I don’t get people on Pike- he will be gone if we finish below .500

[gregkoko]

Pike's buyout to leave for another school is 6.5M and goes down 1M every year. I believe if terminated, he would be owed his full contract which the current payout left is something like 28M though I'm sure Rutgers would negotiate it down. That will decrease by around 4M every year

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

That quote is nice and all but if everyone could put together a top 10 defense they probably would.. I'm not sure if you've noticed but preventing the other team from scoring is pretty valuable.

Correct. I don’t get those calling for his head this second. He’s built enough real estate at RU to get at least one chance to prove he can still do his thing in the portal era by recruiting proven commodity defenders that he can mold into a team that plays elite team D - his bread and butter. I’m not rendering a guess as to whether or not he’ll succeed, but those calling for his head right this second have an overly inflated sense of where our program is at.

 

[RutgersChow]

I’ve been shouting from the rooftops about this for 3 years or so.

Literally nothing has changed other than putting together an offensive focused roster that magnifies his flaws.

If next years team is defense focused there will be a renewed faith in coach and he will buy himself another few years IMO.

Going to be interesting to watch this one play out.

Next year's team will probably be no better than this year's, and I don't care how good a defense the play, if they have a losing season there isn't a chance in hell he gets an extension.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Next year's team will probably be no better than this year's, and I don't care how good a defense the play, if they have a losing season there isn't a chance in hell he gets an extension.

He can’t have a losing season but look at NW. they turned things around after reverting to dumpster status after finally breaking through. Pike has earned a chance to show he can again win through defense next year. Let’s see what happens before writing him off.

 

[shields]

Collins was 45-84 over 4 year period until he got star guard from upstate New York.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Collins was 45-84 until he got star guard from upstate New York.

We’ve clearly learned that there’s more to fielding a tournament team than having one good player. But there’s not only path. Each coach is good at different things. Pike has proven he can win with D. A lot of changes are come with the NIL market. Just because Pike hasn't been good with navigating the NIL stub period does not mean he will not figure it out when things stabalize next year.

 

[DHajekRC84]

We’ve clearly learned that there’s more to fielding a tournament team than having one good player. But there’s not only path. Each coach is good at different things. Pike has proven he can win with D. A lot of changes are come with the NIL market. Just because Pike hasn't been good with navigating the NIL stub period does not mean he will not figure it out when things stabalize next year.

Omg you guys with the Pike has figured it out, Pike has been good, Pike's good for a sweet 16 finish every few years, ,blah blah blah. Do you even look at his finishes last few years, his post season record, his home away neutral record? He's won just 1 single NCAA game in ,7 years , finished bottom B1G last year, lost a play in game, lost a NIT round 1 home game, 1 and 5 post season last 3 years. Laughable.

While writing this watching Indy-USC game they're calling out Rutgers 2nd to last with 2 Top 5 players.

But you all keep your heads in the sand.

 

[RUDivision]

Pikes done

Trying to make excuses is another reason our fans can be delusional.

He has been and still is an awful offensive coach. His defense and roster depth has vanished in consecutive years. He is currently having an historic bad season! Not RU history but all of college basketball history bad.

Next year’s roster is non existent.

Any other school in the country who cares about winning would fire Pike if he doesn’t get this fixed.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Pikes done

Trying to make excuses is another reason our fans can be delusional.

He has been and still is an awful offensive coach. His defense and roster depth has vanished in consecutive years. He is currently having an historic bad season! Not RU history but all of college basketball history bad.

Next year’s roster is non existent.

Any other school in the country who cares about winning would fire Pike if he doesn’t get this fixed.

He's not going anywhere. This is Rutgers and our brilliant former AD who threw $ around any chance a coach showed some form of life or "other" considerations to fvck us. We're screwed and you can bet there will be continued "sell outs" next year with 6k fans in the building again.

 

[The RUT]

Rutgers has NEVER been the school to take swift action on stuff like this.

Gary Waters
Fred Hill
Mike Rice
Eddie Jordan

One went to Kent State in the middle of the season and missed a game because of a snow storm.
One threw a fit at a baseball game.
One threw basketballs and slurs out at players on tape.
One basically did nothing and didn't seem to care to do anything.

If you think Rutgers is moving on from Coach after this season, then I don't know what to tell you.

Pike has certainly built up equity within the school, and isn't running a program riddled in scandal.

For RU to move on from Pike, especially with the contract details, something would need to happen off the court. That's who RU is. At minimum he's going to get 2-3 years.

For his sake, I hope he pulls a 180 to get back to his roots. This was obviously going to be a very challenging year given the major philosophy change, but man this one will sting for a while.

 

[Scangg]

I like Pike followed him even at Stony Brook but he has done a terrible job this year! He is a good coach but the team chemistry on the court has been awful the last 2 years. He is better with underrated guys he can coach up than stars. Hope he turns it around

People keep saying he can't win with stars. We had no stars last year and stunk too

Collins was 45-84 until he got star guard from upstate New York.

Hard sell if you're a star guard watching this offense unless you want it to be iso ball

 

[rubs]

Buy out is too much. Hopefully Pikiell turns it around like he has in times past. Yes, we are all frustrated with this season, but I am trying to also keep in mind where Pikiell pulled this program from. I do miss the Mwill, CJ Getty, Yeboah teams.

What actually has he turned around? Results matter and Pike rarely achieves tournament eligibility. If fans are satisfied with mediocrity Pike is your man! Those that demand better are losing faith.

 

[RUDivision]

Rutgers has NEVER been the school to take swift action on stuff like this.

Gary Waters
Fred Hill
Mike Rice
Eddie Jordan

One went to Kent State in the middle of the season and missed a game because of a snow storm.
One threw a fit at a baseball game.
One threw basketballs and slurs out at players on tape.
One basically did nothing and didn't seem to care to do anything.

If you think Rutgers is moving on from Coach after this season, then I don't know what to tell you.

Pike has certainly built up equity within the school, and isn't running a program riddled in scandal.

For RU to move on from Pike, especially with the contract details, something would need to happen off the court. That's who RU is. At minimum he's going to get 2-3 years.

For his sake, I hope he pulls a 180 to get back to his roots. This was obviously going to be a very challenging year given the major philosophy change, but man this one will sting for a while.

There is no way in gods green earth Pike has built up 2-3 years (?) of equity

He had one good group helped tremendously by covid and the extra year of eligibility or none of that magic never happens. That team should have definitely been better and gone further if not for his lack of coaching in the Houston game.

The program is on a drastic decline over the last 5 years with 2 top 5 NBA draft players on the team. Next year will be as worse as the team he first took over.

You don’t wait until the program goes full circle back into the abyss.

It’s Over!!!!

 

[higgins3]

What actually has he turned around? Results matter and Pike rarely achieves tournament eligibility. If fans are satisfied with mediocrity Pike is your man! Those that demand better are losing faith.

When did you start watching the program? This year, or ten years ago? Google where Rutgers was before Coach Pikiell and staff arrived. One can be critical while also giving credit where its due.

 

[kt124]

When did you start watching the program? This year, or ten years ago? Google where Rutgers was before Coach Pikiell and staff arrived. One can be critical while also giving credit where its due.

just because we have ptsd as a fanbase doesn’t mean we need to stick with a coach forever when he gets us to the round of 32 once in 9 years

 

[RUDivision]

When did you start watching the program? This year, or ten years ago? Google where Rutgers was before Coach Pikiell and staff arrived. One can be critical while also giving credit where its due.

That is absolutely and completely fair!

If you look historically then what Pike did(past tense) is really impressive. What you don’t want to do is repeat 30 years of our history. Deciding to play the violin on Pikes titanic is probably not the best way too not relive that history.

How to become a successful program.
Find a low end college assistant or big time program assistant coach.(Pike)

. You catch lightning in a bottle and that coach pulls you out of misery to respectable. Check

- That coaches success puts more buzz and eyes around the program Check

- That attracts the next level coach
1. Power 5 coach switches school
2. Next mid major hot shot looking to jump to the big leagues

That 2nd coach has more success based on what the previous coach has established and now your in the dance 6-8 times in a row. (Currently squandering that opportunity and if this year continues this way then everything Pike accomplished is gone)
- Now your in a position to hire any coach you want.

*As the program has sustained success it attracts the corporate and alumni dollars. You lose the same ole Rutgers mentality and ppl can count on buying seats or donating because they know it will be a great product year after year.

Now in 15 years your children are typing in this blog about our history and they point to the time we fired Pike and decided no more. We decided to be better and not play the violin .

 

[wheezer]

Lou do you have a million to give?

I guess this is what it takes to fix a program in today's environment, and the reason I dislike recruiting and looking ahead at recruiting

I go to the games and root for the team
I no longer appreciate a players decision to come here anymore

 

[gef21]

The problems you’re seeing today are the same problems that were happening 3 years ago.

The only reason it’s an issue for people today is because we have two NBA kids on our team so people can’t yell it’s a talent issue.

Complaints about recruiting, lack of offensive sets, and players leading the ship.

That is a legit good post.

 

[RUsojo]

Worth noting recent failures include:

Washington - Fultz (+Thybulle 20th); coach was fired after the season)


Lsu - Ben Simmons went 19-14 (had postseason ban, don't think they make it anyway); coach fired after the following season

Georgia - Anthony Edwards went 16-16; fired Tom Crean 2 years later

Our record will be in between Roman at Washington and Crean At UGA…

 

[The RUT]

There is no way in gods green earth Pike has built up 2-3 years (?) of equity

He had one good group helped tremendously by covid and the extra year of eligibility or none of that magic never happens. That team should have definitely been better and gone further if not for his lack of coaching in the Houston game.

The program is on a drastic decline over the last 5 years with 2 top 5 NBA draft players on the team. Next year will be as worse as the team he first took over.

You don’t wait until the program goes full circle back into the abyss.

It’s Over!!!!

Zero chance it happens at the end of this season IMO.

Next year isn’t guaranteed to be horrible. Very realistic to see the team shift back to defense and be a bubble team.

That gets him another year after that IMO.

 

[rufan4ever]

Zero chance it happens at the end of this season IMO.

Next year isn’t guaranteed to be horrible. Very realistic to see the team shift back to defense and be a bubble team.

That gets him another year after that IMO.

Next year's team? Will anyone on the current roster even be here?
This is now like a game of 5 card draw with the rule you can replace all 5 cards!

 

[RUsojo]

Zero chance it happens at the end of this season IMO.

Next year isn’t guaranteed to be horrible. Very realistic to see the team shift back to defense and be a bubble team.

That gets him another year after that IMO.

Why is it reasonable to believe next years team can be a bubble team?

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

People keep saying he can't win with stars. We had no stars last year and stunk too

Pike has to own the mismanagement of the Cam Spencer and Paul situations. He’s the coach. But last season does not present an accurate picture of the team Pike recruited and planned for the season in terms of his general strategy as a coach. He’s a D first coach but he’s never had an offense as poor as the one we had last year which is directly a result of those two guys bailing unexpectedly.

Again - he owns that, but given that before that he’s always fielded competitive teams through his D first strategy he deserves a chance to restore that. One chance in my opinion. Let’s see what happens next season. Not everyone is meant to coach stars. If we stink next year it’s then time to move.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Why is it reasonable to believe next years team can be a bubble team?

Because Pike did it 4 straight seasons in a row after nobody else was really close in like 30 years? Nobody should be mad about him getting a chance next season to right the ship. We’re not UK. If we stink next year, I agree we need to then move on. But not before that. It would be a big mistake in my opinion.

 

[RUsojo]

Because Pike did it 4 straight seasons in a row after nobody else was really close in like 30 years? Nobody should be mad about him getting a chance next season to right the ship. We’re not UK. If we stink next year, I agree we need to then move on. But not before that. It would be a big mistake in my opinion.

All those players are gone that doesn’t make it reasonable especially in the context of the most recent two seasons imo

This feels like the clutching of hope for the sake of hunting positivity and not rooted in reason.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

All those players are gone that doesn’t make it reasonable especially in the context of the most recent two seasons imo

This feels like the clutching of hope for the sake of hunting positivity and not rooting in reason.

No - it’s just the reality of where we are at. We are not Kansas or Kentucky. After leading us to 4 competitive seasons in a row following 30 years where we were only above 500 like twice, canning our coach after 2 disappointing seasons would not be a net positive for us. Rutgers basketball isn’t the most attractive head coaching job to begin with. We’re probably not going to shell out the funds for a true home run hire, and firing our coach under the current circumstances would actually make the job less attractive for an up and comer. Why would anyone whose career is trending positive want to take a chance going to a place that has historically been tough to win and when they finally found a coach who had some success quickly gave him the boot? Think about it. We really have no choice but to give him another year unless we’re planning to shell out top dollar for the best (which Im pretty sure we aren’t).

 

[RobertG]

Pike's buyout to leave for another school is 6.5M and goes down 1M every year. I believe if terminated, he would be owed his full contract which the current payout left is something like 28M though I'm sure Rutgers would negotiate it down. That will decrease by around 4M every year

Here is an idea. Instead of firing Pike and buying him out. How about we just give him the money to use on NIL?

 

[rufan4ever]

Pike has to own the mismanagement of the Cam Spencer and Paul situations. He’s the coach. But last season does not present an accurate picture of the team Pike recruited and planned for the season in terms of his general strategy as a coach. He’s a D first coach but he’s never had an offense as poor as the one we had last year which is directly a result of those two guys bailing unexpectedly.

Again - he owns that, but given that before that he’s always fielded competitive teams through his D first strategy he deserves a chance to restore that. One chance in my opinion. Let’s see what happens next season. Not everyone is meant to coach stars. If we stink next year it’s then time to move.

We all agree he is an excellent defensive minded coach. We also don't know if any of the current roster will even return next season.
He will need to go to the transfer portal in order to field a roster that can immediately play this defensive style. In this new era, that will be a difficult task. Not too sure there are enough of those type players that are willing to transfer willing to learn a defensive first system.

 

[RUsojo]

No - it’s just the reality of where we are at. We are not Kansas or Kentucky. After leading us to 4 competitive seasons in a row following 30 years where we were only above 500 like twice, canning our coach after 2 disappointing seasons would not be a net positive for us. Rutgers basketball isn’t the most attractive head coaching job to begin with. We’re probably not going to shell out the funds for a true home run hire, and firing our coach under the current circumstances would actually make the job less attractive for an up and comer. Why would anyone whose career is trending positive want to take a chance going to a place that has historically been tough to win and when they finally found a coach who had some success quickly gave him the boot? Think about it. We really have no choice but to give him another year unless we’re planning to shell out top dollar for the best (which Im pretty sure we aren’t).

Firing the coach making the job less attractive is the biggest misnomer out on the board right now, and that’s saying something. But I digress, bc the topic at hand was not “why is it reasonable to think we’re a bubble team next year, fire Pike”.

The topic was simply with Pike back next year why would it be reasonable to expect to get back to the bubble. I don’t believe a good answer supporting a bubble season in 2025 has been given.

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

Sounds like Pike isn't getting canned even if we lose every remaining game. He has "equity" to spend, as they say.

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

Why is it reasonable to believe next years team can be a bubble team?

I think Derkack probably only one to return

 

[gregkoko]

Here is an idea. Instead of firing Pike and buying him out. How about we just give him the money to use on NIL?

Sounds great to me.

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

I think Derkack probably only one to return

Don’t see Davis, Grant or Dortch leaving.

Somerville could leave but is very replaceable since he’s not good on defense & not a great rebounder currently.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Firing the coach making the job less attractive is the biggest misnomer out on the board right now, and that’s saying something. But I digress, bc the topic at hand was not “why is it reasonable to think we’re a bubble team next year, fire Pike”.

The topic was simply with Pike back next year why would it be reasonable to expect to get back to the bubble. I don’t believe a good answer supporting a bubble season in 2025 has been given.

Do you think we’re ponying up the money to get a proven, consistent p5 winner? I’m not sure why anyone is so confident the next up and coming mid major would have more success that Pike.

In terms of next season, I have no idea how it will go but I do know a few things for sure.

1) pike can coach D and knows how to select kids who can be quickly taught to play solid team D for him. He didn’t choose to recruit those types of kids this year. He focused on adding kids who are scorers to make sure Dylan and Ace would be able to thrive here.

2) we’ll be much better at D next year (I’d bet on that). Pike will be intentional about recruiting to accomplish this.

3) we’ll be better at offense than we were last season. It’d be very difficult to be worse. The reason we were so bad is because two of our best offensive players decided to transfer at the last minute. That clearly won’t be the case next year.

For these 3 reasons - not knowing anything else - I believe we’ll be better than we were last season. That doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll be a bubble team but we it’s certainly not out of the question. We’ll see. If we’re not improved - he’ll likely be gone but he’ll get a chance to fix this.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Don’t see Davis, Grant or Dortch leaving.

Somerville could leave but is very replaceable since he’s not good on defense & not a great rebounder currently.

Sommerville doesn’t play a style that fits Pike’s mold. I think he leaves.

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

Do you think we’re ponying up the money to get a proven, consistent p5 winner? I’m not sure why anyone is so confident the next up and coming mid major would have more success that Pike.

In terms of next season, I have no idea how it will go but I do know a few things for sure.

1) pike can coach D and knows how to select kids who can be quickly taught to play solid team D for him. He didn’t choose to recruit those types of kids this year. He focused on adding kids who are scorers to make sure Dylan and Ace would be able to thrive here.

2) we’ll be much better at D next year (I’d bet on that). Pike will be intentional about recruiting to accomplish this.

3) we’ll be better at offense than we were last season. It’d be very difficult to be worse. The reason we were so bad is because two of our best offensive players decided to transfer at the last minute. That clearly won’t be the case next year.

For these 3 reasons - not knowing anything else - I believe we’ll be better than we were last season. That doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll be a bubble team but we it’s certainly not out of the question. We’ll see. If we’re not improved - he’ll likely be gone but he’ll get a chance to fix this.

No booster is going to step up and cover the money owed on the remaining contract. Especially when I believe that most boosters support Pike and have a longer leash with him based on what he’s done to date because they actually get it whereas many here just throw tantrums.

 

[The RUT]

Why is it reasonable to believe next years team can be a bubble team?

Because historically that's what Pike has been here.

Defense first team that grinds games out, brings the RAC into play, and finds ways to win games through controlled chaos.

If he shifts back to that style of play, it's totally reasonable to think that's where we'll be at. Expecting lots of roster turnover, but if he targets guys with skill sets that play into his strengths then he'll be in that bubble conversation IMO.

I still would expect similar issue to what we've seen, but I think an old Pike style team would buy him more time.