First Practice

[higgins3]

I would say Johnson.

If Sanders and Johnson are both on the floor at the same point, I think you bring in Batie. I think Batie has to be tried a little more. I saw great focus out of him when he got his chance to play at times. The thing about this team is that they are young, but athletic. They also seem to be having trouble connecting on all passes in transition,etc. They will have to find their right balance.

 

[MadRU]

If Sanders and Johnson are both on the floor at the same point, I think you bring in Batie. I think Batie has to be tried a little more. I saw great focus out of him when he got his chance to play at times. The thing about this team is that they are young, but athletic. They also seem to be having trouble connecting on all passes in transition,etc. They will have to find their right balance.

In my opinion:

I would anticipate a 3 guard rotation.

When Corey and Nigel are on the court together:

Corey at the point Nigel SG

When Nigel and Mike Williams are on the Court Together:

Nigel at the point, Mike at the SG

When Corey and Mike are on the court together:

Corey at the point, Mike at the SG.

Batie would probably see limited minutes, more of emergency situations (injury, fouls etc).

 

[knights1212]

Don't forget Omoruyi is a SF also. He just might get important minutes at that position. Many seem not to mention him at all. He just might be a real surprise.

 

[higgins3]

Don't forget Omoruyi is a SF also. He just might get important minutes at that position. Many seem not to mention him at all. He just might be a real surprise.

Art, I wonder how long our rotation is for the first ten games. I think we see a lot of players getting minutes, and then a 7-8 man rotation going into big ten play.

 

[knights1212]

I think all 12 scholarship players will play in the OOC games. Once the BIG 10 begins I think we will still go 10 deep and maybe more.

 

[higgins3]

I think all 12 scholarship players will play in the OOC games. Once the BIG 10 begins I think we will still go 10 deep and maybe more.

It will be interesting.

 

[MadRU]

Got to figure all the bigs, the centers, will probably all play due to fouls. If 3 guards, 2 PFs, 3 centers, 2 or 3 SFs, all get minutes that 10-11 right there.

 

[PaKnight]

I think all 12 scholarship players will play in the OOC games. Once the BIG 10 begins I think we will still go 10 deep and maybe more.

It is hard to have a rotation of 10 or more players. Nine is a good number, excluding injuries or foul problems.

 

[BKIn118]

Just from what I see with my own eyes, Diallo and Bullock appear to be at the end of the bench at this point.

That said, neither wants to be...so that could change.

 

[seels2662]

Just from what I see with my own eyes, Diallo and Bullock appear to be at the end of the bench at this point.

That said, neither wants to be...so that could change.

Does that mean that Gettys is better than advertised?

 

[MCKnight2004]

I think Gettys is your starting center based on experience and need to go big, at least In conference. He is probably only a 20 minute a game guy, but his experience can't be under estimated on a young team

Gettys, Freeman, SA, Johnson and Corey is my guess. Williams Shaq and Thiam first three off the bench

BK- who looks to be the first five after your practice visits?

 

[jonS]

Effort today was impressive all around, but I walked away with one as the standout.

MIKE WILLIAMS

Love the work this kid has done on his game!

I love his attitude and hustle. If his outside shot improves , he will be an important player for Rutgers this year.

 

[RUsojo]

I love his attitude and hustle. If his outside shot improves , he will be an important player for Rutgers this year.

I'm hoping Mike has a senior full of production and efficiency that Mike Coburn had his senior year. Different type of players of course, but Rice REALLY got the most out of him that year.

 

[seels2662]

I think Gettys is your starting center based on experience and need to go big, at least In conference. He is probably only a 20 minute a game guy, but his experience can't be under estimated on a young team

Gettys, Freeman, SA, Johnson and Corey is my guess. Williams Shaq and Thiam first three off the bench

BK- who looks to be the first five after your practice visits?

Actually it will probably be Laurent at the three. In fact I don't think Sa will get many minutes at all at the three, he is much more needed at the four and five.

 

[MCKnight2004]

Actually it will probably be Laurent at the three. In fact I don't think Sa will get many minutes at all at the three, he is much more needed at the four and five.

I did forget about Laurent, he obviously figures in the plan for big minutes...just shows you that we actually have depth this year!

 

[knights1212]

Williams is only a junior this season.

 

[4theknights]

I agree with Laurent. He had a nice freshman season playing multiple positions so I would major minutes at the 3 and Thiam may also need some time too. Great to have depth and guys who can play multiple spots

 

[higgins3]

Actually it will probably be Laurent at the three. In fact I don't think Sa will get many minutes at all at the three, he is much more needed at the four and five.

I believe Gettys starts at the moment. Pikiell being the right coach I think gets Freeman in but does not put heavy minutes on him early. I think you see a nice mix of Sa and Freeman early on in the season. There is some defensive versatility on this team, so that will be useful for Coach P.

 

[higgins3]

I did forget about Laurent, he obviously figures in the plan for big minutes...just shows you that we actually have depth this year!

Like a couple of us mentioned, Thiam and Laurent seem to be battling for a small forward position potentially, which would be fantastic.

I think Coach Pikiell uses Thiam at guard a little bit, and then adds bulk to him over time, and uses him more at small forward next year. Some versatility there.

Mike Williams and Nigel Johnson battling-great for competition and the team.

Thiam and Laurent battling-great for competition and the team.

Tomorrow night will be fun. I fully trust Pikiell will run a very coordinated show with some bells and whistles to attract the crowd in.

Also, it will act as another practice for him. I want to see Thiam and Bullock shoot!

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

Thiam has a pretty decent release and 3 point shot....Bullock can shoot a three, but I would not call him a shooter at all, he has an all-purpose game....can defend, shoot, make a pass, get rebounds....not afraid to mix it up....Thiam is very thin, but has athleticism for his wiry build, but I see him scoring in transition and from 3 point land. Also a good FT shooter as well.

 

[higgins3]

Thiam has a pretty decent release and 3 point shot....Bullock can shoot a three, but I would not call him a shooter at all, he has an all-purpose game....can defend, shoot, make a pass, get rebounds....not afraid to mix it up....Thiam is very thin, but has athleticism for his wiry build, but I see him scoring in transition and from 3 point land. Also a good FT shooter as well.

Gotcha. All purpose players are needed here,lol.

Got some players that are tall and thin, and some that are tall and bulked up. I like the versatility offensively and defensively.

 

[80RU]

Just from what I see with my own eyes, Diallo and Bullock appear to be at the end of the bench at this point.

That said, neither wants to be...so that could change.

Will Sa see significant time at the 5 spot?

 

[4theknights]

Maybe seeing more Sa at the 5 especially with smaller OOC foes so we can have more playing time for our athletic 3's and 4's

 

[willisneverrana43]

Lol, I am confused. One day we are told no leaders, cannot rebound, etc.

The next-Woah so much potential.

Interesting. I thought we had potential from the start, but who knows.

I guess Pikiell has to cover himself.

For the life of me, I can't understand how what he said in that interview and the two or three quotes in this article have you confused. He talks about a big player hustling and taking out the front row and another sprinting hard, and suddenly you've deduced "so much potential" and "Pikiell has to cover himself." Are you comparing his quotes to what some fans on a message board are concluding from a short video? Or what? I don't get it.

Ah, the off-season.

 

[knights1212]

Why does it seem as if no one is even mentioning Omoruyi at small forward. I think some just might be surprised.

 

[MadRU]

Why does it seem as if no one is even mentioning Omoruyi at small forward. I think some just might be surprised.

Think maybe because some like me can't remember how to spell his last name, jk. From coaches comments sounds like he has potential to be that hard working guy for us.

 

[4theknights]

Why does it seem as if no one is even mentioning Omoruyi at small forward. I think some just might be surprised.

Good point. This kid is a rugged player with a big ten body.. Some nice competion at the 3 with Laurent Thiam and Omoruyi so cool to finally have some depth and watching who will emerge to get major minutes

 

[MadRU]

Will be very interested to see the style coach implements here. With pieces at each position will it be a pressing up tempo style with player rotations? One worry is really only three guards unless someone else can play minutes there.

 

[higgins3]

Will be very interested to see the style coach implements here. With pieces at each position will it be a pressing up tempo style with player rotations? One worry is really only three guards unless someone else can play minutes there.

I think it will be more fast paced, but I am not sure if the team is ready to run every possession out of the back. Pikiell wants to play to the teams strengths, which is athleticism among all. Especially Johnson and Sanders. I think Batie is ready to get 5-7 minutes this year if the team is going to run. Also, we may possibly see Pikiell put in Thiam as a guard. He passes well and would have a height advantage on offense, and be able to guard the 2-3 on defense.

 

[seels2662]

I think it will be more fast paced, but I am not sure if the team is ready to run every possession out of the back. Pikiell wants to play to the teams strengths, which is athleticism among all. Especially Johnson and Sanders. I think Batie is ready to get 5-7 minutes this year if the team is going to run. Also, we may possibly see Pikiell put in Thiam as a guard. He passes well and would have a height advantage on offense, and be able to guard the 2-3 on defense.

I think its going to be more Thiam than Batie in the backcourt. Remember if Sanders and Johnson gets 25 and Williams 20 we only need to find 10 more minutes there. It helps that Omoruyi can take some SF minutes leaving more minutes to use Thiam at the two.

 

[higgins3]

I think its going to be more Thiam than Batie in the backcourt. Remember if Sanders and Johnson gets 25 and Williams 20 we only need to find 10 more minutes there. It helps that Omoruyi can take some SF minutes leaving more minutes to use Thiam at the two.

Gotcha. Thiam has serious skills, and for his size handles the ball very well. I do not want to call it great depth, but Pikiell is probably happy about the small forward, wing position.

I am interested in what Sa does.I have watched some JUCO tape of him, and read about his game. I wonder how it translates to the D1 level.