Do the work coach

[NightKnight]

Show you are serious about getting the most out of this team. Against CC State, play guys who need the minutes to be ready for the B1G schedule and don't play the guys who would have to show some tremendous growth in practice to deserve any PT ever again. The best coaches play 8 or 9 guys.
Davis, Grant, Francis, Ogbole, Buchanan, Badalau, Ware, Dorch. After that I see a big step down.

 

[BillyC80]

Show you are serious about getting the most out of this team. Against CC State, play guys who need the minutes to be ready for the B1G schedule and don't play the guys who would have to show some tremendous growth in practice to deserve any PT ever again. The best coaches play 8 or 9 guys.
Davis, Grant, Francis, Ogbole, Buchanan, Badalau, Ware, Dorch. After that I see a big step down.

Did you mean Nwulli instead of Ware (who hasn’t hardly played yet)?

I also think there has to be 10 minutes for Zrno, as we need that sniper who can stretch the D.

 

[NightKnight]

For me, it's Ware edging out Fall. Nwulli is an athlete but in the NIL era, player development is a bad investment. I was really hoping Zrno would be better, but if he can't shine against this level of talent, he can't shine. His D is miserable.

 

[MadRU]

And if JMike or Francis get in foul trouble, you need Marks.
It’s a game by game thing, fouls and injuries occur, need guys to be ready.

If we are going to play 10-11, I need us to play full court pressure defense. Wear out other teams.

 

[RUBlackout]

For me, it's Ware edging out Fall. Nwulli is an athlete but in the NIL era, player development is a bad investment. I was really hoping Zrno would be better, but if he can't shine against this level of talent, he can't shine. His D is miserable.

How can you even talk about bad investments after 4 games and limited time??

This fanbase is ******* brutal

 

[RUfan1977]

Show you are serious about getting the most out of this team. Against CC State, play guys who need the minutes to be ready for the B1G schedule and don't play the guys who would have to show some tremendous growth in practice to deserve any PT ever again. The best coaches play 8 or 9 guys.
Davis, Grant, Francis, Ogbole, Buchanan, Badalau, Ware, Dorch. After that I see a big step down.

Nwuli has the potential to be a lockdown defender. He is quick enough to guard smaller players and tall enough and athletic enough to take players out of their offense. It is extremely important to have a player that can shut down a player when they get hot and Nwuli has that potential.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

For me, it's Ware edging out Fall. Nwulli is an athlete but in the NIL era, player development is a bad investment. I was really hoping Zrno would be better, but if he can't shine against this level of talent, he can't shine. His D is miserable.

Edging him out based on what? You know ware checked in against a bad Rider team’s bench in garbage time. Anything we saw from him in that one appearance is meaningless.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Show you are serious about getting the most out of this team. Against CC State, play guys who need the minutes to be ready for the B1G schedule and don't play the guys who would have to show some tremendous growth in practice to deserve any PT ever again. The best coaches play 8 or 9 guys.
Davis, Grant, Francis, Ogbole, Buchanan, Badalau, Ware, Dorch. After that I see a big step down.

Most coaches play 9-10 early in the season. You want to see who shows up on game day. Rotations don’t tighten until closer to conference play.

 

[Simce91]

If we are going to play 10-11, I need us to play full court pressure defense. Wear out other teams.

To this point, I was hoping to see more full court pressing in these early games.

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

Show you are serious about getting the most out of this team. Against CC State, play guys who need the minutes to be ready for the B1G schedule and don't play the guys who would have to show some tremendous growth in practice to deserve any PT ever again. The best coaches play 8 or 9 guys.
Davis, Grant, Francis, Ogbole, Buchanan, Badalau, Ware, Dorch. After that I see a big step down.

Suggesting that you need to shorten the bench against a team ranked in the 300s is nothing short of desperation.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Suggesting that you need to shorten the bench against a team ranked in the 300s is nothing short of desperation.

I agree with the overall point your making.

Completely separate point (your 300 reference) - putting any relative stock in Kenpom metrics for midmajors seems very silly right now. Preseason projections are heavily baked into those numbers for all teams, but for midmajors they are going to be wildly off moreso than ever for a wide variety of reasons.

After only 4 or so games - St Joes is currently 151 after absorbing a 9 point loss to Penn who is currently 262 adjusted for that win. Meanwhile, American is 282 inclusive of their 6 point win over Penn, a 14 point loss to WF (49) and a 9 point loss to us (96). Ok sure - American took a pounding at GW but it was one game and it wasn’t like American took a nose dive after it - they were already in the high 200s. GW by the way shot 54% from 3 in that game. Against Maine, GW shot 10% from 3 hence that one was a 20 point margin vs 40.

 

[NightKnight]

Suggesting that you need to shorten the bench against a team ranked in the 300s is nothing short of desperation.

I don't worship at the alter of Coach Wooden but he did say "The greatest failure of all is failure to act when action is needed" and I think desperation is the constant state of RU basketball. I wish Lino could finish on drives I wish Zrno could anticipate a bit better on defense. I wish Nwulli had a hessy crossover. When you have a marginal team and you play your worst players, you don't get better. Best chance is roll the dice on working out some chemistry on your 5 best guys. Coach needs to have a thick skin and focus on winning other wise he's stealing a pay check. Pikes might be our best coach since Tom Young but he lacks for the meaness-of-heart that is required in management.

 

[RU Jeep]

Gotta think big picture. Everyone plays Friday. Shorten in Vegas. Back to broader usage vs Penn and Del St.

 

[Bob Chaewsky_rivals]

How can you even talk about bad investments after 4 games and limited time??

This fanbase is ******* brutal

Ware makes one nice move and he's in the mix? He doesn't belong ahead of Fall who can at least block and alter some shots.

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

Ware makes one nice move and he's in the mix? He doesn't belong ahead of Fall who can at least block and alter some shots.

Neither belong out there which is why Dortch, playing out of position, gets extended game minutes. Sad that after years of having legit bigs we’re now without one two years running.

 

[LeapinLou]

Nwulli is an athlete but in the NIL era, player development is a bad investment.

The sad truth is I agree with you. And that's why, after 38 years, I may not renew my season tickets next year. It may actually be wise for Pike to keep Nwuli on the bench and develop him in practice so that they don't have to overpay to keep him for next season, when he can be a much bigger contributor.

 

[Zebnatto1!]

The thing about the fullcourt press (mentioned above) is that it's token pressure--one man on the ball. This doesn't do anything--teams are still getting into their offense with 22-23 seconds on the clock. If you're gonna press, be serious--trapping and high energy.

 

[DC8690]

Show you are serious about getting the most out of this team. Against CC State, play guys who need the minutes to be ready for the B1G schedule and don't play the guys who would have to show some tremendous growth in practice to deserve any PT ever again. The best coaches play 8 or 9 guys.
Davis, Grant, Francis, Ogbole, Buchanan, Badalau, Ware, Dorch. After that I see a big step down.

I am sure he is going to listen to your advice. After seeing Ware for exactly 7 minutes you have anointed him as one of the top 8 players on the team.

Lol you cant make this up

 

[tru2ru1]

The sad truth is I agree with you. And that's why, after 38 years, I may not renew my season tickets next year. It may actually be wise for Pike to keep Nwuli on the bench and develop him in practice so that they don't have to overpay to keep him for next season, when he can be a much bigger contributor.

You can't worry about players entering the portal, some enter for more playing time & some enter for more money, with revenue sharing and an AD who actually does her job raising money for player retention, things are changing.