Better days ahead

[Sweet Pea's Corner]

Love that quote by Pike. Finally we are seeing basketball that is fun to watch and can go into any game thinking we have a shot to win. Contrary to my post a few weeks ago before the Ohio State game where I was tired of RU just being competitive in games. You can see the improvement every game and things are on the upswing. Now teams have to take RU basketball seriously. We are relevant in the BIG standings now, Let's get the recruiting done and take this team higher in the standings. Better days ahead

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Need to bring in more talent. It is amazing what can be accomplished when everyone is pulling in the same direction.

I like Shaq D a lot, but love the fact that almost the entire roster comes bacck.

 

[SirScarlet]

Love that quote by Pike. Finally we are seeing basketball that is fun to watch and can go into any game thinking we have a shot to win. Contrary to my post a few weeks ago before the Ohio State game where I was tired of RU just being competitive in games. You can see the improvement every game and things are on the upswing. Now teams have to take RU basketball seriously. We are relevant in the BIG standings now, Let's get the recruiting done and take this team higher in the standings. Better days ahead

I certainly don't want to **** on a positive post because there haven't been enough of them regarding this team...but if the only reason you're optimistic is because we have won some games since Ohio State...well you have not been paying attention.

I don't want to sound like i am his adopted son or anything but I ( and several others) could tell there were "better days ahead" from the moment this team started playing under Pike. Now that we're pulling out a few games does not change who we are as a team... and certainly doesn't change the fact that we are going to lay some stinkers over the next several weeks. So if you say there are better days ahead then please remember that and don't join the crap parade when we get blown out by 30 to somebody in the Big Ten...because it's going to happen.

This is an inexperienced team and this is the blueprint for how to get out of a basement.

I know you're a huge fan so I say all of the above respectfully

 

[Sweet Pea's Corner]

No offense taken. Yes better days started when Pike was hired but we are seeing the results now. We are finally seeing this team get better. It was same old when it came to BIG games but I can see a spark after the Ohio State game. Sure Penn St. is no Michigan but still a big win on the road. To me something seems different about this team than a month ago. Sure we are going to lose games but now we know we can win some games. Maybe it was that team meeting last week. I wish we had that Northwestern game back.

 

[Scarlet83]

No offense taken. Yes better days started when Pike was hired but we are seeing the results now. We are finally seeing this team get better. It was same old when it came to BIG games but I can see a spark after the Ohio State game. Sure Penn St. is no Michigan but still a big win on the road. To me something seems different about this team than a month ago. Sure we are going to lose games but now we know we can win some games. Maybe it was that team meeting last week. I wish we had that Northwestern game back.

I think what is different is that each of these newcomers has done some good things and we have seen each of them contribute to a B1G win. Some much more than others, but for the fans that need to see wins before they can see that Pike is a game changer for R hoops, now they have some wins. And what also different is that we can count on these newcomers for certain roles and levels of production, instead of guessing and hoping.

I have been all in on Pike since he came here and I will continue to be all in until there is evidence to the contrary. I don’t expect that to happen. Love Pike, love this coaching staff and love this team. Love the 3 B1G wins. Now let’s go get some more!!

 

[read option]

Agree with the OP, however not only do I want to see wins, I want to stop seeing blowout losses. We have a bunch of tough games in February - it would be nice for us not to lose any by more than 15.

p.s. should we be expecting a win vs. Ind on Wed? I think we should be at this point the way this team is playing currently to be disappointed by a loss.

 

[Scarlet83]

Agree with the OP, however not only do I want to see wins, I want to stop seeing blowout losses. We have a bunch of tough games in February - it would be nice for us not to lose any by more than 15.

p.s. should we be expecting a win vs. Ind on Wed? I think we should be at this point the way this team is playing currently to be disappointed by a loss.

I definitely expect another blowout or two on the road out of the 6 road games left. We are still young, and have some inconsistencies, especially in shooting the rock. But I also expect another road win.

I am disappointed in every B1G loss, but I also don’t expect to win any single B1G game. I hope. I hope a lot, but I don’t expect.

But yes, better times are ahead of us. Enjoy each win and enjoy this exciting build that Pike has us on.

 

[toby83]

Cracked the Kenpom top 100 at #96

2pt dog to Indiana

 

[bowlgoal]

Blowouts can happen. These are not your Eddie Jordan blowouts. We can play with just about anyone in the league. But when we are cold, we sometimes look awful. That can happen to many teams. I’m enjoying the build.

 

[ScarletDave]

Agree with the OP, however not only do I want to see wins, I want to stop seeing blowout losses. We have a bunch of tough games in February - it would be nice for us not to lose any by more than 15.

p.s. should we be expecting a win vs. Ind on Wed? I think we should be at this point the way this team is playing currently to be disappointed by a loss.

Illinois just blew out Minnesota, those games are gonna happen no matter what in basketball. If we start winning more games against the middle of the conference like Neb and OSU, that’s really showing progress as results.

 

[Sweet Pea's Corner]

What was good not to to see yesterday was that long 5 -7 min scoring drought.

 

[ScarletDave]

What was good not to to see yesterday was that long 5 -7 min scoring drought.

Early in the first half we scored a bucket and the announcer said it was our first basket in over 3 minutes. I looked at the score and we were only down 2. At that point I knew we were going to win

 

[ancienthooper]

I certainly don't want to **** on a positive post because there haven't been enough of them regarding this team...but if the only reason you're optimistic is because we have won some games since Ohio State...well you have not been paying attention.

I don't want to sound like i am his adopted son or anything but I ( and several others) could tell there were "better days ahead" from the moment this team started playing under Pike. Now that we're pulling out a few games does not change who we are as a team... and certainly doesn't change the fact that we are going to lay some stinkers over the next several weeks. So if you say there are better days ahead then please remember that and don't join the crap parade when we get blown out by 30 to somebody in the Big Ten...because it's going to happen.

This is an inexperienced team and this is the blueprint for how to get out of a basement.

I know you're a huge fan so I say all of the above respectfully

Spot. On. Lose to Fordham and NW and the ensuing “bad coach, we stink” and wins against OSU, Nebby and PSU and subsequent “good coach, we’re on our way” reflect a passionate fan base and classic message board mania. Doesn’t work that way, however.

At this point in time “we are who we are.” A team with all arrows pointing north, but a young, inexperienced group still in need of some talent. Until then, as SirScarlet rightly mentions, expect our share of losses, possibly a bad one, and hopefully steal a couple more wins.

Another summer, another year of development, additional pieces, and we take the next step.

Peace

 

[LOU-RU85]

I think most folks see progress with Pike. There are a lot of fans that have impulsive reactions but when you look at the entire body of work, you can’t help but see we are headed in the right direction. I played organized and unorganized ball most of my life and I know when I see good coaching. We have a very good coach - now he needs to accomplish the second half of the equation and continue to recruit. Without that, he will fail.

 

[RUJMM78]

No offense taken. Yes better days started when Pike was hired but we are seeing the results now. We are finally seeing this team get better. It was same old when it came to BIG games but I can see a spark after the Ohio State game. Sure Penn St. is no Michigan but still a big win on the road. To me something seems different about this team than a month ago. Sure we are going to lose games but now we know we can win some games. Maybe it was that team meeting last week. I wish we had that Northwestern game back.

I wish Rutgers had the Fordham game back.A 11-8 record is better than 10-9 especially since Fordham has been a disaster against league competition.

 

[bowlgoal]

I certainly don't want to **** on a positive post because there haven't been enough of them regarding this team...but if the only reason you're optimistic is because we have won some games since Ohio State...well you have not been paying attention.

I don't want to sound like i am his adopted son or anything but I ( and several others) could tell there were "better days ahead" from the moment this team started playing under Pike. Now that we're pulling out a few games does not change who we are as a team... and certainly doesn't change the fact that we are going to lay some stinkers over the next several weeks. So if you say there are better days ahead then please remember that and don't join the crap parade when we get blown out by 30 to somebody in the Big Ten...because it's going to happen.

This is an inexperienced team and this is the blueprint for how to get out of a basement.

I know you're a huge fan so I say all of the above respectfully

Spot. On. Lose to Fordham and NW and the ensuing “bad coach, we stink” and wins against OSU, Nebby and PSU and subsequent “good coach, we’re on our way” reflect a passionate fan base and classic message board mania. Doesn’t work that way, however.

At this point in time “we are who we are.” A team with all arrows pointing north, but a young, inexperienced group still in need of some talent. Until then, as SirScarlet rightly mentions, expect our share of losses, possibly a bad one, and hopefully steal a couple more wins.

Another summer, another year of development, additional pieces, and we take the next step.

Peace

A lot of people discount what a difference one year will make. It’s still no let up in any game or you’ll get beat or on any play for that matter. Peter Kiss had a few turnovers yesterday because he lost focus on two passes that were probably completed at a lower level but not in the big 10.

 

[RUInsanityToo]

Cracked the Kenpom top 100 at #96

2pt dog to Indiana

Lots of people here say PSU is terrible and they are a team we should beat......yet they are still almost 30 slots higher than us in Kenpom lol.

 

[Rhuarc]

Lots of people here say PSU is terrible and they are a team we should beat......yet they are still almost 30 slots higher than us in Kenpom lol.

They have 1 win of note and it happens to be against V tech who is currently in the top 15. Clearly this is a flawed indicator of season quality. 1 good win shouldn't be more important than 13 losses.

 

[ChrisNalwasky]

https://rutgers.rivals.com/news/geo-baker-stepped-up-in-critical-road-win-for-rutgers-at-penn-state

 

[BOCA93]

They have 1 win of note and it happens to be against V tech who is currently in the top 15. Clearly this is a flawed indicator of season quality. 1 good win shouldn't be more important than 13 losses.

Wow, I didn’t realize PSU knocked off VT. What a fluke. I watched VT completely dismantle Cuse last night. They play suffocating D and have excellent 3 pt shooters. I guess on any given night?

 

[RU848789]

When I look at the upcoming schedule, the only games I don't think we have a realistic shot at winning (not saying we can't, just very low probability) are home to Michigan, @MSU, @OSU, @Iowa and @IU, leaving 6 games I think we have a reasonable shot to win (home to IU, Iowa, MN and PSU and on the road against Illinois and NW), which I'd love to win 2-3 of, giving us 5-6 B1G wins, which would be a major improvement over 3 the past 2 years (out of 18). I do wish we only had 18 B1G games and not 20 - it's just so tough.

 

[Night Man]

Pike had only the lowest of bars to clear in putting a more competitive product out there than EJ did.

Right now he, still, has an incredibly low bar to clear in showing progress. Don't finish in last place every single year. Win a handful of conference games, mostly at home.

This is not to say I don't believe in him. Incremental improvement with such youth is substantial progress. And while he inherited a bit of talent from EJ, he was practically starting from scratch.

Just remember that Rice had a number of big wins here. Waters had a ton. Bannon had some. None got to the NCAAs. This is step 3 of about 8 that we'll need. Fortunately you don't have to wait 5 years for the next 5 steps.

 

[shields]

Would be nice to finally beat Michigan.

 

[Letitrip]

Pike had only the lowest of bars to clear in putting a more competitive product out there than EJ did.

Right now he, still, has an incredibly low bar to clear in showing progress. Don't finish in last place every single year. Win a handful of conference games, mostly at home.

This is not to say I don't believe in him. Incremental improvement with such youth is substantial progress. And while he inherited a bit of talent from EJ, he was practically starting from scratch.

Just remember that Rice had a number of big wins here. Waters had a ton. Bannon had some. None got to the NCAAs. This is step 3 of about 8 that we'll need. Fortunately you don't have to wait 5 years for the next 5 steps.

wow - many of us have been though this whole train wreck. But I will never be as negative as you. Just don't see things through your lens.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Cracked the Kenpom top 100 at #96

2pt dog to Indiana

Just above us coming off loss..need to take this one too! 3 in a row would be huge confidence booster.

Not to mention our chance to beat basketball God school,

 

[RUonBrain]

Bac used to post this, I believe...

Which B1G teams have we now defeated, and which are we still looking to defeat for the 1st time?

Now sure if that list was in our history, or just as a member of the B1G.

Would be nice to get a W vs all of them sooner than later.

 

[RU-ROCS]

When I look at the upcoming schedule, the only games I don't think we have a realistic shot at winning (not saying we can't, just very low probability) are home to Michigan, @MSU, @OSU, @Iowa and @IU, leaving 6 games I think we have a reasonable shot to win (home to IU, Iowa, MN and PSU and on the road against Illinois and NW), which I'd love to win 2-3 of, giving us 5-6 B1G wins, which would be a major improvement over 3 the past 2 years (out of 18). I do wish we only had 18 B1G games and not 20 - it's just so tough.

Agreed. Doubling last year’s conference wins would be a big boost to the program and real progress to sell to recruits. Add to that the completion of the new practice facility and Pike has something real to sell to top recruits.