Better without Baker?

[Knight Ed_rivals]

Baker's shooting in games since coming back from injury.

2-7
1-5
1-6
2-8
3-6
1-9

Why a guy shooting so poorly takes 9 shots in a game is crazy to me.

 

[RU82]

We need Geo to get hot down the stretch of the B1G season. We all know he’s capable of it.

 

[RutHut_rivals]

Be better Bakerless? Bull, Baker be better.

 

[bac2therac]

Geo can win games for us obviously Nebby, but I would like to know what is going on, if he is not 100% why are we forcing him in the lineup, if he is 100% why isnt he starting because we are better off with him starting and I worry about asking Caleb to do too much

 

[Rhuarc]

Geo can win games for us obviously Nebby, but I would like to know what is going on, if he is not 100% why are we forcing him in the lineup, if he is 100% why isnt he starting because we are better off with him starting and I worry about asking Caleb to do too much

Montez deserves more time at the expense of Geo's minutes right now.

 

[shields]

Montez was good yesterday.

 

[soundcrib]

Have no idea why he and ron were in down the stretch. Steve puzzles me.

 

[Duff366]

Geo's play recently does not merit starting. However, he doesn't seem to gel well with 2nd unit. I am not concerned with asking too much from Caleb, he has been pretty consistently one of RU's better players. Geo has to prove he can handle the bigger responsibility.

 

[mikefla]

GEO was absolutely terrible yesterday. Even on D he struggled.

Love the guy but he needs to stay on the bench for now(never thought I would say that)

 

[RUSCFORMERLYRULOU]

Geo's play recently does not merit starting. However, he doesn't seem to gel well with 2nd unit. I am not concerned with asking too much from Caleb, he has been pretty consistently one of RU's better players. Geo has to prove he can handle the bigger responsibility.

Rotations in the second half have been very very suspect recently. Come on Pike.

 

[RU516]

We rarely ever play with Montez and JY on the floor at the same time however they were definitely our best guards yesterday. When Geo is struggling like he was yesterday gotta roll with the hot hands

 

[Knight Ed_rivals]

Geo can win games for us obviously Nebby, but I would like to know what is going on, if he is not 100% why are we forcing him in the lineup, if he is 100% why isnt he starting because we are better off with him starting and I worry about asking Caleb to do too much

I wouldn't say he "obviously" won Nebraska for us. He made the last shot but was 1 of 7 from the floor before that. He hits some of his shots during the game and it wouldn't have come to a buzzer beater.

 

[RedChucken123]

For whatever reason, he has always had a second half slump. Freshman year, he got it back in time for the B1G tournament. Sophomore year, it was year end. Hopefully, he gets it back sooner this year. We need him (and Ron) to step up or else things will get dicey towards year end.

 

[SBP]

It’s no coincidence we started not playing so well when came back. Keep him on the bench. He’s 7th man right now, and Tez is MUCH better shooter, defender, rebounder. Period.

 

[BigRnj]

Rotations in the second half have been very very suspect recently. Come on Pike.

Fire Pike, hire this jackasz

 

[MadRU]

Legend to better without him, that was quick.

 

[rudad02]

Needs to see more time on the bench & think it over.

 

[Rutgers83]

There's a reason he is not starting. Others are playing better.

 

[RU MAN]

Baker's shooting in games since coming back from injury.

2-7
1-5
1-6
2-8
3-6
1-9

Why a guy shooting so poorly takes 9 shots in a game is crazy to me.

Why? Because he can still make the great shot in crunch time. With that said, Geo to me still doesn't look comfortable out there. I know he wants to win badly and he's what makes the engine go with RU, but I do agree with you he's hurting us sometimes in key situations. We need him to be more consistent by not settling for three point shots. I think as he continues to heal, he needs to take more 15-17 foot shots. I think that will regain his consistency and confidence going forward.

 

[ChasRC69]

Why? Because he can still make the great shot in crunch time. With that said, Geo to me still doesn't look comfortable out there. I know he wants to win badly and he's what makes the engine go with RU, but I do agree with you he's hurting us sometimes in key situations. We need him to be more consistent by not settling for three point shots. I think as he continues to heal, he needs to take more 15-17 foot shots. I think that will regain his consistency and confidence going forward.

Don't forget - RHJ was just as bad.

 

[RU MAN]

Don't forget - RHJ was just as bad.

Oh, I know. this thread though was about Geo. Harper was terrible yesterday. The problem with Ron is he's too inconsistent. Twenty-nine against Iowa and then he's disappears. He seems to lose confidence if his long jump shots are not falling. He needs to drive to the basket more and pick up fouls.

 

[Knight Ed_rivals]

Geo wasn't shooting well before the injury and just got worse after. This myth that people had going into the season that Geo is this great player just is not real. At best he is a decent player who can help. At worst he thinks he's the star of the team and jacks up too many poor shots. Occasionally hitting a big shot does not make him a winner if he is bricking shots game after game the rest of the time.

 

[Scangg]

The whole team is very inconsistent game to game. It's been the trend all season long. Pike needs to identify the guys playing well each night and give them major minutes. Going back to Geo and Ron late when they looked as bad as they have looked all season long made no sense. When players are off, sit them for those playing better. It's the entire advatange having a deeper roster gives you. More Mathis Young Yeboah last night was needed. Less Ron Geo

 

[RU MAN]

The whole team is very inconsistent game to game. It's been the trend all season long. Pike needs to identify the guys playing well each night and give them major minutes. Going back to Geo and Ron late when they looked as bad as they have looked all season long made no sense. When players are off, sit them for those playing better. It's the entire advatange having a deeper roster gives you. More Mathis Young Yeboah last night was needed. Less Ron Geo

Agreed. Too much misplaced loyalty by Pike at game's end. I couldn't agree more.

 

[RU-ROCS]

It’s no coincidence we started not playing so well when came back. Keep him on the bench. He’s 7th man right now, and Tez is MUCH better shooter, defender, rebounder. Period.

We don't beat Nebraska without his late game heroics. He also made big shots down the stretch against Purdue. Geo is obviously struggling with the injury and probably came back too soon. But getting him back on track is key to our ability to make the Tournament IMHO.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

The whole team is very inconsistent game to game. It's been the trend all season long. Pike needs to identify the guys playing well each night and give them major minutes. Going back to Geo and Ron late when they looked as bad as they have looked all season long made no sense. When players are off, sit them for those playing better. It's the entire advatange having a deeper roster gives you. More Mathis Young Yeboah last night was needed. Less Ron Geo

Going to call you out here.....was his decision to play Geo down the stretch vs. Nebraska a bad one?

Fans have to stop saying things don't make sense just because they don't work.

I want Geo Baker on the floor ALWAYS under 2 minutes. I am going to need to see a lot before I conclude he isn't a clutch player.

 

[RU-ROCS]

[QUOTE="
I want Geo Baker on the floor ALWAYS under 2 minutes. I am going to need to see a lot before I conclude he isn't a clutch player.[/QUOTE]

Amen!

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

My memory is less than stellar.....there have been countless times in his career where he has come through in the clutch. Unfortunately the 1st 2 years of his career we didn't win enough games so that speaks even more to how often it is Geo that is the hero.

 

[Knight Ed_rivals]

People seem to be discounting that the points throughout the game matter ad much at the end. All of Baker's 9 shots were very important and a huge reason we lost the game. They were all "clutch" and he missed a ton like he has done all year.

 

[Scangg]

Going to call you out here.....was his decision to play Geo down the stretch vs. Nebraska a bad one?

Fans have to stop saying things don't make sense just because they don't work.

I want Geo Baker on the floor ALWAYS under 2 minutes. I am going to need to see a lot before I conclude he isn't a clutch player.

Last shot, sure Geo seems to be the guy. I'm talking earlier in the game.

Even if Geo is "clutch" it doesnt mean you HAVE to go to him every single game every single late shot. If he's off maybe design something where he is the diversion.

Also, he did miss his first attempt at that game winner against Nebraska. If we don't get that offensive rebound and give him another try at it then it's a completely different story.

 

[RUChoppin]

I want Geo Baker on the floor ALWAYS under 2 minutes. I am going to need to see a lot before I conclude he isn't a clutch player.

Agree that Baker is clutch, and is generally at his best when there's a lot on the line. He just hasn't been that great in the other 38 game minutes for a while now.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Agree that Baker is clutch, and is generally at his best when there's a lot on the line. He just hasn't been that great in the other 38 game minutes for a while now.

I wonder if his thumb isn't 100% OR if it could be in his head.

Whether Geo should play X minutes or not there is one thing that is clear to me. This team's chances of reaching the goals we have for them are DRASTICILY reduced without Geo having a big footprint.

Without knowing the extent of the thumb injury I play Geo through these tough times. I actually am a fan of getting him back in the starting lineup and having Caleb off the bench. It hasnt hurt us yet, but I just don't feel comfortable with a lineup with caleb being our only ball handler.

 

[Scangg]

I wonder if his thumb isn't 100% OR if it could be in his head.

Whether Geo should play X minutes or not there is one thing that is clear to me. This team's chances of reaching the goals we have for them are DRASTICILY reduced without Geo having a big footprint.

Without knowing the extent of the thumb injury I play Geo through these tough times. I actually am a fan of getting him back in the starting lineup and having Caleb off the bench. It hasnt hurt us yet, but I just don't feel comfortable with a lineup with caleb being our only ball handler.

I think its probably a little of both but the longer it goes on the more it is mental.

I wouldn't hate seeing Pike put Geo back in the starting lineup. Not bc his play has earned it but bc maybe it gives him a spark and gets him out of his slump. We need Geo to step up. The team is so much better when he is on

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

Ive heard a few things re Geo.

1) Pike lied, it happened vs Caldwell he just didnt wanna say that knowing it would look bad.

2) Geo’s thumb is really bad and hes probably still a month away from being 100%. He shouldve sat longer.

3) Geo has told people he wants to play but also realizes he doesnt have his shot right now because he cant really do much with the left hand which he prefer to pull off of

 

[Randal7]

Geo is a rhythm shooter. He needs to catch the ball and shoot in rhythm, or dribble to a spot that he likes and shoot in rhythm. Watch the last 3 minutes of the Michigan game and it's a horror show of missed open 3s because he's in a spot and open to shoot stationary.

 

[Randal7]

Ive heard a few things re Geo.

1) Pike lied, it happened vs Caldwell he just didnt wanna say that knowing it would look bad.

2) Geo’s thumb is really bad and hes probably still a month away from being 100%. He shouldve sat longer.

3) Geo has told people he wants to play but also realizes he doesnt have his shot right now because he cant really do much with the left hand which he prefer to pull off of

This makes sense. You guys notice he hasn't executed his turnaround jumper since the injury? That's one of his biggest threats as a player and he can't do it with the hurt thumb

 

[Scangg]

Ive heard a few things re Geo.

1) Pike lied, it happened vs Caldwell he just didnt wanna say that knowing it would look bad.

2) Geo’s thumb is really bad and hes probably still a month away from being 100%. He shouldve sat longer.

3) Geo has told people he wants to play but also realizes he doesnt have his shot right now because he cant really do much with the left hand which he prefer to pull off of

Still a month away? Ouch... if that's true then really not sure why he was rushed back so fast considering the team was playing well without him. Tough call how to handle it from here

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

Still a month away? Ouch... if that's true then really not sure why he was rushed back so fast considering the team was playing well without him. Tough call how to handle it from here

Personally imo theres no going back. You cant sit him now. But he really should not be playing.

 

[Scangg]

Personally imo theres no going back. You cant sit him now. But he really should not be playing.

Agree, you cant really go back unless he re-injures it. If you sit him now, Pike and the training staff might get some heat as to why he was rushed back so soon. I was hoping he was on the verge of full health but if he's still a ways away from full health he needs his minutes cut if he cant really shoot

 

[RUChoppin]

I wonder if his thumb isn't 100% OR if it could be in his head.

Whether Geo should play X minutes or not there is one thing that is clear to me. This team's chances of reaching the goals we have for them are DRASTICILY reduced without Geo having a big footprint.

Without knowing the extent of the thumb injury I play Geo through these tough times. I actually am a fan of getting him back in the starting lineup and having Caleb off the bench. It hasnt hurt us yet, but I just don't feel comfortable with a lineup with caleb being our only ball handler.

I don't know what it is, but he's been struggling since he's come back.

In the 6 games since returning:
21.8 min, 5.8 pts (10-41 FG .244, 6-22 3P .273, 9-14 FT .643), 2.5 rb, 2.5 ast, 0.8 tov, 0.5 stl, 2.0 pf