Very good player but I still don't like him as a PG. We're not going to win many games vs. good competition with him taking seven shots. He also gets broken down by the opposing PG's to often leading to open threes. Man defense is our MO and that's great, but to win now we need to play some zone. It will allow for less penetration and fewer rests for our better players, plus we can't have Johnson in a position were he is covering opposing guards. A 2-3 with Johnson or shaq in the middle makes a lot of sense now and then.
Baker
- Thread starter Bob Chaewsky_rivals
- Start date
bad matchup tonight, it will not be like this most nights in the Big 10
Yes it will. There's at least 10 B1G teams that are better than SJU. This a 4 win team. I think it's ok to accept that. We are VERY young and will only get better over the next few years.
SJU would be top 4 in this league sorry..and Im not saying RU has a chance to beat most Big 10 schools, its that they will not be overwhelmed like Baker and Kiss were tonight, they will be able to hold their own
Bac, no. We'll let it play out, but no.
Let's see what SJU looks like on a night where they shoot 35% from 3 and their opponent shoots 35% from 3.
How about a team that attacks their 3/4 court zone press OR a team that puts pressure 3/4 on Ponds
How about a team that attacks their 3/4 court zone press OR a team that puts pressure 3/4 on Ponds
St John's gameplan, and quite an effective gameplan, was to focus in on Baker and shut him down.
They succeeded and we have no backup PG contingency plan for Baker
McConnell can't play at this level yet and we have no other effective ball carriers.
That's why Mulcahy is so critical for next year and while Baker will start as the off guard, he will also be the backup PG if need be unless Jacob Young can also play point
They succeeded and we have no backup PG contingency plan for Baker
McConnell can't play at this level yet and we have no other effective ball carriers.
That's why Mulcahy is so critical for next year and while Baker will start as the off guard, he will also be the backup PG if need be unless Jacob Young can also play point
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Corey was much better defensively.
All around a terrible match up for us. Tack on the putrid FT and Three Point shooting and you have a lobisded game.
It looks like nerves with McConnell at the moment but he’s a frosh. Lots of people said similar things about Eugene his first yr and he might be our best player now. Give the kid a chance.
Only person serviceable to back up Geo is RHJ. He has a little Point Forward in him watching last night. I'd trust him bringing the ball up. It's a work in progress for Caleb at PG, normally playing 2 or 3. Maybe Kiss or Mathis could steal a few minutes at PG as well.
Point guard isn't an issue from what i can see so far....what we do have are stationary players that could be slashing types but aren't adept at it. While Kiss is the safer player at the 2 guard, Mathis and Harper are at least willing to attack the basket or rim off the dribble.
When RU plays plus athletes like the Drexel PG, St Johns and some B1G guards, it's comforting knowing we have Mathis and Harper and eventually Young and Mulcahy.
The drive baseline by Mathis where he scored and the other two drives to attempt to score in the 1st half are plays that aren't scripted. Those guards plays are instinctive and cannot be taught. The cut to the basket and dunk along the baseline by Harper is an athletic and instinctive play.
The issue lies (for just this season) how quickly can RU commit to playing a smaller lineup with Myles as the 5. But in the B1G, i don't see PG as the concern. I think RU can matchup well most nights.
The concern is how quickly does the staff bring Johnson, Mathis and Harper along. I like that they're arriving on the court together as subs and i think getting them on the court together with Eugene and Geo is your 5 players with the most long term upside right now.
When RU plays plus athletes like the Drexel PG, St Johns and some B1G guards, it's comforting knowing we have Mathis and Harper and eventually Young and Mulcahy.
The drive baseline by Mathis where he scored and the other two drives to attempt to score in the 1st half are plays that aren't scripted. Those guards plays are instinctive and cannot be taught. The cut to the basket and dunk along the baseline by Harper is an athletic and instinctive play.
The issue lies (for just this season) how quickly can RU commit to playing a smaller lineup with Myles as the 5. But in the B1G, i don't see PG as the concern. I think RU can matchup well most nights.
The concern is how quickly does the staff bring Johnson, Mathis and Harper along. I like that they're arriving on the court together as subs and i think getting them on the court together with Eugene and Geo is your 5 players with the most long term upside right now.
Not having speed at the PG position will be an issue all year. There were those who kept saying that length can negate Speed on the perimeter.....well, it can', it.never has.
At what point do you eventually let go of a narrative, when there's nothing in the games over the last 2 years to support your statement??
Or, specifically from last night's game, what speed at PG changes yesterday matching up against a team of offensive players who can all dribble, pass and shoot??
PG speed has essentially no relevance for a team that is not built to run and score....what current RU players are run and jump over the rim players that can run with a speedy PG that you keep stating is needed??
The goal is to have a roster full of complete basketball players who can dribble, pass, shoot and defend. The SJU guard Ponds is a speedy PG, but more importantly, he is a complete basketball player that can play any style of play....he can play under control, half court, in transition but always paces himself....his speed had no impact on the game last night.
Purdue's Carsen Edwards is a complete basketball player who plays under control and uses his ability to move in small spaces to make passes. He's not by definition a speedy PG.
SJUs speed and shooting certainly gave RU problems. Mathis development will be key In terms of adding speed and athleticism to the perimeter. Playing zone may be an option as well.
SJU was just a bad matchup. The only way RU could have competed with them was to try and pound them inside given the size disparity. I’m just not sure that would have been effective, though.
Lol....so, there is nothing over the last few years to indicate that speed on the perimeter on the defensive end is valuable?
Patience. Guards will be repeatedly torched in the B1G this season. Geo can’t play 30+ at the 1. He’ll lose his shot or his D, or both.
RU won’t have a .500 B1G starting backcourt until 2020-21 when Mulcahy is a soph and Geo a senior. Year #5, no surprise. Hang in there for a couple more seasons.
RU won’t have a .500 B1G starting backcourt until 2020-21 when Mulcahy is a soph and Geo a senior. Year #5, no surprise. Hang in there for a couple more seasons.
Looking forward to getting Young next year. Initially, I was wondering if there was a role for him, but he could get plenty of time next year at the 1 and 2. Along with Geo, Mathis, Kiss and Mulcahy that is a good rotation of guards. Definitely need an upgrade in athleticism and quickness at the guard spot and he can provide it.
I know there are some on here that for whatever reason like to make fun of even suggesting a redshirt, but if redshirting works for Jay Wright (6 red shirts the past few years),the Wisconsin program, and has worked out great with Myles Johnson, then it should be a good option going forward for Rutgers. Next year, we will have enough depth to redshirt someone.
May be a good idea to redshirt McConnell next year so he can get physically stronger and may find a role down the line as a 2 or 3 (and a back up 1). He has some skills, good height, and is put in a tough situation this year but seems to be a really good kid who works hard.
I know there are some on here that for whatever reason like to make fun of even suggesting a redshirt, but if redshirting works for Jay Wright (6 red shirts the past few years),the Wisconsin program, and has worked out great with Myles Johnson, then it should be a good option going forward for Rutgers. Next year, we will have enough depth to redshirt someone.
May be a good idea to redshirt McConnell next year so he can get physically stronger and may find a role down the line as a 2 or 3 (and a back up 1). He has some skills, good height, and is put in a tough situation this year but seems to be a really good kid who works hard.
That's not what you've said for the last year....you've mentioned at least 30 times about a speed small PG....quickness and athletic ability on the wings is obvious
While that makes sense, it has to be at the benefit of the player and his overall position and development. Whatever foot surgery he had this summer definitely has slowed him down and he looks like he will take this season to work into shape.
I think a player that makes a couple of baskets and feels a little better about himself, suddenly will look much better on both ends of the court. I'd be curious to see what both McConnell and Mathis look like after a couple of games where they have their shots fall early.
NJH my issue is less Baker can't handle PG position it is he can't do it for 38 minutes and also be asked to score and play a little D. He will, with almost certainity, wear out.
Need 8 minutes a night with McConnell or someone else. What I'd really like to see happen is for 1 of the next 2 games for us to have a lead and be able to get McConnell out with Baker and get him some minutes with success.
Need 8 minutes a night with McConnell or someone else. What I'd really like to see happen is for 1 of the next 2 games for us to have a lead and be able to get McConnell out with Baker and get him some minutes with success.
There are not 10 teams in the BIG10 better than STJ. Like it or not that team is built like a sweet 16 team, they are essentially the east coast version of Nevada right now
Not last night! STJ Would have beat a lot of teams in the BIG last night.
SJU ranks behind 10 teams in the Big Ten in KenPom right now. Their previous game they had to come from behind to beat Bowling Green by 4 points at home.
Name me a better shooting performance you’ve seen by an away team at the RAC in the past 5 years? Not sure I can. Heron was unconscious and Figueroa not far behind.
Not to mention their top nba prospect did next to nothing.
KenPom isn’t the gospel. Villanova got embarrassed by Michigan. Games aren’t played on spreadsheets. Also doesn’t mean nova isn’t a good team.
My point - this was a terrible match up for us, but only because we played all man.
And then who does he play ahead of next year - no one. He's our weakest player now by far, and Mulcahy and Jacobs, who aren't even here yet, are already much better players. Very likely a transfer candidate down the road.
In comparison to the B1G, SJU has a top tier backcourt, but is a mid-tier team overall.
Ethan Happ would go 35/15 against SJU, and they'd have had no answer for him. They're not going to shoot 50% from range every night against an opponent that shoots 27% (and 56% from the line). They had a hot shooting night that aligned with an ice cold shooting night for us - that's not sustainable, and certainly not against better programs.
SJU shot 32% from range last year. Even if they shot a still-above-average 40% and RU shot 33% (and 70% from the line), this is one score game.
Ethan Happ would go 35/15 against SJU, and they'd have had no answer for him. They're not going to shoot 50% from range every night against an opponent that shoots 27% (and 56% from the line). They had a hot shooting night that aligned with an ice cold shooting night for us - that's not sustainable, and certainly not against better programs.
SJU shot 32% from range last year. Even if they shot a still-above-average 40% and RU shot 33% (and 70% from the line), this is one score game.
WTF does a single shooting performance have to do with anything? Is their outside shooting at the RAC any more predictive of their quality as a team than their crappy play at home against Bowling Green?
I'm just saying the Big Ten is LOADED and SJU is not one of the 25 best teams in the country right now nor are they likely to be at the end of the year.
Who's Jacobs? Related to Sheridan? What a horrible post. You probably thought Eugene was trash too.
If McConnell redshirts, Thiam and Eugene would be graduating and Harper may move to the 4, so he could have some PT at the 3. Also, if he red shirts, by the time he is a junior, Geo and Young will be gone so he may be needed at the 1 or 2.
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Unless you practice the 2-3 zone enough to become proficient at it, trotting it out in a game will likely result in RU getting beaten by a hail of 3s.
Gio is fine at point. Team needs to learn how to play defense. Too many young/new guys not playing the entire possession, leading to wide open looks. Pike will fix this. those that can't do it won't play. He is playing a lot of guys and combos now to see what works.
SJU lit us up from three, don't see how a 2/3 zone helps. They would have had 20 threes instead of 15.
that could work. I could see playing some zone combos that work, but i think Pike wants them to play solid man first before bringing in zone. He is very focused on def. He looked really pissed in the second half.
I like Doorson, but he played too much against SJU. Smaller quick guys kill him on D.
Agree that Shaq was put in some tough positions.
As to the zone, granted that Pike knows 100x more than me and that of course you cant just run it out there without practice, but I think it's good for a switch up. another 3-2 lineup option would be a Ron and Geo on wings, MM at the high middle spot and Myles and Issa as your backline.
I'd argue that Shaq Carter is the weakest player. As least McConnell gets on the floor. I mean, Carter didnt even start for his Juco team, but everyone was convinced he'd be a star here. I never saw it.