without NIL money no coach can be successful
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You pay that kind of money to coaches because that what’s big time named coaches provide. We dinf
-RUFAN4LIFE- said:
You're out of your league here dude, Pike's main funds were revenue sharing, then the Vegas tourney money and a little NIL from KTR.

And you know this because Richie responded directly to us a back and forth you and I were having on the Round Table. Yet here you are being disingenuous and claiming Pike had NIL...lol.

Also, your last statement shows you know nothing about roster construction but again it's more you being disingenuous.
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What Dylan And Ace and company were paid NIL. Who paid l, when, how, etc. does not matter.
If you simply look in total $$$ on the floor Pike had a top 10 paid team and he was Awful!
 
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Ridge 22

Ridge 22

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shields said:
Good. Do you have 5 million to give? Not going anywhere, next year different story. Washington needs to go.
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Where exactly are we going next year under Pike? I love a good fantasy. Can't wait to hear. And what specifically is your math around the $5m to move on vs the lost revenue impact over the next few years as things further erode due to apathy? Inaction to avoid a sunk cost isn't always the best course. I'm sure you have thought that out though.
 
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Ridge 22

Ridge 22

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RUInsanityToo said:
Interesting. I was raised and taught that the people who act like victims are the ones who constantly whine and complain about the same things over and over again.

Talk is cheap. Coming to an anonymous fan board like clockwork after a loss to whine about the same things...... the coach, players or how other fans choose to spend their time rooting carries the lowest form of fandom impact on a program.....right there with shut-ins calling into overnight sports radio with fantasy trade proposals.

To summarize.....not sure how much good it does or why it makes anyone a better fan to create the same "Pike must go" posts and threads over and over again while knowing the money situation is in the way. In the meantime, unlike you and those who liked your post, I find nothing wrong with other fans who choose to bide their time and spend their fandom energy focusing on positives and potential for any hope.
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Lovely post. Just understand this is a paid message board to talk about Rutgers sports.
 
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