Re: Paul - Is there any chance…

[Degaz-RU]

hoping we pick up Fernandez as PG or another PG that will start for us. looks like Pike really has his eyes set on picking up PG from transfer than Big man. Im seeing Rutgers being involved in bunch of transfer PGs.

Ideal would be

PG = Noah: 25mins (or another transfer PG)
SG = Cam: 28-30mins
SG = Gavin: 25mins
F / PF = Mag: 30-33mins
C = Cliff: 30-33mins

1st off bench = Simpson: 25mins
Bench = Wolf: 20-25mins
Bench = NDongo: 10-15mins
Bench = Hyatt: 5-10mins
bench = JaMichael: 5mins

thats pretty good rotation.
didnt do exact calculation on minutes (jfyi)

Not sure how Woolf gets 20-25 minutes with Cliff playing 30-33. Woolf is a 5, period, and there won’t be many minutes of him and Cliff playing together. I see Cliff and Paul staying, with the following rotation:

Guards/wings (120 minutes):
- Fernandes 25
- Spencer - 28
- Mulcahy - 22
- Simpson - 25
- Griffiths - 20 - will increase over the course of the season
- Davis - 0

The Four (40 minutes):
- Mag 28
- Hyatt/Ndongo/Chol - 12

The Five (40 minutes):
- Cliff - 30
- Woolf - 10

 

[bitnez]

Rather than guessing what we need just look at what the coaches are doing. Fernandes is a totally different player than Paul. If the coaches wanted a player with Paul’s skill set that’s what we would be pursuing.

I like Paul a lot. Great kid and solid player. Yes, he’s experienced but he’s also limited. I personally think we would be better off with a quicker penetrating guard than Paul’s game, but I also understand that we want experience. That’s why a player like Fernandes is so appealing — he is both.

 

[MiloTalon13]

For some perspective: Freshmen in the Big Ten last year - HS rankings in parentheses

Purdue: Loyer and Smith - unranked guys from Indiana - 29 and 30 minutes/game, both started every game - for the league Champs and #1 seed

Ohio State: Sensabaugh (48) and Thornton (49) - 25 and 31 minutes Thornton played more and started all 35 games, Sensabaugh started 21/33 games he played in

Indiana: Hood-Schifino (20) 33 mins/game started all games - #2 B1G team, 4 seed

Michigan: Howard (34) McDaniel (66) - Howard played 32 mins/game, started every game he played in, McDaniel 31 mins started 27 out of 34 games he played in - finished ahead of us in the Big 10

 

[RUChoppin]

For some perspective: Freshmen in the Big Ten last year - HS rankings in parentheses

Purdue: Loyer and Smith - unranked guys from Indiana - 29 and 30 minutes/game, both started every game - for the league Champs and #1 seed

Ohio State: Sensabaugh (48) and Thornton (49) - 25 and 31 minutes Thornton played more and started all 35 games, Sensabaugh started 21/33 games he played in

Indiana: Hood-Schifino (20) 33 mins/game started all games - #2 B1G team, 4 seed

Michigan: Howard (34) McDaniel (66) - Howard played 32 mins/game, started every game he played in, McDaniel 31 mins started 27 out of 34 games he played in - finished ahead of us in the Big 10

Purdue lost their 4 highest minute-getting guards from last year.

Ohio State lost every guard in last year's rotation.

The only rotation guard that returned for Michigan was Bufkin (10 min/g).

Any new guard blood was going to see significant minutes at those three schools.

JHS was a one and done guy

I'm not saying that freshmen can't come in and have success playing starter minutes, but those situations don't really resemble ours.

 

[MiloTalon13]

Purdue lost their 4 highest minute-getting guards from last year.

Ohio State lost every guard in last year's rotation.

The only rotation guard that returned for Michigan was Bufkin (10 min/g).

Any new guard blood was going to see significant minutes at those three schools.

JHS was a one and done guy

All good points. We lost Caleb - almost 34 minutes/game.

 

[RUChoppin]

All good points. We lost Caleb - almost 34 minutes/game.

Yes, but replacing one guy is different than building a new backcourt from scratch. We're looking to replace McConnell's minutes and lighten the load a bit on other returning guys who average over 31 min/g down the stretch.

Griffiths will have to outshine established players and earn away their minutes, whereas most of the guys you mentioned above just had to be the best among a group of newcomers with no competition from returning starters or key rotational players in their roles.

 

[MiloTalon13]

Griffiths will have to outshine established players and earn away their minutes,

Ughh - we lost Caleb - almost 34 minutes/game.

 

[bitnez]

I think people not used to having elite basketball talent are about to learn how this works. You don’t bring in a kid who is a top 20 player and sit him for Hyatt. It’s simply not done or you don’t get anymore kids rated that high. And it’s not about handing the minutes to the higher rated recruit — they’re simply so much better it’s not even a close call

 

[AreYouNUTS]

I don't swear he's gone, but I think he will be.
I also think we'll be a better team this year without Pual than we were last year with Paul and that's not a reflection on him, it's because we got better players overall.

I just don’t understand why people think he’s not going to stay at this point. He didn’t go into the portal, he’s not going to go into the portal, and he’s in graduate school. Every inclination prior to the NCAA snag was that he was 100% staying. At this point, I would think if there were odds in Vegas, they would lean heavily on him staying. I could be wrong, however, it has happened ha ha!

 

[MiloTalon13]

I just don’t understand why people think he’s not going to stay at this point. He didn’t go into the portal, he’s not going to go into the portal, and he’s in graduate school. Every inclination prior to the NCAA snag was that he was 100% staying. At this point, I would think if there were odds in Vegas, they would lean heavily on him staying. I could be wrong, however, it has happened ha ha!

1. The gift cards ceremony
2. Being honored at Senior night
3. The last post-game press conference
4. Indications his role would be reduced this year
5. Declaring for the draft

We can disagree how meaningful any of these things are but "Every indication... 100% staying" is either oblivious or dishonest.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

1. The gift cards ceremony
2. Being honored at Senior night
3. The last post-game press conference
4. Indications his role would be reduced this year
5. Declaring for the draft

We can disagree how meaningful any of these things are but "Every indication... 100% staying" is either oblivious or dishonest.

1 and 2 mean absolutely nothing. Plenty of guys go through their senior night festivities, and then come back the following year. Nothing to see here.. 3) The last game presser? OF COURSE he was miserable; Wouldn’t you been? Also, that was post-NCAA snub (which I clearly mentioned). 4) “Reduced role” is 100% opinion of writers and posters. I I would, however, completely agree that his role might be different this coming season. 5) again, something that many kids do prior to coming back for their final season. No big deal.

In my most humble of opinions, and again nothing but opinion, I think Paul would have said said so by now if he was leaning. I think he cares too much about everyone involved with the program and the fans, to leave us hanging as such, otherwise.

 

[MiloTalon13]

1 and 2 mean absolutely nothing. Plenty of guys go through their senior night festivities, and then come back the following year. Nothing to see here.. 3) The last game presser? OF COURSE he was miserable; Wouldn’t you been? Also, that was post-NCAA snub (which I clearly mentioned). 4) “Reduced role” is 100% opinion of writers and posters. I I would, however, completely agree that his role might be different this coming season. 5) again, something that many kids do prior to coming back for their final season. No big deal.

In my most humble of opinions, and again nothing but opinion, I think Paul would have said said so by now if he was leaning. I think he cares too much about everyone involved with the program and the fans, to leave us hanging as such, otherwise.

How much would it change your opinion of Paul if he waits until almost the last minute before making his decision public?

 

[njxchange]

You are so lost. Before Mag’s injury this team was on fire when Paul and Caleb were healthy. That team would have been a 5-7 seed. And yes Paul was playing 30+ minutes during that stretch.

lol

I just go by facts. Mag got injured and people failed to step up. Actually, some players regressed big time...
Thats why we didnt make the tournament. Not because Mag went down but people failed to step up.
Pike had to make huge adjustment to even be considered for the tournament at the end. We all know what that adjustment was. Not what if this or that game but actual adjustments and what happened afterwards...

#1 - Simpson became PG. Paul played wing.
#2 - Hyatt's minutes reduced big
but Mainly - nobody deserved minutes, unless they played well. (that was the decision Pike made)

 

[needmorecowbell]

lol

I just go by facts. Mag got injured and people failed to step up. Actually, some players regressed big time...
Thats why we didnt make the tourament. Not because Mag went down but people failed to step up.
Pike had to make huge adjustment to even be considered for the tournament at the end. We all know what that adjustment was. Not what if this or that game but actual adjustments and what happened afterwards...

Your point was that Paul playing 30+ mins was not good for the team. I stated a fact that before mags injury the team was very very good and Paul was playing 30+ minutes.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

How much would it change your opinion of Paul if he waits until almost the last minute before making his decision public?

It wouldn't, however, that has zero to do with what Paul would likely do/think (based on everything we've seen/heard of him) IMHO.

Again, I could be wrong, but just think if he were "gone" we'd all know it for sure by now.

 

[njxchange]

Your point was that Paul playing 30+ mins was not good for the team. I stated a fact that before mags injury the team was very very good and Paul was playing 30+ minutes.

Please stay current. I go by what the team did/was towards end of the season.

I was one of biggest Paul's fans and still am. We all saw what he can do. Does he deserve 30mins+ a game when he plays like that? of course he does. But we have to face reality.
We cant keep hoping he would go back to playing that way someday because it never happened and fact is he regressed towards end of the season.

I wish emotionally, he puts it all together. That's probably his biggest drawbacks. He lets his emotions take over...
at the same time, that why we all love him, because he plays with so much emotions.

I would love for him to stay but based on all the little hints and clues, I think he will be gone.


as for him playing 30mins a game. I think he is hole defensively if we leave him out there too much. He doesnt have the quickness nor speed to be playing help defense. Next year, we will have huge upgrade on athleticism and speed.
If he cant be the PG that we all wished and hoped, at the same time, isnt the best option on defense, does he still deserve 30+mins a game?

 

[NickRU714]

It wouldn't, however, from that has zero to do with what Paul would likely do/think (based on everything we've seen/heard of him) IMHO.

Again, I could be wrong, but just think if he were "gone" we'd all know it for sure by now.

If he were definitely gone, he wouldn't have maintained eligibility NCAA eligibility.

 

[willisneverrana43]

The Mets are 1.5 games out of first place. They can wait. It's also not a great position for the Mets to bring up multiple players from the minors and watch them have the same experience that Alvarez has been having this year and last, or that Baty had last year.

All that said, if the DH and 3B positions don't start hitting by the end of this month, and Baty, Mauricio and/or Vientos are still hitting, there will likely be one or two moves.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Please stay current. I go by what the team did/was towards end of the season.

I was one of biggest Paul's fans and still am. We all saw what he can do. Does he deserve 30mins+ a game when he plays like that? of course he does. But we have to face reality.
We cant keep hoping he would go back to playing that way someday because it never happened and fact is he regressed towards end of the season.

I wish emotionally, he puts it all together. That's probably his biggest drawbacks. He lets his emotions take over...
at the same time, that why we all love him, because he plays with so much emotions.

I would love for him to stay but based on all the little hints and clues, I think he will be gone.


as for him playing 30mins a game. I think he is hole defensively if we leave him out there too much. He doesnt have the quickness nor speed to be playing help defense. Next year, we will have huge upgrade on athleticism and speed.
If he cant be the PG that we all wished and hoped, at the same time, isnt the best option on defense, does he still deserve 30+mins a game?

Agree to completely disagree. I guess we’ll just have to wait till next year.

 

[Scangg]

Not sure how Woolf gets 20-25 minutes with Cliff playing 30-33. Woolf is a 5, period, and there won’t be many minutes of him and Cliff playing together. I see Cliff and Paul staying, with the following rotation:

Guards/wings (120 minutes):
- Fernandes 25
- Spencer - 28
- Mulcahy - 22
- Simpson - 25
- Griffiths - 20 - will increase over the course of the season
- Davis - 0

The Four (40 minutes):
- Mag 28
- Hyatt/Ndongo/Chol - 12

The Five (40 minutes):
- Cliff - 30
- Woolf - 10

Those Wolf minutes are going to Ndongo (hopefully)

 

[PaKnight]

hoping we pick up Fernandez as PG or another PG that will start for us. looks like Pike really has his eyes set on picking up PG from transfer than Big man. Im seeing Rutgers being involved in bunch of transfer PGs.

Ideal would be

PG = Noah: 25mins (or another transfer PG)
SG = Cam: 28-30mins
SG = Gavin: 25mins
F / PF = Mag: 30-33mins
C = Cliff: 30-33mins

1st off bench = Simpson: 25mins
Bench = Wolf: 20-25mins
Bench = NDongo: 10-15mins
Bench = Hyatt: 5-10mins
bench = JaMichael: 5mins

thats pretty good rotation.
didnt do exact calculation on minutes (jfyi)

Not seeing how Wolfolk is getting 20-25 if Cliff is back.

 

[PaKnight]

How much would it change your opinion of Paul if he waits until almost the last minute before making his decision public?

Does not matter when he makes it publi,, as long as Steve knows where he is in the processes.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Those Wolf minutes are going to Ndongo (hopefully)

Cliff is probably playing 30+ mins and wolf playing the remaining mins at the 5. Ndongo could be ready for bigger mins but that’s probably at the 4. It’s hard to tell how big these guys are before they join the team. If Ndongo can play the 5, he will have lots of opportunities for mins.

 

[MiloTalon13]

Cliff is probably playing 30+ mins and wolf playing the remaining mins at the 5. Ndongo could be ready for bigger mins but that’s probably at the 4. It’s hard to tell how big these guys are before they join the team. If Ndongo can play the 5, he will have lots of opportunities for mins.

I hope (beg) we go small this year at times with Mag or Ndongo as the 5
Please!!!

 

[RUDivision]

Certainly possible. He can still make plays and create without having to bring the ball up the court and have to handle the ball constantly. Paul might be more than open to it. Adding a true PG takes a lot of burden off Paul to create constantly every possession

Paul is playing in Mags Role! Mag won’t be on the court until January! Transfer PG and DS are running the team next year . Paul will play Swiss Army knife role but no longer ball dominant PG

 

[MiloTalon13]

Paul is playing in Mags Role! Mag won’t be on the court until January! Transfer PG and DS are running the team next year . Paul will play Swiss Army knife role but no longer ball dominant PG

I’m cracking up thinking of Paul trying to chase the ball on the press like Mag did

 

[RUDivision]

The short answer is no, assists alone isn’t enough for an offense starved for points. Also: A) He was in the top 10 but didn’t lead the league in assists. B) out of the top 10 assist leaders in the Big, he had the lowest PPG. Unless you want another NIT team, we need a talent upgrade.

Agreed! He can help in practice and the locker room but with the talent and potential depth he will need to be in a reduced role. He does not have elite talent . He can post up and has great feet but teams easily took that away from him this year. He is a decent to good outside shooter but refuses to shoot open looks.

With out dominant Alpha scorers like Ron and Geo occupying defense’s attention he struggled. We won’t go into next year with him at point or playing major minutes.

Yes Mag injury hurt but Paul and other starters didn’t step up, instead shrank in the wake of the pressure. When DS was ready late in the year if Mag was healthy we are better w Simpson on the ball instead of Paul.

Hopefully Paul is back to help get the guys ready and to understand Pikes system.

 

[RUDivision]

I’m cracking up thinking of Paul trying to chase the ball on the press like Mag did

Not on the press obviously but he will be in the same position he was in the big ten tournament and NIT. Point forward, call it Mags or McConnells if you wish

 

[njxchange]

Maybe 25 was bit of stretch for Wolf but I see him being involved alot more than just 10-15mins. I can even see him lining up as PF, with Cliff as center (of course depending on the match up). I think Wolf will surprise a lot of people next year. Love the smoothness in his game/motion.

I am expecting (hoping)
- Developed mid jumper
- Bette understanding on Pike's help defense which in turn, he can be a force as PF (his athleticism).

Our Big Lineup (not starting lineup)
- PG Simpson
- G Gavin/Cam
- SF Mag
- PF Wolf
- C Cliff

I dare to say AGAIN, our defense will be better next year than this year (if Cliff comes back).

 

[Scangg]

Cliff is probably playing 30+ mins and wolf playing the remaining mins at the 5. Ndongo could be ready for bigger mins but that’s probably at the 4. It’s hard to tell how big these guys are before they join the team. If Ndongo can play the 5, he will have lots of opportunities for mins.

Yea those extra Wolf minutes going to Ndongo at the 4 is what I was talking about. I want to see him backup Mag. Ndongo probably won't play any minutes of significance at the 5 barring injury since he is the default 3rd 5 right now with Dean gone.

Excited to see Wolf but think he plays pretty much 5 only. Mag Ndongo Hyatt and even Paul or Gavin could slide to the 4 if needed as well. Wolf hasn't shown any type of outside shot. He's just a shorter 5 that you see on many teams now. The physicality is there