Players asked about next season

Jan 12, 2015
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Well I like R odds with Tariq (all things considered equal re BKinght) and Buchanan. Maybe Pike can pull a rabbit out of the hat with Lino. Nobody else sounded like they were very interested in staying. I'd like Zrno and maybe Powers to come back, but I wouldn't lose sleep over them or the others.
 

RC80

All-Conference
Feb 25, 2021
1,361
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Also read the Fonseca article about this as well; don't blame them for asking these questions to the players; but game just ended, season is over, so don't take much on what they say under these circumstances. Buchanan is as close to 100% return as anyone; after that - you can start with the percentages.
 
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Simce91

All-Conference
Dec 2, 2024
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This is what Fonseca had

Here is what they said:Star guard Tariq Francis: Asked if he can see himself playing for Rutgers next year, he answered emphatically: “Yes.” When asked directly if he’s made the decision he will return, he said “The game just ended, but I’m committed to Rutgers.”What are the factors in that decision?
“I love Rutgers,” he said. “I love Coach Pikiell and the rest of the coaches. I love my teammates and they’ve been very good for me.”

Junior forward Darren Buchanan: The Washington, D.C., native was the most upfront of all Rutgers players on where he stands.

"I definitely want to be here," he said. “Coach Pikiell recruited me back in the tenth grade, so I have a strong connection with him and his staff. I know they want the best for me and I want the best for Rutgers. I see a bright future for Rutgers moving forward, so I definitely would love to return back and put on this jersey again.”

Freshman guard Lino Mark: The California native told NJ.com that he “absolutely” anticipates coming back next year.

“We got to go on the drawing board and see what it is, but I love it here, I love the atmosphere, I love the coaching staff and I love the players.”

Sophomore forward Dylan Grant: Asked if he has given thought on his future, he said “I love Rutgers. I love our coaching staff right here, and I’m just proud of our guys. When that time comes to make a decision, that’s when it comes. Right now, I’m just focused on uplifting our guys and just moving forward.”

Junior guard Jamichael Davis: Asked if he has given thought to where he wants to spend his senior season, he said he is "still dwelling on the loss that we just took.“

“My concern is not with that right now."

Freshman forward Chris Nwuli: Asked if he has given any thought on his future, he said “not at all. The game just ended.”
 

bac2therac

Hall of Famer
Jul 30, 2001
247,187
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I know these quotes mean virtually nothing but Powers with the least promising response, which I would be fine with.

Lino with a much higher potential and skillset imo.
agree on both counts.....with Powers i just dont see it, not sure why a faction of the board was in love with him..very one dimensional player.

but again you cant take anything these players say as facts before the bag offers begin
 

MadRU

Heisman
Jul 26, 2001
38,142
19,481
98
Also read the Fonseca article about this as well; don't blame them for asking these questions to the players; but game just ended, season is over, so don't take much on what they say under these circumstances. Buchanan is as close to 100% return as anyone; after that - you can start with the percentages.

 

PSAL_Hoops

Heisman
Feb 18, 2008
13,077
12,419
78
agree on both counts.....with Powers i just dont see it, not sure why a faction of the board was in love with him..very one dimensional player.

but again you cant take anything these players say as facts before the bag offers begin

Another factor IMO - Wooton is basically described as a replica of Powers on offense with better defense / athleticism coming out of high school. Jones is a defense first type who could also play the 3. Of all the positions, the 2 is the one we need to worry about least IMO since Francis is such a proven scorer.

I’d like Dortch to return simply because we’re starting with very little size and will need utility players up front at either the 4 or 5.
 

bac2therac

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Jul 30, 2001
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Another factor IMO - Wooton is basically described as a replica of Powers on offense with better defense / athleticism coming out of high school. Jones is a defense first type who could also play the 3. Of all the positions, the 2 is the one we need to worry about least IMO since Francis is such a proven scorer.

I’d like Dortch to return simply because we’re starting with very little size and will need utility players up front at either the 4 or 5.
I dont get the sense that Pikes has a place for Powers in a major role. He doesnt play good defense and its likely why he saw almost no time early on and then all of a sudden was let loose after the out of nowheregreat shooting night vs SHU when Francis was putrid. I hope everyone is paying attention that Pike prioritized Lino over Powers at the end of the year...and like not just a little..alot and J Mike cut into this time and at this point I would take J Mike over Powers..and as you said with Wooten a better version and if Pike is high on him and Jones on the roster possibly and with another guard like brought in, I dont see the place here for a very one dimensional Powers
 

Bob Chaewsky_rivals

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2008
7,401
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agree on both counts.....with Powers i just dont see it, not sure why a faction of the board was in love with him..very one dimensional player.

but again you cant take anything these players say as facts before the bag offers begin
I compare him to Caleb M. as a freshman except he's way beyond Caleb at this point - smooth, good shooting form, great passer, decent ball handler and nice size, and other than Francis, the only one on the team who can create his own shot, an asset Pikiel needs because he's incapable of creating shooting opportunities for players. I don't see his potential as one dimensional at all.
 
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Ru-baby

All-Conference
Aug 11, 2001
6,659
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Powers is a bit of a mystery---on one hand a lot of promise--on the other a modern day Calvin Wooten
 

Bob Chaewsky_rivals

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2008
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While Francis takes difficult shots and hits them, Powers creates easier shots and misses a lot of them. I think Francis is what he is and will be other teams' focus next year making it more difficult for him. When his shots start to go down, I think Powers will have some memorable performances for Rutgers. The first half against UCLA a couple of weeks ago was just a glimpse of what you might get IMO. Pike proceeded to sit him for like 8 minutes after his hot start. With TV timeouts probably should have never come out. Scored 18 as it was - might have scored 30.
 
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RedTeamUpstream94

All-American
Jan 15, 2021
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anyone taking ANYTHING from those quotes is just trying to make something out of nothing. They just lost - ending their season - and some one throws a microphone in their face asking “what are you doing next year?” - I wouldn’t expect any answer OTHER than “the game and season just ended. I am not even thinking about that right now”. That’s literally the standard/CLICHE answer… signifies nothing
 
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bac2therac

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Jul 30, 2001
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I compare him to Caleb M. as a freshman except he's way beyond Caleb at this point - smooth, good shooting form, great passer, decent ball handler and nice size, and other than Francis, the only one on the team who can create his own shot, an asset Pikiel needs because he's incapable of creating shooting opportunities for players. I don't see his potential as one dimensional at all.
Caleb turned into a defensive player of year...he was never a great shooter. He was a once in lifetime defensive stopper in a pre nil era

??? I see him a one dimensional jump shooter and havent seen any defensive capability. There is a reason Pike slashed his usage recently. Defense has alot to do with it and he has zero ability to drive like Lino

Fact is pikes needs to recruit over him for next year and he will
 

Pdabs

Senior
Mar 10, 2022
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Pointless thing to ask right after the game ends. Nobody will say. “Yea I’m out” even though they may already be out the door in their head.
 
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mugrat86

Heisman
Dec 11, 2014
8,096
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Caleb turned into a defensive player of year...he was never a great shooter. He was a once in lifetime defensive stopper in a pre nil era

??? I see him a one dimensional jump shooter and havent seen any defensive capability. There is a reason Pike slashed his usage recently. Defense has alot to do with it and he has zero ability to drive like Lino

Fact is pikes needs to recruit over him for next year and he will
You also said Lino needs to be recruited over. I guess you changed your mind
 
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S_Janowski

Heisman
May 24, 2009
13,902
26,493
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I compare him to Caleb M. as a freshman except he's way beyond Caleb at this point - smooth, good shooting form, great passer, decent ball handler and nice size, and other than Francis, the only one on the team who can create his own shot, an asset Pikiel needs because he's incapable of creating shooting opportunities for players. I don't see his potential as one dimensional at all.

Powers has showed me nothing to be compared to Caleb M.
 

PSAL_Hoops

Heisman
Feb 18, 2008
13,077
12,419
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Caleb turned into a defensive player of year...he was never a great shooter. He was a once in lifetime defensive stopper in a pre nil era

??? I see him a one dimensional jump shooter and havent seen any defensive capability. There is a reason Pike slashed his usage recently. Defense has alot to do with it and he has zero ability to drive like Lino

Fact is pikes needs to recruit over him for next year and he will

This. The scouting report on Powers said upfront that he was a project on defense. There’s practically zero resemblance. Also, as a frosh, Caleb shot better from 3 than Powers shot from anywhere this season.
 
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RUJMM78

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
26,187
12,443
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I have feeling that Powers won't be back, instead he will be picked up by a team that runs more pick and rolls, and back door cuts that will take advantage of his passing skills
Rutgers half court offense isn't suited for most of the roster that lack the skillset to create and make shots off the dribble.Zrno for example, needs ball and player movement to get open 3 point shots.
 

PSAL_Hoops

Heisman
Feb 18, 2008
13,077
12,419
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While Francis takes difficult shots and hits them, Powers creates easier shots and misses a lot of them. I think Francis is what he is and will be other teams' focus next year making it more difficult for him. When his shots start to go down, I think Powers will have some memorable performances for Rutgers. The first half against UCLA a couple of weeks ago was just a glimpse of what you might get IMO. Pike proceeded to sit him for like 8 minutes after his hot start. With TV timeouts probably should have never come out. Scored 18 as it was - might have scored 30.

This has to be up there as one of the most warped posts of all time. There’s no basis whatsoever for anything you said in this post.
 

GM

All-Conference
Jan 18, 2020
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I compare him to Caleb M. as a freshman except he's way beyond Caleb at this point - smooth, good shooting form, great passer, decent ball handler and nice size, and other than Francis, the only one on the team who can create his own shot, an asset Pikiel needs because he's incapable of creating shooting opportunities for players. I don't see his potential as one dimensional at all.
We’re comparing Caleb McConnell, a guy where 95% of their impact came from their superstar defense, to a guy who’s got extreme question marks on that end? I’ll give Powers this, he’s got maybe the best offensive process of the roster. In fact, I feel a lot of his turnovers come from him making the right read but guys not rolling, cutting, spacing out the right way. But still his impact is far from felt on a night to night basis, and has a lot to work on for his offensive talent to be truly useful.
 

RUBlackout

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Mar 11, 2008
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So Grant and nwulil are def gone reading those quotes

everyone else likely staying
 

PSAL_Hoops

Heisman
Feb 18, 2008
13,077
12,419
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So Grant and nwulil are def gone reading those quotes

everyone else likely staying

Nwuli wasn’t quoted at all - was he?

All subject to change but right now I’m more bullish on possible returns for the guys who either said they would want to come back or that they will have to sit down with Pike. The three who didn’t were Grant, JMike and Powers. I guess we’ll see.
 
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RAC93

All-Conference
Aug 11, 2023
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I know these quotes mean virtually nothing but Powers with the least promising response, which I would be fine with.

Lino with a much higher potential and skillset imo.
Yeah, Powers saying “I have no idea” sure sounds like “I am outta here”. He may end up staying as these answers are somewhat meaningless (the portal offers function like the real truth serum) so we’ll see. I want Mark back over Powers anyway.
 
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MCKnight

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2012
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Pike certainly spoke in presser about Ogbole being done. Thanked him and said we are going to miss him and he will have other opportunities. Think its more that Ogbole will have professional opportunities, and being 26 with a Masters degree already, hes likely going the pro route.
 
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PSAL_Hoops

Heisman
Feb 18, 2008
13,077
12,419
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Yeah, Powers saying “I have no idea” sure sounds like “I am outta here”. He may end up staying as these answers are somewhat meaningless (the portal offers function like the real truth serum) so we’ll see. I want Mark back over Powers anyway
It could also be a kid who was frustrated with his own horrendous play over the past 2 days and didn’t feel like talking to the media.
 

29PAS

All-Conference
Sep 21, 2001
3,409
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Worn out off of 17 minutes a game?
It's not just minutes in games - it's a new environment, practices, travel, meetings, etc and much more intense than in high school. And he's what, 18-19 yrs old? He didn't play much at first, then more and then his shooting accuracy seemed to tail off in the last several games. I'm theorizing because it apparently happens.
 
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Mr. Magoo1

Heisman
Nov 15, 2001
15,446
16,279
113
I wouldn’t blame anyone for leaving and wouldn’t care if any or all of them leave. They are paid athletes and although we had a bright spot or two (Francis), all of them should be easily replaceable.

We improved near the end of the season but we also had the easiest end of year schedule od anyone in the league.

Overall, we had 19 losses with a fairly weak OOC schedule a grand total of 3 wins vs. teams with winning records… and none of those wins were in the B1G. We haven’t beaten a team with a winning record since nearly 3 months ago (12/20) and our last 5 wins were vs teams with a combined record of 39-58.

There seems to be an unusual amount of unwarranted interest in keeping many of these players around.
 

Kbe4

Senior
Nov 25, 2025
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I wouldn’t blame anyone for leaving and wouldn’t care if any or all of them leave. They are paid athletes and although we had a bright spot or two (Francis), all of them should be easily replaceable.

We improved near the end of the season but we also had the easiest end of year schedule od anyone in the league.

Overall, we had 19 losses with a fairly weak OOC schedule a grand total of 3 wins vs. teams with winning records… and none of those wins were in the B1G. We haven’t beaten a team with a winning record since nearly 3 months ago (12/20) and our last 5 wins were vs teams with a combined record of 39-58.

There seems to be an unusual amount of unwarranted interest in keeping many of these players around.
It's probably because they worry about how much it will cost to replace those not kept around.
If Grant costs $1 million, what does a better guy at that spot cost ? Remember, we need upgrades at quite a few spots.