Carino-Is Defection the New Normal?

[Knight Shift]

The new normal:
https://www.app.com/story/sports/co...sketball-eugene-omoruyi-tampering/1276375001/

This is the first year of the portal, which allows a player to transfer without his coach’s permission — the only person the player must notify is the school’s compliance officer, who then does the entering. Just shy of a thousand men’s basketball players have entered the portal this year. That’s more than 20 percent of Division I, enough to fill the rosters of all 68 teams in the NCAA Tournament. At one point or another, eight UNLV player entered the portal.

 

[RU_PAYBACK]

I wonder how many of those are team captains?

 

[dkostus]

Nice to hear that we're getting interest from some other forwards as well.

 

[Scarlet83]

Nice to hear that we're getting interest from some other forwards as well.

Like who?

 

[Degaz-RU]

Damn, so Eugene informed Pike of the decision ON THE PHONE shortly before the 12 midnight Instagram post. Absolutely CLASSLESS move by Eugene to not even have the guts to look coach in the eye and tell him in-person.

It would be one thing if EO had told Pike previously that he was thinking of transferring, and then called him that night to inform him of the decision. But out of the blue, with no prior notice, on May 28th (after the spring signing period ended)? Gotta do that in person.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Damn, so Eugene informed Pike of the decision ON THE PHONE shortly before the 12 midnight Instagram post. Absolutely CLASSLESS move by Eugene to not even have the guts to look coach in the eye and tell him in-person.

It would be one thing if EO had told Pike previously that he was thinking of transferring, and then called him that night to inform him of the decision. But out of the blue, with no prior notice, on May 28th (after the spring signing period ended)? Gotta do that in person.

Right or wrong maybe Eugene thought he wasn't given the proper respect by the coaching staff.

Again there is a small part of me that says Eugene came back twice way ahead of schedule to play on a bum knee, probably in pain, and potentially doing long term damage. Pikiell rewarded him by going out and signing a player at his position for a 1 year contract. I think people need to have a little empathy here.

Who knows what happened behind the scenes. I'd hope at least Pikiell had a sit down with Eugene and explained what he was doing and why he was doing it.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I don't think Carino has a full handle on the team dynamic here at Rutgers.

 

[Knight Ed]

I've been looking up the stats of a lot of kids in the transfer porter and many seem not to be their old teams' better players. Many seem to be guys who are buried on the bench at their current school and are probably just looking for a situation where they will get more playing time somewhere else.

 

[TDIrish27]

Correct

Was told by a GA who has responsibility for monitoring it every day at ND that football is the same.

 

[knightinaz]

Pike's only responsibility is to make the team better. That happens by increasing the talent level at every position.

People here are are always falling in love with players because they believe that "if the team was better the player would be better". That's not how it works. The team's record is what it is because of the performance of the players. Coaching does have some impact on it but, you can coach kids up all you want but, if they don't have the ability to perform on the court than all the coaching in the world doesn't matter.

Kids get recruited over all the time. Pike did NOT owe Eugene an explanation on why he was bringing in Yeboah. The only thing he needed to tell him was the he believed the team would be better with the addition of Yeboah.

As beloved as Geo is, what happens if Young is as legit as some think he can be and if Mcconnell blows up forcing Geo's minutes down? Is the consensus that Geo should get undeserved minutes just because he is a "Rutgers man"? I love Geo as much as the next guy but, if it means more wins I will always want the best players to play.

I don't see EO leaving as anything more than he saw his minutes would diminish and wanted out.

 

[Caliknight]

Right or wrong maybe Eugene thought he wasn't given the proper respect by the coaching staff.

Again there is a small part of me that says Eugene came back twice way ahead of schedule to play on a bum knee, probably in pain, and potentially doing long term damage. Pikiell rewarded him by going out and signing a player at his position for a 1 year contract. I think people need to have a little empathy here.

Who knows what happened behind the scenes. I'd hope at least Pikiell had a sit down with Eugene and explained what he was doing and why he was doing it.

If Eugene is afraid of competition, he will never make it as a professional athlete.

D1 players understand and if they don't they are stupid. Every coach in America is trying to get as much talent as they can.

Wherever he lands, if that coach can bring in a better player than Eugene taking his minutes, he will do it in a nanosecond.

If Eugene in fact left because Pike brought in another proven player, he's softer than church music and I'm glad he left.

 

[RutgHoops]

Right or wrong maybe Eugene thought he wasn't given the proper respect by the coaching staff.

Again there is a small part of me that says Eugene came back twice way ahead of schedule to play on a bum knee, probably in pain, and potentially doing long term damage. Pikiell rewarded him by going out and signing a player at his position for a 1 year contract. I think people need to have a little empathy here.

Who knows what happened behind the scenes. I'd hope at least Pikiell had a sit down with Eugene and explained what he was doing and why he was doing it.

"He now walks into a team littered with depth, with established players and an emerging young core. Yeboah went from a big fish in a small pond to a pool of equally distributed talent. There was no guarantees given to Yeboah on a starting spot, number of minutes played, the size of his role."

“That will come along with the season,” Yeboah said. “I’ll let you guys see how it goes.”

https://247sports.com/college/rutge...sses-Rutgers-Basketball-commitment-131733498/

 

[BellyFullOfWhiteDogCrap]

"He now walks into a team littered with depth, with established players and an emerging young core. Yeboah went from a big fish in a small pond to a pool of equally distributed talent. There was no guarantees given to Yeboah on a starting spot, number of minutes played, the size of his role."

“That will come along with the season,” Yeboah said. “I’ll let you guys see how it goes.”

https://247sports.com/college/rutge...sses-Rutgers-Basketball-commitment-131733498/

Sounds like one guy was willing to battle for minutes. Looks like we got the right guy.

 

[dkostus]

Like who?

Not sure. Carino mentions it in the article.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Right or wrong maybe Eugene thought he wasn't given the proper respect by the coaching staff.

Again there is a small part of me that says Eugene came back twice way ahead of schedule to play on a bum knee, probably in pain, and potentially doing long term damage. Pikiell rewarded him by going out and signing a player at his position for a 1 year contract. I think people need to have a little empathy here.

Who knows what happened behind the scenes. I'd hope at least Pikiell had a sit down with Eugene and explained what he was doing and why he was doing it.

If you’re suggesting that EO came back from injury EARLY, before he wanted to, and thus was doing Pike a favor, that is way off base. I have no personal knowledge, but EO seems like the kind of guy that was just ITCHING to get back on the court, of his own volition.

 

[dkostus]

If you’re suggesting that EO came back from injury EARLY, before he wanted to, and thus was doing Pike a favor, that is way off base. I have no personal knowledge, but EO seems like the kind of guy that was just ITCHING to get back on the court, of his own volition.

The quotes from Pike when he came back last year were essentially "we did not expect Eugene to play tonight and were shocked when he insisted he was ready"

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

If you’re suggesting that EO came back from injury EARLY, before he wanted to, and thus was doing Pike a favor, that is way off base. I have no personal knowledge, but EO seems like the kind of guy that was just ITCHING to get back on the court, of his own volition.

not at all.

He has given a lot physically to this team.....

I am just trying to understand this from his shoes. I am not agreeing with him.

 

[Russ Wood]

Damn, so Eugene informed Pike of the decision ON THE PHONE shortly before the 12 midnight Instagram post. Absolutely CLASSLESS move by Eugene to not even have the guts to look coach in the eye and tell him in-person.

It would be one thing if EO had told Pike previously that he was thinking of transferring, and then called him that night to inform him of the decision. But out of the blue, with no prior notice, on May 28th (after the spring signing period ended)? Gotta do that in person.

I don't like how Omoruyi handled it either, however players don't have to notify their Coach anymore. All they have to do his tell the compliance officer for their sport, in writing, and the school is required to enter their names into the transfer portal within 48 hours.

These days I wouldn't be surprised if a player texts his Coach to say that he is transferring.

 

[Russ Wood]

The new normal:
https://www.app.com/story/sports/co...sketball-eugene-omoruyi-tampering/1276375001/

This is the first year of the portal, which allows a player to transfer without his coach’s permission — the only person the player must notify is the school’s compliance officer, who then does the entering. Just shy of a thousand men’s basketball players have entered the portal this year. That’s more than 20 percent of Division I, enough to fill the rosters of all 68 teams in the NCAA Tournament. At one point or another, eight UNLV player entered the portal.

The transfer portal may be in its first year what to call this wave basketball transfers "The New Normal" means he has not been paying attention. Just 4 years ago 600 players transferred and the number has been growing each year.

At least Carino learned this:

"There's a strong whiff of tampering, but here’s what folks on the inside say: Tampering occurs left and right with transfers. It’s hard to prove."

 

[ScarletKid2008]

Carino is basically saying .. that college basketball will become essentially one year pick-up game teams. I can't say I totally disagree with the pace of movement of players.

 

[rucoe89]

The new normal:
https://www.app.com/story/sports/co...sketball-eugene-omoruyi-tampering/1276375001/

This is the first year of the portal, which allows a player to transfer without his coach’s permission — the only person the player must notify is the school’s compliance officer, who then does the entering. Just shy of a thousand men’s basketball players have entered the portal this year. That’s more than 20 percent of Division I, enough to fill the rosters of all 68 teams in the NCAA Tournament. At one point or another, eight UNLV player entered the portal.

This just feels like the AAU taking over the NCAA. Never did like AAU or what it was out here on the left coast. Started kids thinking early on only about themselves and not a team.

 

[RUJMM78]

Pike's only responsibility is to make the team better. That happens by increasing the talent level at every position.

People here are are always falling in love with players because they believe that "if the team was better the player would be better". That's not how it works. The team's record is what it is because of the performance of the players. Coaching does have some impact on it but, you can coach kids up all you want but, if they don't have the ability to perform on the court than all the coaching in the world doesn't matter.

Kids get recruited over all the time. Pike did NOT owe Eugene an explanation on why he was bringing in Yeboah. The only thing he needed to tell him was the he believed the team would be better with the addition of Yeboah.

As beloved as Geo is, what happens if Young is as legit as some think he can be and if Mcconnell blows up forcing Geo's minutes down? Is the consensus that Geo should get undeserved minutes just because he is a "Rutgers man"? I love Geo as much as the next guy but, if it means more wins I will always want the best players to play.

I don't see EO leaving as anything more than he saw his minutes would diminish and wanted out.

Rutgers mens basketball has gone 13 straight years without a wining season.As such Pikiell shouldn't be guaranteeing playing time to any player .To change the status quo Pikiell must keep recruiting better players than he has right now.Competition is what makes teams successful and at Rutgers there have been far too many complementary type players and a absence of go to players that can carry a team to victory in crunch time.

 

[KevH]

Pike's only responsibility is to make the team better. That happens by increasing the talent level at every position.

People here are are always falling in love with players because they believe that "if the team was better the player would be better". That's not how it works. The team's record is what it is because of the performance of the players. Coaching does have some impact on it but, you can coach kids up all you want but, if they don't have the ability to perform on the court than all the coaching in the world doesn't matter.

Kids get recruited over all the time. Pike did NOT owe Eugene an explanation on why he was bringing in Yeboah. The only thing he needed to tell him was the he believed the team would be better with the addition of Yeboah.

As beloved as Geo is, what happens if Young is as legit as some think he can be and if Mcconnell blows up forcing Geo's minutes down? Is the consensus that Geo should get undeserved minutes just because he is a "Rutgers man"? I love Geo as much as the next guy but, if it means more wins I will always want the best players to play.

I don't see EO leaving as anything more than he saw his minutes would diminish and wanted out.

Hard to argue with this. The idea that a coach (particularly a college coach) needs to get the blessing of a player before making roster moves he believes will make his team/program better is ludicrous. If a player has a problem with that to the degree that he becomes a cancer in the locker room, it's probably better that he leaves.

 

[TDIrish27]

Hard to argue with this. The idea that a coach (particularly a college coach) needs to get the blessing of a player before making roster moves he believes will make his team/program better is ludicrous. If a player has a problem with that to the degree that he becomes a cancer in the locker room, it's probably better that he leaves.

Amazing to watch how in 72 hours this kid has gone from being a fan favorite to being called a scumbag and a potential locker room cancer.

 

[SirScarlet]

Amazing to watch how in 72 hours this kid has gone from being a fan favorite to being called a scumbag and a potential locker room cancer.

Yeah...I dont like that.

However, the way Eugene appears to have handled this is rubbing a lot of people the wrong way. Yes he gave Blood Sweat and Tears for 3 years. However if it is true that he notified his head coach about this in a brief phone call before posting it and then spells his head coach wrong. That is just a bad look no matter how you slice it.

I know these are young kids and the coaching staff will try and support them in everything they do however this is a kick in the nuts no matter how you slice it.

This is the classic definition of burning a bridge. I hope someone helps this young man understand he could have done the same thing but in a manner that doesn't get the outcome he is receiving now. If nothing else I hope that's what he learned from this.

I have no problem with someone going out to "get theirs"...Just don't be an idiot about it...I hope Eugene learns that life lesson from this.

 

[TDIrish27]

I'm of the opinion that most of the time there isn't any good way to end a relationship------athletics , personal or professional without pissing someone off.

Is it your view that if he had called Coach P the day before and then put his name in the Transfer Portal and announced it via Social Network with correct spelling there would be a bunch of " Thank You for your efforts " and " Best of Luck in the future " on the board ?

 

[BoroKnight]

I don't care how he left. I don't care why he left. He left. We move on.

We've had transfers come and transfers go, and here we are still decades since the NCAA called our name.

All I know for sure is not one of you talked like this about Eugene before he left. Funny how that works.

As I said elsewhere, I wish him neither well nor ill. We move on.

 

[Pancho1939]

Right or wrong maybe Eugene thought he wasn't given the proper respect by the coaching staff.

Again there is a small part of me that says Eugene came back twice way ahead of schedule to play on a bum knee, probably in pain, and potentially doing long term damage. Pikiell rewarded him by going out and signing a player at his position for a 1 year contract. I think people need to have a little empathy here.

Who knows what happened behind the scenes. I'd hope at least Pikiell had a sit down with Eugene and explained what he was doing and why he was doing it.

I disagree. Pikiell’s job is to make RU better. If he doesn’t everyone on this board would be calling for his head. Eugene is part of the 1%. Not a rich kid but athletically. He has been proving himself his whole life against the best talent this world has to offer. I don’t think he is scared of a challenge.

If in fact Eugene felt disrespected and he thought his reward for working hard would be pikiell not recruiting better players than he is someone you do not need/want on your team when you are doing a complete rebuild of a program like Rutgers.

I do not think this is the case. I think someone got in his ear about what Texas tech did with Owens & Mooney or Nigel and thinks he can be that last piece that gets teams over the jump especially with one year of rehab. Even though Virginia lost in the biggest upset in college basketball history Nigel still played for the number #1 in the country for awhile. Why play for Rutgers and maybe make the ncaa tournament when you can transfer to 90% of the top 25 teams?

 

[Scarlet83]

Right or wrong maybe Eugene thought he wasn't given the proper respect by the coaching staff.

Again there is a small part of me that says Eugene came back twice way ahead of schedule to play on a bum knee, probably in pain, and potentially doing long term damage. Pikiell rewarded him by going out and signing a player at his position for a 1 year contract. I think people need to have a little empathy here.

Who knows what happened behind the scenes. I'd hope at least Pikiell had a sit down with Eugene and explained what he was doing and why he was doing it.

You have it backwards. If Pike passed on Waboah to reward EO, Pike would NOT be doing his job.

 

[KevH]

Amazing to watch how in 72 hours this kid has gone from being a fan favorite to being called a scumbag and a potential locker room cancer.

Note the "if". I never really have or had a "favorite" player. The team is my favorite over any individual. I don't fault EO for doing what he feels is right for him. He and the program will move on and be fine. What I don't like is how he appears to have blindsided his coach and teammates. I think they deserved better. My feelings on this have nothing to do with basketball per se, but more about common courtesy.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

You have it backwards. If Pike passed on Waboah to reward EO, Pike would NOT be doing his job.

There are 4 to 5 kids we missed on in 2019 recruiting that would have been as likely to have expanded the rotation and also placed Eugene's minutes up for debate.

The problem here are fans that can't see past 1 season. The bigger picture is to try and put as competitive a roster together for the next season while always looking to upgrade for the future.

My thoughts are that Eugene wasn't reliable enough health wise and even if he was 100%, which he could never truly be with that type of injury, RU wasn't going to improve if he's your 1st or 2nd option and lacks the perimeter game to allow the offense to expand.

What fans can't seem to get past is pointing out where players need to improve or are just flat out not good enough in some aspects of their games, and have words twisted into saying a player is a scrub.

There are only so many minutes and possessions per game and only one basketball. I'm more interested in the 3 year window of RU basketball being expanded to a 4 or 5 year window, where winning seasons happen and being in contention for NCAA bids can happen, in a very tough B1G.

I think fans view 2019-2020 as the only chance or opportunity for RU to make a statement or the dance. And if a fan only wants to view at things from a one year at a time perspective, that's fine. I think what's happening here is a program is being built, slowly, methodically and Eugene wasn't able to keep up. And by keeping up, that means adapting and evolving to a role that he wasn't ready for.

I will state again, Eugene could have deferred and made himself a team first player by looking at the larger picture. He wasn't forced off the roster, he had all spring and summer to compete with Harper, Yeboah and see the bigger picture. He chose not to.

Why are fans willing to reward players who can play, but are only able to do that, on their terms?? What makes Eugene special enough, to even warrant an accomodation like a game in Toronto??

This is the thanks RU fans are shown and fans want answers about what and why.....he's not here and when you're not here or walk out, you kinda don't always get the benefit of the doubt from me. That's not sour grapes.....i didn't have that when Sanders left, when Laurent left or Nigel Johnson left as well. I'm not petty enough to root against him, but certainly not going to cry like some RU fans are, by saying RU wont succeed without him.

 

[TDIrish27]

There are 4 to 5 kids we missed on in 2019 recruiting that would have been as likely to have expanded the rotation and also placed Eugene's minutes up for debate.

The problem here are fans that can't see past 1 season. The bigger picture is to try and put as competitive a roster together for the next season while always looking to upgrade for the future.

My thoughts are that Eugene wasn't reliable enough health wise and even if he was 100%, which he could never truly be with that type of injury, RU wasn't going to improve if he's your 1st or 2nd option and lacks the perimeter game to allow the offense to expand.

What fans can't seem to get past is pointing out where players need to improve or are just flat out not good enough in some aspects of their games, and have words twisted into saying a player is a scrub.

There are only so many minutes and possessions per game and only one basketball. I'm more interested in the 3 year window of RU basketball being expanded to a 4 or 5 year window, where winning seasons happen and being in contention for NCAA bids can happen, in a very tough B1G.

I think fans view 2019-2020 as the only chance or opportunity for RU to make a statement or the dance. And if a fan only wants to view at things from a one year at a time perspective, that's fine. I think what's happening here is a program is being built, slowly, methodically and Eugene wasn't able to keep up. And by keeping up, that means adapting and evolving to a role that he wasn't ready for.

I will state again, Eugene could have deferred and made himself a team first player by looking at the larger picture. He wasn't forced off the roster, he had all spring and summer to compete with Harper, Yeboah and see the bigger picture. He chose not to.

Why are fans willing to reward players who can play, but are only able to do that, on their terms?? What makes Eugene special enough, to even warrant an accomodation like a game in Toronto??

This is the thanks RU fans are shown and fans want answers about what and why.....he's not here and when you're not here or walk out, you kinda don't always get the benefit of the doubt from me. That's not sour grapes.....i didn't have that when Sanders left, when Laurent left or Nigel Johnson left as well. I'm not petty enough to root against him, but certainly not going to cry like some RU fans are, by saying RU wont succeed without him.

IMO the transfer portal has created the dynamic where basically you have to as the HC or as an Assistant designated to it act like a GM of an NBA team . Looking at your roster 365 days a year and doing a balancing act on recruiting HS and JC kids vs Grad and typical transfers.

NBA GM's are doing this with overseas players and G League guys along with the evaluating of college guys.

It has become a classic example of the unintended consequences of the goal of " giving the athletes more freedom ".

Everybody was all on board with it .

" The kids should have the same rights as these coaches who leave at the drop of a hat for more money ".

Well now you have it and most fans are discovering that when it bites you they don't like it.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I disagree. Pikiell’s job is to make RU better.

If one wants to assume, WHICH I AM NOW NOT!!!!!!, that Eugene left because of Yeboah than how did Pikiell make the team better.

 

[RUtrumpet92]

If one wants to assume, WHICH I AM NOW NOT!!!!!!, that Eugene left because of Yeboah than how did Pikiell make the team better.

Argument could be made that a healthy Yeboah for a full year > partially healthy Eugene. EO certainly wasn't full strength down the stretch last year. We have two data points saying he might not last a full season without missing time. It's the coach's job to put the best team on the floor. Usually that means get as much talent as possible on the roster, then play the best combo to win games.

Can you name a college sport where a coach needs the permission of a returning player before he recruits another player at the same position?

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Can you name a college sport where a coach needs the permission of a returning player before he recruits another player at the same position?

This is not an ordinary situation. This is a 1 year player at his position that may force Eugene to play a different position. A senior captain who for 2 years came back way ahead of schedule of a serious knee injury.

AGAIN....just trying to look at things from Eugene's shoes.

This isn't black and white. I think Eugene has the right to be upset AND Pike had to have a contingency plan for Eugene's knee. I am also under the belief (not a strong one) this was not the primary reason Eugene left.

 

[srru86]

Right or wrong maybe Eugene thought he wasn't given the proper respect by the coaching staff.

My first thought is Eugene is getting some questionable advice from people that are outside the program.

That is a total speculation and inference on my part. Do you have any reason to think our staff dropped the ball on this?

I know "Rutgers is always wrong" is an easy option, even for fans. I'm just not sure we need to feed that beast when so many of our competitors and media outlets are happy to take that lead.

Good luck to him whatever way it goes and the program moves on.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

My first thought is Eugene is getting some questionable advice from people that are outside the program.

I am not sure he got advice from anyone

That is a total speculation and inference on my part. Do you have any reason to think our staff dropped the ball on this?

Only thing I see is Eugene left the program


I know "Rutgers is always wrong" is an easy option, even for fans. I'm just not sure we need to feed that beast when so many of our competitors and media outlets are happy to take that lead.

Good luck to him whatever way it goes and the program moves on.