Rutgers in the final four; or at least the sweet 16! There are all kinds of predictions for our basketball team next year. Euphoria is rampant since Dylan Harper's commitment yesterday. Whether one likes Steve Pikiell's coaching abilities or not the expectations for next year are very high. Therefore, our coach will be under great pressure to be successful with the talent at his disposal. Can he mesh the players already here with the newcomers? Will our team be more successful scoring? All these questions will be answered!
Pikiell Under Pressure Now!
- Thread starter Doctorzit
- Start date
He's about as secure as any coach in America. Only risk is that some big school steals him. Wake up.
Well, he is setting us up for the biggest turnaround because we will finish last in the B1G this year. Itās a good thing he got this recruiting class for next year.
You never know how these recruits will perform as true frosh....Making the Final 4 or Sweet 16 will probably not happen next season
I am not talking about his security as RU's coach. The recruits coming in don't need development as players like the usual 3 star recruits. Two of these recruits are superstars. They came to RU to win next year, not in two to three years. He will be under tremendous pressure to not only WIN NOW, but also bring in complementary players from the portal. His reputation as a coach is on the line.
I tend to agree with this as EVERYONE will be watching to see how Rutgers does next year. If they crush it and WIN BIG it will change the dynamic of this program forever. If they LOSE BIG, Pike will be credited with failing to win with talent and will be a turn off for many recruits
I think it depends on how we lose. They call it madness for a reason.
I just hope weāre not on the bad end of one of those ridiculous upsets.
There will be pressure and expectations on everyone in the program next year. That's a good thing
The 2 biggest needs we will need for next year to play alongside Ace and Dylan:
1. A PG who can penetrate and can pass to set up Ace; Dylan and Gavin etc
2. A Glue Defender / Tenacious Rebounder. I'm hoping that's Mag but if not - then a similar player (s) .
Ace and Dylan were not recruited here to be on the All Big 10 Defense Team
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I'm not worried about portal transfers. There will be a line of players wanting to play with Bailey and Harper.
The ball will be in Dylanās handsā¦itās his offense to run next year and he will have a SG complimenting him.
I see Dylan starting at PG. Thatās what heāll play in the nba. So maybe they bring in veteran pass first guard that will come off the bench but those guys are hard to find. J. Williams is the defensive glue guy that Iām hoping is still around. Add Mag and I think they have the pieces.
He has a center coming in Lathan Somerville , who will play better than his ranking and is a top 35 player not top 100. . He can do more, as he can dribble with a good handle , drive , shoot , rebound and block shots. Wolf , Egbole and Lathan will hold down the 5 spot. Lathan will be able to run with Dylan and Ace. Do not think we need a transfer portal center
Don't you think Knight will be gone after this season or for sure next season? No amount of money will keep him here if offered a head coaching position at an upper level school.
Most freshman heavy teams with multiple 5* kids as frosh and sophs (Kentucky, Duke etc) average about 9 to 10 losses per season.
Experience and guards usually win in CBB. I would imagine another portal guard to supplement Jeremiah Williams and Dylan Harper and an upgraded more talented wing forward than Mag, will be a top priority via the portal. It's going to be important to mesh these types of players and the pieces need to fit.
Simpson and Davis along with Griffiths developing this year, are the focal points and have been for months. It's imperative that they get minutes and develop this year, so we can figure out how to project their improvements into the following season. Kids usually make the biggest jumps from freshman to sophomore seasons, so the best case scenario would have Simpson as a legitimate 2 way guard as a junior, mixed with Williams and Dylan and Davis....add a 5th guard via the portal and we are set there.
Mag, Chol and Woolfolk based on style of play, all really don't fit as up and down the court, dribble, pass, shoot and score forwards. RU will need to see how this season develops with the PF spot and see which player compliments Bailey the best. I view Bailey as a 3 more than 4 in college. A true 4 that can dribble, playmake, defend and rebound is fine, but that player is going to be the player opponents will have to sacrifice and prove that he can score.....that player needs to be a complete player and can create their own offense at the PF, is a must have next year.
Experience and guards usually win in CBB. I would imagine another portal guard to supplement Jeremiah Williams and Dylan Harper and an upgraded more talented wing forward than Mag, will be a top priority via the portal. It's going to be important to mesh these types of players and the pieces need to fit.
Simpson and Davis along with Griffiths developing this year, are the focal points and have been for months. It's imperative that they get minutes and develop this year, so we can figure out how to project their improvements into the following season. Kids usually make the biggest jumps from freshman to sophomore seasons, so the best case scenario would have Simpson as a legitimate 2 way guard as a junior, mixed with Williams and Dylan and Davis....add a 5th guard via the portal and we are set there.
Mag, Chol and Woolfolk based on style of play, all really don't fit as up and down the court, dribble, pass, shoot and score forwards. RU will need to see how this season develops with the PF spot and see which player compliments Bailey the best. I view Bailey as a 3 more than 4 in college. A true 4 that can dribble, playmake, defend and rebound is fine, but that player is going to be the player opponents will have to sacrifice and prove that he can score.....that player needs to be a complete player and can create their own offense at the PF, is a must have next year.
What role does Griffiths play?i don't see him accepting another season on the bench getting limited minutes.Rutgers will need a 3 point shooter from the corners to complement the scoring from Harper and Bailey.
Griffiths if he starts to develop and play at a higher level (like I expect him to) will be an impact player, but you can't have 8 starters......you can have 8 to 9 very good players and only 5 are starting.
The starters also have to fit into roles and if Gavin improves his defense and rebounding, he will be very tough to keep out of the starting lineup.
The only way RU gets to a Sweet 16 level or beyond, is if it has 8 to 10 players that all play a role and can fit into places that help compliment the starters AND there isn't a steep dropoff in skill level.
You can be very inexperienced, if the talent fits in and compliment the others. I feel pretty certain that when we arrive to camp in October, the roster will be best suited to improve as the season goes on, not necessarily the most experienced players starting that season.
You either have an incorrect assessment of his defensive and offensive talent (most likely) OR you think weāre capable of plucking a very high end transfer.We would be BLESSED to have Mag on this team next year (and no chance we recruit over him IF he will stay!!)
You act like coach going to āpush him outā like you incorrectly think he did for Cam.
This also assumes we have a ton of NIL money still laying around bc an upgrade to Mag would be expensive
We would be BLESSED to have Mag on this team next year (and no chance we recruit over him IF he will stay!!)
You act like coach going to āpush him outā like you incorrectly think he did for Cam.