Kejuan Johnson released from NLI

[RUMassAlum]

If you look at it in an isolated fashion like this, then it's fine. But that kind of tunnel vision can make most anything look acceptable. The bigger picture, however, is that Jordan went after him, got him and then couldn't get him on the team. Now, it may be because he couldn't qualify, but that risk isn't new news or something Jordan didn't know when he first offered him. Jordan was gambling. And why do coaches like Jordan gamble on kids like this rather than get similar players that are sure-fire qualifiers? Because they can't get the other players. There's actual competition for them. Other schools have not backed off them because of academics -- instead, they are going after them hard. So, instead, these coaches go for the players that they think they can get because there is less competition. But there are real risks that come with those players, the very risks that made the player available to you in the first place. So when that risk becomes reality, which happens often, the moral is not "oh well, that was likely to happen and we're better off." It's, "darn, we can't regularly recruit good players that can get here and other teams are after." We don't have the juice to land those guys.

So be it. But that's what this was.

Willis...43 and Nirrad have it right. You can't have it both ways, getting talent to RU MBB while at the same time minimizing risk and assuring player retention. But to me, the overriding issue is that there is no way in the short term, focusing especially on the coming season of 2015-16, that K. Johnson's departure is good news. No way. The 3 position was our weakest to begin with, manned by two raw, unproven rookies. Perhaps they had promise, but that means nothing until they get some seasoning and prove it on the court. I also would not minimize the longer term impact of absorbing yet another transfer. The departure rate from the upcoming season's preliminary roster has been very high, contributing to the ongoing negative image of RU MBB being an unstable and unsuccessful program.

K. Johnson apparently was a little more of a swing man type, while Laurent more of a pure 3. They might have complemented one another well and both seen major minutes.However, the exit of K. Johnson has removed 50% of the small forward squad. Unless EJ,, Shoes and staff can pull a large rabbit out of the hat, we are going to be weak, thin and inexperienced for the coming season at the small forward position, suffering both offensively and defensively. We might have to play a lot of 3 guard lineups and rotate the 4's and 5's a lot in their positions. This could hurt us in a year in which we have to show some progress.to retain and obtain recruits. If we have a really lousy year, that won't help the program one bit.



Anyway, I acknowledge that in the long term KJ's exodus might leave us better off by free up a scholarship, but I don't believe that it helps us now.

 

[MadRU]

Let's wait to see if anything unfolds.

 

[PhilaPhans]

Vlady may or may not have come due to PT issues (which is why he went to SMU). Seems as if he would get more now that there are two guys at the 2/3 not coming back (yes, Vlady was more of a 4, but still).

 

[MADHAT1]

Jordan has a lot of ground to make up and to do so has to gamble a bit more than better programs HCs do.
Sometimes it's a win and recruit makes the grade, other times it's a loss for the Program and player.
KJ would have made a fine addition , probably, but it's time to cut the losses and go after one that will qualify
and help make the RU MBB program better.

It's better that Eddie gambled on KJ qualifying and lost that bet, than not taking a gamble and seeing him make another program stronger.
Jordan would have look foolish for not going after KJ, then have the kid star at the program he went to.
Now if he makes the grade somewhere and looks good, Jordan will not be blamed for not going after him because of KJ might not qualify.
There would be outrage here if that happened, in my opinion.

 

[rufeelinit]

Seems like EJ is going to give Bruce Weber a run for most non graduating related turnover in an off season. We can't be much worse than last year but I find it hard to believe that EJ is actually in control of what is going on with the roster defections rather than just reacting to it.

 

[higgins3]

Willis...43 and Nirrad have it right. You can't have it both ways, getting talent to RU MBB while at the same time minimizing risk and assuring player retention. But to me, the overriding issue is that there is no way in the short term, focusing especially on the coming season of 2015-16, that K. Johnson's departure is good news. No way. The 3 position was our weakest to begin with, manned by two raw, unproven rookies. Perhaps they had promise, but that means nothing until they get some seasoning and prove it on the court. I also would not minimize the longer term impact of absorbing yet another transfer. The departure rate from the upcoming season's preliminary roster has been very high, contributing to the ongoing negative image of RU MBB being an unstable and unsuccessful program.

K. Johnson apparently was a little more of a swing man type, while Laurent more of a pure 3. They might have complemented one another well and both seen major minutes.However, the exit of K. Johnson has removed 50% of the small forward squad. Unless EJ,, Shoes and staff can pull a large rabbit out of the hat, we are going to be weak, thin and inexperienced for the coming season at the small forward position, suffering both offensively and defensively. We might have to play a lot of 3 guard lineups and rotate the 4's and 5's a lot in their positions. This could hurt us in a year in which we have to show some progress.to retain and obtain recruits. If we have a really lousy year, that won't help the program one bit.



Anyway, I acknowledge that in the long term KJ's exodus might leave us better off by free up a scholarship, but I don't believe that it helps us now.

I am alright with a 3 guard setup. Maybe Foreman can play a little 3 man as well. I remember him hitting some 3's last year.

Don't mind K johnson leaving. I just don't think his head was at this level of ball. Laurent I am more than happy with. Attacker, draws defenders, defends. Out of the whole 2015 class I kept saying to myself that if kjohn was to leave I would be okay with it. He was the one player I wasn't sure of for a couple of reasons.

After shoes landed Freeman I am know a believer. I wonder what they have in store.

Before anyone gets on a court too you have a locker room. He may have not of been a positive there.

 

[bac2therac]

Willis...43 and Nirrad have it right. You can't have it both ways, getting talent to RU MBB while at the same time minimizing risk and assuring player retention. But to me, the overriding issue is that there is no way in the short term, focusing especially on the coming season of 2015-16, that K. Johnson's departure is good news. No way. The 3 position was our weakest to begin with, manned by two raw, unproven rookies. Perhaps they had promise, but that means nothing until they get some seasoning and prove it on the court. I also would not minimize the longer term impact of absorbing yet another transfer. The departure rate from the upcoming season's preliminary roster has been very high, contributing to the ongoing negative image of RU MBB being an unstable and unsuccessful program.

K. Johnson apparently was a little more of a swing man type, while Laurent more of a pure 3. They might have complemented one another well and both seen major minutes.However, the exit of K. Johnson has removed 50% of the small forward squad. Unless EJ,, Shoes and staff can pull a large rabbit out of the hat, we are going to be weak, thin and inexperienced for the coming season at the small forward position, suffering both offensively and defensively. We might have to play a lot of 3 guard lineups and rotate the 4's and 5's a lot in their positions. This could hurt us in a year in which we have to show some progress.to retain and obtain recruits. If we have a really lousy year, that won't help the program one bit.



Anyway, I acknowledge that in the long term KJ's exodus might leave us better off by free up a scholarship, but I don't believe that it helps us now.

good post.....you, Shill, FIG, and Willis all have great posts in this thread....points that tend to be spun away or glossed over. This Johnson loss hurts way more than the other Johnson. Its also more than apparent that Eddie and his staff have to and are taking major risks to try and get talent here. Its pretty much the only way they can do it because the regular way was drawing a blank. I do see some fans here getting ahead of themselves about how good the talent is and what a great job the staff is doing. While the last few months did show improvement lets try to be realistic what what we have to work with. The program is coming off a 16 game losing streak. Depth is better, athleticism is better but the program still does not the kind of recruits needed to move beyond 11th place in the league. Johnson looked to be a player of that quality so he will need to be replaced as will a replacement for Freeman who is here just two years.

 

[JMD77]

As per Carino KJ was most likely low on the depth chart. This loss doesn't hurt and perhaps we will get a better replacement. The initial recruits were iffy - including Sanders - not surprising because because OUR program was in the shitter and anyone arguing otherwise is simply wrong or disingenuous. I think EJ is upgrading our recruiting and the result will show on the court within the next 2 years. That's my hope at any rate.

 

[MADHAT1]

As per Carino KJ was most likely low on the depth chart. This loss doesn't hurt and perhaps we will get a better replacement. The initial recruits were iffy - including Sanders - not surprising because because OUR program was in the shitter and anyone arguing otherwise is simply wrong or disingenuous. I think EJ is upgrading our recruiting and the result will show on the court within the next 2 years. That's my hope at any rate.

Good post.
If KJ would have been as big a help as some think or if he would have been or buried on the depth chart like Carino feels is only speculation in my opinion,but do feel RU has to gamble to keep up in the recruiting wars and Jordan isn't doing too shabby upgrading the RU MBB program.
Yes it could be done better and faster, but that could be said about every other HC , except the top tier, when it comes to bringing in the recruits needed to have a championship caliber roster.
Eddie's just trying to build a roster that can win, and he seems to be moving in the right direction there, despite some of his gambles not paying off.

Looks like Jordan is beating the odds a bit and getting some recruits that will help fairly soon and others that might need some seasoning before they make their mark.
All in all, RU MBB probably is on the upswing after years of false hope, ( at least ) in my opinion

 

[Fzacsattac]

I thought KJ was the better player between him and Laurent?

 

[michstfr]

Some of this doesn't make any sense. Johnson wasn't the difference between an NCAA bid or not understood but there isn't a 5th year transfer or JUCO player RU can land at this point that is an equivalent, sorry.

 

[higgins3]

Bac, why do you think this johnson hurts more than the other? We have seen neither of them play D1 basketball.

 

[higgins3]

Some of this doesn't make any sense. Johnson wasn't the difference between an NCAA bid or not understood but there isn't a 5th year transfer or JUCO player RU can land at this point that is an equivalent, sorry.

That's how I feel as well. Very replaceable, especially since we hadn't seen him play one d1 basketball game.

What I will say is that taking a player like Laurent is a good deal because he is a good student and a good kid. His play is better at the 3 than I think KJ would've been.

We spend too much time trying to deal with recruits who don't have a d1 head. If they don't have a good attitude, they will never reach their potential.

Everyone talks about how we don't develop players. I think the level at which outside people are able to "develop" a player is overrated. Bring in a kid that wants to get better, that has good grades, that has a good support system, and doesn't need outsiders to fuel him. I see Laurent as being that kid who can fuel himself.

 

[bac2therac]

Bac, why do you think this johnson hurts more than the other? We have seen neither of them play D1 basketball.

whether one or the other was better actually does not matter at this point. RU lost both so it hurts either way you want to look at it.

 

[78CollegeAve]

K Johnson peaked when he was 14 or 15 years old and was considered one of the top kids in his class. He had a man's body as a h.s. frosh and punished other kids. Guess what? The other kids kept growing and he didn't.

The staff bottomed out when it missed on all the Plan A and B targets and signed the 2 Hargraves kids. They've signed Laurent, Freeman and N Johnson. That's a big upgrade. Can't believe that anyone's undies are bunched because K and R Johnson have left the building.

 

[JMD77]

K Johnson peaked when he was 14 or 15 years old and was considered one of the top kids in his class. He had a man's body as a h.s. frosh and punished other kids. Guess what? The other kids kept growing and he didn't.

The staff bottomed out when it missed on all the Plan A and B targets and signed the 2 Hargraves kids. They've signed Laurent, Freeman and N Johnson. That's a big upgrade. Can't believe that anyone's undies are bunched because K and R Johnson have left the building.

+1
If we had 8 scholarship players - then it's an issue. We will have 11 available for the upcoming season. And perhaps we fill the last spot.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Re: the 3 position, Isn't Freeman a 3/4? If so, I would expect to see Freeman at the 3 quite a bit, with Diallo and Foreman at the 4 and Lewis/Doorson at the 5.

 

[MCKnight2004]

KJ is not a loss. He was undersized, would have just added depth but really makes no impact on wins.

We've added two impact recruits from day one in Sanders and Freeman. We haven't had talented tandem like this since Rosario and Echenique, here's hoping this time it results in more success

 

[PhilaPhans]

Freeman is a crash-the-boards 4.

He's not a 3.

 

[DownStream]

Not allowed to have two players with same last name - too confusing

 

[willisneverrana43]

. . .
That's how I feel as well. Very replaceable . . . .

All of these post-departure justifications, even if they are right, are just as worrying. If you believe this, you're left to consider the judgment of a coach who chose to risk a recruiting slot on a player with talent that some now call "very replaceable" while knowing that his eligibility was uncertain. There seems to be little reason to undertake such a risk for supposedly middling, everyday, otherwise easily attainable rewards. Either Jordan didn't agree with these recent assessments by fans when he recruited the kid, didn't properly evaluate him, or was incredibly desperate because he couldn't get anybody else. There may be an argument for risking a slot in your recruiting class on an outstanding talent who might not qualify. But taking that same risk for a run-of-the-mill "very replaceable" recruit who is not a difference maker tells a bad story, no matter how you spin it after it turns bad.

 

[PhilaPhans]

Let's look at KJ's positives.
1.) He was once a top recruit.
2.) He's a SF and we need them.
3.) The current status quo at Rutgers just wasn't going to work.

Let's look at KJ's not-so-positives.
1.) Once everybody else started to grow, KJ stopped growing and wasn't heads and tails bigger and better than your next SF.
2.) Academic issues.
3.) We've got Laurent, and while there's still a gap at the back-up 3, it isn't completely bare anymore.

Everybody's positives about KJ were based on his freshman highlight video and the fact that we really had no other choices at the position at the time. Would it be good that he left? No. We need depth and he seems to be a decent player. Is he seen as a top talent to people on this board? No. People see guys like Freeman and Sanders as the jewels in the class. So as long as we replace KJ with somebody as talented with fewer question marks, or more talented, people are OK with that.

 

[bac2therac]

Willis nails.....its about consistency in analysis

 

[higgins3]

All of these post-departure justifications, even if they are right, are just as worrying. If you believe this, you're left to consider the judgment of a coach who chose to risk a recruiting slot on a player with talent that some now call "very replaceable" while knowing that his eligibility was uncertain. There seems to be little reason to undertake such a risk for supposedly middling, everyday, otherwise easily attainable rewards. Either Jordan didn't agree with these recent assessments by fans when he recruited the kid, didn't properly evaluate him, or was incredibly desperate because he couldn't get anybody else. There may be an argument for risking a slot in your recruiting class on an outstanding talent who might not qualify. But taking that same risk for a run-of-the-mill "very replaceable" recruit who is not a difference maker tells a bad story, no matter how you spin it after it turns bad.

I am not saying Jordan's/staffs eyes are great. I am too disappointed in how they are bringing in kids that end up not being able to play/qualify. They're worrying. Rutgers hasn't had a .500 season in what-20 years? These are risk that a coach has to take when you're in Rutgers position. Would I love to see a not so super athletic, fundy sound kid?Yes. If that kid can play at this level is something else. Like I said, I think he was a d1 player, but no where near having a d1 head on his shoulders.

You're right though. I never said I thought Jordan's recruiting has been absolutely fantastic. I think it's been average. Seeing we're a below average program with below average facilities, it makes sense. Being realistic is the way to go,right?

 

[RUMBA-JK]

All of these post-departure justifications, even if they are right, are just as worrying. If you believe this, you're left to consider the judgment of a coach who chose to risk a recruiting slot on a player with talent that some now call "very replaceable" while knowing that his eligibility was uncertain. There seems to be little reason to undertake such a risk for supposedly middling, everyday, otherwise easily attainable rewards. Either Jordan didn't agree with these recent assessments by fans when he recruited the kid, didn't properly evaluate him, or was incredibly desperate because he couldn't get anybody else. There may be an argument for risking a slot in your recruiting class on an outstanding talent who might not qualify. But taking that same risk for a run-of-the-mill "very replaceable" recruit who is not a difference maker tells a bad story, no matter how you spin it after it turns bad.

All sounds insightful - today June 3, 2015 - after a very clear picture has emerged
.... but by all accounts seven months ago everybody was seeing a very different future for KJ - back on November 6, 2014 when KJ made his commitment, the image was that of a very talented kid (more than just a run-of-the-mill "very replaceable" recruit) with upside potential and the appearance of commitment to his future - he was about 2/3 of the way through his first semester of his 'post-grad' year at Hargrave Military Academy - the general expectation was that there would not be any academic 'loose ends' by the conclusion of the post-grad year. well .. things seem to have gone down a different path - a path that significantly deviated from what was reasonably expected. Don't see this as a knock on Jordan or his staff - just about all indicators pointed to this be a nice pick up at the time

 

[TDIrish1]

Everybody 100 % certain that the Sanders kid gets through the NCAA Clearing House with no issues ?

I hope he does but I don't have a warm and fuzzy about it.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Willis nails.....its about consistency in analysis

I can't see how anyone can argue with it.

It seems as if there is no bigger master plan. Anyone that has talent and is willing to come here is asked.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Everybody 100 % certain that the Sanders kid gets through the NCAA Clearing House with no issues ?

I hope he does but I don't have a warm and fuzzy about it.

It seems like the whole Jordan regime is riding on Corey Sanders.

 

[PhilaPhans]

I'm going by the fact that every reporter so far has said Sanders will be on campus to play, we know he's been taking his entrance exams for RU, we know he's taken his SATs prior to that, etc. Somebody would have probably said if something was questionable, instead of verifying that Sanders is not the one leaving (as with KJ/RJ) and will be at RU this year.

 

[dvb91]

All of these post-departure justifications, even if they are right, are just as worrying. If you believe this, you're left to consider the judgment of a coach who chose to risk a recruiting slot on a player with talent that some now call "very replaceable" while knowing that his eligibility was uncertain. There seems to be little reason to undertake such a risk for supposedly middling, everyday, otherwise easily attainable rewards. Either Jordan didn't agree with these recent assessments by fans when he recruited the kid, didn't properly evaluate him, or was incredibly desperate because he couldn't get anybody else. There may be an argument for risking a slot in your recruiting class on an outstanding talent who might not qualify. But taking that same risk for a run-of-the-mill "very replaceable" recruit who is not a difference maker tells a bad story, no matter how you spin it after it turns bad.

Fair enough analysis & critique. But remember that he became "very replaceable" only after Freeman & Laurent came aboard - i.e. he got recruited over. Before Freeman & Laurent, we needed players like him, and actually still do, but the other 2 eases the need. If we knew we'd be getting the other 2, maybe EJ would hold off on signing KJ, but he didn't and knew he had to fill holes. Without the other 2, maybe he actually starts, but we've upgraded the roster so he becomes a depth player instead (i.e. replaceable).

 

[MADHAT1]

It seems like the whole Jordan regime is riding on Corey Sanders.

Sometimes coaches like Jordan do pin their hopes on one top recruit to make their program start on the road to respectability .
When you have been down as long as RU has, recruits like Sanders are very important and if they play as hoped for, bring in more top recruits.\
just because of their play and making the RU MBB program look like it's improving.
It's been said all it takes is one to get the bal;l rolling and adding more keeps it so.

Know RU has had first steps before, only hope this one ( Sanders ) don't hit any of the roadblocks the past top recruits ran into.

 

[higgins3]

I actually wasn't a big fan of the KJ recruit for a number of reasons. I thought he was a decent basketball player, but wasn't sure where his head was at. You can be a great basketball player, but if your head isn't in it, you may not do anything on the court. For that reason, I am completely okay with him leaving.

I share your guys sentiments. If Sanders did not make it here, we would have a major issue in the program. That would make for 4-5 kids who were supposed to get here and play but never did.

I am ten times more confident with Laurent than I was with KJ. It seems like we were jumping on whatever bit. Similar to the Wally Judge type of story(who I believe to be a good player) we had a kid in KJ who was once highly recruited in the nation, but after some issues, really just became average. We went after him because of the hype that he once had. Turns out, everyone caught up and he just became an average player and had issues off the court. This move is for the better, but it is still a red flag.

We're in that weird position though where we're taking risk right now. I like our 70% of our recruiting habits, but I would like to see more fundamental oriented players come here. A kid who can fight for position on a rebound, know where the ball is going to come off the basket, grab 10 rebounds, work in the classroom, and has a good support system. I could care less if he can't score more than 4 points on offense- as long as he shows the willingness to want to improve there and a non-ego type of head. We need a consistent re bounder on this roster, and we need recruits who have good heads on their shoulders. We're getting some of that, but I don't see these "KJ type of risk" as being worth it. There is a kid out there who is dying t play D1,can rebound, and has good grades. Just bring in one of those kids for me.

 

[RutgHoops]

"You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs" is an apt quote.

Eddie inherited a roster of Mack, Jack, Lewis and Judge. He inherited a program that was on constant loop on ESPN, The Today Show and Good Morning America, and not for a positive reason. He then had to convince a whole bunch of kids to play at Rutgers all the while knowing they were going to get their brains beat in for the foreseeable future. Upon his arrival the HC needed O'Koren and Macon to suit up in practice just so he could run 5 on 5 drills. I think we can agree he inherited a bit of a mess, no?

The idea we were going to get to a place where Rutgers had a roster in year 2 or year 3 without a couple of "oops" along the way is folly and (imo) unfair. Two years after his hire date ONE kid remains who was on the roster when he arrived. One kid.

Coach Jordan has had to recruit TWENTY kids here in two years to get a roster that has some hope for the future. TWENTY! No other HC in the country has signed half that many in two years. Some made it. Some didn't. In Year 3 to have a roster of Sanders, Williams, Daniels, Grier, Goode, N. Johnson, Foreman, Freeman, Laurent, Lewis, Doorson and Diallo is a nice job by the HC. May not have been pretty getting here, but he got here. Our roster may not be a "great" or even "good" roster for 2015-16, but two years and two months after ESPN aired the Rice video it is a roster with some hope. And I'm fine with how it went down to get here.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

"You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs" is an apt quote.

Eddie inherited a roster of Mack, Jack, Lewis and Judge. He inherited a program that was on constant loop on ESPN, The Today Show and Good Morning America, and not for a positive reason. He then had to convince a whole bunch of kids to play at Rutgers all the while knowing they were going to get their brains beat in for the foreseeable future. Upon his arrival the HC needed O'Koren and Macon to suit up in practice just so he could run 5 on 5 drills. I think we can agree he inherited a bit of a mess, no?

The idea we were going to get to a place where Rutgers had a roster in year 2 or year 3 without a couple of "oops" along the way is folly and (imo) unfair. Two years after his hire date ONE kid remains who was on the roster when he arrived. One kid.

Coach Jordan has had to recruit TWENTY kids here in two years to get a roster that has some hope for the future. TWENTY! No other HC in the country has signed half that many in two years. Some made it. Some didn't. In Year 3 to have a roster of Sanders, Williams, Daniels, Grier, Goode, N. Johnson, Foreman, Freeman, Laurent, Lewis, Doorson and Diallo is a nice job by the HC. May not have been pretty getting here, but he got here. Our roster may not be a "great" or even "good" roster for 2015-16, but two years and two months after ESPN aired the Rice video it is a roster with some hope. And I'm fine with how it went down to get here.

I think you are overestimating the difficulty filling a roster. There are tons of kids who would rather play at RU in the B1G then play for a ton of mid majors. It is hard if you are recruiting from a database of 3 star players. the one's that are left over have some sort of baggage (either academic or attitude).

I hindsight the huge mistake he made was trying to win from Day 1. he had a hall pass and should have and could have started from scratch. Decisions to go after JJ Moore and others put us on the wrong path that I still believe we are on.

We need good teammates before good players right now. We need guys going thru screens properly more than PGs dunking in traffic. We need guards staying in front of opponents more than a guy who can dribble through a team.

 

[Sluggersdad]

Well thought out post by RutgHoops. Also, pretty accurate narrative of what the program has gone through. However, we can look forward to the standard negative responses by Fig and probably Bac. I get the feeling these two, and a few others on here would read a Dickens "A Christmas Carol" and laugh at the Cratchit family.

 

[RutgHoops]

GRFIG,

How many P5 schools do you think over the past two years were "less attractive" than RU? Then let's throw in non-P5's like UConn, Memphis, Cincy, Nova, Georgetown, St. John's, VCU, Temple, and Xavier.

So even if exclude schools like Dayton, Marquette, SHU, Providence, etc we were, what, the 65th most attractive school for a basketball recruit? 70th? I don't think I am overestimating the difficulty of filling a roster at RU in the least.

I remember sitting with a former D-1 assistant talking about RU recruiting during the Waters era. And he said something to me that resonates today. "Rutgers recruits from the same barrel of talent as all the other Big East schools. The problem is most of the kids they can get are at the bottom of that barrel."

And I have no issue with the Moore, Craig Brown, rerecruiting Seagears stuff. None. Eddie felt he owed it to the kids who stayed to fill as complete and competitive a roster as he could. And he did that. Sure he took (back) some "me first" kids who could care less if we won or lost. But they were infinitely more talented than the kids he could have picked up running open gym at the RAC. I'd prefer to give him credit for doing that for kids like Mack and Jack rather than pretending he and the school didn't owe those kids anything.

 

[higgins3]

GRFIG,

How many P5 schools do you think over the past two years were "less attractive" than RU? Then let's throw in non-P5's like UConn, Memphis, Cincy, Nova, Georgetown, St. John's, VCU, Temple, and Xavier.

So even if exclude schools like Dayton, Marquette, SHU, Providence, etc we were, what, the 65th most attractive school for a basketball recruit? 70th? I don't think I am overestimating the difficulty of filling a roster at RU in the least.

I remember sitting with a former D-1 assistant talking about RU recruiting during the Waters era. And he said something to me that resonates today. "Rutgers recruits from the same barrel of talent as all the other Big East schools. The problem is most of the kids they can get are at the bottom of that barrel."

And I have no issue with the Moore, Craig Brown, rerecruiting Seagears stuff. None. Eddie felt he owed it to the kids who stayed to fill as complete and competitive a roster as he could. And he did that. Sure he took (back) some "me first" kids who could care less if we won or lost. But they were infinitely more talented that the kids he could have picked up running open gym at the RAC. I'd prefer to give him credit for doing that for kids like Mack and Jack rather than pretending he and the school didn't owe those kids anything.

Great point. Eddie Jordan has more responsibility to put a team together for Mack and Jack to play on when they stayed then he does to help us have something to watch. He tried his best to put together something on the floor, Would he of been better of shutting it down?Sure,maybe. But I know my year would have been different if I didn't have a team to watch. Although it wasn't a outstanding product on the floor, it made my Ru experience that much better.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

GRFIG,



I remember sitting with a former D-1 assistant talking about RU recruiting during the Waters era. And he said something to me that resonates today. "Rutgers recruits from the same barrel of talent as all the other Big East schools. The problem is most of the kids they can get are at the bottom of that barrel."

.

This is exactly what I am talking about. Once we get out of this thinking we could be on our way. Isn't there a universe right below that pool that would love to go to RU. It takes a bit of work identifying who the winners there are.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

GRFIG,



And I have no issue with the Moore,

I had a major issue with it and it is Exhibit A why year 3 could be Year 1 and not Year 1 be Year 1.

Why would Jordan bring in a player like Moore? He was the polar opposite of what a team looking to build needs.

We need 8 Mike Williams...still would go 11-20, but would put in a foundation so when you bring in a high risk, high reward player you have an infrastructure where it could work.

 

[RutgHoops]

This is exactly what I am talking about. Once we get out of this thinking we could be on our way. Isn't there a universe right below that pool that would love to go to RU. It takes a bit of work identifying who the winners there are.

Cant win without talent. Cant win without beating some P5 teams for kids. Just can't. The universe you seek does not exist. There just aren't kids going to St.Peter's and Iona and Canisius that will make Rutgers competitive.