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Corey Sanders tweet

I have been very critical of Corey in the past, and believe to be justified THEN. But, he has refined his approach to playing the game, where at one time he appeared to be reckless with the ball, head down and drive to the basket, type of player(very schoolyard). In the last 10 games, he has played more under control, looked for his shot, and dished the ball out, creating shots for others. This is a maturity I didn't expect from him, and we saw that during the B1G playoff's. He is not a three point shooter, but he can nail the 15 footer consistently, and his defense is very solid. I agree that he needs work going to the basket with his left hand, it was a flaw that the other team capitalized on during the playoffs. They took away his right handed drive, and it affected his entire game. But, regardless of some WTF games, his ball handling is very good.
I would welcome his leadership next year, and can make this team stronger.
 
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Can you win with a guard that needs the ball in his hands to be successful and can't shoot from the perimeter?

Russel Westbrook needs the ball in his hands and can't shoot from the perimeter. Ben Simmons doesn't shoot threes at all, either. It's rare, but it's not impossible.

You can't debate how bad we have been offensively the past 3 years...276th, 231st, 303rd

The offense of the last three years has also largely been "watch the guys from 2-5 pass up shots and give the ball back to Corey at the top with 8 seconds left on the shot clock". He hasn't really had many other options to go to. If you feel that next year will be more of the same, I can see why you might feel that trend would continue with Corey running the point. I think the new options we have coming in next year will only benefit him.
 
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Russel Westbrook needs the ball in his hands and can't shoot from the perimeter. Ben Simmons doesn't shoot threes at all, either. It's rare, but it's not impossible.



The offense of the last three years has also largely been "watch the guys from 2-5 pass up shots and give the ball back to Corey at the top with 8 seconds left on the shot clock". He hasn't really had many other options to go to. If you feel that next year will be more of the same, I can see why you might feel that trend would continue with Corey running the point. I think the new options we have coming in next year will only benefit him.

They are in a different solar system to Sanders and what his skill set is, lol.
 
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They definitely are - but the question was "can it happen". Yes, it can happen. There is no one way to build a team.

Does Sanders mentality of passing and creating change when better players are on the floor? Well see for the last year, if he is here.

I think he ultimately wants to win, but once he knows the game is on the line, he takes all the pressure to make sure he can be the game changer. We saw it so many times this year. It did not always work out, and sometimes it made the team worse off.
 
Corey coming off tourney performance and a senior with 5 new players... yes we need him back to b competitive with a tougher schedule next year...
 
Russel Westbrook needs the ball in his hands and can't shoot from the perimeter. Ben Simmons doesn't shoot threes at all, either. It's rare, but it's not impossible.



The offense of the last three years has also largely been "watch the guys from 2-5 pass up shots and give the ball back to Corey at the top with 8 seconds left on the shot clock". He hasn't really had many other options to go to. If you feel that next year will be more of the same, I can see why you might feel that trend would continue with Corey running the point. I think the new options we have coming in next year will only benefit him.

+ Geo is likely to develop into a solid option to hit outside shots. His game against Purdue provides a hope that if Corey comes back, we now have 2 solid scoring options throughout the year, not to mention the possibility the Eugene will continue to develop his offense in the paint. Going into his sophomore year, Geo should not hit that brick wall he experienced at the end of this past year. His performance against Purdue was outstanding.
 
+ Geo is likely to develop into a solid option to hit outside shots. His game against Purdue provides a hope that if Corey comes back, we now have 2 solid scoring options throughout the year, not to mention the possibility the Eugene will continue to develop his offense in the paint. Going into his sophomore year, Geo should not hit that brick wall he experienced at the end of this past year. His performance against Purdue was outstanding.

Baker has potential to be a consistent scoring threat, and hopefully improves into his sophomore year. Omoruyi has potential to be a consistent secondary threat next year, I think - as well as bringing on the court energy/leadership.

There are a lot of other questions, though, that need to be answered... but I think we have a lot of reason for optimism.

Thiam - Improved into his sophomore year, can he take a more active role in the offense as a junior?
Mathis - High expectations to be a scoring threat as a true freshman.
Carter - More size at the PF spot, but can he use it to score? Will he flow in the offense more than Freeman?
Johnson - Can he bring more offense than we saw from Sa?
Doucoure - With an offseason of S&C and practice reps, can he show more offensively without fouling?
Kiss - Backing up both SG and wing by taking Mensah/Baker/Dadika minutes - can he score off the bench?
Harper - Having a third option at wing is new, what can he bring to the table?

Lots of potential improvement there as pieces around Sanders - can he also continue to improve in this system, with less need to always be "the guy"?

Tougher OOC schedule and more B1G games next year, but with Sanders we might find a way to be fighting for an NIT berth as we hit the final stretch of the season.
 
One thing I know for certain .. college basketball there is parity and the margin for a win vs defeat is very very small for every team. We saw it in several games with RU TWICE taking MSU and Purdue to the brink. A possession away in each of those 4 games from winning.

So yes its a stretch that everything goes right and all the breaks go our way. We don't have the talent to get a better margin of error. But its not completely a "no chance" that we can't make a run at the tournament. And this is probably the first time (maybe ever as far as my fandom goes?) that we can say that about RU basketball (with a CONSISTENT Corey Sanders)

Our chances are a lot lower than everyone else given the current talent and history, but my point is ... in college basketball there isn't a wide margin from being in the bottom of the B1G to the top 4.
 
Another year with Pike would be great for Corey and a motivated under control Corey would be great for Rutgers.
 
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My first thought of a guard that needed the ball in his hands but wasn't a great outside shooter was Allen Iverson. Hall of Fame career despite shooting 42.5% from the floor and 31.3% from deep in the NBA. I am not comparing him to Corey, just an example of a player being successful with that skill set.

I see us making a run at a postseason bid next year if Corey returns; growth from returning players such as Geo and Eugene; and at least one newcomer is a reliable outside threat.
 
Here's the advantage of one more year for Corey. He could possibly come into his senior season as a pre-season first team all american so he would have extra eyes watching his game. Whether that helps get him drafted or not; I have no idea?
 
I don't know about preseason AA, but he'd definitely be on Big Ten preseason watch lists and likely garner more attention overall as a senior.

Toward the middle/end of the year, he'd also likely get press for hitting Top 5 all-time career milestones at Rutgers.
 
I don't feel like he'll ever be an NBA guy but he certainly isn't ready now.
 
Here's the advantage of one more year for Corey. He could possibly come into his senior season as a pre-season first team all american so he would have extra eyes watching his game. Whether that helps get him drafted or not; I have no idea?

Just... no. Not even close. Not even first-team All-B1G.
 
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Just... no. Not even close. Not even first-team All-B1G.
No way Corey is 1st team All-American, but you have to take these teams, including All-B1G, with a grain of salt. The way some of the teams are selected is BS. Most players selected belong, but there are usually 1 or 2 players you questioned. I think it has to do with the name on the front of the jersey more so than the actual performance
 
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I don't believe for a minute that talent is the issue with Corey. His talent is special.

IMO Sander's biggest problem is likely his inability to focus and give his best in games that are not "Prime Time".

Give him a home crowd against an impressive foe, and you are likely to see the potential he has. The Tournament provided both, so he ended up as an All-Tournament selection.

Put him up against a mediocre foe and/or an enemy crowd, and he almost appears to be disinterested. I don't follow things too closely, but I would be surprised if he has had any great games in such situations.

He could well play at an All-American level, if he could find a way to get highly motivated for every game. He has an issue going to his left, but he mostly has an issue inside his head.

I have been impressed with the growth in maturity that Corey has shown in the last two years, but he still has to figure out how to "show up" for every game.
 
I am hoping some agent can convince Corey another year at Rutgers WITH help so he isnt double teamed so much will allow him to concentrate on a more complete game and enhance his value when he is done at Rutgers. Not to mention the value of a Rutgers degree.

IMO opinion is all up to how things are going at home.
 
Sanders decision (mixed with the next player that ultimately will be his replacement) tie together what appears to be what i consider an opportunity to RU to at least get half of the roster on track....IMO it means that you would finally have that senior-freshman bridge, assuming it is Strickland or another PG target.

Both guard positions would be in place with adequate or at least reasonable long term.solutions in place.

If you find the Small Forward in 2019 (or 2018), then you can start to feel really comfortable. The wing position is what would allow Sanders to really thrive. I know this is a Sanders thread but my gut instinct tells me we havent truly seen the complete.Sanders.....Or simply if you had an Aundre Hyatt in 2018 at SF, Sanders assists likely double per game....they probably could triple if Mathis provides the spark we expect at SG.

Sanders return could be a really efficient way to not just win games but prove to himself and others that he can progress into Carsen Edwards or Tony Carr or that next tier of B1G players. Once he proves he can boost his assists, to go along with the defense and scoring, the image of what Sanders becomes changes....it's going to be fun to watch this happen, if and when he returns.
 
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Here's the advantage of one more year for Corey. He could possibly come into his senior season as a pre-season first team all american so he would have extra eyes watching his game. Whether that helps get him drafted or not; I have no idea?

Just... no. Not even close. Not even first-team All-B1G.
Well he did just make the All tourney team so my point was that he would come into his senior year just off that accolade and nba scouts will take a close look. So first team, second team or just on preseason watch lists he going to be closely followed. Not to mention the additions of shooters like Kiss, Mathis and Harper, Geos second year and the possible addition of Strickland are all going to take a lot of the double teams away and hopefully open the offense a lot more. That could turn Corey’s game up another notch?
 
Is Tony Carr leaving ?

That would be a mistake too IMO because he isn't ready yet.

But in a year he could be .
 
Give him a perimeter shot from 21 feet and he goes right up there. He is more Anthony Collins (USF guy who transfered and played in tournament some where a few years ago) than Tony Carr right now.
 
Is Tony Carr leaving ?

That would be a mistake too IMO because he isn't ready yet.

But in a year he could be .

If Tony Carr isn't ready now he won't ever be ready. I am going to guess Tony carr never plays a minute in the NBA.

Being 6'5'' gives him a chance.
 
I’m wondering if Carson Edwards leaves Purdue for the draft? He’s ready imo. That would really deplete Purdue although I’m sure they have newbies ready to step in?
 
If Tony Carr isn't ready now he won't ever be ready. I am going to guess Tony carr never plays a minute in the NBA.

Being 6'5'' gives him a chance.

Yes it does he just doesn't have an NBA jump shot----his handle is pretty good and he's solid defensively.

I think if he can improve that aspect of his game he has a chance.
 
not that mock draft boards are the end all......Carr is 1st pick 2nd round this year and no Karsen Edwards in any year on the board
 
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

He has been the focal part of the offense for 3 years. How is he going to lead us to the tournament?
The important thing is he thinks he can
 
I like Tony Carr a lot but his last game against Temple certainly didn’t help his draft status.

He seems to have everything except athleticism but his size might make up for it. I do think he needs another year though.
 
I like Tony Carr a lot but his last game against Temple certainly didn’t help his draft status.

He seems to have everything except athleticism but his size might make up for it. I do think he needs another year though.

It would be hard for him to replicate the year he has had. Saying that, I think now would be his best opportunity. Lose a couple pounds. With his height, and wingspan, he would not have to guard the fastest player on the team.
 
I like Tony Carr a lot but his last game against Temple certainly didn’t help his draft status.

He seems to have everything except athleticism but his size might make up for it. I do think he needs another year though.
or the 4 of 18 in the prior tourney game vs. Purdue.
 
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