Now that the dust has settled a bit...

[Mr. Magoo1]

I'm excited about the direction of RU basketball again. No, this was not a sexy hire, but in my opinion this was also one of the most solid and least risky of our realistic options.

My friends and I have had 6 season tickets for 25+ years and we were all done if Jordan was back next year. The past 2 years we made a last second decision to renew our seats and this year was the last straw. We all swore we'd be back next year as long as Jordan was gone.

Then, the Cluess rumors started and we were out again. What a horriible hire that would have been. Thankfully, that didn't happen.

We are now in the B1G with what looks like a solid, albeit unspectacular, college coach. There was zero hope with Jordan and and an invisible AD. With PIkiell and Hobbs at least there is hope again.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

There is hope again.

 

[RMSko1]

I've been reading a lot about this guy and I'm very excited about the program. Magoo, i understand why you may say it's a solid but unspectacular hire, however, I disagree that it's an "unspectacular" hire - I think it's actually a spectacular hire. It's his current school that isn't flashy or spectacular, but if you dissect the school from what he's done, I think you can begin to see that we've got ourselves a great hire. in fact, I think his resume is waaaaaay better than Hurley's. Everything is relative and Pickiell took a horrible program that has NEVER won and turned it into a conference champion. How is that not spectacular!

 

[SirScarlet]

I've been reading a lot about this guy and I'm very excited about the program. Magoo, i understand why you may say it's a solid but unspectacular hire, however, I disagree that it's an "unspectacular" hire - I think it's actually a spectacular hire. It's his current school that isn't flashy or spectacular, but if you dissect the school from what he's done, I think you can begin to see that we've got ourselves a great hire. in fact, I think his resume is waaaaaay better than Hurley's. Everything is relative and Pickiell took a horrible program that has NEVER won and turned it into a conference champion. How is that not spectacular!

This is how I am feeling the more I read

I started out bring intrigued when I first started digging in about him, around a week ago. As the week went on and as I read more, I became more and more impressed

I like this choice

 

[Knight Shift]

Excited is a great word. There were two separate stories yesterday that mentioned two items to be excited about:

First:
http://www.app.com/story/sports/col...-steve-pikiell-must-address-rutgers/82014338/

"In 2014 Stony Brook completed a massive overhaul of its 4,000-seat arena for $21 million. That includes practice courts. The project took two years, and Pikiell was a driving force behind it."

Second:
http://nwsdy.li/1ZeC21o
"As members of the marching band, the sophomores viewed Pikiell as the man who tried to fuse the spirit squads and basketball players to create the ideal gameday environment."

“He transformed the program,” said Gallimore, a biology student from Connecticut. “He’s left a legacy for people to strive for.”

When was the last time the RAC had an "ideal gameday environment"?

 

[Dpgru]

Why is it important to so many posters that the hire be "sexy". To me this is a good solid knowledgeable coach who has built a program at SB and has also been part of an NC program at UCONN. I prefer that over "sexy". Whatever sexy means as it pertains to a basketball coach.

 

[Mr. Magoo1]

Why is it important to so many posters that the hire be "sexy". To me this is a good solid knowledgeable coach who has built a program at SB and has also been part of an NC program at UCONN. I prefer that over "sexy". Whatever sexy means as it pertains to a basketball coach.

Sexy is nothing more than who's the flavor-of-the-day hot coach at the time or someone who brings a "name". PIkiell is not that coach - and I agree that is ok.

 

[RedSpartan]

There is hope again.

 

[JMD77]

Excited is a great word. There were two separate stories yesterday that mentioned two items to be excited about:

First:
http://www.app.com/story/sports/col...-steve-pikiell-must-address-rutgers/82014338/

"In 2014 Stony Brook completed a massive overhaul of its 4,000-seat arena for $21 million. That includes practice courts. The project took two years, and Pikiell was a driving force behind it."

Second:
http://nwsdy.li/1ZeC21o
"As members of the marching band, the sophomores viewed Pikiell as the man who tried to fuse the spirit squads and basketball players to create the ideal gameday environment."

“He transformed the program,” said Gallimore, a biology student from Connecticut. “He’s left a legacy for people to strive for.”

When was the last time the RAC had an "ideal gameday environment"?

There are several reasons why I really like this hire:
1) Worked as an assistant at a high profile program - when that program was being built.
2) Has had a consistent record of success, although at a lower level than I would have liked, at a program under his leadership.
3) Perhaps most importantly - he is familiar with what it takes to build a program from scratch. He apparently was instrumental in facilities being built, fund-raising, getting students involved in the program, establishing excitement around the program, in addition to the normal coach stuff i.e. recruiting and coaching.

Name me one coach on our radar who had experience with all of those elements.

This could very well be a home-run hire because of that experience.

Keep in mind he has been very successful at recruiting in this area - albeit at the Stony Brook level - he already has the connections - he just has to get a few upper tier players here.

 

[RUFAN4LIFE!]

Excited is a great word. There were two separate stories yesterday that mentioned two items to be excited about:

First:
http://www.app.com/story/sports/col...-steve-pikiell-must-address-rutgers/82014338/

"In 2014 Stony Brook completed a massive overhaul of its 4,000-seat arena for $21 million. That includes practice courts. The project took two years, and Pikiell was a driving force behind it."

Second:
http://nwsdy.li/1ZeC21o
"As members of the marching band, the sophomores viewed Pikiell as the man who tried to fuse the spirit squads and basketball players to create the ideal gameday environment."

“He transformed the program,” said Gallimore, a biology student from Connecticut. “He’s left a legacy for people to strive for.”

When was the last time the RAC had an "ideal gameday environment"?

This actually sounds a lot like Schiano. And while I thought very little of Schiano as an actual gameday coach, he was excellent at these other areas. I still don't like the Pikiell hire, but I'm willing to see what he's got to offer.

 

[LC-88]

My 2 pesos.

1> Team will now play defense.
2> Team will now play defense.
3> Team will now play defense.
4> S.B. had highest APR and GPA in Am. East Conf. - this matters IMHO. He will make sure his players graduate with an education.
5> Looks to be "incident free". No running into the stands, mouthing off, punching white boards, blow + toots, etc.
6> Jury still out: offense (looked disorganized against Kentucky), and recruiting at this level.
7> Negatives: none really.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (best), considering circumstances and budget, I'd give it a 7.5. Hope it turns out to be an 11.

Best of luck to our new coach and staff (assuming BOG approves Monday).

 

[ru_kidding_me2]

Why is it important to so many posters that the hire be "sexy". To me this is a good solid knowledgeable coach who has built a program at SB and has also been part of an NC program at UCONN. I prefer that over "sexy". Whatever sexy means as it pertains to a basketball coach.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but sexy went out the window the second Scarlett Johansson withdrew her name from consideration.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

S.B. had highest APR and GPA in Am. East Conf. - this matters IMHO. He will make sure his players graduate with an education.
t

This will be very interesting.

How important does this become to him. As the CEO does he soften here or stay firm.

Short, medium, and long term this bears watching. It could shape the '16-'17 roster.

 

[APKnight]

As someone who was less than thrilled with the Jordan hire, I am very thrilled with this hire. Like Ash, he is a lifelong hard worker who received nothing on a silver platter. He is very well spoken and seems to be very grounded and even tempered. I am very happy we didn't hire a whiney ill tempered primma donna like you know who. I am very optimistic Coach Pikiell can awaken the sleeping giant. And when he does, watch out.

 

[vascosg]

There are several reasons why I really like this hire:
1) Worked as an assistant at a high profile program - when that program was being built.
2) Has had a consistent record of success, although at a lower level than I would have liked, at a program under his leadership.
3) Perhaps most importantly - he is familiar with what it takes to build a program from scratch. He apparently was instrumental in facilities being built, fund-raising, getting students involved in the program, establishing excitement around the program, in addition to the normal coach stuff i.e. recruiting and coaching.

Name me one coach on our radar who had experience with all of those elements.

This could very well be a home-run hire because of that experience.

Keep in mind he has been very successful at recruiting in this area - albeit at the Stony Brook level - he already has the connections - he just has to get a few upper tier players here.

And he has one of the greatest coaches of all time who still knows the basketball scene in this area actively mentoring him ....

 

[RUJMM78]

I've been reading a lot about this guy and I'm very excited about the program. Magoo, i understand why you may say it's a solid but unspectacular hire, however, I disagree that it's an "unspectacular" hire - I think it's actually a spectacular hire. It's his current school that isn't flashy or spectacular, but if you dissect the school from what he's done, I think you can begin to see that we've got ourselves a great hire. in fact, I think his resume is waaaaaay better than Hurley's. Everything is relative and Pickiell took a horrible program that has NEVER won and turned it into a conference champion. How is that not spectacular!

The level of competition matters.Previous head coaches at Rutgers were unsuccessful in the Big East,AAC and now the B1G.The missing piece always has been recruiting.The new head coach faces the same dilemma because the level of competition he will face is far tougher than at Stony Brook.

 

[RMSko1]

The level of competition matters.Previous head coaches at Rutgers were unsuccessful in the Big East,AAC and now the B1G.The missing piece always has been recruiting.The new head coach faces the same dilemma because the level of competition he will face is far tougher than at Stony Brook.

But everything is relative. SB was horrible before he got there even with that level of competition. Yet, he was able to recruit and coach and got his team a league championship. Nobody is saying that the SB team would compete in the B1G, however, he was extremely successful relative to his competitors and that's a great sign. He was also able to recruit players that SB historically had no shot at so I'm bullish that he'll be able to do it again.

 

[RUinFla]

Nice to see the general optimism about hiring Pikiell, compared to all the whining on the RT, dominated as it is by football people who only mention basketball to carp. My normal wish for an RU hoops hire is a guy who is young, is either a credible assistant at a successful high-level program or a successful coach at a smaller program. Meant I was unhappy with the hiring of FHJ, lukewarm about the hiring of my favorite RU player ever in EJ, pleased with the Rice hiring and shocked by his downfall--and thus nervous about Danny--would have bellowed out Loyal Sons in front of our condo had it been Bobby. Very optimistic that Pikiell can win here, and not just use it as a springboard to a "name" job. Not even Conn U.
TL

 

[NBKnight]

My 2 pesos.

1> Team will now play defense.
2> Team will now play defense.
3> Team will now play defense.
4> S.B. had highest APR and GPA in Am. East Conf. - this matters IMHO. He will make sure his players graduate with an education.
5> Looks to be "incident free". No running into the stands, mouthing off, punching white boards, blow + toots, etc.
6> Jury still out: offense (looked disorganized against Kentucky), and recruiting at this level.
7> Negatives: none really.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (best), considering circumstances and budget, I'd give it a 7.5. Hope it turns out to be an 11.

Best of luck to our new coach and staff (assuming BOG approves Monday).

I would not read too much into the Kentucky game as a judgment of his offense. One game against a superior opponent.

 

[ruready4somefootball_rivals]

And he has one of the greatest coaches of all time who still knows the basketball scene in this area actively mentoring him ....

Yup having Calhoun in his corner, can't hurt. The fact he leans on Calhoun for advice is a great thing.

 

[ru66]

yeah--boyle was a sexy name who was disliked by many in NJ , cheated and ran out of town and his school to another state--very sexy

 

[LC-88]

I would not read too much into the Kentucky game as a judgment of his offense. One game against a superior opponent.

agree, but they looked very unorganized. chucking up running prayers too much. I also saw Indiana play Kentucky yesterday. Indiana handle the pressure better (and yes they see that pressure way more often than SB). was meant as an observation, not a criticism. thankfully we will start playing defense

 

[megadrone]

I'm excited about the hire -- Pikiell was my second choice after Sendek (who either wasn't coming himself or wasn't one of Hobbs' choices). However, I was also VERY excited when Bannon was hired, after seeing what he did at Rider, and thought he would make us exciting again with the malaise of the end of the Wenzel era having set in.

He did make us exciting but for the wrong reason; once bitten, in my case, twice shy. Still, looking forward to the future, even if next season is a little rough.

 

[G- RUnit]

As someone who was less than thrilled with the Jordan hire, I am very thrilled with this hire. Like Ash, he is a lifelong hard worker who received nothing on a silver platter. He is very well spoken and seems to be very grounded and even tempered. I am very happy we didn't hire a whiney ill tempered primma donna like you know who. I am very optimistic Coach Pikiell can awaken the sleeping giant. And when he does, watch out.

Many ways better than Ash as he has actual head coaching experience.

 

[rubaseball78_rivals]

If Hurley's last name was Malloy, who would be your choice, Pikiell or Malloy.

 

[ecojew]

Excited is a great word. There were two separate stories yesterday that mentioned two items to be excited about:

First:
http://www.app.com/story/sports/col...-steve-pikiell-must-address-rutgers/82014338/

"In 2014 Stony Brook completed a massive overhaul of its 4,000-seat arena for $21 million. That includes practice courts. The project took two years, and Pikiell was a driving force behind it."

Second:
http://nwsdy.li/1ZeC21o
"As members of the marching band, the sophomores viewed Pikiell as the man who tried to fuse the spirit squads and basketball players to create the ideal gameday environment."

“He transformed the program,” said Gallimore, a biology student from Connecticut. “He’s left a legacy for people to strive for.”

When was the last time the RAC had an "ideal gameday environment"?

I was checking Stony Brook's attendance figures to try to gauge the level of excitement his team generated at a school with no real athletic tradition (aside from lacrosse, perhaps) in an area that is essentially a media vacuum for college sports whose people spend much of their lives commuting, tend not to bond with institutions, and have little energy left at the end of the day to return to the roadways of LI just to see a college basketball game. I noted that most of the games later in the season were sold out and my hunch is that a lot of those attending the games were students. It is really difficult to generate much excitement out there. I worked at Hofstra for 24 years and saw how tough it was for winning Hofstra football teams to draw more than 5000 to a game.

So if Pikiell was able to draw bigger crowds to SUNY-SB's games, that is a real feather in his cap as that is far from easy to do out there. I'm hoping that he will be able to get the students back on board with the program because only they can turn the RAC back into the feared home court that it once was. I'm also hoping the same about Ash, as our student attendance average at football games actually declined in the two years of B1G membership.

 

[RU-ROCS]

Excited is a great word. There were two separate stories yesterday that mentioned two items to be excited about:

When was the last time the RAC had an "ideal gameday environment"?

It was 10 years ago with Gary Waters at the helm and Quincy Douby draining 3s from NBA range.

 

[shields]

Can't base the Kentucky game. They were bigger and more athletic.

 

[vascosg]

I was checking Stony Brook's attendance figures to try to gauge the level of excitement his team generated at a school with no real athletic tradition (aside from lacrosse, perhaps) in an area that is essentially a media vacuum for college sports whose people spend much of their lives commuting, tend not to bond with institutions, and have little energy left at the end of the day to return to the roadways of LI just to see a college basketball game. I noted that most of the games later in the season were sold out and my hunch is that a lot of those attending the games were students. It is really difficult to generate much excitement out there. I worked at Hofstra for 24 years and saw how tough it was for winning Hofstra football teams to draw more than 5000 to a game.

So if Pikiell was able to draw bigger crowds to SUNY-SB's games, that is a real feather in his cap as that is far from easy to do out there. I'm hoping that he will be able to get the students back on board with the program because only they can turn the RAC back into the feared home court that it once was. I'm also hoping the same about Ash, as our student attendance average at football games actually declined in the two years of B1G membership.

Excellent observations thanks and I will add another point, Coach Ash and his young staff will support the basketball program without a doubt, through Twitter and by going to games. I also expect to continue seeing the bball recruits at games, something he didn't have at SB. The more we learn, the more excited I get that we have the right smart people in charge. It may take some time to right the ship, and we will likely stumble at times, but I can't wait till Tuesday to get this going. All In.

 

[Scangg]

It was 10 years ago with Gary Waters at the helm and Quincy Douby draining 3s from NBA range.

Doubyyyy for threeeeeee!!! It was rocking then and the Ricky shields Herve era too