Losing Cliff cost us the NCAA Tournament

[rutgersal_rivals139582]

Michigan ate our lunch inside all game long as Goldin was unsolicited, and ended up with 22 points. Their rebounding edge was 38-27. Just a common theme for this season. Cliffs toughness and leadership is dearly missed.

Look at all our close losses and the difference is Cliffs impact.

 

[PatrickRU92]

Michigan ate our lunch inside all game long as Goldin was unsolicited, and ended up with 22 points. Their rebounding edge was 38-27. Just a common theme for this season. Cliffs toughness and leadership is dearly missed.

Look at all our close losses and the difference is Cliffs impact.

I agree, would have made a massive difference on this team. Look at last night on the beautiful insde pass to Ogbole who went to dunk it got blocked. If that was Cliff he dunks that and its an "and 1 " too and we win.

I'm not an EO hater by any means but he does not have that killer instinct at the rim that Cliff does. EO is so big he should be a lot meaner down low.

 

[RUChoppin]

Cliff also allowed for tighter and more aggressive perimeter defense, because we had a shot blocker waiting in the paint if we got beaten on dribble penetration. He erased a lot of issues caused by lack of defensive foot speed and lateral quickness. His arm length also denied a lot of entry passes.

Tough loss... But no way to know whether it would have meant making the tournament or not.

 

[RUsojo]

Lot of downplaying of Cliff when he was here, when he was trending away, and after he left. Whether it be his play or his made up “value” or “overvalued” nonsense.

He’s a top 3 top recruit of Pikiells career. Pike did a great job of getting him. A passable job of using him, and considering all events leading up to Cliff leaving, he really had a difficult task of keeping him.

I give more credit to pike getting Cliff than blame for him leaving by a longshot. Of course, each party has some role in these things as well.

 

[rutgersal_rivals139582]

I agree, would have made a massive difference on this team. Look at last night on the beautiful insde pass to Ogbole who went to dunk it got blocked. If that was Cliff he dunks that and its an "and 1 " too and we win.

I'm not an EO hater by any means but he does not have that killer instinct at the rim that Cliff does. EO is so big he should be a lot meaner down low.

Ogbole is who he is. A reserve that can spell the main guy. Hopefully Somerville can develop the toughness we seek, but till date he’s been making his living hitting bunnies

 

[rutgersal_rivals139582]

Lot of downplaying of Cliff when he was here, when he was trending away, and after he left. Whether it be his play or his made up “value” or “overvalued” nonsense.

He’s a top 3 top recruit of Pikiells career. Pike did a great job of getting him. A passable job of using him, and considering all events leading up to Cliff leaving, he really had a difficult task of keeping him.

I give more credit to pike getting Cliff than blame for him leaving by a longshot. Of course, each party has some role in these things as well.

People take players for granted. Mulcahey would have made a big difference last year

 

[PhillyRU]

This is a tournament team with Cliff, pikes’ defense are so reliant on a dominant rim protector and we just don't have one this year.

Another long term concern with his tenure at Rutgers is how highly-valued a Myles Johnson/Cliff Omoruyi-caliber shot blocker is in the NIL world

 

[seansherm]

It's funny, there were people that didn't think Cliff would be missed at all and were happy he was gone.

 

[ruhoopshq]

It's funny, there were people that didn't think Cliff would be missed at all and were happy he was gone.

Don't think anyone was happy Cliff was leaving

 

[ruhoopshq]

Michigan ate our lunch inside all game long as Goldin was unsolicited, and ended up with 22 points. Their rebounding edge was 38-27. Just a common theme for this season. Cliffs toughness and leadership is dearly missed.

Look at all our close losses and the difference is Cliffs impact.

I pointed this out in the first few minutes of the game yesterday.


Also, not prioritizing a decent center from the transfer portal in the offseason hurt this team badly.

Lathan's defense isn't good by any stretch, but the kid is just a freshman. He'll learn and hopefully improve his defensive game. It was foolish to believe he could be the anchor on defense for this team. IMO, Lathan is more of a power forward, not a center.

In my preview leading up to the season, the biggest question mark I had for this team was the frontcourt. If the frontcourt couldn't hold up, it would break this season.

As for Cliff, he left for greener pastures and a bigger NIL check. Can you blame him? Listen, Cliff bleeds Scarlet and always will. Rutgers had no shot at keeping him. Now he can pay for his family and other stuff in his life. Had he been at Rutgers a fifth season, he would've been worn down into the ground. He's not getting worn into the ground at Alabama.

Losing Cliff hurt Rutgers badly.

 

[RUsojo]

People take players for granted. Mulcahey would have made a big difference last year

Mulcahy mostly rode coat tails imo with a big caveat to how well he was able to make use of cliff for both their sakes.

 

[seansherm]

Don't think anyone was happy Cliff was leaving

You should go back and do some reading then

 

[NJ-Hoops17]

I pointed this out in the first few minutes of the game yesterday.


Also, not prioritizing a decent center from the transfer portal in the offseason hurt this team badly.

Lathan's defense isn't good by any stretch, but the kid is just a freshman. He'll learn and hopefully improve his defensive game. It was foolish to believe he could be in the anchor on defense for this team. IMO, Lathan is more of a power forward, not a center.

In my preview leading up to the season, the biggest question mark I had for this team was the frontcourt. If the frontcourt couldn't hold up, it would break this season.

As for Cliff, he left for greener pastures and a bigger NIL check. Can you blame him? Listen, Cliff bleeds Scarlet and always will. Rutgers had no shot at keeping him. Now he can pay for his family and other stuff in his life. Had he been at Rutgers a fifth season, he would've been worn down into the ground. He's not getting worn into the ground at Alabama.

Losing Cliff hurt Rutgers badly.

Agreed. I think Pike should try to develop Lathan into more of a PF over the offseason and add a true rim-protecting center in the portal. Add in a good transfer portal point guard and I could see the vision to a team like that being decent

 

[seansherm]

Agreed. I think Pike should try to develop Lathan into more of a PF over the offseason and add a true rim-protecting center in the portal. Add in a good transfer portal point guard and I could see the vision to a team like that being decent

It would need to be a rim protecting center that was efficient around the perimeter on offense then because Lathan would be clogging the paint. Lathan isn't a 4. Probably isn't a 5 either, but he needs to spend the offseason getting stronger.

 

[NJ-Hoops17]

It would need to be a rim protecting center that was efficient around the perimeter on offense then because Lathan would be clogging the paint. Lathan isn't a 4. Probably isn't a 5 either, but he needs to spend the offseason getting stronger.

Not necessarily. Other teams in the Big Ten start 2 big men that aren't necessarily going to stretch the perimeter (Indiana, Michigan, Maryland, etc.)

For Indiana and Maryland specifically, none of Ballo, Reneau, Queen, or Reese are 3-PT shooters. If you surround them with enough 3-PT shooting, it will offset clogging the paint and their teams will create a lot of mismatches in the paint and on the glass.

 

[bethlehemfan]

It's funny, there were people that didn't think Cliff would be missed at all and were happy he was gone.

Those were people without a clue

 

[runrutgersrun]

I pointed this out in the first few minutes of the game yesterday.


Also, not prioritizing a decent center from the transfer portal in the offseason hurt this team badly.

Lathan's defense isn't good by any stretch, but the kid is just a freshman. He'll learn and hopefully improve his defensive game. It was foolish to believe he could be in the anchor on defense for this team. IMO, Lathan is more of a power forward, not a center.

In my preview leading up to the season, the biggest question mark I had for this team was the frontcourt. If the frontcourt couldn't hold up, it would break this season.

As for Cliff, he left for greener pastures and a bigger NIL check. Can you blame him? Listen, Cliff bleeds Scarlet and always will. Rutgers had no shot at keeping him. Now he can pay for his family and other stuff in his life. Had he been at Rutgers a fifth season, he would've been worn down into the ground. He's not getting worn into the ground at Alabama.

Losing Cliff hurt Rutgers badly.

This ^^^^. Whoever anyone wants to blame for losing Cliff, the answer is actually $$$$ as with most things in life. It has almost certainly always been our RU sports problem. Most other schools have always realized the depth of the pool in which they have decided to swim - and at least acknowledged the need to find resources to compete. At RU we are always looking to offer our latest contract/commitment of the day to the lowest bidder. To blame coaches or players for lack of subsequent success has almost always been missing the real problem...such a shame. Go RU!

 

[rutgersal_rivals139582]

This ^^^^. Whoever anyone wants to blame for losing Cliff, the answer is actually $$$$ as with most things in life. It has almost certainly always been our RU sports problem. Most other schools have always realized the depth of the pool in which they have decided to swim - and at least acknowledged the need to find resources to compete. At RU we are always looking to offer our latest contract/commitment of the day to the lowest bidder. To blame coaches or players for lack of subsequent success has almost always been missing the real problem...such a shame. Go RU!

People are going to need to step up to land a quality Center

 

[superfan01]

People are going to need to step up to land a quality Center

Give it a rest Al. It's not happening. You're getting annoying.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Don’t know about the money. But I do believe we would have way more wins with Cliff. The defense wouldn’t be close to this bad and the offense would be at least as good. Probably better. I don’t think it’s a difference of a few games. I think it’s massive. I’m not sure we’d have more than 8 or so losses. Seriously. He would plug a major hole that would solve a lot of things IMO.

 

[bac2therac]

Ogbole is who he is. A reserve that can spell the main guy. Hopefully Somerville can develop the toughness we seek, but till date he’s been making his living hitting bunnies

Somerville is incredibly undersized...Pike will have to better

 

[rutgersal_rivals139582]

Somerville is incredibly undersized...Pike will have to better

Somerville is undersized but given our lack of resources I don’t have any confidence we can recruit better.

 

[JavaDunk18]

Easily a tournament team with Cliff. Doubters point to last year's limited offensive production when he was double teamed and forced the ball inside with his back to the basket. This year with all of the double teams on Ace & Dylan, Cliff would have been roaming free w Quick Dunk City. also we would have more garbage bucket putbacks. & that's just on offense.. Defense we would have a rim protecter, allowing a lot less baskets inside.

 

[mugrat86]

Don’t know about the money. But I do believe we would have way more wins with Cliff. The defense wouldn’t be close to this bad and the offense would be at least as good. Probably better. I don’t think it’s a difference of a few games. I think it’s massive. I’m not sure we’d have more than 8 or so losses. Seriously. He would plug a major hole that would solve a lot of things IMO.

If Cliff accepted his role he has on Bama, the team would have definitely been better, however if he wanted the ball in the post like we used to feed him, team would have probably been worse. He was the worst post player for a big man I ever seen

 

[bitnez]

If Cliff accepted his role he has on Bama, the team would have definitely been better, however if he wanted the ball in the post like we used to feed him, team would have probably been worse. He was the worst post player for a big man I ever seen

He left for the bag but it is striking what a small role he has at Bama. I’m sure he thought he’d play more. This year has done nothing to improve his profile.

 

[shields]

I liked cliff a lot. But remember Mississipi State game last year? He had 3 points and kid for them had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Record would be better but he had a lot of bad games also.

 

[RUJMM78]

Not having a consistent third scoring threat has also impacted team results.There were games that Bailey or Harper weren't playing or had poor scoring efforts because they were double teamed.For all the complaint regarding Sommerville he is the best foul shooter on the team and is a far better offensive threat than Cliff.

 

[rufeelinit]

Cliff needed a change. He had been here four years and while he became more of a physical specimen, his basketball skills, particularly on the offensive end, just did not develop. This is his last year ,and while his role with Bama may not be as large as anticipated ,he is a contributor on a team that could go to the final four. And he is getting what will likely be the biggest check he will ever get from playing the sport. While I will give Pike credit for developing Myles Johnson, he did not get the job done with Cliff.

 

[Nycrusupporter]

Michigan ate our lunch inside all game long as Goldin was unsolicited, and ended up with 22 points. Their rebounding edge was 38-27. Just a common theme for this season. Cliffs toughness and leadership is dearly missed.

Look at all our close losses and the difference is Cliffs impact.

We didn’t “lose” Cliff. Cliff graduated and wanted to leave. He was never coming back.

 

[rutgersal_rivals139582]

We didn’t “lose” Cliff. Cliff graduated and wanted to leave. He was never coming back.

We put enough 0’s at the end of his Check, he would have been back.

 

[toby83]

We put enough 0’s at the end of his Check, he would have been back.

If my grandmother had wheels she would have been a bike

 

[Nycrusupporter]

We put enough 0’s at the end of his Check, he would have been back.

He didn’t even want to be here is senior year. He was very disappointed he had no NBA interest and was basically going through the motions. This year he chose to play with the best team that would take him and get paid for it, accepting the NBA was not and will not be an option. Alabama was an experienced Final Four team last year and was returning most of their production. Cliff had no interest in playing with the freshmen.

 

[RutgersChow]

Michigan ate our lunch inside all game long as Goldin was unsolicited, and ended up with 22 points. Their rebounding edge was 38-27. Just a common theme for this season. Cliffs toughness and leadership is dearly missed.

Look at all our close losses and the difference is Cliffs impact.

Pikiel cost us.

 

[RAC93]

Somerville is incredibly undersized...Pike will have to better

Lathan is essentially a power forward as far as rim protection is concerned with his lack of jumping ability and quick burst off the floor. Cliff was truly a freak of nature in that department.

 

[Ridge 22]

Pikiel cost us.

Agree. Another clueless Al post. It wasn't about Cliff. It was about Pike not understanding how to evaluate talent and put together a competent roster around Ace and Dylan. It could have and should have been done. It's not about NIL or Cliff. It's about Pike and failing to function properly in this environment

 

[RUChoppin]

Wasn't one of the factors with cliff that he was not a citizen, which limited his NIL opportunity? Alabama didn't play outside of the United States this year, so not sure how his NIL contracts worked out.

 

[rutgersal_rivals139582]

He didn’t even want to be here is senior year. He was very disappointed he had no NBA interest and was basically going through the motions. This year he chose to play with the best team that would take him and get paid for it, accepting the NBA was not and will not be an option. Alabama was an experienced Final Four team last year and was returning most of their production. Cliff had no interest in playing with the freshmen.

For $1M, I wouldn’t want to play with freshmen either. He decided to cash in and there’s nothing wrong with that.

 

[rutgersal_rivals139582]

Agree. Another clueless Al post. It wasn't about Cliff. It was about Pike not understanding how to evaluate talent and put together a competent roster around Ace and Dylan. It could have and should have been done. It's not about NIL or Cliff. It's about Pike and failing to function properly in this environment

It absolutely is about Cliff because we haven’t replaced what he brought to the table. Meanwhile, his new team already has 23 Wins. So it worked out for him.

 

[tru2ru1]

It absolutely is about Cliff because we haven’t replaced what he brought to the table. Meanwhile, his new team already has 23 Wins. So it worked out for him.

Bama would have the same number of wins without Cliff

 

[bethlehemfan]

It’s interesting to me that people call Al out for being “clueless” or whatever. Al’s actually one of the smarter people on these boards. Stick to the facts and debate him versus name calling and see who’s clueless.