Re: Question for long time fans--a 45 year perspective
I've followed RU MBB closely for 45 years and have been there through every high and low point and every point in between Absolutely, this point in Rutgers men's basketball is worse than the Littlepage era, in this sense. The very next season after Littlepage's worst year in '87-88 (7-22, 3-15 in Atlantic 10 conference), THE TEAM WENT TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT!! Does anyone on planet earth think that next year's RU MBB team is going to the Dance? Following that '88-89 NCAA season, Bob Wenzel's teams went to the NIT, the NCAA again--our last appearance there-- and then the NIT. Unfortunately, his success didn't continue. Prior to Littlepage's three years ( a smart and decent guy whose skills were best suited to athletics administration rather than coaching and recruiting) the wonderfully successful 12 year tenure of Tom Young took place (albeit with a somewhat easier schedule), so Littlepage was sandwiched between two successful coaching stints, underscoring the fact that his time at RU was a major anomaly.
From that viewpoint, the present situation is worse than the Littlepage years, because our prospects are pretty bleak in the near future. However, I do not say that for the sake of fostering negativity. I know I'll take my lumps for sounding negative but all I'm really trying to say is that fans should be realistic and patient and not be unduly angry at Eddie or the kids. The current hole we are in is so deep that it's going to take years to even claw our way back to ground level. Nine seasons of mediocrity, now deteriorating into downright awfulness.The Mike Rice mess. Aging, inadequate facilities. Inadequate funding. A low regional and national reputation injurious to recruiting This team cannot play together, can't score from anywhere in the half court, can't get back on D, defend the three or stop guard penetration, can't shoot fouls. It's painful to watch.
I appreciate that a few fans try to find a little silver lining in this dark cloud in terms of next year's team, but I see no reason for optimism. Our best players are departing, in Mack and Jack. We have several returning second year players who have shown only some flashes of ability. There are some returning upperclassmen of modest skills, plus a crop of unproven rookies (yes, including Corey Sanders) and returning redshirts, none of whom have played a minute of varsity BB. No proven, go-to guys, a roster full of second stringers. I am not looking forward to next year in this rugged B1G conference.. However, things could start to get a bit better in year four; not terrific, but better. There'll be a lot of experience and some teams with minimal individual talent get better just through playing together a lot as a team
As for Eddie, I remain grateful that he even was even willing to wade into this swamp. In a sense, job one was to restore at least a modicum of credibility to our battered program, and Eddie brought deep RU roots, NBA creds and some class and panache. As for long term prospects of attaining even a modestly winning record and an NIT appearance, I have my doubts, like most others, but let's give the guy a chance. It's not like we have the reputation, money or support for this program to suddenly reel in a college BB coaching superstar.
