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Bench

RutgHoops

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Aug 14, 2008
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Great thru 2 games. Pikiell has made a wonderful decision bringing Nigel, Mike and Sa off the bench. We get better and better as each half unfolds. His rotations are very clean and well thought out.
 
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Our practices must be intense, with 10 guys battling to earn gametime PT, and some, like Sa and Johnson, arguably making a case for starters minutes. Either way, you're looking at a "starting 8" with those 2 guys and Williams.
 
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Definitely the deepest Rutgers MBB team in a long time. Lots of inter changeable parts.
Which is going to be a great luxury for Coach Pikiell to have. He can play small, play big, play mutiple shooters against zones, something a Rutgers coach has not had at his disposal for a long time.
 
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I don't think the NIT runner up team was this deep. Had more individual talent with douby Webb and others but doesn't seem this deep overall. Let's see what happens Thursday
 
Really important for Shaq to prove himself. Like another poster mentioned, Sa and Gettys back to basket and post up game is higher than Doorsons by a lot. Makes sense seeing Doorson was on a razor scooter for a year. Hell get back at it.

I like Doorson. I think he shows up.

The bench is great. I looked at Depaul and they do not have any kind of bench at all. Great thing to see!
 
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If you can have three players that can play at 70% of the starting five, you are in a really happy place as a coach.

I think Pikiell has that. What other coaches have is also important. I will not say our teams will be as talented as others, but I am happy that we have some versatility that they might not have. Sa- 6 9 and can hit a three point shot at a decent clip(I saw that as midnight madness-great form), he has long arms.

Thiam- 6 9, and can defend the 2-3 perhaps. Can hit the 3 pt shot, and as he grows, can add to rebounding. Early.

Williams- can defend, can hit his shot but needs to get confidence early, hustles. Can run, has to make better passes.

Doorson- have yet to see. I think he is relied upon for some boards. Omoyuri- can pass well for a kid with his size. Also, rebounds, plays with intensity.

All very good to have. Pikeill has to be a little happy.
 
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I know its super early, but Pikiell AND Staff can undoubtedly coach! We have not had a coach like this in like forever.

The one thing I have noticed in the first 2 games is that he doesn't seem to get angry with the players (for a bad shot, turnover, poor defense, etc...). He has been the ultimate players coach- lots of RAH RAH, slaps on the backs, yelling don't worry about it... lets play defense, NO QUICK triggers for bad plays. As a player, if you know you are not going to get reamed (Rice), pulled out for a bad play (Rice and Jordan) or ignored (Jordan) when you come back to the bench- you play looser and carefree- it makes a difference.

I noticed under previous coaches, the players ALWAYS looked at the bench when something went wrong... I do not see that this year. Again, this is super premature, but like everyone else- I like what I see and adds to the excitement.
 
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Irrational exuberance until we show sustained effort and the will to gut out road and Big Ten games. At this time, let's hope we stay healthy and get better as the season progresses. With a fuller roster and more length, it is possible to play games at a faster pace and with pressure defense. Outside shooting, and foul shooting, need to be solid to give us a chance. We will see lots of zone defense.
 
I know its super early, but Pikiell AND Staff can undoubtedly coach! We have not had a coach like this in like forever.

The one thing I have noticed in the first 2 games is that he doesn't seem to get angry with the players (for a bad shot, turnover, poor defense, etc...). He has been the ultimate players coach- lots of RAH RAH, slaps on the backs, yelling don't worry about it... lets play defense, NO QUICK triggers for bad plays. As a player, if you know you are not going to get reamed (Rice), pulled out for a bad play (Rice and Jordan) or ignored (Jordan) when you come back to the bench- you play looser and carefree- it makes a difference.

I noticed under previous coaches, the players ALWAYS looked at the bench when something went wrong... I do not see that this year. Again, this is super premature, but like everyone else- I like what I see and adds to the excitement.

Having guys scared to be aggressive in fear of being yanked may not be a good thing. Laurent specifically said that Pikiell wants him to be aggressive on offense.

It really depends on the mistake.....if a guy goes full court 1 on 3 you yank him. That's a stupid play. If he makes a mistakes being aggressive in the flow of the offense you can't yank him. You coach em up later during a Timeout or during a film session. You don't want guys being passive and looking over their shoulder all game.....not every bad play is a mistake, sometimes it's great defense on the other side. Coaches can tell the difference, sometimes fans can't.
 
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I feel like Nigel is playing with a chip on his shoulder..but understands there is value to him being the best player of the bench crew
 
I feel like Nigel is playing with a chip on his shoulder..but understands there is value to him being the best player of the bench crew

You like Nigel now? I mean, you are the guy that said if he was a really good player he would still be at KSU because they never have let him get away.........lol.

Johnson said he enjoys coming off the bench....who knows, he may make a run at the best 6th man in the league.
 
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You like Nigel now? I mean, you are the guy that said if he was a really good player he would still be at KSU because they never have let him get away.........lol.

Johnson said he enjoys coming off the bench....who knows, he may make a run at the best 6th man in the league.
Fwiw he probably wouldn't play at ksu. For a school like that, their worst player has the potential to be one of our top 5 players..that's just the state of our program. Well see how he does vs competition that isn't drexel. Never said he couldn't be a good player for us..he's probably not that much higher than average as far as a player looking around d1. I was a big Mitchell fan when he came over from Florida but he's probably in the same category...the big programs don't let the elite players transfer barring extreme circumstances..they find a way to keep that talent.
 
Fwiw he probably wouldn't play at ksu. For a school like that, their worst player has the potential to be one of our top 5 players..that's just the state of our program. Well see how he does vs competition that isn't drexel. Never said he couldn't be a good player for us..he's probably not that much higher than average as far as a player looking around d1. I was a big Mitchell fan when he came over from Florida but he's probably in the same category...the big programs don't let the elite players transfer barring extreme circumstances..they find a way to keep that talent.
Big programs do let elite players transfer because they replace them with other elite players.
 
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Fwiw he probably wouldn't play at ksu. For a school like that, their worst player has the potential to be one of our top 5 players..that's just the state of our program. Well see how he does vs competition that isn't drexel. Never said he couldn't be a good player for us..he's probably not that much higher than average as far as a player looking around d1. I was a big Mitchell fan when he came over from Florida but he's probably in the same category...the big programs don't let the elite players transfer barring extreme circumstances..they find a way to keep that talent.
Ash, at the time of Johnson's release KSU was a dumpster fire and everybody on the team was transferring.
 
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Fwiw he probably wouldn't play at ksu. For a school like that, their worst player has the potential to be one of our top 5 players..that's just the state of our program. Well see how he does vs competition that isn't drexel. Never said he couldn't be a good player for us..he's probably not that much higher than average as far as a player looking around d1. I was a big Mitchell fan when he came over from Florida but he's probably in the same category...the big programs don't let the elite players transfer barring extreme circumstances..they find a way to keep that talent.

Nigel put up some big numbers against elite Big 12 programs so I am not worried about it. He is a great addition.
 
Ash, at the time of Johnson's release KSU was a dumpster fire and everybody on the team was transferring.
Then maybe we got lucky..I like fast guards but I'd still feel like he could make that next step if he had an above average 3 point stroke
 
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