Very enjoyable 17 loss year were having

[TMCB]

I know that sounds odd to outsiders but Rutgers Basketball has never been in better hands. Great staff and hard working team. They are in most games despite no offense. Cant wait for a few more recruits. Watching games is fun again.

 

[MV9000]

I agree although a lot of the losses coming due to FTs and in the last couple minutes it has been enjoyable. Last year i could barely tune in past OOC. This year i watch almost every game schedule permitting and have attended about 4 including MSG.

The future seems bright as long as the recruits come in!

Love Pike also.

 

[SirPerceval]

Not sure I would call it enjoyable - maybe less painful is the better phrase

 

[NightKnight]

I thought this was going to be a sarcastic post. Glad it wasn't. If you can't see the difference then you wouldn't know what improvement is. When it comes to free throws, I wince. I joy with the uneducated basketball fan: There is no reason why any athlete can't make himself a 70% free throw shooter.

 

[goru7]

I know that sounds odd to outsiders but Rutgers Basketball has never been in better hands. Great staff and hard working team. They are in most games despite no offense. Cant wait for a few more recruits. Watching games is fun again.

As my wife says, who has suffered watching in person for the last 25 years, they are competing and we have a chance again. She even tells her sister and husband, who used to come to a lot of games that they are fun to watch and easy to root for. One thing I would add is that they are one of the more frustrating teams, because how they are competitive in so many games, and simple things we took for granted free throw shooting and turnovers, have been at all time lows. Even mediocrity would have gotten Rutgers a few more conference wins.

 

[Jtung230]

I'm not enjoying it. Pike has not won me over yet. Have to realize that this is the worst B1G MBBall in a long time. The last two B1G conf teams would kill this year's teams.

 

[ScarletDave]

I think the whole league is pretty young. Two years ago we had what 2 teams in the Final Four and almost 3? That's because there were a lot of upperclassmen. Now the league is made up of sophomores and freshman "stars" but still. Hopefully we rise over these next few years as the rest of the league does and we remain competitive.

 

[rubaseball78_rivals]

I'm not enjoying it. Pike has not won me over yet. Have to realize that this is the worst B1G MBBall in a long time. The last two B1G conf teams would kill this year's teams.

If you think this team is worse than the 3 previous Jordan teams then you haven't been watching. For one Jordans teams wouldn't get a rebound. Head to head this year's team would blow out Jordans teams with defense and rebounding.

 

[RJM_Go_RU]

I feel the same as the OP. The quality of play is so much better than recent years. The guys are hustling and playing good D. And mostly competitive. So has been enjoyable to watch despite the losses. (Note, I am not saying I would be as okay losing in two years, but by then I hope we have continued to elevate the program and so have higher expectations)

 

[mikefla]

I'm not enjoying it. Pike has not won me over yet. Have to realize that this is the worst B1G MBBall in a long time. The last two B1G conf teams would kill this year's teams.

this years team is FAR from the worst
the last 2 years were FULL of 20pt blowouts..and EVERYONE out rebounded us

 

[mikefla]

It has indeed been more enjoyable than the prior 2 blowout filled seasons
before the season started I was leaning toward a 20 loss season....
we have actually been "in" 4 games we let slip away
we have out rebounded almost every team we have met
Coach P calls timely timeouts unlike EJ
I do see some player development
I also see some player regression,,,like Nigel seems to have left the building

all in all this season went better than I expected
coach P won me over long ago
and I look forward to who he brings in,,,,,

Lacrosse season has started & despite losing 2 high scorers to injury we look good again
I am always upbeat this time of year LOL

 

[Caliknight]

I'm not enjoying it. Pike has not won me over yet. Have to realize that this is the worst B1G MBBall in a long time. The last two B1G conf teams would kill this year's teams.

Are you saying the 15 and 16 Knights would beat the 17 Knights?

 

[BoroKnight]

this years team is FAR from the worst
the last 2 years were FULL of 20pt blowouts..and EVERYONE out rebounded us

He didn't say OUR team was the worst, he said the Big Ten is at its worst, and in past year's this year's team would be faring as poorly as we had in the past couple of years.

I would dispute that, but the Big Ten definitely is down. You can't put Rutgers basketball in a vaccuum and assume it's all us "competing" and not partly the Big Ten not being as strong.

But either way, the difference is obvious. We rebound. We hustle. And somehow, a team that is ranked worse than 340th in at least two categories (3-point shooting, free throw shooting) has us strongly behind it. A huge step forward, if not exactly a great leap.

 

[TMCB]

I dont think the b10 is down top to bottom but it does lack a few powers at the top

 

[higgins3]

I'm not enjoying it. Pike has not won me over yet. Have to realize that this is the worst B1G MBBall in a long time. The last two B1G conf teams would kill this year's teams.

Nothing to feel refreshed about, you are right. Must be painful to watch

 

[Jackson206:)]

Only a moron would not see that we have a real coach. Team is not quite talented enough yet but it is awesome to watch them defend and rebound at the level they do. Awesome to watch Corey buy into the defensive side of the ball. Can't wait for a talent influx.

 

[MV9000]

Not being sold on Pike is astounding to me at this point. Defense we play is light-years ahead of last, rebounding is impressive even on the national level.

EJ wouldnt sniff double digits wins with this squad.

Pike is the real deal. FT's and FG% arent over night things. I think with the right recruiting and the facilities coming to fruition we will be a middle of the pack/competitors with any in the next few years.

 

[Jtung230]

Mike Rice was a better coach than Pike. Pike needs to produce in recruiting for me to be a buyer.

 

[KnightTerrors]

The past few seasons i'd walk in the RAC every game knowing there was no shot we would be competitive let alone win. That has finally changed.

This team shows heart & grit every night. The Iowa game aside, this team competes and that hasn't been the case in years. Mind you, my family and I have been season ticket holders for 25 years.

Totally sold on Pikiell ability to coach. The jury is out on his ability to recruit at this level. 2018 class will answer that question. Have to land one of these top 50 kids from NJ or else the needle will never move as far as we all dream.

 

[RUonBrain]

Purdue 5-8 from 3

We are screwed

 

[TMCB]

Rice is a good coach also but Pike has a better college resume and will have more success

 

[Jtung230]

Rice is a good coach also but Pike has a better college resume and will have more success

By which measure?

 

[DocRU]

Rice emphasized defense, but his teams fouled too much. Pike teaches better defense and his teams rebound. Both coaches didn't have enough offensive talent to compare.

 

[RUTrack94]

13-15 ...with 3 home games and the tourney ... Worst case scenario is 13-19 ... Would love to see them steal a tourney game, and won 1 or 2 at home.

 

[shields]

Buzz Williams is a real good coach and won 11 games first year at Va Tech. What did some of you guys think was going to happen this year? Win 20 games? Need shooters on this team.