Time for Pike to prioritize Montez

[goru7]

Well we are more than halfway through the conference season and Montez and Akwasi and Caleb have been more consistent offensively than Ron and Geo. Plays and curls have to be designed for Montez. He is capable of getting not just 10 but 20 points on offense that we desperately need. His shooting especially from three has improved tremendously and some of our stats guys can give his improvement from 3. Montez ‘s defense is elite and his passing has been outstanding as well. Time to ride the hot hand. I will add both Akwasi and Caleb to the mix. They need to be set up more and get more shots , as 7-10 shots for Akwasi or Caleb are not enough. Maybe if Montez and Akwasi get emphasized more, then Ron and Geo can get out of their funk as they will not be the focus of the other team’s game plan.
Our guards still do a crappy job of feeding the post, so there should also be an emphasis to play inside out and feed Myles. The guards lack of entry passes and not getting the proper angle to feed the post is almost criminal and needs to be corrected immediately . Plus Myles will pass out of the post for better shots.

 

[Scangg]

I'd like to see Myles off curls and getting him going to the basket. He can score and draw fouls.

Also been preaching more post touches all season. To Myles but also to Caleb Ron Yeboah Paul. All have shown the ability to score down there and all are willing passers as well. One of them typically has a mismatch anyway

 

[richthedentist]

Don’t agree he took about 3 very poor shots where he just forced so he is playing better but he certainly is not a go to go guy and he is still not a good foul shooter

 

[goru7]

Don’t agree he took about 3 very poor shots where he just forced so he is playing better but he certainly is not a go to go guy and he is still not a good foul shooter

Wrong on both counts. He did not take poor shots. The same threes that went down in the first half , just missed and they were good shots and he was open with no one in his face. He got stuffed at the rim on a drive . His foul shooting and three point shooting since we started conference play is much improved . He attacks and can draw fouls if the refs called the contact that he creates.

 

[QD43]

Wrong on both counts. He did not take poor shots. The same threes that went down in the first half , just missed and they were good shots and he was open with no one in his face. He got stuffed at the rim on a drive . His foul shooting and three point shooting since we started conference play is much improved . He attacks and can draw fouls if the refs called the contact that he creates.

Big fan of Tez, but he's shooting 50% from the free throw line in conference play. That is not good no matter how hard you try to spin it.

 

[ruready07]

Yeboah, Caleb and Montez need the most playing time.
We sub yeboah out wayyy too much.

 

[RUKnights86]

Its great that we can have these convos in the sense that we are winning and finding the next level of things to debate.

I was at the game Saturday & just a general comment overall about Yeboah (whom I love) is that he is streaky and sometimes gets away from his shot. He started well in that first 10 min of the game but then the rest seemed to not look for his shot or be passive. Think he needs to be hungry with the ball.

Ron has been cold since his big game at Iowa. Honestly probably one of the worst games I have seen him play with forced shots and trying to dribble drive when it wasnt there. Think he needs to find his way back on the block and work inside when possible. that seems to get him going for the rest of his game.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Save this thread...........and bring it back after Montez has a bad game.

Fans need to stop being so short minded about EVERYTHING. Use the sample size of the entire season and STOP looking at things based on the last game.

 

[goru7]

Big fan of Tez, but he's shooting 50% from the free throw line in conference play. That is not good no matter how hard you try to spin it.

Watch the games. You are clueless. He is our most complete player now as of February 1. He shoots well enough from 2 and from 3, he drives , he rebounds , his assists have been off the charts and he plays defense against the other team’s best player and can rebound as well as any guard in the league. He does all this with no plays called for him. Time to run some curls or the 2 man game for him specifically. He has earned it. Geo and Ron have been disappearing for long stretches of games and their recent shooting % is atrocious . Like I said. Watch the games.

 

[QD43]

Watch the games. You are clueless. He is our most complete player now as of February 1. He shoots well enough from 2 and from 3, he drives , he rebounds , his assists have been off the charts and he plays defense against the other team’s best player and can rebound as well as any guard in the league. He does all this with no plays called for him. Time to run some curls or the 2 man game for him specifically. He has earned it. Geo and Ron have been disappearing for long stretches of games and their recent shooting % is atrocious . Like I said. Watch the games.

If I'm clueless you're a complete idiot. You said "His foul shooting...since starting conference play is much improved." I checked you with the fact that he's shooting 50% from the free throw line in conference play, which is unacceptably bad! Don't be mad lol.

I do watch the games and am a big fan of Mathis. That doesn't mean I'm going to sit here and listen to your made up bullsh*t about him being an improved free throw shooter.

P.S. He shot 71% from the line in non-conference play. "Much improved"...do YOU watch the games?

 

[goru7]

If I'm clueless you're a complete idiot. You said "His foul shooting...since starting conference play is much improved." I checked you with the fact that he's shooting 50% from the free throw line in conference play, which is unacceptably bad! Don't be mad lol.

I do watch the games and am a big fan of Mathis. That doesn't mean I'm going to sit here and listen to your made up bullsh*t about him being an improved free throw shooter.

P.S. He shot 71% from the line in non-conference play. "Much improved"...do YOU watch the games?

Do you watch the rest of the game besides foul shooting because he has not taken a lot of foul shots and he has not missed any that cost us any games. I didn’t call you an idiot just that you seem to have blinders on when you’re analyzing his game. . Let’s keep it civil but substantive

 

[Knights 1212]

Montez has definitely improved his 3 point shooting. I think he was 2-3 in each of the last two games. His 3 point % is now identical with Caleb McConnell. Yeboah I think is the highest not counting Joey Downes at 2-2 or 100 %. Montez plays tough defense and has really impressed me lately. Maybe his number should be called every once in a while.

 

[QD43]

Do you watch the rest of the game besides foul shooting because he has not taken a lot of foul shots and he has not missed any that cost us any games. I didn’t call you an idiot just that you seem to have blinders on when you’re analyzing his game. . Let’s keep it civil but substantive

You called me "clueless"; please don't act like you didn't take this there first. I can like Tez's overall game (which I really, really do) and still accept the fact that he's been bad from the FT line.

I think you are the one with blinders on. @richthedentist said "he is still not a good foul shooter" and as a rebuttal, you fabricated the idea that he's a "much improved" FT shooter in conference play. He is most definitely not and has in fact been markedly worse.

Run more plays for him? Sure. But he simply cannot be trusted to have the ball in his hands to close out games until he stops being a coin flip at the line.

 

[CERU00]

Save this thread...........and bring it back after Montez has a bad game.

Fans need to stop being so short minded about EVERYTHING. Use the sample size of the entire season and STOP looking at things based on the last game.

No, how about bringing it up after he has 3 awful games? I guess you're not a believer in adjustments.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

No, how about bringing it up after he has 3 awful games? I guess you're not a believer in adjustments.

How many minutes did Harper Jr play vs. Michigan? How many does he normally play?

 

[RUsojo]

Very obvious Geo plays too much.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I like a lot of the decisions Montez is making. He has improved a ton as a passer.

I don't want Montez's role in the offense changed one bit.

Pretend you are home on your X box and you have a speed burst button that you can use, but the down side is that it zaps their energy.

Montez's value will always be primarily what he brings on the defensive end.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Very obvious Geo plays too much.

Until he has a good game. Is Geo not our best basketball player?

 

[goru7]

You called me "clueless"; please don't act like you didn't take this there first. I can like Tez's overall game (which I really, really do) and still accept the fact that he's been bad from the FT line.

I think you are the one with blinders on. @richthedentist said "he is still not a good foul shooter" and as a rebuttal, you fabricated the idea that he's a "much improved" FT shooter in conference play. He is most definitely not and has in fact been markedly worse.

Run more plays for him? Sure. But he simply cannot be trusted to have the ball in his hands to close out games until he stops being a coin flip at the line.

When has he been to the line late that he did not sink them . Last year when he went to the line , you had no clue they were going in. Go watch the last 7-10 games. His foul shooting and three point shooting and form is all drastically improved. Sorry you do not see it. Is he Caleb or even Geo or Ron at the line , high 70% or 80% no, but better as his his overall game. Stop focusing one only one aspect of his game. You claim you like other aspects of his game, and now you do not trust him. Give me a break !

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Wrong on both counts. He did not take poor shots. The same threes that went down in the first half , just missed and they were good shots and he was open with no one in his face. He got stuffed at the rim on a drive . His foul shooting and three point shooting since we started conference play is much improved . He attacks and can draw fouls if the refs called the contact that he creates.

How about his forced "layups" high off the backboard with essentially a 1 on 3 situation where he cannot even get penetration... and early on the shot clock?

He has a couple of those every game.. maybe hits 1 of 4 of those.

He is talented.. works hard of D.. and we need those transition threats.. but with MORE control and better FT shooting. If he pushes a break and gets fouled the D just saved a point the way he's shooting.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Regarding Montez........

I am not quite sure how this is calculated, but....

Top 100 opponents
last year 9.8% assist rate and 13.5% turnover rate
this year 13.1% assist rate and 10.0% turnover rate

My eyes are matching what these stats say. His vision and decision making has vastly improved.

 

[QD43]

When has he been to the line late that he did not sink them . Last year when he went to the line , you had no clue they were going in. Go watch the last 7-10 games. His foul shooting and three point shooting and form is all drastically improved. Sorry you do not see it. Is he Caleb or even Geo or Ron at the line , high 70% or 80% no, but better as his his overall game. Stop focusing one only one aspect of his game. You claim you like other aspects of his game, and now you do not trust him. Give me a break !

I'm only focusing on the one aspect of his game that you called out and openly lied about. Calling him a much improved FT shooter in conference play when he's regressed from 71% to 50% is laughable, and I'm sorry you didn't take time to inform yourself.

He had a chance to extend the lead vs. Iowa at a pivotal point early in the 2nd half (would have been 48-43)...instead he bricked 2 and Iowa immediately cut it to 46-45. Also in a 1-and-1 format where poor FT shooters are exposed at the end of games, I'm surprised how willing you are to gloss over a glaring weakness. The guy is literally competing with Shaq Carter to be the worst FT shooter on the team behind Myles. Give me a break!

 

[Scangg]

Until he has a good game. Is Geo not our best basketball player?

I don't think you can say Geo is the best player on the team at this point. He has struggled all season even before the injury against worse competition. It's hard to rank the team bc everyone is so inconsistent.

We need Geo and Ron to break out of their slumps sooner than later

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Regarding Ron......looking at his short career he has been up and down through out. I don't really know if he is in a slump, this has really been his career pattern.

The not boxing out on the foul line is totally unacceptable. If his D, rebounding, 50/50ness (new word) is not up to snuff changes are needed.

The minute we start losing the diving on the floor, rebounding and tough D we are done. We then become the team I envisioned before the season started.

 

[RUsojo]

Until he has a good game. Is Geo not our best basketball player?

No way

 

[goru7]

How about his forced "layups" high off the backboard with essentially a 1 on 3 situation where he cannot even get penetration... and early on the shot clock?

He has a couple of those every game.. maybe hits 1 of 4 of those.

He is talented.. works hard of D.. and we need those transition threats.. but with MORE control and better FT shooting. If he pushes a break and gets fouled the D just saved a point the way he's shooting.

You must be kidding me?! How was his personal 11-0 run to wipe out Minnesota’s 9-2 lead , including a drive off the glass . How was his similar run in the Purdue game , that also included a drive and a and one that he converted. He did it again at the end of first half of Michigan including a drive and a and one that he converted to bring us to down 1 right before the half. What do expect him to not miss any shots. He has hit 2 threes in 3 of 4 of the last games if memory serves me , and missed a couple in the second half against Michigan that were good looks , not forced. Did you expect him to shoot 100%. ? Something we get stagnant and settle for jump shots. Montez, , Jacob and Akwasi at least drive it and give themselves a shot at getting fouled , but sometimes go too fast or get stuffed at the rim but at least they are aggressive, which is how I want my team playing.

 

[RU-ROCS]

Don’t agree he took about 3 very poor shots where he just forced so he is playing better but he certainly is not a go to go guy and he is still not a good foul shooter

He shot 40% from three, 7-15 from the floor, and 1-1 from the FT line against UM. I'd take that any day from any one of our guards. Not to mention, he's the team's best on-ball defender. His FT shooting has also improved substantially. He is close to 70% from the line over the last 5 games.

 

[Scangg]

Regarding Ron......looking at his short career he has been up and down through out. I don't really know if he is in a slump, this has really been his career pattern.

The not boxing out on the foul line is totally unacceptable. If his D, rebounding, 50/50ness (new word) is not up to snuff changes are needed.

The minute we start losing the diving on the floor, rebounding and tough D we are done. We then become the team I envisioned before the season started.

Ron has been inconsistent all career. I thought he would make a jump in that area this season but that hasn't been the case

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

No way

Ok. Who is?

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Ron has been inconsistent all career. I thought he would make a jump in that area this season but that hasn't been the case

The wall is a real thing......especially with freshman.

This is Ron’s 1st full year of high expectations.

grasping for straws, but....

 

[goru7]

I'm only focusing on the one aspect of his game that you called out and openly lied about. Calling him a much improved FT shooter in conference play when he's regressed from 71% to 50% is laughable, and I'm sorry you didn't take time to inform yourself.

He had a chance to extend the lead vs. Iowa at a pivotal point early in the 2nd half (would have been 48-43)...instead he bricked 2 and Iowa immediately cut it to 46-45. Also in a 1-and-1 format where poor FT shooters are exposed at the end of games, I'm surprised how willing you are to gloss over a glaring weakness. The guy is literally competing with Shaq Carter to be the worst FT shooter on the team behind Myles. Give me a break!

Why don’t you go look at the stats ? He is shooting 61% not 50% from the line . Here is his last 10 games :
1) Michigan 1-1, 100% ;
2) Purdue 1-2, 50%;
3) Nebraska 1-1, 100%;
4) Iowa 2-4, 50% ;
5)Minnesota 1-1, 100%;
6) Indiana , no shots;
7) Illinois, no shots ;
8) Penn State , 1-4, 25%;
9) Nebraska , no shots;
10) Caldwell , 3-3, 100%.

The sample size is very small but you have a bunch of 100% games, one 25% game , and 2 50% games, and 3 games with no shots. So my question is what are basing you ridiculous statement that he went from 71% to 50% when he is overall a 61% shooter. The sample size is too small for you to make such a big deal about it and then to claim he is a liability is factually wrong . To claim you do not trust him , is purely your own incredible opinion. I trust him all day long. If you cannot see he has been our best player for the last 7 games and most of the Big 10 season , tells me you have determined in your mind that he is a bad free throw shooter and as a result you cannot trust him even though the bad free throw shooter part is not true. Myles is a bad free throw shooter .

 

[goru7]

Ok. Who is?

Akwasi, Montez , and Caleb, and then Myles in that Order are our best. Akwasi and Montez both offensively , and defensively have been very consistent and both do not shoot enough or have plays run for them enough. They also get hot and go on a streak, but then get subbed out too often. I would prefer that Pike ride the hot hand , which he does not do enough of because of his commitment to his subbing rotations. Caleb seems like our best all around player , as he can handle, can hit mid range, threes, and foul shots better than everyone else, and his defense causes deflections , and his rebounding for a guard has been outstanding . He is also posting up smaller guards and taking advantage of mismatches. Myles has been steady , rebounding, and shot blocking as a rim protector , and offensively he can do more, but part of that is that the guards to not feed him the ball enough. Foul shooting is an issue and will be especially during end games.
Geo has been our most inconsistent player , with even in games where he sometimes scores 10-12 , he gets them all in one half and goes scoreless the other half. He does still have late clock heroics but has to consistently give us 10-15 every night. He is a junior.
Ron, has to go hang around the low block. He has falling in love with the three and with the exception of Iowa, his 3 point stroke has not been successful. He has a great mid range game that he should really perfect, as Kobe would be proud of him if he does.

 

[winfield102]

I don't think you call plays for Montez. You call plays for yeboah, Caleb, Harper, Johnson and Baker.
I don't know who the best player is. None of them is a complete player(nothing wrong with that). While Caleb can't breakdown a defender off the dribble, he does a lot of other things very well. I love his shot. I'd say that he's been the most consistent player this year.

 

[RUJMM78]

The answer right now is that there is no best player based on performance.What Rutgers has is a squad full of complementary type players who have good and bad games.The problem is that the lack of consistency results in grind out games which fortunately so far has resulted in wins at home but only a 1-5 record away from the RAC.The remaining 9 games will be very difficult with the added pressure of winning in order to achieve a NCAA bid.There is no margin for error for this team because all they have seen in the past is losing seasons.The winning culture is still a work in progress but its heading in the right direction.

 

[bac2therac]

No way

Geo is the only one proven at this point to consistently win games. Pike does not have trust in others yet. I trust that judgment so my blame lies in Geo somewhat..he did finally hit a 3 late but his 2 previous were forced

 

[RUsojo]

Ok. Who is?

Myles Yeboah Harper Jr and Caleb. Beyond that I would argue that Montez and Young give us more of what we don’t have elsewhere than what Geo brings.

Akwasi, Montez , and Caleb, and then Myles in that Order are our best. Akwasi and Montez both offensively , and defensively have been very consistent and both do not shoot enough or have plays run for them enough. They also get hot and go on a streak, but then get subbed out too often. I would prefer that Pike ride the hot hand , which he does not do enough of because of his commitment to his subbing rotations. Caleb seems like our best all around player , as he can handle, can hit mid range, threes, and foul shots better than everyone else, and his defense causes deflections , and his rebounding for a guard has been outstanding . He is also posting up smaller guards and taking advantage of mismatches. Myles has been steady , rebounding, and shot blocking as a rim protector , and offensively he can do more, but part of that is that the guards to not feed him the ball enough. Foul shooting is an issue and will be especially during end games.
Geo has been our most inconsistent player , with even in games where he sometimes scores 10-12 , he gets them all in one half and goes scoreless the other half. He does still have late clock heroics but has to consistently give us 10-15 every night. He is a junior.
Ron, has to go hang around the low block. He has falling in love with the three and with the exception of Iowa, his 3 point stroke has not been successful. He has a great mid range game that he should really perfect, as Kobe would be proud of him if he does.

Goru7 announcing to the boards he’s an elite basketball poster. Well said.

 

[RUsojo]

Geo is the only one proven at this point to consistently win games. Pike does not have trust in others yet. I trust that judgment so my blame lies in Geo somewhat..he did finally hit a 3 late but his 2 previous were forced

Geo needs a lesser role and needs to come to terms with how he should be effecting games. I think Pike is figuring this out now. Too ball dominant IMO on offensive. Not willing enough off the ball offensively though he has made strides this year in that department when he chooses with returns from S & C.

 

[bac2therac]

Geo needs a lesser role and needs to come to terms with how he should be effecting games. I think Pike is figuring this out now. Too ball dominant IMO on offensive. Not willing enough off the ball offensively though he has made strides this year in that department when he chooses with returns from S & C.

Geo is not 100%. Why are you judging him that he is

 

[QD43]

Why don’t you go look at the stats ? He is shooting 61% not 50% from the line . Here is his last 10 games :
1) Michigan 1-1, 100% ;
2) Purdue 1-2, 50%;
3) Nebraska 1-1, 100%;
4) Iowa 2-4, 50% ;
5)Minnesota 1-1, 100%;
6) Indiana , no shots;
7) Illinois, no shots ;
8) Penn State , 1-4, 25%;
9) Nebraska , no shots;
10) Caldwell , 3-3, 100%.

The sample size is very small but you have a bunch of 100% games, one 25% game , and 2 50% games, and 3 games with no shots. So my question is what are basing you ridiculous statement that he went from 71% to 50% when he is overall a 61% shooter. The sample size is too small for you to make such a big deal about it and then to claim he is a liability is factually wrong . To claim you do not trust him , is purely your own incredible opinion. I trust him all day long. If you cannot see he has been our best player for the last 7 games and most of the Big 10 season , tells me you have determined in your mind that he is a bad free throw shooter and as a result you cannot trust him even though the bad free throw shooter part is not true. Myles is a bad free throw shooter .

Sir/Ma'am: You started this nonsense over his FT% in conference play and are now using stats from Caldwell to twist your argument. To recap:

1. Another poster correctly stated that Mathis is not a good FT shooter. You replied with this factually incorrect statement: "His foul shooting...since we started conference play is much improved."

2. I simply pointed out that you were mistaken: Montez's FT% in non-conference was 71%, and his FT% in B1G play is 50%. When a percentage drops by 21 points, that does not constitute improvement no matter how hard you try to twist it.

3. You subsequently attacked me for stating that 50% at the FT line is unacceptable (especially for a guard), called me "clueless", and have shifted the goalposts all over the place to make it seem that I don't like Mathis and that I don't think he's an integral part of the team (in addition to snapping at other posters who have dared to question aspects of Mathis's game).

I don't know if you're a member of the Mathis family or just someone who forgot to take their medication, but I do know that I don't have time for this crap. It was fun. Go Montez, go RU.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Until he has a good game. Is Geo not our best basketball player?

Not even close.