I am here and sometimes reality sets in for fans. The harsh reality is that this year's roster is still developing, where last year's roster was iron cast in February and March. Is there a stark difference in play that we saw at the RAC last year, vs what we saw vs Illinois on Saturday?? Not really.
I don't know what was different from bacs post game vs Illinois vs the following post games from last year at the RAC.....vs Nebraska, vs Michigan, vs Iowa, vs Northwestern, vs Seton Hall.....vs Hofstra (Hofstra????).......and now vs Illinois. All of these games were losses. I don't need to watch the games from last year to this year to know that Mulcahy isn't guarding Terrance Shannon.....Cam Spencer didnt score points or demonstrate any semblance of a player capable of scoring points when necessary down the stretch last year.
There are programs in transition, which is where RU has been now for 1 season and now 7 games in this year......this isn't unexpected, but we are building something beyond the limitations of last year into the future.....sometimes that process is ugly to watch but it is necessary for the future goals.
I saw RU at 58 points.....last years games at the RAC in regulation had the Ohio State team under 60 in regulation....Northwestern under 60......Michigan under 50 at 45 points........Seton Hall was a paltry 43 points at home.....even in wins vs Maryland at the RAC, RU struggled to reach 60 points.
Why is that sustainable or suddenly expected that Mulcahy and Spencer this year, would stop Illinois 1 on 1 as defenders?? Would they score 20 points a piece and outscore a good Illinois team??? We know that answer is NO.....
Please ase stop lying to yourselves about the trend lines of last year as if they didn't exist......and I give the staff credit. They cut their losses and are going to get rewarded down the road for doing so. They're not running it back with 30 minutes a game again and we're going to live with the results for minutes this year from Simpson, Davis, Griffiths and Woolfolk. And compliment those minutes with Fernandes and Austin Williams.....
If you watch Illinois, keep in mind they actually HAD RU guard Jeremiah Williams committed to them. He looks, plays and would have given them another 2-way guard, if he was somehow not caught up in the nonsense at Iowa State. There is a reason we're lucky enough to have him on RU. He gives RU a guard that can match up down the road, as a bigger guard to play that type of game.
Last years team, for 4 months was NOT a NCAA tournament team.....if Mulcahy averaged 8.5 points per game last year or for his 4 year career and Austin Williams scored 9 today, what is the huge difference.....??
If Austin Williams gives your 4 rebounds and 3 assists, how much of a difference are we talking about?? The difference is RU isn't asking Austin Williams to gobble up 33 minutes a game, we can get that type of production, in a bridge year to 2024-25, that allows Davis, Simpson and Griffiths to play.....get knocked around.....find out who wants to compete and how fast can they get better from November to February/March.
Gavin Griffiths taking a couple of 3s and making them.....that's as much production Spencer was providing in February and March last year. At least I get to see Griffiths develop this year and into 2024-25.
BUT i get it.....fans want immediate results today. They want 20 wins this year.....we were closer to 15 or 16 wins on paper last year than 19 wins folks.....
So is it fixable and can RU win enough games this year?? I think the question is, what is most important to you as a fan....???? If it is winning as many games as possible this year, then you play Austin Williams, Noah Fernandes more.....and live with the results.....BUT why does that make sense.....??? They're the same caliber of veteran guards we had last year....... Maybe better in some areas, worse in others.....no tangible difference stat wise or results wise in PPG so far this year.
Here's the larger trend that is part Spencer, part Mulcahy, part Mag, and now into this year vs Illinois.
There's no true path for long-term success, unless you get away from players who aren't athletic and aren't limited. This is the scoring breakdown of MOST games last year. Are there a couple of outliers like playing Minnesota twice?? Sure, but I'm not counting Q3 or Q4 games.
61 Miami (road)
63 Indiana (RAC)
66 Ohio State (road)
43 Seton Hall (RAC)
64 Maryland (RAC)
65 Iowa (RAC)
65 Purdue (road)
65 Northwestern (road)
57 Ohio State (RAC 40 minutes)
65 Penn State (RAC)
61 Michigan State (MSG)
60 Indiana (road)
60 Illinois (road)
72 Nebraska (RAC)
58 Wisconsin (road)
45 Michigan (RAC)
59 PSU (road)
53 Northwestern (RAC)
62 Michigan (B1G tournament)
65 Purdue (B1G tournament)
58 Illinois (RAC)
I have 20+ relevant games stretched over a season and 1 game vs Illinois.....if someone wants to include Princeton its 61 vs them......RU averages 60 PPG over these 20+ games.....that's the harsh reality, we are trying to change as we go forward this year and into 2024-25. 60PPG is NOT the standard needed.
Is that all Mulcahy, Spencer (mostly all of it is)....is that with Mag being in or out?? A lot of both him in and out.
How do you correct a 20 game trend from last year overnight into this year, 7 games into the season...?? Are Princeton and Illinois more of the same??
I am holding all judgement until i see a full 20 game sample size against similar competition this year..... AND i understand clearly, that 60PPG is apparently the standard for fans crying about Spencer and Mulcahy......60PPG.......????...really folks, that's what you see over 20 legit games, home and away......keep in mind, some of those point totals were actuality in wins........but is that sustainable or the goal, to gold every team we play, under 60 points......?? It is not sustainable, but I'm fine changing things that clearly did NOT work last year......
Sooo.....we now go to the last potential excuse that some fans are clinging and hoping for, that is not a reality-based mindset.....but lets look at the Mawot Mag situation .....as a basketball player, glue guy, rebounder, defender....player who to me, has become the fans and appears to be spreading into the teams biggest distraction......the biggest unknown.....
The one player who I believe (not asking anyone to believe me, i just use my eyes and ears) has clearly bought into a false media narrative that he is the reason RU fell apart last year......so what are we seeing or not seeing??
What we aren't seeing is Mag on the court competing.....I see a player that from everything I see, appears disengaged....disconnected.....a player who is just not what other RU players before him, have shown a willingness and ability to do.....play when you aren't 100% or close to it.....
But ut Hawk isn't being fair.......!!!.....I'm just using the prior standard that helped build the RU program and asking fans to be realistic......what is the standard that Pike and this staff is built upon......??? Don't lie to yourself, here is the standard that's been set.....but ultimately, I am not losing any sleep over results this year nor any one player. But I am going to answer the question for fans THIS year and ask about Mag and is this the standard??
When Mulcahy wrenched his shoulder, he played through it....when he banged up his finger, he played through it. Did anyone ever question his willingness to play through injuries, bumps and bruises......NO......does it mean Mulcahy is required to be a full time starter again this season?? No, his departure is a separate topic we have already discussed.
When Geo Baker cracked his thumb, he came back WAY too early. Because he knew his team needed him as a leader, even if it affected his play for 3 to 4 weeks AFTER he returned. Could he have sat out and waited....sure, but he didnt....and fans crushed him anyway on here, when he shot 3-12 or 1 of 6 from 3.....let's continue....
When RHJ jammed his foot and leg, he played through it....did he look like a player at full speed, with lift and power after his injury.....NO.....but he dragged himself onto the court anyway.....
When Caleb McConnell had his knee scoped, multiple injuries.....he came back with a back brace and was clearly limited for a solid month or so last year.........he eventually rounded into shape last year, but was still further away from the prior year, where he pinned shots on the backboard vs Ohio State....it was going to take a LOT for him to not play. When I visibly see a warrior that is at 75% max, I give that player credit for laying it out on the line......
When Eugene dislocated his knee cap....twice.....I saw a player play at 65 to 75% multiple times over extended periods of time....and a kid who worked VERY hard to compete....was he a limited and developing player at that time?? YES, but there were others who also player through it....doesn't change how he left the program but NO one questioned his grit, toughness or willingness to play at less than 100% ever.....
Why am I bringing this up, during a 2nd transition year into a better brand of basketball away from limited players etc.......because I have a player in Mawot Mag and I see every fan desperately trying to give a player all the credit or as the sole reason RU fell apart.....BUT I don't see anyone asking....when is he going to play??? The fans blinded by falsehoods, aren't holding Mag to the same standards......if we want to crush RHJ, Geo and others when they didn't play or hit every key shot, when do we hold Mag to the standard?? We have all heard he's been cleared.....Soooo....what's the delay folks....??
Are we saying he can't give his teammates or coaching staff that spent time and effort developing him ANY minutes.....???? Please stop folks........when do we deal in reality that we need to stop hyping up a player who hasn't earned the hype as a key player.
To recap.....this is a roster that averages for the most part 60PPG last year and scored 58 vs Illinois. If we are averaging 60 PPG for the next 20 B1G or Power 5/6 relevant games, then we are at a break even point or where we stood last year. Nothing more, nothing less.
To add to that recap for THIS year, I will sit and wait for Mag to play when he's full and ready to play.....and I will watch a player who might be bought into his own hype, sit and watch.....or whatever you want to believe.
My only question for the fans clinging to this nonsense...if he's that important and he's been medically cleared and his HC is essentially telling you now 5 separate times that he's waiting for Mag, what should that tell you?? When does the double standard of hype stop??
I am just watching basketball and I reserving judgement on this year, until I see more basketball. It looks like most of last year's 20 game sample size in 2 games so far, but there's a lot of upside to this roster. We were a couple of very close wins (Purdue, NW, Ohio State OT, at Wisconsin, at PSU) last year from a 7-13 type of B1G schedule and results.....mixed with a significant amount of double digit losses last year. And that includes a debacle at Minnesota.
So we can change things up and build with some younger guards, or lie to yourself that the 60PPG last year with Spencer, Mulcahy, Mag didn't happen.
And Mag is the X factor for now, sitting idle and not competing, right???
I'll wait for the smoke and responses....my Seahawks are off today on Sunday and the Niners/Eagles isn't until 4PM or so.....😁😁
