With sanders leaving ..roster impsct and development and recruiting

[PSUPOWER]

Call me crazy, but I am glad Sanders is gone. Yes, he had an incredible B1G tournament, but he is and will always be a streetball player. That said, I do genuinely wish him the best if he makes it to the NBA, which actually is a better fit than college basketball for his style of play.

If Coach Pikiell had Sanders for one more year, a few of the goals were going to be to improve Sanders ability to facilitate plays for others, drive better to his left and shoot better from the outside.

My guess is that you will miss the strengths of Sanders game more after you see Rutgers play a few good teams without him.

 

[Mr Magoo]

If Coach Pikiell had Sanders for one more year, a few of the goals were going to be to improve Sanders ability to facilitate plays for others, drive better to his left and shoot better from the outside.

My guess is that you will miss the strengths of Sanders game more after you see Rutgers play a few good teams without him.

I also wish he was back for his senior year. However, Pikiel had him for two seasons, and aside from the last three games in the Garden when he definitely shot better, I don’t think he improved at all during that time. There isn’t a lot of evidence to suggest his playmaking, ability to drive left, or even shoot better would improve much in another year here. He’s very close to the same player he was as a freshman.

 

[bethlehemfan]

I also wish he was back for his senior year. However, Pikiel had him for two seasons, and aside from the last three games in the Garden when he definitely shot better, I don’t think he improved at all during that time. There isn’t a lot of evidence to suggest his playmaking, ability to drive left, or even shoot better would improve much in another year here. He’s very close to the same player he was as a freshman.

I believe he improved a lot although where he improved doesn’t show up in the stat line. He played much better d and his floorgame overall was much improved. He was a better teammate. He rebounded better and he cut down in turnovers and foolish unproductive out of control drives. His shooting is inconsistent because he had some ingrained bad habits which are tough to change.

 

[MadRU]

Also tough for the staff to change someone when they don't spend the offseason on campus. Corey gave us one more year than I expected. Some great memories. Good luck to Corey as he chases his dream.

 

[BaseballFan913]

You don't replace Sanders with one guy.

I think a lot of people are missing the biggest key here. We aren't going to take the next step just by bringing in some band-aid grad transfers. While losing CS is not ideal, programs go through losing top players every year. And since we aren't a basketball factory, Pike's job is going to be to develop the guys he has.

If this team is going to compete this upcoming season (and beyond) they players on this team that showed flashes are going to need to grow into more consistent contributors.

Specifically, the first guy I'm thinking of is Thiam. He is a 6'10" SF that can slot into the 2 or play as a stretch 4. Honestly, he needs to gain some weight and make other teams have to scheme around him. He only shot 36% from 3 last year. That has to improve. He needs a turnaround jumper in the high post against smaller defenders.

Next guy that needs to take a step forward is Doucoure. He was raw last year. Foul trouble was an issue. Shooting was an issue. He was also a 17 year old freshman. Not every freshman is Marvin Bagley.

You combine this with an improved Baker, an improved EO, and if Mathis can play to his star rating, this is a competitive team. There are some unknowns on the bench, but I think we all agree this is a much deeper team than we have had in the past.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

For me, PRIMARILY, it comes down to whether you can win with a 4 and 5 who don't shoot from the perimeter and a 1 who shouldn't. The answer is NO.

We will be a good deal for the worse in our defensive numbers (which includes defensive rebounding). My hope is we make it up and then some on the offensive end. Turnovers will be an issue that may offset gains in effective FG%.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Also tough for the staff to change someone when they don't spend the offseason on campus. Corey gave us one more year than I expected. Some great memories. Good luck to Corey as he chases his dream.

Also can't forget getting suspended for 5 games his freshman year when our schedule was front end loaded and we said some easier ones in the back.

OR the loss against Stony Brook or Hartford when he missed the 1st half for missing a flight again

OR getting thrown out of practice this year for being a jerk

OR not being with the team during offseasons

When you ask yourself what type of footprint he left on this program is it more bad then good?

I'd rather spend time discussing what Mike Williams or Shaq Doorson or Eugene Omoruyi has done for the program.

 

[PSUPOWER]

You don't replace Sanders with one guy.

I think a lot of people are missing the biggest key here. We aren't going to take the next step just by bringing in some band-aid grad transfers. While losing CS is not ideal, programs go through losing top players every year. And since we aren't a basketball factory, Pike's job is going to be to develop the guys he has.

If this team is going to compete this upcoming season (and beyond) they players on this team that showed flashes are going to need to grow into more consistent contributors.

Specifically, the first guy I'm thinking of is Thiam. He is a 6'10" SF that can slot into the 2 or play as a stretch 4. Honestly, he needs to gain some weight and make other teams have to scheme around him. He only shot 36% from 3 last year. That has to improve. He needs a turnaround jumper in the high post against smaller defenders.

Next guy that needs to take a step forward is Doucoure. He was raw last year. Foul trouble was an issue. Shooting was an issue. He was also a 17 year old freshman. Not every freshman is Marvin Bagley.

You combine this with an improved Baker, an improved EO, and if Mathis can play to his star rating, this is a competitive team. There are some unknowns on the bench, but I think we all agree this is a much deeper team than we have had in the past.

When all players at the 5 positions are healthy:
PG = Baker 12, McConnell 18, New PG 10
SG = Mathis 24, Baker 12, Kiss 4
SF = Thiam 20+, Kiss 14+, Harper (6 or RS)
PF = Omoruyi 20, Doucoure 6, Carter 14
C = Johnson 20, Doucoure, 8, Doorson 12

 

[soundcrib]

Maybe Bullock should’ve stayed. He had value when folks went down this year.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

A big takeaway is default minutes may be a thing of the past. We have 6 bodies for 3 spots compared to last year having 4 bodies for 3 spots. If 5 or 6 of those bodies are real good you can/will have 3 1/2 spots for them.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

kenpom
2018 130th 15-19 SOS 70
2017 135th 15-18 SOS 66
2016 279th 7-25 SOS 62

I am fairly confident we will be rated higher next year and our SOS will be better. I am not sure how all of this will translate to our overall record. To the eye I expect us to be better than last year.

 

[PSUPOWER]

kenpom
2018 130th 15-19 SOS 70
2017 135th 15-18 SOS 66
2016 279th 7-25 SOS 62

I am fairly confident we will be rated higher next year and our SOS will be better. I am not sure how all of this will translate to our overall record. To the eye I expect us to be better than last year.

Slightly better this year yes, but, not significantly better. Sanders was a good two-way PG who will be missed.

A nice Grad Transfer PG addition for this year would help with ball handling, roster versatility and depth. Paul Mulcahy could potentially replace him and then some the following year.

The final scholarship should probably go to a Best Player Available type guy to help build Rutgers future with or be saved until next year. Whatever Coach Pikiell feels is best for the team long-term.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Slightly better this year yes, but, not significantly better. Sanders was a good two-way PG who will be missed.

A nice Grad Transfer PG addition for this year would help with ball handling, roster versatility and depth. Paul Mulcahy could potentially replace him and then some the following year.

The final scholarship should probably go to a Best Player Available type guy to help build Rutgers future with or be saved until next year. Whatever Coach Pikiell feels is best for the team long-term.

If Baker is the long term answer at PG and any of the others can play a few minutes there then I don't really want a 1 year PG here. Unfortunately I have concerns if you can slot Baker in as our PG.

I agree that I don't expect us significantly better, but with all these new faces who knows if a few surprise on the upside. My theory about us definitively being better despite not knowing nothing about the new pieces all revolves around chemistry.

 

[S_Janowski]

Maybe Bullock should’ve stayed. He had value when folks went down this year.

He only had value bc we lacked depth.

Only way he should have stayed was if he was committed to getting in shape and shedding 30 pounds.

 

[soundcrib]

He only had value bc we lacked depth.

Only way he should have stayed was if he was committed to getting in shape and shedding 30 pounds.

We currently lack depth.

 

[S_Janowski]

We currently lack depth.

Depth will be much better next year.

I actually take my initial statement back...The lack of depth was a direct result of Bullock and Souf taking up 2 schollies.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

Depth will be much better next year.

I actually take my initial statement back...The lack of depth was a direct result of Bullock and Souf taking up 2 schollies.

Souf, Bullock, Myles Johnson, Peter Kiss, Mike Williams missing 9 games......depth was Candido Sa, who battled hard for rebound and defended well, Shaq Doorson, coming off another foot procedure and slowed off season and 5 starters...Jake Dadika was also depth, but not on scholarship as a 4 year player.

There is a sorting out process that will take place but we are at 11 scholarship and active players, who all figure to factor in....That's 11, vs 8 or 9 players that can dribble/shoot/pass/defend/rebound).

There are 2 grad transfers that have been targeted, but neither has gotten as far as a visit before committing elsewhere.....my guess would be we will get a couple of grad transfer visitors in the next couple of weeks.....I am at a comfort level that we can go in 2 or 3 directions and come out ahead vs last year.

This isn't a lack of depth as much as a distribution of shots, being spread around....it takes time to not figure out what players earn minutes but defining roles for hungry players....the key is finding hungry players that are good character people, so buy-in (Chemistry) can be sorted out during this process. The grad transfers that can buy-in/ be a willing teacher/ learner/ leader/ scorer/ hard worker, makes it more likely we get an off the radar CJ Gettys type from a small school, that is productive, vs a high flying "big name" transfer.

 

[RUJMM78]

A high flying big name transfer wants to play for a team that will play in the NCAA Tournament .

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

A high flying big name transfer wants to play for a team that will play in the NCAA Tournament .

not necessarily....There is the Albany transfer Cremo, who declined Duke's offer and is trending towards Penn State...some kids are wise enough to know that they need to play and are used to playing solid minutes, but perhaps are being pushed by younger/talented or similar talent on the roster and could see their minutes cut....

 

[RUinFla]

Would like to see how Geo fares at PG illness-free, injury free (for now, anyway) and Sanders-free (which has its bad points but also its good points). Sanders often seemed to be ball-centric, and you know Pike didn't like that much. For too much of the year, he fell in love with the 3, tossing up close to a hundred with a success rate in the lower 20's. At the end of the season, he left that out of his arsenal, and was a better player for it. When he wants to be, he is a dynamic player, but he didn't always want to be, as Green pointed out earlier. Not much different than who he was as a freshman. His game should play in China. Geo, with him gone, will move the ball more freely, and we have already seen his enthusiasm and drive He won't have to play as many minutes, either. Kiss, McConnell and Mathis replace Sanders and Williams, giving us more depth.

Harper replaces Sa and backs up Eugene at the 3. Carter replaces Freeman at the 4, with Thiam now needed there more than at the 3. Doucore, Johnson and Doorson at C in some order--think we can expect more from the C position now. Lots of fouls to give. Overall, good depth now and two openings--Mensah's and Bullock's, so more to come. Rather than bemoan what we lost, look at it as a roster with several more talented bodies than we had before; the 4th guard we didn't have last year when we had to play Mensah; and lots more size and skill at the 4-5.

We lost some good players in Sanders, Williams and Freeman, but we added Kiss, Mathis, McConnell, Harper, Carter and Johnson. All untested in B1G wars, but all promising. Plus two more openings. Our coach is not flashy, but flashy is now sitting in the cheap seats, along with Rick Pitino. Further steps this season.
TL