There are multiple problems that only get solved by securing better players and adding players via the portal is not a short or long term solution.
The defense and ratings have been masked or covered by 3 specific players in the Pike era.
A) Myles Johnson ( should have secured Defensive Player of the Year)
B) Caleb McConnell (should have won DPOY 2 consecutive years.
C) Cliff Omoyuri (big man who is ultimately able to discourage drivers)
It comes down to players and continuity in the system. And that cannot be done in one offseason and without plus athletes....
Here are the PLUS athletes that were not Defensive player of the year players BUT were plus defenders on the ball.
A) Mawot Mag
B) Montez Mathis
C) RHJ
D) Jacob Young
E) Awkasi Yeboah
F) Geo Baker
G) Paul Mulcahy
H) Derek Simpson
I dont think fans quite understand how many plus athletes RU sent on the floor at one time....You don't land in the Top 5 or 10 nationally by accident.....it takes recruiting of Top 100 to 150 type players who have the speed, quickness and toughness to not back down against other players.
Let's fast forward to how different this years roster is, in comparison to the type of players listed above and ask yourself, would you take any of our current players above the list here??
Noah Fernandes
Gavin Griffiths
Austin Williams (injured with knee)
Jeremiah Williams
Jordan Derkack (has potential but his role at Merrimack was different, they played 90+ % zone defense at Merrimack)
PJ Hayes
Tyson Acuff
Zach Martini
The coaching staff has not changed, the caliber or talent level has dropped off from ELITE to well below average. That's not a Pike or coaching problem, that is a change that fans demanded was changed....
Why?? Because fans wanted better FT shooting, better 3 point shooting, more fluid offense....it was "the gang that couldn't shoot straight ", each and every thread.
Fans have to ask themselves what they want to see...."Its the lack of an offensive system"....NO, it's the players in the system were able to defend and were not skilled offensive players.
This is the process that has to occur if RU has a chance to close the gaps on most of CBB. Just because RU loses games, doesn't mean the coaching is 100% to blame.....The players on the floor are simply not talented enough on EITHER end of the court, over a 4 months of high level games.
Are Dylan Grant, Lathan Sommerville, Bryce Dortch part of the problem or the long term solution?? I know the first complaint about Bryce Dortch is still how he is not a scorer......DUH, but he can play decent defense on the perimeter and hustles. Grant and Sommerville need more minutes and reps for sure, but the biggest issue is this.
Most of the roster lacks competitiveness....I'd take Lathan Sommervilles effort last night in a game where things weren't going well and Dylan Grant outrunning players for a follow-up dunk, over a casual player, who's content to shoot 3s.....
Whats next for 2025 are more competitive, harder working players in Lino Mark, Chris Nwuli and Powers and Ware. RU needs plus athletes like Nwuli, Grant, Dortch who can get stronger and remain quick....Mark is a guard who tries to defend and hustles.....we need to see how willing Kaden Powers is on defense, i know he can score or shoot.
The days of a Top 10 national defense are over folks....we will be better than 100 soon, but elite defense usually comes with a cost of poor shooting, poor FT shooting and lower scoring games like Houston and UCLA play......not sure that is a sustainable path, unless fans all agree to not complain about 3 point bricks and 63% FT shooting.
