The truth about Eddie

[ouchmyknee]

it seems like every thread has some mention of Eddie not being a good coach. But this shouldn't be something we're just learning now. When EJ was hired, he was already considered a bad head coach in the NB (some articles even lumping him with Isiah Thomas as being one of the worst players turned coaches). So, expecting him to come to RU as an amazing coach was unrealistic. Eddie was a good assistant coach and a bad head coach. We can only hope that he gets better or surrounds himself with better assistants.

i personally think it would've been worth taking a flyer on hiring Kevin Boyle or Hurley Sr. Both knew how to run a program, were good coaches, and were able to recruit locally and even nationally. I don't think we'd be in any worse position with either of those guys.

 

[ColonelRutgers]

Hire a high school coach to lead a Big Ten Conference program. Uh, no thanks. Boyle couldn't even follow the rules at the high school level and you want to trust him leading Rutgers? Jordan was probably the only real choice we had at the time given our unwillingness to spend any money to try to convince someone like Ben Howland to come here. All things considered Eddie is doing a lousy job but I can't second guess the decision at the time especially if the option is a high school coach.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I hope Ohio does read this post.

 

[rufeelinit]

But we did spend money. Aren't we paying him like 1.25MM for five years? They guy was making 400K as a second row assistant with the Lakers. I realize most BIG schools pay more but that is a pretty big bump. If it was not for his involvement with the storied 76 team we would have never hired him based solely on his credentials. Of course the circumstances around Rice and the lack of having an AD in place made it less than an optimal coaching search situation. The biggest question I always had about him was did he really want this job given that he had been away from the college game for such a long time and passed at an earlier point when we were looking to replace I think Fred Hill.

 

[Local Shill]

Hiring a high school coach would have obviously been nuts, but it's so bad now I can't imagine we'd be worse if Kevin Boyle or Hurley Sr. were in charge.

 

[RocktheRac]

Agree, High school coach hiring going into the B1G was a bad idea. EJ was the only option. Though some here thought he could turn it around. It's year 3 with no sign of progress. we are actually regressing. Next year is the turnaround to get to 15 wins. After that he is gone in my books.

 

[Ole Cabbagehead]

I tend to agree. We had no options and a team full of players with very questionable work ethic. You have to flush that through and get to where the pieces fit together and you have kids willing to play hard, run a system, and play tough defense. This year was supposed to be the first year of that, and I think we saw it the first few games.

Now it looks like the team cannot recover from the St. Johns loss. They are right back to the lazy, disinterested, unintelligent and generally hard to watch basketball we saw Eddie's first 2 years. Next year is still the year to judge EJ, but it is getting more than a little scary seeing the way this team is playing and the fact that his uptick in recruiting seems to have fizzled.

 

[bac2therac]

his assistant staff leaves ALOT to be desired, this isn't of staff you need to take on a colossal undertaking and Im convinced we need a guy who eats, lives and breathes basketball 24/7 as head coach to turn it around

 

[RUJMM78]

The first 3 games at home against mediocre competition caused some fans to think that meaningful change was in the works .Sadly, playing on the road quickly brings fans back to reality watching a team that plays poor defense and inconsistent offense.

 

[OntheBanks]

You need stability in your program to progress. You don't replace 2 Sr starters with a freshman & JC transfer easily even if they are
potentially more talented than those they are replacing. The team has been in transition since EJ took over. We've had many transfers, both in and out. Right now the chemistry is not there. We're not going the win the B1G Championship this year. We all know that. Let's just give this some time to jell and hope that we get better and progress up the ladder a few spots in the standings.

 

[RocktheRac]

You need stability in your program to progress. You don't replace 2 Sr starters with a freshman & JC transfer easily even if they are
potentially more talented than those they are replacing. The team has been in transition since EJ took over. We've had many transfers, both in and out. Right now the chemistry is not there. We're not going the win the B1G Championship this year. We all know that. Let's just give this some time to jell and hope that we get better and progress up the ladder a few spots in the standings.

We've been waiting 25 years. Every year there is a new excuse. The telltale sign that this program is not going anywhere is evident.

 

[goru7]

The first 3 games at home against mediocre competition caused some fans to think that meaningful change was in the works .Sadly, playing on the road quickly brings fans back to reality watching a team that plays poor defense and inconsistent offense.

I watched the Creighton game and second half of the Clemson game and I am baffled. Why go cross country to Vegas to play no defense , with no intensity, with no purpose. The first half against Creighton Corey put on a show but they left their wing shooter open for shot after shot on his way to a career high 25 points. The lack of effort and failure to go after loose balls and go for a damn rebound is all about heart and why this new group and returning players Daniels, Lewis, Williams and Foreman fail to have it has to fall on Eddie. Either he did not recruit the right players or he isn't demanding it in practice or in the games. At home they are a little better but on the road where there are no fans the coach has to be the voice that rides them to play tough defense, go for loose balls and rebound.
We are screwed without Corey because Corey and Freeman are 2 guys that play with effort, have smart Bball IQ, and are unselfish, pass first players. The lack of development of Lewis, Diallo, or getting almost nothing from Goode, Grier and Laurent is painful and falls on the staff. Eddie's failure to bring in a great coaching staff with passion and his failure to listen to them during the games is also a failure. If I Am an assistant watching the Vegas games I am going nuts on these guys either on the court or when they get to the sidelines.
Going forward Eddie has to change his ways. Lewis has to come off the bench because he is playing like a silly freshman picking up fouls not like a fifth year senior. Someone has to get in Daniels grill and tell him to act like a senior . Watching him not play defense, and not go for loose balls or rebound with his athletic ability is criminal. Sell him on how coming off the bench and spark the team will make the team better. His selfish ways have to end.
More than anything Eddie has to demand defense and rebounding . The effort on defense for most of the St. John's game was some of the best in years so we know they are capable. Eddie either changes or gets the players to change or he is toast.

 

[RocktheRac]

At the court club meeting EJ said his team will play offense like the Spurs. LOL

 

[Unionst]

At the court club meeting EJ said his team will play offense like the Spurs. LOL

it seems like every thread has some mention of Eddie not being a good coach. But this shouldn't be something we're just learning now. When EJ was hired, he was already considered a bad head coach in the NB (some articles even lumping him with Isiah Thomas as being one of the worst players turned coaches). So, expecting him to come to RU as an amazing coach was unrealistic. Eddie was a good assistant coach and a bad head coach. We can only hope that he gets better or surrounds himself with better assistants.

i personally think it would've been worth taking a flyer on hiring Kevin Boyle or Hurley Sr. Both knew how to run a program, were good coaches, and were able to recruit locally and even nationally. I don't think we'd be in any worse position with either of those guys.

I watched the Creighton game and second half of the Clemson game and I am baffled. Why go cross country to Vegas to play no defense , with no intensity, with no purpose. The first half against Creighton Corey put on a show but they left their wing shooter open for shot after shot on his way to a career high 25 points. The lack of effort and failure to go after loose balls and go for a damn rebound is all about heart and why this new group and returning players Daniels, Lewis, Williams and Foreman fail to have it has to fall on Eddie. Either he did not recruit the right players or he isn't demanding it in practice or in the games. At home they are a little better but on the road where there are no fans the coach has to be the voice that rides them to play tough defense, go for loose balls and rebound.
We are screwed without Corey because Corey and Freeman are 2 guys that play with effort, have smart Bball IQ, and are unselfish, pass first players. The lack of development of Lewis, Diallo, or getting almost nothing from Goode, Grier and Laurent is painful and falls on the staff. Eddie's failure to bring in a great coaching staff with passion and his failure to listen to them during the games is also a failure. If I Am an assistant watching the Vegas games I am going nuts on these guys either on the court or when they get to the sidelines.
Going forward Eddie has to change his ways. Lewis has to come off the bench because he is playing like a silly freshman picking up fouls not like a fifth year senior. Someone has to get in Daniels grill and tell him to act like a senior . Watching him not play defense, and not go for loose balls or rebound with his athletic ability is criminal. Sell him on how coming off the bench and spark the team will make the team better. His selfish ways have to end.
More than anything Eddie has to demand defense and rebounding . The effort on defense for most of the St. John's game was some of the best in years so we know they are capable. Eddie either changes or gets the players to change or he is toast.

It's about talent! To think a coach can turn weak players into stars is just wrong. Recognize what we have - extremely limited talent! As a floor coach I actually think Eddie is pretty good. But he is not going to turn these guys into stars with perhaps Sanders as the exception. Clearly recruiting needs to improve a ton.

 

[RU-ROCS]

his assistant staff leaves ALOT to be desired, this isn't of staff you need to take on a colossal undertaking and Im convinced we need a guy who eats, lives and breathes basketball 24/7 as head coach to turn it around

Agreed!

 

[SleepingGiantIsAwake]

goru nailed it Honestly, no exaggeration, this could be the worst defensive team at the college level I've ever seen. Other than Sanders and Williams there's a bunch of clueless matadors playing D. Bunch of marshmellos!!! SOFT!!! The kids and the coaching staff should be embarrassed by the lack of effort.

Not that I like losing, but losing without at least giving 100% effort is totally unacceptable. At least play hard guys!!!!!!!

 

[goru7]

It's about talent! To think a coach can turn weak players into stars is just wrong. Recognize what we have - extremely limited talent! As a floor coach I actually think Eddie is pretty good. But he is not going to turn these guys into stars with perhaps Sanders as the exception. Clearly recruiting needs to improve a ton.

Union St, will definitely agree we need better talent. Sanders and Freeman are a start. But defense, rebounding , going after loose balls has to due with effort, heart and Bball IQ. That can either be instinctive or it can be taught, coached or demanded for playing time..Eddie has to become a bad ass!!

 

[mikemarc1]

We need a new basketball coach WAY worse than we need a new football coach.

(And we need a new football coach badly).

 

[Scarlet Shack]

I hear the criticism and we can debate it all you want but the reality is on the court

Year 3...he has pieces and they are young
Year 4,,;starting to grow up

I'm watching closely to see if this team is better in march than November this year. There should be signs of this if Eddie is a good coach as the players get 20-25 games under there belt

And year four MUST show improvement...

 

[TDIrish27]

The reality is that EJ is going to be the HBC for at least the next 2 years so it would IMO make sense to support him and the players for the next 2 years and see where they are at that point in time.

 

[rufeelinit]

The reality is that EJ is going to be the HBC for at least the next 2 years so it would IMO make sense to support him and the players for the next 2 years and see where they are at that point in time.

I certainly agree with this. After watching how this Flood debacle is now expected to turn out there is no way we are eating multiple years at 1.25 per even if it is rather clear we don't have the right guy.

 

[ruman]

The reality is that EJ is going to be the HBC for at least the next 2 years so it would IMO make sense to support him and the players for the next 2 years and see where they are at that point in time.

Or drop following the program all together, like the rest of the fans from the mid 90's. I'm rapidly reaching that point for both sports.

 

[bac2therac]

I hear the criticism and we can debate it all you want but the reality is on the court

Year 3...he has pieces and they are young
Year 4,,;starting to grow up

I'm watching closely to see if this team is better in march than November this year. There should be signs of this if Eddie is a good coach as the players get 20-25 games under there belt

And year four MUST show improvement...

here is the problem...no recruits for 2016, yes I know we have Johnson playing next year. Freeman is gone after next year so that's big big problem given no replacement, it means that any progress made next year may actually go backwards next year. It will be to recruit off another 10 win season this year. I see too many roles players on this team, yes they are young but these aren't the type of players that will move the needle

 

[bac2therac]

The first 3 games at home against mediocre competition caused some fans to think that meaningful change was in the works .Sadly, playing on the road quickly brings fans back to reality watching a team that plays poor defense and inconsistent offense.

that's why I was laughing to myself. People tripping all over themselves to throw compliments on this team because we scraped by a D3 school and a school that lost 30 of its last 32 games. The St Johns debacle was a clear warning of what this team was going to do on offense and defense or not do in the case of defense

 

[LotusAggressor]

At the court club meeting EJ said his team will play offense like the Spurs. LOL

I guess Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginnobli, and Kawahi Leonard didn't have eligibility left. You need players with skills to play that way. And you need a coach with the chops to teach it.

 

[MADHAT1]

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

I hope Ohio does read this post.

I'm reading it now. What's the takeaway?

FIG....maybe you don't remember, but, I was the guy that posted about Jordan being a stop gap kind of coach here for 5-6 years to calm the storm after the Rice nightmare. My choice prior to Jordan being hired was Steve Masiello, from Manhattan and from the Pitno tree.

That being said, I don't think Jordan is a horrible coach. He knows the game, just needs the players. Every year, I think the talent will get incrementally better. Losing Parker hurt. Anyone thinking Rutgers will go from the Rice scandal to top players knocking at the door to get is delusional.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Bac

I hear you...but right now, for next year, on board, except for power forward...we have a junior/soph combo at the 1,2,3, and 5 spot

We need a four man for next year for sure and another shooting guard (the Parker loss does hurt) would be nice

But we must have a big class next November and I know this is key

 

[bethlehemfan]

I've watched a handful of games since ej came to the scene I never watched a sixers game. Their fans warned me. They were right.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

I'm all for systems and recruiting to a certain degree, but Eddie's initial system of offense works, but there are multiple phases that don't work unless you get better effort on defense. That being said, a team that believes in itself will eventually sort itself out.

I am not sure what else can be done, the roster needs to be completed and then hopefully the next potential coach can work with something down the road. I don't have confidence that regardless of Year 1 2 or 3, that the team plays defense with the principals necessary. Ironically, if you were slow footed or non-athletic at 4 of the 5 positions, it's understandable to not be good on defense, but RU has plus athletes now or pieces that didn't have in past years.

It's really just coaching, we have Central Arkansas 78, Creighton 85 (who will be better than projected in the Big East) and Clemson at 76 (and not an offensive team). RU doesn't have 80 points on their roster against anyone of note, unless everything (and I mean everything) is clicking....That means we need 4 players in double figures, team shooting 50% from the field and 80+% from the FT line.

At some point, Jordan and staff have to impress on the rest of the staff that they're interested in putting in the work on the defensive end and it will actually take all 3 coaches and everyone to get this effort done. Teams have to be held under 70, to have a realistic chance against anyone on the rest of the schedule.

In other news, Monmouth has defeated both UCLA and Notre Dame this season and plays with more effort than anyone in the tri-state area. Somewhat disappointing that Monmouth will be the story over Rutgers, Seton Hall, and St. John's in the tri-state area. I am not into coaching hires based on the new school hitting the spotlight, but Monmouth visits the RAC soon in a game where they will assuredly be favored and it will take RU's best effort to avoid being embarrassed.

 

[Rutgers25]

I think Eddie is a decent tactician but he doesn't do much in getting his guys to play with intensity and effort...especially on the defensive end. Combined with weak recruiting spells doomsday. The horrendous facilities don't help, but we can't even compete with the LaSalle's and St. Joe's of the world.

There literally is no hope for this program unless we magically strike gold with an up and coming coach or get a booster out of nowhere to dump cash in the program.

Incidentally, this is also the path of the football program as well.

 

[seels2662]

I am not worried (yet) about 2016...Many of Eddie's best prospects (Etou, Doorson, Freeman) were very late in the recruiting season.

 

[NickyNewark51]

Or drop following the program all together, like the rest of the fans from the mid 90's. I'm rapidly reaching that point for both sports.

I was a big RU hoops follower along with a FB until the late 80s....then i started WATCHING RUFB....Doug Graber style until FHCGS showed on the scene....big buzz and B1G invite followed....WTF is the problem...5 decent starters would make us a player IN NJ....this IS NJ...5 LOUSY DECENT players...get er done EJ..

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

See y'all tomorrow night...:flushed:

 

[rufeelinit]

I wonder if Mr. Hobbs will be in attendance tomorrow night?

 

[RutgersMO]

Hoping Eddie, and the team pull one out against the vaunted ACC.

Corey is a talent....and we need to show him the love / let him lead us out of the desert to an oasis called the Big Dance.

MO

 

[LC-88]

I watched the 2nd half against Clemson. Almost every time Clemson came down court, we would double team the guy with the ball out near the three point line.That leaves four on three. Almost every time Clemson found the open man. Our two double teamers were so far away from the basket, they couldn't get back and help. I've never seen anything like it.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Defending high screens need a bit of work or we need to change the way we defend it.

 

[RUskoolie]

So predictable. It's like you all forgot what he inherited.

Please, tell me, where is our teams practice facility?

What does our weight room look like? Is it better looking than your local Planet Fitness?

He has done a decent job turning over the roster and recruiting when you consider the abysmal facilities he has compared to his peers. We have gotten more athletic and longer. Our shooting is better this year (so far). Of our 5 starters, 4 are 1st or 2nd year players. We barely have a bench.

I don't know what some of you expect. You guys have no choice but to have patience. This year is not the year to critcize. Next year is when you should actually have some expectations of .500 basketball. Some of you were saying this was a 7+ year build, but 6 games into Year 3 you are all complaining because we lost to Creighton and Clemson? C'mon guys.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

The above explanation is why we aren't a top 100 team. I get all of that. The reality is we are in the 200s and P5 schools don't find themselves there.

I'd feel better about things if we had more Mike Williams.

I am getting the sense we are filling the roster with the wrong type of player AND Eddie's style doesn't motivate the average person.

In FHJ worse year we finished 209th. We haven't been this low in kenpom rankings ever (dating back to the early 2000s). I understand ratings are flawed early.