I suspect only returning player next year is Derkack. Maybe JMike. Neither is particularly inspiring as starters in this league. Maybe Dortch enters portal but decides to return because minimal interest due to lack of playing time. I also wouldn't be shocked if not a single player returns. Thanks Steve. Returning program to dark ages.
Future
- Thread starter RutgersClassof2004
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JMike and Somerville are gone. Thanks Steve for listening to a 17 yo on how to recruit.
Not sure but JMike not much value, but Lathan can go him and his attitude
Pike must go. He is not an asset. Nine years and one tournament win. It seems RU expects mediocracy.
We can only hope for mediocrity next season. He will probably need to acquire 4-5 B1G players for next season to be mediocre, since I also don’t believe anyone will stay except maybe Derkack (Grant and maybe Sommerville are the only two I’d want anyway). Other than Ace and Dylan, he couldn’t bring in any this year. Then, he needs to find an assistant to coach them.
While I did not watch much of the second half, I thought Lathan played one of his best games in the first half. Given how many points they wound up with I am sure the second half was not pretty at times. Like many others on this team, his play has not matched the hype but he also was thrown into a situation that was not conducive to him excelling. If there are building blocks on this roster for next year he and Grant would be near the top of my list. Hopefully Dortch will develop but to me there is no longer a mystery for why RU was hoping to redshirt him.
Future is bleak with all the players leaving and the uncertainty of the talent level coming in.With the N1L and the transfer portal there is very little time for player development which Pikiell has emphasized in past years.
All teams in the same boat. One and out- Wild West until new rules come into place.
If we can keep Sommerville and grant and bring in a true power conference point guard we MAY have hope. That is the only scenario where next year isn’t a dumpster fire because we’ve already proven we can’t expect to hit on multiple portal players
You want to keep everyone you can. Need to reestablish a culture and can only do that with multiple year guys. Pike isn't leaving yet, so the team needs to be put together in his image. A change of some bench coaches is probably necessary.
This thread is hysterical. We all know NOTHING but you spout off like you heard it straight from their mouths.
Here's a thought.....let's see what happens before we pronounce doom and gloom till the end of time.
Here's a thought.....let's see what happens before we pronounce doom and gloom till the end of time.
Keeping Grant is far more critical. Sommerville is a tweener that can't play defense, above the rim or rebound well. Grant is a rebounding power forward with a developing offensive game. You pair Grant with an above the rim big and you have a pretty potent duo on the boards.
Unfortunately JMike is not gone. He will be here another 3 years because no other power 4 will take him let alone play starting minutes.
You take back all players, we need to establish a culture of not flipping a roster every year/ the best teams in big ten have the most roster stability and continuity. Mich St, Purdue, Wisconsin….Michigan is the exception bc of the Howard disaster and Dusty May coming in
No "team leader" was going to wrest influence from Ace and Dylan. They are too good to listen and too good to be ignored. That's the way it works on a basketball team. They don't listen to the smartest guy, or the coach, or anybody as much as the guys headed to the league.
I'm not that scared of other teams poaching ng our "talent." I think Grant and Somerville are pretty good, but the basketball world looks at them as if they're infected with whatever hit the RU team this year.
Get used to 50% of the roster changing. A lot of guys on the roster are not B1G capable and have no way to get there.
I'm not that scared of other teams poaching ng our "talent." I think Grant and Somerville are pretty good, but the basketball world looks at them as if they're infected with whatever hit the RU team this year.
Get used to 50% of the roster changing. A lot of guys on the roster are not B1G capable and have no way to get there.
What is the defined role of each of our assistants?
The only one who it seems like is doing anything meaningful is Jay Young and his development with our frontcourt over the course of the season including Ogbole who is now injured
Smoke Williamson was touted for recruiting but his transfer grabs hes connected to have been awful
TJ Thompson is known for recruiting but I dont think hes had any meaningful recruits since the Geo days
Don't get me started on Knight... hes the closest to Pike and has all the stink of the programs regression on him and I know some believe he had a pretty big hand in landing Bailey and Harper and if so its a lot on him too for not leading them along as men let alone basketball players
The only one who it seems like is doing anything meaningful is Jay Young and his development with our frontcourt over the course of the season including Ogbole who is now injured
Smoke Williamson was touted for recruiting but his transfer grabs hes connected to have been awful
TJ Thompson is known for recruiting but I dont think hes had any meaningful recruits since the Geo days
Don't get me started on Knight... hes the closest to Pike and has all the stink of the programs regression on him and I know some believe he had a pretty big hand in landing Bailey and Harper and if so its a lot on him too for not leading them along as men let alone basketball players
Should PSU keep their entire roster if possible?
To maintain "continuity"? Just run it back again.
Seton Hall? Run it back with all the same players?
What about Purdue football?
Considering we play them next year - I'd like them to keep every player from a 1-11( (0-9) team.
Continuity of a bad thing doesn't suddenly turn it into a good thing.
It is a little ironic that we have having this conversation just as McNulty was. rehired.
The last big "but but continuity!!" discussion was how we NEEDED to keep OC McNulty "for continuity!!:
How did that one work out?
Team got better the next year?
To maintain "continuity"? Just run it back again.
Seton Hall? Run it back with all the same players?
What about Purdue football?
Considering we play them next year - I'd like them to keep every player from a 1-11( (0-9) team.
Continuity of a bad thing doesn't suddenly turn it into a good thing.
It is a little ironic that we have having this conversation just as McNulty was. rehired.
The last big "but but continuity!!" discussion was how we NEEDED to keep OC McNulty "for continuity!!:
How did that one work out?
Team got better the next year?
Did that apply last year?
Are we on the right path if we have Chol, Jalen Miller, Gavin and Woolf on the roster?
I somehow don't think they'd be breakout upperclassmen next year.
I'd much rather have Chol, Gavin, Wolf, and Simpson over PJ, Martini, Derkack, Acuff - as groups. Probably more length, speed, defensive ability (minus Chol!). Sure, maybe individually, Martini over Chol, but maybe Pike wouldn't be as focused on playing everyone if he hadn't had to convince them to transfer in. Development and culture guys over lower level unknowns almost every time.
I’m hoping he leaves since his buddy Ace is leaving. He’s a backup at best, but Pike thinks he’s more than that so he’s a problem.
But did you want them back a year ago?
It's easy to say that afterwards when you know the conclusion and the transfers brought in.
When everyone wanted those players gone - it was assumed better players would be brought in.
Nobody thinks "we need to force out guys and bring in transfers who won't improve the team."
Do you think HC Pike will consistently recruit worse players than the current players and fail to improve the team?
If so, then yes "retain" everyone every year. Because the HC can't improve the roster.
The normal followup would be - why are we keeping a coach if it's assumed he can't upgrade the roster?
It's like when people say "We can't fire the HC regardless of results. The school can't be trusted to hire a better HC."
Is that the situation with HC Pike and upgrading the roster?
Finally, someone else who understands Sommerville isn’t a Big10 caliber starter.
I mean considering Sommerville’s freshman status three-star recruiting grade, he’s been an unquestioned success in my opinion.
Look at the freshman-year production of centers ranked outside the top 100 at power programs in the last half decade, Sommerville is among the best. It’s hard to say what his capabilities are at this level.
So you suspect only one player is returning.
But maybe another player.
And maybe another player.
But maybe no players.
Maybe you should just let everything play out and not create useless threads with pure speculation that is frankly all over the place.
Yes, I wanted them back, you need continuity in the program and I prefer to root for the kids that choose the program from the jump. Hell, if I recall correctly I wanted Palm back too, didn't he actually have another year?
I don't think Pike can bring in multiple transfers each year that fit. One, maybe two, yeah. He needs guys who know what he wants, and then he needs them to become upperclassmen.
Success compared to what ? Is there a less athletic or skilled starting 4 or 5 in the conference ?
Athleticism doesn’t change. Slow freshmen who play below the rim don’t transform. He has starter 5 talent at an LIU type program but not a Big10 or any high major programs.
So since he didn’t come here to be a backup, save the NIL and wish him luck.
Agree that basically should be trying to retain everyone (basically. As many as possible realistically) with the goal of adding guys that will play ahead of most of them.
Well if you are recruiting guys to play ahead of them - aren’t the “returnees” likely to leave then?
And then you end up in the same situation anyway.
Depends on the role they are expected to play & where they see themselves. Then they also have to consider what level they will see more minutes at. It’s not as cut & dry as you want to make it.
Yeah, of course, you always want to be upgrading and there will be guys you can't keep because they don't want their new role, ect. I also target guys w multiple years remaining unless filling a big hole.
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