RAPID REACTION - Wagner
- Thread starter Degaz-RU
- Start date
Disagree to an extent. Mechanics matter and if a change is made there, it can make a big difference. That’s why we have coaches in every sport. But expecting to change results materially just based on putting up 1000 shots a day at practice, probably yields little.
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You are nuts if you turn on a ACC or SEC game and think those programs play D and have the same standards as us. Not remotely close save a few programs.
On a seperate note...very impressed how Dylan got over a high screen in the 1st half
what does that really mean? I see it but never really thought about it what and why and how
Unit,
Simpson and JaMike are very similar players....and yes Simpson is probably better in all facets.
The simple reality is we don't need 2 and it was obvious that the team did not respect Derek and frankly didn't like him.
Simpson and JaMike are very similar players....and yes Simpson is probably better in all facets.
The simple reality is we don't need 2 and it was obvious that the team did not respect Derek and frankly didn't like him.
If you don't like hypocrisy or double standards why are you being a hypocrite? You stuck up and continue to stick up for Simpson and at the same time denigrate JMike for essentially the same type of performance/issues. You're scared as hell about JMike being on the floor but seemed to have no problem with Simpson on the floor.
How about you get your own house in order before you point fingers at others for the same thing you are doing.
I think it’s a matter of degree. Half the teams in college basketball play above average defense, and of those, a certain percentage play either outstanding or elite defense. With Pike we have mostly been in that outstanding to elite range.
And, since up to now Pike has had to bring in mostly under-recruited over-achievers, lacking high level offensive skills, it stands to reason his coaching has had to incorporate a more intense style of defense in order to compete.
Geeze. I could never know those dynamics. What team members are we talking about that didn’t respect/like him? None left.
Still mind boggling that a kid who was a total effort/hustle guy, played great D, one of best foul shooters in conference/conference and only option other than Hyatt should get so much scorn from RU fans.
Paul left, Spencer left, Cliff was limited offensively, Mags threw in the towel, GG was an utter disappointment. JMike couldn’t make a shot. Until J Williams arrived there was basically nobody. Amazed we were 15-17 and Simpson deserved some credit for that. So let’s rip Simpson?
Just thought ironic with JMike getting so many kudos with a line that RU fans would have lambasted Simpson.
Still think not hitting any own shots and zero points, while okay against Wagner, will be a big problem in B1G play. Difference of opinion is not trolling.
I agree Simpson was better at everything. I don’t know if the team didn’t respect him, but I believe that Ace coming was a big factor in keeping Davis,
One thing Simpson did that disgusted me, and by now I forget which game it was, was when he got a T for taunting after making a shot that l almost cost the team the game and after the technical he still had a stupid smirk on his face like he was glad for doing it. Totally embarrassed himself.
That was a BS technical. Players do it all the time and never get called for the technical.
I think it was the Maryland game. Wasn’t there but heard Maryland Crowd was taunting him more than usual?
And at the time I thought a bad call.
Same game where he made unbelievable Dr. J like shot that made ESPN top ten? We won that game away.
I like speed and quickness. Had flashes of Jacob Young and old timers, Darius!!
Oh well.
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I get that part about being a matter of degree, and I have said that Steve puts a premium on defense, but to say that our defensive effort is so unique to every other school in the country and that it affects our shooters compared to the rest of the country is just silly.
our 3pt FG% has been horrific every year but 1 under Pike. In that year we were exactly average.
Okay - here are some others, only those who played in the Big Ten:
Keegan Murray - Iowa: 30% 3-pt FG as a freshman, 40% as a sophomore.
Ron Harper - RU: 30% as a frosh, 35% as a soph, 31% as a junior, 40% as a senior
Terrence Shannon - as someone else posted: 26% as a frosh, 36% as soph, 38% as a junior
Boo Buie - NW: 26% as a frosh, 36% as a soph, 34% as a junior, 32% as a senior, 43%+ as a covid sr.
Roy Marble - Iowa: 27% as a frosh, 39% as a soph, 33% as a junior, 35% as a senior
Damon Santiago - RU: 24% as a junior, 44% as a senior
My point would be, that in about 20 minutes of very limited research, I found 7 players, just from the Big Ten and RU, who improved their 3-pt FG% by at least 10 percentage points, from 30% 3-pt FG, to even as low as 24%-26%, from one season to the next, many from freshman years to sophomore years.
I am NOT saying Davis (at 22% last year) will be one of those. But to say it is impossible is ridiculous. And to say it is impossible he could raise his 3-pt FG% to just 30% - which is below average, but with his other skills might allow RU to benefit greatly from his playing time - is also very close-minded, shall we say.
I definitely agree the shot looks better and ultimately that’s why we play the Sisters of the Poor — to see if, among other things, JMike’s perimeter shooting has improved.
He just needs to take and make (~32-35%) the wide open shots from 3 to keep defenses honest. JWill can’t shoot either, but he hunts himself high efficiency looks at the rim, and the spacing will be catastrophic if both play and shoot badly.
I'll add a couple more form RU:
Mulcahy: 27%, 39%, 35%, 37%
Martini: 17%, 33%, 37%
Fernandes: 27%, 39%, 36%, 45%, 36%
Eugene Omoruyi - 0%, 0%, 31%, 38%
While it certainly isn't a guarantee to happen, it's absolutely insane to say no one can improve their three point shooting after their freshman year.
there’s normal variation.
anyhow, comparing JMiss to Roy Marble maybe the best Iowa player ever, and other stars is absurd. Did Marble get worse as a senior ? How could that be ?
JMiss will never be a good shooter. He’s just not capable of that. Sad you guys don’t understand.
anyhow, comparing JMiss to Roy Marble maybe the best Iowa player ever, and other stars is absurd. Did Marble get worse as a senior ? How could that be ?
JMiss will never be a good shooter. He’s just not capable of that. Sad you guys don’t understand.
Bad take. Rambis and Rodman were inside players in different offenses and eras. The Lakers and Bulls didn’t run weave. We don’t have inside talent. We rely on having shooters.
Of course, Davis is not likely to be a top level 3-point shooter. Nor is he likely to be a star PG. BUT ... if he can simply raise his 3-point FG shooting efficiency to even just a little n]below average (like 30%), and his FT % to 70%+, given his defense and ball-handling, he could become a very useful player and productive ... very useful. Maybe even a starter quality PG - or a valuable 6th man.
Not every player can develop into stars, and not every player plateau as freshmen. Some here see Davis' shooting last season as his ceiling. Some even compare him to jalen Miller - when Davis' season last year as a freshman, was significantly better than ANY season Miller has had in Miller's entire 3-4 year career. Davis and Miller are 2 different universes in terms of comparative performance and potential - to Davis' advantage. And it is not even close - and I include their defensive capabilities.
Just saying ...
There are tons of people that became better shooters like Jalen Brunson , Carl Anthony Towns , etc who were not 3 point threats or shooters but got better over time. You either are being dense or always like this. We are not talking Steph Curry or Klay Thompson , 2 of the best shooters ever but the rest of the basketball players that worked hard and improved their form and became better shooters even if the improvement was slight. When I tell you he worked hard , I know for a fact from Pike that JMike lived in the gym this summer. I was invited to practice 2 times and part of the drill work at practice was shooting threes. He made a good % as they shot 5 balls from the entire perimeter from one corner to the other. His firm was better and his accuracy was better than it was last year. He will never be PJ Hayes but he will likely hit a number of threes this year compared to almost a zero last year.
So understand the point and stop being so dense. I call you clueless for a reason . Do show me how you are not by first understanding the point.
Ok, he hadn’t practiced 3s much before. Got it. He should practice freestyle swimming too, maybe make the next Olympics
You don’t get that he’s just a poor shooter no matter how much he practices. It’s just not in his hoops toolbox.
He does have the talent and athleticism to be a backup PG/distributor on O. Not a scorer or shooter.
Yes I do ! Jwill should definitely be on the bench as well! No jumper doesn’t help on the glass and lazy on defense rotations.
Should be the second unit offense so he can be ball dominant and use his slashing ability when Dylan is on the bench. It’s all about roster construction and maximizing are best players strengths .
the right idea....but with JWill on the bench, who starts ?
Ace, Harper, the 5 du jour, Martini and Derkack ? Derkack can't shoot either, so should be the first sub off the bench for Martini. JMiss is your backup PG and Acuff replaces JWill.
JWill must start. Derkack hasn't played at this level and it showed. Martini not quite this level, but close enough.
Can you please stop calling him JMiss? He’s one of our players who works really hard, and it’s disrespectful and insulting to hurl that kind of insult to one of our guys. You may not think he makes enough shots, and it’s your right to criticize his play, but stop with the infantile insults please.
Bigger lineup maximize space and shooting
Martini
Lathan
Ace
Harper
Hayes
Smaller teams. More outside shooting, play faster pace on Offense, and consider zone D to allow Ace and Dylan to rest and crash the boards.
Martini
Ace
Dylan
Hayes
Acuff when healthy
Second unit players
Jwill
Dercack
Lathan*
Acuff *
*when not starting
** have not seen enough from Acuff but based on his experience and track record but may need to adjust if he’s not up to the task like Noah wasn’t
Situation dependent based on matchup only. Not regular minutes
Ogbole
JMike
You're only seeing what you want to see. Some are supporting JMike here and others are bashing him. After one game last season in a loss to Princeton, the entire team and coaching staff was bashed. Simpson did not face heavy scrutiny until after mid-season. Much of the same scrutiny was also placed on JMike for his shooting and driving last season. Suggesting you give it time before the hypocrisy claims have any validity.
Yeah .,.. not going to happen. I would expect it to be extremely rare, like maybe never, that Harper will be the only guard on the court (your "big" line-up). Not going to happen.
Also, you really do not understand the difference in ability and talent between Acuff and Williams. I have looked at this closely, and have looked at both players, both highlights and stats. Williams has always been, and is, the far better prospect and player than Acuff. Do not let last season's 21.7 ppg scoring average by Acuff deceive you. Let's be serious and look at this:
1) Williams was a STARTING PG for a mid-level team in a high level mid-major conference (Temple) as both a freshman and a sophomore. And he played well ... averaged about 9-9.5 ppg and 4+ assists/game in each season, 2.0 ass/TO ratio those 2 years, 1.3 stl/game, 48% 2-pt FG% ... and though not a great 3-point shooter (in fact poor his sophomore year and for RU last year), he was respectable as a frosh at 32+%, plus 3+ reb/game. He then was recruited as a transfer UP A LEVEL OR TWO to an top team in an elite conference, in Iowa State - where he never played because of an injury ... then transferred to Rutgers, another P6 team in a top conference. At RU between his injury recovery, followed by the suspension, eventually over-turned, limited him to just 12 games - during which he was the best player on the team (albeit a limited team), averaging 12+ ppg, 50% 2-point FG%, 1.2 stl/game, 3.4 rpg and 2.8 ass/g - with players who could not make a basket around him. And is an excellent defensive player.
2) Acuff is nowhere near the prospect or as good, generally, last season notwithstanding. He played for a weaker team (Duquesne) in a weaker conference to start his career - and played just 14 mpg as a frosh as a bench player, (3.7 ppg) and 23 mpg as a part-time starter as a soph (5.7 ppg). He was a better shooter (better 3-point FG% and better 2-point FG %) in those 2 years, with many fewer minutes and shots. Less than 1 ass/g, maybe a 1.2 ass/TO rate - a okay rebounder ... not known as a good defender. He then transferred DOWN a level, from a poor team in the A-10 to a worse team in the weaker MAC. He did start (34 mpg) at Eastern Michigan as a junior, shooting 34% from 3 and 55% from 2, averaging 14 ppg as their 2nd or 3rd leading scorer as a Junior. And as a Senior averaged 37 mpg for an awful Eastern Michigan team, but did average 21.7 ppg - his 3-point FG% and his 2-point FG% both dropped significantly (to 34% and 50%), for an eFG% of 48% vs 54% the year before ... went from 11 FG att per game to 19 FG att per game. Then transferred UP to RU.
Quite simply, though Acuff has the potential to be an offensive spark, he has NEVER played at even a high mid-major level, and has played for 4 awful teams. Williams has started since he was a freshman, and has played for an above average team in a mid-to higher level mid-major conference, and part of a season starting for RU - a team in a high major top conference. Williams is a much better defender, a better play-maker for his teammates, and a reasonably efficient 2-poin FG shooter, though true, not a strong 3-point shooter.
Also ... no way Davis only gets minutes based on match-ups only, and is NOT in the regular rotation: Pikiell has basically stated Davis is the primary back-up PG ... and his elite defensive skills will earn him regular minutes ... whether that is 8 mpg, 10 mpg or 12-15 or more mpg probably depends on whether his FT and 3-point shooting improve ... but he WILL be in the regular rotation somehow.
Great summary ! As I said have not seen very much at all of Acuff was basing it on his shooting ability and scoring.
I also agree with your summary on Jwill BUT he is a ball dominant guard who CANNOT shoot at all! Both factors contribute why it makes zero % logic to play alongside Ace and Dylan who will have the ball 95% of the time. Jwill gets lazy on D when he’s not scoring and he can only slash . Bad roster utilization plying him alongside Dylan and Ace. Dylan better creator and decision maker so Jwill becomes a counter productive to the lineup.
Pikes going to play his favorites but I know Ace and Dylan are going to score 60% plus of our points. I know they will be both doubled and triple teamed. I know they will find wide open shooters all game long. Who do you want shooting them? Jwill and Jmike???? Absolutely not they are probably the last 2 you want shooting.
So why start or play them big minutes alongside the 2 stud freshman?
That’s just bad utilization of talent IMO
Remember that both Harper and Bailey can theoretically shoot the 3 ... so Williams, when he slashes, can dish out to them also.
Also, to say Williams cannot shot at all is unfair. His 2-point FG% last season averaging 27 mpg as a starter, was as good as Acuff's 2-point FG% last season playing 37 mpg: 50% 2-point FG%. Williams' mid-0range shooting is very solid (not off the charts, but 5-% is at least solid).
Also, if Harper and Bailey drive and dish, including to Williams, Williams can still potentially drive, as openings in the defense will be created by all the defenders moving and scrambling, being out of position. Yes, Martini and Hayes will be extremely valuable as catch and shoot 3 point shooters. But there are many ways to exploit a double-teaming defense (Williams slashing to the basket off the ball will also result in baskets - that happened vs Wagner - for Williams and Hayes, each, fyi).
There is a reason Williams will start and likely get the 3rd most minutes on the team - and those various reasons are good reasons. In my opinion ... and obviously the coaching staff's opinion.
All fair but you’re looking at Williams percentage which is predominantly him slashing to the hoop . Do you want Dylan and Ace with the ball making plays or Jwill??? Since we both agree, that means Jwill does not have the ball so he can not slash and get those buckets.
Yes Ace and Dylan can kick to Jwill but the only reason they kick it out to him is because they drove and the D has collapsed on to them. Jwill now gets the ball he can not slash because the defense is in the lane because of the Ace or Dylan drive. Which means he is now forced to take a wide open 3 his worst part to his game. We have also take away his biggest strength. The 3 of them don’t work together.
Acuff, as I said I don’t know and could argue his percentages dropped in shooting because he was the main option on those teams. In the starting lineup all he has to do his play D(which is a strength of his -yes at lower level) and shoot WIDE open 3’s. Less stress on him because the attention will not be on him at all.
Will see how it plays out ! Should be fun
Dylan and Williams will be one of the biggest backcourts in the country. Ace extremely tall and long 3. Martini big strong 4. Ogbole monster at 5
In theory, this team should be able to rebound
Yeah he had me on hopium with every shot, but alas, it was Brick City....
Let me guess, you voted for the guy who had negative nicknames for everyone. Why so sensitive and protective now ?
I’ve been called much worse here and don’t care. And opponent players get called a lot worse here. Those insults are ok but our players are off limits ? Gotcha
Insulting our players is not cool. The fact that you’re doubling down and acting all proud about it tells me everything I need to know about you. Carry on.
There’s so much wrong with your logic.
1. If it weren’t true, it would be ignored. Had I referred to Cam’t about Spencer’s shooting, no one would have cared because obviously wrong.
2. If ok to insult some, it’s ok to insult all.
3. He’s a high-profile athlete. I’m sure he doesn’t give a shit, nor should he.
4. It’s not offensive, same as him
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