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Still better off without Spencer & Mulcahy

Anyone thinking a team doesn't "miss" experienced players hasn't listened to Pike saying multiple times that" older" teams are harder to beat. We miss these experienced players but after Mag's injury neither Paul or Cam could stop the losses . Both seemed to fade .
 
They also have a point guard who can distribute, with wheeler averaging 10.6 assists per 100 possessions. Our closest to that is Simpson with 6.7.

Even Mulcahy is getting 8.4 playing mostly off ball.

Out of curiosity, what is Davis in the same comparison......😁
 
Out of curiosity, what is Davis in the same comparison......😁
Per 100 possessions:

DS: 6.7 ast / 4.2 tov (1.59 ast/tov)... 22.7 pts
JD: 6.4 ast / 3.1 tov (2.06 ast/tov)... 13.9 pts
NF: 4.5 ast / 3.1 tov (1.48 ast/tov)... 17.3 pts

Compared to last year
PM: 9.2 ast / 3.7 tov (2.45 ast/tov)... 15.5 pts
CS: 5.9 ast / 2.6 tov (2.28 ast/tov)... 25.3 pts
DS: 4.4 ast / 2.7 tov (1.61 ast/tov)... 21.5 pts

imo, we need to lean more on DS/JD than we do on NF at the point right now. Simpson can play the 2G spot alongside Davis, or the 1G spot alongside Williams. Until NF/GG can figure things out, I think they need to be kept around 10 mpg.
 
Both guys are good players but they moved on and that's fine with me .
If we get guard play like we did against Howard, we won't miss either.
Noah and Simpson should def be the starters with Davis in first. I see Williams as the 4th guard. All 3 can shoot off the dribble and create for themselves which Cam and PM couldn't do.
If Simpson can become a consistent double digit scorer then we are better then we were last year for sure
Davis could be the recruiting steal of the year in the big ten
Before Mag got hurt last year we were an NCAA Tournament team. With Mag, Paul and Spencer all back (and older) this year we would definitely make the Tournament. We are currently not a tournament team, hence, we are not better without them - pretty simple.
 
bad take, there is no evidence to suggest this years team has a higher ceiling. RUs ceiling last year got cut short by the Mag injury which would have been the ncaa tourney so what are you even talking about
Why deal in hypotheticals like 'If we had Mag, then ..."? Let's deal in facts and reality. Fact is last year's team made the NIT and lost in the first round. Let's see where this team ends up before you do a victory lap on my take.
 
Washington doesn't have anything different than what most schools have, which are guards who drive, penetrate and try to score. Once Mike Hopkins realizes what those guards present in terms of tempo and role in the offense, Mulcahy is not playing PG at Washington and would not be playing exclusively at PG at RU.

His role is best suited off the ball and to be a corner 3 point shooter and to play a couple of possessions on the ball.

Once you also factor in the financial aspect of NIL and what that is, Washington paid the most and that's where he went. Just because they paid the most, doesn't mean they're going to get the most production out of the player.

It comes down to roles and responsibilities and his minutes, points and production are down across the board, which is expected when the minutes are cut from the 32 range last year, to where its been recently at Washington, which is in the 20 to 22 minute range. NIL comes into play, based on need and production and who are the alternatives that can produce in the same amount of minutes the player would be expected to play.

Can RU get similar or better production without a large amount of NIL money being spent?? The answer so far for this year and beyond this year into 2024-25, is yes.
He would be playing PG at RU right now without hesitation. The 3 we have are failing so far. Paul is far from perfect, but be might be enough to move us from a high 200s ranked offense to somewhere in the mid 100s. Still way below where we need to be, but much higher than the nonsense we are watching now
 
He would be playing PG at RU right now without hesitation. The 3 we have are failing so far. Paul is far from perfect, but be might be enough to move us from a high 200s ranked offense to somewhere in the mid 100s. Still way below where we need to be, but much higher than the nonsense we are watching now

Maybe / Maybe not much better. With PM as point guard last season and arguably a much better rotation with Caleb and Cam, the team was close to 200 in Offensive efficiency last season. While the offense scheme is not Iowa.... the team this season is missing a lot of open shots, many even spot-up in rhythm.
 
He would be playing PG at RU right now without hesitation. The 3 we have are failing so far. Paul is far from perfect, but be might be enough to move us from a high 200s ranked offense to somewhere in the mid 100s. Still way below where we need to be, but much higher than the nonsense we are watching now
You can’t be serious. Who exactly would Paul be playing PG over? He lost the job to Simpson at the end of last season.
 
You can’t be serious. Who exactly would Paul be playing PG over? He lost the job to Simpson at the end of last season.
He was playing hurt all last season. Never got to rest because they couldn't afford him missing games.

You can't honestly tell us that based on what you've seen this year from the guards that you would take them over Paul.
 
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He was playing hurt all last season. Never got to rest because they couldn't afford him missing games.

You can't honestly tell us that based on what you've seen this year from the guards that you would take them over Paul.
Being hurt or not has nothing to do with it. He’s a small forward. Doesn’t have the skill set of a true power 5 PG. Why do you think he lost his job to SImpson at the end of last year and isn’t playing PG at Washington? I absolutely prefer our options this year and, guess what, so does Pike.
 
Being hurt or not has nothing to do with it. He’s a small forward. Doesn’t have the skill set of a true power 5 PG. Why do you think he lost his job to SImpson at the end of last year and isn’t playing PG at Washington? I absolutely prefer our options this year and, guess what, so does Pike.
Simpson replaced Hyatt in the starting lineup end of season and both Simpson and Paul played a ton of minutes. It's not like Simpson became a starter and Paul was relegated to a small bench role

If you don't think Pike wishes he had Paul this year, that's insanity
 
Being hurt or not has nothing to do with it. He’s a small forward. Doesn’t have the skill set of a true power 5 PG. Why do you think he lost his job to SImpson at the end of last year and isn’t playing PG at Washington? I absolutely prefer our options this year and, guess what, so does Pike.

Just because you say something doesn’t make it true. Paul played plenty of PG during his RU career and at times played exceptionally well. He was clearly hurt last year and it was a shame that’s how the season and career ended, but his time at RU will be remembered fondly in the end despite the circumstance of his departure.
 
Being hurt or not has nothing to do with it. He’s a small forward. Doesn’t have the skill set of a true power 5 PG. Why do you think he lost his job to SImpson at the end of last year and isn’t playing PG at Washington? I absolutely prefer our options this year and, guess what, so does Pike.
He didn't lose any minutes last year to Simpson. We lost a starter in Mag, and after a lot of trial and error and under performance by Hyatt, Pike ended up moving McConnell to the four and Mulcahy to the three.

With Spencer starting the last two games, Mulcahy was still the primary distributor and Simpson took on the role of slasher. In the Big 10 tournament, Mulcahy had 10 assists to Simpson's 3.
 
Being hurt or not has nothing to do with it. He’s a small forward. Doesn’t have the skill set of a true power 5 PG. Why do you think he lost his job to SImpson at the end of last year and isn’t playing PG at Washington? I absolutely prefer our options this year and, guess what, so does Pike.
Thanks for confirming you have no idea what you're talking about.
 
He didn't lose any minutes last year to Simpson. We lost a starter in Mag, and after a lot of trial and error and under performance by Hyatt, Pike ended up moving McConnell to the four and Mulcahy to the three.

With Spencer starting the last two games, Mulcahy was still the primary distributor and Simpson took on the role of slasher. In the Big 10 tournament, Mulcahy had 10 assists to Simpson's 3.
I didn’t say Paul got benched for Simpson, I said Simpson replaced him at PG. Just because Paul lead the team in assists doesn’t make him a PG. Nikola Jokic is one of the assist leaders in the NBA and he’s a 7 ft center. As you said he was moved to the 3 in the post season. The problem with Paul is he just doesn’t score enough and isn’t a good enough ball handler and playmaker to be a PG. Sorry to burst your bubble but if he stayed he wouldn’t be a primary PG.
 
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I didn’t say Paul got benched for Simpson, I said Simpson replaced him at PG. Just because Paul lead the team in assists doesn’t make him a PG. Nikola Jokic is one of the assist leaders in the NBA and he’s a 7 ft center. As you said he was moved to the 3 in the post season. The problem with Paul is he just doesn’t score enough and isn’t a good enough ball handler and playmaker to be a PG. Sorry to burst your bubble but if he stayed he wouldn’t be a primary PG.

Actually - Paul is at his best when surrounded by good ball handlers who aren’t great distributors. He’s an excellent point forward and would ultimately be used in this capacity this season at Rutgers with success because we don’t have good ball distributing PGs. They are all quick and solid ball handlers but not great passers. And plus we have very little depth at forward. Paul would play 30 mpg on this roster without question. Anyone who thinks otherwise is living in a bubble. Pike doesn’t WANT to play two tiny guards together for long stretches. He thought Paul and Cam were going to be here and then suddenly they weren’t. Davis and Noah were supposed to replace Miller and Caleb respectively.
 
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I didn’t say Paul got benched for Simpson, I said Simpson replaced him at PG. Just because Paul lead the team in assists doesn’t make him a PG. Nikola Jokic is one of the assist leaders in the NBA and he’s a 7 ft center. As you said he was moved to the 3 in the post season. The problem with Paul is he just doesn’t score enough and isn’t a good enough ball handler and playmaker to be a PG. Sorry to burst your bubble but if he stayed he wouldn’t be a primary PG.
But Mulcahy was still the primary distributor and playmaker even when Simpson started alongside him. The difference was that Simpson didn't have the size to guard a SF, but had better speed to guard a PG.

On offense, Simpson was a slasher/penetrator looking to get into the paint to score, not to distribute. Mulcahy was still the one making plays for the rest of the team as a point forward.

I liked the starting five that we ended with last year, and wish the musical chairs had landed there a couple games sooner. A slasher, a shooter, a point forward, a lockdown defender, and a shot blocking dunk machine.
 
Actually - Paul is at his best when surrounded by good ball handlers who aren’t great distributors. He’s an excellent point forward and would ultimately be used in this capacity this season at Rutgers with success because we don’t have good ball distributing PGs. They are all quick and solid ball handlers but not great passers. And plus we have very little depth at forward. Paul would play 30 mpg on this roster without question. Anyone who thinks otherwise is living in a bubble. Pike doesn’t WANT to play two tiny guards together for long stretches. He thought Paul and Cam were going to be here and then suddenly they weren’t. Davis and Noah were supposed to replace Miller and Caleb respectively.
Paul would be at his best if he was playing at a Bucknell or Lehigh. You’re looking at only one aspect of his game (passing). You have to look at the totality of the player and how he fits in and contributes to the team. Sorry, but his role and minutes would have been meaningfully reduced if he stayed for all the reasons that have been stated on this board many times.
Just look at his stats at Washington. When they started the meat of their schedule his minutes were severely cut. He hasn’t played anywhere close to 30 minutes in the last eight games. As a matter of fact, the last four games has been under 22 min. He just doesn’t bring enough to the table on a power 5 team. He would literally be the lowest scoring player in the lineup and you can’t carry a player like that if the only thing they’re good at is passing. It’s not like he’s an elite defender, rebounder or ball handler either.
 
What matters is the players on this seasons team. They are lacking in offensive talent to create and make shots off the dribble.The half court Rutgers offense is run in playgrounds without the talent to make baskets.
 
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Before Mag got hurt last year we were an NCAA Tournament team. With Mag, Paul and Spencer all back (and older) this year we would definitely make the Tournament. We are currently not a tournament team, hence, we are not better without them - pretty simple.
Through 15 games last year we also averaged 72 ppg.- this year 68 ppg., and Paul, Cam, Mag and Cliff are a year older, and Hyatt gives you more offense than Caleb. You would think with Paul and Cam back, and with the others' additional year of experience that we would be averaging a few points more this year than last, at least somewhere in the 75-76 point range. That's 7-8 points more than we are currently averaging. How many more reasons do you need to see we were a substantially better team with Paul and Cam?
 
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Paul would be at his best if he was playing at a Bucknell or Lehigh. You’re looking at only one aspect of his game (passing). You have to look at the totality of the player and how he fits in and contributes to the team. Sorry, but his role and minutes would have been meaningfully reduced if he stayed for all the reasons that have been stated on this board many times.
Just look at his stats at Washington. When they started the meat of their schedule his minutes were severely cut. He hasn’t played anywhere close to 30 minutes in the last eight games. As a matter of fact, the last four games has been under 22 min. He just doesn’t bring enough to the table on a power 5 team. He would literally be the lowest scoring player in the lineup and you can’t carry a player like that if the only thing they’re good at is passing. It’s not like he’s an elite defender, rebounder or ball handler either.
Sorry this is just wrong. Paul was a significant piece on a power 5 team that made multiple tournaments.

You can say that he went to the wrong situation or that he had plateaud at Rutgers then I'd agree.
 
Through 15 games last year we also averaged 72 ppg.- this year 68 ppg., and Paul, Cam, Mag and Cliff are a year older, and Hyatt gives you more offense than Caleb. You would think with Paul and Cam back, and with the others' additional year of experience that we would be averaging a few points more this year than last, at least somewhere in the 75-76 point range. That's 7-8 points more than we are currently averaging. How many more reasons do you need to see we were a substantially better team with Paul and Cam?
You’d think if Paul and Cam, especially as seniors, were that good they would have stepped up and made up for the loss of Mag. They didn’t, the team dropped off and went into a tailspin.
What you’re really saying is Mag was the more important difference maker of the three. Luckily we hung onto him.
 
You’d think if Paul and Cam, especially as seniors, were that good they would have stepped up and made up for the loss of Mag. They didn’t, the team dropped off and went into a tailspin.
What you’re really saying is Mag was the more important difference maker of the three. Luckily we hung onto him.
You're probably right, but everything else still points to us being a better team today with Paul and Cam, and by a lot.
 
You’d think if Paul and Cam, especially as seniors, were that good they would have stepped up and made up for the loss of Mag. They didn’t, the team dropped off and went into a tailspin.
What you’re really saying is Mag was the more important difference maker of the three. Luckily we hung onto him.
You can't make up for the loss certain skill sets; you have to adapt and become a different team that makes do without those skill sets.

We did not have the depth last year to make up for the loss of Mag, and it took time to figure out how to be a completely different team that ran with four guards and a center.

Mag was very important last year, because we had no depth behind him. Mulcahy, Spencer, McConnell, and Omoruyi were also very important for the same reason. We had very little role redundancy. Once Mag went down, our non-center depth essentially became Palmquist and Miller.
 
Weashington would gladly give us Paul back
He is fifth in minutes played for a team that has one more win than us. He is averaging 6 ppg. on very few shots taken. He leads them in assists with two more than the next player. He is second on the team in steals, and he is seven inches taller than NF. I'm sure they would jump at the chance to trade him for Noah Fernandez. It's incredible how little you know.
 
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I said earlier he had an agenda which he denied. He just keeps proving it to be true.
I don’t understand people. Paul didn’t have to come to rutgers. He did and while he was here we were pretty much an ncaa team for four years after not being in four 3 decades. He also contributed to the community. People forget but there are quite a few games Paul took over and won for us including msu at the Garden. I don’t know why he left. I don’t buy into the speculation. So many people on these boards are full of shit. As a fan I appreciate him immensely and wish him nothing but the best.
 
I don’t understand people. Paul didn’t have to come to rutgers. He did and while he was here we were pretty much an ncaa team for four years after not being in four 3 decades. He also contributed to the community. People forget but there are quite a few games Paul took over and won for us including msu at the Garden. I don’t know why he left. I don’t buy into the speculation. So many people on these boards are full of shit. As a fan I appreciate him immensely and wish him nothing but the best.
A lot of truth in this post. Especially the full of sh!t part.
 
I don’t understand people. Paul didn’t have to come to rutgers. He did and while he was here we were pretty much an ncaa team for four years after not being in four 3 decades. He also contributed to the community. People forget but there are quite a few games Paul took over and won for us including msu at the Garden. I don’t know why he left. I don’t buy into the speculation. So many people on these boards are full of shit. As a fan I appreciate him immensely and wish him nothing but the best.
Thank you for some sanity
 
Cam was a big loss. Paul not so much. He is averaging 5.9 points per game and 3.9 assists
 
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