The Injury Excuse

[RU_DIO]

We had almost a full roster for the first 7 games of the year.

If you look at our schedule and record even before Freeman went down, this team was really bad. These scores and the record of the teams we played are all you need to know about the Eddie Jordan era.

11/13/15 vs. Rutgers-Newark

RAC W, 72-59 20-7 Division 3!

11/15/15 vs. Howard

RAC W, 82-70 12-17

11/19/15 at St. John's

Jamaica, N.Y. L, 61-59 8-20

11/21/15 vs. Central Arkansas

RAC W, 87-84 7-17

11/23/15 vs. Creighton

Las Vegas, Nev. L, 85-75 17-11

11/25/15 vs. Clemson

Las Vegas, Nev. L, 76-58 16-12

11/30/15 vs. Wake Forest

RAC L, 69-68 11-17

Here's the link to all our scores

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/164/rutgers-scarlet-knights

 

[B1GNJHoops]

Exactly

 

[KnightDC]

Right because these guys have had years playing together; it was a roster loaded with bigbtime college veterans. Yep.

Look there are plenty of reasoanble arguments to move on from
ej. This isnt one of them.

 

[B1GNJHoops]

Right because these guys have had years playing together; it was a roster loaded with bigbtime college veterans. Yep.

Look there are plenty of reasoanble arguments to move on from
ej. This isnt one of them.

Oh, please. St. John's overhauled its entire roster and staff while we had Williams, Lewis, Daniels and Foreman back from last year and in the top 6 of the rotation. And you're not excusing single-digit wins against FDU and Central Arkansas on chemistry are you? The team thats going to win 8 Big Ten Games next Year?

Jordan's teams always play down to their opponents and quite a few times lose or get blown out by them (FDU, St. Peter's)

Seriously the St Johns game was a huge red flag. They lost to Incarnate Word, a D2 team during an exhibition by 30-40 points. And Mullin doesn't even COACH the team and our veteran NBA Coach blew the game. Our experienced GURU of a coach. St. John's had a freshman Italian shooting guard playing point guard, a freshman center, a mid-major graduate transfer, another chucker graduate transfer from Pitt and some Lavin holdovers. They were missing two freshman including future pro Yakwe. Don't argue about chemistry. Our teams under Jordan NEVER have chemistry. It's one of the red flags.

Deplorable loss in hindsight.

The Jordan fanatics will have an excuse for everything.

Rice
Facilities
Experience of team
Injuries
Not enough time to gel
Impatient fan base

Jordan's done very well for himself earning MILLIONS from his alma mater. Who else was hiring Eddie at $1.15 million per for five years?

Our new AD deserves his own coach as much as you think Eddie deserves a fourth year, which he clearly doesn't considering we are an embarrassment yet again.

 

[RU_DIO]

Right because these guys have had years playing together; it was a roster loaded with bigbtime college veterans. Yep.

Look there are plenty of reasoanble arguments to move on from
ej. This isnt one of them.

WRONG.

Your post is the point. It's year 3, and our roster doesn't have a decent amount of studs on it. We have 1 stud and another player who is a difference maker on the roster. It's up to the coach to recruit a good team. It's one of the big reasons Jordan needs to go. He can't recruit and there is nowhere near enough help coming next year.

 

[willisneverrana43]

Right because these guys have had years playing together; it was a roster loaded with bigbtime college veterans. Yep.

Look there are plenty of reasoanble arguments to move on from
ej. This isnt one of them.

Yeah, those opponents were well oiled machines.

 

[RUonBrain]

Right because these guys have had years playing together; it was a roster loaded with bigbtime college veterans. Yep.

Look there are plenty of reasoanble arguments to move on from
ej. This isnt one of them.

I totally agree with you.

I think it is time for a change, BUT...

Sanders is a MUCH better player now than he was in the first half of the season.
I would say Laurent is much better now, too.

Freshmen don't come in and play great right away.
So losing those games is not the travesty you guys are making it out to be.

If Corey was able to make a few free throws that game (he missed a lot of them); we beat St Johns. That is not Jordan's fault.

Some of you don't want to hear it, but chemistry takes time to develop, and we had so many new faces, it was going to take time to start playing better (in addition to freshmen learning how to play like sophomores by the end of the season).

Believe me - I too was frustrated by how close some of those games were against inferior opponents, and I think we should make a change (I am intrigued by Sendek), but please be realistic on our early season woes.

 

[RutgersYay]

I totally agree with you.

I think it is time for a change, BUT...

Sanders is a MUCH better player now than he was in the first half of the season.
I would say Laurent is much better now, too.

Freshmen don't come in and play great right away.
So losing those games is not the travesty you guys are making it out to be.

If Corey was able to make a few free throws that game (he missed a lot of them); we beat St Johns. That is not Jordan's fault.

Some of you don't want to hear it, but chemistry takes time to develop, and we had so many new faces, it was going to take time to start playing better (in addition to freshmen learning how to play like sophomores by the end of the season).

Believe me - I too was frustrated by how close some of those games were against inferior opponents, and I think we should make a change (I am intrigued by Sendek), but please be realistic on our early season woes.

Well, except they were up 16 and then gave up a ton of 3 point shots (as usual). Should have never been in that situation to have to make free throws if the team defended the perimeter.

 

[bac2therac]

Right because these guys have had years playing together; it was a roster loaded with bigbtime college veterans. Yep.

Look there are plenty of reasoanble arguments to move on from
ej. This isnt one of them.

St Johns was younger and more depleted in that game. It was poor coaching by Eddie letting his players play out of control with a 13 point lead and making no adjustments that lost it

ditto against Wake who played terribly all game long until they woke up in the final few minutes. A team just as young as RU

Not to mention looking like a high school team against the likes of dregs of the college world like Central Arkansas which went down to a last 3 pointer by them...a team younger than RU. Plus struggling for much of the game with 351 rated Central Conn St who is rated the worst in all of college hoops

Not to mention not even bothering to show in an embarrassing home loss to Nebraska a team who is 6-10 in league

 

[bac2therac]

WRONG.

Your post is the point. It's year 3, and our roster doesn't have a decent amount of studs on it. We have 1 stud and another player who is a difference maker on the roster. It's up to the coach to recruit a good team. It's one of the big reasons Jordan needs to go. He can't recruit and there is nowhere near enough help coming next year.

bingo..this too...Eddie has depth problems this year not just because of injuries..its because he lost 3 players to transfer plus gave one out to Goode but of course his supporters don't address roster/programent management as a way to judge progress or lack there of. They also don't want to deal in the reality of the 3 player class next year is poor for Big 10 standards

 

[78CollegeAve]

Coach Jordan put Rutgers in a position to blow the games against Wake and St Johns. And the boys came through and seized defeat from the jaws of victory.

A couple of the Jordan Classics for the inevitable ESPN 30 for 30 special entitled "The Worst P5 Team ... E-vuh!".

 

[KnightDC]

Look there are reasonable arguments for canning Eddie and moving on. But he performance at the start of the season isnt one of the. Yes the roster is not where we want it. is that entirely eddies fault? Certainly he bears a share of the blame. But how much. You cant compare RU to St Johns. The difference. Mullin inherited a stable program not a complete dumpster fire. You have to give Eddie some leeway based on how horrible the perception of RU was when he took the job. The kids we needed to rebuild the program on a 2-3 year timeframe simply were not coming to RU in the post-Rice era no matter who the coach was. That HAS to factor into Hobbs evaluation of EJ's performance. How much? On that reasonable minds can disagree. But the bile spewed here about EJ's performance as coach is naive in grossly underestimating the challenges of attracting good players to RU.

I'm not sure at this point that i would keep him simply because the public perception of the program is so bad that NOT firing him makes it even worse. Thats not really fair but you know the saying.

 

[KnightDC]

Yeah, those opponents were well oiled machines.

Whatever. I didnt analyze the rosters of our opponents. In all my years of watching RU and other major college hoops I think its fair to say that young and inexperienced teams generally play to the level of their opponent.

 

[bac2therac]

RU had 13 point leads which were lost because of coaching

 

[goru7]

RU had 13 point leads which were lost because of coaching

Bullshit. St. John's was lost for one reason and one reason only. Our guys , especially our talented freshman went 1-6 down the stretch and 3 of them were 1 and 1 opportunities.

Your hatred of Eddie has made you a blind fool..Basketball is a game of runs, it happens. Eddie didn't shoot the foul shots. You have stooped to a new low.

 

[RutgersYay]

Bullshit. St. John's was lost for one reason and one reason only. Our guys , especially our talented freshman went 1-6 down the stretch and 3 of them were 1 and 1 opportunities.

Your hatred of Eddie has made you a blind fool..Basketball is a game of runs, it happens. Eddie didn't shoot the foul shots. You have stooped to a new low.

They lost because they stopped playing team offense, they let St John's make 8 three pointers and missed free throws. This is not an aberration. 2 years ago today, Rutgers blew a 15 point lead to an awful UCF team. It

 

[RM60]

To me, this is less about the games won or lost, but more about seeing progress from the individuals, and the team as a whole. There are many teams that lack exceptional talent but show development in fundamentals, individual technique and skills, and so, they are able to play competitive ball at both ends of the court. The injuries in the front court clearly diminished Jordan's chances at more wins, however, I'm looking at the kids who are out there and have been in the program for a couple of years, and not seeing progress. Now, there are coaches who are able to get the most of their talent on their own, or with a dynamite staff. But in this case, Rutgers is lacking in both areas. Additionally, there is no class of 2016 to speak of.

So as difficult is it to hit re-set again, especially with a true Rutgers legend taking the hit, I can't imagine Hobbs going forward with this regime.

 

[bac2therac]

Um sorry..while missed free throws hurt no question...SJU repeatedly ran the same play at RU in the 2nd half with no adjustment by Eddie..in addition Eddie had his team led by Daniels play wild streetball on offense which played right into the SJu comeback

When you are up double digits and lose..thats on coaching

 

[goru7]

Um sorry..while missed free throws hurt no question...SJU repeatedly ran the same play at RU in the 2nd half with no adjustment by Eddie..in addition Eddie had his team led by Daniels play wild streetball on offense which played right into the SJu comeback

When you are up double digits and lose..thats on coaching

Go watch the tape and prove. Yourself wrong for the 100th time.

 

[bac2therac]

Individually we havent seen the progress necessary from Foreman and Williams...and we didnt see progress from Daniels and the rest of the Rice leftovers the pass 3 years. One constant is lack of defense plus Eddie has no clue how to adjust in the college game. The insistence on pushing the ball every posseasion has disasterous results yet RU kept doing it as the lead vs Minny evaporated

 

[RUChoppin]

Bullshit. St. John's was lost for one reason and one reason only. Our guys , especially our talented freshman went 1-6 down the stretch and 3 of them were 1 and 1 opportunities.

Your hatred of Eddie has made you a blind fool..Basketball is a game of runs, it happens. Eddie didn't shoot the foul shots. You have stooped to a new low.

Against SJU, we scored just 1 point over the final 3:16. We scored just 5 points over the final 7:21. We scored just 9 points over the final 11:38. Over the final 3:16, SJU scored 8 points... over the final 7:21, they scored 14... over the final 11:38, they scored 25.

So, our offense and defense went into the tank at the same time. Over the last 25% of the game, we were outscored 25-9. For the first 28 minutes of the game, we outscored them 50-36... and then the team fell apart. And where was EJ during this run? He took a timeout at 8:50.... and then another at 0:15.

 

[KnightDC]

'm looking at the kids who are out there and have been in the program for a couple of years, and not seeing progress

This makes no sense. I dont see how you separate the injuries and an evaluation of returning players. Greg Lewis is better; Mike Williams is better; DJ Foreman is better. I'd says Sanders and Laurent have improved significantly since the first part of the season. Its a little hard to gauge improvement when all 3 are forced to play extra minutes, play hurt and play out of position due to the injuries and suspensions.

 

[willisneverrana43]

To me, this is less about the games won or lost, but more about seeing progress from the individuals, and the team as a whole. . . . .

On the other hand, for me, it's about games won or lost.

 

[bac2therac]

Against SJU, we scored just 1 point over the final 3:16. We scored just 5 points over the final 7:21. We scored just 9 points over the final 11:38. Over the final 3:16, SJU scored 8 points... over the final 7:21, they scored 14... over the final 11:38, they scored 25.

So, our offense and defense went into the tank at the same time. Over the last 25% of the game, we were outscored 25-9. For the first 28 minutes of the game, we outscored them 50-36... and then the team fell apart. And where was EJ during this run? He took a timeout at 8:50.... and then another at 0:15.

thank you for looking up the facts...the lack of timeouts is a stupendous horrific display of poor coaching. Eddie thinks this is the NBA.....college kids need help

 

[willisneverrana43]

Other than being a good representative for the University, something I value, I haven't seen much of anything that Eddie does well as our head coach.

 

[B1GNJHoops]

Against SJU, we scored just 1 point over the final 3:16. We scored just 5 points over the final 7:21. We scored just 9 points over the final 11:38. Over the final 3:16, SJU scored 8 points... over the final 7:21, they scored 14... over the final 11:38, they scored 25.

So, our offense and defense went into the tank at the same time. Over the last 25% of the game, we were outscored 25-9. For the first 28 minutes of the game, we outscored them 50-36... and then the team fell apart. And where was EJ during this run? He took a timeout at 8:50.... and then another at 0:15.

Thanks for posting this. We got out coached by Mullin, who doesn't coach. All you need to know.

 

[RM60]

On the other hand, for me, it's about games won or lost.

well yes, ultimately. But hopefully your expectations this year were low. If not, you were kidding yourself.

 

[RM60]

This makes no sense. I dont see how you separate the injuries and an evaluation of returning players. Greg Lewis is better; Mike Williams is better; DJ Foreman is better. I'd says Sanders and Laurent have improved significantly since the first part of the season. Its a little hard to gauge improvement when all 3 are forced to play extra minutes, play hurt and play out of position due to the injuries and suspensions.

Haha you are kidding, right.

1. Greg Lewis is a tall guy with zero skills. Has NEVER been a player. May be a nice kid. Who knows. But he's not better. Not serviceable. Nothing.
2. DJ is modestly improved but should be a # 7 or # 8 guy. Very sloppy. Poor hands. Not much skill.
3. Williams has his moments. I'm actually very very disappointed with his lack of development. He should be better than what he is today.

And where are we headed???

 

[ScarletLongIsland]

Sorry, but a healthy Greg Lewis does not have zero skills. The guy has been an absolute warrior this year, and should be commended, not insulted, by your unintelligent post.

And I would disagree that Foreman does not have much skill.

 

[RU_DIO]

well yes, ultimately. But hopefully your expectations this year were low. If not, you were kidding yourself.

I started this post to point out to the Rainbow Club that our team was bad even with the injuries and the program isnt going to move forward with Eddie at the helm. The bright sky guys must not deal in reality. If you guys are alight with bad teams, I get it


I don't accept the losing. I want a winner.

 

[RUChoppin]

Haha you are kidding, right.

1. Greg Lewis is a tall guy with zero skills. Has NEVER been a player. May be a nice kid. Who knows. But he's not better. Not serviceable. Nothing.
2. DJ is modestly improved but should be a # 7 or # 8 guy. Very sloppy. Poor hands. Not much skill.
3. Williams has his moments. I'm actually very very disappointed with his lack of development. He should be better than what he is today.

And where are we headed???

Greg Lewis does not have zero skills, and even hobbled this year has improved on areas of his game over last year. If he were fully healthy, he'd probably average close to a double double this year.

 

[goru7]

Against SJU, we scored just 1 point over the final 3:16. We scored just 5 points over the final 7:21. We scored just 9 points over the final 11:38. Over the final 3:16, SJU scored 8 points... over the final 7:21, they scored 14... over the final 11:38, they scored 25.

So, our offense and defense went into the tank at the same time. Over the last 25% of the game, we were outscored 25-9. For the first 28 minutes of the game, we outscored them 50-36... and then the team fell apart. And where was EJ during this run? He took a timeout at 8:50.... and then another at 0:15.

How many foul shots did we miss? You conveniently left that out? If you watched the game , Eddie was coaching his ass off. They had the coaches wired and went into the huddles with Eddie and Mullins . Mullins said absolutely nothing. Eddie was coaching his young team that was playing together for the first time that early in the season. Go watch the tape. Choppin , statistics do not always tell the whole story, and they do tell a piece , but as the saying goes statistics are for losers. Watch the tape. Eddie did not melt down , the players let him down.

 

[RutgersYay]

How many foul shots did we miss? You conveniently left that out? If you watched the game , Eddie was coaching his ass off. They had the coaches wired and went into the huddles with Eddie and Mullins . Mullins said absolutely nothing. Eddie was coaching his young team that was playing together for the first time that early in the season. Go watch the tape. Choppin , statistics do not always tell the whole story, and they do tell a piece , but as the saying goes statistics are for losers. Watch the tape. Eddie did not melt down , the players let him down.

It is everybody's fault but Eddie's!

 

[goru7]

Against SJU, we scored just 1 point over the final 3:16. We scored just 5 points over the final 7:21. We scored just 9 points over the final 11:38. Over the final 3:16, SJU scored 8 points... over the final 7:21, they scored 14... over the final 11:38, they scored 25.

So, our offense and defense went into the tank at the same time. Over the last 25% of the game, we were outscored 25-9. For the first 28 minutes of the game, we outscored them 50-36... and then the team fell apart. And where was EJ during this run? He took a timeout at 8:50.... and then another at 0:15.

If Corey makes his foul shots and does not go 1-6, some one and ones , do we win? Simple yes or no would suffice.

 

[seels2662]

We all know we were going to struggle early it was practically a new team....The first year with Jack, Mack, Seagers, etc. we struggled early as well and you all were gushing over Rice then. The same thing happens with someone you don't like and its a completely different story

The only, only argument you have over the injury factor if you hate EJ is that we got killed with injuries to big men, we lose one to graduation this year, and we addded no low post player. If this happens again there is no excuse

 

[78CollegeAve]

KnightDC -- "Mullin inherited a stable program not a complete dumpster fire."

True in the big picture, but a clueless statement if made to defend the loss this season. RU had the vastly more experienced roster and more kids that had played together. Mullin was using breadcrumbs and duct tape as a roster for that game.

 

[B1GNJHoops]

Mullin had coached a grand total of 2 games before playing Rutgers. Jordan's maybe the only guy with that much experience to lose a game against a guy who was a scout the previous year.

Maybe it's on the entire staff. Enough blame to go around.

KnightDC -- "Mullin inherited a stable program not a complete dumpster fire."

True in the big picture, but a clueless statement if made to defend the loss this season. RU had the vastly more experienced roster and more kids that had played together. Mullin was using breadcrumbs and duct tape as a roster for that game.

i

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Eddie Jordan uses the injury excuse. We all understand it is an issue.

If Eddie wasn't just going through the motions he wouldn't allow his team to play at the highest pace, by far, in the B1G.

Just think about how stupid this is. We have 6 or 7 scholarship players. Instead of turning the game in to a 36 minute game we play a 44 minute game. Watching us push tempo after Illinois makes as they were making a run had to be one of the dumbest things i have ever seen in any sport. More idiotic than Seattle getting picked off in the Super Bowl at the 1. There was zero rationale for a depleted RU team to push the pace.

 

[eja92]

It is not really arguable that this year's team was decimated by injuries. That is a fact - not an excuse. What would the team have done if healthy, of course, is totally unknown and everyone can fight about that. But, I don't think it's fair to imply that EJ is using injuries as an "excuse" as if he somehow wanted this to be the case. As for how the team plays now, you could have Coach K and Phil Jackson as co-coaches and there is no way the team that was out on the floor vs. Minny could win, could dictate pace, could do better fast or do better slow. They were out-manned at every position and had no bench options to even give kids a blow.

As I have said consistently (since the day EJ was hired) - unless and until RU cares about bball from the top, nothing can change. There are more subtle ways such support could be shown, but the practice facility has rightly become the barometer. If shovels go in the ground, then we can start demanding improvement. If not, it will simply be a matter of how bad we are. That's the truth. There is no coach out there that will come to RU that will make a difference with no institutional commitment. I think Hobbs knows this and we will see the ground-breaking much sooner than people expect. If that happens, I would like to see EJ have a year with some good news to sell. That's just my opinion.

 

[Mr Magoo]

Eddie has taken never taken responsibility for any of this team's failures. He has said or implied that his team doesn't have heart, doesn't get it what it takes, doesn't try hard for rebounds, etc. and that the fans don't get it either.

In the meantime, he has the worst P5 program in the country, his best two players are suspended, and he has probably the weakest class in the B1G coming in next year.

I'm sure he didn't "want" these injuries to occur, but a person like this is surely going to to use it as an excuse. Just look at his track record - he's filled with excuses and has never been accountable or taken responsibility for any of this mess.