Pike-hating: so predictable and wrong.

[FAT MOON]

Asking for people to not be critical after we just lost to a team we never should have even scheduled, and watch that team just pick him and the team apart defensively for easy bucket after easy bucket, with an entire week to prepare, is trolling.

Pike is great, but he 100% deserves plenty of criticism for the way this team defends and for the season on the whole so far. And I'd bet money he agrees with this and is sick at what has gone on so far this year.

 

[RU848789]

Typical RU fan just happy with mediocrity….it’s sad

How about have higher expectations?

Way too many people have forgotten 30 years of ineptitude. Bunch of ingrates and the win now or else attitude sucks, IMO. But even worse is giving up when the season is barely 1/3 over. I guess I'll have a lot more room at the RAC, though.

 

[rubjk]

I certainly blame Pike for players being out of position and poor defense and rebounding since that’s his expertise. My understanding in Knight runs the offense. Pike’s fault for letting it continue. Maybe Knight isn’t so great at anything but recruiting.

 

[RU848789]

Asking for people to not be critical after we just lost to a team we never should have even scheduled, and watch that team just pick him and the team apart defensively for easy bucket after easy bucket, with an entire week to prepare, is trolling.

Pike is great, but he 100% deserves plenty of criticism for the way this team defends and for the season on the whole so far. And I'd bet money he agrees with this and is sick at what has gone on so far this year.

I never said not to be critical - I've been quite critical this year - I'm talking about the Pike haters who want him fired.

 

[RUskoolie]

I never said not to be critical - I've been quite critical this year - I'm talking about the Pike haters who want him fired.

At what point do you move on from Pike though. I am a big Pike fan but if you do not go to the tournament the reputational damage from that is really bad.

 

[bac2therac]

At what point do you move on from Pike though. I am a big Pike fan but if you do not go to the tournament the reputational damage from that is really bad.

he will definitely get 2 more years after this one

 

[ScarletNut]

At what point do you move on from Pike though. I am a big Pike fan but if you do not go to the tournament the reputational damage from that is really bad.

Gotta get a new AD first who will most likely not fire him during his first year and will decide based on what he sees.

 

[RUBlackout]

Way too many people have forgotten 30 years of ineptitude. Bunch of ingrates and the win now or else attitude sucks, IMO. But even worse is giving up when the season is barely 1/3 over. I guess I'll have a lot more room at the RAC, though.

More like people hanging on to a miserable history and settling for mediocre results just because it’s better than what we had.
Too many fans are scared to think we will end up in misery again so they rather settle. Same mentality is what got us there in the first place out of our AD.
How about we expect more out of our programs and our coaches

 

[RUskoolie]

he will definitely get 2 more years after this one

What's his buy out next year?

 

[Rutgers25]

I never said not to be critical - I've been quite critical this year - I'm talking about the Pike haters who want him fired.

I don’t want him fired mostly because he’s a good guy and we won’t pony up for somebody better. However, the writing is on the wall. Next year is going to be atrocious

 

[ancienthooper]

I never said not to be critical - I've been quite critical this year - I'm talking about the Pike haters who want him fired.

All the Pike hating geniuses need to start putting NAMES to the person they think will do a better job. Should be fun to see the responses.

 

[Nycrusupporter]

All the Pike hating geniuses need to start putting NAMES to the person they think will do a better job. Should be fun to see the responses.

Mitch Henderson

 

[ScarletNut]

All the Pike hating geniuses need to start putting NAMES to the person they think will do a better job. Should be fun to see the responses.

C'mon, that's the AD's job. Sure I could name some unreasonable choices but haven't you seen so many opposing coaches during Pike's tenure outcoach him? I'm sure there's plenty of good options out there. Rutgers is a desirable job now.

 

[ancienthooper]

C'mon, that's the AD's job. Sure I could name some unreasonable choices but haven't you seen so many opposing coaches during Pike's tenure outcoach him? I'm sure there's plenty of good options out there. Rutgers is a desirable job now.

Rutgers is a desirable job for what coach who is a clear upgrade to Pikes and wants to coach in the B10 with questionable NIL support?

 

[ScarletNut]

Rutgers is a desirable job for what coach who is a clear upgrade to Pikes and wants to coach in the B10 with questionable NIL support?

The NIL will hopefully be dealt with by the next AD. It won't be difficult to find a coach when the going rate is 4+ million to start.

 

[KK1827]

Way too many people have forgotten 30 years of ineptitude. Bunch of ingrates and the win now or else attitude sucks, IMO. But even worse is giving up when the season is barely 1/3 over. I guess I'll have a lot more room at the RAC, though.

It aint “win now”. It’s “please win”. Hes been here almost a decade at this point and has literally everything a coach could ask for.

- top 25 salary
- top 5 home court in america
- top 10 practice facility in america
- 2 sure fire lottery picks

What else does he need?

 

[ancienthooper]

The NIL will hopefully be dealt with by the next AD. It won't be difficult to find a coach when the going rate is 4+ million to start.

No, it won’t be difficult to find a coach. But the “next” AD is risking his career on finding an upgrade to a guy who has resurrected the clown show that has been Rutgers basketball. Good luck.

 

[RUJMM78]

Pikiell is a outstanding head coach representing Rutgers University in all matters not regarding game day preparation/ management.The team has upset highly ranked teams but has loss to lowly rated out of conference teams.This is the first season with two highly rated recruits gaining national attention for them and Rutgers.The results so far is deeply upsetting with a 7-5 record.Head coaches get credit when their team wins at a high level and get the blame when the opposite occurs.I find it to be upsetting that a coaching staff known for defense has this team so unprepared in playing man defense and allowing so many offensive rebounds even after having a week to prepare for the last two games.All fans should want Pikiell to be successful in the B1G Ten but clearly there is no margin for error with this seasons team.

 

[ScarletNut]

No, it won’t be difficult to find a coach. But the “next” AD is risking his career on finding an upgrade to a guy who has resurrected the clown show that has been Rutgers basketball. Good luck.

Just like GM's in the pros, AD's have no loyalty to coaches hired by the previous administrations. They have egos and want their guy running their teams.

 

[Ridge 22]

Way too many people have forgotten 30 years of ineptitude. Bunch of ingrates and the win now or else attitude sucks, IMO. But even worse is giving up when the season is barely 1/3 over. I guess I'll have a lot more room at the RAC, though.

This is about looking forward. Looking backwards and setting expectations based on that is typical Rutgers loser mentality. If you honestly think Pike is the best guy to lead us forward, great. We have seen nothing to indicate he can deliver anything beyond what he has. If you want more than perpetual mediocrity, perhaps allow yourself to at least question the situation.

 

[RAC93]

I usually do the complete opposite of what OP suggests so its just funny to me that today is the first day I am leaning towards the fire Pike train and OP is telling us how great he is because we went to the dance twice in 8 years.

This is so true. These are not great results over 8 years. Just because we used to beg for crumbs to eat pre-Pike, does not mean that a piece of bread to eat for dinner is suddenly great during the pre-Pike era. You are still being starved, you’re just starving a little less, that’s all.

 

[RUby RED]

Way too many people have forgotten 30 years of ineptitude. Bunch of ingrates and the win now or else attitude sucks, IMO. But even worse is giving up when the season is barely 1/3 over. I guess I'll have a lot more room at the RAC, though.

Not sure questioning this fanbase’s loyalty is the route to take here…

As others have said, Pike has raised the floor. But if THIS is the product with two top 5 picks, then real questions need to be asked about his long-term future here. History be damned, not making the tournament 3 or 4 seasons in a row should be fireable — especially given the program’s current resourcing / position in the Big Ten

 

[DHajekRC84]

Figures the Pike haters, who were strangely absent after the PSU win, are back in force. Trolls who have no idea how good Pike has been for RU as coach: 3 NCAA tourneys (yes 2020 counts), which should've been 4 if not for getting screwed, every home game sold out, winning games against very good teams and recruiting two top 5 recruits, although admittedly he has not found the best way to coach them and the rest of the team. Yet. If we're still talking about bad losses at 17-14 or something like that, then it's time to say he failed as a coach, this year, but not yet. And certainly not overall. Very proud to have this good, decent man, who can coach, as our coach and am certainly not ready to count us out this year, even though things don't like good right now. We'll see.

Lol. "Trolls?" ..this is .the ultimate Troll thread starter post. Pre-emptive trolling by a "Pike Lover"? There, you like classifications?

 

[Corycord1]

To be fair, the ISO you see IS real offense. It’s a choice, probably the best choice with the roster as it is. Further, would Dylan and Ace have come here were the offense something different ?

There was never going to be cohesive, 5 player offensive production with those two, Williams and the roadkill around them. The announcers harped on our two starters in foul trouble. LOL. Those two being starters tells you all you need to know about this team being undermanned overall against most teams.

Rutgers is not the only team in the country with elite NBA talent. Have you watched Duke? Auburn? Bama? Illinois? They have set plays to get their shooters in position to knock down shots. Why is it every year Rutgers struggles to find open 3pt looks?
The defense is bad because Rutgers recruited bad defensive players. That doesn’t mean you can’t win. You have very good offensive options on this team but Pike and staff have no idea how to use them. Why is Hayes here if he doesn’t get any open looks from 3. Why is Martini here, Acuff etc. Pike recruited good offensive players but installed no offense to maximize its strengths. It’s just give the ball to one of your superstars and let them go. Watch any team with elite talent, this isn’t how they play.

 

[bitnez]

Some long time fans are so scarred from years of bad basketball that they’re willing to accept being a bubble team or out altogether every year. I love Pike but at some point you are what you are. We have 2 elite talents and a bunch of guys that Pike picked to come in and we’ve lost to Kennesaw State and Princeton. Come on. At some point, it gets beyond criticism and it’s fair to start asking whether Pike has run his course here.

 

[RUBlackout]

Rutgers is not the only team in the country with elite NBA talent. Have you watched Duke? Auburn? Bama? Illinois? They have set plays to get their shooters in position to knock down shots. Why is it every year Rutgers struggles to find open 3pt looks?
The defense is bad because Rutgers recruited bad defensive players. That doesn’t mean you can’t win. You have very good offensive options on this team but Pike and staff have no idea how to use them. Why is Hayes here if he doesn’t get any open looks from 3. Why is Martini here, Acuff etc. Pike recruited good offensive players but installed no offense to maximize its strengths. It’s just give the ball to one of your superstars and let them go. Watch any team with elite talent, this isn’t how they play.

Bingo. It’s coaching

 

[The RUT]

Pike was late to adopt NIL, he has struggled big time in the portal, and has failed to get over the bubble hump.

These things are just fact, it's not hating on the guy. And every off-season has been nothing but a gaslighting fest of this fan base, it's crazy.

The dude tried to say this off-season that the bigs wouldn't be an issue even though anyone with a functioning brain could say it was going to be a major issue.

I have my complaints about Pike, and I think he's a solid coach, but we're just at that point where people are sick of the BS and they want wins.

The team is just so weak on the glass, and that's on Pike considering he built this roster through the portal. Maybe people don't remember, but there were plenty of posters here knocking the Martini addition citing his lack of production on the glass when he signed. "No no, he shoots 3's and did the dirty work down low!"

 

[ScarletLongIsland]

How can watch the product on the floor the last 2 seasons and not think something is drastically wrong?

 

[Shelby65]

Rutgers is not the only team in the country with elite NBA talent. Have you watched Duke? Auburn? Bama? Illinois? They have set plays to get their shooters in position to knock down shots. Why is it every year Rutgers struggles to find open 3pt looks?
The defense is bad because Rutgers recruited bad defensive players. That doesn’t mean you can’t win. You have very good offensive options on this team but Pike and staff have no idea how to use them. Why is Hayes here if he doesn’t get any open looks from 3. Why is Martini here, Acuff etc. Pike recruited good offensive players but installed no offense to maximize its strengths. It’s just give the ball to one of your superstars and let them go. Watch any team with elite talent, this isn’t how they play.

Apples and oranges. And speaking of fruits. Those other teams don’t have cantaloupes on the court along with their studs. Not one of our other guys would get many minutes on those teams, and most certainly would not be starters.

 

[Rutgers25]

Pike was late to adopt NIL, he has struggled big time in the portal, and has failed to get over the bubble hump.

These things are just fact, it's not hating on the guy. And every off-season has been nothing but a gaslighting fest of this fan base, it's crazy.

The dude tried to say this off-season that the bigs wouldn't be an issue even though anyone with a functioning brain could say it was going to be a major issue.

I have my complaints about Pike, and I think he's a solid coach, but we're just at that point where people are sick of the BS and they want wins.

The team is just so weak on the glass, and that's on Pike considering he built this roster through the portal. Maybe people don't remember, but there were plenty of posters here knocking the Martini addition citing his lack of production on the glass when he signed. "No no, he shoots 3's and did the dirty work down low!"

I remember hearing some serious spin about Martini being great at boxing out and opening up opportunities for others to rebound. What a load of crap.

 

[rume]

Mitch Henderson

I think Henderson is a rising star. Not saying it's time to fire Pike, but if he leaves or we cut ties, I would take Henderson in second!

 

[Corycord1]

Apples and oranges. And speaking of fruits. Those other teams don’t have cantaloupes on the court along with their studs. Not one of our other guys would get many minutes on those teams, and most certainly would not be starters.

And you know this how? Martini, Hayes, Acuff are all shooting 40% + from 3. Yet, they never take shots from deep. Derkack was recruited by UConn and other high majors. There is talent on this team other than Ace and Dylan. They aren’t put in spots to succeed. How many 3s would Hayes be attempting a game if he was on Princeton or Bama? Wouldn’t be zero.

 

[BigEastPhil]

If we don’t make NCAAs this year - then it’s 3 consecutive years of under achievement for Pike and staff !

I like Pike but his seat will get warm !

New AD will also complicate matters for Pike !

One other point : Pike needs to look in the mirror with his assistant coaches. Are they up to snuff?

I have my doubts !

 

[RUBlackout]

And you know this how? Martini, Hayes, Acuff are all shooting 40% + from 3. Yet, they never take shots from deep. Derkack was recruited by UConn and other high majors. There is talent on this team other than Ace and Dylan. They aren’t put in spots to succeed. How many 3s would Hayes be attempting a game if he was on Princeton or Bama? Wouldn’t be zero.

And this is it in a nutshell

We are NIT setting up our team for success

 

[RedTeam1994]

#s: I have been a big Pike supporter but I have come to the same conclusion: Pike is not going to get it done.

it is EYE OPENING how poorly this team is coached this year. today was an absolute clinic.

there have been a few criticizing his coaching on the offensive end for years claiming that we dont really run an offense . this year that problem remains but now we dont do ANYTHING well. this team is HORRIBLY COACHED.

I also think the game has passed him by - his most successful teams consisted of multi-year developmental players (Geo, Ron, Caleb, Myles, etc) that succeeded due to effort and defense. those days are over. he seems particularly unsuited to the current environment - I mean the proof is in the results. just atrocious.

this guy has turned from a big Pike supporter to one that has seen the light. Pike aint the guy anymore.

 

[Mr Magoo]

Rutgers is not the only team in the country with elite NBA talent. Have you watched Duke? Auburn? Bama? Illinois? They have set plays to get their shooters in position to knock down shots. Why is it every year Rutgers struggles to find open 3pt looks?
The defense is bad because Rutgers recruited bad defensive players. That doesn’t mean you can’t win. You have very good offensive options on this team but Pike and staff have no idea how to use them. Why is Hayes here if he doesn’t get any open looks from 3. Why is Martini here, Acuff etc. Pike recruited good offensive players but installed no offense to maximize its strengths. It’s just give the ball to one of your superstars and let them go. Watch any team with elite talent, this isn’t how they play.

Winner winner chicken dinner…and he played this way without the lottery picks too but he had the luxury of recruiting to and developing a tough team that emphasized defense as its strength. The days of building that are probably over since talent can/will leave after every season.

 

[RUSCFORMERLYRULOU]

Pikiell is a outstanding head coach representing Rutgers University in all matters not regarding game day preparation/ management.The team has upset highly ranked teams but has loss to lowly rated out of conference teams.This is the first season with two highly rated recruits gaining national attention for them and Rutgers.The results so far is deeply upsetting with a 7-5 record.Head coaches get credit when their team wins at a high level and get the blame when the opposite occurs.I find it to be upsetting that a coaching staff known for defense has this team so unprepared in playing man defense and allowing so many offensive rebounds even after having a week to prepare for the last two games.All fans should want Pikiell to be successful in the B1G Ten but clearly there is no margin for error with this seasons team.

Your last sentence is riddiculous with Harper and Bailey ok the team.

 

[Shelby65]

And you know this how? Martini, Hayes, Acuff are all shooting 40% + from 3. Yet, they never take shots from deep. Derkack was recruited by UConn and other high majors. There is talent on this team other than Ace and Dylan. They aren’t put in spots to succeed. How many 3s would Hayes be attempting a game if he was on Princeton or Bama? Wouldn’t be zero.

LoL. Those players would get hardly any PT on those top teams you mention.

Derkack ? He got abused by Princeton athletes but he’d be better in the SEC ?

Even with one of the best college players in America and another lottery pick, overall the roster is weak. Maybe Pike had the resources to recruit better players and maybe not. But with the roster as constructed, Pike can’t coach weak players into good ones.

 

[RedTeam1994]

The defense is bad because Rutgers recruited bad defensive players. That doesn’t mean you can’t win. You have very good offensive options on this team but Pike and staff have no idea how to use them. Why is Hayes here if he doesn’t get any open looks from 3. Why is Martini here, Acuff etc. Pike recruited good offensive players but installed no offense to maximize its strengths. It’s just give the ball to one of your superstars and let them go. Watch any team with elite talent, this isn’t how they play.

^ ^ ^
this is absolutely perfect summary of the issue: he emphasized getting scorers in the portal but then didnt put in an offense to set them up to succeed.

If the offensive game plan was to just do ISO all day then he should have focused on getting a bunch of tough defenders and rebounders to support the two young stars.

this is THE fundamental issue with this team and its all on the coaches

 

[RUskoolie]

All the Pike hating geniuses need to start putting NAMES to the person they think will do a better job. Should be fun to see the responses.

I believe Pike is paid VERY well. Pay is a big one.

We have one of the best home court advantages in the country.

We have a great new practice facility.

Fertile recruiting ground

NIL is likely average to below average because our fanbase acts like poor so you got me on that one.

Pike has made this a much more attractive job than what it was 10 years ago and that was a coaches graveyard.