Nebraska Game Thread

[MADHAT1]

What do you mean by "lack of support", new trading facilities? CVS got Final Four talent like Matee, Essence, Kia, etc without them so I don't buy that excuse. Maybe they don't come here now because they feel she is a short termed?

She got final four talent on her name.and that name overcame a lot, facilities are part of the lack of support because now her name isn't as big as it once was.
Like I said before, look at the MBB program and tell me that program has proved it can overcome the lack of support Vivian seems to have
Also , though not a great program, WBB hasn't sunk to the level of the MBB program because of the woman who is the RU WBB HC.
just implying when her detractors get their wish, what do you think will happen to the RU WBB program if Hobbs isn't able to spend what it takes to make the women's program continue to be respected.

MBB has been run on the cheap and its HCes were more of a gamble than quality candidates
and Jordan only got as much as he did because the Rice fiasco caused RU to spend a little more to have someone come in that would be a instant PR success ( which wound up the opposite)with the media.
Don't think RU will spend the money on the WBB program to bring in someone that can build on what Vivian achieved ( though not now great as it was before) and I expect unless Hobbs gets lucky,the program won't be better for Stringer leaving like some think it will be
That's my opinion and truly hope I'm wrong

I said when Vivian signed her extension making her buyout easy after 2years , she might be thinking of retiring after that 2 years and more and more I think she's ready for Coach Emeritus status after this season is over ( my guess , no facts involved ).

 

[Knight Time Fan]

Just to comment, because I think Madhat is posting sense, not complaining with the same complaints we read every year.

Recruiting is not what it was. Vivian's name is not what it was. Because the team has not done as well as it did at one time, combined with Vivian's decreased "fame" with the current age group, and combined with some idea that she might not be here four years, and the lack of facilities to "sell" at Rutgers. All of the above. Replacing her - obviously happening in the next few years, whether this year, the end of her contract, or whenever - will improve recruiting only based on who her replacement is. The pot is not always greener.

Like Madhat, I am sorry to see the slippage, but this has been the "writing on the wall" since the failure of the fab 5 to live up to their billing - and the only blame I put on the coaching staff is that they thought they could convert "California Cool" to "Blue Collar Worker" as CVS put it.

We all support RU women's basketball, I think we all want them to do well, and as I have been saying for several years, really, the post CVS future is murky, and not some sort of definite "return to greatness" that many are envisioning.

 

[dmd78]

What do you mean by "lack of support", new trading facilities? CVS got Final Four talent like Matee, Essence, Kia, etc without them so I don't buy that excuse. Maybe they don't come here now because they feel she is a short termed?

my 2 cents:
Essence and Matee came to Rutgers in 2004 - twelve years ago. (Yes, it was that long ago!) One of the problems is that our facilities are virtually unchanged since then. What was good enough then isn't good enough for today's recruits. And Carlene Mitchell's departure from the staff hasn't helped our recruiting, either.

 

[NickyNewark51]

Just to comment, because I think Madhat is posting sense, not complaining with the same complaints we read every year.

Recruiting is not what it was. Vivian's name is not what it was. Because the team has not done as well as it did at one time, combined with Vivian's decreased "fame" with the current age group, and combined with some idea that she might not be here four years, and the lack of facilities to "sell" at Rutgers. All of the above. Replacing her - obviously happening in the next few years, whether this year, the end of her contract, or whenever - will improve recruiting only based on who her replacement is. The pot is not always greener.

Like Madhat, I am sorry to see the slippage, but this has been the "writing on the wall" since the failure of the fab 5 to live up to their billing - and the only blame I put on the coaching staff is that they thought they could convert "California Cool" to "Blue Collar Worker" as CVS put it.

We all support RU women's basketball, I think we all want them to do well, and as I have been saying for several years, really, the post CVS future is murky, and not some sort of definite "return to greatness" that many are envisioning.

scary thought....we've been pretty prominent right from the early years and Theresa Shank Grentz through the CVS yrs....I'd hate to see further slippage as i'm 64 and can't wait decades....i hated to watch Uconn take the eastern reigns and have almost sensed the slowish incremental fall from power to just ''good''..lets invest..we could always count on WBB to maintain RU/NJ pride..

 

[rufeelinit]

I thought the turning point for CVS was when Epiphany left a year early. While Kia was good I thought the potential she showed a freshman was never fully realized. Thus the slip started. We can discuss the reasons for the slide and certainly some valid ones are made above. The bottom line is while CVS has earned the right to go out on her terms, it does not mean RU needs to allow her to continue on here until she is ready. Next year's roster looks like it has major holes.

I am under no illusion that her replacement will automatically result in a better product. I don't expect us to spend big dollars for a replacement as there were a unique set of circumstances that allowed us to bring her in years ago. I am sure there are many good candidates out there but I think Bozzella has done a very nice job at Seton Hall. Not sure if Hobbs knows him but I would have him on my list of candidates.

 

[RUJMM78]

I like reading more comments from fans on this board recognizing the womens team needs improvement .However,identifying a problem has been the easy part at Rutgers .Correcting the problem requiring facilities requires money .The problem with recruiting is internal and external.Stringer has been too slow in recognizing the importance of the 3 point shot.Opponents play zone against Rutgers which has caused a lot of idle passing the ball on the outside and then a desperation shot with the clock running out.The external factor is the perception of the program which has receded since the Final Four appearance.The recruits coming in recent years have not stepped up and its readily apparent that the Rutgers mojo /intimidation factor no longer exists.

 

[bac2therac]

I would take Scaife and Copper over just about anyone at their positions in the B1G. As an overall team, I'd like to believe on paper we have to be (should be) more talented than the bottom half of the league. If we aren't, that's squarely on CVS.
If you believe that we, as a team, are as talented, then it's what Bac said....we are underperforming, and again that's squarely on the coach and staff.

there is talent on this team....3 WNBA players, 2 of them likely first rounders, all CVS needed to do was developing a supporting cast of role players. I know Canty went through some things but her decision making at point guard leaves a lot to be desired and she has taken on the same role of Davis as giving virtually nothing on the offensive end. Looking at the Iowa and Nebraska teams, I saw RU had major advantage in talent and speed. The team just is not coming together and the pieces are greater than the sum of its parts. Next year is going to be scary

 

[NickyNewark51]

I like reading more comments from fans on this board recognizing the womens team needs improvement .However,identifying a problem has been the easy part at Rutgers .Correcting the problem requiring facilities requires money .The problem with recruiting is internal and external.Stringer has been too slow in recognizing the importance of the 3 point shot.Opponents play zone against Rutgers which has caused a lot of idle passing the ball on the outside and then a desperation shot with the clock running out.The external factor is the perception of the program which has receded since the Final Four appearance.The recruits coming in recent years have not stepped up and its readily apparent that the Rutgers mojo /intimidation factor no longer exists.

I never thought a CVS coached team could have such a weak ''Buzz'' quotient..i'm very despondent..

 

[bac2therac]

I watched the last 2 editions of the womens Big 10 sports report which is heavily about womens hoops in the conference and Rutgers has not been mentioned at all except for highlights when they got beat by OSU. There is usually blurbs about all teams with pulses in the conference but RU cant get a mention at all despite talents in Copper and Scaife who would be superstars at most programs