Court Report: Rutgers could be first team to miss NCAA Tournament despite having two top-five NBA Draft picks

[Tango Two]

Court Report: Rutgers could be first team to miss NCAA Tournament despite having two top-five NBA Draft picks

Matt Norlander's weekly notebook also has three ranked teams to fade and Tennessee's March outlook after its loss to Florida

www.cbssports.com

"Those two are incredibly talented young men with very bright futures in the NBA but they don't try hard defensively," a high-major assistant who faced Rutgers this season told CBS Sports. "In college, any time any team is built around two freshmen and those freshmen don't necessarily have the maturity or intangibles of what goes into winning yet, it's going to impact your team. That's not saying they're bad young men, they just don't have what it takes to win yet."

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

For the most part that is 1/2 right.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Hope this is plastered all over the team locker room.

 

[LotusAggressor]

One of the coaches in the article stated that "The guys who can shoot can't defend and the guys who do defend can't shoot."

 

[Local Shill]

Court Report: Rutgers could be first team to miss NCAA Tournament despite having two top-five NBA Draft picks

Matt Norlander's weekly notebook also has three ranked teams to fade and Tennessee's March outlook after its loss to Florida

www.cbssports.com

"Those two are incredibly talented young men with very bright futures in the NBA but they don't try hard defensively," a high-major assistant who faced Rutgers this season told CBS Sports. "In college, any time any team is built around two freshmen and those freshmen don't necessarily have the maturity or intangibles of what goes into winning yet, it's going to impact your team. That's not saying they're bad young men, they just don't have what it takes to win yet."

you're welcome.

 

[kt124]

making headlines for the wrong reasons in our dream year

 

[Salvi's Headband]

Utter humiliation for the program. We'd have been better off with a regular recruiting class and quiet mediocrity.

 

[bethlehemfan]

One of the coaches in the article stated that "The guys who can shoot can't defend and the guys who do defend can't shoot."

Pretty much

 

[Degaz-RU]

The entire article makes me want to puke, but this quote is especially galling:

"Dylan Harper's a [expletive] monster off middle pick-and-roll," an opposing coach told CBS Sports. "But they're not hard to guard. They don't run around. It's not like four or five people touch the ball and feel involved. If you want to be a good offensive team you have to weaponize the guys around them."

 

[Salvi's Headband]

Im starting to think Pike actually gets fired if we become a national laughing stock.

 

[S_Janowski]

One of the coaches in the article stated that "The guys who can shoot can't defend and the guys who do defend can't shoot."

How about the guys who can’t shoot or defend?

We have a few of those as well.

 

[TommyGunn]

Yet another proud moment in RU history…

 

[RutgersChow]

Early in the season I saw Jay Young go over to Ace and talk to him after he was taken out. Ace looked away and appeared totally disinterested. I thought then we had a problem.

 

[RUskoolie]

This is why I have been saying no way Pike gets 2 more years. The fallout from this is not something you recover from. The reputational damage is going to be bad. Read the comments online after a game, people think our school is a total joke.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

It is all about learning and adapting. Pike will do things a bit differently and we will put a better product on the floor and the program will get back to where we were. We will be fine.

 

[RutgersChow]

If he loses another another ten games I think he steps down and takes another job.

 

[Mr Magoo]

Court Report: Rutgers could be first team to miss NCAA Tournament despite having two top-five NBA Draft picks

Matt Norlander's weekly notebook also has three ranked teams to fade and Tennessee's March outlook after its loss to Florida

www.cbssports.com

"Those two are incredibly talented young men with very bright futures in the NBA but they don't try hard defensively," a high-major assistant who faced Rutgers this season told CBS Sports. "In college, any time any team is built around two freshmen and those freshmen don't necessarily have the maturity or intangibles of what goes into winning yet, it's going to impact your team. That's not saying they're bad young men, they just don't have what it takes to win yet."

Can’t say he’s wrong here. Dylan, Ace, Pike, the program, and the fans all stand to be losers in this marriage.

 

[S_Janowski]

Call me crazy but I think we would be playing better as a team if we had an Akwasi Yeboah type player in place of Ace.

His defense is poor.

The offense totally stalls when Ace has the ball in his hands and he basically chucks up long 2’s and 3’s for the most part while everyone stands there and watches.

He’s a solid rebounder but not consistent.

Akwasi was a straight up all around basketball player and was great for the locker room. If we had a piece like that this team is way better.

I think Pikiell thought Martini was that guy but it was a major whiff.

 

[Goku]

Early in the season I saw Jay Young go over to Ace and talk to him after he was taken out. Ace looked away and appeared totally disinterested. I thought then we had a problem.

I was turned off to Ace’s attitude from the St. John’s game

And it was that game where I wondered when I saw a college team, with such a small and shallow period of winning, with no returning upperclassmen who set the standard of success, bring in 2 top players as freshman, and then win big? It hasn’t happened. I only thought of OJ Mayo at USC. And it wasn’t like this situation.

If Dylan and ace went to Kansas, or duke with coach k, maybe they would have been set straight. At Rutgers, it’s becoming a s&$@-show

 

[RedChucken123]

It does kind of make you wonder. Yes, the supporting cast is nowhere near perfect, but what about our two freshmen superstars? Do they respect our coaching or just do whatever they feel like? Pike gave Mulcahy a really long leash when he struggled. Probably the same goes for Ace and Dylan, even if they refuse to adhere to our systems (if that were to happen). Would we pull them off the floor, if they half-a$$ed anything? Who knows.

 

[rpiseman]

Utter humiliation for the program. We'd have been better off with a regular recruiting class and quiet mediocrity.

This

If I knew the school would do such an utterly disgraceful job with this once in a lifetime opportunity I wish Ace and Dylan went elsewhere….im fine sucking in peace.

 

[rpiseman]

Yet another proud moment in RU history…

Rutgers: Blowing opportunities since 1700…

 

[bethlehemfan]

I mean there can’t be too many teams with two one and done top 10 picks in history. Maybe 5 if that? Kentucky? But this is very unique because pike has no experience whatsoever with this type of player and things are a lot different with the nil world. Regardless it’s definitely not great Bob.

 

[koleszar]

The entire article makes me want to puke, but this quote is especially galling:

"Dylan Harper's a [expletive] monster off middle pick-and-roll," an opposing coach told CBS Sports. "But they're not hard to guard. They don't run around. It's not like four or five people touch the ball and feel involved. If you want to be a good offensive team you have to weaponize the guys around them."

Compared to other teams, we stand around a lot.

 

[Roy_Faulker]

It is all about learning and adapting. Pike will do things a bit differently and we will put a better product on the floor and the program will get back to where we were. We will be fine.

Before NIL I would agree. Now it seems Pike is learning on the job. We all know he hasn’t forgotten how to coach. But in the current environment his consistent low/average recruiting doesn’t work because he can’t grow and mold players into a system. Sure maybe a few will stick around but nobody can count on keeping a roster intact anymore.

I was turned off to Ace’s attitude from the St. John’s game

And it was that game where I wondered when I saw a college team, with such a small and shallow period of winning, with no returning upperclassmen who set the standard of success, bring in 2 top players as freshman, and then win big? It hasn’t happened. I only thought of OJ Mayo at USC. And it wasn’t like this situation.

If Dylan and ace went to Kansas, or duke with coach k, maybe they would have been set straight. At Rutgers, it’s becoming a s&$@-show

This point is raised consistently. Sure those guys are great coaches in their own right but the talent surrounding those elite freshmen makes it easier to shine.

 

[SBP]

Compared to other teams, we stand around a lot.

From the stands its SO obvious.

 

[bethlehemfan]

Before NIL I would agree. Now it seems Pike is learning on the job. We all know he hasn’t forgotten how to coach. But in the current environment his consistent low/average recruiting doesn’t work because he can’t grow and mold players into a system. Sure maybe a few will stick around but nobody can count on keeping a roster intact anymore.



This point is raised consistently. Sure those guys are great coaches in their own right but the talent surrounding those elite freshmen makes it easier to shine.

Yea a little different when it’s a whole team of high four and five stars and a team of two and they’re freshman.

 

[soundcrib]

Great article.

 

[bethlehemfan]

From the stands it’s SO obvious.

We have some guys like jwill that bog down the offense. When it’s Dylan I’m ok with it because he’s a more reliable scorer off a pick and roll than passing to some of the other guys off a screen.

 

[soundcrib]

Not having Cliff here with these two really hurt this squad.

 

[RUFan20231]

Sorry folks. I know some will mention the buyout, but Pike cannot survive this. No other coach with these 2 guys wins less than 20 games.

Every other BIG coach is no worse than 12-3 with these 2 guys.

 

[Unionst]

Sorry folks. I know some will mention the buyout, but Pike cannot survive this. No other coach with these 2 guys wins less than 20 games.

Every other BIG coach is no worse than 12-3 with these 2 guys.

He’s built up too much goodwill. He’ll survive this.

 

[socaldave]

The entire article makes me want to puke, but this quote is especially galling:

"Dylan Harper's a [expletive] monster off middle pick-and-roll," an opposing coach told CBS Sports. "But they're not hard to guard. They don't run around. It's not like four or five people touch the ball and feel involved. If you want to be a good offensive team you have to weaponize the guys around them."

This is the consequential statement in the entire article.
The most actionable item, to change this team’s fortune and it’s all on the coach!
It’s too late!
It’s the reason the team will not make the tournament.

 

[socaldave]

Not having Cliff here with these two really hurt this squad.

Pike has really hurt this team!

 

[kt124]

He’s built up too much goodwill. He’ll survive this.

all because he caught lightning in a bottle for one appearance in the round of 32

 

[AdventureHasAName]

The entire article makes me want to puke, but this quote is especially galling:

"Dylan Harper's a [expletive] monster off middle pick-and-roll," an opposing coach told CBS Sports. "But they're not hard to guard. They don't run around. It's not like four or five people touch the ball and feel involved. If you want to be a good offensive team you have to weaponize the guys around them."

I find this hard to believe. You mean to tell me an opposing coach thinks Pike's teams don't run an offense. Someone tell him that I've been confidently told on this very message board that we do.

 

[KK1827]

Sorry folks. I know some will mention the buyout, but Pike cannot survive this. No other coach with these 2 guys wins less than 20 games.

Every other BIG coach is no worse than 12-3 with these 2 guys.

He has at minimum 2 more years barring him pulling a jamie wright and retiring. His buyout is too much.

 

[RUFan20231]

He’s built up too much goodwill. He’ll survive this.

What goodwill? His teams have been mediocre for several years, and he has shown no ability to navigate the new NIL world.

 

[RUFan20231]

He has at minimum 2 more years barring him pulling a jamie wright and retiring. His buyout is too much.

Giving him 2 more years sets this program back to where it was before he started imo. Next year with a mediocre recruiting class will be a 12-18ish type season, and no one will sign up for 2026 of consequence, which will result in a potential 9-21ish type season. That in turn will lead to decent candidates not wanting this job.

You need to get rid of him, get a real coach (who will generate excitement and NIL money), and hit the portal hard to avoid the above.

 

[darkcheck]

all because he caught lightning in a bottle for one appearance in the round of 32

Could have been a sweet 16 if they didn’t blow a sizable lead