Pikiell's Priority #1 is keeping Corey

[seels2662]

Why is that not translating in wins and baskets on the offensive end? Why is our only win VS a decimated Minnesota team?

No doubt Corey is talented, but what does he really do well? Is he good perimeter shooter? Sometimes we are too dazzled by crossover dribbles and fancy ball handling.

For 15 years all everyone including you cried about is that we don't have a point guard now we do and he's one of the best freshman pgs in the nation and now you are saying its not important we need shooting guards. Which is it? We lost last year because we gave up 80 points a game, not because Corey should have been at 26ppg instead of 16ppg.

 

[cohwx]

[sarcasm on] Another great thread, Al. [sarcasm off]

I trust Pikiell to do what is best for the overall development of the program. If he feels Sanders is a selfish/me-first/troublemaker who will hinder what he is trying to build, I have no problem with letting him go. Even if it costs wins over the next couple of years.

I hope that is not the case, because I'd like to see what the current roster can do if it is kept intact (and healthy) and coached by someone who knows what they are doing. There is the potential to generate a lot of excitement (and restore the RAC's home court advantage) over the next 2 years, which could only help with recruiting.

We will see, but so far I like everything I've seen about Pikiell.

 

[rutgersal]

Oh contra Pikiell has proven that a Skilled coach can get more with less. COACHING is why he is making over 1Million


Hello he is starting anew. As Pikiell stated, "FIRST get a great staff" (we already have some great leads looking at us (Rutgers).
here is where Sanders stands "HE IS EXPENDABLE" why for the betterment of the team program and w/l record. he was suspended twice by laid back Jordan BAD sign You do not leave a rotten apple in the your new barrel no matter how many short wins he will give you. Also is he really NBA material I have not seen it. His size is questionable and his talent on a NBA level ??? guards like him are a dime a dozen.
Here is the way it will go down plan A and Plan B.
Pikiell- we are building a winning program U had some suspensions if you think you are above everyone else there is the door
Sanders A- I am what makes this team I am special
Pikiell- I will lost 2 year to win in the long run. Good bye son!
Sanders B- I am a team player and I want to help us build Rutgers BB to be a power.
Pikiell- Great I need leaders who does it for the team. I am looking to build you into a Man and I will make you a better player with my coaching......BTW screw up and U R GONE
No rocket science here, bottom line we will win without Sanders just a lot less but we will build a program that does not reek of rotten apples
And how many years does he get I say 5+ this is Rutgers ya know

ash is not starting anew and Pikiell need not start totally anew. Guards who have sanders aptitude, and are willing to come to Rutgers are not a dime a dozen. Sanders can work effectively as the cornerstone for Pikiell. Getting Getting Coach Marshall is a great first step. adding a few more players that can contribute right away, while keeping everyone we already have, and we're golden. .500 in Year 1 would be a great accomplishment for Pikiell and would make it easier to get better recruits and continue to build the program.

 

[RUJMM78]

Strongly disagree. Pikiell's task is to build a program. No one player is bigger than the program. I hope Sanders embraces the program and stays. But the program should not alter course to embrace him.

At best Sanders will stay at Rutgers 2 more years assuming no more off the court issues.

 

[TDIrish27]

I think Sanders has ability but on " aptitude " I think that's open for debate.

One thing I do believe in is you never put a player above the Program and Coach P strikes me as the type who subscribes to that theory.

If Corey Sanders is smart he'll get on board and hopefully that happens.

 

[seels2662]

At best Sanders will stay at Rutgers 2 more years assuming no more off the court issues.

If everyone stays, and Pikiell adds just a couple more important pieces, this team has NCAA tournament potential in two years.

 

[MadRU]

Corey is unquestionably a talented player. I kind of understand what GFR is saying. But what will Corey be under a new coach/staff that stresses fundamentals, toughness, doing the little things? Also maybe with some other help in Nigel Johnson, and hopefully the Mike Williams we saw the last few games. And another recruit or two...and maybe Freeman back and others developed more.

 

[RUPete]

I think Sanders has ability but on " aptitude " I think that's open for debate.

One thing I do believe in is you never put a player above the Program and Coach P strikes me as the type who subscribes to that theory.

If Corey Sanders is smart he'll get on board and hopefully that happens.

I agree with this. I hope he stays, but only if he buys into what the coach is doing. We saw the issues and the lack of success when Freddie went the other route and placed individuals above the team.

 

[RUMassAlum]

Whatever he's gotta do to make that happen, he's gotta do. With Corey, if we add a few more complementary pieces, we can be real good real fast. Without him, it's going to be a 3 year sh!tshow and who wants any more of those.

Totally agree, Al; too many sanctimonious statements about no one kid is bigger than the program, or, Pikiell's

Whatever he's gotta do to make that happen, he's gotta do. With Corey, if we add a few more complementary pieces, we can be real good real fast. Without him, it's going to be a 3 year sh!tshow and who wants any more of those.

I agree with Al & disagree with those who are ready to say sayonara to Sanders or possibly others, just because they were recruited by Shoes and have expressed hesitancy on staying at RU. [To quote from another post of mine] : This program is already a train wreck, but absent Corey Sanders, maybe Laurent, too, we potentially could end up with so many rookies and newcomers that a season could ensue that would make this one look good by comparison. That is absolutely not an exaggeration. So for the pragmatic reason of key player retention, if that's what it takes, keep Shoes on for a few more seasons, all things being equal. A horrendous initial year could set Steve Pikiell and the RU MBB program back disastrously; we have to show at least a modest improvement (and that's not saying much by RU MBB standards), or things are going to get uglier faster. As for those who are simply ready to dismiss Sanders or others and say, "hey, the kid doesn't want to play here or has conditions attached to his staying, the hell with him...." The fact is, we need these kids to stay here. Anyone who takes that cavalier attitude is in for a rude jolt next season.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

ash is not starting anew and Pikiell need not start totally anew. Guards who have sanders aptitude, and are willing to come to Rutgers are not a dime a dozen. Sanders can work effectively as the cornerstone for Pikiell. Getting Getting Coach Marshall is a great first step. adding a few more players that can contribute right away, while keeping everyone we already have, and we're golden. .500 in Year 1 would be a great accomplishment for Pikiell and would make it easier to get better recruits and continue to build the program.

there are MANY Corey Sanders out there playing D1 hoops. he probably isn't even in the top 1/2 of B1G PGs.

 

[RUInsanity]

there are MANY Corey Sanders out there playing D1 hoops. he probably isn't even in the top 1/2 of B1G PGs.

He's already on the team.
He's only a freshman.
With solid coaching he could blossom further.

You have had an agenda with this kid from day one. Putting RU's record solely on him is a pathetic attempt to further your agenda. This is not 1950 in Indiana with Gene Hackman coaching.

 

[brucelaw8]

you need to relax. its understood that this thread is my opinion.n changing title? give me a break.

I don't believe Sanders will leave.He is likely gone to the NBA after one more year,and transfer is probably out of the equation.His game needs to be tweaked & Europe is probably unlikely.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

You have had an agenda with this kid from day one. Putting RU's record solely on him is a pathetic attempt to further your agenda.

Not true.
1. I have no agenda and haven't had this stance from day 1
2. I have not put RU's record solely on him. Just saying he can't be that good if we are so bad.
3. I am a season ticket holder and want us to succeed REALLY BAD. I am a fan. My agenda is to see this program succeed.

 

[RUInsanity]

Not true.
1. I have no agenda and haven't had this stance from day 1
2. I have not put RU's record solely on him. Just saying he can't be that good if we are so bad.
3. I am a season ticket holder and want us to succeed REALLY BAD. I am a fan. My agenda is to see this program succeed.

Regarding Point 1 - From March 2015 - not that there are other posts such as the one in this thread where you exxagerate his Suspension(s) which you seem to escalate - they are not up to 2-3.

The program doesn't need a guy with fancy dribbles 25 feet from the basket. The entertaining I want to see is making the extra pass, getting stops on D, and getting 51%+ of 50/50 balls. The last thing this team and program needs are individuals. Now if he can penetrate and kick for an open 3......

My favorite Scarlet Knight of all time is Marquis Webb so you can see my basketball tastes are a bit odd.

Regarding Point 2 - Why can't he be good and the team still lose? There are 4 other starters, the team was poorly coached, had key injuries and had a relative lack of talent compared to most of it's opponents, Corey missed 4 key games.

Regarding Point 3 - We all have the desire to see RU succeed.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

geez...can you get history of all posts?
i don't think i have ever exaggerated his suspension, but if you all my posts i should probably be careful of what i say :flushed:

 

[17Q66]

Whatever he's gotta do to make that happen, he's gotta do. With Corey, if we add a few more complementary pieces, we can be real good real fast. Without him, it's going to be a 3 year sh!tshow and who wants any more of those.

I really love it when you go to press by telling us what your priority is by claiming it is someone else's priority.

On the other hand, I suppose it must be kind of awesome to be the least self-aware human in the State of New Jersey. I mean, that's got to feel pretty good, right?

 

[Mr Magoo]

Disagree...Mike Williams and Jonathan Laurent are foundation type players.

The foundation is about going to class, being team 1st, and being reliable, and diving on the floor.

...And are going to be here for more than one more year.

 

[Mr Magoo]

If everyone stays, and Pikiell adds just a couple more important pieces, this team has NCAA tournament potential in two years.

Not seeing if this but I hope you are right. Maybe if the pieces are lebron and curry. Hopefully we can be sniffing the NIT in a couple years. I think next year is going to be really rough with our front court.

 

[BrunswickBob]

2 thoughts:

1) This thread feels really unfair to Corey, our best player in a long time, because it is rife with speculative thoughts that assume the worst about him.

2). Given Greene Rice FIG's perspective on Corey, he appears to wish that it was 1965 and we were back playing at the Barn.

 

[bac2therac]

If everyone stays, and Pikiell adds just a couple more important pieces, this team has NCAA tournament potential in two years.

We need a major infusion of talent and kids buying into a winning philosphy. I would hold off any NCAA thoughts

 

[Pritz99]

Jeez, we have an 18 year old here at RU, who was suspended once for "unsanctioned game" another time for ????? you tell me. He certainly doesn't sound like a head case, and at least he keeps saying the right thing. He was a talented player when he came (4* is pretty talented) and on a team where the overall talent and coaching need not be rehashed, he received some pretty impressive B1G honors. His willingness to pass, his continuous hard play, sometimes freshman mistakes, can't be ignored.

Are you telling me a brandy-new, impressive HC should just show him the door? Shouldn't re- recruit him with the same zeal he was initially. Treat him EXACTLY the same as Justin Goode? Of course, Pikiell will lay out exactly how things are going to work around here. Just like every other player and every potential recruit that walks into the gym.

What every player should get is a clean slate with the new HC. If one doesn't like his game as a freshman, that's where being a coach comes in, doesn't it? Coach him. It'll become apparently pretty quickly to Pikiell how good he is, his potential, and how coachable he is. Just like every other player on the squad. I guarantee that's how it will go.

 

[seels2662]

Not seeing if this but I hope you are right. Maybe if the pieces are lebron and curry. Hopefully we can be sniffing the NIT in a couple years. I think next year is going to be really rough with our front court.

If we have Deshawn Freeman it helps big time. He wasn't a 4 star prospect by accident. We didn't see much from him but he is really really good at doing the dirty work.

 

[GSGS]

Seeing as this thread is Al bs already covered Sensibly (relative to board standards)...

Not for nothing but Mike Rosario would be a perfect compliment to Sanders lol. I hate to say it but give me Sanders, Rosario, and Inman with some role players lol

Rosario and Inman? - This is proof of how long we've been bad, some of us set our standards very low. Inman was a tremendous disappointment.

If anyone doesn't think that talent like Sanders is important, consider the fact that Pikiell's Stony Brook team wouldn't have had more than a few wins in the B1G, and didn't have the talent to compete with Kentucky (who got beat by Indiana in Round 2).

 

[RUsojo]

Rosario and Inman? - This is proof of how long we've been bad, some of us set our standards very low. Inman was a tremendous disappointment.

If anyone doesn't think that talent like Sanders is important, consider the fact that Pikiell's Stony Brook team wouldn't have had more than a few wins in the B1G, and didn't have the talent to compete with Kentucky (who got beat by Indiana in Round 2).

Holy s*** no one can take a joke

 

[MADHAT1]

My only opinion is this:
Pikiell will be recruiting everyone on the current roster he wants and probably nudging those he don't want to find someplace else if they want playing time or improve their game enough to earn it.
So he'll be talking to Sanders as Corey's HC and someone whose recruiting him to play for RU ,
It seems like everyone is making a big deal out of kids not sure if they want to stay in a program once their main connection to it leaves.

Shoes staying or not won't be the real reason Sanders stays or leaves, it will be how happy Corey thinks he'll be playing for Pikiell.
Also if he wants to sit a season before eligible to play or drop down to play right away.
Odds are he wouldn't want to do either and the only thing left would be turn pro and hope he could get a good overseas gig that would lead to a NBA career.
The odds of that aren't that great for most talented College players and the seasoning they can get in collage might just serve them better.

Who Corey listens to will have an role in will he stay or should he go.
Pikiell can have a big part in convincing Sanders and I think Coach Pikiell will be able to recruit Corey to stay a Scarlet Knight .

 

[RU82]

It's a new era folks.

Corey and every other player (and coach)need to buy into what coach Pikiell wants to do or go somewhere else.

That's all there is to it.

 

[RUnTime]

Whatever he's gotta do to make that happen, he's gotta do. With Corey, if we add a few more complementary pieces, we can be real good real fast. Without him, it's going to be a 3 year sh!tshow and who wants any more of those.

Decent big ten player and probably the only 1 on the roster. Do not care if he leaves. this is a total rebuild with or without him

 

[aplus29]

Sanders
Thiam
Laurent
Freeman
Diallo/Doorson

Foremen
Williams
Nigel Johnson
Other frosh wing

Send Goode packing

3 more scholarships (Bullock, maybe a Hawaii transfer, and a pure shooter)

That's not a bad looking team!

 

[BKIn118]

I'm certainly no prognosticator...but the kid says he wants to be here (ridiculous overreaction to a "retweet" aside), and Pikiell mentioned the kid by name in his press conference.

If you knew anything about Sanders you'd know that he isn't a 4 year player ANYWHERE. Best case scenario is 3 seasons. The last thing the he wants to do is sit a year, Shoes or no Shoes (who is a guy I respect, and would welcome back on staff with open arms...the man knows basketball).

It's about perspective...you've just gotta trust in Pikiell now that he's the man. In the unlikely event (IMHO) that Sanders leaves, we are still going to play ball next year.

 

[Caliknight]

There's nothing to decide. Keeping your best player in a generation is a no-brainer.

That all depends on what you have to do to keep him. If he is all in, great! If he is making demands trying to hold the Coach hostage, the door is that way. He is a good player with potential, but he isn't bigger than the program. No one player is.

Coach Pikiell knows what he is doing. Let him do it.

 

[rutgersal]

That all depends on what you have to do to keep him. If he is all in, great! If he is making demands trying to hold the Coach hostage, the door is that way. He is a good player with potential, but he isn't bigger than the program. No one player is.

Coach Pikiell knows what he is doing. Let him do it.

While Corey shouldn't be making demands, he is free to relay his concerns. The road to respectability is much easier with Corey than without.

 

[RUonBrain]

#FightOrFlight

 

[imbazza2]

This is an arranged marriage/adopted family. And all must go thru an adjustment period.
It is nice this the new man of the house is a builder of boys into men.
This will be 2-3 months of the ultimate head game. (Sanders still here after ~2months he will stay) With HCSP being the master shrink. Great coaches (great men) know how to develop and nurture the good in people. Sanders is a wallowing young man (like a lot of us in our youth), not bad but a true, and Loving father figure is always a good thing for any young man. I do not expect anything less then total success with HCSP. The fact that his SB team came out to Rutgers tell of a base love/respect rarely see today. Understand what we see on the court is ~1/3 of the magic these men do with these boys. They mold them into good citizens/men of the community and good fathers and mentors. Good men go into Coaching to develop kids into respectable men the games is just a another tool to educate and develop boys into good men.
Shoes or no shoes, after reading all about Steve's past I can not see a situation where Sanders does not benefit from a few years under Head Coach Steve Pikiell. And Pikiell is a winner and he will not let a lost sheep to go astray his desire to succeed will not let Sanders go, he will do all he can to make Sanders a good man.
that is the true nature of a caring coach which by all indications Steve Pikiell IS!