Sanders & Baker be like

[Big East Beast]

What Chandler & Rosario could have been?

Similar dynamic - super-athletic combo guard trying to find his way as an elite D1 lead guard. Paired with a shooter who has the promise to open things up for everyone, as long as he gets touches.

If the chemistry of these two clicks, the sky may be the limit with this team. Both can be difference-makers in complementary ways.

 

[shields]

Like the fact he is what 6'4"? Need big guards.

 

[soundcrib]

One more year Corey...

 

[BillyC80]

Geo is better than Rosario, has a more complete game. An awesome recruit for Pike & Company.

 

[knights1212]

Where are all the guys who said Baker would only play 10 mpg and only average 4 ppg. Right now he is our high scorer averaging 14 ppg. Others said he would not be as good as Nigel. I think he is better and is only a freshman. Many also ripped Pike for signing him.

 

[DennisHajekRC84]

Geo is better than Rosario, has a more complete game. An awesome recruit for Pike & Company.

more complete head and attitude....nuff said....

 

[Caliknight]

Where are all the guys who said Baker would only play 10 mpg and only average 4 ppg. Right now he is our high scorer averaging 14 ppg. Others said he would not be as good as Nigel. I think he is better and is only a freshman. Many also ripped Pike for signing him.

Clearly better than Nigel. Longer, with much better court awareness and a higher IQ. He's a legit talent on any team. Huge coup for Pike.

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

Clearly better than Nigel. Longer, with much better court awareness and a higher IQ. He's a legit talent on any team. Huge coup for Pike.

Nigel stunk. He was a net negative

 

[ColonelRutgers]

He fit in so smoothly it's ridiculous. I don't even think of him as a freshman. Seems very mature.

 

[DennisHajekRC84]

Nigel stunk. He was a net negative

ok, we can move on now... :smiley:

 

[BigEastPhil]

Coach stated that Corey enjoys playing with Geo........glad to see Geo has his stroke down as well......going to be great watching him over the next several years...

 

[FrankZ]

These two are working well together. Expecting that chemistry to only improve.

 

[Rutgers25]

Very apparent that Geo simply knows how to play the game. Great feel for the game. Doesn't really force anything. Makes the simple pass. ...and of course today's shooting is what really can take his game to the next level. Not many kids "get it" like he does. If he can average between 35% and 40% from 3 it will be huge.

 

[FrankZ]

Very likable guy apparently to boot. Going on a one minute conversation with Wenzel, but sometimes a minute tells you a wealth of information.

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

Very apparent that Geo simply knows how to play the game. Great feel for the game. Doesn't really force anything. Makes the simple pass. ...and of course today's shooting is what really can take his game to the next level. Not many kids "get it" like he does. If he can average between 35% and 40% from 3 it will be huge.

This might sound simple but its so true. I get my haircut at tim wrights shop on livingston campus (phenomenal barber shop btw) and my barber cuts alot of the bball players and he said they all raved about geo all summer and said the exact phrase you just used "he just knows how to play the game"

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Sorry to be a cold wet blanket. Bryant could be the worst defensive team in D1. Baker still has a long way to go defensively. Bryant guards took him off the dribble a lot. He will have his hands full when the real games start.

It is refreshing to watch him play and have a guard that looks like other guards that the teams we want to be able to compete with have.

 

[Caliknight]

Like the fact he is what 6'4"? Need big guards.

He reminds me of a mini version of Lonzo Ball, with a better looking jump shot.

 

[RU848789]

Very likable guy apparently to boot. Going on a one minute conversation with Wenzel, but sometimes a minute tells you a wealth of information.

He's talented, but he's a frosh and he's learning, He has things to improve on, but he's going to end up being a great player here. I also love his enthusiasm and sheer enjoyment of the game - love seeing him light up in a big smile after every trey. Seems like a good kid and a good teammate, especially for Corey. Chemistry shouldn't be underrated - it can turn a mediocre team into a very good one or vice versa.

 

[RU-ROCS]

Where are all the guys who said Baker would only play 10 mpg and only average 4 ppg. Right now he is our high scorer averaging 14 ppg. Others said he would not be as good as Nigel. I think he is better and is only a freshman. Many also ripped Pike for signing him.

I love what I’ve see from Geo, but have to say I don’t recall anyone ripping Pike for signing him. There was a lot of talk from mods and others that he was a steal. He is certainly playing like it. He needs to continue to improve and show he can compete with the elite guards of the P5, but his future is bright.

 

[scarletrat]

Baker has the potential to be a cornerstone in turning the program around...a little like Jeff Greer but Greer played the 3 for us...

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

Sorry to be a cold wet blanket. Bryant could be the worst defensive team in D1. Baker still has a long way to go defensively. Bryant guards took him off the dribble a lot. He will have his hands full when the real games start.

It is refreshing to watch him play and have a guard that looks like other guards that the teams we want to be able to compete with have.

He was actually good defensively last night as bryant has some tough guards. I agree that he lacks the quick twitch quickness needed to guard the guards on the big ten. We'll see!

 

[dpwhite]

Sorry to be a cold wet blanket. Bryant could be the worst defensive team in D1. Baker still has a long way to go defensively. Bryant guards took him off the dribble a lot. He will have his hands full when the real games start.

It is refreshing to watch him play and have a guard that looks like other guards that the teams we want to be able to compete with have.

This was the strategy defensively. Bryant shoots the three better than the 2 and Pikiell wanted to overplay the three and let the players drive into the trees (which is why i think Shaq got 14 minutes). That’s not to say Geo is great defensively yet but a lot of players got beat off the dribble last night. Geo did a good job of fighting over screens which is something he’s struggled with this season.

 

[cubuffsdoug]

Sorry to be a cold wet blanket. Bryant could be the worst defensive team in D1. Baker still has a long way to go defensively. Bryant guards took him off the dribble a lot. He will have his hands full when the real games start.

It is refreshing to watch him play and have a guard that looks like other guards that the teams we want to be able to compete with have.

Hmmmmm, someone p*ssed in my corn flakes. Who could that be?[winking]

 

[rubaseball78]

Sorry to be a cold wet blanket. Bryant could be the worst defensive team in D1. Baker still has a long way to go defensively. Bryant guards took him off the dribble a lot. He will have his hands full when the real games start.

It is refreshing to watch him play and have a guard that looks like other guards that the teams we want to be able to compete with have.

I don't get why you have to be negative in every thread. Reading your posts you would think we are 0-5 not 5-0. Why do you even watch?

 

[RutgHoops]

I don't get why you have to be negative in every thread. Reading your posts you would think we are 0-5 not 5-0. Why do you even watch?

To be fair, up until this point, when he has thrown cold water on our hoops team optimism he has been 100% correct.

My source of hope is GRFIG hasn't posted kenpom yet so I am assuming, even with the crappy schedule, our numbers aren't bad.

 

[LotusAggressor]

He reminds me of a mini version of Lonzo Ball, with a better looking jump shot.

Hopefully, he defends ball screens better than Lonzo did at UCLA.

 

[RUChow]

Sorry to be a cold wet blanket. Bryant could be the worst defensive team in D1. Baker still has a long way to go defensively. Bryant guards took him off the dribble a lot. He will have his hands full when the real games start.

It is refreshing to watch him play and have a guard that looks like other guards that the teams we want to be able to compete with have.

You are right. I thought all along he would start and be a very good player for us, but his on the ball defense could use some work. His length does make up for that some, and he won't be covering many small, quick guards in the Big 10 either. He is a giant upgrade over Nigel.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

When we lose by 14 in a B1G game because we go 2-19 from 3 and 11-27 from the FT yet get quality looks, play hard, and hold the opponent to 62 I'll make sure I'll let the whole world know my positive thoughts. 90% of the board will say we stink and didn't show up.

I had ton of good things to say after Cleve St. games. There were quite a few games last year I had very good things to say in losses.

 

[RickB113]

When we lose by 14 in a B1G game because we go 2-19 from 3 and 11-27 from the FT yet get quality looks, play hard, and hold the opponent to 62 I'll make sure I'll let the whole world know my positive thoughts. 90% of the board will say we stink and didn't show up.

I had ton of good things to say after Cleve St. games. There were quite a few games last year I had very good things to say in losses.

But who gives a crap about that type of game? Why is it a win to play hard defensively? Games are no longer won on the defensive side. When they changed the rules with hand checking etc the days of being able to play like the old Pitt teams are over. All that matters is putting the ball in the basket. I would happily take a guy who can score but is weaker defensively. You can do things to mask a bad D. You can play zone. Mix in a press. The other team may be off. There is no way to mask a bad offense. If you can’t score and shoot you can’t win against real teams. End of story. End of discussion. If Geo plays offense like he did last game (and I know that is not possible) then he could sit on his ass in the defensive side of the ball for all I care.

 

[RUsojo]

Sorry to be a cold wet blanket. Bryant could be the worst defensive team in D1. Baker still has a long way to go defensively. Bryant guards took him off the dribble a lot. He will have his hands full when the real games start.

It is refreshing to watch him play and have a guard that looks like other guards that the teams we want to be able to compete with have.

He was actually good defensively last night as bryant has some tough guards. I agree that he lacks the quick twitch quickness needed to guard the guards on the big ten. We'll see!

You simply cannot expect a freshman to come in and be able to guard top level conference guards night in and night out. That D comes as these kids get older and spend time in college S & C. Lateral quickness is tough but he will at the very least continue to improve on the defensive end.

What's glaringly obvious is Geo has feel for the game that can't be taught, and has an offensive game that is already developed. Whether this Bryant team can guard is another conversion. But Geo can score a lot of different ways and was able to hit contested shots anyway - thanks to his length - that will translate against any guard.

 

[HeyHuey]

The best since Jordan and Dabney?

 

[BillyC80]

Geo was fine defensively, and will only get better. Go back and watch the tape of that Bryant game.

He starts off with a blocked shot against the opposing shooting guard, Grant (#11). He then fights thru numerous screens and moves his feet well.

He then gets another blocked shot while scoring 17 points in the first half.

The second half the whole team clamps down on D and gives up only 20 points.

And while in man coverage Geo is assigned to cover Grant who came in averaging 20 points per game, and holds him to only 9 points!

 

[dpwhite]

Geo was fine defensively, and will only get better. Go back and watch the tape of that Bryant game.

He starts off with a blocked shot against the opposing shooting guard, Grant (#11). He then fights thru numerous screens and moves his feet well.

He then gets another blocked shot while scoring 17 points in the first half.

The second half the whole team clamps down on D and gives up only 20 points.

And while in man coverage Geo is assigned to cover Grant who came in averaging 20 points per game, and holds him to only 9 points!

They interviewed Geo after the game on the radio and he said how proud he was he was able to fight through all those screens because he'd be struggling with that early this season.

 

[urbanecane]

Let’s see what happens when RU plays a few teams with a pulse. Geo certainly seems like a good one, but is that good compared to the Bryant’s of the world or good compared to the big 10?
Let him go through the freshman slump before you throw out names like lonzo ball and Jeff Green lol.

 

[RUJMM78]

None of the guards had a stellar game against East Carolina.Freeman was the only player in double digits.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

None of the guards had a stellar game against East Carolina.Freeman was the only player in double digits.

I'd strongly disagree

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Not disagreeing that Freeman was only player in double figures.

1. They are co point guards and the ball is always moving in the half court. Throw in a tape over the past 2 years and you see a noticeable difference in passes and reversals

2. What about on the defensive end?

 

[BillyC80]

Geo and Corey have faced some good guards, even though the teams we've played have been poor overall.

Corey shut down the ECU leading scorer today and Geo did the same last game.

Our defensive challenges in conference games will be more at the 3, 4, and 5 spots, IMO.