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JMike

Davis clearly has the ability to be a good defender but I don’t think he’s nearly good enough to make up for his offense which is, I am sorry, horrific. When he goes to the hoop he looks like a high schooler trying to score in the NBA and he can barely shoot a free throw let alone a three pointer. He doesn’t rebound, he has a <1 assist to turnover ratio.

I honestly hate to be this negative about a kid but I do not see how him playing at all outside of extremely specific circumstances that call for defense only is a path to success for RU.

I understand that there are defensive contributions that do not show up in the box score, and we played very good team defense against PSU, so maybe that game was one of those circumstances. But we were not good defensively against SHU relative to how absurdly bad they are offensively.

The kid has played 161 minutes and scored 25 total points. 19 of those came against St Peters/Wagner/Monmouth. It’s completely 4 on 5 when he is out there on the offensive end.

I think Pike is petrified of being even worse on defense but to me Hayes, Derkack, and Acuff need to be the ones playing and we need to just get them playing the best defense we can.
 
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Pike could be indirectly saying what we don't want to hear.........

Hayes and Acuff's D is so bad they don't make up for the added offense they give over Davis.
Or said differently....their D is so bad I would rather play offense 4 on 5 than have them in the game.

I do think part of it is a tone setting thing, but I do think he made enormous defensive contributions vs PSU and to a lesser extent 2nd half vs PSU
 
i think Acuff’s defensewill improve as his leg gets stronger.

Hayes is doing the best he can. Just a low ceiling on defense for him.

I wish Dylan grant would realize he has the opportunity to get minutes if he puts in the effort on defense and concentrates on that. Instead he’ll Jack up a bad shot as soon as he gets the ball.
 
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We don’t have enough two way players (those who are at least average on defense and offense), so, would you rather play 5 on 4 on offense or defense? The answer likely depends on opponent, in game opponent line ups, and game score. So you will see a patch work strategy to try and minimize our Inability to put 5 complete players on the floor
 
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fluoxetine said:
Derkack has forced shots but in general Derkack’s aggressive mistakes have had a lot more good than Davis’s imo. Derkack did a bunch of stuff that was just a *little bit* too ambitious and it doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch to get him to rein it in slightly. A lot of that stuff might have worked in his previous spot.

A lot of Davis plays look like they have no hope and he’s been doing the same thing since he got here against the same competition.
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Both Derkack and JMike need to have better basketball IQ. Both are not prototypical B1G guards, and therefore need to make up for it by being smarter than the other guy - neither does this. They both seem to close their eyes and drive in - this seems to almost never work out for JMike and sometimes work out for Derkack by drawing a foul or somehow scoring....however Derkack can just as easily get a turnover. JMike reminds me of a better version of Jalen Miller. I never understood Jalen Miller - zero offense and I felt he gave average D, though we kept being told how good a defender he was. JMike is terrible at finishing, but seems to get better shots than Miller and is also quick on D, though undersized.

Put JMike and Derkack together and you almost have a 7th guy off the bench on this level. Separately? Well they have a home on the '24-'25 Rutgers team - and one of them is going to start. That one or the other keeps starting is a microcosm of who we are as a team. Not good.
 
lion1983 said:
Davis was awful defensively against Alabama for sure - and maybe A&M also. It mystified me because he was so good as an on-ball defender last season. He has not been good this season, defensively - and he has to be good defensively or there is no rationale for any playing time for him.

To RUDivision: You're simply completely wrong about the Penn State game (well, yes, Bailey was determined to rebound in that game and it was important - I am talking about Davis), and I am pretty sure wrong about the SHU game also.

There is absolutely no question that Davis starting and defending against Ace Baldwin was one of the keys to the game. Davis 100% disrupted Baldwin, PSU's leading scorer, and along with Harper (the other primary defender of Baldwin when Davis was not in the game), was a BIG reason Baldwin was harassed and hurried into 3-14 FG , with 3 turnovers. Davis completely set the tome for RU's entire defensive attitude in that game.

Against SHU he may not have been as visibly good, but he was particularly good defensively in the 2nd half vs SHU, particularly when he defended Jenkins in the 2nd half ... Jenkins was SHU's leading scorer, and was only able to even attempt 4 shots in the game, and just 1 shot in the entire 2nd half - and 4 turnovers, 3 in the 2nd half. Which made an important difference in the game.
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Penn state he offered nothing! 3 positive defensive plays and down the stretch Dercack guarded Baldwin more then JMike. The last shot by Baldwin was wide open and JMike while there: was late and too small to contest.

Our best half of the year was the first half against PSU and had ZERO to do with JMike. We were moving the ball inside and out and finding the open shooters. Then Pike went into his shell and PSU came all the way back with JMike playing that “great D”.

JMike is a avg defender who can not play offense at all. Can’t play D1 . Sorry
 
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What I don’t understand from the coaching aspect….

You have JMike in the game which is all about defending a playmaking guard. Why not press full court with him and Jwill/Jordan in the game together at all times. We take teams out of setting up half court offenses which we know we are bad at defending. Turn up the tempo which this team thrives on and tune your liabilities into assets. I’m also not referring to 1:1 on call defending full court but our 2:2:1 press.

Use these players for what they could potentially totally excel doing.
 
Greene Rice FIG said:
I'd take a neutered Simpson that meshed with the team over JaMike with ZERO hesitation.

I don't get the sense Simpson would want to be told to not shoot and not take it to the basket and I don't know about the 2nd part.
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As if Pike sets such demands on players - LOL.
 
RUDivision said:
Penn state he offered nothing! 3 positive defensive plays and down the stretch Dercack guarded Baldwin more then JMike. The last shot by Baldwin was wide open and JMike while there: was late and too small to contest.

Our best half of the year was the first half against PSU and had ZERO to do with JMike. We were moving the ball inside and out and finding the open shooters. Then Pike went into his shell and PSU came all the way back with JMike playing that “great D”.

JMike is a avg defender who can not play offense at all. Can’t play D1 . Sorry
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Well, you are just totally wrong.

So be it.
 
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fluoxetine said:
Montez Mathis shot 29.4% from three for his career.

Simpson did not want to fill the role that he would be asked to fill here and that's why he isn't here.
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Says Who?? Simpson would have objected to starting the last two games? Where do you guys come up with this stuff?

RU fans drove him outta here and worshipped at the JMike alter.
 
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G- RUnit said:
Says Who?? Simpson would have objected to starting the last two games? Where do you guys come up with this stuff?

RU fans drove him outta here and worshipped at the JMike alter.
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I am sure fans had nothing to do with anything.

And ... if there was any realistic expectation from the staff Simpson would start at RU - and therefore at a Big Ten program, then it would seem unlikely Simpson would have transferred to a LOWER LEVEL conference and program, to start. He would have stayed at RU, or transferred to another P5 team to start. Ergo, P5 teams did not view him as a starter.

Davis' apparent rise in the staff's views of him began when he ended up with a ton of practice time this Summer, first when Harper was hurt, and later when Acuff was hurt. That supposed practice performance (commented on by a number of reporters who had access to practice, BTW) has NOT translated into game, I think even Davis optimists can agree.
 
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lion1983 said:
I am sure fans had nothing to do with anything.

And ... if there was any realistic expectation from the staff Simpson would start at RU - and therefore at a Big Ten program, then it would seem unlikely Simpson would have transferred to a LOWER LEVEL conference and program, to start. He would have stayed at RU, or transferred to another P5 team to start. Ergo, P5 teams did not view him as a starter.

Davis' apparent rise in the staff's views of him began when he ended up with a ton of practice time this Summer, first when Harper was hurt, and later when Acuff was hurt. That supposed practice performance (commented on by a number of reporters who had access to practice, BTW) has NOT translated into game, I think even Davis optimists can agree.
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Love Pike but seems to be doubling down on Simpson mistake and JMike. Almost seems like he is wishing it but it’s not happening.
Simpson was killed for the same.

Who would you want foul shooting at end of game? For that reason alone worth keeping
Pike said quickest player he ever coached.
He won us games and had great hustle and effort. Know have to move on but
Still little mind boggling IMHO.
 
G- RUnit said:
Love Pike but seems to be doubling down on Simpson mistake and JMike. Almost seems like he is wishing it but it’s not happening.
Simpson was killed for the same.

Who would you want foul shooting at end of game? For that reason alone worth keeping
Pike said quickest player he ever coached.
He won us games and had great hustle and effort. Know have to move on but
Still little mind boggling IMHO.
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Simpson wouldn’t help either. Similar type of player except he made free throws. The same high school like pentration attacks would be happening. Both of them are Mathis 2.0.
 
Assuming Saturday is the make or break game for Davis.

Can he stay with Lee and chase him around the court?

Worst case scenario is Lee still scores with Davis providing nothing on offense.
 
JMIke in addition to providing no offense is worse than that on offense as SHU showed, he is an easy steal and missed important FT's. SHU had no trouble doubling Dylan when Davis was in the game because he was a low probability of doing something positive on offense. I agree with some above who think there may be a small role for him with certain teams and with small guards. He has regressed from last year.
 
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fluoxetine said:
Simpson "said" it by leaving.

That is absurd.
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Agree with everything you said. Simpson wanted to be a go to player who scores through penetration in high volume usage. He’s arguably an upgrade over Tez or Davis types because at least he makes FTs when he gets to the line. That said - the last thing this team would need would be him forcing things in the paint. Just as Davis should hit the pine when he does it. That’s Simpson’s game and he wasn’t sticking around to try to completely change it.
 
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Serious question, what did Davis and JWill work on during the off-season? Was it not obvious that spot up 3's would be valuable and wanted?


Simpsons drives were the WORST. Still doing the same thing with his current team. I would have had him sign a contract... No drives and no mid range 2's EVER. Go work on your spot up 3's. Your role is defense, foul shots and maybe 3's if u can show you can make them, run the point when Dylan or JWill isn't. I had no faith that Pike would clearly define his role so I wanted Simpson to leave.
 
G- RUnit said:
Says Who?? Simpson would have objected to starting the last two games? Where do you guys come up with this stuff?

RU fans drove him outta here and worshipped at the JMike alter.
Click to expand...

If Simpson left because some fans on an anonymous fan board were critical of his play then he is soft.

The most likely scenario is that he was told his playing time would be reduced significantly, so would his shot attempts and the ball would be taken out of his hands as one of the lead guards last season with Dylan coming in this year. Regardless of JMike starting a few games, he is only averaging 14.5 minutes per game and about 2.5 shot attempts. No way Simpson would be happy in that role. JMike probably accepted it since he is friends with Ace.
 
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RUGiddy777 said:
Insanity. Think we all love Simpson and are happy to see him having some success at a lower level. I would have been fine with him staying.
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Agreed. I don’t recall anyone saying Davis was “better” than him - just a better fit to stay and play a reduced role (also factoring in his pre-existing friendship with Ace from a chemistry perspective).
 
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JMike shouldn’t be playing. He should be playing in A Sun. That’s more of an indictment of our recruiting of guards outside of the big 2 and Sommerville.

Why didn’t we take hicks from penn state? Apparently he wanted to come here. 6’6 3 and D is what we desperately need among other things.
 
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PSAL_Hoops said:
Simpson wouldn’t help either. Similar type of player except he made free throws. The same high school like pentration attacks would be happening. Both of them are Mathis 2.0.
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Exactly…plus Simpson shot way too much for being such a poor shooter. If he shot less, he’d be more valuable than Davis, who IMO provides almost nothing except a body to give someone a rest.
 
scarletrat said:
JMike shouldn’t be playing. He should be playing in A Sun. That’s more of an indictment of our recruiting of guards outside of the big 2 and Sommerville.

Why didn’t we take hicks from penn state? Apparently he wanted to come here. 6’6 3 and D is what we desperately need among other things.
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We definitely need a 6'6''+ guy who will defend wings.....and yes not either shoot 25% from 3 or pass up uncontested looks.
 
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I found the recruiting bizarre even in the off season. I’m it sure why we targeted volume scorers from lesser conferences.
 
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willisneverrana43 said:
So much time, and frankly concern while watching games, is spent on what JMike should not do.

On your point, in the last four games, he's 2-9 shooting and 0-2 on FTs, he's got 4 TOs, 4 assists, 4 points and 1 rebound. That's over four games. Every time he touches the ball or seems open (which is most of the time, I'm sure by design), I'm thinking to myself, no, just no. When he had the ball and a wide open route to a breakaway basket against SHU, I felt that he wouldn't score. And he didn't.

League games are coming in earnest after New Year's, and his time may be running out.
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JMike was one of the biggest reasons we beat PSU. He harassed their PG and leading scorer Baldwin into one of his worst games. JMike’s second half D v. SHU was also key. His 9 shots in 4 games is far outweighed by his very good on ball defense.
 
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RU-ROCS said:
JMike was one of the biggest reasons we beat PSU. He harassed their PG and leading scorer Baldwin into one of his worst games. JMike’s second half D v. SHU was also key. His 9 shots in 4 games is far outweighed by his very good on ball defense.
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And whatever it is we run on offense it runs better with JD on the court. As great an offensive player as Dylan is, when he puts the ball on the floor and goes to the basket everyone else tends to stand around.
 
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RutgersChow said:
And whatever it is we run on offense it runs better with JD on the court. As great an offensive player as Dylan is, when he puts the ball on the floor and goes to the basket everyone else tends to stand around.
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The starts of both games were disasters and we were quickly in a hole. Lucky we recovered. B1G road game and crowd explodes we lose in a blow out. Cant afford that. Its JWill who has been the better defensive player.
 
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Saint Puppy said:
Both Derkack and JMike need to have better basketball IQ. Both are not prototypical B1G guards, and therefore need to make up for it by being smarter than the other guy - neither does this. They both seem to close their eyes and drive in - this seems to almost never work out for JMike and sometimes work out for Derkack by drawing a foul or somehow scoring....however Derkack can just as easily get a turnover. JMike reminds me of a better version of Jalen Miller. I never understood Jalen Miller - zero offense and I felt he gave average D, though we kept being told how good a defender he was. JMike is terrible at finishing, but seems to get better shots than Miller and is also quick on D, though undersized.

Put JMike and Derkack together and you almost have a 7th guy off the bench on this level. Separately? Well they have a home on the '24-'25 Rutgers team - and one of them is going to start. That one or the other keeps starting is a microcosm of who we are as a team. Not good.
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Keen take except that together they are no better than #8-9 on a Big10 team…or said another way, DNP guys unless foul trouble
 
Local Shill said:
Might want to fact check yourself, boss. He was 0-6 from the floor in that NCAA game vs. Clemson and 0-3 from 3 point line. He had one point.

File that one next to your Tom Izzo conspiracy theories as wildly inaccurate.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore/_/gameId/401310898
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Knew I was correct. Just wrong game.
Fact check yourself your Smugness!

Might want to apologize after egg on your face and still missing the correct premise and getting your rocks off mocking a poster.

In the Houston game, Montez was actually arguably the 2nd best RU player on the court.

In 23 minutes, he was 3-6 from field and 2-2 from three and RU’s 2nd leading scoring against the best defensive team in the country.

Your smugness isn’t so smug now. “Boss” is it?? Fit that one next to my wildly accurate Izzo conspiracy. Boom! Local Shill or Local Shrill Karen?

SMH
 
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