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OT: Another nice game by Simpson

Now that Simpson has had a few more Q1/Q2 games, I thought I'd revisit the stat comparison:

Per 100 possessions, comparing last year to this year:
2023-24: 18.5 pts, eFG% .340, 7.2 rb, 6.5 ast, 3.4 tov, 1.94 ast/tov, 3.1 stl, 2.9 pf
2024-25: 18.4 pts, eFG% .461, 7.7 rb, 7.0 ast, 3.7 tov, 1.88 ast/tov, 2.4 stl, 3.3 pf

St. Joseph's has now had 7 Q1/Q2 games vs. 13 Q3/Q4 games.

Here are his average stats vs. NET quadrants this year:
Q1/Q2: 32.2 min, 7.3 pts (10.7 FGA/.266 FG%, 4.2 3PA/.240 3P%, 1.0 FTA/.667 FT%), eFG% .313, 3.5 rb, 2.5 ast, 2.0 tov, 1.50 ast/tov, 1.3 stl, 1.5 pf
Q3/Q4: 31.8 min, 11.8 pts (9.0 FGA/.444 FG%, 4.5 3PA/.407 3P%, 2.5 FTA/.758 FT%), 3FG% .547, 4.4 rb, 4.3 ast, 2.1 tov, 2.07 ast/tov, 1.2 stl, 2.1 pf

Last year, Rutgers faced 21 games vs. Q1/Q2, and 11 vs Q3/Q4.
So still epically bad against real teams

Simpson is not the answer. Let it gooooo

The answer was portal players who were actually B1G level good

Pikell Just Sucks

What makes you think that?
Because a coach like Kelvin Sampson, Dusty May, Fred Hoiberg, etc would not lose 3 quad 4 games in a row in 2021-2022 that ultimately caused Rutgers to become a last four in team.

The best a Pike-coached team is the bubble (besides the 2019-2020 season), and that was with better player evaluation and not having to worry about NIL.

We also make the tournament in 2022-2023 if he started Simpson instead of Mulcahy after upsetting Indiana at the RAC

Pikell Just Sucks

Watching up close. We have an athletic team. A healthy Dylan and EO clogging up the lane, it's a tight game.....Biggest mistake was not playing Grant and Dortch early. ..He should have Let them learn on the fly.
agree on Harper and Ogbole,

Grant has made some nice strides since Vegas,

Dortch is not ready yet

Wright and Raf were complimenting Izzo on how he has both upperclassmen and 10 deep playing 14 minutes a game in this era

whether it was self inficted or not, Pike returned only JWill, JMike and Ogbole this year, if he can add Sommerville, Grant and Derkack to those 3 for next year, not whiff in the portal, and get some production from the incoming class RU may have an Izzo blueprint for 25/26

Thanks again Pike. You let a seventeen year old dictate YOUR plans.

Yes,the center position has been a problem but the lack of 3 point scoring from the three transfers has been far more impactful along with Williams disappointing season.
Let’s just call it six of one and a half dozen of the other. Shelby puts Williams #3 at least for defense. All the rest can’t play any defense at all, can’t rebound on either end, and can’t shoot.

JMike brings nothing at all. Even Hayes brings the small chance of hitting a three. JMike not even a good chance of hitting the rim.

Sit Dylan

At this point, this really is the best strategy for Rutgers. Get Dylan healthy, sit him out, try to finish in the top 15 (which is going to a real dogfight) and then go into the conference tourney with a healthier Dylan. Sit him the next 2 or 3 games if needed to get him healthier. The season is already a bust so what do they have to lose, except more games but they’re going to lose these game anyway, just sit him and try to get him right.

RAPID REACTION — Michigan State

1. We can’t win a game with Dylan hobbled and ineffective and Ace shooting 4-17. Period.

2. Shout out to Derkack for playing a great game with 26 points on 7-11 from the floor overall, 4-7 from deep, and 8-9 on FTs.

3. Too bad he got no help from Martini (0-5) or Acuff (1-6) or JWill (a quiet 4 points).

4. We just couldn’t hit the ocean from the boat today, shooting a horrendous 23-68 for 33.8% overall from the field. And a TON of the misses were on point blank layups and shots at the rim. Absolutely gut wrenching to watch shot after shot roll off the rim.

5. I actually thought the defense played pretty well today, but MSU is soooo patient that they were able to get decent looks even late in the shot clock.

6. MSU goes a legit 10 deep and there’s little drop off. Big, athletic, with skilled guards and high flying wings. They’re a contender, but their lack of 3-pt shooting will ultimately be their downfall.

7. The season is effectively over, as we’re not going to win 9 of the next 11 games without Ogbole and with a hobbled Dylan Harper. Best we can hope for now is actually making the Big Ten Tournament.

8. Not gonna lie, I’m just despondent over how this promising season basically crashed on takeoff. It’s really hard being a Rutgers fan…

Pikell Just Sucks

Ok ..we agree.

The solution - to me - is not relying on the portal as much and going back to what made him successful. This works / he’s beaten #1 teams with this approach in the past.

You want to adapt and stay new school with a different coach.

Two different approaches..both could work. But with pikes contract - I don’t think it’s wise to fire him
Won’t work in the new world. As soon as a player gets better, he bolts RU for greener $ pastures. Have to use to the portal.

In the meantime you’ve got a bottom feeding team of “developing” players.

Pikell Just Sucks

Certainly deserves another year or so to right the ship.

As I’ve suggested many times - get back to how he built the program. Blue collar workers - under appreciated guys that wanna be here, that’s how pike built the program and when he’s had his most success

If that doesn’t work - that’s when we have this conversation
The concept of blue collar play is done in basketball. HS college talent want cash and to go bombs away, or they will transfer to a school that either pays them more or lets them shoot more.

Hate to say it, but…

Nah. Izzo would have coached differently since the game was never in doubt and the RAC isn’t what it used to be. The fans’ passion just doesn’t seem to be there with this group…and I get that. I think we still lose.
The passion is there on a game by game basis, depending on how close we are in the game, and who the opponent is

It is always that way
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