I’ve never talked to pikiell individually as of yet but I’ve been to the open practice, watched every game over the last two seasons, listened to the post game pressers and watch the video clips his makes with the team and any interview or piece I can read about the program.
At the open practice last year, the sheer intensity not just by Pikiell but by all the assistants really stood out. I used to watch practices when Bob Wenzel was here and they were good but nothing even close to what I saw with the intensity of Pikiell’s practice.
I know Carino picked us at the bottom this year and without knowing much about the impact of the new faces; I don’t know if it’s accurate. Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t? We play a lot of good teams in the Big 10 and just as we are getting better, so are they. But I haven’t studied the rosters and done any homework to give credence to a better prediction but I’m not sure it’s really possible to start to accurately rate this team at this point. There are a lot of assumptions and guessing and probably many years of losing that still sit in the minds of the media.
These are all formidable opponents we are facing in this conference but let me say this. I’m happy to go to war with coach Pikiell. I genuinely believe that we are going to surprise some people even more this year. With 12 and maybe one late addition to get to 13 scholarship players who can all contribute, we are going to wear teams down with our defense. I think once these new kids get into shape, we will start pressing and trapping more than we’ve seen since the Wenzel years and these kids now are more talented right out of the box. Mix that with a host of shooters we’ve lacked for many years and we can possibly become a real wildcard.
Football is first so welcome back McNulty and back to business on offense. And then the RAC is going to begin to roar again in November. I don’t think this is just another season of frustration. I think we are on the precipice of something real.
If anyone on this board hasn’t gotten season tickets yet, take the plunge if you can. Come to every game not just the big ones. Come to watch Rutgers and not because some star from Purdue is playing, Stay to the end of games and cheer for our kids win or lose. We need to take the next step in this fan base and this should be the year it starts to come together. No record predictions. I don’t want to assume any wins or even mark an L next to any guaranteed loss. We need to play better on the road and steal a few but we have to win Big in these home games.
This is a a different team without Corey and I’m excited to see what it will look like. Come watch it happen.
At the open practice last year, the sheer intensity not just by Pikiell but by all the assistants really stood out. I used to watch practices when Bob Wenzel was here and they were good but nothing even close to what I saw with the intensity of Pikiell’s practice.
I know Carino picked us at the bottom this year and without knowing much about the impact of the new faces; I don’t know if it’s accurate. Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t? We play a lot of good teams in the Big 10 and just as we are getting better, so are they. But I haven’t studied the rosters and done any homework to give credence to a better prediction but I’m not sure it’s really possible to start to accurately rate this team at this point. There are a lot of assumptions and guessing and probably many years of losing that still sit in the minds of the media.
These are all formidable opponents we are facing in this conference but let me say this. I’m happy to go to war with coach Pikiell. I genuinely believe that we are going to surprise some people even more this year. With 12 and maybe one late addition to get to 13 scholarship players who can all contribute, we are going to wear teams down with our defense. I think once these new kids get into shape, we will start pressing and trapping more than we’ve seen since the Wenzel years and these kids now are more talented right out of the box. Mix that with a host of shooters we’ve lacked for many years and we can possibly become a real wildcard.
Football is first so welcome back McNulty and back to business on offense. And then the RAC is going to begin to roar again in November. I don’t think this is just another season of frustration. I think we are on the precipice of something real.
If anyone on this board hasn’t gotten season tickets yet, take the plunge if you can. Come to every game not just the big ones. Come to watch Rutgers and not because some star from Purdue is playing, Stay to the end of games and cheer for our kids win or lose. We need to take the next step in this fan base and this should be the year it starts to come together. No record predictions. I don’t want to assume any wins or even mark an L next to any guaranteed loss. We need to play better on the road and steal a few but we have to win Big in these home games.
This is a a different team without Corey and I’m excited to see what it will look like. Come watch it happen.