I’m not a coach, but I stayed at a holiday inn…

[rubjk]

My last basketball game as a player was before I was 12 and I never coached, but this isn’t rocket science.

Right now iso offense is fine. We have enough scoring to win. Yes we need better/quicker ball movement and people to move better without the ball, but that isn’t a priority.

My first priority is rebounding. I have the team watch the great rebounding teams tape all day and show them how they crash the boards on shots, box out and get in rebounding position on every play. Then I demand the effort and tell the team if you don’t show the effort your butt will be glued to the bench. Then for a full practice or two before Monday’s game we practice just rebounding. I ask JW or Martini to make sure it continues after the time allotted to final practice is over.

The next thing I do is teach Og, Martini and Lathan to offer sone type of rim protection and at the very least teach everyone on the team not to give up on back door cuts. We seem to step out of the way. I’d foul as hard as possible without crossing the line rather than step aside and let them dunk.

The only way we win is with rebounding and defense. A young team is rarely going to win shootouts with no defense.

 

[Randal7]

If we could summon John wooden from the grave and give him two weeks prior to league play with this team he could fix this. Short of that evocation, we are F-ed

 

[ancienthooper]

My last basketball game as a player was before I was 12 and I never coached, but this isn’t rocket science.

Right now iso offense is fine. We have enough scoring to win. Yes we need better/quhcjer ball movement and people to move better without the ball, but that isn’t a priority.

My first priority is rebounding. I have the team watch the great rebounding teams tape all day and show them how they crash the boards on shots, box out and get in rebounding position on every play. Then I demand the effort and tell the team if you don’t show the effort your butt will be glued to the bench. Then for a full practice or two before Monday’s game we practice just rebounding. I ask JW or Martini to make sure it continues after the time allotted to final practice is over.

The next thing I do is teach Og, Martini and Lathan to offer sone type of rim protection and at the very least teach everyone on the team not to give up on back door cuts. We seem to step out of the way. I’d foul as hard as possible without crossing the line rather than step aside and let them dunk.

The only way we win is with rebounding and defense. A young team is rarely going to win shootouts with no defense.

You lost me after paragraph one.

 

[NY AGENTMAN]

The interior D might be the worst in the country. How many blow bys and backing players to within 4 ‘ of the basket can a non athletic team get. Rutgers can score but the D in YMCA level and let’s not even get into the rebounding which is equally dismal

 

[shields]

How about when you are doubled in post you are allowed to pass. lathan has no basketball IQ.

 

[Ridge 22]

We don't have the horses

 

[seansherm]

Our on ball and help defense are awful, otherwise we are fine defensively

 

[RUBlackout]

We don't have the horses

I think we have the horses…just think they lack basketball IQ

Coaching can fix that in many ways…I just don’t have confidence in the staff to work on it

 

[kupuna133]

This is not a talent, fundamentals, IQ or a hustle thing. This is a preparation/scouting thing. This team was not prepared for what they have seen from our out of conference opponents. Specifically in the losses. We were not prepared for the double on the high ball screen and dribble hand offs against seton hall. We were not prepared for the offensive tendencies in Kennesaw. And definitely not ready for the pace of play nor the offensive strategies of Princeton. This falls squarely on the coaching staff specifically the team breaking down film. The team was not prepared mentally, physically or schematically.

 

[RAC93]

This is not a talent, fundamentals, IQ or a hustle thing. This is a preparation/scouting thing. This team was not prepared for what they have seen from our out of conference opponents. Specifically in the losses. We were not prepared for the double on the high ball screen and dribble hand offs against seton hall. We were not prepared for the offensive tendencies in Kennesaw. And definitely not ready for the pace of play nor the offensive strategies of Princeton. This falls squarely on the coaching staff specifically the team breaking down film. The team was not prepared mentally, physically or schematically.

Has Pike just given up at employing different defensive strategies with in game adjustments? We could have tried a zone yesterday or at least at key moments of the game. How many times have we employed a press this year? Pike has previously jumped the opponents best player before with a double team to force the ball out of that guy’s hands, are we seeing that anymore? This group is just not a good defensive group, period…..they lack physical abilities to be good at defense, but is Pike asleep at the wheel even with the one area of the game where he is supposed to be an expert? It sure feels that way.

 

[kupuna133]

Has Pike just given up at employing different defensive strategies with in game adjustments? We could have tried a zone yesterday or at least at key moments of the game. How many times have we employed a press this year? Pike has previously jumped the opponents best player before with a double team to force the ball out of that guy’s hands, are we seeing that anymore? This group is just not a good defensive group, period…..they lack physical abilities to be good at defense, but is Pike asleep at the wheel even with the one area of the game where he is supposed to be an expert? It sure feels that way.

Don’t think he’s given up. This is the first time in his career at RU where he has 5 new faces starting/playing significant time in his tenure. Williams who should be a leader is more interested in showboating and laughing with the opponent than leading by example. He has been a huge disappointment this season. The issue is there will be mistakes especially early in the season. And this is where coaching and prep shows, positively and negatively. This coaching staff has not prepared these young guns and new enrollees properly. They know or have been coached what’s expected of them at this point in the season in “our system”. The staff has done a horrible job coaching the “opponent” and what is expected of them to deal with situational tendencies.

 

[RedTeam1994]

We don't have the horses

This ^

To the OP - I like the thought but pike isn’t going to teach these guys d and rebounding overnight . These guys don’t have it in them.

I can’t claim this observation but it has been said on here that the problem all starts with the guys he brought in from the portal. He brought in scorers - but critically a number of scorers that cant create their own opportunities (eg, martini, Hayes). A very bad choice when your offense consists of players just doing iso moves. It renders those scorers utterly useless.

It is now painfully obvious that that was the wrong move. Pike should have understood what he does well (defense) and what he doesn’t do well (offensive game plan to create scoring opportunities). Thus he should have concentrated on getting tough kids that support what he does well - defense and rebounding .

It’s not that the kids he brought in suck (eg, I am sure in the right offense Hayes for example might be lighting it up) they are just a really really bad fit for what pike does. That’s not on the kids. It’s on the coaching staff

 

[cRURah]

I gotta believe it’s the players. We have 2 stars, 2 adequate, and 3 (at most) marginal. All the others are net negatives. i’m sure they all have had plenty of drills focused on defense and rebounding, it’s just not within their physical ability or mentality. Pike knows how to coach, but he totally blew the portal. It is what it is.

 

[RUskoolie]

Lathan and Ace need to take some mean pills. Neither one realizes they’re 6-10

 

[RUBlackout]

Lathan and Ace need to take some mean pills. Neither one realizes they’re 6-10

Funny you mention this. I think lathan is very smooth on offense but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him go up strong to the basket or even dunk. He is more of a fadeaway type. Ace is similar as he plays more like a guard

Would love to see theee guys with a killer instinct

 

[fluoxetine]

We have enough scoring to win.

Do we? We're #67 in adj offense. That's not as bad as #107 in defense. But it's still pretty bad.

This narrative around here that we are a great offensive team being undone by terrible defense isn't really true. I think it's just because we are so used to horrible offense and great defense. It is true that defense is worse but really they are both bad right now.

 

[Mr_Twister]

John Wooden at UCLA was ahead of the curve on NIL. Sam Gilbert made sure everyone was taken care of.

 

[satnom]

Lathan plays offense like a power forward and rebounds like a guard.

Ace is doing his part with 12 rbs. Heck Ogbole had 5rbs in 16 mins.

GO RU

 

[Ridge 22]

Lathan plays offense like a power forward and rebounds like a guard.

Ace is doing his part with 12 rbs. Heck Ogbole had 5rbs in 16 mins.

GO RU

He's a raw 4 right now

 

[rpiseman]

Here’s an idea…..beg Maria Harper for help

 

[fluoxetine]

Here’s an idea…..beg Maria Harper for help

Even if she pops out another one I don’t think he’ll be ready in time for us to make the tournament this year.