ADVERTISEMENT

Pikell Just Sucks

The offense is frustrating. Again you see MSU constantly swinging the ball, players cutting, moving and screening. Our offense, too often players standing around and the ball sits or moves but very little players cutting or screening. Just moving the ball around the perimeter and someone hoisting a contested shot.
This. No cutting. No moving
No screening
NO TEAM.
 
You can absolutely keep teams together over multiple yesrs and supplement transfers in to plug holes where needed. There are also guys that buy into the defense mentality. Grant, Sommmerville, Dortch it looks like. Pike needs to recruit guys thay fit his system. Mid 4 stars, high 3 star type guys - even in portal era. Last years team a good example of this. If Mag doesnt go down its probably a different season. We need to get back to dragging teams into the mud and playing defense - and win by playing the grossest basketball possible. Even with the two stars gone id bet this team is better from that standpoint alone.

Secondly, Pike got away from that team Ethos this year. He had an opportunity to have two ferraris for one year in a program built on Ford F150s. No coach would Balk at that opportunity but it is preposterously outside Pikes relm that he didnt know what to do with them. Great year for the brand, horrible year for the program.

Next year we get back to the program - playing Muckball and dragging teams into the mud
 
  • Like
Reactions: Plum Street
He’s the most successful head coach here in decades. If you don’t realize the success he’s had here I can’t continue this discussion.

Good night!
good morning! I recognize the success he had for 3 of his 9 years. 3 bad, then 3 good, then 3 bad. So the point is making this quick return to success next year isn't close to a guarantee since he's also failed the two prior to this miserable season. You make it sound like this season is a one off. it isn't.
 
@mikemarc1

Pike is going to be the next C-Viv, he’s driving the program into the toilet and will hold RU hostage to pay him millions to do it.

In fairness to C-Viv, at least she had legitimate success before she decided it was her right to get paid to destroy the program.

Steve is gonna be given the latitude to do it off of 1 NCAA tourney bid and one play-in game loss in Dayton. As I type this…wow.

It a shame, but the above is where Pikes legacy is headed.
 
all transfers have bombed. A good game here or there happens. Pike’s transfer hit rate is like our 3 pt shooting.

It’s so RU that we have a coach that would be more successful if this was 1995 or 2005.

He’s raised the floor but the ceiling is a high number seed in tourney.
Agreed. It’s obvious that if we want a team that’s consistently a 5-8 seed in the tournament (given that our program is out of the basement), we need a new coach that can adapt and find success in this new era of CBB. It seems like even in our best years with Pike we are still on the NCAA tournament bubble (besides 2019-2020 where we probably would have been in comfortably)
 
@mikemarc1

Pike is going to be the next C-Viv, he’s driving the program into the toilet and will hold RU hostage to pay him millions to do it.

In fairness to C-Viv, at least she had legitimate success before she decided it was her right to get paid to destroy the program.

Steve is gonna be given the latitude to do it off of 1 NCAA tourney bid and one play-in game loss in Dayton. As I type this…wow.

It a shame, but the above is where Pikes legacy is headed.

Here comes the “destroying the program” crowd again.

We just had 17,000 people show up for a game at msg.

Our program is fine and has never been better.
 
Here comes the “destroying the program” crowd again.

We just had 17,000 people show up for a game at msg.

Our program is fine and has never been better.

17,000 ppl showed up to watch Ace and Dylan

It’s not that he is destroying the program it’s already dead!

He has 1 player that he recruited on the roster who is not a freshman(After 8 years that is a problem and an obvious sign that we don’t have a program). He has brought in AWFUL transfers year over year. No upperclassmen to teach and show what Pikes philosophy is or help teach his defense. All of his “Program guys” left early minus Caleb( and Geo(Ty gentlemen)
Cliff
Mag
Paul
Myles
Ron
GG
Wolfe
Simpson
To name a few


If you don’t see that this year wait until next year when you have JMike playing 35 minutes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Smols and rpiseman
17,000 ppl showed up to watch Ace and Dylan

It’s not that he is destroying the program it’s already dead!

He has 1 player that he recruited on the roster who is not a freshman(After 8 years that is a problem and an obvious sign that we don’t have a program). He has brought in AWFUL transfers year over year. No upperclassmen to teach and show what Pikes philosophy is or help teach his defense. All of his “Program guys” left early minus Caleb( and Geo(Ty gentlemen)
Cliff
Mag
Paul
Myles
Ron
GG
Wolfe
Simpson
To name a few


If you don’t see that this year wait until next year when you have JMike playing 35 minutes.
The Pike fan club can’t be reasoned with, we can miss the big ten tourney and they’ll talk about attendance numbers, expectations and the team GPA.

The one tourney bid, one play-in game resume gives Pike a lifetime contract and the right to never be questioned about his teams or their performance.
 
17,000 ppl showed up to watch Ace and Dylan

It’s not that he is destroying the program it’s already dead!

He has 1 player that he recruited on the roster who is not a freshman(After 8 years that is a problem and an obvious sign that we don’t have a program). He has brought in AWFUL transfers year over year. No upperclassmen to teach and show what Pikes philosophy is or help teach his defense. All of his “Program guys” left early minus Caleb( and Geo(Ty gentlemen)
Cliff
Mag
Paul
Myles
Ron
GG
Wolfe
Simpson
To name a few


If you don’t see that this year wait until next year when you have JMike playing 35 minutes.

I didn’t realize ace and Dylan weren’t part of our program..

Just ridiculous to say the program is dead…
 
The Pike fan club can’t be reasoned with, we can miss the big ten tourney and they’ll talk about attendance numbers, expectations and the team GPA.

The one tourney bid, one play-in game resume gives Pike a lifetime contract and the right to never be questioned about his teams or their performance.

No issues questioning his team this year. It’s bad.

But again, team is different than program. Our program is fine. 17000 fans at msg, cbs window, sellout steak at the RAC…lottery picks for first time.

These aren’t characteristics of a dead program
 
  • Like
Reactions: ancienthooper
I didn’t realize ace and Dylan weren’t part of our program..

Just ridiculous to say the program is dead…
The program isn’t dead but it has certainly trended downward year-over-year since COVID shortened the season in 2019-2020 (Pike’s best team, would have likely been a 7-8 seed in NCAA tournament)
2020-2021: NCAA tournament (10 seed) - Round of 32
2021-2022: NCAA tournament (11 seed) - First Four
2022-2023: First four out/NIT (lost in first round)
2023-2024: 15-18 record
2024-2025: Currently 10-10, not making NCAA tournament barring a miracle with no signs pointing to that happening

Something needs to change
 
  • Like
Reactions: rume and rpiseman
Did they show up yesterday to watch the team or Ace and Dylan put on a show ?

There are Zero signs Pike has a healthy sustainable program. Zero

The only upperclassmen that stayed in the program is JMike. Why? 1. His friend was coming. 2. No other team in the power 4 would ever take him forget about 25 min a game.
 
No issues questioning his team this year. It’s bad.

But again, team is different than program. Our program is fine. 17000 fans at msg, cbs window, sellout steak at the RAC…lottery picks for first time.

These aren’t characteristics of a dead program
I think we we are all saying the PROGRAM is headed off the cliff and this TEAM will be the primary catalyst that kills the program.

Given all the context provided here around recruiting failures, wasting the once in a lifetime opportunity and Pike adapting poorly to the new era of college hoops if you can’t see the program is trending dangerously down let’s agree to disagree.
 
The program isn’t dead but it has certainly trended downward year-over-year since COVID shortened the season in 2019-2020 (Pike’s best team, would have likely been a 7-8 seed in NCAA tournament)
2020-2021: NCAA tournament (10 seed) - Round of 32
2021-2022: NCAA tournament (11 seed) - First Four
2022-2023: First four out/NIT (lost in first round)
2023-2024: 15-18 record
2024-2025: Currently 10-10, not making NCAA tournament barring a miracle with no signs pointing to that happening

Something needs to change

Still so much higher than when he took over.
 
No issues questioning his team this year. It’s bad.

But again, team is different than program. Our program is fine. 17000 fans at msg, cbs window, sellout steak at the RAC…lottery picks for first time.

These aren’t characteristics of a dead program
The program is not dead, but next year is an inflection point in my opinion. I think Steve is aware of the trajectory of the past two years and the need for improvement next year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ancienthooper
Still so much higher than when he took over.
You’re comparing his coaching resume to that of one of the worst college basketball teams in the history of Power 5. The EJ teams were amongst the worst to have ever suited up for any school.

Do you aim this low in all aspects of life?
 
I think we we are all saying the PROGRAM is headed off the cliff and this TEAM will be the primary catalyst that kills the program.

Given all the context provided here around recruiting failures, wasting the once in a lifetime opportunity and Pike adapting poorly to the new era of college hoops if you can’t see the program is trending dangerously down let’s agree to disagree.

Yup..all good. Agree to disagree.

No matter where we think the program is headed…it will never get to where it was before pike - I think we can agree with that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RUDivision and rume
The program is not dead, but next year is an inflection point in my opinion. I think Steve is aware of the trajectory of the past two years and the need for improvement next year.

I’ve said many times. Next year is extremely important, agree.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rume
No issues questioning his team this year. It’s bad.

But again, team is different than program. Our program is fine. 17000 fans at msg, cbs window, sellout steak at the RAC…lottery picks for first time.

These aren’t characteristics of a dead program
Great Team (Ace and Dylan) accomplishments. If they don’t have their names none of that occurs . We are awful this year why did we get the cbs window? The program or Bailey and Harper?

Let’s see what the media does if this team misses the big ten tournament and finishes below 500.

The program is deep and lush with talent so next year we will reload and be better? lol

NO we will be awful and all of the Pike supporters will say “You have to give him time he lost two lottery picks.” I would give him time if he wasn’t terrible when the lottery picks were here.
 
It was a huge accomplishment to make the NCAA tourney where we were in a 30yr drought. Truly impressive especially after all the scandals we had. Absence of COVID, we were just a bubble team and the following year were part of the first 4 and lose which I truly don’t even consider making the NCAA tourney.

It’s great Pike has constructed some good defensive teams but the lack of offensive mentality to any degree got us to the success above, which for Rutgers is great, yet mediocre.

It’s truly a shame because Pike is a great guy and good ambassador but I have massive concerns with his coaching ability and holding people accountable.
 
No issues questioning his team this year. It’s bad.

But again, team is different than program. Our program is fine. 17000 fans at msg, cbs window, sellout steak at the RAC…lottery picks for first time.

These aren’t characteristics of a dead program
16,000 with 6,000 being neutral or MSU fans.
 
It's worth noting that a consensus top coach in the country over the last couple of decades cant say enough about Pike as a coach. I'm sure the haters here know ball better than he does, though.
 
Looking back I wonder how the team would have been with our talent and a different coach?
 
It's worth noting that a consensus top coach in the country over the last couple of decades cant say enough about Pike as a coach. I'm sure the haters here know ball better than he does, though.
It’s very easy to say nice things about pike when izzos team team just played its worst game of the season but was able to still win thanks to the dumpster fire Pike brought to MSG.

You’ll see the more we lose and the program devolves the more Big Ten coaches will praise Steve, they probably hope he stays forever.
 
It’s very easy to say nice things about pike when izzos team team just played its worst game of the season but was able to still win thanks to the dumpster fire Pike brought to MSG.

You’ll see the more we lose and the program devolves the more Big Ten coaches will praise Steve, they probably hope he stays forever.
There was no doubt in my mind someone would say this. I don't buy it. World class coaches don't praise everyone they beat year after year
 
good morning! I recognize the success he had for 3 of his 9 years. 3 bad, then 3 good, then 3 bad. So the point is making this quick return to success next year isn't close to a guarantee since he's also failed the two prior to this miserable season. You make it sound like this season is a one off. it isn't.
I disagree that the first three years were bad. You need to evaluate in context. Taking over the #279 team and being #135 the first year and #78 the third year with a solid base to grow on is a success. Those years directly lead to the three good years that followed.
 
@mikemarc1

Pike is going to be the next C-Viv, he’s driving the program into the toilet and will hold RU hostage to pay him millions to do it.

In fairness to C-Viv, at least she had legitimate success before she decided it was her right to get paid to destroy the program.

Steve is gonna be given the latitude to do it off of 1 NCAA tourney bid and one play-in game loss in Dayton. As I type this…wow.

It a shame, but the above is where Pikes legacy is headed.
It is wild that you think accepting a contract and then working until the end of said contract unless you get fired is "holding RU hostage". Honestly one of the dumbest ****ing things posted on this website and that is saying something.

Unless it gets into weird situations with leaves of absences and shit there is absolutely no parallel there. That multiple posters on this board think it is somehow reasonable for someone to walk away from a $3.5mm/yr contract because the results haven't been up to par is ****ing wild man.
 
Like someone signs you to a guaranteed contract for $3.5mm/yr to do a job for 10 years and they have to pay you out if they fire you. It turns out you aren't as good at the job as you or they thought you'd be. You're going to... resign and walk away from the $35mm? God damn I want some of the drugs you are doing (or the dynastic family wealth you must have).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wagram97
The Pike fan club can’t be reasoned with, we can miss the big ten tourney and they’ll talk about attendance numbers, expectations and the team GPA.

The one tourney bid, one play-in game resume gives Pike a lifetime contract and the right to never be questioned about his teams or their performance.
You are the one that cannot be reasoned with. Maybe you do not comprehend the impact of Dylan’s absences due to illness and now injury.
Pike has failed the transfer portal for sure this year and never getting more than 1 impactful player a year , Jacob Young , Cam Spencer , but not getting 2-4 basketball all around players that can dribble , shoot , rebound and play a little defense. Bad luck with Acuff’s foot injury as well but Acuff, Martini , PJ and Jordan are not good around basketball players and all have serious defensive flaws and have limited offensive ability. Pike ‘s failure is his returnees , Jeremiah , JMike and Manny , really didn’t get better and actually got worse , definitely worse defensively , coupled with the failed transfer portal guys and we have lost games. Other coaches Mark Byington at Vandy and last year at Janes Madison brought in 7-8 transfers that were basketball players that could do a little bit of everything . They are all under the radar kids that did not cost a lot of NIL. Pike chose wrong and didn’t develop his returnees .,That has to change. But he will have Lathan , Dylan Grant, Dortch and Jordan , Manny , and has to win in the portal with 5-6 guys along with the 4 new freshman. He has to get not 1 but hopefully at least 3 impact transfers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Freddy Stubbs
I disagree that the first three years were bad. You need to evaluate in context. Taking over the #279 team and being #135 the first year and #78 the third year with a solid base to grow on is a success. Those years directly lead to the three good years that followed.
They were bad. But as you noted with consideration. So sure discount that but it doesn't change the trend.
 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT