RAPID REACTION - Rider

lion1983

All-Conference
Apr 24, 2024
1,228
2,442
113
11. More in the concern department - our shooting was rough overall at 25-64 (39%), although we were saved by having a good night from deep (10-27 for 37% on threes). But we were bad at the FT line (21-33 for 63.6%). The poor shooting led to a long drought in the first half and a shorter drought in the 2nd half.
RU missed at LEAST 15 lay-ups or shots within 2-3 feet of the rim - Badalau missed at least 5 of those ... and of course all of Ogbole's shots. But Nwuli, Powers also missed several each.

You'd like to think that won't happen every game ...
 

bac2therac

Hall of Famer
Jul 30, 2001
238,628
168,345
113
Year 9? You say that when a team has never achieved results. Pike has finished in 6th, 5th and 4th in the big ten. He is a high quality coach that has not had help with NIL and suffered clearly with the roster. This roster isn’t loaded with talent. In fact it’s full of hustlers, grinders and underdogs. The hope is the University is now set up properly to support NIL and he can attract better players.
To be fair..there were people outside the program who paid 2 top 5 draft picks around $3million to play Rutgers

Like insanity to just ignore that
 

NBKnight

Heisman
Jul 8, 2008
24,596
15,511
61
Don’t you remember? The board had Caleb McConnell transferring down a league after a couple of games during his freshman year.
And that he should be benched in favor of Jaden Jones a year later. The best was kyk saying Eugene could not run with his boys at La Fitness .
 
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80RU

All-Conference
Jan 31, 2011
6,272
4,897
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Don’t you remember? The board had Caleb McConnell transferring down a league after a couple of games during his freshman year.
But I can also tell you that one staff member had the same assessment after a couple of games. Fortunately, all of them were wrong, but it was not so outrageous for them to think that way based on the information they had the time.
 
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RUPete90

Sophomore
Jul 3, 2025
145
186
43
But I can also tell you that one staff member had the same assessment after a couple of games. Fortunately, all of them were wrong, but it was not so outrageous for them to think that way based on the information they had the time.
And who would that be? Oh, that’s right, it’s the Internet and anyone can throw unsubstantiated anonymous stuff out there. If a staff member did in fact share that assessment with someone here, it was still pretty damn stupid after only a few games.
 

80RU

All-Conference
Jan 31, 2011
6,272
4,897
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And who would that be? Oh, that’s right, it’s the Internet and anyone can throw unsubstantiated anonymous stuff out there. If a staff member did in fact share that assessment with someone here, it was still pretty damn stupid after only a few games.
I did not post it at the time or soon there thereafter because he was still in the program and the coach was still in the business – – but if you are calling me a liar,screw you
 
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NBKnight

Heisman
Jul 8, 2008
24,596
15,511
61
But I can also tell you that one staff member had the same assessment after a couple of games. Fortunately, all of them were wrong, but it was not so outrageous for them to think that way based on the information they had the time.
A wise person does not pass judgement when they have limited information. It is just common sense.
 

BillyC80

Heisman
Oct 23, 2006
15,761
13,739
72
General comment is that we played more like a team versus a collection of individual players.

I was impressed with Tariq and the continued development of Grant and JMike.

Buchanan and Badalau look like mature physical players that will be competitive contributors.

Ogbole used his size well to grab rebounds, alter shots, and create imposing traps.

Ware looked nimble for a guy his size and I look forward to watching him develop and contribute this year.

Zrno looks confident in his shot and with a bit more consistency should provide much needed daggers.

Dortch and Fall need to be more aggressive and hopefully one or both will give some productive spot minutes (and fouls) at the 5.

The other 3 freshmen will have to make the best of whatever minutes they can get to prove themselves (D up and box out!) and earn additional PT. Kaden with a nice stroke on his FTs with good size and athleticism.
 
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Feb 5, 2003
10,902
9,224
113
I think the FT woes are exaggerated. Ware 0-2, he won't see much action in conference play. Buchanan 2-7, that is a concern. Everybody else 19-24, I will take that. Buchanan was 63% and 68% his last two seasons, he won't be that bad often. Maybe he gets to around 70% thr rest of the way.

Small sample size, after all.
 

tru2ru1

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2003
5,419
3,021
66
To be fair..there were people outside the program who paid 2 top 5 draft picks around $3million to play Rutgers

Like insanity to just ignore that
Ace & Dylan were given the money, but they decided where they would play, so it had nothing to do with Rutgers, & the people giving the money had nothing to do with Rutgers
 
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KnightTerrors

All-Conference
Dec 23, 2015
937
2,788
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Year 9? You say that when a team has never achieved results. Pike has finished in 6th, 5th and 4th in the big ten. He is a high quality coach that has not had help with NIL and suffered clearly with the roster. This roster isn’t loaded with talent. In fact it’s full of hustlers, grinders and underdogs. The hope is the University is now set up properly to support NIL and he can attract better players.
I’ve been a vocal Pike supporter the whole time. We’re 4 years removed from a tournament, barely made the big ten tournament with two lottery picks, and are staring down the barrel of our worst season of his tenure. At some point…
 

needmorecowbell

Heisman
Oct 28, 2007
9,187
10,126
78
I’ve been a vocal Pike supporter the whole time. We’re 4 years removed from a tournament, barely made the big ten tournament with two lottery picks, and are staring down the barrel of our worst season of his tenure. At some point…
I agree. This season is looking to be in the 13-16 wins range. Hopefully we’re wrong and they exceed expectations. He will need to hit a home run next year or else Zinn will probably looking for his replacement.

I believe that Pike is a very good coach. He did win a National Coach of the year award in 2020. His issue has been NIL. That started with Cam and Paul. If those guys don’t leave in May, that’s another tournament team for sure. I just don’t know if he will get beyond 2026-27 to fix the roster issue. If that happens the NIL issue will just be given to someone else.
 

BillyC80

Heisman
Oct 23, 2006
15,761
13,739
72
RU missed at LEAST 15 lay-ups or shots within 2-3 feet of the rim - Badalau missed at least 5 of those ... and of course all of Ogbole's shots. But Nwuli, Powers also missed several each.

You'd like to think that won't happen every game ...
13 guys played, 11 attempted at least one shot

6 guys made a combined 24 of 41 shots

5 guys combined to go 1-23

(Badalau 1-12, Ogbole 0-5 — combined 0-11 inside the paint— have to be much better)
 
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RUfan1977

Senior
Mar 24, 2024
250
423
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General comment is that we played more like a team versus a collection of individual players.

I was impressed with Tariq and the continued development of Grant and JMike.

Buchanan and Badalau look like mature physical players that will be competitive contributors.

Ogbole used his size well to grab rebounds, alter shots, and create imposing traps.

Ware looked nimble for a guy his size and I look forward to watching him develop and contribute this year.

Zrno looks confident in his shot and with a bit more consistency should provide much needed daggers.

Dortch and Fall need to be more aggressive and hopefully one or both will give some productive spot minutes (and fouls) at the 5.

The other 3 freshmen will have to make the best of whatever minutes they can get to prove themselves (D up and box out!) and earn additional PT. Kaden with a nice stroke on his FTs with good size and athleticism.
Agree with what you said, but would add with
Ogbole he was up there blocking shots. Would have had 2 more if he hadn’t blocked a shot onto the basket and if someone else hadn’t fouled the shooter.

Kaden caused 3 quick turnovers while he was playing which was also a big plus.
 
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BillyC80

Heisman
Oct 23, 2006
15,761
13,739
72
I’m rooting for Ogbole to be a plus factor on both ends. We really need it. I did notice a couple times he whiffed on block attempts and Rider got an OReb as a result.

Kaden looks physically ready, and has a nice stroke from the charity stripe (4-4 at the FT line). Interested to see how quickly he can contribute more.
 
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RC80

All-Conference
Feb 25, 2021
1,131
1,405
113
Looking at the various in game comments - need to laugh at the first half stuff -- we are the worst team ever; versus the 2nd half comments -- maybe we're not so terrible; and also a couple people getting on the TKR staff for not getting the Francis assessment correct. Which considering SP keep everyone from seeing his team (except for one open practice) - you could only go on his previous work. That said - unless EO & Fall become adequate (I was searching for the right word) - staff may need to go with bunch of not ideal options including using -- Buchanan, Dortch, Ware, along with EO - who is going to play (at least until he gets into foul trouble).
 

PSAL_Hoops

Heisman
Feb 18, 2008
11,744
10,868
78
Agreed, I was also encouraged by him only having 1 foul in 20 minutes to go along with his 10 boards.
Ogbole was rock solid vs Rider outside of his lack of post offense. Anyone who suggests otherwise is just biased from the past. Pike was clearly experimenting with defensive perimeter schemes knowing that 2 of his best perimeter players are undersized. Remember when he used to bring MJ out to trap on the perimeter? He’s trying to figure out combinations and which guys (Nwuli / Denis / Buchanan can play that Caleb role on the help to clean up the glass underneath. Very few of those offensive boards were on big O. He was defending the perimeter or not in the game for most of them.

I thought big O looked solid in the trap scheme too. It’s the other guys who need to catch on. Down low on the help. But again - first game.

Very encouraging to see all the mixing and matching by Pike. He was never concerned we wouldn’t pull away.