Laurent Posting Some Good #'s

[RutgersMO]

Think this is his second double double in last few games.

He's starting to come on. Now if Corey can continue to play at the level he has been over his last 3 games....
we've got the nucleus for of a team (add Freeman????, Williams, Doorson, Diallo/ recruits).

Here's hoping.

MO
PS Spent some time talking to Athletic Dept. asking them to pass message to EJ: mend fences with Corey / Freeman ....if possible, and make joint announcement:

Corey : Mea Culpa. I let my team, the fans, my coach and myself down. I won't do that again. I'm happy to be with Rutgers and I'm here for the duration.

EJ: Corey has demonstrated that he understands why he was suspended. The punishment is helping him realize his role on the team...and to become a man. He's reinstated IMMEDIATELY.

 

[shields]

Laurent can play, and needs to get in weight room.

 

[jtung230]

must be EJ's fault.

 

[MadRU]

Has to work on his perimeter game.

 

[soundcrib]

Yes, needs a J.

 

[goru7]

Has to work on his perimeter game.

Yeah, earlier in the year he hit a 3 and has good form. As you say he has to work on it and if he does he will be a tremendous wing for us, because when the defenders come out to guard him, he has shown the ability to drive past them. He has a chance to be a really important piece of the team for years to come.
Also DJ played well at times and has to become more consistent. He also has to not always look to take a shot when he drives but to kick out more.
They was only one starter out there tonight that will start next year.
Extremely hopeful that we actually get everyone back not just for next year but for 2 full years.

 

[RUJMM78]

Laurent can play, and needs to get in weight room.

He also must add a jump shot more than 5 ' from the basket .A very athletic player who excels in making baskets after missed shots.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Laurent can actually "finish" at the tin, something sorely lacking on this team forever.

If he can develop a mid range jumper, he can be a 14-8 guy.

 

[Russ Wood]

Has to work on his perimeter game.

This has always been a weakness in his game. Laurent is athletic and he actually has some low post moves because he played PF in high school. But whenever he asked me what he needed to work on, I always started off by telling him that he needed to be a better ball handler (particularly under pressure) his jump shot (both outside and inside the arc) and his free throw shooting

 

[shields]

Still only a frosh, he just needs to work on game and hit weight room. Nice having Russ on board.

 

[rufeelinit]

I would suggest he emphasize his mid range rather than beyond the arc shooting for starters. If he is that athletic and has moves to the basket, then being a threat for the mid range will provide more opportunities to put it on the floor and drive to the rim. If his handle needs improvement that should be a priority as well.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Laurent was awesome yesterday. I was very disappointed Jordan didn't give him a rest 6-7 minutes in to the second half. Not giving rest to a high energy guy is taking away what that player brings to the table.

The 2nd half run was 100% on Jordan. Batie, Foreman and Laurent were visibly tired. They were playing the game at the effort level needed to succeed.

 

[ruman]

must be EJ's fault.

Kudos to Eddie for finding a guy that can play. He only needs about nine more.

 

[shields]

But I sure ruman you have complained about Goode a lot. At least give Laurent credit. When was last time we had frosh with that stat line in game? Rebounds and points.

 

[ruman]

But I sure ruman you have complained about Goode a lot. At least give Laurent credit. When was last time we had frosh with that stat line in game? Rebounds and points.

I did. He can play, no doubt. We need about ten more now

 

[shields]

That is all, people earlier acted like kid could not play. Shame he missed games with concussion.

 

[goru7]

I did. He can play, no doubt. We need about ten more now

No you don't. Laurent is an unexpected bonus. I guess even you would concede Corey can play. So that leaves you skeptical on Nigel and I guess you have not seen enough to offer an opinion on Freeman . That makes 4 guys that can play and guess what all brought in by Eddie. Your crappy posts are so contradictory you don't even believe what you write. Go to Twitter it is better for you.

 

[ruman]

No you don't. Laurent is an unexpected bonus. I guess even you would concede Corey can play. So that leaves you skeptical on Nigel and I guess you have not seen enough to offer an opinion on Freeman . That makes 4 guys that can play and guess what all brought in by Eddie. Your crappy posts are so contradictory you don't even believe what you write. Go to Twitter it is better for you.

2 of your saviors got suspended in the past month. I wouldn't count them on the roster for next year just yet.

And the roster has 13 slots

 

[goru7]

2 of your saviors got suspended in the past month. I wouldn't count them on the roster for next year just yet.

And the roster has 13 slots

You asked for 10 studs , now 13. Your killing Eddie at every turn is the biggest turnoff for most of us . You don't like facts, cannot see how no coach in America could win with this roster, and you want to hammer these poor kids that are giving their all, have not tuned Eddie out, and these guys who will not be our starters, are not winning you want to hammer away. Go hit a boxing bag!!!

 

[MADHAT1]

2 of your saviors got suspended in the past month. I wouldn't count them on the roster for next year just yet.

And the roster has 13 slots

I wouldn't count them out , because I want Jordan fired, either.
Just because you want Jordan fired ,players are not going to transfer and , in my opinion, not a good comeback when trying to validate your one good player claim.
Want another opinion of mine related to this issue:
Jordan brought in some good players, but some isn't enough to make a good team.

 

[goru7]

2 of your saviors got suspended in the past month. I wouldn't count them on the roster for next year just yet.

And the roster has 13 slots

You call them my saviors. Yes they are the future of a positive turn of events for Ru basketball. Corey and Deshawn have already and will next year make an immediate impact for us in the Big 10.
More important question , why are they not your savior if you truly are a Rutgers fan , even though you sound like a broken record with your fire Eddie stuff . Do you root for this university? What the hell is wrong with you ? You are pathetic.

 

[ruman]

You call them my saviors. Yes they are the future of a positive turn of events for Ru basketball. Corey and Deshawn have already and will next year make an immediate impact for us in the Big 10.
More important question , why are they not your savior if you truly are a Rutgers fan , even though you sound like a broken record with your fire Eddie stuff . Do you root for this university? What the hell is wrong with you ? You are pathetic.

Did you read what Russ Wood said about Corey? Keep praying that he's here next year - looks like we will need it.

You and about two other Eddie fanatics get upset with these posts. We have lost 29 straight Big 10 games. We are almost at 300 in the KenPom ratings, which is unbelievable. Calling the program a dumpster fire is an insult to dumpster fires. I am a Rutgers fan, not an Eddie Jordan as coach fan.

You kid yourself that next years team will have a magical run. They won't. If everything geoes perfectly, maybe we win 13 games. Maybe. But I promise you it won't go perfectly. It never does.

We hired the absolute wrong coach 3 years ago. Keeping him another year won't make him any better. We need to start over again with a coach that knows college basketball. I'm sorry that's not Eddie Jordan. It would have been a great story if he turned this around. But he won't. We might as well get started with a new coach and start the rebuild. If the players want to stay, great. If not, that's there choice.

 

[goru7]

Yawn

You and about two other Eddie fanatics get upset with these posts. We have lost 29 straight Big 10 games. We are almost at 300 in the KenPom ratings, which is unbelievable. Calling the program a dumpster fire is an insult to dumpster fires. I am a Rutgers fan, not an Eddie Jordan as coach fan.

You kid yourself that next years team will have a magical run. They won't. If everything geoes perfectly, maybe we win 13 games. Maybe. But I promise you it won't go perfectly. It never does.

We hired the absolute wrong coach 3 years ago. Keeping him another year won't make him any better. We need to start over again with a coach that knows college basketball. I'm sorry that's not Eddie Jordan. It would have been a great story if he turned this around. But he won't. We might as well get started with a new coach and start the rebuild. If the players want to stay, great. If not, that's there choice.

Eddiegoes, 3 guys go with him and you start over again. I am not willing to endure that , you don't give a shit. You keep on citing the losing streak, I know it sucks and hurts, but with this roster 1-3 wins was the top you could have expected. If Corey hits the foul shot against Illinois, the losing streak is over , and then you harp on only 1 win. Try hard now, this roster the remainder of the year is not likely to win .
However, next year, with no seniors, 4 juniors, 4-5 sophomores, 3-4 freshman depending on the last scholarship, gives us a full roster, with Big 10 level starters, and depth. I do not want to blow that up. You don"t give a shit!!

 

[B1GNJHoops]

Eddiegoes, 3 guys go with him and you start over again. I am not willing to endure that , you don't give a shit. You keep on citing the losing streak, I know it sucks and hurts, but with this roster 1-3 wins was the top you could have expected. If Corey hits the foul shot against Illinois, the losing streak is over , and then you harp on only 1 win. Try hard now, this roster the remainder of the year is not likely to win .
However, next year, with no seniors, 4 juniors, 4-5 sophomores, 3-4 freshman depending on the last scholarship, gives us a full roster, with Big 10 level starters, and depth. I do not want to blow that up. You don"t give a shit!!

You're not blowing up anything. Sanders and Freeman could leave after next season; Sanders to transfer or somewhere overseas or NBA and Freeman as a grad transfer candidate.

So in a year, after potentially another last place finish, we could lose our top two guys with or without Jordan.

What I'm saying sounds very negative but college basketball is a business and when you're the small business owner getting slammed by competitors then ultimately you are consumed by the same competitors.

 

[linzalonic]

Laurent flashed toughness in the court club open practice, and has carried it through to B1G play. I love how he plays bigger than he is. he is very capable of 14/8, as mentioned above, if his shooting improves.

I hope he stays four years. too many similarly-talented RU players have not.

 

[ruman]

Eddiegoes, 3 guys go with him and you start over again. I am not willing to endure that , you don't give a shit. You keep on citing the losing streak, I know it sucks and hurts, but with this roster 1-3 wins was the top you could have expected. If Corey hits the foul shot against Illinois, the losing streak is over , and then you harp on only 1 win. Try hard now, this roster the remainder of the year is not likely to win .
However, next year, with no seniors, 4 juniors, 4-5 sophomores, 3-4 freshman depending on the last scholarship, gives us a full roster, with Big 10 level starters, and depth. I do not want to blow that up. You don"t give a shit!!

After what Russ Wood said, I'm very skeptical about Corey's future here

 

[goru7]

You're not blowing up anything. Sanders and Freeman could leave after next season; Sanders to transfer or somewhere overseas or NBA and Freeman as a grad transfer candidate.

They are going no where as of this moment from all the people I know that have any important information . Why don't you want to see the full roster? And don't give me the answer but we will not. This whole discussion is assuming everyone is back!

 

[goru7]

After what Russ Wood said, I'm very skeptical about Corey's future here

He did not say that. He said he was not surprised he got suspended. So just maybe Eddie is laying down the law. You probably find fault with that discipline !!

 

[ruman]

He did not say that. He said he was not surprised he got suspended. So just maybe Eddie is laying down the law. You probably find fault with that discipline !!

He said he was surprised that he hadn't been suspended earlier. Does not sound like a guy to tie your future to.

 

[B1GNJHoops]

They are going no where as of this moment from all the people I know that have any important information . Why don't you want to see the full roster? And don't give me the answer but we will not. This whole discussion is assuming everyone is back!

I saw what was essentially a full roster early in the year when we lost to Creighton, Clemson, Wake Forest and St. John's.

Does Jordan have anyone in mind to replace Sanders and Freeman in two years? Does he have a recruiting strategy like other schools which keep in constant contact with recruits? When was the last time a major recruit visited Rutgers?

Kids visit Monmouth games before Rutgers games. So much for the Big Ten being such a huge attraction but no one wants to be a guest during 50-point blowouts and an empty student section.

Blame Mike Rice but this is Jordan's program now.

 

[goru7]

He said he was surprised that he hadn't been suspended earlier. Does not sound like a guy to tie your future to.

He needs to be kept in line. He is not going to the NBA right now. He is the best player we have had here in 10 years. You are happy to get rid of him. Give me a break !!

 

[goru7]

I saw what was essentially a full roster early in the year when we lost to Creighton, Clemson, Wake Forest and St. John's.

Does Jordan have anyone in mind to replace Sanders and Freeman in two years? Does he have a recruiting strategy like other schools which keep in constant contact with recruits? When was the last time a major recruit visited Rutgers?

Kids visit Monmouth games before Rutgers games. So much for the Big Ten being such a huge attraction but no one wants to be a guest during 50-point blowouts and an empty student section.

Blame Mike Rice but this is Jordan's program now.

You didn't see the full roster. Put your head in the sand. We didn't have Shaquille. As much as he was foul probe his freshman year, there is enough there to give you more than what Lewis has given us.
You have not seen Nigel, or that we will have 2 big 10 guards with Mike off the bench as a solid third guard.
You have not seen enough of Freeman since since he has been out , we have zero , and I mean no low post game. That affects everything the other team does on defense
You didn't see Jon, blossom yet with Corey, Nigel and Deshawn on the court with him.
Finally if you saw the Clemson and Wake games, Freeman was hurt, so counting that is you just being blind.

 

[B1GNJHoops]

You didn't see the full roster. Put your head in the sand. We didn't have Shaquille. As much as he was foul probe his freshman year, there is enough there to give you more than what Lewis has given us.
You have not seen Nigel, or that we will have 2 big 10 guards with Mike off the bench as a solid third guard.
You have not seen enough of Freeman since since he has been out , we have zero , and I mean no low post game. That affects everything the other team does on defense
You didn't see Jon, blossom yet with Corey, Nigel and Deshawn on the court with him.
Finally if you saw the Clemson and Wake games, Freeman was hurt, so counting that is you just being blind.

You're selling a dream. Fans wants to believe, and you don't get that. Jordan has lost my faith.

 

[bac2therac]

oh my the fantasy continues for one poster...its going to be a Disney experience next year as we rocket up the Big 10 charts despite a bad coach and the worst talent in the league

 

[RUONTHERISE]

I like what sanders and Laurent can do so far.

 

[goru7]

You're not blowing up anything. Sanders and Freeman could leave after next season; Sanders to transfer or somewhere overseas or NBA and Freeman as a grad transfer candidate.

So in a year, after potentially another last place finish, we could lose our top two guys with or without Jordan.

What I'm saying sounds very negative but college basketball is a business and when you're the small business owner getting slammed by competitors then ultimately you are consumed by the same competitors.

Corey is not ready for the NBA yet .Stop with his leaving. He is only leaving if Eddie goes or he cannot cut it academically. Freeman if he can cut it academically will be here for 2 years.
So the more likely scenario is Corey is here through at least his junior year and Deshawn is there the whole time.
If Eddie goes, we will lose 3 players plus the recruits. You are starting all over. Bad move in my opinion.

 

[RUChoppin]

I like Sanders and Laurent from what I've seen so far. Hopefully both will return next year (with or without EJ), and hopefully both will progress given a real practice structure next year and more game experience. There is a potential for a sophomore slump for both, though, as they learn to play a very different style of basketball - rather than being the only scorers on a depleted squad just scrambling for points, they'll be expected to be cogs of a larger wheel.

Johnson and Freeman are both "wait and see" players that could be good for us. And it remains to be seen what Freeman's future will be.

But that does not make a complete team.

We have no experience at center. We have no proven backups at any position that are even B1G "sixth man" level. We're thin at most positions, and an injury can spiral the season - which is a risk given Freeman now has had two significant injuries, and Doorson and Diallo each have had one. We still have a coach who has never shown that he understands defense - and has had little experience from his NBA days in coaching against a zone.

We need Sanders/Laurent to improve as sophomores, Johnson/Freeman to meet high expectations, another 1-2 players to be surprises and step up (preferably at least one at center), and to have zero injuries... just to get up off the mat for a 12-13 win season.... which is the average of our last 9 seasons under Jordan/Rice/Hill.

 

[RutgersYay]

Corey is not ready for the NBA yet .Stop with his leaving. He is only leaving if Eddie goes or he cannot cut it academically. Freeman if he can cut it academically will be here for 2 years.
So the more likely scenario is Corey is here through at least his junior year and Deshawn is there the whole time.
If Eddie goes, we will lose 3 players plus the recruits. You are starting all over. Bad move in my opinion.

Let's do it and start over so we can eliminate these 61, 50, 48 and 30 point blowouts.

 

[goru7]

I like Sanders and Laurent from what I've seen so far. Hopefully both will return next year (with or without EJ), and hopefully both will progress given a real practice structure next year and more game experience. There is a potential for a sophomore slump for both, though, as they learn to play a very different style of basketball - rather than being the only scorers on a depleted squad just scrambling for points, they'll be expected to be cogs of a larger wheel.

Johnson and Freeman are both "wait and see" players that could be good for us. And it remains to be seen what Freeman's future will be.

But that does not make a complete team.

We have no experience at center. We have no proven backups at any position that are even B1G "sixth man" level. We're thin at most positions, and an injury can spiral the season - which is a risk given Freeman now has had two significant injuries, and Doorson and Diallo each have had one. We still have a coach who has never shown that he understands defense - and has had little experience from his NBA days in coaching against a zone.

We need Sanders/Laurent to improve as sophomores, Johnson/Freeman to meet high expectations, another 1-2 players to be surprises and step up (preferably at least one at center), and to have zero injuries... just to get up off the mat for a 12-13 win season.... which is the average of our last 9 seasons under Jordan/Rice/Hill.

Disagree. I think Mike and DJ are Big 10 worthy 6 or 7 or 8th men off the bench.
We have not had one game this year where 4 or 5 players play decent. We are playing with 7. If Bishop and DJ are bad it hurts. If Grier and Mike are bad it hurts even more since no 3's are made . If Jon has a freshman night it hurts, since with the exception of DJ no one else goes to the hole.
I do agree with you totally regarding defense. There must be a concerted effort to defend the 3, to pressure the point guard to disrupt their sets, to stop going under screens , to stop getting lost in transition defense leaving shooters wide open, in defending the pick and roll better. Agreed on all these fronts. But with a few rim protectors back next year , our guards can more tightly cover and guard the perimeter and if the opponent goes around them , there is at least some help at the rim. Right now we have none. More depth means more fresh legs so not playing defense because of fatigue should not be an excuse.