If it's a talent issue
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We're very close. I don't know if you know this or not but Miami's recruiting class this year coming in was a top ten class. We lost this game by 4 possessions and we didn't shoot well at all from the perimeter. Get us a sharp shooter plus this cast of characters and we are an NCAA team. That is how much I believe in Pikiell and his staff.
Then it's not a talent issue. We're just not ready yet.
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Are we already wishing away this team after one loss? We won 7 games all of last year. If what I have seen early on this year is any indicTion, pikell can flat out teach. We will be better in February than we are now in December.
By 2018 we will have lost Williams, Gettys, Sa, Johnson, Freeman, and very possibly Sanders. We need to get really good replacements for each of them. If we get 5 really good freshmen that year they might take some time to be ready for prime time. Hopefully we can get a really good player with our last scholarship this spring.
No one is writing this team off. Just the opposite while we look for ways to improve with this squad. This is who we have for this year and next. Our missing piece? A dead-eye sniper. The 10-12 we already have will only get better.
I think it's partially true. You can be talented athletically or you can be talented in a basketball sense. We're not quite there with the basketball part. Don't do enough little things that make a different, but I'm confident the CS will change that as the season progresses.
Although we lost by 12, we came back to keep it close, but couldn't put the ball in the basket from about the 6 min mark. Too many empty trips which we can't afford against good teams. If nothing else, get the other team to commit fouls to stop runs.
As in previous years, it appears our big men have trouble creating their own shots in traffic and than making them. Layups are one thing, but 5 ft shots are nil. Have to be able to change the shot on the move or get fouled.
I liked the way we used our TOs to try and get some momentum toward the end. A few times we almost had it under 10 and forced a turnover, but than lost the ball back in the scramble. The guards also made some unnecessary passes under the basket that resulted in a TO.
Considering how poorly we shot to start the second half, we hung in. But when you don't score and the other team keeps making shots, it's hard to catch up.
Miami proved they were the better team tonight, but we're not that far off. There were things to be learned from this game that will make us better in the league going forward. If we shoot better, we'll have our chances. Right now that's a BIG if.
RU looked like a well-coached team with less talent. Don't overthink it.
Our starting 2 guard got 2 shots and made none. Our 4 is too small and couldnt finish. Our 5 is too slow to defend inside. Our 1 doesnt have an outside shot. Our 3 is very inconsistent.
There is a major talent issue. You notice is vs. good teams. Speaks volumes about what has been accomplished so far.
There is a major talent issue. You notice is vs. good teams. Speaks volumes about what has been accomplished so far.
All true but your bench can play and make shots . We did not look to shoot enough until it was too late. Mike hit our first shot outside 5 feet with 6 minutes left. Our defense and rebounding and hustle with our depth should be there all year . Coach has to figure out a way to get shots off of set plays. The last 4 teams played us zone and it did not appear we were running good stuff against Miami's athletes and man to man to set up good looks. I was hoping they would play inside out and pass out diagonally for the jumper or the 3. We have to set up those looks, then shoot them, then make them. We need more offense to win.
As bad as our shooting was tonight, if Deshawn hits the 4 layups that were not contested and gets fouled on the 3 that were blocked at the rim , the game could have gone the other way.
We will adding Geo Bakee good shooter but still a frosh.. I think we need to go the Juco route and hopefully find someone to help the shooter need like Sa helped the rebounding/rim protector need. I hope there is a Juco shooter out there that we can get..love Corey/Nigel attacking basket but neither has shown 3 pt ability. We need a outside threat to open up the paint too.
I don't even think tonight's loss was a talent issue. The team was clearly playing tight in certain spurts. This is foreign territory for these guys. They just need to stay focused the entire 40 mins, loosen up and finish around the rim and run the offense
Nigel and Freeman both played tight and forced things. Freeman snapped out of it in the last 6 mins.
Talent issue didn't lose this game. It was winnable, this team just needs to learn what it takes againat better teams....a consistent 40
Nigel and Freeman both played tight and forced things. Freeman snapped out of it in the last 6 mins.
Talent issue didn't lose this game. It was winnable, this team just needs to learn what it takes againat better teams....a consistent 40
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Scarlet, you and I usually agree, but I disagree here as Miami definitely had better athletes and finished or flushed it around the rim. Their guards beat us off the dribble to the hole too many times. I thought Coach went to the zone in the second half too late and if he does it like he did in first half they might not have gone on that extended run
Last night was a step up in competition. Coaching will help as the players transition to that level. Some players get better as the game speeds up. Our first few times up the floor we got layups and Freeman missed two easy ones. Freeman later had what looked to be a dunk attempt blocked. Late in the game I saw that Freeman was adapting and still playing with confidence. I think he will finish all those plays the next time out against that type of competition. This team should be athletic enough and big enough to compete with most. The question is can we find consistent scoring. Johnson and Sanders have the athletic ability to compete with just about any guards we will see. If either of them can develop a dependable pull up from 15' then we may have something. Mike Williams has taken a huge step forward, he can get his own shot now, rebound and defend. I would use primarily some combination of those 3 90% of the time. Issa could possibly develop into a great player or a guy that's a just miss kind of a player. He shoots, passes and handles the ball well. Will he be able to adapt to the speed of play against the better teams.
If he does then we have a future star. Sa showed me something last night too. He plays taller then 6'9;; because of the length of his arms.
He showed more confidence offensively and the ability to adapt and finish around the rim. Omoruyi is a guy I love. Good handle, great body, good passer, and will play bigger then 6'6''. If he can develop an outside shot then we will have an All Big Ten type player.
CJ is a great addition for the year. Smart player with great size but limited athletic ability. The occasional 15 footer will really help him.
If Cory and Nigel can play within the offense and improvise when needed then I believe that this team will win 15-20 games
If he does then we have a future star. Sa showed me something last night too. He plays taller then 6'9;; because of the length of his arms.
He showed more confidence offensively and the ability to adapt and finish around the rim. Omoruyi is a guy I love. Good handle, great body, good passer, and will play bigger then 6'6''. If he can develop an outside shot then we will have an All Big Ten type player.
CJ is a great addition for the year. Smart player with great size but limited athletic ability. The occasional 15 footer will really help him.
If Cory and Nigel can play within the offense and improvise when needed then I believe that this team will win 15-20 games
I agree they had better athletes. The reason for the loss though was that Miami was clearly more comfortable and poised. They have been there, done that, before in a game of this magnitude. This was our first rodeo and it showed.
They whole team (as noted above by a post) did play tight and tentative. Lacked confidence and changed their approach on offense. Looked like they felt like they didn't belong for much of the game. Freeman wasn't finishing as he was looking for someone to come in and block his shot.
Would love to see them play this team again this week and see how they would come out the 2nd time.
Would love to see them play this team again this week and see how they would come out the 2nd time.
Recruiting is definitely a concern and it should be
Pike has shown he knows how to teach. But unfortunately for us that's about 10% of the game. The other 90% is, has, and always will be recruiting.
We won't win anything of significance unless we recruit better. Pike knows that too
Pike has shown he knows how to teach. But unfortunately for us that's about 10% of the game. The other 90% is, has, and always will be recruiting.
We won't win anything of significance unless we recruit better. Pike knows that too
Your comments apply to every college sport starting with football.
I am more with Patrick. Coach K with last years roster and injuries might have won 2 or three more games. 30 game season that is about 10 percent. I feel great coaches can get you an extra 2 or 3 games a season.
Yeah, Wendel was a gamer. Smart, well liked, gave us a feeling of success. Loved him... Just a few more great athletes and he is still here. Great x's and 0's guy. If Coach P and staff get the recruiting going, watch out
It was a coaching issue too.....
we now have a coach that so far,,,seems to be a decent game day coach
and
he is KNOWN for taking marginal guys and developing them
I think we have 2 schollies next year,,,,he will use em well...
we now have a coach that so far,,,seems to be a decent game day coach
and
he is KNOWN for taking marginal guys and developing them
I think we have 2 schollies next year,,,,he will use em well...
Adding a Jerome Coleman type to this team (not that I'm saying a JC shooter of that caliber is available) would do wonders for this team.
Just an FYI people are waiting for the 2018 season but we will take a considerable step backwards in 2018. The whole team will be freshman. Even if they are all Rivals top 150 guys, remember what our record was with Carter/Mack/Jack/Seagears/etc. as freshmen.
I think the key in that 2018 season is to maintain somewhere around 500 even if its just 14-17, if the evidence is there that Pikiell can coach and he landed some recruits then I think people are patient with that. Most people were in support of Rice because of recruiting and coaching as the team was competitive in most games. People can support a rebuild if the team is young AND competitive. You knew with Jordan the team was young but wasnt competitive and you questioned the end game. If Pikiell succeeds here IMO it will not be until year 5 that RU makes the NCAA tournament
I already mentioned in this thread that in 2018 we will have lost many of our best players and will be bringing in many freshmen. Hopefully Geo who will be a soph in 2018 will be the real deal as well as one or two more scholarship players that we bring in this spring will be very good so we can be a little more experienced in 2018. I personally think we can hopefully make the NCAA by year four. This year we are not ready but next year we possibly could make a NIT run. With losing many good players moving into 2018 we could have a slight drop off but hopefully can stay above .500. If we have good players coming in next season as well as in 2018 we might be able to make some noise in 2019. I am just enjoying the ride. It is nice to see some exciting basketball by RU once again.
That freshmen class was under Rice and we still were not close to .500 and that was not even when we were in the B1G. Unless we have one and dones we are going to have 10-12 wins that year. I would bet we have a shot year 6 at the NCAA's if everything goes right.
There will be a lot of freshmen (probably the majority of overall minutes played), but we'll still have a few seasoned players to help them acclimate to Pike's program.
Senior - Laurent (assuming Sanders leaves early)
Junior - Thiam, Omoruyi, Bullock
Soph - Baker
I'd also assume that Pike brings in another Juco or grad transfer or two to help balance out the classes a bit.
Choppin, thats 2 three stars and 3 zero stars. I think these kids are really nice role players but if we don't get any better than that then the season will be really really bad.
Sure, we definitely need an upgrade in talent - was just talking about consistency and how quickly new players would be able to acclimate to the program. Two on that list are current starters, and will be 3 and 4 year starters in 2018, which is good for consistency/leadership as well as helping to bring incoming freshmen along into the program.
If Baker finds success, we might be starting a senior, a junior, a soph, and two freshmen in 2018 (purely hypothetically). So while a ton of minutes will be by freshmen (or first-year-in-the-program players who were Juco or grad transfers), there will be some consistency.
