Don't quite understand the reaction to all of this

[motel00]

I am a long suffering RU b-ball fan, probably go back farther than a lot of you. And I have uttered the words, "Jordan can't coach" and "we need to fire Jordan".

But with the current injury situation, I don't understand the piling on. It's as if once we lost Dorson, Diallo, Freeman and then Laurent, that there was some expectation that this team would pull off a miracle. We were going to have trouble winning 2-3 games in the Big 10 this season with an almost full roster. Don't understand what is expected at this point. Coach K couldn't do any better with these 6 scholarship players (I'm not counting Goode as his play is so passive, he is at best a preferred walk-on in terms of contributions). I don't care who is coaching this team, these 6 guys are going to get blown off the floor by any decent college team. And it's not going to get much better with Laurent back.

Think of this: Bo Ryan lost to Rutgers last year because Kamensky went down. He still had a great team, but couldn't beat Rutgers.

I recall Pitt coming in here many years ago with 7 scholarship players (Ricardo Greer was one). I felt sorry for them--and we blew them out.

If you want to criticize Jordan's decisions, coaching, recruiting, etc. it's all fair game. But anyone would expect this group to be competitive right now is hard to understand. The results of these games are exactly what I would expect with the players we have on the floor. Talent and size are just not there right now.

 

[RUsojo]

You're right. Don't worry about what the rest think Hobbs feels the same way.

 

[RUskoolie]

I would like to piggy back on this post and remind a lot of the posters that is it one thing to bash the HC... But ENOUGH with bashing the players repeatedly on here. Some of the stuff I've read on here is repulsive and makes a lot of posters look like assholes to be quite frank. It's just over and over and over again about the players from the same people. The coaching is what it is I get it but believe it or not the players work extremely hard and most likely work harder now than most of you do during your work week. Get off their back.

 

[DennisHajekRC84]

my bashing is not about losing. I don't expect to win another game all year with this coach. What I expect is what any decent college coach would do which would be to design a game plan and rotation to maximize what you do have left and LOOK at least like a basketball team.

My players would still make an effort. They'd bond together. I'd have them moving around and using what advantage a small team would give you..vs. this standing around watching BS and selfish "my turn" play.

Heck, our old Middle School coach Jake Manning at East Amwell would have these guys playing 5x better than Jordan. THAT's the frustration.

 

[mikefla]

I thought there was some steadfast rule about bashing players,,I was booted for a short time for MILDLY dissing a player who transferred to Creighton...

The piling on is NOT a good thing...I agree.

Rather than diss any players OR get depressed.....my psyche has decided I dont actually ever remember what day we have a game.....

 

[motel00]

The players are making an effort--they're so undermanned, they don't have a shot. Nonetheless, the team got a lot of open looks on offense last night, but we're playing most of the game with 4 (small) guards on the floor, no small forward, and not much of a post game. Reverting to a high school offense isn't going to help these kids develop.

 

[bac2therac]

Lets cut the charade...this regime isn't working out for various reasons beyond injuries..its to move on

 

[goru7]

my bashing is not about losing. I don't expect to win another game all year with this coach. What I expect is what any decent college coach would do which would be to design a game plan and rotation to maximize what you do have left and LOOK at least like a basketball team.

My players would still make an effort. They'd bond together. I'd have them moving around and using what advantage a small team would give you..vs. this standing around watching BS and selfish "my turn" play.

Heck, our old Middle School coach Jake Manning at East Amwell would have these guys playing 5x better than Jordan. THAT's the frustration.

If you think that then you are just stupid or have stupid opinions . Like the OP said bash his recruiting, assistants, NBA style, but be serious Coach K, Roy, Self, Calipari, or Boeheim couldn't be competitive with this group. The players have to play better but they are stressed and press and play worse. The inconsistent play from Daniels, Williams, DJ, and Grier makes it look worse. Forget Lewis or Goode they just do not belong playing at this level. Youcan blame Eddie for recruiting Goode but the kid is playing scared and timidly andI am not sure why or whether Eddie could have predicted.

 

[DennisHajekRC84]

If you think that then you are just stupid or have stupid opinions . Like the OP said bash his recruiting, assistants, NBA style, but be serious Coach K, Roy, Self, Calipari, or Boeheim couldn't be competitive with this group. The players have to play better but they are stressed and press and play worse. The inconsistent play from Daniels, Williams, DJ, and Grier makes it look worse. Forget Lewis or Goode they just do not belong playing at this level. Youcan blame Eddie for recruiting Goode but the kid is playing scared and timidly andI am not sure why or whether Eddie could have predicted.

I'm stupid? well at least I can read. Where did I say ANYTHING about being competitive? I may have inferred competing/playing harder and smarter. .
and then YOU call out 2 players and say they don't belong. Who's the dope here?

Coaches job is to play the hand he's dealt or he's created. And do the best with it. I have seen zero value added by Jordan. ZERO.

 

[ColonelRutgers]

The injury situation is unreal because it's so ridiculous and hitting the bigs exclusively but let's remember the only starter out is Freeman. Doorson and Diallo are Backups to Lewis and Laurent to Foreman. What was the score at the first media timeout last night?

Freeman is valuable for us but before he got hurt a lot of us had concerns how he would actually perform against Big Ten bodies given that he had displayed no jump shot or midrange game in the early games. Freeman isn't Karl Malone and although I thought Doorson is a nice 10-15 minute lane filler, Diallo struggled mightily in the games he played and was a foul machine. Laurent showed some athleticism and aggressiveness but can't shoot so the fact that these missing guys are so important just highlights how bad the talent on this roster really is. And without coaching, well, I guess you're lucky to stay within 35 points against Big Ten teams.

 

[RUJMM78]

The players are making an effort--they're so undermanned, they don't have a shot. Nonetheless, the team got a lot of open looks on offense last night, but we're playing most of the game with 4 (small) guards on the floor, no small forward, and not much of a post game. Reverting to a high school offense isn't going to help these kids develop.

Lets remember a basic fact that Rutgers is awarding scholarships to players for the most part who don't belong in the B1G.Scholarships are precious and in Rutgers case the court results speak for themselves this season and for the past 25 years.

 

[shields]

Agree with first post a lot. Can 't play with 7 kids. When Foreman is guarding a 7 foot kid that should tell you all you need to know. Duke has one kid out and they have lost 3 straight games. The kids are trying but difficult situation right now. Diallo needs to get in weight room and wish someone could explain if that is a problem. the other team look like they have men on the court.

 

[goru7]

I'm stupid? well at least I can read. Where did I say ANYTHING about being competitive? I may have inferred competing/playing harder and smarter. .
and then YOU call out 2 players and say they don't belong. Who's the dope here?

Coaches job is to play the hand he's dealt or he's created. And do the best with it. I have seen zero value added by Jordan. ZERO.

If you cannot see the roster is depleted with 3 unforeseen injuries and another one to our Florida freshman and our remaining center playing gingerly then you are lost and I cannot help you.

 

[RUSONIC]

So lets be clear, after 3 years under Jordan, if not for the injuries, we would still stink but not as bad? Boy cant wait till next year when we don't stink as bad as this year. When do we actually get to the point that I come to the RAC and say we have a chance? What year under this program is that. Jordan recruited these players who according to another poster are now to stressed to perform. How about recruiting guys who play like their hair is on fire. Remember Joel Salvi or Darrel Smith, undersized but always rebounding and hustling.

 

[RUChoppin]

We were going to have trouble winning 2-3 games in the Big 10 this season with an almost full roster.

I think this is the root of some of the frustration.

Why in year 3, with a roster of all EJ players (save one), should we have trouble winning 2-3 games in the Big Ten this season? Why were we only suiting up 11 players to begin with? Why, with a every eligible player minus Doorson, did we come out so flat to start the season?

I get that we're not going to win any games with a 7 man roster that has no bigs. At this point, winning isn't what any sane fan should be looking at. But what about things that we can be working on with those 7 players? Has rebounding/positioning improved? Has clock management improved? Pacing, spacing, and passing? Has on the ball defense improved, or understanding of the zone improved? The seven guys we have should be working better together as a unit, since they're seeing so much time together on the floor and in practice. Has chemistry improved? Are they better internalizing the coaching philosophy? Is there a recognizable coaching philosophy?

Through all of this, has recruiting improved? We saved a scholarship last year to get a better player for that slot this year.. but so far we still have that schollie open. Is the staff being successful in pitching the potential of the healthy roster next year to new recruits? Is the staff seen by recruits as coaches they want to work with, who will help them improve their game and potentially get to the next level?

Only four of the current players will be back next year, and one likely in a very limited capacity. How have the outgoing seniors (Lewis, Daniels, Grier) progressed over the last 1.5-2.5 years? Have the returning core players progressed (Sanders, Williams, Foreman)?

...

New coaches only have a short window to turn things around from a perception perspective. If they don't get HS players to see the potential for improvement and the start of a winning culture in the first 2-3 years, recruiting will dry up and any upward progress pauses (or stops altogether).

Even if we suddenly become competitive next year with a healthy roster, we may have lost the potential for future improvement without bringing in upper tier guys in the 2016 class. And if we take roleplayers in this class, we only have one scholarship open for 2017 to build on any 2016-17 success. That puts this staff in a really bad place... either somehow pull rabbits out of a hat in the next couple of months, or risk the 2017-18 and beyond to another backslide.

 

[shields]

Foreman needs to get in weight room. That seems to be a big problem also.

 

[DennisHajekRC84]

If you cannot see the roster is depleted with 3 unforeseen injuries and another one to our Florida freshman and our remaining center playing gingerly then you are lost and I cannot help you.

you're right, Because I have NO idea WTF you are talking about and how that has ANYTHING to do with my comments about having the players you do have on the court playing harder and together (PERIOD). Not winning, not losing close. But playing the game of basketball like a team. I am not the one lost here.

Thanks , don't need your help sir. Been watching RU for the same 40 years as you.

 

[jellyman]

I am a long suffering RU b-ball fan, probably go back farther than a lot of you. And I have uttered the words, "Jordan can't coach" and "we need to fire Jordan".

But with the current injury situation, I don't understand the piling on. It's as if once we lost Dorson, Diallo, Freeman and then Laurent, that there was some expectation that this team would pull off a miracle. We were going to have trouble winning 2-3 games in the Big 10 this season with an almost full roster. Don't understand what is expected at this point. Coach K couldn't do any better with these 6 scholarship players (I'm not counting Goode as his play is so passive, he is at best a preferred walk-on in terms of contributions). I don't care who is coaching this team, these 6 guys are going to get blown off the floor by any decent college team. And it's not going to get much better with Laurent back.

Think of this: Bo Ryan lost to Rutgers last year because Kamensky went down. He still had a great team, but couldn't beat Rutgers.

I recall Pitt coming in here many years ago with 7 scholarship players (Ricardo Greer was one). I felt sorry for them--and we blew them out.

If you want to criticize Jordan's decisions, coaching, recruiting, etc. it's all fair game. But anyone would expect this group to be competitive right now is hard to understand. The results of these games are exactly what I would expect with the players we have on the floor. Talent and size are just not there right now.

This times 1000.

Sure, fans should feel free to criticize Jordan for plenty of things (personally I think he is better than what many think, though even a cock-eyed optimist would have to admit there are a number of truly mystifying and explanation defying actions and decisions by Jordan). RU's performance the last 3 seasons, plus a lack of any Fall signees, have left Jordan open to this criticism.

But, really, you could take the most brilliant coach - or even FIVE of the most brilliant coaches, in the history of basketball, and they could not make the current healthy players competitive.

And anyone who actually cannot see that or admit, and posts as evidence games like the Purdue game (or any of the last 3-4 games), their posts are idiotic and completely worthless.

I am not saying that RU is not a current laughing stock - of course it is. And ultimately, regardless of the reasons, the coach is ultimately responsible.

Still ... there is absolutely NOTHING any coach can do when they only have TWO healthy players over 6'4" playing against even decent (i.e. not even great, but merely decent) teams with almost zero players UNDER 6'3" tall. This has been true in each of the last 3 games. Purdue STARTED these 5 players: 7'0", 6'9" 250 lbs, 6'8", 6'6" and 6'3". And brought off the bench the following players: 7'2", 6'5", 6'7" 6'5", 6'10" (and a 5'10"). RU has TWO players over 6'4", in Foreman at 6'8" and Lewis at 6'9" ... and Lewis probably should not even be playing, and is limited to 20 min per game because of a bad knee. That means that AT LEAST 20 minutes per game (half the game), RU at best has Foreman as its center and sole player over 6'4" on the floor, and AT BEST, Grier, at 6'4", has to play POWER FORWARD. And there are times, if Foreman MUST rest or has foul trouble, that RU has NO CHOICE but to go with Grier at CENTER, with 4 other guards on the floor with him ... that is 5 guards.

Unfortunately, NONE of RU's guards are consistent enough outside shooters to make the other team pay for RU's mis-matches ... RU GETS open shots, by the way ... they just miss too many of them. Sure, you can (and maybe should) blame Jordan for not recruiting enough good players, better shooters, etc. For example, against Purdue, Goode was often guarded by Purdue's star 6'9" 250 pound PF - but Goode still could not get a single outside shot off over him (despite him playing off Goode) ... and then Goode had to defend that behemoth on the low post ... and fans are booing Goode (yes, I heard it - and other RU players), and criticizing his EFFORT in the Purdue game. Really?

RU faced extremely similar size differentials when facing Ohio State and Nebraska. RU was NOT quite so out-sized against Indiana, PLUS had the 6'6" Laurent - who is really a WF, forced to play back-up PF, but just that ONE player made a huge difference in competitiveness in that game ... just ONE player.

Truthfully, I suspect it will be very difficult for Jordan to survive this season, if RU keeps losing like this (possible, but difficult). But it is REALLY unfair to judge how the team MIGHT have come together based on what is actually happening now. No one knows what Jordan's game plan was when RU's roster looked like this:

C: Lewis (6'9" starter), Doorson (6'11" SO back-up), Diallo (6'10" RFR back-up)
PF: Freeman (6'7" JUCO starter), Foreman (6'8" true JR back-up), Diallo (6'10" RFR back-up)
WF: Grier (6'4" SR Transfer starter), Foreman (6'8" back-up), Laurent (6'6" FR back-up)
2G: Williams (6'2" SO starter), Daniels (6'3" SR back-up), Goode (6'2" RFR occasional, spot back-up)
PG: Sanders (6'2" FR starter), Daniels (6'3" SR back-up).

We will never know what THAT team might have accomplished. Because we never had that team on the court, not for 1 minute. And by the middle oft he 7th game, RU was missing Doorson and Freeman. And by the 9th game RU was missing Diallo as well, and Lewis was already beginning to ache. And by early January, RU was without Laurent as well, anbd Lewis is even less physically capable ... and for at least 3 games Foreman was playing at far less than 100% with a bad ankle, in January.

And now Williams may even be hurt (he took a NUMBER of really hard falls against Purdue having to defend and rebound against their huge size ... when he was knocked out of the game (and yes, he was literally knocked out), he went to the bench and took off his sneakers (with 5 minutes left, or so). I hope he is okay, or RU will be down to just 5 1/2 healthy scholarship players against Iowa.

Plus, RU cannot even really PRACTICE effectively, they have so few healthy players.

 

[shields]

Announcer said Rutgers can't even practice with 7 players. Was a great post. purdue is huge. Someone mentioned driving to the hoop, Daniels did it and shot was blocked.

 

[ScarletLongIsland]

Great post Jelly.

 

[Rufaninga]

Every year undersized kids that were not recruited to P5 schools make the NCAAs and hang with the big boys and even go on a run. Why should RU fans accept losing by 30pts against teams in our conference? I get the loss of 3 players, but at some point can't we get a game plan around what we have on tbe floor to be competitive? Why is it small directional schools that have undersize teams represent in the tourney and we are supposed to be ok getting blown out by half? Year 1 &2 of coaching change is understandable, but this is year 3. If Eddie was a great coach, wouldn't he find a way to get his team to compete and get within 10 not 30-50. Nothing gives me hope that we will be better in year 4 with healthy players based on what we have gotten out of current roster the last 3 years.

Eddie, thanks for final 4, thanks for stepping up after M. Rice fiasco, thanks for getting us to this point, but RU.Hobbs should take it from here and move on.

 

[jellyman]

Every year undersized kids that were not recruited to P5 schools make the NCAAs and hang with the big boys and even go on a run. Why should RU fans accept losing by 30pts against teams in our conference? I get the loss of 3 players, but at some point can't we get a game plan around what we have on tbe floor to be competitive? Why is it small directional schools that have undersize teams represent in the tourney and we are supposed to be ok getting blown out by half? Year 1 &2 of coaching change is understandable, but this is year 3. If Eddie was a great coach, wouldn't he find a way to get his team to compete and get within 10 not 30-50. Nothing gives me hope that we will be better in year 4 with healthy players based on what we have gotten out of current roster the last 3 years.

Eddie, thanks for final 4, thanks for stepping up after M. Rice fiasco, thanks for getting us to this point, but RU.Hobbs should take it from here and move on.

Because those smaller-time schools have players who are 3rd and 4th year players, who have been in the system for 4 years, and who can SHOOT.

RU went something like 2-16 from 3 against Purdue. And for much of the game had a 6'4" Grier covering a 6'9", 6'10" or even a 7' player. And when RU went ot zone, a 1-3-1, for one, Purdue just used their 6'6" and 6'7" and 6'8" wing players throw the ball over the top of RU's 6'2" players for easy inside baskets, or wide open 3-point shots. RU tried to trap, much more this game, especially in the half court ... and Purdue either went up over RU's smaller players anyway, or tossed the ball outside to 6'5"+ players at the 3-point line ... who then hit a decent percentage of 3's (11 of 29 3's).

Early in the game, or in the 1st half, Purdue's frontline was mutilating RU on the boards (I counted unofficially RU was outrebounded 32 to 9 in the 1st half, 13 to 2 on the offensive boards). So RU's small players started crashing to the backboard HARD ... and when Purdue then started having shots bounce long off the rim, the Purdue guards were able to get easy rebounds around the foul line .. because RU was crashing hard to the back board. It was basically a Hobson's choice for RU.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Jelly your rationale explains losing by 20.

It doesn't explain giving up 107 points in 68 possessions, which includes extended minutes to 2nd and 3rd team vs. our 1st.

107 in 68 is unheard of....essentially only getting a stop once every 4 possessions.

 

[Fzacsattac]

Lol

 

[RUChoppin]

Jelly -

So do you feel this is a lost year on all fronts? Is there no improvement to be had from any of the players, in any way? I know we're not going to win any more games (maybe we might sneak one), and we likely won't keep any of them close either. But what can the staff be working on in these games - what skills can they be looking to develop to improve their 4 returning scholarship players? I don't see anything really being worked on, to be honest.

I know they don't have enough players to practice with effectively - but they can be working on skill drills (rebounding? free throws?), if they can't be running sets. Do you see evidence of individual player development at the skill level?

Also curious your thoughts on the recruiting dilemma. If EJ is retained and gets a chance to show on-court improvement next year, this class is really make-or-break for his future. 4 scholarships out of 13, and only 1 more available next season. These four need to not only fill the roster, but move it forward - they need to be better than the current players on the team if we're going to show improvement in 2017 and 2018. Do you think, at this point, that is a realistic possibility? And if we can't bring in Big Ten level competitive talent with the remaining 3 open scholarships, is there any future for this staff anyway?

 

[Caliknight]

I am a long suffering RU b-ball fan, probably go back farther than a lot of you. And I have uttered the words, "Jordan can't coach" and "we need to fire Jordan".

But with the current injury situation, I don't understand the piling on. It's as if once we lost Dorson, Diallo, Freeman and then Laurent, that there was some expectation that this team would pull off a miracle. We were going to have trouble winning 2-3 games in the Big 10 this season with an almost full roster. Don't understand what is expected at this point. Coach K couldn't do any better with these 6 scholarship players (I'm not counting Goode as his play is so passive, he is at best a preferred walk-on in terms of contributions). I don't care who is coaching this team, these 6 guys are going to get blown off the floor by any decent college team. And it's not going to get much better with Laurent back.

Think of this: Bo Ryan lost to Rutgers last year because Kamensky went down. He still had a great team, but couldn't beat Rutgers.

I recall Pitt coming in here many years ago with 7 scholarship players (Ricardo Greer was one). I felt sorry for them--and we blew them out.

If you want to criticize Jordan's decisions, coaching, recruiting, etc. it's all fair game. But anyone would expect this group to be competitive right now is hard to understand. The results of these games are exactly what I would expect with the players we have on the floor. Talent and size are just not there right now.

Comparisons to Wisky? Wha? They had an off night, without Kaminksy. One. They then made the Final Four.

We have lost 21 straight conference games and counting. Settling new records for futility along the way. To put Rutgers in the same situation as Wisconsin, even as an example, is ridiculous.

A better example of where we are is this- Seton Hall took a dump on us and didn't have their best player.

 

[daytonhouse]

I am a long suffering RU b-ball fan, probably go back farther than a lot of you. And I have uttered the words, "Jordan can't coach" and "we need to fire Jordan".

But with the current injury situation, I don't understand the piling on. It's as if once we lost Dorson, Diallo, Freeman and then Laurent, that there was some expectation that this team would pull off a miracle. We were going to have trouble winning 2-3 games in the Big 10 this season with an almost full roster. Don't understand what is expected at this point. Coach K couldn't do any better with these 6 scholarship players (I'm not counting Goode as his play is so passive, he is at best a preferred walk-on in terms of contributions). I don't care who is coaching this team, these 6 guys are going to get blown off the floor by any decent college team. And it's not going to get much better with Laurent back.

Think of this: Bo Ryan lost to Rutgers last year because Kamensky went down. He still had a great team, but couldn't beat Rutgers.

I recall Pitt coming in here many years ago with 7 scholarship players (Ricardo Greer was one). I felt sorry for them--and we blew them out.

If you want to criticize Jordan's decisions, coaching, recruiting, etc. it's all fair game. But anyone would expect this group to be competitive right now is hard to understand. The results of these games are exactly what I would expect with the players we have on the floor. Talent and size are just not there right now.

I said Jordan was a ridiculous hire day one. A new hire that the press didn't mention his pathetic coaching record. That said, it is fair to say he has had a season of injuries that would point towards a bad season. BUT, the magnitude of the loses is unprecedented.

And as a side note, that has little to do w this season...I a tired of hearing about RU's amazing win against top 5 ranked Wisconsin last year, because the fact that Superstar Frank Kaminsky not playing is never mentioned anymore. Sorry...just a pet peeve of mine.

Time to clean house now! Otherwise, I predict we lose Sanders to say Duke.....sound familiar!

 

[bac2therac]

way too much over analysis when we all know what the bottom line is.

 

[rufeelinit]

I don't disagree that injuries have made us more uncompetitive and thus most games for the rest of the year will be like last night. We should not expect otherwise but its going to be a long last six weeks of the season. At this point I can only watch this freak show in small doses. The first half against Ohio State was likely an aberration and I agree that even the best coach would struggle to keep this team in the game. If somehow the rash of injuries create a rationale for bringing him back then we are creating a deeper hole that we eventually need to climb out of. For me it has been clear for awhile that EJ was not the guy.

 

[ColonelRutgers]

Whether you feel Eddie is a good coach or not is almost irrelevant at this point. The rest of the world outside the few of us still paying attention to the details is going to see these shockingly lopsided losses and not give a damn about injuries even if they are aware. And then it will be all over except for the shouting between bac and RUChoppinOhio. When the injury to Freeman occurred someone posted that he was afraid that now Eddie would have a built-in excuse for the inevitable failure that would be the rest of the season and Eddie would be retained. However, the level of stink is getting so high that the injury excuse will not nearly be enough to provide a justification to retain Eddie. There is just no way. A few more responses like Eddie's not being disappointed in our defense after yielding 107 points to a team barely in the Top 20 (not Top 5 mind you) and the pitchforks will be out even with the Jerry Carinos of the world.

 

[DocRU]

My frustration is not so much with Eddie as a coach as it is with Eddie as the "GM". You cannot rebuild a program with so many swings and misses. Both Johnsons, Butts, Parker, the transfer from Georgetown. Not 1 player from Jersey. Both injured bigs more project than impact players.
Its exactly what we feared when we hired an NBA coach 30 years removed from the college game. He was a stop gap to stem the bleeding from Mike Rice. Much like Kyle Flood. An interim guy to hold it together after the abrupt and unexpected departure of Schiano.
Difference being that Kyle was handed a winning program which he eventually squandered.
Both coaches didn't seem to have a plan. Under Kyle, top 20 players flooded out of Jersey faster than Schiano. And Eddie's next Jersey recruit will be his first.
That's the frustration. As much as these embarrassing blowouts.

 

[ColonelRutgers]

My frustration is not so much with Eddie as a coach as it is with Eddie as the "GM". You cannot rebuild a program with so many swings and misses. Both Johnsons, Butts, Parker, the transfer from Georgetown. Not 1 player from Jersey. Both injured bigs more project than impact players.
Its exactly what we feared when we hired an NBA coach 30 years removed from the college game. He was a stop gap to stem the bleeding from Mike Rice. Much like Kyle Flood. An interim guy to hold it together after the abrupt and unexpected departure of Schiano.
Difference being that Kyle was handed a winning program which he eventually squandered.
Both coaches didn't seem to have a plan. Under Kyle, top 20 players flooded out of Jersey faster than Schiano. And Eddie's next Jersey recruit will be his first.
That's the frustration. As much as these embarrassing blowouts.

It would be great to get Jersey kids, but, frankly, I don't care where we get them from if they're good. Eddie had four scholarships to give and he has only managed to get a commitment from 1 kid whose next best offer was Quinnipiac. That is damning and that is why I don't want to hear about Eddie getting more time. He's just not getting it done on the court and in recruiting. I'm not supposed to "criticize" players I guess so I won't name names but this roster has one difference maker in Sanders. Freeman might be good, I didn't see enough diversity in his offensive game to judge from early season performance, but the rest are role players and worse. That is on Eddie and his stellar recruiters.

 

[bac2therac]

My frustration is not so much with Eddie as a coach as it is with Eddie as the "GM". You cannot rebuild a program with so many swings and misses. Both Johnsons, Butts, Parker, the transfer from Georgetown. Not 1 player from Jersey. Both injured bigs more project than impact players.
Its exactly what we feared when we hired an NBA coach 30 years removed from the college game. He was a stop gap to stem the bleeding from Mike Rice. Much like Kyle Flood. An interim guy to hold it together after the abrupt and unexpected departure of Schiano.
Difference being that Kyle was handed a winning program which he eventually squandered.
Both coaches didn't seem to have a plan. Under Kyle, top 20 players flooded out of Jersey faster than Schiano. And Eddie's next Jersey recruit will be his first.
That's the frustration. As much as these embarrassing blowouts.

excellent summation and part of the reason why he has to go

also national sports outlets are noticing RU has been ridiculed on more than one sports show on radio and tv

 

[ruman]

excellent summation and part of the reason why he has to go

also national sports outlets are noticing RU has been ridiculed on more than one sports show on radio and tv

Our team is becoming a national story. And not in a good way.

 

[Friend of 112]

Heck, our old Middle School coach Jake Manning at East Amwell would have these guys playing 5x better than Jordan. THAT's the frustration.

RIP Bub...

 

[motel00]

The point of this originally was not to get involved in the back and forth over whether Jordan should go. I can't see how the program can be permitted to continue down this road notwithstanding the injuries, etc. I just don't think the inevitable results of these last few games is really the evidence that is going to send him packing and I don't understand the anger and vitriol when an obviously undermanned team gets blown out by Big 10 competition.

The clear problem that mandates that a change be made is that there are no recruits coming in next year other than a lightly regarded shooting guard. If Eddie had a couple of 4 stars and a couple of 3s coming in to help, we could perhaps look at things differently, we could have hope with what we have coming back next year and some impact freshmen. As it is, we will likely have defections.

So I don't disagree with the sentiment that Eddie has to go. But I am not going to throw tomatoes at him or his team when they're down. This is my team, this is my coach. I'm going to support these guys because they need it. At the end of the season, a reckoning will have to be had. Let's hope Hobbs is permitted to open up the check book and hire a name who can bring this program back quickly. At this point, I don't think anyone has the stomach for anymore 7 year rebuild programs.

 

[RUChoppin]

We're in a tough spot from a recruiting perspective.

It's late in the day for 2016 recruiting, and there aren't a lot of guys left who we have a shot at that will help us improve to competitive Big Ten level. We have three more spots for this class, and for this team to upswing in the next 2-3 years, they need to be on the level of Sanders/Freeman or better. It's really hard for me to see that happening this late in the recruiting cycle - with or without a new coach.

If we have a class of four Big Ten roleplayers/projects, the "rebuild" is going to be derailed for a bit. 2017-18 would see us with Sanders, Williams, Johnson, Laurent, Foreman, Doorson, Diallo, Goode, 4 roleplayers, and 1 freshman. If that freshman isn't a superstar, we're not looking at taking much of a step forward off of 2016-17.

The following year, we'd lose Williams, Johnson, and Foreman.... and have Sanders, Laurent, Doorson, Diallo, Goode, 4 roleplayers, 1 soph, 3 freshmen. Again, those freshmen would need to be top tier players to take a step forward as a program - and we'd be recruiting them to the sixth year of a coaching staff that very likely hasn't made it back to the Dance yet (or, alternately, the 3rd year of a new coaching staff that's only been able to bring in a single player for its second year).

That one scholarship in 2017-18 (assuming we have no transfers) will make it tough to rebound from a mid-level recruiting class in 2016-17 - either for EJ or a new coach.

 

[Caliknight]

The absolute only thing that would be a discussion point in retaining Eddie and overlooking the horrible coaching job and associated lack of consistent effort his teams display would be one thing- if he had studs coming in that you could point to and theoretically say, "these are the guys are going to get it done,"

But we have no such thing. There isn't one place to point to and say this is why it will be better.

Bad coaching
Poor on court performances
Effort is inconsistent
No recruiting
Player defection

It all equals one thing. Next.

 

[shields]

jelly, I showed a guy at work your analysis of the Purdue game. Was impressed and basically understood how Purdue could have destroyed us. You did a great job.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Looking at kenpom....we are slightly above average in effective height...which is minutes * height of the player. Plenty of teams that play and succeed with our size. now they don't play in our confernce and it is the lack of depth that hurt us.

take a look at Rhode island's roster they are playing with almost identical length and size as we are now. A10 doesn't equal B1G I get it...just worth noting.