Carino -- Q&A with Pike

[needmorecowbell]

Sounds like the line up when healthy its… Noah, Hyatt, Griffins, Mag and Cliff. Love the offense options and the ability to spread the floor. If they hit shots, which I think they will, there are going to be some fun games to watch. The defense is a huge question mark. I still think Pike will get them playing hard but I wonder who is going to match up vs better athletic guards. I don’t think RU has a solution for that. Either way I’m looking forward to seeing a new pace of play.

 

[rubjk]

If Hyatt and Mag are on the floor together, I'd expect Mag to guard the 3 or whoever is the more dangerous perimeter threat

Hearing Hyatt take a leadership role is encouraging. He might feel more confident which spills over into his shooting and defense

I also wonder if Paul's absense leads to a better Hyatt with reports of Paul being difficult. I could picture Paul riding Hyatt and yelling at him. Not all players respond the same and there is a mental side of things.

Good Paul was great, bad Paul made everyone miserable with his moping and tantrums. It’ll not be missed.

 

[Scangg]

I'm not understanding.
Is it because Hyatt hit some 3s overseas against the equivalent of a Div 3 scrimmage?

Between him passing backwards at the end of the Minnesota game then basically being benched/no show the next 3 games, I'll believe when I see it with Hyatt.

I mean, agreed. It's no secret I wasn't Hyatt's biggest fan. He did shoot very well in Africa and Pike keeps bringing him up early and often in interviews about how he has improved and his leadership

There is a world where it all comes together for him, but it does seem unlikely was my point since he is an older player. Typically if a player breaks out, it already happens by now

He should get more open easy looks this season with more offensive talent around him though. Hyatt really needs show he can knock down the 3 at a higher rate.

The battle for playing time should be pretty fierce this season so if he doesn't perform, he is going to slide down the rotation. He was handed a golden opportunity on a silver platter last season when Mag went down and lost his spot to Oskar. This season there is a more talented deeper bench that Pike can turn to

 

[bitnez]

They haven’t played any games yet but it’s still odd to me that we had a notable portion of the fan base who believed that Gavin wouldn’t be starting on this team.

 

[MiloTalon13]

Great Job ! Picking one horrible play by Hyatt and suggesting it's some kind of norm for him.

Now bring up the dozens of bonehead plays made by every other player over the course of the year....including Mulcahy, Spencer, McConnell, Mag, Cliff and the rest.

Yup - Mag and Hyatt played about the same average minutes and Mag averaged more turnovers as did all the other regulars (and offensive fouls are turnovers of which Hyatt had a few)

The key for Hyatt is that this is a very different team that allows him to play more to his strengths AND better fit for him personality/chemistry wise

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

When three of the other players are Caleb McConnell, Mawot Mag, and Cliff Omoruyi it makes sense.

No it doesn't. First off, Mag and Hyatt were rarely on the court together. Secondly, are you suggesting that McConnell and Cliff were good on defense at covered up for all the other bad defenders like Mulcahy, Spencer and Hyatt (when he was in for Mag ) ?

 

[MiloTalon13]

No it doesn't. First off, Mag and Hyatt were rarely on the court together. Secondly, are you suggesting that McConnell and Cliff were good on defense at covered up for all the other bad defenders like Mulcahy, Spencer and Hyatt (when he was in for Mag ) ?

This gets to the point that if we can be an elite defensive team with Mulcahy, Spencer and Hyatt as major rotation pieces, we can be at least a near-elite defensive team with Griffiths, Fernandes etc.
With the degree to which the offense improves, near-elite defense (top 30ish) will make this a very good team.

 

[needmorecowbell]

They haven’t played any games yet but it’s still odd to me that we had a notable portion of the fan base who believed that Gavin wouldn’t be starting on this team.

Things have changed. Many people thought that when Cam and Mulcahy were still here. Once they left everyone knew Gavin would start. The only person who thought Gavin was starting over Cam was Milo and I’m pretty sure Milo has a poster of Gavin hanging above his bed.

 

[gregkoko]

Pike's teams have never been below #70 in Defensive Efficiency on the banks. With the athletes we have on this year's team, I imagine we're at least top 40 in DE. Combine that with a more efficient offense and watch out. This year's team could surprise a lot of people

 

[rubaseball78_rivals]

Alot easier to get good at defense than get good at offense, thats why its most encouraging. Pike has consistently had tremendous defenses, its been the offenses that have held us back

Yes, anyone who has the athletic skills to play D1 bball can become a good defender. Takes effort and desire.

 

[Scangg]

They haven’t played any games yet but it’s still odd to me that we had a notable portion of the fan base who believed that Gavin wouldn’t be starting on this team.

I don't think anyone thinks this