The importance of upperclassmen

[Degaz-RU]

We see it every year. Mid-major teams seeded 11, 12, 13, 14 in the NCAA tournament knock off higher ranked teams and then make magical runs to Elite 8 (or better). What is the common denominator in these types of runs?

Upperclassmen.

Usually, these mid-major success stories are built on teams having upperclassmen who have played together for 3 or 4 years, and their "teams" are often better than the younger, high-major program that, on paper, has more "talent."

How is this related to Rutgers, you ask?

Well, I feel like we finally have a team that has a good core of upperclassmen that are the statistical and emotional leaders of this team. Sanders, Freeman, Williams, Sa, even Doorson. This is the first time in years when we will have this many upperclassmen playing significant minutes. The trio of Sanders, Freeman, and Williams are three of the top five players on this team, and they are all guys who would play on most other high-major teams, and would start on many high-major teams.

Will this result in an NCAA bid this year? Highly unlikely because of the lack of scoring punch. But I think this core will surprise the B1G media who collectively picked us for 14th place again. Mind you, I don't blame them for picking us 14th, but much like the mid-majors who surprise in the tourney, I think we are going to surprise everyone in the B1G and finish somewhere in the 10 range.

You heard it hear first.

 

[soundcrib]

I'll say it again. Corey stays...we dance next year.

 

[vascosg]

If Pike uses our new found speed to run, which is the style he prefers, we may be able to score more in transition. Add to that some penetration by our Guards, a tad more from the three point line and foul line, maybe we add 8-10 ppg? given our defense this could be a major difference

 

[bowlgoal]

Your assessment would typically be the case if we had a little more fire power behind the upperclassmen. Especially with an upperclassmen back court. I think we have a chance for post season but NIT. It would also take a few big surprise wins to happen, like 9 Big Ten wins versus the 7 I'm hoping we will at least have to give us 17 wins. It comes down to staying healthy, hitting our FT's (believe it not) and a few guys having monster years.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Your assessment would typically be the case if we had a little more fire power behind the upperclassmen. Especially with an upperclassmen back court. I think we have a chance for post season but NIT. It would also take a few big surprise wins to happen, like 9 Big Ten wins versus the 7 I'm hoping we will at least have to give us 17 wins. It comes down to staying healthy, hitting our FT's (believe it not) and a few guys having monster years.

Yeah, I agree with the firepower comment. It's why I'm merely picking us to finish around 10th, rather than picking us to make the NIT or NCAA tourney. That said, if EVERYTHING falls right this year, I don't rule out either. The problem is that "everything" very rarely falls right on any team.

 

[RUJMM78]

Teams with fire power from lower level leagues often surprise more highly rated teams in early rounds of the NCAA.Rutgers needs 3 point shooters to stop opponents from playing zone defense.

 

[bowlgoal]

Your assessment would typically be the case if we had a little more fire power behind the upperclassmen. Especially with an upperclassmen back court. I think we have a chance for post season but NIT. It would also take a few big surprise wins to happen, like 9 Big Ten wins versus the 7 I'm hoping we will at least have to give us 17 wins. It comes down to staying healthy, hitting our FT's (believe it not) and a few guys having monster years.

Yeah, I agree with the firepower comment. It's why I'm merely picking us to finish around 10th, rather than picking us to make the NIT or NCAA tourney. That said, if EVERYTHING falls right this year, I don't rule out either. The problem is that "everything" very rarely falls right on any team.

I think clearly the first step is finishing above .500 overall which is something we haven’t done in years. If we get more it’s gravy. Not asking for the world this year. I think we can make the tourney in 2019

 

[Degaz-RU]

I think clearly the first step is finishing above .500 overall which is something we haven’t done in years. If we get more it’s gravy. Not asking for the world this year. I think we can make the tourney in 2019

Well, see, that's the thing. We lose Freeman, Williams, Sa, and probably Corey after this year, and although we backfill with some good talent, it's not going to be upper class talent that has been together for 2-3 years. I think our best chance of making noise in the next three seasons is as follows (in order of likliehood of making the most noise):

- 2019-20 (two years from now when Shaq Carter, Thiam, and Omoruyi are seniors; Geo, Kiss, and Doucoure are juniors; and Mathis and Harper are sophs.
- 2017-18 (this year)
- 2018-19 (next year)

In other words, I think we have a better chance of making noise this year than next year (since we will be somewhat rebuilding next year), but a better chance of making noise the year after that.

 

[e5fdny]

We see it every year. Mid-major teams seeded 11, 12, 13, 14 in the NCAA tournament knock off higher ranked teams and then make magical runs to Elite 8 (or better). What is the common denominator in these types of runs?

Upperclassmen.

Usually, these mid-major success stories are built on teams having upperclassmen who have played together for 3 or 4 years, and their "teams" are often better than the younger, high-major program that, on paper, has more "talent."

How is this related to Rutgers, you ask?

Well, I feel like we finally have a team that has a good core of upperclassmen that are the statistical and emotional leaders of this team. Sanders, Freeman, Williams, Sa, even Doorson. This is the first time in years when we will have this many upperclassmen playing significant minutes. The trio of Sanders, Freeman, and Williams are three of the top five players on this team, and they are all guys who would play on most other high-major teams, and would start on many high-major teams.

Will this result in an NCAA bid this year? Highly unlikely because of the lack of scoring punch. But I think this core will surprise the B1G media who collectively picked us for 14th place again. Mind you, I don't blame them for picking us 14th, but much like the mid-majors who surprise in the tourney, I think we are going to surprise everyone in the B1G and finish somewhere in the 10 range.

You heard it hear first.

Is this the Geico Insurance version of a thread? ;)

 

[jellyman]

Well, see, that's the thing. We lose Freeman, Williams, Sa, and probably Corey after this year, and although we backfill with some good talent, it's not going to be upper class talent that has been together for 2-3 years. I think our best chance of making noise in the next three seasons is as follows (in order of likliehood of making the most noise):

- 2019-20 (two years from now when Shaq Carter, Thiam, and Omoruyi are seniors; Geo, Kiss, and Doucoure are juniors; and Mathis and Harper are sophs.
- 2017-18 (this year)
- 2018-19 (next year)

In other words, I think we have a better chance of making noise this year than next year (since we will be somewhat rebuilding next year), but a better chance of making noise the year after that.

This post makes a lot of sense ... unless by some miracle Sanders comes back for a 4th season (which seems unlikely to me, but who knows, crazier things have happened).

 

[Scarlet Shack]

We see it every year. Mid-major teams seeded 11, 12, 13, 14 in the NCAA tournament knock off higher ranked teams and then make magical runs to Elite 8 (or better). What is the common denominator in these types of runs?

Upperclassmen.

Usually, these mid-major success stories are built on teams having upperclassmen who have played together for 3 or 4 years, and their "teams" are often better than the younger, high-major program that, on paper, has more "talent."

How is this related to Rutgers, you ask?

Well, I feel like we finally have a team that has a good core of upperclassmen that are the statistical and emotional leaders of this team. Sanders, Freeman, Williams, Sa, even Doorson. This is the first time in years when we will have this many upperclassmen playing significant minutes. The trio of Sanders, Freeman, and Williams are three of the top five players on this team, and they are all guys who would play on most other high-major teams, and would start on many high-major teams.

Will this result in an NCAA bid this year? Highly unlikely because of the lack of scoring punch. But I think this core will surprise the B1G media who collectively picked us for 14th place again. Mind you, I don't blame them for picking us 14th, but much like the mid-majors who surprise in the tourney, I think we are going to surprise everyone in the B1G and finish somewhere in the 10 range.

You heard it hear first.

Remember ...I predicted we dance this year in October of last year

Big reason why I said that is upperclassmen leadership and experience on the court

Think we have a shot...know it's anything but cut and dry, but a shot, in large part because I think we get some serious senioritis from deshawn and mike, and Corey plays like a 2 year starter and makes that big jump

 

[Degaz-RU]

Remember ...I predicted we dance this year in October of last year

Big reason why I said that is upperclassmen leadership and experience on the court

Think we have a shot...know it's anything but cut and dry, but a shot, in large part because I think we get some serious senioritis from deshawn and mike, and Corey plays like a 2 year starter and makes that big jump

You know, if Corey gets his jump shot back, Geo scores 9-10 ppg,
Doucoure is a force down low, Freeman continues to progress with his mid-range jumper, and we continue progress with defense and rebounding, I can't rule out the tourney.

But everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, has to align.

 

[higgins3]

Remember ...I predicted we dance this year in October of last year

Big reason why I said that is upperclassmen leadership and experience on the court

Think we have a shot...know it's anything but cut and dry, but a shot, in large part because I think we get some serious senioritis from deshawn and mike, and Corey plays like a 2 year starter and makes that big jump

I would love to see it happen. Still think it's kind of ambitious after the team finished in fourteenth last year. We shall see. Everything has to align. The solar system is a funky place lately.