I have waited to post after seeing the team live in 2 games since I did not want to get too giddy after the FdU game and to see if they could follow it up. They did. Although we know FDU and Drexel are no juggernauts, it was more about us and whether we could continue to share the ball, rack up the assists, and shoot from 3. We are going to be a fun team to watch and although the Big 10 from top to bottom will be a beast we should compete every night.
The job this coaching staff has done with the players, recruiting the right players that are gym rats and very unselfish is remarkable. Geo and Eugene are our leaders and it showed yesterday with Geo dominating a smaller guard but still getting everyone involved. Loved how Pike took him out just before the 12 and 8 minute timeouts and out Caleb in to give Geo a blow as Coach has said at the Court club meeting that Geo is going to play 33-35 minutes a game.
Eugene is just unbelievable. In the 40 years of watching Rutgers players develop, he is number 1. Eric Clark, Damon Santiago, Rashod Kent, Adrian Hill, and a number of guards have gotten better as the years went by but Eugene is at another level. To be a defensive hustle player his first year, hardly scoring but drawing charges, to learning to drive and finish with both hands and still drawing the most charges in the country last year, to completely changing his shot and now stroking threes that look good and pure with terrific form , along with rebounding and drawing charges makes him one of the most complete players we have ever had. 2 double doubles 2 games in bodes real well. He has turned into a stretch 4 that will open the floor for the other guys to cut and drive to the hoop.
The player I am most excited about is Myles Johnson. The redshirt freshman, 3.8 cum engineering major s the smartest guy on the team on and off the court. He is our best passer, has a post up game and a drop step, rebounds on both ends and blocks shots. He is clearly the best center we had had since Rashod and will only get better. He has great basketball instincts or IQ.
Ron Harper Jr. is still growing into his body but can pass, shoot the three and rebound but has to get taught the Coach’s and Jay Young’s defense. It is clear he has the biggest upside and a chance to be one of the greats.
Montes and Caleb will need a little time to get stronger and figure it out. It is clear after 2 games why Coach has said Montes will be a great defender because he is extremely quick with great lateral movement. He was trying to do too much against FDU and settled down against Drexel. He will only get better . Caleb needs another year but we have help on the way next year so we are in real good shape at the point guard position for years to come .
Peter Kiss has the intangibles , can hit the three and is not afraid to shoot a three at a critical time which we will encounter in conference play. He has to tighten up his defense which has been bad to date but he brings a spark and toughness on the offensive end that has been lacking for so long.
Doorson has really worked hard to shed weight, and will be serviceable offensively but clearly his rebounding and shot blocking will really help us with the 2 headed monster along with Myles.
Very interesting that Doucore and Shaq Carter are not in the rotation yet and Coach is bringing them along slowly. A great luxury to have but I think Coach is sending a signal that they really better bust it in practice to get time in the game . This should make our practices better and more competitive and this can only help improve our starters against Big 10 competition. We will need them all come conference time.
The Big 10 will be a bear this year. Through the first 2 games the entire league is blowing teams out. This will be a tough conference from top to bottom with no weak links but no teams that are Final Four worthy just yet. Every game will be a war. Can Coach get his young team to win on the road?
St . John’s will be a great test with great guards and athletes up front. We have 5 capable three point shooters in Geo, Issa, Kiss, Harper and now Eugene. I know we cannot continue to shoot over 50 per cent from three but hopefully the days of hitting only 3-4 a game are gone and maybe 7-10 are more likely. 12 and 14are aberrations but with the way this team passes with Myles in the post and Eugene in the post , the ball will come out to our three point shooters unlike past years. I have not been more excited watching a Rutgers team in a long time and our youth will hold us back this year trying to integrate 6 new players but I am confident in Coach that he will have us dancing next year or the following.
The job this coaching staff has done with the players, recruiting the right players that are gym rats and very unselfish is remarkable. Geo and Eugene are our leaders and it showed yesterday with Geo dominating a smaller guard but still getting everyone involved. Loved how Pike took him out just before the 12 and 8 minute timeouts and out Caleb in to give Geo a blow as Coach has said at the Court club meeting that Geo is going to play 33-35 minutes a game.
Eugene is just unbelievable. In the 40 years of watching Rutgers players develop, he is number 1. Eric Clark, Damon Santiago, Rashod Kent, Adrian Hill, and a number of guards have gotten better as the years went by but Eugene is at another level. To be a defensive hustle player his first year, hardly scoring but drawing charges, to learning to drive and finish with both hands and still drawing the most charges in the country last year, to completely changing his shot and now stroking threes that look good and pure with terrific form , along with rebounding and drawing charges makes him one of the most complete players we have ever had. 2 double doubles 2 games in bodes real well. He has turned into a stretch 4 that will open the floor for the other guys to cut and drive to the hoop.
The player I am most excited about is Myles Johnson. The redshirt freshman, 3.8 cum engineering major s the smartest guy on the team on and off the court. He is our best passer, has a post up game and a drop step, rebounds on both ends and blocks shots. He is clearly the best center we had had since Rashod and will only get better. He has great basketball instincts or IQ.
Ron Harper Jr. is still growing into his body but can pass, shoot the three and rebound but has to get taught the Coach’s and Jay Young’s defense. It is clear he has the biggest upside and a chance to be one of the greats.
Montes and Caleb will need a little time to get stronger and figure it out. It is clear after 2 games why Coach has said Montes will be a great defender because he is extremely quick with great lateral movement. He was trying to do too much against FDU and settled down against Drexel. He will only get better . Caleb needs another year but we have help on the way next year so we are in real good shape at the point guard position for years to come .
Peter Kiss has the intangibles , can hit the three and is not afraid to shoot a three at a critical time which we will encounter in conference play. He has to tighten up his defense which has been bad to date but he brings a spark and toughness on the offensive end that has been lacking for so long.
Doorson has really worked hard to shed weight, and will be serviceable offensively but clearly his rebounding and shot blocking will really help us with the 2 headed monster along with Myles.
Very interesting that Doucore and Shaq Carter are not in the rotation yet and Coach is bringing them along slowly. A great luxury to have but I think Coach is sending a signal that they really better bust it in practice to get time in the game . This should make our practices better and more competitive and this can only help improve our starters against Big 10 competition. We will need them all come conference time.
The Big 10 will be a bear this year. Through the first 2 games the entire league is blowing teams out. This will be a tough conference from top to bottom with no weak links but no teams that are Final Four worthy just yet. Every game will be a war. Can Coach get his young team to win on the road?
St . John’s will be a great test with great guards and athletes up front. We have 5 capable three point shooters in Geo, Issa, Kiss, Harper and now Eugene. I know we cannot continue to shoot over 50 per cent from three but hopefully the days of hitting only 3-4 a game are gone and maybe 7-10 are more likely. 12 and 14are aberrations but with the way this team passes with Myles in the post and Eugene in the post , the ball will come out to our three point shooters unlike past years. I have not been more excited watching a Rutgers team in a long time and our youth will hold us back this year trying to integrate 6 new players but I am confident in Coach that he will have us dancing next year or the following.
