Guys! Keep expectations low and enjoy the Ride

[RUDieHard]

First of all this is FUN.

It's about damn time that we all get to enjoy competitive Rutgers basketball and wins!

Try not to let your expectations go too far. Of course, we want to win all the "easier" games.

I'm trying not to get my hopes up about beating Miami on the road.and just see it as a game we have nothing to lose. Remember, it's about the process and it's only year 1.

Thank goodness for Pike.


By the way, IMO, we are a Quincy Douby away from being a tourney team. If only we had one cold blooded shooter it would really open up our offense.

 

[arigoldrutgers]

First of all this is FUN.

It's about damn time that we all get to enjoy competitive Rutgers basketball and wins!

Try not to let your expectations go too far. Of course, we want to win all the "easier" games.

I'm trying not to get my hopes up about beating Miami on the road.and just see it as a game we have nothing to lose. Remember, it's about the process and it's only year 1.

Thank goodness for Pike.


By the way, IMO, we are a Quincy Douby away from being a tourney team. If only we had one cold blooded shooter it would really open up our offense.

This. This is very good advice and we would be good to heed it. Same goes for football when we do turn the corner.

 

[RUMBA-JK]

Take all emphasis off of "expectations" - - just enjoy watching a team being built! watch a group of players come together - and actually become synchronized on the court.... this is college basketball - a game played by kids / young men - who are learning, growing, and maturing - and playing a game.... things look positive for the program - and it is great to watch a team "mindset' begin to form -- & who knows how far it can go this year .

 

[Mr. Magoo1]

Agree with this. We haven't played a team with a winning record, much less beat one yet. Enjoy it for what it is and watch the team grow. They will take some lumps in conference play but There finally is hope again.

 

[Knights 1212]

I agree. We must enjoy the ride. Hopefully we can win the games we will be picked to win and steal a few others and be competitive in the other games. Pikiell and his staff have been great so far but hopefully fans will not get down on us if we lose games along the way. Many people said we would be horrible this year. Some said we would only be 7-6 or 6-7 in our OOC games. We seem to be much better than last year but we cannot take any team for granted. I know I am enjoying the ride and plan on being at every home game as well as many away games that I can get to. Hardly anyone picked us to be much better than 13-18 and some didn't think we would win over 10 games. It is nice to have fans rooting for us again but many haven't even attended a game in a long time. Hopefully they will support the team and not be fair weather fans. The players said after the game yesterday how much the fan support meant to the team. They need fan support throughout the entire season.

 

[RuBird]

First of all this is FUN.

It's about damn time that we all get to enjoy competitive Rutgers basketball and wins!

Try not to let your expectations go too far. Of course, we want to win all the "easier" games.

I'm trying not to get my hopes up about beating Miami on the road.and just see it as a game we have nothing to lose. Remember, it's about the process and it's only year 1.

Thank goodness for Pike.


By the way, IMO, we are a Quincy Douby away from being a tourney team. If only we had one cold blooded shooter it would really open up our offense.

Can I at least get excited that the potential to win more games this year compared to last is very very possible?:sunglasses:

 

[Mr. Magoo1]

Can I at least get excited that the potential to win more games this year compared to last is very very possible?:sunglasses:

We have six wins. If we don't beat Last year's record, we'll be asking for Pickells head.

 

[RBNY87]

The team reminds me of some of the Marquette teams that use to beat us. Play good defense, tough, and a lot of 6'6 guys that are athletic and play hard. A step below talent wise, but same style.

 

[MadRU]

I think most knowledgeable fans here know and understand it's a process. There is no quick fix this season.

I choose to enjoy what I am seeing. Got excited Friday afternoon with an amazing comeback. 6-0 has been fun so far.

 

[Turtle31]

We've won the games we should have so far. That's already an improvement. If we show the effort and leave it on the court every game and get the students excited again about the program, this year will be a resounding success.

 

[Dpgru]

OP - on point. Especially after this football season. I will even enjoy just being competitive.

 

[Veiox]

Agree with this. We haven't played a team with a winning record, much less beat one yet.

DePaul is currently 3-1 and we beat them.

 

[read option]

Is it too much to expect us to win all OOC games except UM and SHU? I think it's a reasonable goal from what we've seen thus far.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Is it too much to expect us to win all OOC games except UM and SHU? I think it's a reasonable goal from what we've seen thus far.

Yes. To expect us to go 11-2 is too much. I am hoping and like to see it, but don't expect it.

 

[rufeelinit]

Good post. Several people are already getting way out in front of their skis on this teams prospects. The goal against Miami is to continue to improve, try to make it the best game we have played this year and see where we stack up. They need to get back to what they do well and that is play defense and rebound. I thought they got away from that a bit against Hartford.

 

[seels2662]

Sorry but I truly believe this is an NIT team. I have believed it for months. Its the perfect storm of many different variables aligning in our favor.

However if it doesn't happen, I am not going to be mad about it. However this season ends up I will enjoy it.

 

[FrankZ_RU93]

Sure beats counting the days until Mets baseball in mid-November

 

[bac2therac]

some great advice in this thread to not put expectations on the team. Thats what makes this ride so great right now...the Hartford game showed full well that this team has alot of weaknesses and if they do not work hard can lose games they should. They still have not beaten a team equal or better than them..and De Paul is not a good team...so we have to wait until those challenges happen to really assess what kind of team we have. Miami is a tough test but FDU,Fordham and Stony Brook to me are going to show just where we are at heading into Big 10 play.

 

[S.W.A.I.N]

First of all this is FUN.

It's about damn time that we all get to enjoy competitive Rutgers basketball and wins!

Try not to let your expectations go too far. Of course, we want to win all the "easier" games.

I'm trying not to get my hopes up about beating Miami on the road.and just see it as a game we have nothing to lose. Remember, it's about the process and it's only year 1.

Thank goodness for Pike.


By the way, IMO, we are a Quincy Douby away from being a tourney team. If only we had one cold blooded shooter it would really open up our offense.

Talk about tempering expectations...we are a Douby away?!? He was a 1st round pick and maybe the best scorer we have ever had...should have his jersey in the rafters. If Douby was on this team we are clearly top 25.

 

[RutgHoops]

Yes. To expect us to go 11-2 is too much. I am hoping and like to see it, but don't expect it.

I think you posted after Molloy that kenpom had us less than 15% to go 6-0. I agree with the above but this is fun. And defying the odds thus far.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

This is really fun to see a team try and develop some chemistry and win a few games in the process. The staff gets it and has an eye on the future by playing this schedule as well.....this is about rebuilding some confidence folks, not to try and see how high they can be ranked early in the season.

The ceiling (unless the B1G is weaker than expected) would be .500.....The good news is that's just my opinion and the staff is looking to not settle for being mediocre....they are looking to max the roster's potential out....which is all you can ask for, vs unrealistic expectations....

 

[Knights 1212]

Very well said Hawk. You are always right on it seems in your comments.

 

[Mr. Magoo1]

DePaul is currently 3-1 and we beat them.

My bad. Surprised they are 3-1 though. They looked awful against us.

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

Let's try this? How about if we enjoy these moments of pure pleasure the likes of which we have not experienced for many years . ?And if we falter that's ok. At least we have a ray of hope.

 

[RUwishbone]

time to play like a gamer now, nothing to loose everything to gain . Miami is a game to show what we got. win and we gain respect loose and it's still all ok, leave it all on the court and let see what happens & don't hold back just need effort. if we get the execution we should win

 

[rubaseball78_rivals]

My bad. Surprised they are 3-1 though. They looked awful against us.

Maybe we made them look awful.

 

[AshSaturday]

I can see Rutgers at .500 after another 13-14 games or so (once we hit Seton Hall and B1G. However these guys play D so well and have enough chemistry I bet they can knock off a team or two. If they improve through the season and play good D I think they have a shot at the NIT.

 

[mikefla]

My expectations have already been met
Last year...even the cupcake OOCs were spanking us.
This year we are beating said cupcakes

I hoped for improvement and I have seen improvement.
Instead of leaning on Sanders to "do it all"
we have had 10 deep all contributing each game
and a coach that has a plan..and WANTS to be here
and seems to have a plan

With one more win we equal last years win total.

So far,,,SO GOOD
(happy as hell=me)
:cool2::cool2::cool2:[banana][banana][cheers][banana][banana]:cool2::cool2::cool2:

 

[chrisman8604]

It is possible to have high expectations and still have fun if/when they are not met. I hate being told to temper my expectations. People just need to stop having an aneurism following every bad thing that happens to RU.