Politi on Pikiell

[willisneverrana43]

Are there reasons for significant concern with recruiting: Yes.

Does Pike get time to turn this year around and also to improve recruiting: Yes. But Hobbs needs to meet with Pike, ask him what he needs to help with recruiting, and then (short of another brand new building) give it to him.

 

[Knightmoves]

Are there reasons for significant concern with recruiting: Yes.

Does Pike get time to turn this year around and also to improve recruiting: Yes. But Hobbs needs to meet with Pike, ask him what he needs to help with recruiting, and then (short of another brand new building) give it to him.

What can Hobbs do to help Pike with recruiting? I don’t see any answers other than a change in staff to bring in a top recruiter to replace an assistant coach.

Imo Hobbs is unable to help Pike with recruiting.

Are you talking about NIL’s for recruits that the AD can facilitate?

 

[RutgersFan]

Even though we all feel like we had two consecutive tourney teams the fact that we didn’t actually experience two in a row no doubt is now having an effect on how Pikiell is being viewed IMO. In a lot of ways we still feel a lot like a one year wonder which we were really weren’t. If we actually went through not one but two selection Sundays with him I think he would be looked at differently by some.

We also do know for sure if last year's team would have been as hungry to break the streak had they officially made the tournament the year prior. Maybe we would have seen the letdown we are seeing this year one season sooner, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[RUJMM78]

Are there reasons for significant concern with recruiting: Yes.

Does Pike get time to turn this year around and also to improve recruiting: Yes. But Hobbs needs to meet with Pike, ask him what he needs to help with recruiting, and then (short of another brand new building) give it to him.

Hobbs stated the new practice facilty would help with recruiting.

 

[zappaa]

I doubt he knowingly lied and I doubt people bought tickets because of what he said. Season tickets were already pretty much gone outside of bleachers before he said anything. I don’t listen to coach team assessments good or bad. This reaction is comical

I agree he didn't knowingly lie.
But I find it very hard to believe you or anyone else places no credence and pays no attention to the coaches assessments.
There's only one way you'll know about the progress of players before you see them play, and it's based solely on what comes out of the coaches mouth and what he tells the press for public consumption.
If next fall GS says he and his staff are very excited about the level of Offensive Tackle play he’s seeing in practice, you’re going to ignore it?

 

[bethlehemfan]

I agree he didn't knowingly lie.
But I find it very hard to believe you or anyone else places no credence and pays no attention to the coaches assessments.
There's only one way you'll know about the progress of players before you see them play, and it's based solely on what comes out of the coaches mouth and what he tells the press for public consumption.
If next fall GS says he and his staff are very excited about the level of Offensive Tackle play he’s seeing in practice, you’re going to ignore it?

I can’t imagine Greg saying that. So if he did yea I might think wow we must have some great OT play. Lol. But no for the most part I pay no attention. Nothing matters until the lights come on in my humble opinion.

 

[Pancho1939_rivals]

Does any reasonable person think Chris Collins should have been fired at northwestern after past two seasons?

 

[Scarlet Shack]

I really believe in not overhyping your own team

Let the kids play do the talking

Like 2006 ...we all should have known something was really up when Eric foster was named captain as a JUNIOR after playing one game as a sophomore ...but Greg kept that one to himself and let him wreck hell on everyone else on the way to being an all American ....

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

I dont know how many times we have to repeat it but if your bar is 25 years of incompetence any shred of competence appears statue worthy. Dont fall into the trap. We deserve better

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

What pikiell did on 5 short years at rutgers should earn him legend status. We should start calling him mother Theresa because of the miracle he performed.

most counted pikiell out after years 2 and 3. I will trust him now

LOL. This is what im talking about. A total loser mentality.

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

2022 transfer portal is very important. His "fate" being determined is a little dramatic.

I dont think its dramatic at all. If we dont do work in the portal this offseason have u seen what the roster would look like!? Itd easily be the worst team in the big ten and frankly not very close

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

We know one particular user with a penchant for exaggeration has said that. Big difference.

By the way, people would have killed Pikiell for taking a 25% three point shooter who butted heads with Jay Wright.

Feel free to call me and im happy to share details. Dont wanna spill it all here. But I can GUARANTEE you they both wanted to come to RU. I know this for a FACT. I have very very very inside knowledge on this, all the way down to the exact convos

 

[AshCatchEm]

He deserves benefit of the doubt for one year. Sadly with his level of recruiting and high end transfers out, I think that's enough to kill our program again.

It is time to fire his worthless assistants and hire gamechangers and thrive in the portal. One offseason. That's all he gets. Anything else is lunacy.

 

[willisneverrana43]

What can Hobbs do to help Pike with recruiting? I don’t see any answers other than a change in staff to bring in a top recruiter to replace an assistant coach.

Imo Hobbs is unable to help Pike with recruiting.

Are you talking about NIL’s for recruits that the AD can facilitate?

More money, for instance, for assistants who have strong connections and recruiting skills. If Pike doesn't know who they are, he hasn't bee looking. Pike then closes the deal. Get him the helicopter to fly to and land at high schools. Get him a top notch recruiting coordinator, one who organizes the whole process, leaves Pike to just recruiting. Maybe that guy or someone in the athletic department can put together a weekly RU basketball show, one that can be played on MSG like the weekly football show and released on social media. Money to show off Manhattan--show off anything. Get him a better trainer, if he even has one, and show that off. It just seems like Pike shows up at events, makes his pitch and goes back to drawing up defenses. He needs help making recruits want to come.

If none of that works and things are backsliding, then . . . .

 

[willisneverrana43]

Hobbs stated the new practice facilty would help with recruiting.

Yes, and its very concerning that the practice facility does not seem to have helped recruiting, the main thing that it was supposed to do.

If Hobbs decides that PIke has been given more than enough to recruit and hasn't done enough with it, then he may need to make a tough decision, particularly if we keep getting HS recruits with few to no offers and transfers who can't hit the side of the Barn.

But Hobbs has to give Pike time, which he's earned. And even then it would be really, really hard for Hobbs to cut Pike loose. More than anyone, Pike is Hobbs's guy. If he has to cut him loose, what accomphlishments would Hobbs be left with? Ash, doubling down on Ash, and then firing him before the halfway point of a season? A moment of big success with Pike and then a bad backslide? Resisting Schiano and wanting someone like Addazio instead, only to be overruled? Not hiring the hugely successful women's soccer and field hocky coaches, or Goodale. He may be left with the Rodkin Center and the practice facility, which is impressive, but only points out that his coach couldn't use it to our advantage. And, by the way, he better get around to getting Schiano a field house.

It's all too painful to consider. Just tell PIke that he has to pick up his recruiting and figure out how to help him do it. Get that done, and we're all happy.

 

[mikeyoc]

I share the underlying concern that Cliff could transfer. Keeping him will be Pike's biggest recruiting task.

Just trying to fathom how Cliff would possibly think he's too good for this program

 

[BigEastPhil]

Hobbs stated the new practice facilty would help with recruiting.

When’s the last time you heard a recruit say I came here because of the practice facility? No player commits because of a practice facility. The facility was built to stay par with other schools especially in our conference that all have practice facilities.

 

[bac2therac]

Exactly the practice facility HAD to be built because we were the only power 6 school without one. There is nothing special about it and it probably still falls in the lower tier in ameneties

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

I agree he didn't knowingly lie.
But I find it very hard to believe you or anyone else places no credence and pays no attention to the coaches assessments.
There's only one way you'll know about the progress of players before you see them play, and it's based solely on what comes out of the coaches mouth and what he tells the press for public consumption.
If next fall GS says he and his staff are very excited about the level of Offensive Tackle play he’s seeing in practice, you’re going to ignore it?

He better have knowingly lied because if he really believed this was going to be his best team ever, that means he sorely misjudged the talent. I think we are probably better than we’ve played so far, but Lafayette is one of the worst D1 teams out there (they have only one other win besides RU). And it’s not like we just had one bad game. This is certainly our worst resume through 8 games of any of our Pike coached seasons.

 

[ru66]

Exactly the practice facility HAD to be built because we were the only power 6 school without one. There is nothing special about it and it probably still falls in the lower tier in ameneties

the know it all speaks--as if he has visited and studied every schools facilities--this is the utter nonesense that comes out of the mouths of complainers and malcontent band wagon jumpers--and by the way from those that do nothing material to elevate RU, financially or otherwise

 

[ColonelRutgers]

Exactly the practice facility HAD to be built because we were the only power 6 school without one. There is nothing special about it and it probably still falls in the lower tier in ameneties

I’ve never stepped foot in another one so I can’t say how it compares to other schools but it was barely open before we were dealing with a pandemic and we couldn’t even show it off to visitors.

 

[zappaa]

the know it all speaks--as if he has visited and studied every schools facilities--this is the utter nonesense that comes out of the mouths of complainers and malcontent band wagon jumpers--and by the way from those that do nothing material to elevate RU, financially or otherwise

Preach on…it’s excellent entertainment

 

[Sweet Pea's Corner]

I'm not speaking just this year. I'm looking at what we see for next year which isn't promising on paper right now.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

I agree he didn't knowingly lie.
But I find it very hard to believe you or anyone else places no credence and pays no attention to the coaches assessments.
There's only one way you'll know about the progress of players before you see them play, and it's based solely on what comes out of the coaches mouth and what he tells the press for public consumption.
If next fall GS says he and his staff are very excited about the level of Offensive Tackle play he’s seeing in practice, you’re going to ignore it?

Pike didn’t just say he was excited about the development of Cliff and the bigs. Even that would be more okay than what was actually communicated as it would still come across (or could be interpreted) as coach speak in the context of rebuilding. He went out of his way to repeat over and over - best team ever - and specifically best front court following 2 straight years of NCAA appearances and then proceeded to start the season 4-4 including a home loss to a Lafayette team that has lost to 7 out of the other 8 teams they’ve played.

For comparative purposes, this would be akin to Schiano spending next pre-season preaching to the fans that they should look forward to seeing the most talented group he’s ever coached at RU along side stellar team chemistry - and then we start the season by pulling out a 24-21 nail biter at home vs. Wagner and a loss at Temple.

 

[bethlehemfan]

So salty… Lol.

 

[superfan01]

the know it all speaks--as if he has visited and studied every schools facilities--this is the utter nonesense that comes out of the mouths of complainers and malcontent band wagon jumpers--and by the way from those that do nothing material to elevate RU, financially or otherwise

Congrats on Michael Kay's success. Heard he is going to be numbah 1 in the fall book. Well deserved for you.

 

[zappaa]

Pike didn’t just say he was excited about the development of Cliff and the bigs. Even that would be more okay than what was actually communicated as it would still come across (or could be interpreted) as coach speak in the context of rebuilding. He went out of his way to repeat over and over - best team ever - and specifically best front court following 2 straight years of NCAA appearances and then proceeded to start the season 4-4 including a home loss to a Lafayette team that has lost to 7 out of the other 8 teams they’ve played.

For comparative purposes, this would be akin to Schiano spending next pre-season preaching to the fans that they should look forward to seeing the most talented group he’s ever coached at RU along side stellar team chemistry - and then we start the season by pulling out a 24-21 nail biter at home vs. Wagner and a loss at Temple.

Only difference is, Pike would have never said it if 4 of our players weren’t prominent contributors on a team a missed slam dunk away from going to the sweet 16.
Likewise GS could have easily said it after the 2005 season.
Pike believed what he was saying

 

[KnightTerrors]

Feel free to call me and im happy to share details. Dont wanna spill it all here. But I can GUARANTEE you they both wanted to come to RU. I know this for a FACT. I have very very very inside knowledge on this, all the way down to the exact convos

Luther Muhammad is flat out not good. Quinnerly would have been a great get but think about the context of saying no. You have JY who just sat a year. You have a highly touted freshman in Paul from a premier local program. You have veteran guards in Geo and Montez. You know you’re a tourney caliber team.

I could be making excuses for pike but I’d think If that conversation happened today I think it’d be a totally different outcome.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

Why was it utterly stupid?

Muhammad has a shoulder that required surgery and would have been a wasted scholarship.....he is not better than Jacob Young or Mathis....he was also shopped by his contacts to St John's and Seton Hall and all 3 schools said thanks but no thanks.....this notion that Muhammad was only interested in RU, was inaccurate and bush-league rumor mill stuff......anyone with a premium subscription to Ohio State or Seton Hall message boards know this....

His stat line is no better than Mathis or McConnell and notches below Jacob Young....his stellar start for Arizona State also leaves you to think this is some All conference performer....he got recruited over at Ohio State and is not playing well at Arizona State.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/stats/_/id/4397234/luther-muhammad

 

[richthedentist]

Feel free to call me and im happy to share details. Dont wanna spill it all here. But I can GUARANTEE you they both wanted to come to RU. I know this for a FACT. I have very very very inside knowledge on this, all the way down to the exact convos

and they would have been by far the best players on our roster what a serious mistake by Pikell!!!!

 

[RU Cheese]

the know it all speaks--as if he has visited and studied every schools facilities--this is the utter nonesense that comes out of the mouths of complainers and malcontent band wagon jumpers--and by the way from those that do nothing material to elevate RU, financially or otherwise

Yawn. Does your media idol Michael Kay visit every school's facilities before commenting on them? He doesn't, but you're just blinded by your fan hood.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

NJH,

for the record I was asking sojo why was it utterly stupid for Pike to not consider quinnerly or Muhammad

 

[Yeah Baby]

Only difference is, Pike would have never said it if 4 of our players weren’t prominent contributors on a team a missed slam dunk away from going to the sweet 16.
Likewise GS could have easily said it after the 2005 season.
Pike believed what he was saying

Have to agree here that he meant what he said. 2 of our leading scorers and Team leaders, 2 Glue guys, a Big man waiting to explode and a Freshman that was expected to hit a lot of 3’s. Something must have been going well in practices that just us t happening yet on the court. He would not say this if he didn’t believe it. Unless maybe that’s his style to motivate the team.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

What can Hobbs do to help Pike with recruiting? I don’t see any answers other than a change in staff to bring in a top recruiter to replace an assistant coach.

Imo Hobbs is unable to help Pike with recruiting.

Are you talking about NIL’s for recruits that the AD can facilitate?

Hobbs has the handcuffs on for the basketball program and recruiting.....(that means no competitive recruiting for the better prospects....)..he helped facilitate the process to ensure this happened at Seton Hall, when Mike Rice was killing it in recruiting and started sweeping Seton Hall in his 1st 2 years (I think RU won 4 out of 5 on the heels of his 1st big recruiting class).

Seton Hall alumni whined and complained loud enough that they would be left behind and they set up the Isaiah Whitehead, Angel Delgado, Desi Rodriguez haul, that allowed them to rebuild under a struggling to survive Kevin Willard.....Willard was going to be out of a job and was forced to hire Isaiah Whiteheads HC coach, Tiny Morton, as a condition for his verbal commitment.

I don't quite understand how this common knowledge about Hobbs is missed here....Hobbs set up the ability to allow Willard and their coaches to secure those very good prospects from NYC etc and to hire Morton......St John's declined to hire Morton as the condition to land Whitehead, who preferred St Johns.......Tiny Morton barely even worked for SHU and quit after less than a year and returned to his NYC teaching position.....partly because he was asked to go back and really had no interest in being an assistant, other than the salary he would collect from SHU and partly because he wanted to retain his pension by returning to NYC....he worked less than 9 months at Seton Hall.

Hobbs has to allow the assistant coaches a fair fight to recruit the kids needed to compete at this level. It is not rocket-science.....the onus is on Hobbs or potentially Schiano, depending on who ultimately people believe is in charge....when coaches and HS coaches and AAU coaches and everyone says "it's difficult to compete at Rutgers", it's not facilities, lack of home court advantage, lack of fan support, lack of playing great competition..

It comes down to players, plain and simple....and until RU allows their coaches to consistently compete on the recruiting trail, RU is being asked to bring a butter knife to a gun fight......

 

[Pancho1939_rivals]

LOL. This is what im talking about. A total loser mentality.

so should calipari be fired at kentucky?

Should mark few be fired at gonzaga?

how about bill self at kansas?

How about jim boeheim?

how about matt painter?

how about jay wright?

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

so should calipari be fired at kentucky?

Should mark few be fired at gonzaga?

how about bill self at kansas?

How about jim boeheim?

how about matt painter?

how about jay wright?

Explain what you mean here because im not getting it. Your bar is being over .500 pal. The bars above are final 4’s, their bar aint buried like yours

 

[rutger80]

Hobbs has the handcuffs on for the basketball program and recruiting.....(that means no competitive recruiting for the better prospects....)..he helped facilitate the process to ensure this happened at Seton Hall, when Mike Rice was killing it in recruiting and started sweeping Seton Hall in his 1st 2 years (I think RU won 4 out of 5 on the heels of his 1st big recruiting class).

Seton Hall alumni whined and complained loud enough that they would be left behind and they set up the Isaiah Whitehead, Angel Delgado, Desi Rodriguez haul, that allowed them to rebuild under a struggling to survive Kevin Willard.....Willard was going to be out of a job and was forced to hire Isaiah Whiteheads HC coach, Tiny Morton, as a condition for his verbal commitment.

I don't quite understand how this common knowledge about Hobbs is missed here....Hobbs set up the ability to allow Willard and their coaches to secure those very good prospects from NYC etc and to hire Morton......St John's declined to hire Morton as the condition to land Whitehead, who preferred St Johns.......Tiny Morton barely even worked for SHU and quit after less than a year and returned to his NYC teaching position.....partly because he was asked to go back and really had no interest in being an assistant, other than the salary he would collect from SHU and partly because he wanted to retain his pension by returning to NYC....he worked less than 9 months at Seton Hall.

Hobbs has to allow the assistant coaches a fair fight to recruit the kids needed to compete at this level. It is not rocket-science.....the onus is on Hobbs or potentially Schiano, depending on who ultimately people believe is in charge....when coaches and HS coaches and AAU coaches and everyone says "it's difficult to compete at Rutgers", it's not facilities, lack of home court advantage, lack of fan support, lack of playing great competition..

It comes down to players, plain and simple....and until RU allows their coaches to consistently compete on the recruiting trail, RU is being asked to bring a butter knife to a gun fight......

So, what in particular are we talking about here? Admissions? Playing time guarantees? Cash?

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

So, what in particular are we talking about here? Admissions? Playing time guarantees? Cash?

The tiny stuff is true the rest is hawk making stuff up again and presenting his speculation as fact. Hes also speculating that hobbs set it up

 

[RC80]

I dont know how many times we have to repeat it but if your bar is 25 years of incompetence any shred of competence appears statue worthy. Dont fall into the trap. We deserve better

Isn't it closer to 30 or even 35 years of incompetence; except for the TY teams - what team was actually really good over the past 35 years. Wenzel teams ? up until now I'm not sure a bar existed; No, I don't think this coach is a long term answer - but jettisoning him after this season isn't exactly the message to try and recruit the next coach. To be continued....

 

[RUsojo]

The tiny stuff is true the rest is hawk making stuff up again and presenting his speculation as fact. Hes also speculating that hobbs set it up

Hawk just implied Schiano could be to blame for Pikiells recruiting challenges…lol