Watching NCAA Tourney shows how much of a dinosaur Pike and staff are...

scarletrat99

Sophomore
Oct 3, 2025
111
180
43
...esp on offense. Look at the offensive production and scoring. Yes, some teams continue to play legit D, but most games are not 60-56.

...teams are also not taking the air out of the basketball when holding a lead in the 2nd half...

...teams with centers (a number of from Europe) have made a big difference...

..it's players, style, and approach. those are far more exciting and allows players to show their skill levels...

...our system has a higher floor but clearly has a low ceiling.
 

RUfan1977

Senior
Mar 24, 2024
441
737
93
...esp on offense. Look at the offensive production and scoring. Yes, some teams continue to play legit D, but most games are not 60-56.

...teams are also not taking the air out of the basketball when holding a lead in the 2nd half...

...teams with centers (a number of from Europe) have made a big difference...

..it's players, style, and approach. those are far more exciting and allows players to show their skill levels...

...our system has a higher floor but clearly has a low ceiling.
And then you see St. John’s play Kansas and get to the sweet 16 based almost entirely on rebounding and defense!
 

Loyal-Son

All-Conference
Jan 5, 2016
1,447
2,744
81
...esp on offense. Look at the offensive production and scoring. Yes, some teams continue to play legit D, but most games are not 60-56.

...teams are also not taking the air out of the basketball when holding a lead in the 2nd half...

...teams with centers (a number of from Europe) have made a big difference...

..it's players, style, and approach. those are far more exciting and allows players to show their skill levels...

...our system has a higher floor but clearly has a low ceiling.
Don't go into coaching. You are clueless!
 

RUfan1977

Senior
Mar 24, 2024
441
737
93
Exhibit A: NC STATE 1983
The tournament run by NC State in 1983 was one of the most impressive coaching performances that I have ever watched because of the way that Jim Valvano realized the accepted practices about fouling were wrong. Instead of letting opposing teams run their offenses he made them shoot endless one and one’s which took the teams out of their comfort zones. By exploiting the rules on fouling he beat teams much better than his and caused the NCAA to changed the rules on one and ones. Jim Valvano’s excitement after winning and his running onto the court looking for someone to hug was iconic!
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
88,567
86,587
113
...esp on offense. Look at the offensive production and scoring. Yes, some teams continue to play legit D, but most games are not 60-56.

...teams are also not taking the air out of the basketball when holding a lead in the 2nd half...

...teams with centers (a number of from Europe) have made a big difference...

..it's players, style, and approach. those are far more exciting and allows players to show their skill levels...

...our system has a higher floor but clearly has a low ceiling.
Star Trek GIF
Bored Season 3 GIF by The Office
Bored No More GIF by Grind
 
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RUDiddy777

Heisman
Feb 26, 2015
33,638
38,120
113
...esp on offense. Look at the offensive production and scoring. Yes, some teams continue to play legit D, but most games are not 60-56.

...teams are also not taking the air out of the basketball when holding a lead in the 2nd half...

...teams with centers (a number of from Europe) have made a big difference...

..it's players, style, and approach. those are far more exciting and allows players to show their skill levels...

...our system has a higher floor but clearly has a low ceiling.

I agree with your last sentiment. But if the ceiling is 4 and floor is 10/11 I can live with consistently being in that range. It’s not like anyone at the top is going to fall off.
 

PSAL_Hoops

Heisman
Feb 18, 2008
13,078
12,419
78
That’s why they lost. Mick’s teams are always D first. Crazy to say otherwise. Same with Hurley. He runs good sets but you aren’t seeing that floor if you don’t play D.
I was talking only about this year’s team. Not Mick’s general style. This year UCLa all about offense.
 
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LotusAggressor_rivals

All-American
Oct 11, 2003
16,045
7,823
113
...esp on offense. Look at the offensive production and scoring. Yes, some teams continue to play legit D, but most games are not 60-56.

...teams are also not taking the air out of the basketball when holding a lead in the 2nd half...

...teams with centers (a number of from Europe) have made a big difference...

..it's players, style, and approach. those are far more exciting and allows players to show their skill levels...

...our system has a higher floor but clearly has a low ceiling.
One big difference is the overall skill level on offense. On some of these teams, everybody from the point guard to the 7 foot center is a good to great 3 point shooter. Centers aren't just taking up space and not contributing offensively. They're actually skilled shooters, scorers, and passers. That's light years from what we've seen from RU this season.
 

Fat Koko

All-Conference
Nov 28, 2022
3,545
2,942
73
Michigan State the same. UConn had better players who make shots on offense. But they are defensive team. UCLA the same. Pike needs better players.
Same with St. John's. Below average team on both 2 point and 3 point shooting percentage. But scored far more 2 pointers and 3 pointers than their opponents. How? More steals, more blocks, more assists, fewer turnovers. Why? Superior coaching.
 

Caliknight

Hall of Famer
Sep 21, 2001
196,385
148,415
113
Same with St. John's. Below average team on both 2 point and 3 point shooting percentage. But scored far more 2 pointers and 3 pointers than their opponents. How? More steals, more blocks, more assists, fewer turnovers. Why? Superior coaching.
And money. Have you seen how much NIl they have?
 

Bob Chaewsky_rivals

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2008
7,401
4,777
113
One big difference is the overall skill level on offense. On some of these teams, everybody from the point guard to the 7 foot center is a good to great 3 point shooter. Centers aren't just taking up space and not contributing offensively. They're actually skilled shooters, scorers, and passers. That's light years from what we've seen from RU this season.
That's the foreign influence.
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
88,567
86,587
113
And like the team, often misses the target because they can't shoot straight.
Except when their feet are the targets. . . . . .

Fans should be fRUstrated. Ya can't spell fRUstrated without RU! But continuing to bellyache about the situation when we know Pikiell is back next year is fruitless. We can only hope the portal and the coaching bring positive results next year.