IMO the turning point was the moment he hit that high crotch against AB and couldn't get the takedown at PSU a few years ago. Leading up to that point Poz was coming off of an AA and was undefeated. Things went downhill right after. Whether it was a back injury or the flame within him went out, that to me was the moment things noticably changed. After that match he wasn't the same. Tonight's match was ugly. Maybe he's a bit undersized or people have figured him out. What he's accomplished with one eye is pretty impressive. I always pull for the guy, but he doesn't seem as into it. Something is clearly off at the very least.

KnightTerrors said:

It’s been a disappointing year but are we going to act like the last 6 years haven’t been amazing for season ticket holders? We’ve had like 15+ ranked wins, sellout after sellout, and one of the loudest home court advantages in CBB.

That said, I’m a homer and will be in my seats no matter what.

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Has it really been six years? Three seasons ago that team absolutely imploded down the stretch. The rac advantage started to show cracks. Granted we lost Mag but that Minne loss on the road had nothing to do with Mag. Then while we accepted the NIT that game wasn’t fun. In the end the season wasn’t a fun one in total. Last season was a disaster and most just held on to get to this season. And now this season and we’re a laughing stock again. Now the 2019-2022 seasons, Chefs kiss. Not just in terms of quality, ncaa basketball, but in terms of entertainment. The balance of the pep band and music, timed well with game flow and really worked the crowd up. It was a party! Now it’s just poorly timed music on timeouts. Not much band and endless tshirt times and tv giveaways. I’ll probably keep my seats too, but the rac the last few years isn’t close to what it was 2019-22

RutgersChow said:

I'm pretty sure JMike's assist to turnover ratio is better, and that's the best measure of a PG. JWill does have much better fall down and clown around rates, I'll give you that. We're better off if he doesn't come back. Just interested - what are all those aspects of the game that JWill is better at?

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He’s not a PG. None of them are. He’s a shot hunter who can’t shoot. Williams is much better scorer, albeit closer the hoop, you know, the area where Davis gets either stuffed or flat out bricks a bunny several times a game.

winfield102 said:

You're spiraling. From "in or out?" to this thread. Time to reset the expectations so you don't feel like Charlie Brown when Lucy pulls the ball away.

An extremely large percentage of fans went into the season with unrealistic expectations. Pikes identity for the program is defense. 2 superstars on offense and a group of transfers that struggle to play defense was not a good roster for him.

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It would have been a better roster with someone else managing, maybe anyone else.

T2Kplus20 said:

Learn to fish:

www.weather.com

All the weather info you need to know. Or just look at your iPhone weather app.

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That iPhone weather app is pretty accurate

Shelby65 said:

Players can go back to HS ? Since when ? He's probably a better fit at SJ Metuchen than Montvale. JWill is better in every aspect except for maybe 3 pt shooting, emphasis on maybe.

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I'm pretty sure JMike's assist to turnover ratio is better, and that's the best measure of a PG. JWill does have much better fall down and clown around rates, I'll give you that. We're better off if he doesn't come back. Just interested - what are all those aspects of the game that JWill is better at?

BKIn118 said:

Ok...I'll bite

First, it was good to run into you outside the RAC @LeapinLou ...it's been a minute!

I don't think my opinion about how this season has turned out differs much from most others. I'm a bit disappointed but not at all surprised that we haven't executed during this experiment of a season. There could be 1000 reasons why, and I won't bore anyone with my 2 cents on that
..but to Rutgers credit, none are salacious or controversial in nature.

Pike is an outstanding human being and a great basketball coach. He will get us back on track when the smoke clears...I'm quite confident of that. Rutgers basketball will have 2 lottery picks in the NBA, and the programs profile has increased 1000 fold, even with the mediocre results so far.

Nobody can say that is a bad thing, right?

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Well said. Voice of reason.

So What country gets left out?

e5fdny said:

No

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goru7 said:

He gets beat now and doesn’t close out on his guy either. He also used to be right up on the point guard making it harder to get screened but he has allowed himself to get screened easily this year. He gives pressure in the backcourt and then backs off, which still allows offense to run whatever they want. Not disruptive anymore.

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Much easier to be disruptive when you know you can count on the help behind you, and have rim protection.

goru7 said:

What happened to his harassing defense this year and staying in front of his man? His defense has regressed as his main role defensively is to harass the other team’s point guard so that their offense is disrupted. He has done a terrible job this year doing what was originally earning him minutes. Why?

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He's playing his man to tight 30 feet from the basket for starters.

What kind of shoes do frogs wear?


Open toad.

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koleszar said:

I heard the same from a friend whose son was on the same Bound Brook team as Mekhi.

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If this is the case, where we are losing recruits for being in the b10 and using the excuse that the b10 grind is the reason our wrestlers regressed then idk why we were even originally celebrating the move from EIWA to b10…

Yara and Bulsak went from diff conference to b10 and they seemed to do fine..

mikemarc1 said:

Thats possible. I think that’s alot of games in a small window, though. Unless there’s no knockout round and top 2 in each group play for championship. I suppose that could work.

I think they have to have more than 8 teams if they truly want to showcase the worlds best.

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No.

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In today’s college game, I completely expect Lathan to leave. Seriously . Hope I’m wrong but nothing will surprise me. Of JWill is our “leader” again next year we are in trouble.

Rebuilding the next 2 years, even WITH portal kids, which shouldn’t be but 2 or so. Development is key.

Local Shill said:

Well we’ve been ”off track” for 24 1/2 months so there’s a lot of spin there, but I appreciate you taking the time to answer.

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Are we still mad at Pikes that Cam and Paul transferred so late that he couldn't find good enough replacements? The 2023 offseason is one that I think will be written in Rutgers lore.... and I don't think it can all be blamed on Pikes. If you just want to go on W and Ls I think that's not fair. This season is all on Pikes... but I think he's a very good coach that can fix things.

BKIn118 said:

Ok...I'll bite

First, it was good to run into you outside the RAC @LeapinLou ...it's been a minute!

I don't think my opinion about how this season has turned out differs much from most others. I'm a bit disappointed but not at all surprised that we haven't executed during this experiment of a season. There are 1000 reasons why, which I won't bore anyone with...but to Rutgers credit, none are salacious or controversial in nature.

Pike is an outstanding human being and a great basketball coach. He will get us back on track when the smoke clears...I'm quite confident of that. Rutgers basketball will have 2 lottery picks in the NBA, and the programs profile has increased 1000 fold, even with the mediocre results so far.

Nobody can say that is a bad thing, right?

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Well we’ve been ”off track” for 24 1/2 months so there’s a lot of spin there, but I appreciate you taking the time to answer.

goru7 said:

Iowa. By 25. It was a 2 point game for like 10 minutes from the 12 -13?mark to 1:50 left. Iowa converted 66% of their second half possessions . Where do you come up with this crap Iowa should have won by 25. A guess they needed to convert 100% of their possessions.

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Iowa shot way below their 3 point average. They missed a lot of wide open 3’s in first half as Rutgers defense was subpar. If not for Acuff and some other players getting hot from 3, we would not have had lead at halftime.

SCNJ said:

I’m not sure how this plays out in regards to being eligible for weight for states, but if I’m reading things correctly Chapman weighed in as a 175 pounder but stepped on the scale with the 190 pounders, so he wouldn’t have been able to wrestle 175 in this dual.

I think he’s still eligible for 165 but one of the NJ wrestling media members says he expects to see Ludington vs Chapman 3 in the state finals. I’m not entirely sure where he’s getting that from though because I don’t think Chapman going 190 or Ludington going 175 is plausible.

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The weight decent rule permits 1.5% per week, so if he weighed 178.1, as reported, then he's not eligible to cut to 167 for Districts on 2/22. He's probably going 177, unless he decides to bump up to 192.

KidDagger said:

How do u know one of the reasons for Lewis choosing VT was to avoid the b10 grind?

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I heard the same from a friend whose son was on the same Bound Brook team as Mekhi.