State of the Program

[RUJMM78]

We need that practice facility and the upgrades to the RAC. Coach Pike has plans to show recruits but little else. The future depends on recruiting and that practice facility is needed to recruit the type of player Pike needs to win. That facility will get built when the money is in and that's no where close to being a reality today in the real world. We want Naz Reid a program changer to come to RUTGERS but in reality why should that kid come here compared to the other schools recruiting him? To get that kid and others like him it takes proof of a commitment to the program and while there are signs of it coming it's not even being built yet. Pike mentioned the facility two times in his press conference after the game. It's is extremely important to the future of the program and we are not close to that being started yet. At the end of the day it's the players that win and we finished last because our players are not good enough.

Patience is a virtue and at Rutgers it could be a lifetime experience.The recruiting nightmare hasn't been solved since Rutgers joined the Big East and that has been a long time ago.Coaches that have been successful will tell you that recruiting was the reason why.

 

[RUJMM78]

I could go for the grad transfer version of Earl Duncan and Keith Hughes right about now. ;)

Wenzel best recruiting job and there haven't been two recruits/transfers of that talent level since.

 

[scarletrat]

Wasn't the feeling similar to or perhaps better than now after Rice year 1? Yeah, we lost 3 key seniors off of that team, but we had several commits locked up. Was similar, no--erased the feeling of the previous regime (then FHJ) by instilling defense (his switching) and tough play. We also were robbed in BET 2nd round vs Johnnies (what else is new) after beating shoe in the BET opening round, and we were so proud of how Rice handled that. Bannon and Waters year 1 were even better. We know how those ended.

I like Pikell and staff, and I am encouraged by what I saw, but that to me is due in part to what it was like under Jordan.

I have a wait and see for now. Want to see recruiting pick up. We need guys who can score, not just play D and rebound. Blue collar is good for year 1. We cannot have the same team as this year--Sanders and Freeman (as senior) are key, and we need improvement from others, but we need players for next season. LEague will be much better.

 

[bac2therac]

Wasn't the feeling similar to or perhaps better than now after Rice year 1? Yeah, we lost 3 key seniors off of that team, but we had several commits locked up. Was similar, no--erased the feeling of the previous regime (then FHJ) by instilling defense (his switching) and tough play. We also were robbed in BET 2nd round vs Johnnies (what else is new) after beating shoe in the BET opening round, and we were so proud of how Rice handled that. Bannon and Waters year 1 were even better. We know how those ended.

I like Pikell and staff, and I am encouraged by what I saw, but that to me is due in part to what it was like under Jordan.

I have a wait and see for now. Want to see recruiting pick up. We need guys who can score, not just play D and rebound. Blue collar is good for year 1. We cannot have the same team as this year--Sanders and Freeman (as senior) are key, and we need improvement from others, but we need players for next season. LEague will be much better.

yes AND he recruited a very solid class on paper after his first season but you know what derailed Rice...one Murdock torpedoed recruiting by spread the bad word about Rice..that killed recruiting where Rice was not able to follow up on that outstanding first class. So unless you are expecting some sort of scandal the natural progression should be for the program to be better...but its about recruiting...not sure we are able to land any impacts for next year but 2018 yes it is fair to hold Pikiell accountable

 

[78CollegeAve]

Hope is based on this year's progress as proof of the staff's ability and that leading to some roster attrition and open up spots for two higher quality grad transfers for 17-18 and a couple of B1G recruits in the class of '18. Not as huge a leap of faith as Gettys made.

 

[ru66]

Bac--you take yourself way too serious and you're the hostile one here--I simply point out a fact and you need to make some dumb comments --I guess you consider yourself infallible--guess what you're not and by the way why is it necessary to add to your essay ? you may have a humility problem

 

[chrisru99]

Bac--you take yourself way too serious and you're the hostile one here--I simply point out a fact and you need to make some dumb comments --I guess you consider yourself infallible--guess what you're not and by the way why is it necessary to add to your essay ? you may have a humility problem

There is a host of posters that think they are special. Only what they say is important and everyone else just does not measure up. My favorite are the many talent evaluators and then the other posters who suck up to them as being knowledgeable and in the know. If you have a different opinion they insult you because it takes 3 million posts to have street cred here.

 

[shields]

And Chris you still did not answer the question of what you expected RU to do this year.

 

[RUsince52]

Doesn't sound like much, but I'd be happy to be 500 with another win or 2 in the conference. Certainly achievable, can't imagine us being any worse shooting wise and Baker has to help. Need the other guys to step it up too. This year set the groundwork, next year will show more progress.
Fans are getting excited again.

 

[chrisru99]

And Chris you still did not answer the question of what you expected RU to do this year.

I expected us to lose big before the season started. When we starting winning I drank the cool aid like everyone else did. Since we were so bad for so long being 11-1 felt like we accomplished something. We accomplished nothing as the BIG Ten schedule showed us all.

 

[shields]

Went from 7 to 15 wins. pikes needs to recruit. Bobby hurley two years at ASU won 15 games this year.

 

[DocRU]

Frankly I don't know what to expect in the upcoming years, because when I look at the history of RU hoops, its very unpredictable.
Wenzel goes to 4 postseasons, 2 Dances, his first 4 years then
proceeds to average 11 wins a year the next 5.
Bannon goes 14 w, 19w NIT, 15w NIT, then 11w and gets fired.
Waters had the most unpredictable tenure. 18w NIT, 12w, 20w NIT, 10w, 19w NIT, then gets fired.
Then RU hires and fires 3 coaches in 10 years, Hill, Rice, and Jordan. 10 years, 130 wins, 13 wins a year. Some progression.
And except for early years Wenzel, all of this in the Big East which was just as tough as the B1G.
You know 1 spring addition can shift the whole spectrum. Who could have known that Gary Waters wins 18 games his first year right after Bannon's 11 win season and implosion?
Who's to say that Pikiel doesn't find his Jerome Coleman?

 

[chrisru99]

Patience is a virtue and at Rutgers it could be a lifetime experience.The recruiting nightmare hasn't been solved since Rutgers joined the Big East and that has been a long time ago.Coaches that have been successful will tell you that recruiting was the reason why.

You can't recruit to a dilapidated gym if compared to your competition for recruits. Facilities and recruiting go hand in hand unless your name is Harbaugh Myer or Saban and these men have better facilities than NFL teams. Where you play and where you practice matters if it did not Pike would not be mentioning them so much when he talks. I guarantee that if Pike does not have more than one shovel in the ground to show the 2018 class it will not be a good one.

 

[SOSHU]

The program is on the right track. The future trajectory is positive.

 

[RUChoppin]

I expected us to lose big before the season started. When we starting winning I drank the cool aid like everyone else did. Since we were so bad for so long being 11-1 felt like we accomplished something. We accomplished nothing as the BIG Ten schedule showed us all.

We accomplished nothing? Really don't know what team you were watching.

 

[APKnight]

We won a B1G tourney game this year unlike Maryland. NW is very good. Happy for them.

 

[Vegas pj]

you are an idiot...I have no problem saying it...you have nothing to add but digs at any of my posts....says something about you

You had me at idiot.

 

[Rhuarc]

The stuff about process and culture is horsefeathers. Yes, recruit, recruit, recruit. I do not agree about all the energy spent recruiting locally. That ship sailed many years ago. Find players in the Big Ten regions. Where do Butler and Xavier and Creighton find their players? VCU? Find them in Texas. Find them in Atlanta. Find them in Florida. The provincial recruiting strategy has never worked. And never will. Mr. Magoo recruiting.

Agree 100%. It may be easier to recruit the metro area, but they aren't buying in yet. Build on the second tier national talent, then the others will come. Just look at the lacrosse team.