Kejuan Johnson released from NLI

[RutgHoops]

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.

The choice wasn't Mike Williams or Moore. The choice was Moore or nobody. Seagears or nobody. Brown or nobody. Eddie was hired in April. He had a roster of four kids. Year 3 is Year 1. Just because we played basketball the past two seasons doesn't mean the HC was playing with the roster he would have played with in a more optimal situation.

It's like a asking a homeless man why he is eating out of the trash when the trash can is sitting right in front of a Ruth's Chris. Not like the guy is making a choice between eating out of the trash or eating at Ruth Chris. The choice he has is eat out of the trash or don't eat.

 

[Ole Cabbagehead]

The choice wasn't Mike Williams or Moore. The choice was Moore or nobody. Seagears or nobody. Brown or nobody. Eddie was hired in April. He had a roster of four kids. Year 3 is Year 1. Just because we played basketball the past two seasons doesn't mean the HC was playing with the roster he would have played with in a more optimal situation.

It's like a asking a homeless man why he is eating out of the trash when the trash can is sitting right in front of a Ruth's Chris. Not like the guy is making a choice between eating out of the trash or eating at Ruth Chris. The choice he has is eat out of the trash or don't eat.

I couldn't agree more with everything RutgHoops is saying. People saying we should go after kids with a good head on their shoulders and no academic issues are missing the point. We are getting whoever we can - JUCO, transfer, academic risk. There is going to be a lot of turnover. But with enough hard work, this staff will put together a few .500 seasons and then maybe some kids in the next level up start considering us. All I really care about is that from now on Eddie gets players that are willing to work hard and be team players. The only risk I don't want to see him taking is on selfish players who aren't willing to work for the good of the team.

 

[Fzacsattac]

Ohhhh boyyyy.......

 

[78CollegeAve]

Willis -- yes, the staff was indeed incredibly DESPERATE for recruits when it brought in the 2 kids from Hargraves, particularly a shooter that the staff had never scouted in a game. So there were a lot of skeptics both of them, particularly Goode who is still on the roster. That was when recruiting bottomed out and it sounded like Sanders might not make it academically. Since then it looks like Sanders is good to go and Laurent and Freeman are definitely talent upgrades. Maybe it's time to drop the Littlepage references because I don't think he ever signed talent like Freeman and Sanders. Time to move forward ...

 

[higgins3]

Sanders, Freeman,Nigel Johnson, Jonathan Laurent, Justin Goode, Omari Grier, Will they get us to .500, I am not sure. Between Sanders and Johnson,Freeman and Laurent though I am pretty happy. I think those four have big potential. I am excited to see what Grier and Goode bring.

 

[seels2662]

I think moving him doesn't add minutes to Laurent rather it adds minutes to the big men. I think Freeman will now be playing the 3 as much as the 4.

This one hurts. I don't care if he was down on the depth chart we needed the minutes.

 

[higgins3]

I think moving him doesn't add minutes to Laurent rather it adds minutes to the big men. I think Freeman will now be playing the 3 as much as the 4.

This one hurts. I don't care if he was down on the depth chart we needed the minutes.

Interesting take. Maybe it does hurt us. As long as we can get someone else is well be alright.

Either 3 guard sets, or maybe push freeman to 3, gl to 4, and diallo to five. GL has lost some weight it seems and is limbering up.

 

[Caliknight]

More poor decision making. You don't offer and recruit kids who have little chance of cutting it or knowing they will never contribute in a real way, then release them before they get here or after a year.

It is a horrible strategy when trying to build a program and reeks of bottom of the barrel maneuvering. Our facilities and support aren't up to snuff, but this type of disjointed strategy isn't helping.

 

[SkilletHead2]

A lot of the analysis here seems to be predicated on the notion that "what we know now we knew then." I used to talk a lot to someone very close to recruiting in a previous HC's time. I was amazed at the fluidity of the situation. Recruit A is all hyped about coming and ready to commit on Monday, so you back off a bit on Recruit plan B, who then commits to a different school. Then Player A changes his mind and commits elsewhere. And then you start looking at Player C.

There is a natural tendency to see anyone who is committed to RU as better than he probably is, and to denigrate someone who is decommitting or going elsewhere.

But the concern with RU BB right now isn't recruiting over the past couple months; we've pulled in some solid to very good players. To me, the concern is how well we work with what we have. That is my real concern for the EJ regime going forward. I think if we can get some success on the floor, we'll get the quality recruits. But we have to outplay our talent level at some point, and that is what makes me nervous.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

Let's see what the total roster is like in October before guessing....Let's also see what 2016 recruits are close to deciding for RU or verbal to RU before determining what the path is.

I would like to think that these recruits are better than what Rice's recruiting ended with and certainly better than what FHJ ended with having to recruit with as well..... it appears for the first time, RU's recruiting is actually improving in Years 2 and Year 3, when in past coaching regimes, the initial buzz hit and some upgrades got done in Year 1 where recruiting spiked and then tried to improve, but wound up tapering off considerably in Years 2, 3 and 4......

This may not ever get done to a point where RU wins 20 games in the near future , until at least the facilities are at least on the horizon, but there are comparable programs that appear to be on the same rebuilding path that RU is on and RU is on schedule, given where we were starting from. I'm almost certain another player gets added that is eligible for next year and that we have a roster that can function better than the first two teams EJ rolled out there.

Anyone critical of RU hoops is also adamant about how the facilities need to be upgraded....so I find it hard to believe anyone is expecting minor miracles at this stage. But I will say it again, Shoes Vetrone has delivered and then some....he was mocked by many on here and if he were a more "well known" popular name assistant coach, the perception of Sanders, Freeman, Doorson and others that will be on the roster next year, would be viewed differently.

 

[MADHAT1]

A lot of the analysis here seems to be predicated on the notion that "what we know now we knew then." I used to talk a lot to someone very close to recruiting in a previous HC's time. I was amazed at the fluidity of the situation. Recruit A is all hyped about coming and ready to commit on Monday, so you back off a bit on Recruit plan B, who then commits to a different school. Then Player A changes his mind and commits elsewhere. And then you start looking at Player C.

There is a natural tendency to see anyone who is committed to RU as better than he probably is, and to denigrate someone who is decommitting or going elsewhere.

But the concern with RU BB right now isn't recruiting over the past couple months; we've pulled in some solid to very good players. To me, the concern is how well we work with what we have. That is my real concern for the EJ regime going forward. I think if we can get some success on the floor, we'll get the quality recruits. But we have to outplay our talent level at some point, and that is what makes me nervous.

I'm less nervous with this bunch than the Rice leftovers.
Mack seems to have been the only one that made the same full out effort game after game.
Rice's recruits had talent, but their basketball IQ seemed to be a problem at times along with not playing to their strengths
that would have made them and RU better.
Seemed they played as 5 individuals instead as a team , a lot of the time.

 

[bac2therac]

A lot of the analysis here seems to be predicated on the notion that "what we know now we knew then." I used to talk a lot to someone very close to recruiting in a previous HC's time. I was amazed at the fluidity of the situation. Recruit A is all hyped about coming and ready to commit on Monday, so you back off a bit on Recruit plan B, who then commits to a different school. Then Player A changes his mind and commits elsewhere. And then you start looking at Player C.

There is a natural tendency to see anyone who is committed to RU as better than he probably is, and to denigrate someone who is decommitting or going elsewhere.

But the concern with RU BB right now isn't recruiting over the past couple months; we've pulled in some solid to very good players. To me, the concern is how well we work with what we have. That is my real concern for the EJ regime going forward. I think if we can get some success on the floor, we'll get the quality recruits. But we have to outplay our talent level at some point, and that is what makes me nervous.

good post especially the last sentence and its been true for the last 6 head coaches...they will need to outplay their talent..its pretty much how programs similar to RU move up...you overachieve and then the recruits follow but we have been waiting for this to happen for so long it does make people nervous

 

[SkilletHead2]

Fingers crossed, bac! As they have been since I arrived on the Banks in the fall of 1976.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

The choice wasn't Mike Williams or Moore. The choice was Moore or nobody. Seagears or nobody. Brown or nobody. Eddie was hired in April. He had a roster of four kids. Year 3 is Year 1. Just because we played basketball the past two seasons doesn't mean the HC was playing with the roster he would have played with in a more optimal situation.

It's like a asking a homeless man why he is eating out of the trash when the trash can is sitting right in front of a Ruth's Chris. Not like the guy is making a choice between eating out of the trash or eating at Ruth Chris. The choice he has is eat out of the trash or don't eat.

The truth is somewhere in between. There had to be others that didn't have the P5 look or skillset that would play the game right.

JJ Moore was toxic and a negative, would have been better giving his minutes to others at different positions.

Etou, Kone and Lewis averaged less than 20 MPG in '13-'14. the program would have been better off without Moore and having those 3 absorb his extra minutes.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I'm less nervous with this bunch than the Rice leftovers.
Mack seems to have been the only one that made the same full out effort game after game.
Rice's recruits had talent, but their basketball IQ seemed to be a problem at times along with not playing to their strengths
that would have made them and RU better.
Seemed they played as 5 individuals instead as a team , a lot of the time.

Some of that is on the players, but........

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Let's see what the total roster is like in October before guessing....Let's also see what 2016 recruits are close to deciding for RU or verbal to RU before determining what the path is.

I would like to think that these recruits are better than what Rice's recruiting ended with and certainly better than what FHJ ended with having to recruit with as well..... it appears for the first time, RU's recruiting is actually improving in Years 2 and Year 3, when in past coaching regimes, the initial buzz hit and some upgrades got done in Year 1 where recruiting spiked and then tried to improve, but wound up tapering off considerably in Years 2, 3 and 4......

This may not ever get done to a point where RU wins 20 games in the near future , until at least the facilities are at least on the horizon, but there are comparable programs that appear to be on the same rebuilding path that RU is on and RU is on schedule, given where we were starting from. I'm almost certain another player gets added that is eligible for next year and that we have a roster that can function better than the first two teams EJ rolled out there.

Anyone critical of RU hoops is also adamant about how the facilities need to be upgraded....so I find it hard to believe anyone is expecting minor miracles at this stage. But I will say it again, Shoes Vetrone has delivered and then some....he was mocked by many on here and if he were a more "well known" popular name assistant coach, the perception of Sanders, Freeman, Doorson and others that will be on the roster next year, would be viewed differently.

Right now everything is on paper. All of the 6 previous coaches have looked good recruiting on paper at one time. Talent is important, but isn't enough to save the day.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

If you told me TWO years ago that what we have right now would be our existing roster...I would have been ESTATIC

We have a solid nucleus of frosh and sophs to build a base line on.
People forget that Eddie came in and was starting recruiting on a ABSOLTE ZERO off the scandal....

We at least have pieces to see if Eddie can develop them and show if he is a good indivuduals shills developer and can take that and weave into a team basketball unit .

I have and maintain that THIS is YEAR ONE. You cant knock Eddie for 20 years o program mismanagement. He is BUILDING and not REBUILDING something...and this is a slow process

The key is to see PROGRESS in years 3 and 4...in what is here...and adding upgrade pcs with limited ships available...so that in year 5, when these guys are seniors and juniors...we have a PROGRAM and not a TEAM....get a winning record...and then have THAT to recruit the next level of players to grow from there

That is the hope...and what we should we looking for. Anything higher expectations is not grounded in realism

10, 14,17...that is what you want to see the win column in the next three years...

 

[higgins3]

The truth is somewhere in between. There had to be others that didn't have the P5 look or skillset that would play the game right.

JJ Moore was toxic and a negative, would have been better giving his minutes to others at different positions.

Etou, Kone and Lewis averaged less than 20 MPG in '13-'14. the program would have been better off without Moore and having those 3 absorb his extra minutes.

You really think so?Moore wasn't by any means my favorite player but he scored, didn't turn the ball over, and gave consistent effort on the offensive end every time he was in. Wasn't a lockerroom cancer, positive kid.

Kone and Lewis and we don't see any wins. EJ tried his best to put something on the floor that could win.

 

[higgins3]

If you told me TWO years ago that what we have right now would be our existing roster...I would have been ESTATIC

We have a solid nucleus of frosh and sophs to build a base line on.
People forget that Eddie came in and was starting recruiting on a ABSOLTE ZERO off the scandal....

We at least have pieces to see if Eddie can develop them and show if he is a good indivuduals shills developer and can take that and weave into a team basketball unit .

I have and maintain that THIS is YEAR ONE. You cant knock Eddie for 20 years o program mismanagement. He is BUILDING and not REBUILDING something...and this is a slow process

The key is to see PROGRESS in years 3 and 4...in what is here...and adding upgrade pcs with limited ships available...so that in year 5, when these guys are seniors and juniors...we have a PROGRAM and not a TEAM....get a winning record...and then have THAT to recruit the next level of players to grow from there

That is the hope...and what we should we looking for. Anything higher expectations is not grounded in realism

10, 14,17...that is what you want to see the win column in the next three years...

Good stuff Shack. Very realistic and positive. Absolute zero is right. No one wanted to touch Rutgers basketball with a ten foot pole.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

A knock, and a very debatable knock, was not making '14-'15 YEAR ONE. I totally get and respect the argument that he might have owed certain players more PT and leeway based on them sticking around. I believe he should have drawn a line in the sand last year and not give minutes away to upperclassmen.

As a result next year is YEAR ONE. I don't think any of us have a feel on what Doorson, Foreman, and Williams can do. What I hope is they know the pace of play they saw guys who got PT had aren't acceptable.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

You really think so?Moore wasn't by any means my favorite player but he scored, didn't turn the ball over, and gave consistent effort on the offensive end every time he was in. Wasn't a lockerroom cancer, positive kid.

Kone and Lewis and we don't see any wins. EJ tried his best to put something on the floor that could win.

Didn't rebound, didn't move the ball and didn't play D. Set a culture for the program and he handed the baton to Kadeem.

 

[higgins3]

A knock, and a very debatable knock, was not making '14-'15 YEAR ONE. I totally get and respect the argument that he might have owed certain players more PT and leeway based on them sticking around. I believe he should have drawn a line in the sand last year and not give minutes away to upperclassmen.

As a result next year is YEAR ONE. I don't think any of us have a feel on what Doorson, Foreman, and Williams can do. What I hope is they know the pace of play they saw guys who got PT had aren't acceptable.

So Rutgers misses on those years of revenue?

Williams gives 8ppg, 3 assist this year, defense. Foreman gives 6 ppg and 4 rebounds, Shaq gives 4 ppg this year and 4 rebounds. I could see that.

 

[higgins3]

And what would Kone/Gl given you that year? Doesn't make sense to talk about the past but Moore won some games for us.

Take him out and put in a 3 guard set with Seagers and watch him chuck the ball up without making one pass? Options were limited and Ej tried to put a team together. We're going to be okay in the future. I don't mind what he did.

Basketball has a culture of me first players because it comes down to these individual players making it for themselves and their families. For many, it's their only shot.Just the sad reality. Moore had a girlfriend and daughter he was looking out for. Wally Judge had a son. N one speaks about these things but it can breed an all about me player.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

And what would Kone/Gl given you that year? Doesn't make sense to talk about the past but Moore won some games for us.
.

Players that will make the extra pass. Kone was a key player in our victory over Wisconsin. No doubt that Kone had a lot of holes in his game. No debating he was a team player and a guy for other players to look up to.

 

[higgins3]

Yeah, that was one game. Ej had to teach kone proper shot mechanics this year. I agree he was a good kid, but putting him in games wouldn't result in wins. That's all 80% of people care about. It may have looked nice to put in Kone and Lewis, but would it result in wins? That team had too many issues. Too many me first players. Kone makes the extra pass to Judge or Seagers and it doesn't go any place else.