My question for Pike

[jerzeyguy]

Why bring in players who don't fit what you do? If you don't plan on running an offense, that moves the ball, and sets up shooters. Why bring in spot shooters? Alot of times, these guys are not gifted athletes. That's why they focused on shooting their whole lives. And they require zone defense - at times, for this same reason.. If your not willing adjust, why not just bring in high energy guys, and have them crash the boards, and blitz ball handlers. Such an odd off season this was

 

[RutgersChow]

Richie - when I go to respond to this post, why doesn't RutgersChow show up to the left?

 

[RutgersChow]

Richie - when I go to respond to this post, why doesn't RutgersChow show up to the left?

OK, now OK.

 

[rubjk]

Why bring in players who don't fit what you do? If you don't plan on running an offense, that moves the ball, and sets up shooters. Why bring in spot shooters? Alot of times, these guys are not gifted athletes. That's why they focused on shooting their whole lives. And they require zone defense - at times, for this same reason.. If your not willing adjust, why not just bring in high energy guys, and have them crash the boards, and blitz ball handlers. Such an odd offense this was

Pike makes tons of adjustments and tries new things all the time. He’s definitely not stubborn and forces the same thing over and over expecting different results. Give him some time.

He learned his lesson about lacking length last year and it’s clear the key trait he demands now is length.

Our success on turnovers is certainly partly due to our length.

We’ve averaged 82 ppg. Our offense is just fine.

 

[Rufaninga]

With a full roster turnover, we have ~2 guys that know Pikes system and 8 new guys. There are limited # of practices & time with players. It's going to take a while to install everything. It would be different if we just had 3 new freshmen coming in and 8 older guys that have been here for years and can assist the young guns.

Everyone is new & 3 of our starters have never played in college it's a steep learning curve ,& you can't throw everything at them all at once.

 

[Geo_Baker_1]

Why bring in players who don't fit what you do? If you don't plan on running an offense, that moves the ball, and sets up shooters. Why bring in spot shooters? Alot of times, these guys are not gifted athletes. That's why they focused on shooting their whole lives. And they require zone defense - at times, for this same reason.. If your not willing adjust, why not just bring in high energy guys, and have them crash the boards, and blitz ball handlers. Such an odd offense this was

The offense literally isn’t the issue at all

 

[NickRU714]

The offense literally isn’t the issue at all

Relying on 2 players to provide over 50% of the offense isn't an issue?

Alabama, arguably our "best" offensive game, they provided 66% of our scoring.
8 assists on 29 FGs.

 

[rubjk]

Relying on 2 players to provide over 50% of the offense isn't an issue?

Alabama, arguably our "best" offensive game, they provided 66% of our scoring.
8 assists on 29 FGs.

I think that’s probably pretty common on many teams. Ron and Geo certainly did that often.

 

[RU-ROCS]

Along the same lines, I was thinking RU would have been much better off convincing Woolfolk to return rather than getting Martini. Woolfolk is a rugged 6’-9” banger who fights for rebounds - something this team desperately needs. Martini is a 6’-9” player who only averaged 3 RBs in 30 mpg at Princeton. He wants to play on the permiter not bang down low for boards.

 

[NickRU714]

I think that’s probably pretty common on many teams. Ron and Geo certainly did that often.

I actually checked before I posted.
2019-2020: Ron & Geo 33ppg out of 69.9ppg (47.7%).
2020-2021: Ron and Jacob 29ppg out of 69.2ppg (42.1%).

Probably a bad comparison but Alabama has Sears and Nelson at 31.1ppg out of 89.2ppg (34.8%).

I just thought people would want to be more balanced and not so reliant on outstanding performances from Ace & Dylan.
Unless the expectation is this can continue through 20 Big Ten games.

 

[Scangg]

Relying on 2 players to provide over 50% of the offense isn't an issue?

Alabama, arguably our "best" offensive game, they provided 66% of our scoring.
8 assists on 29 FGs.

Not when those two players are top 3 NBA draft picks

It will be a problem when the offense is not running through Dylan and Ace

Dylan only had a handful of shots 1st half of Kennesaw. That was the problem

 

[rubjk]

Not when those two players are top 3 NBA draft picks

It will be a problem when the offense is not running through Dylan and Ace

Dylan only had a handful of shots 1st half of Kennesaw. That was the problem

The problem was we had zero defense and no hustle.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Why bring in players who don't fit what you do? If you don't plan on running an offense, that moves the ball, and sets up shooters. Why bring in spot shooters? Alot of times, these guys are not gifted athletes. That's why they focused on shooting their whole lives. And they require zone defense - at times, for this same reason.. If your not willing adjust, why not just bring in high energy guys, and have them crash the boards, and blitz ball handlers. Such an odd offense this was

Every game plan is different and some games the defense take you out of what you want to do. The first few games, they did move the ball a bit more and spread it out for their shooters. The last two games, Pike was looking for energy and Pike relied on defense players to get the job done. Plus Dylan was hot so you ride the hot hand. They went toe to toe with Alabama so I don’t know why people are complaining. It’s was the right move and they were one rebound away from having a shot to win the game.

 

[RUJMM78]

The problem was we had zero defense and no hustle.

The lack of scoring in the first half was a big problem because it took a lot of time and energy to catch up in the second half

 

[hinson32]

Relying on 2 players to provide over 50% of the offense isn't an issue?

Alabama, arguably our "best" offensive game, they provided 66% of our scoring.
8 assists on 29 FGs.

Have you seen the scores
of the games?

 

[essexknight]

Along the same lines, I was thinking RU would have been much better off convincing Woolfolk to return rather than getting Martini. Woolfolk is a rugged 6’-9” banger who fights for rebounds - something this team desperately needs. Martini is a 6’-9” player who only averaged 3 RBs in 30 mpg at Princeton. He wants to play on the permiter not bang down low for boards.

Martini being a shooter at the 4/5 will help with floor spacing for Bailey and Harper. The issue is that the team needed another 4/5 from the portal with experience who could rebound and defend.

 

[lion1983]

Currently, on the season (which does include 2 games without Bailey, Harper and Bailey have 45% of RU's total points. But they are RU's most skilled offensive players by a wide margin, ... they have taken 38% of RU's FT's and 36% of RU's 3's - but 47% of RU's 2-point attempts.

People may not like it, and we can debate the optimal % of RU points and shots for which Bailey and Harper should responsible, but the team was DESIGNED around 2 offensive superstars. Even the pure (meaning that is all they take) 3-point shooters added (Martini and Hayes) were added as much to OPEN up the lane and spaces for Harper and Bailey to score more easily, even more than to provide points themselves.

In several games Hayes and Martini were shadowed by the opposing team when in the game (preventing them shooting) - meaning it was even easier for Bailey and Harper to get into scoring position.

When Harper and Bailey are shooting 50% or better in a game you want them to get as many good shot attempts as possible, even if they take nearly ALL the shots - because their shooting percentage will be better than other players' shooting percentages.

 

[Geo_Baker_1]

I actually checked before I posted.
2019-2020: Ron & Geo 33ppg out of 69.9ppg (47.7%).
2020-2021: Ron and Jacob 29ppg out of 69.2ppg (42.1%).

Probably a bad comparison but Alabama has Sears and Nelson at 31.1ppg out of 89.2ppg (34.8%).

I just thought people would want to be more balanced and not so reliant on outstanding performances from Ace & Dylan.
Unless the expectation is this can continue through 20 Big Ten games.

so through the first games this team has played, you as the coach, your focus of concern would be the offense right now?

The only reason me and Ron or Ron and JY didn’t average a higher percentage of the scoring is because we simply were not as good as Dylan and Ace lol.

Tons of guys got open shots against Alabama. Jordan, Jeremiah, Zach, and pj all took stand still threes last game. They just weren’t falling.

Alabama has one of the best offenses in the country every year. What “sets” did they run to set up shooters? Most of what they do is play fast, drive and kick to one more pass, and then shoot 3s off offensive rebounds.

Dylan is going to have full control of the ball and he’s probably got one of the highest iq’s in basketball right now. Until a defense can stop him there’s nothing wrong with him getting most of the points per game. Once a defense figures him out, he’ll be smart enough to create for others and get guys open shots. He’s already proven that.

I feel like even just thinking about past years with how many end of shot clock shots we had to take because of stale offense… that just hasn’t happened really at all this year. The ball and the guys have all been moving well in my opinion

 

[RUisB1Gtime]

If we can develop Sommerville game by game , and if Martini finds his stroke, we are going to be tough to beat.

 

[BOCA93]

I can understand if your question for Pike focused on rebounding or 3pt D…… But not about Dylan and Ace scoring so much

 

[RUbacker]

Why bring in players who don't fit what you do? If you don't plan on running an offense, that moves the ball, and sets up shooters. Why bring in spot shooters? Alot of times, these guys are not gifted athletes. That's why they focused on shooting their whole lives. And they require zone defense - at times, for this same reason.. If your not willing adjust, why not just bring in high energy guys, and have them crash the boards, and blitz ball handlers. Such an odd offense this was

relax it’s early

 

[RUbacker]

If we can develop Sommerville game by game , and if Martini finds his stroke, we are going to be tough to beat.

too many writing martini off already. too soon. pike will work him in and he will have a role

 

[Eagleton95.99]

Relying on 2 players to provide over 50% of the offense isn't an issue?

Alabama, arguably our "best" offensive game, they provided 66% of our scoring.
8 assists on 29 FGs.

That would be a problem…if we didn’t have those two players. And as Fonseca a said in his post game, it would be foolish for RU to ever take the ball out of Dylan’s hands when he’s playing like that.

 

[lion1983]

so through the first games this team has played, you as the coach, your focus of concern would be the offense right now?

The only reason me and Ron or Ron and JY didn’t average a higher percentage of the scoring is because we simply were not as good as Dylan and Ace lol.

Tons of guys got open shots against Alabama. Jordan, Jeremiah, Zach, and pj all took stand still threes last game. They just weren’t falling.

Alabama has one of the best offenses in the country every year. What “sets” did they run to set up shooters? Most of what they do is play fast, drive and kick to one more pass, and then shoot 3s off offensive rebounds.

Dylan is going to have full control of the ball and he’s probably got one of the highest iq’s in basketball right now. Until a defense can stop him there’s nothing wrong with him getting most of the points per game. Once a defense figures him out, he’ll be smart enough to create for others and get guys open shots. He’s already proven that.

I feel like even just thinking about past years with how many end of shot clock shots we had to take because of stale offense… that just hasn’t happened really at all this year. The ball and the guys have all been moving well in my opinion

Not that young Mr. Baker needs my affirmation, but ... This.

I'd add, as I have before, in addition to Harper's obvious skills with playmaking and shot-making, Bailey is, in a different way, an extraordinary shot-making talent ... and we have NOT yet seen his ceiling. Weird to say that given he is averaging 18 ppg in 5 games (on 46% FG, 43% 3-point, 78% FT). I continue to argue that what some announcers and fans are saying about Bailey's shot selection is probably wrong: That what some say are high degree of difficulty, and therefore "bad" shots, are for Bailey reasonable shots.

From Nate Oats, the Alabama head coach: "He's the best midrange shot-maker I've seen," Oats said about Bailey. "He just kind of rises up over guys. The floaters with the touch, he's tough." Oates stated they needed more height to cover Bailey, but often they had a 6'11" Nelson, a 6'7" Dioubate (who also tried to cover Harper), a 6'11" Stevenson defend Bailey - and yes, the 6'4" Philon at times. Bailey's ability to elevate, to step back, to fade-away, and all while getting his shoulders square to the rim are extremely unusual, and make it difficult for even players of his height to truly contest his shots ... the shot attempts by Bailey sometimes LOOK like they are contested, but are not as contested as they look, in my opinion.

 

[ancienthooper]

No doubt the board pudknockers know more about the game than Pikes. And the coaching staff. And Geo.

 

[Plum Street]

Why bring in players who don't fit what you do? If you don't plan on running an offense, that moves the ball, and sets up shooters. Why bring in spot shooters? Alot of times, these guys are not gifted athletes. That's why they focused on shooting their whole lives. And they require zone defense - at times, for this same reason.. If your not willing adjust, why not just bring in high energy guys, and have them crash the boards, and blitz ball handlers. Such an odd offense this was

The recruiting strategy is “best attainable”.

Dercack is buddies with Geo so that’s why he’s here

 

[fluoxetine]

I actually checked before I posted.
2019-2020: Ron & Geo 33ppg out of 69.9ppg (47.7%).
2020-2021: Ron and Jacob 29ppg out of 69.2ppg (42.1%).

Probably a bad comparison but Alabama has Sears and Nelson at 31.1ppg out of 89.2ppg (34.8%).

I just thought people would want to be more balanced and not so reliant on outstanding performances from Ace & Dylan.
Unless the expectation is this can continue through 20 Big Ten games.

Dylan dominating like that takes away chances for others to score. If Dylan takes just as many attempts and isn’t scoring then it’s a problem. If Dylan scores less because of fewer attempts then it’s not necessary a problem and presumably the contributions from others will go up.

I mean, I don’t expect Dylan to score 35 a game but that kid is really, really ******* good and I think a team that mainly relies on him/Ace on offense can be good if not elite, assuming the rest of the roster can fulfill their roles.

 

[fluoxetine]

The recruiting strategy is “best attainable”.

I think people are overly negative about the rest of the roster, as some of them are simply not playing as well as they are capable of so far and it will take time for new pieces to gel and get used to playing a higher level of competition.

But also, this. People act like Pike has the list of portal players and can just pick and choose whoever he wants. But he still needs to actually land those players. He obviously wanted to bring in another center for example but was unable to do that.

 

[fluoxetine]

The offense literally isn’t the issue at all

so through the first games this team has played, you as the coach, your focus of concern would be the offense right now?

This is a maybe/probably a big if (though I will point out that we shot only 27% on 3s in these two games so even if Dylan can not continue to play like this some other things will improve. And Ace only had one good game out of the two) but if we play like we did the last two games on a sustained basis we are literally the 3rd best offense in the country. For these games, at the very least, the offense is so so far from a problem.

At the same time we would be #171 on defense.

Pikiell was able to get top 50 defense out of like whatever random people were left on campus after Eddie Jordan left. I think this is a very good place to be (our weaknesses are what Pikiell excels at teaching, our strength is what he is perhaps less adept at)

 

[Geo_Baker_1]

This is a maybe/probably a big if (though I will point out that we shot only 27% on 3s in these two games so even if Dylan can not continue to play like this some other things will improve. And Ace only had one good game out of the two) but if we play like we did the last two games on a sustained basis we are literally the 3rd best offense in the country. For these games, at the very least, the offense is so so far from a problem.

At the same time we would be #171 on defense.

Pikiell was able to get top 50 defense out of like whatever random people were left on campus after Eddie Jordan left. I think this is a very good place to be (our weaknesses are what Pikiell excels at teaching, our strength is what he is perhaps less adept at)

Agreed. That’s why I’m overall positive on this team. If pikes knows anything, it’s how to fix a defense. This team also plays a lot faster than any team we’ve had in the past. The defense naturally will look worse due to amount of possessions in the game. There’s just more opportunities to be scored on.

 

[RUbacker]

Agreed. That’s why I’m overall positive on this team. If pikes knows anything, it’s how to fix a defense. This team also plays a lot faster than any team we’ve had in the past. The defense naturally will look worse due to amount of possessions in the game. There’s just more opportunities to be scored on.

i think too many fans are already pissing on martini , hayes and acuff . i think in time they each find their role on this team and they all gel and play better.

 

[Shelby65]

The recruiting strategy is “best attainable”.

Dercack is buddies with Geo so that’s why he’s here

And his younger bro a star hs player.

 

[Shelby65]

This is a maybe/probably a big if (though I will point out that we shot only 27% on 3s in these two games so even if Dylan can not continue to play like this some other things will improve. And Ace only had one good game out of the two) but if we play like we did the last two games on a sustained basis we are literally the 3rd best offense in the country. For these games, at the very least, the offense is so so far from a problem.

At the same time we would be #171 on defense.

Pikiell was able to get top 50 defense out of like whatever random people were left on campus after Eddie Jordan left. I think this is a very good place to be (our weaknesses are what Pikiell excels at teaching, our strength is what he is perhaps less adept at)

What makes you think the 3pt shooting will improve ? No telling which way it will change. If it’s Derkack, or Davis taking many of them….Mendoza Line is within reach, easily.

 

[PhillyRU]

What makes you think the 3pt shooting will improve ? No telling which way it will change. If it’s Derkack, or Davis taking many of them….Mendoza Line is within reach, easily.

I mean the 3PT shooting improves if Acuff/PJ/Martini can overtake Derkack’s minutes, which I think we should root for, and if Dylan can get a little more accurate

 

[fluoxetine]

What makes you think the 3pt shooting will improve ? No telling which way it will change. If it’s Derkack, or Davis taking many of them….Mendoza Line is within reach, easily.

Partly because it has been better than that for the season as a whole.
Partly because we have some people who can hit them.
Partly because 27% is super bad and it’s pretty unlikely in general for a team to shoot that for a whole season. Even last years team managed 29%.

 

[NickRU714]

I mean the 3PT shooting improves if Acuff/PJ/Martini can overtake Derkack’s minutes, which I think we should root for, and if Dylan can get a little more accurate

But if the defense is already the problem as everyone says, doesn't that mean Acuff, PJ and Martini need to be kept off the floor?

 

[PhillyRU]

But if the defense is already the problem as everyone says, doesn't that mean Acuff, PJ and Martini need to be kept off the floor?

At the moment for sure, I’m just saying to fully optimize this team one of those three need to elevate their defense to a level that’s playable.

 

[NickRU714]

At the moment for sure, I’m just saying to fully optimize this team one of those three need to elevate their defense to a level that’s playable.

I agree.

There just seems to be alot of mixed messages being posted

"We need to improve the defense and rebounding. Martini and Hayes are unplayable on defense."

"But we also need to improve our 3pt shooting."

Having Derkack and Williams (career 25% 3pt shooters) take more 3s isn't going to help.
Need to play Hayes/Martini then.

But we can't play them because even without them our defense isn't good.

 

[Scangg]

Agreed. That’s why I’m overall positive on this team. If pikes knows anything, it’s how to fix a defense. This team also plays a lot faster than any team we’ve had in the past. The defense naturally will look worse due to amount of possessions in the game. There’s just more opportunities to be scored on.

Agreed but there are still too many possessions where we give up an embarrassing easily layup. Need to cut those out

 

[jerzeyguy]

The offense literally isn’t the issue at all

Auto correct. Meant " odd offseason." Adding guys who don't fit what you do, wasn't the best strategy. Guys like Martini and Hayes, belong in zones, and they fit better - on offenses, that are built on ball movement, and setting shooters up. Our 1 on 1 - freestyle play -- this ain't for rhythm spot up shooters