Ain’t nobody tryin to hear about a “rebuild”.

[SBP]

No way. Not in todays game…
You better RELOAD!

Pike is FIRMLY on the hot seat with these transfers thus far. Unless he pulls a rabbit out his arse and gets 2 or 3 BIG10 level players, it’s a LOSING SEASON we are facing.

Damn. We are a friggin disaster.

 

[RUGiddy777]

No way. Not in todays game…
You better RELOAD!

Pike is FIRMLY on the hot seat with these transfers thus far. Unless he pulls a rabbit out his arse and gets 2 or 3 BIG10 level players, it’s a LOSING SEASON we are facing.

Damn. We are a friggin disaster.

He can add 5-7 guys. I suspect neither of these guys broke the bank. Patience.

 

[NickRU714]

The problem with "rebuild" is that it implies you can retain players as they develop and get more talented.

If we can't afford talented transfers then we won't be able to afford talented "retention" players of the same caliber.

It appears people think somehow "retention" cost stays the same and won't substantially increase as the player gets better.

"Grant will get a full year to start, play minutes and develop into a bonife B10 starter. We spend 2 years of playing Grant to get the benefit of junion/senior Grant."

That how "rebuilding" works.

But that's not how it works anymore.
Grant costs $500k(?) to retain because he's a below average B10 starter.
But as a junior - assuming he gets better, Grant would cost the same as any other B10 starter - presumably over $1m.

So it's either pay over $1m for Grant or over $1m on a transfer.

Back to the original point, if we can pay "$1m on a transfer" then how do pay "$1m to retain a player"?

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

He can add 5-7 guys. I suspect neither of these guys broke the bank. Patience.

I hope not. My hope is that maybe the context of the message from Richie and crew is being misinterpreted. Maybe he’s simply been assured that he’ll have every opportunity to compete with J-Mike to earn playing time. Thats the best case scenario -that Francis was given a small package comparable to what Pepperdine offered (considering nobody else was interested - he’s like the 400th ranked portal prospect). If we gave him 500k when nobody else was interested to come be a starter for us that’d be really messed up.

 

[ru66]

I hope not. My hope is that maybe the context of the message from Richie and crew is being misinterpreted. Maybe he’s simply been assured that he’ll have every opportunity to compete with J-Mike to earn playing time. Thats the best case scenario -that Francis was given a small package comparable to what Pepperdine offered (considering nobody else was interested - he’s like the 400th ranked portal prospect). If we gave him 500k when nobody else was interested to come be a starter for us that’d be really messed up.

Seems to me when most teams lose most of their starting players to the portal ,the NBA or no eligibility, they're all not reloading but rebuilding .

 

[Mholinko]

I hope not. My hope is that maybe the context of the message from Richie and crew is being misinterpreted. Maybe he’s simply been assured that he’ll have every opportunity to compete with J-Mike to earn playing time. Thats the best case scenario -that Francis was given a small package comparable to what Pepperdine offered (considering nobody else was interested - he’s like the 400th ranked portal prospect). If we gave him 500k when nobody else was interested to come be a starter for us that’d be really messed up.

Richie indicated in the podcast that there was internal debate if we wanted Francis at all

That’s a horrible sign if the staff couldn’t agree until the 11th hour if he was worth a take and then pay him anything more than a bag of balls when he had no power 4 offers other than us… more mismanagement of the portal

 

[ancienthooper]

Richie indicated in the podcast that there was internal debate if we wanted Francis at all

That’s a horrible sign if the staff couldn’t agree until the 11th hour if he was worth a take and then pay him anything more than a bag of balls when he had no power 4 offers other than us… more mismanagement of the portal

Richie, Richie, Richie. Fact…staff disagreements on player evaluations is an everyday occurrence in good programs. And having honest dialogue among the staff is a GOOD thing.

 

[TRU2RU]

Richie indicated in the podcast that there was internal debate if we wanted Francis at all

That’s a horrible sign if the staff couldn’t agree until the 11th hour if he was worth a take and then pay him anything more than a bag of balls when he had no power 4 offers other than us… more mismanagement of the portal

As if Richie has any idea what was said, internal conversations between staff members don’t get revealed to message board posters or supposed reporters

 

[Mholinko]

Richie, Richie, Richie. Fact…staff disagreements on player evaluations is an everyday occurrence in good programs. And having honest dialogue among the staff is a GOOD thing.

Okay let’s remove Richie and the contributors from the discussion

He didn’t have a single P4 offer other than us and his other offers were from bad mid majors and low majors

This is a family favor to knight … he was one of the most inefficient players in the America east which is a bad league and is a smaller weaker guard than the PG we already have who may now transfer

I would be HAPPY to hear the other coaches on staff besides pike and knight gave some resistance to this decision

Care to give me a reason why this is a good signing?

 

[Mholinko]

As if Richie has any idea what was said, internal conversations between staff members don’t get revealed to message board posters or supposed reporters

You guys can’t be giving benefit of the doubt to knight and pike on this. He was not even ranked in the top 30 efficiency wise in a low major league and by some services Is outside the top 700!!!! Of portal targets

 

[ancienthooper]

Okay let’s remove Richie and the contributors from the discussion

He didn’t have a single P4 offer other than us and his other offers were from bad mid majors and low majors

This is a family favor to knight … he was one of the most inefficient players in the America east which is a bad league and is a smaller weaker guard than the PG we already have who may now transfer

I would be HAPPY to hear the other coaches on staff besides pike and knight gave some resistance to this decision

Care to give me a reason why this is a good signing?

First, you have absolutely no inside information that this was a “family favor” to Knight. I doubt at this point Pikes gives two shits about giving favors. Second, I wasn’t commenting on the player, only that disagreements among staff regarding player evaluations happen all the time and it’s a healthy thing.

 

[Mholinko]

First, you have absolutely no inside information that this was a “family favor” to Knight. I doubt at this point Pikes gives two shits about giving favors. Second, I wasn’t commenting on the player, only that disagreements among staff regarding player evaluations happen all the time and it’s a healthy thing.

He’s Brandon knights godson

He’s the 702nd ranked player in the portal

He had no power 4 offers

He’s a worse PG than the one we already have from a physical standpoint and his production is evidence of an inefficient mid major PG

On top of that there’s nobody who has any attachment to the program from a reporting standpoint OUTSIDE of rivals that is indicating that the family tie doesn’t at least have something to do with it

It’s a bad signing either way

 

[TRU2RU]

You guys can’t be giving benefit of the doubt to knight and pike on this. He was not even ranked in the top 30 efficiency wise in a low major league and by some services Is outside the top 700!!!! Of portal targets

Any service that claims to rank 700 players in the portal is nothing but clickbait as none have ever watched half of them play

 

[rutgersal]

Okay let’s remove Richie and the contributors from the discussion

He didn’t have a single P4 offer other than us and his other offers were from bad mid majors and low majors

This is a family favor to knight … he was one of the most inefficient players in the America east which is a bad league and is a smaller weaker guard than the PG we already have who may now transfer

I would be HAPPY to hear the other coaches on staff besides pike and knight gave some resistance to this decision

Care to give me a reason why this is a good signing?

If knight thinks he can play, that’s good enough for me. At the very least he’s depth. Hopefully he can score some points for us.

I don’t know what people are expecting with little NIL. Pike is a basketball coach, not a magician. If we don’t have NIL, we have to do the best we can.

 

[RUGiddy777]

I hope not. My hope is that maybe the context of the message from Richie and crew is being misinterpreted. Maybe he’s simply been assured that he’ll have every opportunity to compete with J-Mike to earn playing time. Thats the best case scenario -that Francis was given a small package comparable to what Pepperdine offered (considering nobody else was interested - he’s like the 400th ranked portal prospect). If we gave him 500k when nobody else was interested to come be a starter for us that’d be really messed up.

100%. If this about being able to compete at the highest level and not NIL, it’s a good signing. Or even a gap fill until Lino is ready for serious minutes.

Im hoping they’re keeping their powder dry for a center who can play D and add 10+ ppg.

 

[Mholinko]

Any service that claims to rank 700 players in the portal is nothing but clickbait as none have ever watched half of them play

You guys are just funny and hopelessly optimistic that this is a good signing

Were in the big 10 and we have spent year after year signing MAC MAAC NEC and America east talent

Nobody gets it

This is not a signing you lock in on April 12th

If this is your starting pg you can already pencil us 17 or 18th

 

[RUGiddy777]

You guys are just funny and hopelessly optimistic that this is a good signing

Were in the big 10 and we have spent year after year signing MAC MAAC NEC and America east talent

Nobody gets it

This is not a signing you lock in on April 12th

If this is your starting pg you can already pencil us 17 or 18th

JMike is the starting 1 next season.

 

[RUGiddy777]

I hope not. My hope is that maybe the context of the message from Richie and crew is being misinterpreted. Maybe he’s simply been assured that he’ll have every opportunity to compete with J-Mike to earn playing time. Thats the best case scenario -that Francis was given a small package comparable to what Pepperdine offered (considering nobody else was interested - he’s like the 400th ranked portal prospect). If we gave him 500k when nobody else was interested to come be a starter for us that’d be really messed up.

Carino reporting he came at a very good value and the addition indicates a return to full court press.

 

[RUDivision]

First, you have absolutely no inside information that this was a “family favor” to Knight. I doubt at this point Pikes gives two shits about giving favors. Second, I wasn’t commenting on the player, only that disagreements among staff regarding player evaluations happen all the time and it’s a healthy thing.

A 5 ft 10” 170 pound pg who has one of the worst assist to turnover ratio’s. Volume bad shooter, poor defender, and listed as the 702 player overall.

If it’s not a “family favor” to a young man who has lived with the Associate head coach then Pike is literally the worst head coach in all of college basketball

 

[seansherm]

Carino reporting he came at a very good value and the addition indicates a return to full court press.

Carino is awful when it comes to basketball opinions. Free is very good value here. Paying something is not.

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

No way. Not in todays game…
You better RELOAD!

Pike is FIRMLY on the hot seat with these transfers thus far. Unless he pulls a rabbit out his arse and gets 2 or 3 BIG10 level players, it’s a LOSING SEASON we are facing.

Damn. We are a friggin disaster.

If you were expecting more than a losing season then I feel bad for you.

 

[RUtrumpet92]

If we don't get a few high rates transfers this portal season, next year looks BLEAK and Pike's seat should be red hot after next season if we are last place in the conference. I don't understand locking in Francis this soon. If he's supposed to be a starter, we are in deep trouble. If he is depth only, what's the hurry?

 

[drewbagel423]

First, you have absolutely no inside information that this was a “family favor” to Knight. I doubt at this point Pikes gives two shits about giving favors. Second, I wasn’t commenting on the player, only that disagreements among staff regarding player evaluations happen all the time and it’s a healthy thing.

IF a player is objectively good, coaches should not be disagreeing. If you're scraping the bottom of the barrel, that's a different story.

 

[Yeah Baby]

Okay let’s remove Richie and the contributors from the discussion

He didn’t have a single P4 offer other than us and his other offers were from bad mid majors and low majors

This is a family favor to knight … he was one of the most inefficient players in the America east which is a bad league and is a smaller weaker guard than the PG we already have who may now transfer

I would be HAPPY to hear the other coaches on staff besides pike and knight gave some resistance to this decision

Care to give me a reason why this is a good signing?

Yes I am sure they all can't wait to explain their decisions to you. Stay on your phone and wait for it

 

[ScarletKid2008]

There literally is no such thing as a rebuild season anymore. Every season is its own, and every team has >50% turnover. Maybe even more like 70% turnover every single season. Rebuilds don’t exist anymore. You are constructing annual rosters that have and look very little like the previous seasons

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Well maybe it will feature a “build-like” feel although it won’t necessarily mean building something good. There’s a non-zero chance we could be be starting 4 returning players from last year’s roster by the end of the year.

 

[Scangg]

If knight thinks he can play, that’s good enough for me. At the very least he’s depth. Hopefully he can score some points for us.

I don’t know what people are expecting with little NIL. Pike is a basketball coach, not a magician. If we don’t have NIL, we have to do the best we can.

The coaches have brought in bust after bust after bust from the portal so assuming an undersized inefficient low level guard is going to be good just bc Knight thinks his godson can play is incredibly naive

 

[NickRU714]

100%. If this about being able to compete at the highest level and not NIL, it’s a good signing. Or even a gap fill until Lino is ready for serious minutes.

Im hoping they’re keeping their powder dry for a center who can play D and add 10+ ppg.

Keeping their power dry would mean not spending money on "bench depth" and using those funds towards "a center who can play D and add 10+ ppg".

I'd much rather take 90% of the money that went to Buchanan and Francis - spend it on getting a better center.
Then backfill the 9th and 10th guys with worse players (with less money).

 

[The RUT]

JMike is the starting 1 next season.

This would be bad too. I like JMike A LOT, and I think a guy like him should be celebrated in the current climate of college sports.

With that said, he’s a great 6th man for me. High energy guy, willing to do whatever the staff/team needs him to do.

If the starting PG is already on this team then we are in trouble IMO.

 

[RUGiddy777]

This would be bad too. I like JMike A LOT, and I think a guy like him should be celebrated in the current climate of college sports.

With that said, he’s a great 6th man for me. High energy guy, willing to do whatever the staff/team needs him to do.

If the starting PG is already on this team then we are in trouble IMO.

I think that’s fair. My hope is that he builds on the good J-Mike we saw in spurts this season after playing alongside 2 world class players. And I thought he was very good bringing the ball up the court against USC.

But it’s definitely an open question.

 

[fluoxetine]

he was one of the most inefficient players in the America east

T-Rank Player Stats - Customizable College Basketball Tempo Free Stats - T-Rank

T-Rank College Basketball Ratings and Rankings. And fun.

barttorvik.com

Bart's analytic seems to think he is the 12th most efficient player in the America East, which is not exactly a huge achievement, but is much better than what you are stating.

 

[TRU2RU]

T-Rank Player Stats - Customizable College Basketball Tempo Free Stats - T-Rank

T-Rank College Basketball Ratings and Rankings. And fun.

barttorvik.com

Bart's analytic seems to think he is the 12th most efficient player in the America East, which is not exactly a huge achievement, but is much better than what you are stating.

As always those who know the least say the most

 

[Mholinko]

As always those who know the least say the most

the thinly veiled shot is duly noted

19 points per game on 18 attempts in a LOW MAJOR conference is wildly inefficient...

being 12th in the the america east is like getting the participation trophy for finishing a 5k

36% on 2 point attempts and 32% on 3 point attempts

over 3 turnovers per game

in a weak league on a bad team

 

[bac2therac]

T-Rank Player Stats - Customizable College Basketball Tempo Free Stats - T-Rank

T-Rank College Basketball Ratings and Rankings. And fun.

barttorvik.com

Bart's analytic seems to think he is the 12th most efficient player in the America East, which is not exactly a huge achievement, but is much better than what you are stating.

This means little

 

[rutgersal]

The coaches have brought in bust after bust after bust from the portal so assuming an undersized inefficient low level guard is going to be good just bc Knight thinks his godson can play is incredibly naive

Brandon Knight knows a thing or two about good guard play and beggars can’t be choosers.

You have to at least give him a chance, don’t you? I didn’t read anyone trashing Dercack last spring.

 

[fluoxetine]

This means little

I agree but it does mean he's not one of the worst players in the America East. It's possible to be critical without exaggerating or just saying things are flat out false.

 

[RUDivision]

I agree but it does mean he's not one of the worst players in the America East. It's possible to be critical without exaggerating or just saying things are flat out false.

Or the analytic is flawed!

Example : Look at Turnover to Assist ratio which everyone uses to applaud JMike’s greatness. That analytic would show JMike is one of the best PG in the Big.

Real life: 1 assist avg ( 3 elite scores on his team). 1 he does nothing to help the offense.

He doesn’t create opportunities or pass to others so obviously his turn over numbers are low.

Simply looking at the math doesn’t always tell the story.

 

[OkRUguy]

Brandon Knight knows a thing or two about good guard play and beggars can’t be choosers.

You have to at least give him a chance, don’t you? I didn’t read anyone trashing Dercack last spring.

Derkack was the NEC POY, DPOY and was mediocre to bad at the high major level

Francis didn’t make any of the American East’s All Conference teams and played for a team that won 6 games

Surely you can see the difference between these two players and why people don’t have high expectations when a better player, on paper, wasn’t very good for RU this past season.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Derkack was the NEC POY, DPOY and was mediocre to bad at the high major level

Francis didn’t make any of the American East’s All Conference teams and played for a team that won 6 games

Surely you can see the difference between these two players and why people don’t have high expectations when a better player, on paper, wasn’t very good for RU this past season

Dercack is also a lot taller. Played for a better team. And we were hoping to land his younger brother. It’s completely different.

 

[fluoxetine]

Simply looking at the math doesn’t always tell the story.

So you've watched him play?