Or maybe he's replacing Gavin's minutes on the wing, in which case would be a significant upgrade from last season. Besides, I thought you liked guys who play D.
BB Recruiting Rutgers lands Merrimack transfer G Jordan Derkack
- Thread starter Zak57
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Or maybe he's replacing Gavin's minutes on the wing, in which case would be a significant upgrade from last season. Besides, I thought you liked guys who play D.
We have a TON of guards. Contrast what we have on paper vs 2022-23. Wowsers.
Pike has clearly learned how to navigate the portal and is crushing it.
I like that we replaced guards Austin Williams, Noah Fernandes, and Derek Simpson with Dylan Harper, Jordan Derkack, and Tyson Acuff. Much more size and almost definitely more talent plus hopefully better chemistry.
We have only so many minutes. It seems like we have 4 starting guards. I dont see why one would think it is possible.
Non bigs
Jwill 26
Harper 28
Jamike. 12
Acuff 22
Derdyack 22
Martini 22
Ace 28
Grant-dortch 0
I suppose it all fits. Will be tough to keep people happy
Glaring question mark is perimeter shooting. Martini is only guy on roster that we can reasonably expect to shoot higher than low 30s from 3
Derkack is a beast on the defensive glass
How does NEC compare to MAAC, where Peter Kiss came from?
Rutgers lands NEC Player of the Year in transfer G Jordan Derkack
Merrimack transfer guard Jordan Derkack is staying close to home, as he commits to Rutgers Basketball.rutgers.rivals.com
NEC POTY at Merrimack and a Colonia native.
2 more years of eligibility.
I am very happy with the players Pikiell is bringing in, last year's team was so soft, this is the exact opposite, Even if they don't win you want a team to compete and easy to cheer for. All the players coming in are at least known for their toughness which is awesome.
Contending teams seem to navigate this issue without a problem every year. The UConn’s purdues Alabamas of the world are all flexing depth on their bench and keep the peace enough to make a final four… what’s different here ?
3 point shooting will be the wildcard. There are arguments you can make for a lot of these players to shoot better than expected though
Bring in a highly efficient 3 point shooter 3 and D specialist and let every battle it out for minutes. May the best man win
There are always surprises vs what fans and experts expect the rotation to be. The more talent the better. I wonder if Pike can lure a 3 point shooter here. Tough to sell minutes at this point, but maybe they call sell that role since it's a need
Greenfig is constantly negative. RUDivision too.
I feel bad for them - can’t be fun living the life of Eeyore
Greenfig finds a negative regardless
On one hand he continues to bitch about the transfers coming in - not good enough
THEN he bitches that there aren’t going to be enough minutes to go around to keep everyone happy
He has both sides covered - he bitches and whines regardless - Misery obtained.
Pike said this year he wants to be up-tempo. And we went from bottom of the pack in pace to the middle of the pack. This team looks like it’s being built to press and run with a deep bench and lots of energy.
You are saying that the teams three-point shooting percentage will go down next season. How much do you want to bet on that?
There were some posts a few weeks ago about Steph Curry at Davidson and how he moved to the point from the 2 his junior year. Not concluding anything from it but just as a few data points on .... one of the greatest players to ever have played....
His turnovers jumped from 2.5 to almost 4 a game and his 3P shooting fell from 44% to 39%.
His turnovers jumped from 2.5 to almost 4 a game and his 3P shooting fell from 44% to 39%.
Where did i say they arent good enough?
I look at things from 2 sides and not one.
I find positives and negatives.
Some of my “negative” takes are right. Some of my “positive” takes are wrong.
Absolutely toughness!! And I will add a high basketball IQ and a persistent competitive intensity. Those qualities win in March.
You didn't seem so juiced with him in previous podcast, when didn't think we were getting him
Still would prefer a guy with a better outside shot personally, more of a shooter type but if Derkack is willing to accept his role and be that 7th man in the rotation, it’s a solid get.
Still think they need one more shooter imo.
I am saying statistically going into the season yes it is worse.
Clearly you can make an argument that it will be better and spin it today open shots will make them better. However if you’re being fair and honest we don’t have a true shooting guard on the team: I appreciate the move for Jordan and clearly see the size and depth of the team has vastly improved .
If I am coaching against us I zone up, back off all players and let us shoot. It’s not negative to look at our team realizing they are all talking about deep tournament run and seeing with out shooting that will be a problem.
I just hoped Pike instead of a Tyson or Jordan he brought in a knock down shooter. It’s a preference not a negative.
Please let this come to fruition
I would put money that the 3p % will go UP next year
You talk about being "fair". If you were being fair you wouldn't make such hyperbolic negative statements that require paragraphs of explanation to justify. You could have said something like: I'm am worried about an unbalanced team as most of the players we brought in have low 3pt shooting percentages."
That's a reasonable statement. What you actually said seems designed to ruffle feathers. And if that's your aim, then you will be going on ignore for a lot of people.
It’s a reaction to the post and how I look at the team and anticipate holes we may have. I want to win and win big so I analyze on our holes not on our strengths.
We brought in 2 players who are the same guy. Same height and weight(1 inch and 6 lbs). Both from small conference schools who dominated getting to the rim. Both have family we are trying to recruit. Both were ball dominant and both were poor outside shooters. Those are just facts! If that ruffle feathers then I am sorry. I evaluate our team like I would any other, in fact am probably harder on RU. Just like I would be harder on my own kids when coaching them.
We had a Glaring 3 point problem last season and I would rather Pike address that. I hear too much from the analytic ppl (who I hate killing basketball) that we score at the rim or shoot a 3.
We also had a problem scoring the ball and Pike clearly valued scoring over shooting and he is the coach and has a vision in mind. I understand what he is doing but believe with out shooters to keep defenses honest we will have a problem.
Players who operate in the lane on the team.
Dylan, Ace, Tyson, Jordan, Jwill, Dortch
Shooters
Martini
Zones defense will be an issue
Fair observation I apologize if viewed negative.
Geo didn't have to say anything if he felt it was a mediocre
pickup
Your original statement was not thoughtful like this. It was a hyperbolic negative statement. And I'm still willing to make the bet.
Are you saying it’s not reasonable they’ll both shoot over 30% from 3 as complimentary players?
Geo also said Fernandes was really good
Of Note, according to ChatGPT, Ace Bailely's 3 point shooting percentage was 42% his senior year in high school.
Not really a family friend. He trains the two brothers and the sister.
Despite others, this is a good point.
Especially if we are looking to still bring in another guard/wing transfer.
If the hopefull shooter comes in - that pushes Acuff, Derdyack and especially Davis further out of the rotation.
Davis would be going from starter to 10th man. Which is good for Rutgers overall.
But wondering how Acuff and Derdyack (and even Grant/Dortch) feel about their role changing even before the season starts isn't that weird.
JWill appears to be the only one immune to losing minutes.
Yes very valid point at 42.9% there is a strong case to be made that he is one of those shooters we need.
The argument used for Tyson and Jordan not being a focal point so they will be better shooters could be used against Ace. He’s not in high school playing against kids and being the focal point of every defense his numbers could dip. To be clear I think Ace is one of the best prospects to come out of high school in a decade and I expect big things.
Your point on his shootings numbers are noted but I don’t view him as a guard more of a 3 either way I hear you.
We all complained about Gavin, DS, and Noah shooting from deep and rightfully so but statistically Tyson and Jordan are worse but we are all supposed to be head over heals positive about it?
Grant is listed as a 6'8" power forward on 247. Dortch is also 6'8" but thinner I think. Martini also plays the 4 sometimes.
