Who would you spend NIL $ on for next year (current roster)

[RUdepressed]

1. Lino tough, fights, decent defense, good handle, needs muscle mass to finish
2. Kaden comfortable on offense, could lose a few pounds to increase speed, pretty shot, and with increased speed will be a better driver
3. Nwuli tough, raw, defense good, needs muscle
4. Buchanan coming on
5. OhnoZrno - bye to him please
6. Badandslow - bye to him please
7. Grant - never sold on him, poor defender and rebounder, limited drive right hand, would not spend much on him to keep him
8. EO - getting better overall, would spend back up center money on him, otherwise get a center who can score and play some defense
9. JMike - 3d guard off the bench ideally, not a big10 starter

I would spend money on 1-4, $0 on 5 and 6, and a good offer on 7 and 8 but would not over spend for them, and 9 I'd ask Ace to pay for.

 

[bitnez]

I'm not sure it's up to us. I think Buchanan, EO, and probably Lino will be back. I'd be surprised if the rest aren't in the portal.

 

[ru66+]

I'm not sure it's up to us. I think Buchanan, EO, and probably Lino will be back. I'd be surprised if the rest aren't in the portal.

Lino back? Seems the mods think he's got a foot out door

 

[bitnez]

Lino back? Seems the mods think he's got a foot out door

I thought that was KP...

 

[jmalik]

Lino back? Seems the mods think he's got a foot out door

He wouldn’t be playing with such energy and heart if his foot was out the door

 

[KnightTerrors]

He wouldn’t be playing with such energy and heart if his foot was out the door

Isn’t it the opposite? Every kid is incentivized to put out the best tape they can because they’re all free agents come march. At the very least play themselves into more money at the same school.

 

[jmalik]

Isn’t it the opposite? Every kid is incentivized to put out the best tape they can because they’re all free agents come march. At the very least play themselves into more money at the same school.

Obviously everyone wants good tape. But not everyone is trusted to close out games. Lino is literally finishing close games over captain Jmike. Coaches aren’t doing that if he’s got one foot out the door.

 

[bac2therac]

Lino is really the only freshmen worth it

 

[RUChet]

I thought that was KP...

I thought it was Nwuli and his declining minutes

 

[RUChet]

Agree on Grant- he has got a wall it seems.

I’d try to keep Mark, Powers, Francis, Buchanon, and Ogbole.

We have Jones and Wooten coming in so that’s 7.

Get 1 more HS recruit and 4-5 portal guys

 

[Simce91]

To

Agree on Grant- he has got a wall it seems.

I’d try to keep Mark, Powers, Francis, Buchanon, and Ogbole.

We have Jones and Wooten coming in so that’s 7.

Get 1 more HS recruit and 4-5 portal guys

Nwuli needs to be kept

Every successful team has a guy like that who does all the "little" things under the radar and does them well

 

[MCKnight]

these frosh would need to make a giant leap, whoever stays, for pike to save his job. If Current roster returns plus a a decent center via portal, does this team win more than 6 games in big ten play next year? Pike will need a winning season next year. He should be desperate in portal to add at least 2 legit starters

 

[Doctor Worm]

As things stand now, Ogbole is out of eligibility. That would change if the Diego Pavia rule (JUCO doesn't count) is extended to 2026 and beyond. That is in litigation and the outcome is unknown.

Everyone else has at least one year left.

 

[RC80]

The 1-4 is about right; Mark, Powers, Nwuli, Buchanan; add in Dortch; Francis - if he doesn't ask for too much; and Ware won't cost much. Add in D. Jones. My view is that Grant is moving on (not that I don't want him); Then you spend your significant dollars on a Center & starting SF. Always great to talk about next season - this season.

 

[KnightTerrors]

Obviously everyone wants good tape. But not everyone is trusted to close out games. Lino is literally finishing close games over captain Jmike. Coaches aren’t doing that if he’s got one foot out the door.

Good point.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

The 1-4 is about right; Mark, Powers, Nwuli, Buchanan; add in Dortch; Francis - if he doesn't ask for too much; and Ware won't cost much. Add in D. Jones. My view is that Grant is moving on (not that I don't want him); Then you spend your significant dollars on a Center & starting SF. Always great to talk about next season - this season.

If we don’t keep Francis it changes everything because then you are basically starting from scratch on offense. we don’t have a sugar daddy and we can’t go all in on our allocation to hoops like SHU can. We’re not buying an entire roster of stars. Folks need to get this out of their head. Pike also isn’t suddenly going to produce Goru’s pipe dream pretty looking pick and role offense with efficient kick outs for top half of conference 3 point shooting attempts and makes. His offense is more efficient THIS year running the least amount of sets ever than any time outside of when he had NBA scorers.think about that. He’s not suddenly going to produce an above average offense - he only even had an average offense WITH the NBA studs. That’s not how Pike teams succeed. Maybe the next coach. But while Pike is around - this isn’t the recipe. Going after more sharp shooters who are question marks at D as top priority will land us in a free fall to the cellar. This is a given.

I personally think Pike is toast if Francis leaves. A dead man walking in that case. Some folks felt that way about Grant last year but I disagreed. Grant didn’t provide clear vision focus for the portal cycle. He was and still is a complementary style players. Not someone you can sell a vision around of how your team will play and the role an incoming transfer might play in that system. What would we have said? We need you to be Dylan Harper so that opponents won’t pay attention to Grant and he’ll be able to capitalize and put up points and get offensive put backs? No. Actually yes - but the kid we sold that vision to came from NJIT… see the problem? We got lucky with what Tariq brought to the table. But it’s only going to be this level transfer that’s going to want to come into a system where the film from this year means nothing in terms of the future plans for the following year.

There isn’t anyone on the roster other than Francis that provides a vision for future play style next year. Buchanan would be next and he fits the same style as Francis. Dylan Grant can get his, as a 4th scoring type option. I think our biggest problem last season in the portal was that we didn’t have unlimited funds to simply go on a shopping spree for the best players but since we had no true weapons, we didn’t have a case to sell to players about why RU style would be a good fit for their games either. That was always going to depend on who we brought in. I have no confidence that Pike could get it done with a one year complete turn around that doesn’t build on this season and starts from scratch with a collection of role players returning but not knowing the style they would play a role for - that depending on our portal shopping. Doesn’t work.

 

[FAT MOON]

Next year is such a weird one for the staff because it's obvious for them to have sustained success they are going to have a keep a core of the roster together year over year because we don't have anywhere near enough money to just buy a portal team. Knowing that you want to keep the youth and have them know the system better in year 2 plus get an offseason of growth and strength gains.

BUT...

They also know they are coaching for their jobs (assuming the rumors that next year is the year with more money where results need to be shown) so I'm sure there is going to be a huge temptation to try and stack the roster as much as possible for a one year run.

To me, knowing the above, our best path forward is to do these three things.

1) Lock up Francis, Grant, Buchanan. Year 3 and upper classman now for Grant. Francis and Buchanan are your best players and need them for year 2 for sure.

2) Spend to get a long defensive wing (Caleb/Mag) who will guard the other teams best player most nights and make up for other guys defensive short comings so we can get back to being tough on the perimeter.

3) Get a rim protecting/rebounding big. If EO comes back he would be great as the number 2 but we are dying for Cliff/Myles to return and anchor the D.

And then with whatever money you have left you try and lock up your youth so the program can hopefully start to have that trajectory that we had going before NIL/buying teams.

 

[Mholinko]

If we don’t keep Francis it changes everything because then you are basically starting from scratch on offense. we don’t have a sugar daddy and we can’t go all in on our allocation to hoops like SHU can. We’re not buying an entire roster of stars. Folks need to get this out of their head. Pike also isn’t suddenly going to produce Goru’s pipe dream pretty looking pick and role offense with efficient kick outs for top half of conference 3 point shooting attempts and makes. His offense is more efficient THIS year running the least amount of sets ever than any time outside of when he had NBA scorers.think about that. He’s not suddenly going to produce an above average offense - he only even had an average offense WITH the NBA studs. That’s not how Pike teams succeed. Maybe the next coach. But while Pike is around - this isn’t the recipe. Going after more sharp shooters who are question marks at D as top priority will land us in a free fall to the cellar. This is a given.

I personally think Pike is toast if Francis leaves. A dead man walking in that case. Some folks felt that way about Grant last year but I disagreed. Grant didn’t provide clear vision focus for the portal cycle. He was and still is a complementary style players. Not someone you can sell a vision around of how your team will play and the role an incoming transfer might play in that system. What would we have said? We need you to be Dylan Harper so that opponents won’t pay attention to Grant and he’ll be able to capitalize and put up points and get offensive put backs? No. Actually yes - but the kid we sold that vision to came from NJIT… see the problem? We got lucky with what Tariq brought to the table. But it’s only going to be this level transfer that’s going to want to come into a system where the film from this year means nothing in terms of the future plans for the following year.

There isn’t anyone on the roster other than Francis that provides a vision for future play style next year. Buchanan would be next and he fits the same style as Francis. Dylan Grant can get his, as a 4th scoring type option. I think our biggest problem last season in the portal was that we didn’t have unlimited funds to simply go on a shopping spree for the best players but since we had no true weapons, we didn’t have a case to sell to players about why RU style would be a good fit for their games either. That was always going to depend on who we brought in. I have no confidence that Pike could get it done with a one year complete turn around that doesn’t build on this season and starts from scratch with a collection of role players returning but not knowing the style they would play a role for - that depending on our portal shopping. Doesn’t work.

I don’t think anyone has it in their head that we are going to buy a whole roster at least I don’t.

the program is in a difficult spot because you kind of need to either be excellent at spotting talent out of HS and develop them and retain them or you need to be great in free agency aka transfer portal at identifying your holes and filling them

the tough part in this climate even more than before is when your runway is getting short as a coach you don’t have time to be patient to save your job… but the problem for the school is they don’t have the infrastructure to provide a quick fix and it remains to be seen if we even have enough to retain what we already have

the true test of how big of a hole we’re fighting out of financially will come this offseason if the freshmen and current roster does in fact develop and improve do we have enough in place to even keep those guys here which is what a lot of optimists hope and supplement with 1-2 impact transfers

The natural concern is how loyal are these guys and will we win ENOUGH to warrant all of them staying

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

I don’t think anyone has it in their head that we are going to buy a whole roster at least I don’t.

the program is in a difficult spot because you kind of need to either be excellent at spotting talent out of HS and develop them and retain them or you need to be great in free agency aka transfer portal at identifying your holes and filling them

the tough part in this climate even more than before is when your runway is getting short as a coach you don’t have time to be patient to save your job… but the problem for the school is they don’t have the infrastructure to provide a quick fix and it remains to be seen if we even have enough to retain what we already have

the true test of how big of a hole we’re fighting out of financially will come this offseason if the freshmen and current roster does in fact develop and improve do we have enough in place to even keep those guys here which is what a lot of optimists hope and supplement with 1-2 impact transfers

The natural concern is how loyal are these guys and will we win ENOUGH to warrant all of them staying

I don’t think coming up with the money for retention would / will be a problem if things are headed in the right direction. I’m sure it’s harder much harder when a team is coming off an underperforming season which has been the case the past 2 years. The good news for this season is that it won’t take too much to meet or exceed preseason expectations which makes selling a vision to stay the course easier than it was the past few years (not that we wanted to keep the ones who left after last season anyway).

The problem with retaining most of the roster except Francis is that the team currently has very little identity to it without him. Buchanan is piggy backing off his style and that tag team has developed into our offense with some occasional sharp shooting mixed in. If he leaves, we again have a soup pile of role players with flashes of potential but what our offense will look like again becomes a complete question mark. I think that makes the program a lot harder to sell. It’s more important than ever to know what your role will be - the “pay” matters a lot, but your role will drive your output which in turn drives your “pay” in future years.

 

[Mholinko]

I don’t think coming up with the money for retention would / will be a problem if things are headed in the right direction. I’m sure it’s harder much harder when a team is coming off an underperforming season which has been the case the past 2 years. The good news for this season is that it won’t take too much to meet or exceed preseason expectations which makes selling a vision to stay the course easier than it was the past few years (not that we wanted to keep the ones who left after last season anyway).

The problem with retaining most of the roster except Francis is that the team currently has very little identity to it without him. Buchanan is piggy backing off his style and that tag team has developed into our offense with some occasional sharp shooting mixed in. If he leaves, we again have a soup pile of role players with flashes of potential but what our offense will look like again becomes a complete question mark. I think that makes the program a lot harder to sell. It’s more important than ever to know what your role will be - the “pay” matters a lot, but your role will drive your output which in turn drives your “pay” in future years.

To that end I need to stop seeing 11 man rotations 20 games into the season

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

To that end I need to stop seeing 11 man rotations 20 games into the season

In fairness to Pike, it seems that the best rotation players beyond Francis and Buchanan are very match up dependent, because (as stated above) everyone else is a role player. Grant has the potential to be a consistent role player as he gets healthy. If he starts grabbing offensive boards for put backs then we could have something because that could mitigate the inefficiencies of playing an iso style. Something to watch for. Grant is not a playmaker and shouldn’t try to be one at this level. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be effective.

Everyone else - when you need guard speed Lino is your guy. Pure ball handling prefer J Mike along with when his shooting is on. Ogbole is needed for rim protection, but Dortch a better choice for 5 out style requiring close outs. Zrno or Powers can get hot on a given day from 3. So it varies.

 

[littlenis5]

Continuity will come first. I imagine we lock up Dortch, Francis, Buchanan, Mark, Ware, and Nwuli without much issue.

We will want to lock up Powers and to a lesser degree Grant and Zrno. I think these guys willingness to return will be based on their roles as the season progresses. Grant’s lack of defense in year 2 makes him more replaceable. Zrno in year 2 of adjusting to life in America could break out into a more consistent player. His defense has gone from atrocious to serviceable in a few months.

Need to get at least one legitimate big man, a Myles Johnson type. Defensive focused, good screener (the top ability Ogbole has that will be hard to replace), and better hands and awareness on both sides of the ball

 

[BillyC80]

If Francis were a true point guard who looks to pass or shoot equally, the team would be much better off. Unfortunately, as a junior now who doesn’t look to pass, I don’t see that changing next year. As a pure scorer though, you need to try and bring him back.

Meanwhile, you have Powers who is already a better passer than Francis, plus he’s bigger and just as full of confidence. Yes, he shoots too much but if he starts making shots at a higher clip, which is a distinct possibility with his current shooting form and with more time to develop, I think you have to try and keep him.

Buchanan has shown he can be a force on both ends of the court, and even a leader. He appears to be more under control now, which is a very good sign that he can still develop better habits even as a junior. I think you have to try and keep him for his senior season.

If Ogbole becomes eligible for another year, then keeping him as a backup center would be a great move. His development has been encouraging in particular as a rebounder and rim protector (and occasional scorer), and his size speaks for itself.

Nwulli shows promise as a defensive 4 who can score inside and out, but he loses focus at times which really concerns me. I’d give him another year but if he chooses to leave I would not lament it.

Davis is a tough call. We need a true point guard and he has the B1G experience, but if we can get someone better in the portal, we should do it.

And obviously we need a legit starting center.

Anyone else, including Grant, Dortch, Ware, Fall, Badalau, and Zrno can be replaced if they prefer to get a bag elsewhere. Of those I would keep Grant if in the final third of this season he becomes the best version of himself that we witnessed earlier in the year.

 

[Shelby65]

this is silly talk. Who’s going to give JMiss more money or PT than us ? Nobody. Why would he leave ?

Who on this roster would have it better someplace else ? Nobody.

Who’s earning his pay ? Probably only Francis.

 

[RU Jeep]

Isn’t it the opposite? Every kid is incentivized to put out the best tape they can because they’re all free agents come march. At the very least play themselves into more money at the same school.

Ask Mawot Mag ?

 

[RU Jeep]

Coming in - Wooten and Jones

Spend to Keep
Francis - At least he can score
Lino - starting level PG

Spend if we have it
J Mike - backup PG with deep program understanding
Grant - much better than he has shown due to illness
Kaden - intrigued by his potential
Buchanan- versatile veteran
Nwuli - glue guy. Could definitely see major improvement from him after a year in the program

Spend if bargain basement pricing - Both are fine deep bench players , but replaceable
Zrno
Dortch

Take if free
Badalau
Fall

Unsure
Ware

Back up the Truck or cancel the season
******Big time Center who can play inside*******

 

[RUDivision]

this is silly talk. Who’s going to give JMiss more money or PT than us ? Nobody. Why would he leave ?

Who on this roster would have it better someplace else ? Nobody.

Who’s earning his pay ? Probably only Francis.

Agreed 100! Even Francis limited! Chart his games against teams with a pulse vs bottom feeders.

if the goal is to make a tournament run Francis is at best a bench player based on matchup.

You have to keep a few from a continuity perspective but def low ball or not over pay any of these guys.

Now if the goal is to be better then this year and win 6-7 Big ten games next year then sure keep 5-7 of them and over pay for a center and lead scorer.

 

[RUdepressed]

Francis is a keeper and ties to our associate head coach should help

 

[RUChet]

To
Nwuli needs to be kept

Every successful team has a guy like that who does all the "little" things under the radar and does them well

Mehhhh, haven’t seen much from him TBH

 

[shields]

Lino has one foot out the door. Read this several times.

 

[Mr. Magoo1]

Lino has one foot out the door. Read this several times.

Hope so

 

[shields]

We do need a better point guard.

 

[Simce91]

Mehhhh, haven’t seen much from him TBH

he's getting garbage minutes and being yanked everytime he makes an error

this is a Pike mo with certain frosh, and then they are out there playing timid

he moves, crashes the board and has a got stroke from the field

unfortunately nobody can get him the ball underneath when he is open, reminds me a bit of Mag when he was a frosh

 

[RUskoolie]

I think J Mike walks, some school might over pay him. He is an overrated defender and barely scores for all his minutes.

Ogbole needs to walk

Buchanan needs to walk

Grant needs to walk, looks disinterested and we overpaid for a very unproductive player

Denis has t-rex arms, you can't fix that. He can go.


Zrno I would keep around because he can shoot but he's a bench player
Keep Dortch
Keep Lino
Keep Powers
Keep Ware
Francis keep
Nwuli is raw with upside keep

we will probably keep 6 guys if I had to guess

 

[BigEastPhil]

I’d spend a big chunk of the NIL on a new HC and staff.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

My strategy

Quality over quantity…..8 guys . Rather have little depth and more talent on the top of the roster and take the a chance and lose a season because of mag like season ending inury

keeping pkayers isn’t Gojng to be cheap

Wooten and jones are here

powers is a keep

Francis is a keep

those guys are your two and three ..::and I beleive all four can at least score in two. Of the three levels (three ball, mid range and getting all the way to the basket on their own)

If those four are your 80 minutes at the 2 and 3 and maybe some minutes at the one ….then we don’t have minutes for all three of Buchannan , grant and Nuwuli. At least one will get the talk, and maybe two of the three …..

we hit the portal for a stsrting center and starting point guard

If we can keep Jmike and Dortch as your deoth and they are in budget. Do ao

so I want this

8 man rotation…
Portal poont guard
Combo guard jones
Shooting guard Francis
Shooting guard powers
Swingman wooten
Combo forward grant
Combo forward buchann
Portal center

Depth
Jmike
Dortch

10 guys

 

[rsegall]

Lino back? Seems the mods think he's got a foot out door

Thank goodness

 

[Mholinko]

This season and thread is evidence that having a coach on hot seat is an even worse predicament in the NIL era

especially for a program like Rutgers that will have a difficult time transitioning whenever that day comes financially

 

[NickRU714]

Mark has one foot out the door?

Maybe I'm just picky but I would wait until Mark makes just 1 shot with any feet behind the 3pt line before pining any hopes on him for next year.

Starting level B1G PG?
Is there a record for minutes played by a PG with zero 3pt shots?

 

[seansherm]

I think J Mike walks, some school might over pay him. He is an overrated defender and barely scores for all his minutes.

Ogbole needs to walk

Buchanan needs to walk

Grant needs to walk, looks disinterested and we overpaid for a very unproductive player

Denis has t-rex arms, you can't fix that. He can go.


Zrno I would keep around because he can shoot but he's a bench player
Keep Dortch
Keep Lino
Keep Powers
Keep Ware
Francis keep
Nwuli is raw with upside keep

we will probably keep 6 guys if I had to guess

You dont wish senior guards that are your best ball handlers and rarely turn the ball over away. He's not the greatest, but it can be worse. We do need another ball handling guard though.

EO may be out of eligibility, but if not hes a solid back up center for a team w limited funds. We must bring in a starter.

Want Buchannon back, another upperclassmen.

Think Grant will walk, but hate developing kids to have them leave for their best years.

Keep Dortch, Powers, and Francis, Nwuli, maybe Zrno

Must bring in a defensive wing that can also provide offense and a starting center.