You mention “move the needle”, just curious, what would you say RU could do and what would moving the needle look like to you?
Finish needed for NIT
- Thread starter MGSA99
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Certainly not this years team. Based on our conference and geography everything UCONN stole from us when we rejected being a founding member of the Big East should be ours now. A constant contender for Big titles a sweet 16 regular. Not losing Cams to UCONN.
Next season an elite 8 run could move the needle in that direction. With out that we will go back to what this season is. The Purdue game was an embarrassment. That should never happen again.
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You realize Top 10 teams are on the 3 line right? These are teams capable of competing for their conference and national championship
Ok, I am not talking about this season though, just next season. This season was not a needle mover, never was expected to be especially with two 25th hour transfers running out the back door. We can all have our own expectations, I’ll keep mine with cautious optimism.
Did I say elite 8
That’s 4 1’s
And 4 2’s = 8
I would be ok with a 2.5
But not a 4-5
Wisconsin this year is not my expectation for Rutgers next year. That would be disappointing.
Sweet 16 with 1 and doners does not move the needle in terms of moving the program forward.
We will be right back here the following year talking about how great an NIT appearance would be with no momentum and no diaper dandies to look forward to
A sweet 16 finish would be our highest finish in 40 years. That would move the needle at Rutgers anyway.
FWIW Indiana has TWO five star freshman playing and they're worse than we are.
They don’t have 2 one and dones who are 2 of the top 3 recruits in the country.
We were a 3 minute collapse against Huston away from a sweet 16 3 years ago! A sweet 16 is very forgettable doesn’t move the needle.
A good board name for this board would be
RUSMALLTIMEALLWAYS!
Realistically analyzing your prospects is not a “loser mentality”. People who think being stupid and unrealistic is the mark of a “winner” are idiots. This applies doubly when talking about people who aren’t even playing the ****ing games.
You know what demonstrates a “loser mentality”? Worrying about “embarrassing” threads posted by other people on a sports message board.
🤔 don’t even know how this applies 😂
Lots of reaching here and boarder line board violations, you might want to look into some meditation
I quoted the post it applies to, you simpleton. Borderline board violations, oh no!
Let’s play this out 2026 top 3 recruit and best friend also a top 3 recruit. Let’s go to Rutgers for our 1 and done year and have coach Pike get us to the round of 32
We can shock the world 😂 Like Dylan and ACE😂
Or let’s go to Rutgers and get to the final 4 and shock the world like Dylan and ACE
The first conversation is sarcasm, but illustrates a point.
What Pike does with these 2 top 3 one and done recruits either will change the perception of Rutgers basketball 🏀
Or it’s going to be Rutgers at best 8-10 line on the Big tournament for the rest of Pikes time here.
What happens next year will have something to do with how long that is.
What you say is largely true.
It’s also true that the odds of making it to the round of 32 is somewhere around 50%, and go down sharply with each progression.
The odds of final 4 must be 5% (or less?). Many of us don’t have a loser mentality but rather a healthy mentality in line with reality, not pinning our hopes or “expecting” on an unlikely outcome, even if it’s finally our best chance at this unlikely outcome.
Last year team and fans were devastated we didn’t get in the Big Dance.
This year and with the new format I think we would welcome the NIT.
I want as many games as possible for Williams to play and Gavin to get experience and untracked.
I want the team to prep for tournament play.
I do believe Wisconsin’s nice NIT run last year did help their early play this year.
I would love to win two games next year and then roll the dice. All gravy. Still going to be very young so going to want and need Simpson and Mag around.
You certainly are entitled to your own opinion. I was in your shoes. I’ve been a fan since ‘83, RC 90, but I’m relatively new to the boards. I came on and got accused of trolling by many. I wanted to vent all my frustration. “Loser fan base”, mediocrity, substitution patterns, not capitalizing on 2019-2021 success and having lousy 2020-2023 recruiting (still bugs me). But realism and fact patterns do matter. Have to walk before you run with the big boys in NCAAM.
Those vets on this board don’t and shouldn’t decide your opinion for you. However their experience and views should factor into your opinion. There’s a wealth of knowledge on this board, I’m starting to learn to take some of it in. We all do want the same thing, a great RU basketball program. I’ve learned a ton from so many, Bac, my scraps with fluoxetine (best name btw), Scangg and so many others I’m ashamed I can’t mention them all here.
Progress is about being places we haven’t been before. While NIT is lousy for our goals (I’ve droned on and on about going from near sweet 16, to play in L, to one seed NIT L to dumpster fire for all but a few games) more experience is good for next year. Next year getting to a sweet 16 is more than we’ve had in 50 years. That gets noticed. Just making the tourney got us good publicity.
It’s a one game elimination tourney. Saying elite 8 or more is so rough. IMHO seeding is more indicative of a successful season than finish, provided you make chalk. Being a five seed is top 20. When were we last a top 20 team at reg season end. Do that and Pike is a factor going forward. He’s genuinely a caring coach, defensive genius and runs a great program with upmost character. That resonates. Look at Caleb’s loyalty when he could have left for $$. It had to resonate with Harpers mom. It matters. Combine solid tourney success with character and kids will come. It doesn’t have to be so all or nothing.
That being said I value your opinion. You are certainly entitled to it. I hope you’re right and we have a crazy good season next year. But, and it’s just my opinion, I’d take measured success and steady progression every year. Especially since we don’t have a Time Machine to go back and be a founding big east member (man that would have been nice). Beat the turtles!!
The NET is the most overrated metric, even people in the know say the committee now only takes it with a grain of salt … it’s literally how many baskets you make vs how many baskets you give up .. doenst take into account soooo many other things, that make up whos a better team .. if we sweep Maryland home and away, finish 10-10 to their 8-12 B1G record and they have a higher NET than us because they had a few games where they shot efficiently but mostly were terribke this year, and they get in over us, it’s BS. And it won’t happen, thats why these things have committees and don’t let the computers decide !
Don’t they have 3 5-star starters (Ware, Mgbako, and Reneau?)…and I believe it’s worse than that because only Mgbako is a freshman..and they still suck. I realize our two are rated higher but unless Pike hits the portal hard, we better pump the brakes a little on expectations next year.
I appreciate your take I have been a fan since 1980, I was a team captain at Rutgers on a team that competed on a high national level, my kids have all played at a high level football basketball and softball, my son played on a Vegas Bigfoot championship basketball team.
The point guard on that team went on to play point on Virginia’s national Championship team.
I have some perspective, not shooting from the hip here.
I will aim high, I know Ace and Harper will.
Their goals are similar to mine, that I can promise.
I lived in Chicago when Harper’s Dad played for the Bulls watched every game he played in live or on TV
That pedigree will go a long way. Call me optimistic I have been called worse.
I hope we are in for the most spectacular season ever on the banks.
If that doesn’t happen I become a pessimist.
I have my and my kids success stories too but I didn’t know it was a p*ssing contest, lol. I thought it was about seeing the program move forward. I think the bulk of us are saying we can’t get the UConn success you want in one swipe. It has to come brick by brick. All the best to you and your family!
Socal just wants make sure you know he has a winning mentality. Because nothing says winning mentality than having to make real sure that every random message board poster knows you have a winning mentality.
I honestly have no idea why you think I’m angry. I’ve written angry sounding posts before and those are.. not it. But keep trying I guess.
Just trying to give some perspective, I have seen up close and been involved with great coaches and kids who have had D1 experiences, more than 1 that has a national bball championship ring.
Being involved in basketball on that level for 6+ years with kid who went on to win natty’s
At Virginia and Kansas gives a perspective that is unique. Is it correct? TBD.
If I wanted to get into a contest
which I don’t, I wouldn't have to bring my kids into it.
To reiterate my points
NIT is Worthless especially in the day and age of the portal and NIL
Anything less than competing for a Big10 title and elite 8 appearance results in continued mediocrity.
Ace and Dylan being 1 and doners and 2 of the top 3 recruits are aiming for the above goals.
The way Pike coaches up defense I am optimistic it can happen.
Look at most teams that have made a deep run in the tournament, It starts with D.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
This is an open discussion board.
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Michigan had an All American center and two first round NBA draft picks starting last season and still was mediocre.
Can’t predict anything, especially with young players. How many one and dones has Kentucky had without advancing in the tournament?
Ok I could go on about 20 years of coaching, including div one and college players and my own playing experiences too. Say you’re being a jerk without saying you’re being a jerk Dave. This post wasn’t about you and your not-so-humble bragging. It was about Rutgers. But apparently you’re more wrapped up in people worshipping you. Was about to come back and have a convo with you about how bad today was, but why, you’ll just turn it into a hype session for yourself.
I’d be shocked if RU makes the NIT this year.
Optimistic for next year. We’ve seen 2 NCAA champions in wrestling. We’ve seen a few Final Four and Elite 8 Appearances in team sports the past few years. It can happen. Not surprised if it does. Not surprised if it doesn’t.
Optimistic for next year. We’ve seen 2 NCAA champions in wrestling. We’ve seen a few Final Four and Elite 8 Appearances in team sports the past few years. It can happen. Not surprised if it does. Not surprised if it doesn’t.
I’m not sure it’s quite this simple. If we make Dylan and Ace strong defenders next year we’ve solidified our brand. Even if we’re an 8 seed. It doesn’t matter if Ace and Dylan are lottery picks and we send them off game ready for the NBA. That’s what matters. The year is a success.
What we can’t have happen is a complete bust situation where one or both of them turn out slightly better than Jaden Jones. Or in a less extreme scenerio, Dylan has to outperform his brother’s frosh output substantially.
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