Come back with me. The year was 2001.

[Good-Knight]

The nation was reeling from the September 11 attacks. It was the first year of George W. Bush's presidency. Justin was dating Britney. Probably should have bought that Amazon stock. On the Banks, an impeccably dressed Gary Waters had just been installed in the pulpit of the Rutgers Men's Basketball team, preaching the gospel of Defense. The squad featured some "pretty goods" in Rashod Kent, Ricky Shields, Herve Lamizanna, sharp shooting Jerome Coleman and the ever energetic Sean Axani popping off the bench. The season opened with a 79-74 lost to East Carolina followed by a gut punch 71-58 loss to Virginia Commonwealth. This was an RU team that won 18 games that season. Those first two losses cost us an NCAA birth. This team was 4-4 against top 25 teams. This team was 8-8 in a highly competitive Big East. There was a lot of woulda, coulda, shoulda about those first two games.
Anyway, this year we won those first two. The biggest question coming into the season concerned Omoruyi's ability to take over from Johnson ...and that looks like a YES. There's still a lot to be done but sitting 2-0 feels much better than 2001. Unlike some spoiled fans, I enjoy winning and I'm happy to be 2-0. These are the good ol' days so we'd better enjoy them. Thanks for joining me on the journey through the past.
Peace and love,
Good-Knight

 

[Plum Street]

That was the best team waters had , which is saying something about how badly he recruited here since he just took over for a fired coach. If waters had any interest in recruiting or conference road games , his tenure here might have succeeded.
I think those losses were in some kind of preseason tournament down south .
But yeah the relative point being today is just win these games . Style points don’t matter. We are rutgers and haven’t won enough.

 

[scarletrat]

the season turned around I think when RU beat Auburn by 1 with Coleman hitting 2 FTs with seconds remaining...that team knew their roles (Sherrod at PG, Coleman as gunner/D, and Kent down low).

those losses I think were in a tourney...we barely beat FDU I think in teh 7th place game...

 

[Plum Street]

the season turned around I think when RU beat Auburn by 1 with Coleman hitting 2 FTs with seconds remaining...that team knew their roles (Sherrod at PG, Coleman as gunner/D, and Kent down low).

those losses I think were in a tourney...we barely beat FDU I think in teh 7th place game...

Yes and I think that turned out to be a good auburn group . I think they made the sweet 16 the next season

 

[Salvi's Headband]

We had so many great home wins that year. UConn, Miami, Georgetown...

 

[mikeyo]

The nation was reeling from the September 11 attacks. It was the first year of George W. Bush's presidency. Justin was dating Britney. Probably should have bought that Amazon stock. On the Banks, an impeccably dressed Gary Waters had just been installed in the pulpit of the Rutgers Men's Basketball team, preaching the gospel of Defense. The squad featured some "pretty goods" in Rashod Kent, Ricky Shields, Herve Lamizanna, sharp shooting Jerome Coleman and the ever energetic Sean Axani popping off the bench. The season opened with a 79-74 lost to East Carolina followed by a gut punch 71-58 loss to Virginia Commonwealth. This was an RU team that won 18 games that season. Those first two losses cost us an NCAA birth. This team was 4-4 against top 25 teams. This team was 8-8 in a highly competitive Big East. There was a lot of woulda, coulda, shoulda about those first two games.
Anyway, this year we won those first two. The biggest question coming into the season concerned Omoruyi's ability to take over from Johnson ...and that looks like a YES. There's still a lot to be done but sitting 2-0 feels much better than 2001. Unlike some spoiled fans, I enjoy winning and I'm happy to be 2-0. These are the good ol' days so we'd better enjoy them. Thanks for joining me on the journey through the past.
Peace and love,
Good-Knight

Would be nice if we had a shooter of Jerome Coleman's caliber now

 

[JavaDunk18]

I was at that East Carolina game in 2001, as I was visiting a friend in Cary at the time..
As for Cliff replacing Myles, YES, in fact he probably would have taken over majority of minutes even if Myles returned, BUT that is not the problem. It’s who replaces the backup. (Cliff’s role last year). This is an area of concern, as we will likely find many refs with the quick whistle in the Big Ten..

 

[Goku]

Waters' teams were PUTRID on the road. If they were able to win even a few games on the road, they would have been an NCAA team. Those were the most exciting teams and exciting home games I was part of though.

 

[wheezer]

We had so many great home wins that year. UConn, Miami, Georgetown...

Amazing how we could win at home and not enough on the road
The old " hold serve"