Disturbing Trend that Coach has to correct immediately

[goru7]

Last year we had Corey. I don't see us better this year in transition.

Despite not having Corey, we have more options in transition. Transition today is not what transition was years ago, with the goal was to get a layup with the ball hardly touching the floor. Transition today is to run to the three point line and this year if Geo gets an outlet from either Shaquille or Myles, Issa , Kiss, , Harper and Mathis can all spot up for threes or Mathis or Harper can take it hard to the hole. We did not have those options last year. But I think it is absolutely essential to push the ball more because teams have scouted our double low sets and we have not done enough to tweak the offense, thereby resulting in our scoring droughts.
I cannot emphazise enough that I think Coach and the guards have to make a better effort, either set plays, or forcing the ball down to the big guys . Both Shaquille’s and Myles separate than Eugene, should be getting the ball 7-10times. At least 3-4 they make a move to the hoop and another 4-6 they swing back out for our guys ready at the three point line. A bucket down low by an opposing big man has always been a great way to stop a drought , stop a run by the other team , but also will possibly cause the guards to cheat down and then the diagonal pass opens up. There has to be a concerted effort to get our bigs more involved offensively.

 

[goru7]

Good post and I'm sure that it's a concern for Coach. I would guess that he's most concerned about the defense in the second halves. In the last three games, we've give up 39, 43, and 52. Good defense is supposed to be a benchmark for this team so, although we need more guys to step up on offense, I'd bet defense is the main focus in practice this week. And that'll lead to turnovers, stronger rebounding, and, consequently, better offense due to run-outs and more opportunities.

I hear you. The defensive intensity has been bad in the second half. Wisconsin ‘s first half was the best half of defense we have played against any Big 10team, so I expected it to get a little worse. Second half of Michigan State and although I did not see the game, from the comments other posters have made, we are getting killed with the guardpick and roll. Winston killed Geo and I guess Honor killed Geo as well. Some have mentioned, I think Zebatto, that Coach has to switch to zone. I agree but not as a staple but as a change of pace for 2-3 possessions. , then back to man , then maybe back to zone. Young is the defensive guru and I would like to see , more switching defenses especially when we need to stop another team’s momentum . Even a 1-3-1 half court trap which with our length would work great in my opinion for a couple of possessions as a surprise, maybe even forcing a timeout.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

Can't play lights out defense when you are asked to play 35 to 36 minutes, score 16 to 18 points, run the offense and coordinate with the team to get organized.....that is Geo Bakers plate right now.

If you expand the bench and get him down to 29 minutes, some of those shots late in games go in....and you give McConnell a known opportunity where one turnover or mistake isn't going to land him on the bench.

I see Mathis, Harper, Baker and Eugene as players that are all capable of carrying the workload at times offensively and then Shaq Carter or Myles Johnson being an able body to provide points from up front.

Mathis, Harper and Mulcahy and Young are all going to be capable playmakers by next year, and actually have B1G ready builds to help out. Right now we are reliant on Baker and Eugene....and Peter Kiss is also a game ready player that has to evolve into a 3rd piece counted on as well, while Harper, Mathis develop.

I am really not overly concerned because of how many new pieces we have to sort through. Most rosters with this amount of turnover nationally usually take a season and a half to comb through and get really comfortable.

 

[Scangg]

Despite not having Corey, we have more options in transition. Transition today is not what transition was years ago, with the goal was to get a layup with the ball hardly touching the floor. Transition today is to run to the three point line and this year if Geo gets an outlet from either Shaquille or Myles, Issa , Kiss, , Harper and Mathis can all spot up for threes or Mathis or Harper can take it hard to the hole. We did not have those options last year. But I think it is absolutely essential to push the ball more because teams have scouted our double low sets and we have not done enough to tweak the offense, thereby resulting in our scoring droughts.
I cannot emphazise enough that I think Coach and the guards have to make a better effort, either set plays, or forcing the ball down to the big guys . Both Shaquille’s and Myles separate than Eugene, should be getting the ball 7-10times. At least 3-4 they make a move to the hoop and another 4-6 they swing back out for our guys ready at the three point line. A bucket down low by an opposing big man has always been a great way to stop a drought , stop a run by the other team , but also will possibly cause the guards to cheat down and then the diagonal pass opens up. There has to be a concerted effort to get our bigs more involved offensively.

Nailed itttt. Push the ball get easy buckets in transition or spot up 3's. If we can't run look to the post more for points in the paint and also kick out 3's. Way too much passing around the perimeter accomplishing nothing

 

[Rutgers36]

Yes Goru did nail it. With our centers who actually have some low post offensive ability for the first time in ages, we should be playing some inside out offense. Kick it down low to score at the rim or kick to the three point line if the low post basket isn't there. Myles is potentially our best post passer in decades.

 

[bethlehemfan]

Start of the second half has seemed to be a problem as op noted. You need to expect a punch in the mouth and meet the energy out of the gate and we haven’t done a good job there. I think it’s youth most likeybut needs to get fixed.

 

[bethlehemfan]

Btw good teams usually get the ball into the paint at that point versus pass around the perimeter and chuck something up.

 

[goru7]

Start of the second half has seemed to be a problem as op noted. You need to expect a punch in the mouth and meet the energy out of the gate and we haven’t done a good job there. I think it’s youth most likeybut needs to get fixed.

Not necessarily youth. Eugene had the ball stolen on a handoff against Wisconsin.

 

[goru7]

Can't play lights out defense when you are asked to play 35 to 36 minutes, score 16 to 18 points, run the offense and coordinate with the team to get organized.....that is Geo Bakers plate right now.

If you expand the bench and get him down to 29 minutes, some of those shots late in games go in....and you give McConnell a known opportunity where one turnover or mistake isn't going to land him on the bench.

I see Mathis, Harper, Baker and Eugene as players that are all capable of carrying the workload at times offensively and then Shaq Carter or Myles Johnson being an able body to provide points from up front.

Mathis, Harper and Mulcahy and Young are all going to be capable playmakers by next year, and actually have B1G ready builds to help out. Right now we are reliant on Baker and Eugene....and Peter Kiss is also a game ready player that has to evolve into a 3rd piece counted on as well, while Harper, Mathis develop.

I am really not overly concerned because of how many new pieces we have to sort through. Most rosters with this amount of turnover nationally usually take a season and a half to comb through and get really comfortable.

I agree there is too much on Geo’s plate . Next year immediately solved. For this year, Coach has options that he has been reluctant to use in pounding the ball to our bigs and play inside out. He can also try to play Caleb and Geo together for a period to get Geo going in the second half. He can play some zone, to let Geo save his legs, or he can push the ball in transition to get easier baskets. I know he is normally reluctant to push transition because in years past, our transition defense was terrible leaving guys wide open. I think this years team will play better transition defense.

 

[goru7]

I agree there is too much on Geo’s plate . Next year immediately solved. For this year, Coach has options that he has been reluctant to use in pounding the ball to our bigs and play inside out. He can also try to play Caleb and Geo together for a period to get Geo going in the second half. He can play some zone, to let Geo save his legs, or he can push the ball in transition to get easier baskets. I know he is normally reluctant to push transition because in years past, our transition defense was terrible leaving guys wide open. I think this years team will play better transition defense.

 

[RUsojo]

To add to that we are having 4 more offensive possessions per game than last year, yet rank 266th in country, and scoring .6ppg less than 2017 and haven’t played the bulk of our conference schedule yet.

@Greene Rice FIG

@Greene Rice FIG

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

false information

 

[RUsojo]

false information

LOL WHAT

 

[kcg88]

LOL WHAT

I'm not sure why you're mixing PPG and points per possession, but last year we scored 1.037 points per possession in our non-conference, and this year we're at 1.047. Not a giant difference but last year's non-conference was inarguably easier. We played eight teams ranked 250 or worse in KenPom plus CCNY. This year we've played just two ranked 250 or worse (add in Maine when it happens, and Columbia is close enough to count). We didn't have a Gavitt Game last year.

In conference last year, we scored 0.87 points per possession. Against Wisconsin and Michigan State, we're at 103.4. I don't expect us to remain that high over 20 conference games, but I'd expect significant improvement... something like 0.93 or 0.94.

 

[RUsojo]

I'm not sure why you're mixing PPG and points per possession, but last year we scored 1.037 points per possession in our non-conference, and this year we're at 1.047. Not a giant difference but last year's non-conference was inarguably easier. We played eight teams ranked 250 or worse in KenPom plus CCNY. This year we've played just two ranked 250 or worse (add in Maine when it happens, and Columbia is close enough to count). We didn't have a Gavitt Game last year.

In conference last year, we scored 0.87 points per possession. Against Wisconsin and Michigan State, we're at 103.4. I don't expect us to remain that high over 20 conference games, but I'd expect significant improvement... something like 0.93 or 0.94.

I guess we’re discussing semantics over the term efficiency. But I’m also seeing we are averaging less PPG on 4 more possessions per game - which doesn’t make sense based on what some are saying regarding our points per possession.

But what’s clear is we are scoring on a lower percent of our possessions than we did last year. Our 3pt rate has increased which is probably impacting points per possession but that is a trend throughout entire college basketball landscape so I’m wondering if we really improved or its a nation wide trend.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

You may be adjusting those offensive scores.........raw data....points-possessions.

CCNY +18
CCST -3
CSU +5
COP ST -4
BRY +15
ECU -1
FSU +3
NJIT +1
FDU +18
FORD +2
SHU -2
SB -1
Hart -4

total +47 (+29 D1 games)

FDU +16
DREX +19
SJU -7
emu -4
BU -15
Ford +6

total +15

If you add in 2 B1G early games
this year +4
last year -26

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

tempo non conference
last year 69.9
this year 70.0

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

http://barttorvik.com/team.php?year=2019&team=Rutgers is free. All the raw data is here. You can argue the interpretation of the data, but not the data itself.

Also, offensive efficiency is done in the NCAAs as a whole.

 

[RUsojo]

I get data from a slightly better source overall but I have not been using non conference splits only. I guess we will see if this team does better during the conference schedule like last year’s team did.

 

[zebnatto]

I hear you. The defensive intensity has been bad in the second half. Wisconsin ‘s first half was the best half of defense we have played against any Big 10team, so I expected it to get a little worse. Second half of Michigan State and although I did not see the game, from the comments other posters have made, we are getting killed with the guardpick and roll. Winston killed Geo and I guess Honor killed Geo as well. Some have mentioned, I think Zebatto, that Coach has to switch to zone. I agree but not as a staple but as a change of pace for 2-3 possessions. , then back to man , then maybe back to zone. Young is the defensive guru and I would like to see , more switching defenses especially when we need to stop another team’s momentum . Even a 1-3-1 half court trap which with our length would work great in my opinion for a couple of possessions as a surprise, maybe even forcing a timeout.

Right, I don’t think we need to be a zone team. But you have to make adjustments. But we are long and suited to half court zone and traps.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Look at our defensive rankings the past 2 years. No need to do anything different

 

[LotusAggressor]

The trend is that those teams pulled their heads out of their asses and played the way they were supposed to play.