Anyone that thinks the 23 team was better than the 22 team should probably stop watch basketball
Carino so wrong On Simpson
- Thread starter RUSCFORMERLYRULOU
- Start date
Almost nothing for this season has broke right for this team, so I really can't get on the so called 'experts/beat writers' that much:
1. This was supposed to be a breakout year for Simpson - Derek can't get the ball in hole - it's uncanny
2. Gavin was supposed to be the shooter we have so desperately missed all these years - he's still finding his sea legs.
3. Noah was supposed to be the leader of this team, and give us a true PG - he's not a leader, and has been a disappointment
4. Our backcourt was going to be athletic this year like we have never have been - that may be true, but that athletic backcourt is getting pushed around and dominated by bigger guards
5. Hyatt and Cliff maybe progressing with another year under their belt - Same old Hyatt and Cliff looks like he regressed on the whole
I'm sure there's others I'm missing too.
1. This was supposed to be a breakout year for Simpson - Derek can't get the ball in hole - it's uncanny
2. Gavin was supposed to be the shooter we have so desperately missed all these years - he's still finding his sea legs.
3. Noah was supposed to be the leader of this team, and give us a true PG - he's not a leader, and has been a disappointment
4. Our backcourt was going to be athletic this year like we have never have been - that may be true, but that athletic backcourt is getting pushed around and dominated by bigger guards
5. Hyatt and Cliff maybe progressing with another year under their belt - Same old Hyatt and Cliff looks like he regressed on the whole
I'm sure there's others I'm missing too.
Not so sure about that. There are some good players in the A-10 that are way better than he is
Exactly. There was a thesis as to why this year's team could be good. Unfortunately, basically everything that we needed to have happened didn't happen
The only player exceeding expectations this season is JMike
Carino said Reiber would start at the 4, Chol was the most impressive player in practice
The Carino curse! Fade whoever he hypes most this off season
Kid gives enormous effort every night. This year's team would be much worse without him. Wish there was a shooting switch that we could flip.
I would think that might help his drives to the basket, making defenders back off . . .
The one drive where the PSU guy didn’t make contact with Simpson near the rim and he then flung up a rec league looking attempt that missed badly was a kamikaze mission that turned into harikari.
You're hanging your hat on beating Purdue....in early January 2023, with Purdue playing two true freshman guards as some sort of validation, but want to ignore the rest of the season......and then actually want to try and compare that to the same Purdue team and guards in January 2024??
Is Zach Edey better today vs January 2023??
Are the 2 guards (Smith and Loyer) better today as sophs vs trying to compare them to them with less than maybe 3 B1G games under their belts??
The CBB season doesn't end on Feb 1st or 1st week of February. How about we look at 2 teams since Feb 2023 through today......let's say Nebraska and RU from that timeframe.
Anyone with a clue, could watch that game last year at the RAC last year and clearly see, Nebraska was the better team that night BUT.....what evidence do I now have since then??? Was it a one game incident???.They're actually the better team since then.
If I take the flawed logic that you have, the season ends in early February....since Mag went down, which you say is the turning point,
RU dropped three straight with your supposedly better guards, then wins by 1 point at Wisconsin, another loss at home to Michigan by 13, then gets down 21 at PSU, rallies to win by 3, then proceeds to lose at Minnesota, drops another game to NW by 12, wins vs Michigan in B1G tournament and loses to Purdue.
If winning by 1 at Wisconsin, thanks to a massive blocked shot by Cliff and rallying to win at PSU after being down 21 in the 2H is logical for you as being ALL Mawot Mag, I have a bridge to sell you.....
What is more logical is RU was 4 points away from not winning a game down the stretch last year. That stretches WAY beyond one player, it was the backcourt, not Mag.
Meanwhile from Feb 1st last year, Nebraska finished up 6-3 in their last 9 B1G games and is 6-5 in B1G games this year through Thursday night......That is 12-8.....which in most years clearly indicates a NCAA caliber resume.....they almost beat Purdue last year and beat a more mature Purdue team this year.
I can at least post to "actual evidence " to support that Nebraska is better, because I have a 9 game sample size last year which is now supported by 11 B1G games this year.
We are now in February 2024 and Mag has been back and playing for almost 2 months. We can speculate that he's not 90% or even 85% healthy, which is logical and fair, given how demanding this league is. But even with that said, if you believe he is the difference maker, logic would automatically show that would be seen on the court with his play.
If I told anyone that he would have no points and a handful of rebounds and a few blown defensive coverages that allowed wide open 3s by our opponents, many fans would think I was referring to Chol or Woolfolk or Oskar Palmquist, because those players are not typically part of the rotation OR are not expected to be heard from as contributing factors.
BUT....if you want to say it was Mag, why would I logically BUY into that fantasy land discussion?????
Fans wanted to believe that narrative and there's literally no indication that I can see, that supports it......it doesn't support it in team leadership.....it's not showing up on the glass.....it's not in the scoring column or playmaking with creating offense. It does show up a lot, with on the ball, very good defense, but that also applies to Simpson and Davis as well.....they play pretty good (not great) on the ball defense too.
But I think anyone would agree that if Davis or Simpson (or Griffiths) played 25 to 28 minutes a game and didn't score for 3 games in a row, heads would explode. Because players who play that many minutes, are expected to do something on offense and defense and rebounding etc
When does that same standard get applied to Mag?? I am really trying to understand how anyone can even try to apply how it was the main reason why it didn't work last year, when I see no legitimate evidence this year to support that.
Shouldn't someone see actual production now to support that argument?? If that was there NOW or in the last 3 games, it would show up on game days, on the court, on the scoreboard.
But I can "fairly" say that if that play or performance is not there today, why would I believe that it would have appeared consistently over the last few games of last year??
I think a fair assumption would be that at a minimum, the player you and others want to believe was the reason, could show up with a ONE basket vs Purdue or one vs Penn State at home.
The team last year did not have the juice or playmaking or enough gas in the tank with last years backcourt. Otherwise, it would have gotten RU to the finish line. So the youth movement is in full swing now with Simpson, Davis and Griffiths, because this is bigger than 1 season.
I fully own and 1000% expected this backcourt in 2023-24, to be better than last year. I OWN that and definitely expected more from Simpson and Griffiths......
I am already on record that stated if I looked at HS tape of Simpson and Davis, that Davis has tape in HS that showed he would be able to contribute and play 18 to 22 minutes a game here as a freshman.
I am ALL IN on all 3 guards but willing to discuss upgrades if those 3 don't improve the rest of the season. That doesn't mean up to February 1st.
At the same time, please STOP with the Mag narrative.....it's comfort level denial....the story needs to be buried and its now at embarrassing levels that it keeps coming up.
And you can't in anyway continue to complain about Pike and recruiting being bad for the last 3 years of 2020, 2021 and 2022 and somehow ignore that Mag is part of that equation. If you say he's the difference maker, then keep that same energy there.
I don't view the player on the court or want to imagine that as the reason. He is a great kid, tough, works hard and is still a player any roster can use. But there is a significant difference between player who can help a roster and absolute difference maker you and others want to cling onto.
How many points would this year's team score against last year's team? Who does Caleb shut down in this hypothetical matchup?
Last year, virtually every bracketologist thought we were in on selection Sunday. We got screwed. I will predict that this year, we will be listed on zero brackets.
The Simpson defenders remind me of the Wimsatt defenders. They like the kid’s attitude and moxie and refuse to believe the data
Sure ok - but this year’s team could only manage 46 points this weekend against an awful PSU team without their best player. Obviously Mag looked a lot worse on Sunday than he did last season. He’s clearly not 100%. It’s not because last year’s Purdue with their “green” frosh ranked number 1 in the country was actually worse than the PSU team we played Sunday.
As someone pointed out - Derek is shooting at a historically low efficiency level for a regular starter (worst since 2008) and he’s one of our highest usage players to add salt to the wound. That, combined with Mag’s drop off, not having a shooter like Cam, or a pass first PG like Paul (forget whether it’s a good one or not - the guys we have are slashers or Iso PGs - nobody pass first on a team where the front court players are our best offensive options) - these things are why we suck.
The Simpson kid is good but he’s not a Big Ten caliber starter. You need potential professional players to compete whether that’s NBA, G-League or overseas. He’s not a professional type He would be sooooo good on a team in the Atlantic 10
Hard to be patient when you have a 6’6 guard who can do everything on his way for a year.
I like Carino and enjoy his coverage and podcast but he is so, so passionate about college basketball and New Jersey kids in particular that his passion often trumps any level of dispassionate evaluation of a player's performance or ability. His reaction to folks that express any criticism of a player's performance or overall ability (not personal attacks) is comparable to how delusional Rutgers fans react to any perceived negative coverage of Rutgers by Steve Politi no matter how legitimate his take may be. Simpson is not a good shooter. He is closing in on the end of his sophomore year and is shooting 28% from 3 and 33% from 2. Carino took the opportunity to criticize critics of Simpson's play when Simpson hit the game winner against Stonehill, one of the worst teams in America, in a game where he had shot 3-13 before that shot. That's the reaction of a fan. Not rational. I like Simpson and root for him because he seems like a nice kid and I'm a Rutgers fan but he is just not that great of a player. Every time he jacks up a quick 18 foot jump shot I get red in the face because shot selection like that is just not good basketball. You can say well it's a good shot if he makes it but when you're shooting 31% overall from the field, you're missing much more than you make it.
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When somebody on the team is a good shooter? Yet he gets the scorn?
Kid hustles, plays great D, gets rebounds and steals and is our best foul shooter.
I don't understand how you don't see that mag going down was a big part of the reason last years team slid. That team was not talented offensively either. Leaned on cam Spencer and teams started to play him closely. The main weapon for that team was the press which disrupted the other teams offense and forced shots late in the shot clock and created turnovers which was the best offense for that team. Mag was the head of that press and his energy and athletic ability following the ball was amazing to watch. He was all over the court defensively, even started to make shots before he went down. Lost the ability to press effectively after he went down. Not sure how you can't see that.
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Bro, why constantly bash jmike? He's playing ok for a freshman, one of the few bright spots. You can praise Simpson without throwing shots at jmike. And he's definitely a pg.. lol
I know mag is what people like to point it but imo the real answer people didn’t want to dig into was Paul’s historic fall from grace and Pike sticking with him far too long wrecked last years teams chance more.
JMike is the only player on the entire roster out performing expectations
The rest are varying levels of underperforming from Noah on the bottom to I guess Hyatt who is basically meeting expectations
Yes that team was bad offensively, which is why I was all for brining in a pg that can beat his man off the dribble and either dish or get a lay up. Womp womp, Fernandes was not all he was cracked up to be..but I digress lol when mag was in, the press made up for the bad offense. Once mag was lost the press never looked the same.
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Paul and Caleb were banged up a good part of the year, the issue was there was no depth, so there was no one to replace them with when they were trying to play hurt. Mag going down just accelerated the issue.
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That was also an issue. Recruiting had been down, not all scholarships were used, and Pikiell didn’t want to bring in transfers that could possibly take minutes away from contributors.
And most of this board can constantly bash Simpson but when somebody takes a contrary take on new fan favorite JMike it’s unfair. BAC is giving him the starting job? Tad insulting and unfair to Derek?
Simpson better PG. Simpson only a sophomore. Every one saying JMike better point guard yet even last game both Simpson and Fernandes had more assists. Been that way all year. That may be the real issue but lots of blinders on. I think JMike plays hard and great D too. Foul shooting is a huge issue too. Most of this board saying he is a great or learning PG without any support whatsoever. Point guard has to pass the ball and gets assists.
Another poster claims he “sees” the game better than anybody and has divined that JMike should be the point guard. When you point out last three games with significant minutes, 0 assists, O assists and two assists…
Posters mocking Carino for the same. And I don’t particularly like him but he has a fair point.
So plenty of “bashing” going around.
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People like the way he plays, how he controls the game. If Simpson has the ball most of the time he's going to get assists. He is THE playmaker on this team, which is why he gets a lot of the criticism because he is the one taking the shots. I like that about him, the confidence and fearlessness. I just don't believe he's working on his game the way he should be. I will keep going back to how shocked I was seeing the sophomore guard from Princeton compared to Simpson. That kid put on some muscle and was able to get wherever he wanted on the floor. It's like he was who I was HOPING Simpson would be. Because being a pg is about more than assists, getting the ball across half court without any drama is one of those things. Being sure with the basketball is another..not saying jmike is John Stockton but I trust him to get the ball up the court before Simpson.
If we’re relying on Simpson to play significant Minutes next year we’re in trouble, he’s just not that good. Sure he can get stronger and hopefully finish some of the rim shots. But at this age you do not drastically improve your 3 point shot. He will always be a sub 30 percent 3pt shooter. He’s your 2nd or 3rd guard off the bench next year if he Stays.
And where is the support for that? Zero assists, zero assist and two assists last game with significant minutes.
No support at all that Davis is so good” with the basketball.
Simpson has to bring it up because nobody else can.
What has he done to earn this trust?
Not John Stockton really?
Best defensive guard we have.
Best foul shooter on the team.
Guy has a knack for rebounds see 8 against PSU.
I wouldn’t mind a 3rd year veteran who has actually won games for us, Indiana 2x, PSU, Stonehill, almost a triple double against Nebraska, played well against OSU.
Might want him to have some minutes next year.
Riddle me this, if we are relying on JMike to play significant minutes next year are we in trouble?
If three point shooting is your criteria, do you want the guy shooting 22.7% from three or the guy shooting 28.3%. I don’t care what people see. They see what they want to see. I like facts.
Both guys are young. One is a freshman. One is a sophomore. They are both “young”
SMH.
Again, Simpson is the playmaker and has a green light on this team. If jmike takes the shots Simpson takes he's getting pulled. I'm guessing jmikes light will get greener as the year goes on if you want to compare. He lost some trajectory with the injury but he looks back on track to becoming more comfortable out there. So we shall see..
Would like to add I don't think jmike is ready to be that type of scoring guard which this team needs. But on this team he will get a chance to be that guard. Let's hope he settles in and doesn't force things.
Also, I believe Simpson can become really good if he dedicated himself in the weight room and improving his handle. Weight room will help him control his body on layup attempts. Might even start dunking those if hits the weights real hard because I've seen him make strong drives to the basket and dunk it. He also is giving a lot of effort on defense this year and as you said rebounding. He just has a lot to work on, seems like he's a motivated guy so let's see what he can become.
Off the top of my head:
1. Mag injury - no big deal, just plug in Hyatt and Simpson.
2. Mag not a big 10 level player (this takes looking better, but I think mags earned the benefit of the doubt based on his total play. I’m guessing he’s injured).
3. Spencer leaving - no big deal, GG will be better.
4. Spencer leaving - no big deal, Austin Williams will be better.
5. Something about Pike basically telling Spencer to kick rocks and him leaving was all part of the plan.
Are we pretending that the there will not be 2 offensive studs coming in next season (at least on paper)? Let's play this scenario out.
- Ace/Dylan will be primary options on offense and are likely defensive question marks
- Gavin will likely get stronger and hopefully more confidence - but even if he progresses to a strong #3 option - he will probably still not be a strong defensive component
1) Mag.....last 3 games....55 minutes.....1 of 13 from the field...0-5 from 3.....2 PTS 4 rebounds in THREE games.. OMG
2) Please stop....you and others said "essential, the full court press and other nonsense.....my question is while the vultures keep bringing up my takes, is this not a FACT......only would a delusional fan base sit back and literally spend thread after thread, talking about Simpson, when a senior starter, walks free of criticism.....55 minutes, 4 rebounds, 2 points....on what planet is your response "this takes looks better and better LMAO.
3) I've already explained to you that Griffiths views himself as a shooting guard and he is now (as of the last 2 to 3 games) starting to show flashes. I always maintain that a 5th year senior, would be better than Griffiths to start the 1st 2 months of Gavins career, but Gavins (and Simpson and Davis) are going to be here next year. How fans and media are now seeing this today as some revelation is strange, when it was always the plan to look beyond this one season.
4) No one said anything about Austin Williams replacing Spencer, but because I am 100% right on the 1st THREE items, you pulled one out of thin air, that I never said)
5) Mulcahy was fine to stay and he was in line to NOT play exclusively at PG....those minutes were going to Fernandes, Simpson and Davis.....Mulcahy had a role on the wing, while Mag was out and could obviously play some minutes a PG.....he skipped out on RU, realized his market value wasn't as huge, tried to reverse and come back and was told "no thanks".
The reality is the goal is to win as much as possible this year, with the bulk of the minutes going to kids who will compete for those minutes NOW and see who performs and can stick for next year. I am under the assumption that Davis, Simpson, Griffiths and Jeremiah Williams are aligned and will be here next year. Fernandes was brought in to help increase the tempo and play a similar style that Davis and Simpson (and now Jeremiah Williams) will play.
I hate to also break the other obvious items staring you right in the face, but RU has recruited 3 forwards for next year. One is Ace Bailey, the other 2 are young frosh in Bryce Dortch and Dylan Grant. Both (at least on tape) if given 25 minutes of playing time, should be able to put up more than 2 PTS and 4 rebounds in 1 game, let alone THREE full B1G games.
Keep making excuses and lying to yourself about what you are watching. Now we will hear he's injured and that's the reason.....LOL....guess what, everyone is injured, Cliff has been hobbled, Davis missed time with a knee, Simpson rolled his ankle Wednesday......only in excuse making world, will my "doozys", land as FACTS.....and get ignored as if I'm wrong.....
Excellent points about Simpson. He is miscast this season due to no other guard options. At this point, he is a role player, one that should come off the bench, play limited minutes and try to provide a spark, a different look to the opponent possibly, with his defense and speed. What would be needed is quality guards ahead of him obviously to have him be a role player/bench player. If there were enough quality guards ahead of him, then he likely would get little time due to his poor shooting, obviously this would be ideal but unfortunately there are not an abundance of quality guards for RU at the moment. That could change, next year Dylan, JWill (if he shows to be good in remainder of season, fingers crossed), JMike, and hopefully an experienced, quality guard who can shoot through the portal, might even need another experienced. If we upgrade the guard room enough, Simpson role could be very diminished next season, which I think would be ideal at this point. Carino obviously disagrees. Simpson could even transfer out but I think only if the guard situation looks different with some new additions.