Be Honest, When did you first notice something was off?

[rucook08]

Halfway Into season at what point would you say you first noticed that this team wasn’t going to live up to expectations

I must say I felt a little something the second half of the exhibition with ST John’s. We came in ranked with a Scottie Pippen Michael Jordan touted duo and found a way to lose the second half

We were legit told we had two Carmelo Anthony’s are on our team

 

[RRRRUUUU]

Merrimack for me. I could excuse the first 2 games with Ace out. But Merrimack was close with a few mins left.

 

[RUby RED]

I was encouraged after St. John’s, even with the poor 2nd half defensive display

I’d say the first real concern came with the ND game. They lose their best player in the first 5 mins and still managed to make it a game despite Dylan going for 35. That was the first time the alarm bells really went off regarding our supporting cast and their ability to compete at a power conference level

I was willing to write the Kennesaw game off as a fluke, but following that up with our performance against ND worried me

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

We have a coach who built this program on defense. Getting guys to play hard and benching them when they don't. Also relying on upper classman. Definitely not an offensive minded coach. With this in mind we go after 2 one and dones that are here for 6 months and have to get treated differently than everyone else.

So the answer to the question....before the season started.

 

[bac2therac]

Struggling to put away St Peters but giving up 81 to Monmouth cemented my concern

 

[nutfromSEC117]

Starting off 15 games 2 years ago up 15-6 and Pike substituting 3 starters at once and magically the score would immediately be 15-14 at the 15:45 mark.
Like a football coach with the first 15 plays scripted , no what the score , no matter how a player is playing Pike HAD to sub 3 20 year old men out after only 4 mins of play

 

[rutgershoopsinsider]

Halfway Into season at what point would you say you first noticed that this team wasn’t going to live up to expectations

I must say I felt a little something the second half of the exhibition with ST John’s. We came in ranked with a Scottie Pippen Michael Jordan touted duo and found a way to lose the second half

We were legit told we had two Carmelo Anthony’s are on our team

When they struggled for dear life to beat St. Peter's

 

[kt124]

st john’s exhibition had me slightly worried (we got abused in the paint and on the boards) but my fears were confirmed by the time we were done with vegas

 

[MCKnight2004]

When Pike did his usual pre season hype sell job on Ogbole and how he’s faster and more athletic than Cliff, and how we can’t bring in another center bc this isn’t fantasy sports….

The lack of a true center rim protector and rebounder has killed us all season

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

When we immediately signed Martini last Spring, made him Captain, and were told he would be part of 3-headed monster to replace Cliff lol....But in all honesty, probably giving up over 80 to Monmouth.

 

[RAC93]

The Vegas week, the Kennesaw loss on Sunday, the issues of barely beating a not very good ND team, the way the rebounding and defense looked. Vegas week as a whole told me this team probably doesn’t have what it takes, even though there was some encouragement against Bama and A&M (they actually rebounded in this game), I had serious concerns about this team’s ability to actually win games as it was a 1-3 week. Unfortunately this has played out as they are 4-7 from the Kennesaw game until now. 4-7…….let that soak in……that is brutal and there were some very winnable games during this stretch. This team playing winning basketball became an issue for me that week as the Big Ten schedule was looming in the future. I realized this team was in trouble with the future conference schedule. Little did I know that SHU and Princeton would be games that exposed their issues as well. It’s just been a massive downward spiral since the trip to Kennesaw as far as getting wins is concerned.

 

[Salvi's Headband]

I was encouraged after St. John’s, even with the poor 2nd half defensive display

I’d say the first real concern came with the ND game. They lose their best player in the first 5 mins and still managed to make it a game despite Dylan going for 35. That was the first time the alarm bells really went off regarding our supporting cast and their ability to compete at a power conference level

I was willing to write the Kennesaw game off as a fluke, but following that up with our performance against ND worried me

But then the Alabama game loss was probably our high point.

 

[RUby RED]

But then the Alabama game loss was probably our high point.

I agree. But the ND game still stood as my first real “uh-oh” moment

 

[Scangg]

I try to be positive and hopeful usually especially in the off season. Look at the best case scenario... thought the team had a high ceiling if everything worked out... if...

There was a reason I didn't make a prediction in the season prediction thread. I thought there was good chance the team would start slow and finally get it together too little too late. I didn't think we would start THIS slow though. Granted the Dylan sickness really killed us when our backs were already against the wall

 

[RUJMM78]

The flaws were there from the start but were somewhat hidden because of the weak competition.The St,Peters and Monmouth games exposed the poor defense and its been a problem ever since.The team played its best basketball against Alabama and Texas A&M but failed to score and defend at crunch time.Losing Harper for the last two games magnified the lack of talent and coaching .It clearly showed that with only one elite player Rutgers wasn't going to defeat BIG Ten competition.

 

[billgumpper]

Kennesaw St, everything looked ok before that. That game exposed what was to come.

 

[BossNJ]

I try to be positive and hopeful usually especially in the off season. Look at the best case scenario... thought the team had a high ceiling if everything worked out... if...

There was a reason I didn't make a prediction in the season prediction thread. I thought there was good chance the team would start slow and finally get it together too little too late. I didn't think we would start THIS slow though. Granted the Dylan sickness really killed us when our backs were already against the wall

Pike takes too long to establish his lineups every year. He should know his players’ strengths and limitations prior to the first game but never seems to.

This team should’ve been taught the importance of defense way before the season started not 10 games into it. He’s way too easy on his players and especially so this year.

Guys like Hurley are d!cks but you don’t see his teams this inept so far into the season.

 

[bac2therac]

The Vegas week, the Kennesaw loss on Sunday, the issues of barely beating a not very good ND team, the way the rebounding and defense looked. Vegas week as a whole told me this team probably doesn’t have what it takes, even though there was some encouragement against Bama and A&M (they actually rebounded in this game), I had serious concerns about this team’s ability to actually win games as it was a 1-3 week. Unfortunately this has played out as they are 4-7 from the Kennesaw game until now. 4-7…….let that soak in……that is brutal and there were some very winnable games during this stretch. This team playing winning basketball became an issue for me that week as the Big Ten schedule was looming in the future. I realized this team was in trouble with the future conference schedule. Little did I know that SHU and Princeton would be games that exposed their issues as well. It’s just been a massive downward spiral since the trip to Kennesaw as far as getting wins is concerned.

we were outscored by Kennesaw 40-15 at one point, everyone on the board forgot about it because we played Bama/Texas A&M down to the wire

the reality is the defensive effort was not there right from the St Johns game through the cupcakes save for maybe Wagner. The team literally wasnt able to defend weak sauce teams, sure RU outscored them..key word...RU outscored them..but they really didnt play better than those teams.

 

[SirScarlet]

last year...when it was clear we werent the defensive powerhouse Pike normally has, yet he couldnt/wouldnt adjust how we played.

thats when I knew this year would be bad.

 

[Scangg]

Pike takes too long to establish his lineups every year. He should know his players’ strengths and limitations prior to the first game but never seems to.

This team should’ve been taught the importance of defense way before the season started not 10 games into it. He’s way too easy on his players and especially so this year.

Guys like Hurley are d!cks but you don’t see his teams this inept so far into the season.

Agree with the first part completely

Pike has had good defensive teams every single year. To think he hasn't been teaching the importance of defense is insanity. He's teaching defense and rebounding just like he always has I'd bet anything

At some point it's on the players. They are the ones out there on the court. Pike didn’t somehow all of a sudden forget how to teach defense and rebounding

 

[BossNJ]

Agree with the first part completely

Pike has had good defensive teams every single year. To think he hasn't been teaching the importance of defense is insanity. He's teaching defense and rebounding just like he always has I'd bet anything

At some point it's on the players. They are the ones out there on the court. Pike didn’t somehow all of a sudden forget how to teach defense and rebounding

Then he needs to hold his players (all of them) accountable and pull them if they’re not performing to his expectations.

The results need to be had sooner and they’re still not there. He’s too much a “players coach.”

 

[seansherm]

It's not that something was off per se, more that everything being done this year was different than Pike's mo. Two superstars when he'd never had one. Portal additions that were completely offensive thinking.

 

[newell138]

Around 2005/2006 at the end of the Gary Waters era, since then its been mostly concern and disappointment.

 

[Scangg]

Then he needs to hold his players (all of them) accountable and pull them if they’re not performing to his expectations.

The results need to be had sooner and they’re still not there. He’s too much a “players coach.”

It's the entire roster though. I would have went to Grant and Dortch earlier to send a message at least

The lack of sense of urgency, passion, hustle, grit all season was very disappointing

 

[FinalFourOrBust]

Everyone is pretending they were worried early on now but that wasn’t the case. When barely beat St. Peter’s this board called it a great learning experience 😂

 

[RUDivision]

When Pike decided Jwill and JMike were starters playing big minutes I knew it was over. Neither of them are power 5 D1 starters or players.

That made it clear the upperclassman from the portal who were supposed to be the key to our success were not any good.

It was over then!

 

[KnightTerrors]

Coming into this season without addressing a big man was a major warning sign. Anyone could see Ogbole couldnt play in this league and relying on a freshman was inexcusable.

That said, I never thought a Pikiell coached team would be this lost defensively. I thought with all these big guards and wings we would still be okay. The rebounding differential vs Kennesaw definitely felt like the moment when we all realized this wasn't a fixable problem with current personnel.

All of this said - I still believe we can finish this season strong. If we had a healthy Dylan, I genuinely believe our last two games are wins.

Caveat: I'm a scarlet colored glasses wearing idiot!

 

[ruinac]

Pike takes too long to establish his lineups every year. He should know his players’ strengths and limitations prior to the first game but never seems to.

This team should’ve been taught the importance of defense way before the season started not 10 games into it. He’s way too easy on his players and especially so this year.

Guys like Hurley are d!cks but you don’t see his teams this inept so far into the season.

His inability to establish lineups whenever he has half a dozen new players on the roster does not bode well for the immediate future. For as long as we have the current NIL and transfer rules Pike is likely going to struggle.

 

[RocktheRac]

St John's. After that i make my year prediction of 16-15m 8-3 OOC 8-12 B1G

 

[S_Janowski]

Getting waxed by Kennesaw State and laughing during the waxing.

 

[Salvi's Headband]

St John's. After that i make my year prediction of 16-15m 8-3 OOC 8-12 B1G

I'd sign up for that now lol

 

[Scangg]

Pike takes too long to establish his lineups every year. He should know his players’ strengths and limitations prior to the first game but never seems to.

This team should’ve been taught the importance of defense way before the season started not 10 games into it. He’s way too easy on his players and especially so this year.

Guys like Hurley are d!cks but you don’t see his teams this inept so far into the season.

The real problem with the defense is pike has had defensive stopper wings like Caleb and Mathis and interior rim protectors like Myles and Cliff... now he has neither

Maybe Dortch could be the long versatile athletic defensive stopper but he never got a shot

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Then he needs to hold his players (all of them) accountable and pull them if they’re not performing to his expectations.

The results need to be had sooner and they’re still not there. He’s too much a “players coach.”

How can he do that with Ace and Dylan when his actions could cost these guys millions of dollars

 

[RW90]

Around 2005/2006 at the end of the Gary Waters era, since then its been mostly concern and disappointment.

I place blame directly on Wenzel employing the weave.

 

[RUDivision]

How can he do that with Ace and Dylan when his actions could cost these guys millions of dollars

You do it because they have to respond or they cost them selves millions .

 

[darkcheck]

Honestly a couple of years back at Minnesota during the “bless the rains” song and dance on the bench during the game, and the subsequent on court collapse. That showed me a lack of discipline, focus and leadership. It has never gotten better. This year probably when they weren’t putting away the cupcakes starting in game 2.

 

[zappaa]

In sports for the most part you play like and how you practice.
On the offensive side….
To watch JWill dribble the ball on the perimeter and be so out of control on his drives he looks like he’s on roller skates…Every time he does it in practice should be met with an immediate whistle, stop the drill or scrimmage and coached “that’s not what we want”
Same goes on defense when a box out, a switch or a close out isn’t performed to the coaches liking.

If that actually takes place in practice and the players just completely do the opposite in games… I guess there’s no answer

 

[higgins3]

Around a couple weeks in. Like in life, I know there is an opportunity for disappointment when expectations are too high. I saw us all going through that, and started to pull back and manage my expectations differently. Kinda stinks, but I almost expected it.

 

[RW90]

In sports for the most part you play like and how you practice.
On the offensive side….
To watch JWill dribble the ball on the perimeter and be so out of control on his drives he looks like he’s on roller skates…Every time he does it in practice should be met with an immediate whistle, stop the drill or scrimmage and coached “that’s not what we want”
Same goes on defense when a box out, a switch or a close out isn’t performed to the coaches liking.

If that actually takes place in practice and the players just completely do the opposite in games… I guess there’s no answer

Except for the constant slipping, JWill is not alone in recklessly driving to the basket. I still wince whenever
JMike or Derkack drives to the hoop as well, often with their head down.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Some of you wouldn’t notice a dump truck driving through a nitroglycerin plant.