I not trying to change your mind. You aren't part of the decision process. I’m just sharing what is actually happening. The scholarship ends up being used for a walk on who puts in a ton of work.
Pike - scholarship usage
- Thread starter Scangg
- Start date
With the 10 scholarships, & Caleb, best guess to how the roster would shake out.
Starter Paul Backup Miller
Starter Spencer Backup Simpson
Starter Caleb Backup Oskar/Mag
Starter/BU Hyatt/Reiber/Mag/Oskar
Starter Cliff BU Reiber, Woolfork
We are kind of looking for one guy to cover 2/3, for minutes this year or to replace Caleb next year. We do have options to run the point for a few minutes beyond Paul or Jalen, the 5 is covered until 2023 with Woolfork as a 3rd (hopefully Gus Yalden in '23), maybe rollover the 13th to 2023 for need or early enroll.
2 or 3 in 2023 (Caleb, Cliff, open?)
3 or 4 in 2024 (Paul, Spencer, Hyatt, open?)
Starter Paul Backup Miller
Starter Spencer Backup Simpson
Starter Caleb Backup Oskar/Mag
Starter/BU Hyatt/Reiber/Mag/Oskar
Starter Cliff BU Reiber, Woolfork
We are kind of looking for one guy to cover 2/3, for minutes this year or to replace Caleb next year. We do have options to run the point for a few minutes beyond Paul or Jalen, the 5 is covered until 2023 with Woolfork as a 3rd (hopefully Gus Yalden in '23), maybe rollover the 13th to 2023 for need or early enroll.
2 or 3 in 2023 (Caleb, Cliff, open?)
3 or 4 in 2024 (Paul, Spencer, Hyatt, open?)
Last edited:
Other ways to reward that kid a scholarship, and I love seeing it done! Sorry, just makes zero sense to me.
Last edited:
One of the reasons Pikiell keeps a spot open is to have a spot if a guy wants to reclassify and enroll early. Just like Palmquist and Jaden Jones. Both came in for the Spring Semester. They were existing commits but it could work for a new recruit.
So yes, it makes perfect sense to have that option in the event an opportunity presents itself.
Antonio Chol fits this type of mold. I think he reclassified back a year and looks ready now.... could see him as a player who reclasses back and enrolls early as an example
Lack of a bench is why we were playing in a play in game and not wearing a home uniform on Thursday or Friday.
Hardly anyone redshirts in college unless they get hurt or have a conditioning problem. Totally different from football, this Past year was an exception because of the free Covid year, but hardly anyone plays 5 years of college basketball.
Agree but Woolfolk could have been an example if a rare case since bigs can redshirt more often and he was a 2 sport athlete. He's got the body to bang inside already though.
Gotta think at this point Pike thinks he can play or else we would be more active pursuing a 5 in the portal.
Woolfolk seems to be a good passer and finisher around the rim. He might surprise some people. I just hope he's as tall as he is listed. Would also be curious to his wingspan
In some situations, I get it. The law of diminishing returns say that if you have veteran starters and a roster full of up and coming bench prospects, adding another guy to compete for PT could upset team chemistry. Makes sense.
But last year we had an extra schollie because of Geo. Nathan was also a veteran senior walk on big who (while he wasn’t going to play much) still filled a key role on the scout units. Plus we added Agee.
As a frosh, the realistic expectation for Woolfolk has to be only the Nathan replacement role as we’re planning to redshirt him. That means if we give our walk ons the final 2 schollies we are deliberately passing on trying to get a replacement for Agee (who could actually see some utility time). We also don’t have a bruiser like Ron who can shift to the 5 a few minutes per game. I’m not saying we absolutely need to fill this spot - what I’m saying is the “keep everyone happy” argument does not apply if your up front about the need and recruit someone accordingly. Terry could still get a schollie unless we also succeed in landing another impact player (which is doubtful given the current roster). I just don’t see the logic in another feel good act of handing another existing walk on a schollie too (2 walk on schollies with the total schollie count going down one) over adding a big grad transfer who in the very least will fit the prototype to help during practice.
Giving scholarships to walk ons only makes sense if bench players 6-9 are productive .There were instances this season when Baker and Harper were both on the bench at the same time and the offense clearly lacked scoring threats.
It is easy to understand, it hard to keep everyone happy when there are not enough minutes to go around. It makes even more sense for the women since they can have 15 scholarship players. You just disagree with the practice.
Fans somehow continue to not understand that a team improves or declines, not because of what players depart or arrive, it improves or declines because of basic basketball items.....it is why all of the Top portal targets are from small to mid majors....you improve because you
A) increase your amount of possessions per game (fewer turnovers, more offensive rebounds, more assists)
B) Fewer "wasted possessions "....these are possessions where you didn't turn the ball over, but you didn't get a quality shot.
C) improve your 3 point shooting and FT shooting.
D) improve your overall team chemistry/defense and rebounding, to eliminate 2nd shots.
E) improve your roster by having "unique " players.....players that aren't All-Americans or necessarily All B1G 1st team players, but are unique enough that they are items you cannot mimic in practice.....(I consider Kofi Cockburn, Zach Edey, Cliff Omoyuri, Jaden Ivey, Johnny Davis, Caleb McConnell, Paul Mulcahy and prior to that, Myles Johnson as unique players that excel in one area).
Spencer improves RU in 4 different categories (guard rebounding, 3 PT spacing, shooting, FT shooting, ability or willingness to share the ball.
RU is going to get the same amount of possessions each game, as long as they continue to take care of the ball, make the extra pass and knock down the same amount or more 3s.
Spencer is going to shoot more threes than anyone on the roster, so his shooting will open up others, even if his 3 point shooting percentage doesn't match exactly what it did at Loyola MD.
RU needs to improve in one specific area....post up offense from the 3, 4 and back up 5.
Any and all offense should have an option in the low post, mid post or high-post (pick and pop Reiber as an example of high post offense).
If we find any credible low post offensive player off the bench, it increases the amount of quality possessions and increases all of the productivity across the board.
It is actually much easier to replace RHJ perimeter shooting than it is RHJ mid post or attacking the basket RHJ.
You can get the same post productivity from a solid 4/5 via the portal to mimic what RHJ gave us. Then ask Spencer to provide the same RHJ outside threat.
The problems with RU last year was it was solely reliant on RHJ to be both a force in the paint on drives AND be a 40% 3 point shooter.
If you can convince RHJ to return and allow him to mix and match having to do both, with Spencer here providing spacing, RU has Elite 8, Final Four potential. RHJ would be more efficient (Keegan Murray like) and Spencer would be the 4th scoring option behind RHJ. Cliff and Mulcahy, passing and scoring/creating.
Get the back up 4/5 who can actually post or mid range post up, and RU goes way up in efficiency and becomes very difficult to handle.
A) increase your amount of possessions per game (fewer turnovers, more offensive rebounds, more assists)
B) Fewer "wasted possessions "....these are possessions where you didn't turn the ball over, but you didn't get a quality shot.
C) improve your 3 point shooting and FT shooting.
D) improve your overall team chemistry/defense and rebounding, to eliminate 2nd shots.
E) improve your roster by having "unique " players.....players that aren't All-Americans or necessarily All B1G 1st team players, but are unique enough that they are items you cannot mimic in practice.....(I consider Kofi Cockburn, Zach Edey, Cliff Omoyuri, Jaden Ivey, Johnny Davis, Caleb McConnell, Paul Mulcahy and prior to that, Myles Johnson as unique players that excel in one area).
Spencer improves RU in 4 different categories (guard rebounding, 3 PT spacing, shooting, FT shooting, ability or willingness to share the ball.
RU is going to get the same amount of possessions each game, as long as they continue to take care of the ball, make the extra pass and knock down the same amount or more 3s.
Spencer is going to shoot more threes than anyone on the roster, so his shooting will open up others, even if his 3 point shooting percentage doesn't match exactly what it did at Loyola MD.
RU needs to improve in one specific area....post up offense from the 3, 4 and back up 5.
Any and all offense should have an option in the low post, mid post or high-post (pick and pop Reiber as an example of high post offense).
If we find any credible low post offensive player off the bench, it increases the amount of quality possessions and increases all of the productivity across the board.
It is actually much easier to replace RHJ perimeter shooting than it is RHJ mid post or attacking the basket RHJ.
You can get the same post productivity from a solid 4/5 via the portal to mimic what RHJ gave us. Then ask Spencer to provide the same RHJ outside threat.
The problems with RU last year was it was solely reliant on RHJ to be both a force in the paint on drives AND be a 40% 3 point shooter.
If you can convince RHJ to return and allow him to mix and match having to do both, with Spencer here providing spacing, RU has Elite 8, Final Four potential. RHJ would be more efficient (Keegan Murray like) and Spencer would be the 4th scoring option behind RHJ. Cliff and Mulcahy, passing and scoring/creating.
Get the back up 4/5 who can actually post or mid range post up, and RU goes way up in efficiency and becomes very difficult to handle.
Yes! This guy just figured out recruiting!
The best player available definitely will want to be the 9th man off the bench!
I think he was trying to say - bring in the best available grad transfer who is content with that role or wants to challenge themself. I’m okay with giving Terry another schollie in a feel good move if nothing good falls into our lap. Whether we land another impact player or not, we should not IMO, under any circumstances give 2 schollies to existing walk ons unless Caleb comes back and doesn’t end up counting against the total.Yes! This guy just figured out recruiting!
The best player available definitely will want to be the 9th man off the bench!
You are missing the point. It is not to be able to give a walkon a scholarship. Steve, and other coaches, believe it is better for team chemistry to limit the number of recruited scholarship players. Being able to reward a walkon is just a side effect.
One Cliff injury away from Woolfolk playing a lotttt of minutes next year is a roll of the dice
100% - but it’s also a matter of having utility BIG depth on the practice squad. It’s one thing to hand walk ons schollies when there is negative benefit to awarding them elsewhere. But there’s simply no way there isn’t a 6-9+ utility super senior out there who would prefer a grad degree from RU than where he did his undergrad. I’m not talking about someone great - there have to be other bigs out there like Agee that would want to come to RU for the graduate degree. There’s zero reason not to take the best available kid like this with one of the remaining schollies in favor of giving one to an existing walk on who will be there anyway.
I don’t think he will have a big impact this year, but definitely seen him being sent in to bang under the boards for a few minutes every game. Also provides another 5 fouls for the center spot.
Yes! This guy just figured out recruiting!
The best player available definitely will want to be the 9th man off the bench!
BPA who wants to commit....happy?
That's a good point. A depth 5 who isn't going pro may consider a year at RU to get a quality grad degree knowing they won't play a lot but also get to be part of a B1G team and maybe an NCAA appearance
Good insightful analysis. ”Elite 8, Final Four potential” Hope RHJ sees this.
Does Chol have a good post up game?Check
I've really only seen his 3 point shooting and dunking / attacking the rim downhill facing the basket
Don't think I've seen any clips of a post up game. I think Woolfolk offers more in that area than Chol
Agree, you don’t see post up moves in his game films. What we do get is a backup 4/5 that can score, rebound and defend, which I equate to the value of getting a post up 4/5 as a backup.
I admittedly took a little poetic license with Hawk’s post.
It doesn’t even matter. Pike did exactly what he needed to do here. Well done all around. He didn’t waste the schollie. He filled it with a legit incoming frosh recruit in a position of need. This is a 3 star (at least on one outlet) kid with offers who would’ve had more offers in 23. sounds like he plays defense. I’ll take it.
Not all 3 stars pan out but there’s as much of a chance as guys like Caleb, Myles, Eugene, etc.
Not all 3 stars pan out but there’s as much of a chance as guys like Caleb, Myles, Eugene, etc.
Last edited:
To me, the addition of Chol means we have more flexibility and more competition for backup minutes in the frontcourt. There are no default minutes at 3rd center in foul trouble or injury situations - we'll get the better of Woolfolk/Chol, and they'll be pressing each other for that "next in line" spot. That's a good thing - even if it means Chol doesn't see as many minutes but he's pushed Woolfolk to be better.
I would assume not.
Clif is playing minimum 30/gamd.
Backup 5: 10min for Reiber, Woolfolk Chol?
PF 40min: Hyatt, Reiber, Mag? Oskar?, Chol?
We aren't going to be playing a 12 man rotation.
We won’t play 12 but now there’s more competition in terms of who gets the last few spots in the rotation.
Also - let’s not rule out mixing in more of a pressing style in which case more guys would be used. It’s not out of the question. Pike liked using the press last year for short stretches with Ron and Geo sitting.
When Rutgers was a dumpsterfire. Entirely different situation now. Simpson would have started day 1 back then too.
No doubt, but that is the point. If a freshman can fill a need, he is going to play.
Isn’t it great how Pike’s recruiting game plan came together and we now have the deeepest team in the last 20 years.