ADVERTISEMENT

GAME 7 ILLINOIS: A cold slap to the face

2022(5-2)
Columbia(75-35) 89.0/ 60.7
Sac Heart(88-50) 104.8/ 79.3
UM Lowell(73-65) 103.1/ 86.0
Temple(66-72) 88.5/ 99.4
Rider(76-46) 100.8/ 71.3
CCSU(83-49) 109.8/ 88.3
Miami(61-68) 103.0/ 88.1
****Total 526-385****

Next 3(6-4)
Indiana(63-48) 97.6/ 70.3, OSU(66-67) 107.1/ 94.4S, SHU(43-45) 80.5/ 74.3

2023(5-2)
Princeton(61-68) 99.8/ 101.5
Boston U(69-45) 93.6/ 82.9
Bryant(66-57) 89.8/ 84.5
Georgetown(71-60) 98.6/ 81.6
Howard(85-63) 107.8/ 92.3
St Peter's(71-40) 100.6/ 74.4
Illinois(58-76) 91.6/ 104.7
****Total 482-399****

Next 3 Wake/Seton/LIU

Rutgers have scored 44 less points and given up 14 more points vs a little stronger overall schedule this year, have the same record after 7 games as last year's team. Princeton is better than Temple last year and Illinois and Miami are a wash, tbd at the end of this season. The offense last year was not that great to start the year either, they really got it going in the Wake game after the Seton Hall loss and won 10 out of the next 13 and 7-3 vs the B1G, 16-7. Let's not predestine this team a disaster yet either. I remember some of the bad takes after Temple and Seton Hall losses, it was derailed by a freak injury at an arena we shouldn't have played at for the B1G on a slippery floor.
 
2022(5-2)
Columbia(75-35) 89.0/ 60.7
Sac Heart(88-50) 104.8/ 79.3
UM Lowell(73-65) 103.1/ 86.0
Temple(66-72) 88.5/ 99.4
Rider(76-46) 100.8/ 71.3
CCSU(83-49) 109.8/ 88.3
Miami(61-68) 103.0/ 88.1
****Total 526-385****

Next 3(6-4)
Indiana(63-48) 97.6/ 70.3, OSU(66-67) 107.1/ 94.4S, SHU(43-45) 80.5/ 74.3

2023(5-2)
Princeton(61-68) 99.8/ 101.5
Boston U(69-45) 93.6/ 82.9
Bryant(66-57) 89.8/ 84.5
Georgetown(71-60) 98.6/ 81.6
Howard(85-63) 107.8/ 92.3
St Peter's(71-40) 100.6/ 74.4
Illinois(58-76) 91.6/ 104.7
****Total 482-399****

Next 3 Wake/Seton/LIU

Rutgers have scored 44 less points and given up 14 more points vs a little stronger overall schedule this year, have the same record after 7 games as last year's team. Princeton is better than Temple last year and Illinois and Miami are a wash, tbd at the end of this season. The offense last year was not that great to start the year either, they really got it going in the Wake game after the Seton Hall loss and won 10 out of the next 13 and 7-3 vs the B1G, 16-7. Let's not predestine this team a disaster yet either. I remember some of the bad takes after Temple and Seton Hall losses, it was derailed by a freak injury at an arena we shouldn't have played at for the B1G on a slippery floor.
Be careful you’ll have posters attacking you for saying that playing a conference game @ MSG was a really bad idea.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Scarlet Blind
BTW, Creighton waxing Nebraska at Nebraska by 19, 9:34 to play. Plenty of time, but a deep hole. Our Illinois beatdown-like. 14 3-pointers for Creighton, so far.
 
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.....😁😁
Hawk takes a lot of guff for long posts.

However…

This one was worth the read.
He might be on to something here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tm_nj
And by the time he gets close to the basket, he is tripled team and instead of passing to an open teammate, he forces a shot
It’s funny. We all see it. They keep doing it. It’s like Einstein’s definition of insanity
 
My fears were realized. I know I am not alone here. The messiness could be excused for the Princeton game. It appeared we made some strides in a few of the following game. The St Peters game raised major red flags for me despite winning by 31. Today, the program has a hard cold slap in the face. Coming off of 4 successful years (albeit last year failing to make the NCAA tourney) the program has grown a reputation for being legit and a tough out. The fanbase has come to expect Rutgers to compete night and out with a gritty toughness that leans mainly on defense. We have also had expecations of competing for a NCAA bid this year. I will say some offseason departures have thrown quite the monkey wrench into this and its highlighting a bunch of recruiting miscues that to me is going to have an impact on the ceiling for this season. Next year is next year and it happens when it happens. We have Ace and Summerville coming in and fingers crossed for Dylan. I know Pike is going to get a pass for shaky recruiting this year because of what is coming next year. I get that but the plain fact may remain this team as its currently constructed does not look good enough to contend for a NCAA bid in 2024. Now this is just one game but this team as CURRENTLY constructed with this CURRENT lineup and CURRENT philosophy is not going to get it done.

For starters lost in all this is how good Illinois is. This is clearly a team going places. Illinois is likely a top 4 Big 10 team and shoo in NCAA participant. They have incredible physical presence on the court. Their rebounding philosphy is a thing of beauty. Underwood has them brimming with confidence and you can see that with their purpose offensively to attack and attack and then if they miss attack the glass. There is no shame in losing to Illinois. Its not that we lost or even that we lost by 18. Its that we looked like boys against men. To me that is a bucket of ice water to the balls for the 2023-2024 season. How does Rutgers go from being at the Illinois level and beating them 4 of 5 times to basically being wiped off their own home court by them. Pikiell traded in his big guard philsophy for a bunch of midgets who bounce off and getting swatted away like flies by a bunch of studs. Again recruiting recruiting recruiting and Pikiell has recruited a group of nice players but most of them complimentary players not Big 10 starting level. Would any of our current starting lineup except perhaps Cliff start on Illinois? Yet we keep hearing a small segment of our fans lecture on how Cam and Mulcahy were not huge losses. They were but I do not want to lament that. They are gone and Pike has to win with what he has

I keep hearing stuff how we need Mag back. Well I hope Pike went into the year knowing that Mag might not be back until January or even February. IMO, Pike has had plenty of time dating back to last year to make up for the loss of Mag. Mag is not some miracle vaccine for this team which has multiple ailments. Be prepared to play without Mag. Be prepared for the possibility that Mag does not even come back. I am not saying its going to happen but this program needs to develop with or without Mag. I actually am not happy that Mag tried to cash in and got more money from Rutgers coming off an injury. To me that just did not sit well with me given Rutgers was going to do everything to make sure Mag was well taken care of his with his health and education. So for now there is no Mag and more importantly a 100% Mag is likely needed for this team to reach any lofty goals.

As far as whats going on with court play. The continuation of slow starts has hampered Rutgers almost every game this year. Multiple horrid offensive stretches vs St Peters were realized again vs Illinois. To start the game Rutgers could not buy as basket and what an indictment that the first basket until 13:31 mark of the 1st half. By then RU was already down 14-2 and playing catch up right from the get go. A team cannot spot 15-16 point leads to a team as talented as Illinois and expect a positive result. To Rutgers credit they did not give up and showed some major resilience riding a crest from a press that bothered the bejesused out the Illini and a raucous RAC crowd that was carrying this team on its bad even when down double digits. Its amazing the resilience the RAC crowd showed in the first half. RU would raise hopes getting within 3 late in the first half. Yet it was fools gold really. RU down just 41-36 at half. It seemed like a game yet it appeared that RU had no business being that close. That proved true as RU was not able to mount any serious challenge to Illinois in the first few minutes of the 2nd half going back to its same predictable inefficient starting lineup and forcing offensive plays that have proven not to work. Alas the dam would break over a 6 minute period where Illinois just beat Rutgers down like a drum. An 18-2 run where RU had exactly zero field goals made. It was about as noxious a stretch under a Pikiell coached team as you have ever seen at the RAC and magnifed where Illinios currently sits and how much Rutgers has fallen behind.

Lineups and rotations are a hot topic on the board and they should be. 7 games and Pike still is confused. Players are being forced to do things they simply are not capable for. Perhaps a realization sets in that this year in terms of NCAA may not be in the cards. Youth and promise vs the old tired routine of trying to make something square fit in a round hole. The insistence on trying to feed the ball to Cliff every single game is not working. It did not work vs the weaker schools then why would it work against a team like Illinois. Cliff has regressed. There I said it. Yes he can play defense at time and block shots and had 8 tonight but he is just not cutting it as an offensive threat. Cliff with 5 turnovers, catching air and missing surefire alleyoops. Hyatt is our leading shot taker and our offense is running through him yet on most Big 10 teams he is a 7th player at best. 5-22 fg over the past 2 games. Our 3 small guards going 3-17 fg combined with only 4 assists. Physically totally overmatched vs Illinois. I like Woofolk but he is not starter and starting him with Cliff is killing our offense. They cannot be playing together. He had only 2 rebounds in 23 minutes!

No surprise that our biggest guard had the most impact in this game. Bravo Austin Williams who has had sporadic play all year long. Austin had 9 tonight on 3-6 fg, 4 boards, 3 assists and was almost single handedly responsible for getting RU back into the game offensively in the first half. A case could be made Austin needed to play more and that Pike took him out just as he was getting hot and unfortunately didnt start him in the 2nd. Pike's stubborness of having to play the same starters in the 2nd half is mind boggling. Not one person on this team really except for Cliff should be guarantee a starting spot on the roster. That some players like Hyatt are just given minutes needs to change.

And then we come to Gavin. You know I for one and tired of the he does not play bullshit thing especially when I saw a few small guards give up wide open 3s and get blown by for layups. Lets cut this ridiculous notion that he isnt playing because he is defense is terrible. Gavin needs to start. There I said it. He needs to be a more focal point of our offense. This is one of the highest rated recruits Rutgers has ever had yet somehow on a team that cannot put the ball on the bucket he sits during scoring droughts and when he is inserted his role is to hang out on the perimeter. Pike you need to do better with him. Gavin is part of the future. He will not be if he continues to play limited role. I get why a freshman should not shoulder a large rule. Unfortunately because of how Pike has handled recruiting, this is the situation we find ourselves at. The options are limited and I have seen enough to realize what we are seeing on offense this year is not working

And what is the Rutgers offense? Alot of discussion on the boards about identity and purpose. If RU is not converting off of turnovers it does not look they are comfortable at all in the half court set. I see alot of ill advised hoists and one on one stuff with no one under the boards not to mention Rutgers likely leading the lead in missed bunnies. There was talk in the offseason about this team being the fastest ever and capable of scoring 75 plus a game..wait wut. With what players and what shooting capabilities?

Again Illinois is very good. RU got a test today and failed. Not every team will pose the same challenges. These next two games though really are the acid test for the program. ANY hope of reaching the NCAA rests in the next 2. Wake is going to present problems on the road in a different way than Illinois more finesse than physical. Seton Hall a rivarly game that could exploit the perceived softness of Rutgers. Pike is going to have to make changes and make them quickly. Its has to happen. It needs to happen.
I think talk of the offense in terms of strategy and scheme is overthinking. We missed a lot of shots because our shooters aren't very good at shooting. No scheme solves that with the current roster.
 
  • Like
Reactions: darkcheck
I think talk of the offense in terms of strategy and scheme is overthinking. We missed a lot of shots because our shooters aren't very good at shooting. No scheme solves that with the current roster.
Disagree.

Think about this.....how many times on an opening tip in the last 5 years have we got an easy bucket with a set play to get Cliff on a lob......quite a bit.

We need more movement and more screens. Why would we ask Cliff to try and muscle for position? His strength is his athleticism and certainly not his low post moves. We are starting 2 centers....why not have them use each other screening away to make it easier for low pass entries.

We have Gavin that can actually shoot on the dead run coming off a screen. Why aren't we uitlizing that, esspecially with Cliff setting a screen as a guy who can catch and finish on the run. Luke garza or Kofi Cockburn couldnt do that
 
Disagree.

Think about this.....how many times on an opening tip in the last 5 years have we got an easy bucket with a set play to get Cliff on a lob......quite a bit.

We need more movement and more screens. Why would we ask Cliff to try and muscle for position? His strength is his athleticism and certainly not his low post moves. We are starting 2 centers....why not have them use each other screening away to make it easier for low pass entries.

We have Gavin that can actually shoot on the dead run coming off a screen. Why aren't we uitlizing that, esspecially with Cliff setting a screen as a guy who can catch and finish on the run. Luke garza or Kofi Cockburn couldnt do that
In theory we have a top big, but he doesn't make any shots. If getting your big open for easy dunks using a play or screen was easy, then everyone would do it all the time. Most teams that rely on a post scorer still need that scorer to be able to make a bucket from 3 feet away from the hoop. All the top bigs can do that. There is no top big out there that requires the team to do complicated sets to get them easy dunks. If the team has to run sets to get a big an easy dunk for him to score, then by definition he isn't a top big.

We also have a wing that misses a lot of open shots. Most teams, if you get your wing a good look from 3, they make it about 1/3 of the time and that's a successful offensive play. For us, it's a clank.

Gavin can shoot, but you need more than one threat on the floor. And even Gavin has been missing his shots.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: tm_nj and BillyC80
He got plenty of dunks last few years….but yes it isnt easy….and you really only get 15-20 seconds….and it could take a few ball reversals.

I wish shot clock was 45
 
I've literally never seen a post on this board that I felt like I wrote myself as much as this OP
 
He got plenty of dunks last few years….but yes it isnt easy….and you really only get 15-20 seconds….and it could take a few ball reversals.

I wish shot clock was 45
Serious question: What team is your model? What team has a scheme that enables them to succeed with bigs that can't score 1 on 1 when deep in the post and perimiter players that can't make open 3s?
 
You know, watching this Illinois/FAU game tonight, Illinois is fracking good.

They are a matchup nightmare with their guards and wings, who all go 6-4 to 6-7 and can all penetrate and score.

Shannon, Jr. is an elite wing who gets downhill better than anybody in the conference, but also hits threes at a good clip.

But the thing that has elevated them this year is that Marcus Domask kid. He is 6-6 and was the leading scorer for Southern Illinois (good mid-major) for the last two years, and last year also led them in rebounding and assists. He was a pest against us with 15 and 7, and tonight he has 33 points and is just on fire. He reminds me of one of those Villanova guards that just gets buckets and can also dish.

Combine the above with two good, mobile and athletic bigs in Dainja and Hawkins, and you have a team that is the clear #2 in the B1G and will challenge Purdue for top dog.

Did we stink in the 2nd half? Yeah. But we got boat raced by a really, really good team.
 
You know, watching this Illinois/FAU game tonight, Illinois is fracking good.

They are a matchup nightmare with their guards and wings, who all go 6-4 to 6-7 and can all penetrate and score.

Shannon, Jr. is an elite wing who gets downhill better than anybody in the conference, but also hits threes at a good clip.

But the thing that has elevated them this year is that Marcus Domask kid. He is 6-6 and was the leading scorer for Southern Illinois (good mid-major) for the last two years, and last year also led them in rebounding and assists. He was a pest against us with 15 and 7, and tonight he has 33 points and is just on fire. He reminds me of one of those Villanova guards that just gets buckets and can also dish.

Combine the above with two good, mobile and athletic bigs in Dainja and Hawkins, and you have a team that is the clear #2 in the B1G and will challenge Purdue for top dog.

Did we stink in the 2nd half? Yeah. But we got boat raced by a really, really good team.
yep; illinois lighting up the scoreboard against a top 15 opponent.
 
I didn’t miss anything. I don’t disagree that Pike needed to improve the team on the offensive end, and much of that was at the guard position.

But I’m not willing to just give up on an entire season in the name of “transition” to a new offense. We all pay a lot of money to watch a winning team, and I’m not willing to write off an entire season just so we can reload with smaller faster guards all in one fell swoop. The changeover needs to happen organically.

Despite what you’ve speculated on in this space over the past six months, Pike did NOT run off Spencer and Mulcahy. THEY left suddenly in May/June. This season would look a whole lot different with a healthy Mulcahy, a veteran sharpshooter Spencer, a veteran Fernandes providing another scoring option, and a young quick sophomore guard in Simpson, with an offensively challenged JMike learning the ropes, and GG playing the three like he is this year.

I know you’ll disagree with this, because you think having Paul and Cam would “take away from Simpson’s development,” but he would’ve been able to develop under the tutelage of experienced guards, and he would’ve played more than last year so that Paul and Can weren’t playing 32-34 mpg. Right now, it looks like he’s floundering a bit, perhaps because he isn’t being mentored by senior guards.

So, agree on the ultimate goal of changing style a bit to improve offense, but disagree on the implementation of same.
Really well said on multiple points

Mulcahy and Cam also brought intensity and competitiveness, experience, rebounding... would have pushed Hyatt's minutes to the 4
 
I'll ask you the same question.....what was so great about last years backcourt, that had the team at 60PPG and had multiple games in the 50s and 2 at 45 to 43 point totals......I'll wait for your answer.
We replaced Spencer with Williams.

You really want to die on that hill? That Williams is better than Spencer? This year we are better off bc of that trade? You really believe that?

I Dont Believe You Will Ferrell GIF
 
We replaced Spencer with Williams.

You really want to die on that hill? That Williams is better than Spencer? This year we are better off bc of that trade? You really believe that?

I Dont Believe You Will Ferrell GIF
That Hawk coneback with low points scored….

Total points scored variables
1. How long your D is defending
2. How much of the shot clock are you using on offense
3. How efficient are you in your offensive possession

His raw score argument is so flawed and not very poor

Using Hawks metric for offense there is an easy way we can improve our offense. Suck on defense.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Scangg
Raw numbers last year
B1G conference games 1.047 points per possession was average
All NCAA games 1.041

In games when we are at 60 possessions 63 points on average is average offense in B1G.

In games we are at 70 it jumps to 74
 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT