If I was Pike - Starting 5

[PSAL_Hoops]

After this game - it’d be hard to pick a starting line up for OSU because so many guys were so awful. Especially if he wants to keep Tariq coming in as a spark off the bench. I’d probably go with:

J Mike, Zrno, Grant, Dortch and Ogbole

If Zrno doesn’t hit his first few shots, I’d yank him pretty quickly and get Francis in there. Zrno is useless if his shots aren’t falling

Lino should be the primary sub for J Mike when he sits. I don’t want to see Denis out there. He is so bad at defense and doesn’t rebound. He actually gets in Ogbole and Dortch’ way and then doesn’t lock down the rebound. Nwuli hasn’t shown much to me either. Disappointment so far. I’d play him after the game gets out of hand to see if he develops but not before. Buchanan unfortunately has to be the primary sub for the 4/5. We should play 2 of Dortch, Ogbole and Buchanan at all times. Buchanan was awful against Delaware St, but again, we have no other options. Zrno and Powers should play when their shooting is on. They get minutes at the 2/3 when Francis or Grant are out.

Dortch needs to play 30 minutes in my opinion. Our D is horrible without him.

 

[Degaz-RU]

The problem with playing Dortch and Ogbole together is that they’re our only two legitimate options at the 5 spot, and you risk getting them both in foul trouble by playing them together for long stretches. I don’t mind short stretches, but not for 25-30 minutes.

The other problem is that playing them together means we’re playing 3 on 5 on offense, and it hurts floor spacing because teams know they don’t have to guard either of them closely. Instead, teams are shading and doubling the guys who have some semblance of an offensive game (Grant, Francis, Zrno).

 

[FAT MOON]

Have to get Badalau out of the starting lineup. He bring nothing to the table. horrible shooting...Horrible Rebounding...HORRIBLE Defense.

I don't really know what the right answer is but I also just have no idea how he's still in there game after game.

 

[MadRU]

5 new players

 

[RC80]

Would think were the only team going into January that doesn't know their starting 5; but don't know why he has Zero & Badalau & EO on the floor together; slow & unathletic. I get why you don't want JaMike with TF; and I'm ok with Tariq & Dortch off the bench; but really that is what happens when you (again) don't have a Center. I'm willing to go with JaMike with Powers, Grant, EO - and whomever looks like they want to play that day - out of Buchanan, Badalau, and maybe eventually Nwuli. But all we are doing is moving the chairs around. This team is what it is at this point.

 

[RU-ROCS]

Every time I see Badalau in the starting lineup I wonder to myself what is Pike thinking?! The kid must be a practice warrior because he's shown nothing in the last several games to warrant playing time.

 

[bac2therac]

lets face it, it really does not matter who he throws out there....Grant, Francis and J Mike are the only halfway decent players with a pulse. The rest play musical chairs of inconsistency showing flash one game and disaster the next 3.

 

[goru7]

Missed the game last night but it sounds like a disastrous shooting night except from the line. Shooting is about confidence and it seems like the whole team suffers from a lack of confidence.
Huge fail for Pike on the starting lineups and the rotations as the players are not talented enough but he has done nothing to help them. 13 games in and we have different starting lineups ? Who does that ?
Despite Zrno having an 0-7 last night he still is the best three point option and someone said all his looks were open ones last night so likely if he gets the same looks he will knock them down. JMike point guard despite his failing to step up with Mark as his sub. Buchanan or Nwuili as the wing despite Buchanan ‘s ridiculous penchant for turnovers . Nwuili can play defense and has done offensive game so let him operate and not defer or pass everytime he has the ball. Grant at the 4 with an emphasis toget him the ball at the foul line extended . Manny at the 5.
Francis and Dorsch first off the bench and Powers for Zrno. Francis can chunk away when he comes in.
No Badalau , No Fall , No Ware. Except for extreme foul trouble.
Teams that play 5 out with the 5 as a player that that make 3’s then Dorsch for Manny.
JMike has took to shoot more 3’s and inside out or on a kick out would be the best launch.
Our guards are bad but they have to try and score double figures.

 

[YoucancallmeRay]

Starters - Best combination of experience, scoring, effort, skill, and BB IQ.
Francis
Grant
Dortch
JMike
Buchanan

Relief for the starters - Developmental for the young guys
Powers
Ogbole
Nwuli
Mark

End of the bench -
Fall
Zrno
Badalu

 

[Delsk43]

Kaden Powers, let’s ride!

 

[BKIn118]

Let Powers cook...I am ready to see more.

 

[Knightmoves]

Euros were 0-9 on threes last night vs D State At home.

During the preseason I believed that the Euros could shoot us into some B1G game Wins.

But now there is no illusion to think that can happen imo after they don’t match up vs our opposing OOC teams.

Feeling empathy for RU STH’s at the RAC this season. Only question left is how one sided will it be for premium paying RU fans?

 

[satnom]

Missed the game last night but it sounds like a disastrous shooting night except from the line. Shooting is about confidence and it seems like the whole team suffers from a lack of confidence.
Huge fail for Pike on the starting lineups and the rotations as the players are not talented enough but he has done nothing to help them. 13 games in and we have different starting lineups ? Who does that ?
Despite Zrno having an 0-7 last night he still is the best three point option and someone said all his looks were open ones last night so likely if he gets the same looks he will knock them down. JMike point guard despite his failing to step up with Mark as his sub. Buchanan or Nwuili as the wing despite Buchanan ‘s ridiculous penchant for turnovers . Nwuili can play defense and has done offensive game so let him operate and not defer or pass everytime he has the ball. Grant at the 4 with an emphasis toget him the ball at the foul line extended . Manny at the 5.
Francis and Dorsch first off the bench and Powers for Zrno. Francis can chunk away when he comes in.
No Badalau , No Fall , No Ware. Except for extreme foul trouble.
Teams that play 5 out with the 5 as a player that that make 3’s then Dorsch for Manny.
JMike has took to shoot more 3’s and inside out or on a kick out would be the best launch.
Our guards are bad but they have to try and score double figures.

Zrno in no way is the best 3 pt shooting option either statistically or potentially. Grant, Davis, Francis and even Buchanan are.

Powers needs to play more and Francis “chucking” away provides more offense than any player not named Grant most nights. Play Nwuili more as a defensive stopper and sprint up and down court for lobs and put backs. Mark a little helter skelter at times but needs to play according to production and needs to attack to make buckets and dish.

Bring Badalau off the bench. Let him make some spot up threes 3s to get confidence going. Kid has length and has a stroke when playing with confidence.

Team defense looks better with Dortch at center but in BIG games he will get manhandled by the size and that’s where Ogbole can play a role. He’s not an offensive players. Needs to focus on rbs and put backs. Has a small repertoire of paint moves.

Jmike needs to play within himself. Bigger guards limit his effectiveness in half.

Have to hope for the best.

GO RU

 

[EddieWilsonLives]

chairs

titanic

 

[Bob Chaewsky_rivals]

I'm always intrigued by comments that a kid is shooting poorly because he lacks confidence. I don't think you can judge that unless you know the kid.

 

[satnom]

I'm always intrigued by comments that a kid is shooting poorly because he lacks confidence. I don't think you can judge that unless you know the kid.

Here’s a couple examples of kid lacking confidence:

Continuing to start a player who hasn’t been producing who’s probably burying shots in practice.

Then you see a player who’s missing badly on wide open looks when their shot looked much better to start the season.

Body language, hesitancy to shoot…..Lots of ways to gauge confidence or lack thereof.

GO RU

 

[RU-ROCS]

Zrno in no way is the best 3 pt shooting option either statistically or potentially. Grant, Davis, Francis and even Buchanan are.

Powers needs to play more and Francis “chucking” away provides more offense than any player not named Grant most nights. Play Nwuili more as a defensive stopper and sprint up and down court for lobs and put backs. Mark a little helter skelter at times but needs to play according to production and needs to attack to make buckets and dish.

Bring Badalau off the bench. Let him make some spot up threes 3s to get confidence going. Kid has length and has a stroke when playing with confidence.

Team defense looks better with Dortch at center but in BIG games he will get manhandled by the size and that’s where Ogbole can play a role. He’s not an offensive players. Needs to focus on rbs and put backs. Has a small repertoire of paint moves.

Jmike needs to play within himself. Bigger guards limit his effectiveness in half.

Have to hope for the best.

GO RU

There is still hope for Zerno. He shot the 3 well against tough competition in games v. Tennessee, Purdue, Michigan and the Hall.

 

[ScarletDave]

Dortch needs to be the starting center. Are we being serious throwing Ogbole out there. Dorth actually rebounds, gets great blocks and spaces the floor. Ogbole, we cant be serious.

 

[scarletrat99]

as others have lamented, it really doesn't matter...

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Dortch needs to be the starting center. Are we being serious throwing Ogbole out there. Dorth actually rebounds, gets great blocks and spaces the floor. Ogbole, we cant be serious.

I mean, say what you will about issues with finishing, but Ogbole is coming off a 12 rebound game in only 19 minutes on the floor. He rebounds. There are certain match ups that are not good for him, but he’s far from the biggest zero contributor on the team. He should play as much as foul trouble allows unless the opponent is very small and quick. Dortch should be getting more time at the 4. That’s my gripe. It’s not like anyone playing there is proving move offense than he could.

 

[seansherm]

Dortch needs to be the starting center. Are we being serious throwing Ogbole out there. Dorth actually rebounds, gets great blocks and spaces the floor. Ogbole, we cant be serious.

Dortch actually rebounds less, gets less great blocks, and doesnt space the floor any better. What he can do is guard the perimeter, which EO can't. EO even scores more. Ideally, we would play Dortch next to EO so we have two guys that can rebound, but we'd have no back up and have no other combo of three guys that could make that work offensively.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Dortch actually rebounds less, gets less great blocks, and doesnt space the floor any better. What he can do is guard the perimeter, which EO can't. EO even scores more. Ideally, we would play Dortch next to EO so we have two guys that can rebound, but we'd have no back up and have no other combo of three guys that could make that work offensively.

I think the first 5 minutes of the game should be dedicated to this concept. Play the 2 of them together. Then rest them individually. If you need to and the game is close, play them together again at the end.

 

[satnom]

There is still hope for Zerno. He shot the 3 well against tough competition in games v. Tennessee, Purdue, Michigan and the Hall.

Don’t disagree. My point is he’s a streak shooter. His line drive shooting form doesn’t scream pure shooter.

I’m more optimistic on Badalau making buckets at some point.

GO RU

 

[seansherm]

I think the first 5 minutes of the game should be dedicated to this concept. Play the 2 of them together. Then rest them individually. If you need to and the game is close, play them together again at the end.

I'd love to see it. We should be clear though, we aren't saying it can make this a good team by any stretch, but its a better use of its parts.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

I'd love to see it. We should be clear though, we aren't saying it can make this a good team by any stretch, but its a better use of its parts.

No clarification is needed. We stink. On a macro level, the team is going nowhere. That doesn’t mean we need to roll with a starting line up that almost seems like it is designed to bring out the worst in the players we do have (I still have not recovered from that SHU start). For me, that was the moment of realization that Pike must go.

 

[Mr. Magoo1]

Every time I see Badalau in the starting lineup I wonder to myself what is Pike thinking?! The kid must be a practice warrior because he's shown nothing in the last several games to warrant playing time.

He wants to make sure Buchanan doesn’t get in early foul trouble.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

He wants to make sure Buchanan doesn’t get in early foul trouble.

Dortch should be playing there to start the game. Until first foul.

 

[Zebnatto1!]

Sadly, there's really not a good lineup to put out. But . . .

TF
JMike
DG
EO (w the intent of getting him out at the 16 min mark unless he shows reason not to. I'd like for BD to get bulk of minutes)
HZ/DB

I'd like to minimize minutes of Buchanan and EO.
Play frosh.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Sadly, there's really not a good lineup to put out. But . . .

TF
JMike
DG
EO (w the intent of getting him out at the 16 min mark unless he shows reason not to. I'd like for BD to get bulk of minutes)
HZ/DB

I'd like to minimize minutes of Buchanan and EO.
Play frosh.

EO’s minutes don’t need to be “minimized” because fouls will do it for him. He needs to be told to play hard and not worry about that. Use his 5 fouls and let the chips fall.

 

[Zebnatto1!]

EO’s minutes don’t need to be “minimized” because fouls will do it for him. He needs to be told to play hard and not worry about that. Use his 5 fouls and let the chips fall.

Not exactly. There are some games where BD may be overwhelmed and we need EO. If not the case, 15 min max for EO, regardless of fouls. EO is currently at his ceiling, entirely lacking fine-motor coordination.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

There should be an allocation of minutes to these 6 guys for development for 2026-2027

francis 28 mog
Grant 27 mog
Nuwuli 25 mog
Mark 25 mpg
Dortch 25 mpg
Powers 25 mog

that’s 155 minutes

the other 45…I don’t care who plays as they are by players that I don’t want in the Rotation for next year ….let it be situational based on who we are playing .