The Friggin rotations

Pancho1939_rivals

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Jun 26, 2012
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Why? We were getting our a** kicked all game. I thing was working. Thank god our best five finally woke up
 

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I’m starting to think that maybe we get Myles out of the starting 5 as he’s prone to early fouls.

Geo needs to be back out there as a starter.

Young is great off the bench as he can score 1 on 1 and on the break. Bring him in with Mulcahy when Geo needs a rest as Paul is not a scorer.

Young and Mathis not on the floor together.

McConnell belongs playing off Geo.

Just a few opinions...
 

BigRnj

All-American
Nov 20, 2012
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Easy on the OP he has a point. I mean what does Pike know? He is a career hoops guy... successful D1player and coach, he’s with the players every day, it’s his career AND HE IS GOOD AT IT! So with that said whiny old Lou clearly has better insight and knows more than Pike 0__0

Unfortunately we will see several more posts like this from our coaches in waiting. Lou being just one of them :cry:
 

richthedentist

All-American
Aug 2, 2001
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I’m starting to think that maybe we get Myles out of the starting 5 as he’s prone to early fouls.

Geo needs to be back out there as a starter.

Young is great off the bench as he can score 1 on 1 and on the break. Bring him in with Mulcahy when Geo needs a rest as Paul is not a scorer.

Young and Mathis not on the floor together.

McConnell belongs playing off Geo.

Just a few opinions...
I agree GEO HAS GOT TO START THR REST OF THE YEAR
 
Feb 5, 2003
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I’m starting to think that maybe we get Myles out of the starting 5 as he’s prone to early fouls.

Geo needs to be back out there as a starter.

Young is great off the bench as he can score 1 on 1 and on the break. Bring him in with Mulcahy when Geo needs a rest as Paul is not a scorer.

Young and Mathis not on the floor together.

McConnell belongs playing off Geo.

Just a few opinions...
Can't see us starting Geo for Myles. Gotta have a big man in there. I agree Geo showed he is ready to start again, but for who? If Mathis, then he and Young enter together. If he starts Wednesday, I think it is in Caleb's spot. Outside shot of it being Harper. It shouldn't be Yeboah.
 
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RUSCFORMERLYRULOU

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Nov 12, 2017
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I’m starting to think that maybe we get Myles out of the starting 5 as he’s prone to early fouls.

Geo needs to be back out there as a starter.

Young is great off the bench as he can score 1 on 1 and on the break. Bring him in with Mulcahy when Geo needs a rest as Paul is not a scorer.

Young and Mathis not on the floor together.

McConnell belongs playing off Geo.

Just a few opinions...
This.
 

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Nov 12, 2013
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McConnell PG
Geo SG
Mathis SF
Harper PF
Carter C

Mulcahy PG
Young SG
Yeboah SF
Johnson C
Any combo of Geo, McConnell, Harper depending upon who’s going well.

We would have anywhere from 3-4 scorers on the floor at any one time.

Ball handling with Geo, McConnell, Mulcahy.

Energy with Young and Mathis.

Size with Carter and Johnson.

Versatility with Harper and Yeboah.

Then we mix and match in the 2nd half based on who is playing well that game and which combos are working.
 
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RUJMM78

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
26,217
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Excluding Baker who was outstanding in the second half the bench players aren't generating points which makes the substitution patterns precarious.
 

MV9000

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I am fine with our starting lineup. May be time to bring Geo back into the fold and Caleb off the bench.

One thing that bugs me is pre set subs. We seem to never ride out the hot hand and kill momentum. If a guy or a group of guys are playing well. Give them an extra few minutes to build on what they started.
 

BuggsyRU

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Mar 22, 2007
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Can't see us starting Geo for Myles. Gotta have a big man in there. I agree Geo showed he is ready to start again, but for who? If Mathis, then he and Young enter together. If he starts Wednesday, I think it is in Caleb's spot. Outside shot of it being Harper. It shouldn't be Yeboah.
Caleb and Geo NEED to be on the court at the same time. You heard Bob Wenzel. He said having Caleb running point to free up Geo to create was the difference last night!!
 
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mikebal9

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Oct 15, 2005
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Caleb and Geo NEED to be on the court at the same time. You heard Bob Wenzel. He said having Caleb running point to free up Geo to create was the difference last night!!
This was my thought. But that probably means Mathis goes to the bench, which I don't like. I am definitely not taking Yeboah out of the starting lineup. I can't see us going small without Myles in the lineup. That means RHJ probably goes to the bench. I have a hard time seeing that happening, but that is probably the right move.
 
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RU_PAYBACK

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Jan 29, 2008
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As dumb as this sounds I said the same thing about bringing Myles off the bench. Kind of like how relievers are not starting games for pitchers. Get 2-4 minutes in without a Myles foul!
And why was Myles in the game less than a minute before half? Throw Doucoure out there. Very thankful for the win, but needed to get this off my chest.
 

mikeyoc

All-Conference
Apr 19, 2005
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Geo has to start at the point. As much as I like McConnell, the offense suffers when he is at the point. He needs to play the 2/3.

I totally agree with starting Carter at center until Johnson learns not to pick up early fouls. His foul trouble changed the entire game.
don't forget, Geo is playing with a left thumb that is probably not fully healed. I played a whole season in HS with the same injury and trust me, it hurts every time you receive a pass. gotta have a little faith in the staff regarding his minutes
 

richthedentist

All-American
Aug 2, 2001
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Geo has to start at the point. As much as I like McConnell, the offense suffers when he is at the point. He needs to play the 2/3.

I totally agree with starting Carter at center until Johnson learns not to pick up early fouls. His foul trouble changed the entire game.
You have to start Yeboah over Mathis unfortunately now Mathis and Mulcahy minutes get cut in favor of Geo
 

RUsojo

Heisman
Dec 17, 2010
29,437
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Rotations are really bad.

Geo/Young/Mulcahy for hugeeeee stretches like wtf?

We get off to slow starts because McConnell and Tez should never play together as the only guards on the floor.

We go to the bench too quick.

We’re not as deep as Pike would like to believe.

Just doing these simple things will get us really far and you saw it at the end of the game last night. Cost us Maryland and Illinois, id say Michigan too.

Pike has done a really good job everywhere else for the most part.
@RUSCFORMERLYRULOU @S_Janowski
 
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A lot of sideline coaches here. I think Pike has done the right thing. Baker has not been contributing until last night. He's been turnover prone and the shots weren't falling. There was no justification for starting Geo. There is now. Pike knows the pulse of this roster and he will make the right choice.

For those saying Myles shouldn't be starting. There is a huge drop off from Johnson to Carter. I don't know why any one here is trying to start out in a hole. Myles has been just about as foul prone as any other big man is.
 

SirScarlet

Heisman
Jun 27, 2001
27,312
44,417
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Rotations are really bad.

Geo/Young/Mulcahy for hugeeeee stretches like wtf?

We get off to slow starts because McConnell and Tez should never play together as the only guards on the floor.

We go to the bench too quick.

We’re not as deep as Pike would like to believe.

Just doing these simple things will get us really far and you saw it at the end of the game last night. Cost us Maryland and Illinois, id say Michigan too.

Pike has done a really good job everywhere else for the most part.
@RUSCFORMERLYRULOU @S_Janowski

Wow.

So basically you are saying we are winning despite the coach?

I mean no coach is perfect and I am all about criticism...but when you say something like they are so so awful.... I don't know man. Seems like you don't have much perspective here.

And to try and help put things in perspective ...if we do manage to make it to the NCAAs for the first time since 1991, I guess if he played his rotations the way you are proposing we would have been a lock several games ago? Or that we would have won every game so far and never have lost?

I mean, can you hear yourself here?

And again, I am all about questioning what the coaches do. But your post suggests that our coach is an absolute moron.

That's how it comes across.
 

RutgHoops

Heisman
Aug 14, 2008
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We don't "out talent" teams and we don't "out athletic" teams. We out work everyone. Everyone. And to do that Coach needs to be fluid and aggressive in his rotations. There is not much room for error.

Our rotations are based on the premise that to play the way we need to play to WIN GAMES nine (9) guys are going to have to play 15+ minutes a night. Embrace it. It is why we win. It is how we are still able, 24 games in to the season, to dominate the glass, to be aggressive on defense, etc. etc.

To play this way sometimes you are going to force minutes. But over a 30 game season and certainly thru 24 thus far, the way Coach doles minutes is one of the main factors as to why we are where we are.
 
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RU-ROCS

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Feb 5, 2003
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I'm far from an expert. The only head-scratcher for me last night was that Montez spent most of the second half on the bench. He's probably been our best player the last 5 games.
 
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RUsojo

Heisman
Dec 17, 2010
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Wow.

So basically you are saying we are winning despite the coach?

I mean no coach is perfect and I am all about criticism...but when you say something like they are so so awful.... I don't know man. Seems like you don't have much perspective here.

And to try and help put things in perspective ...if we do manage to make it to the NCAAs for the first time since 1991, I guess if he played his rotations the way you are proposing we would have been a lock several games ago? Or that we would have won every game so far and never have lost?

I mean, can you hear yourself here?

And again, I am all about questioning what the coaches do. But your post suggests that our coach is an absolute moron.

That's how it comes across.

I didn’t say anything was “so awful” in my post. I’m saying we’re not as good as we could be offensively because the rotations, especially guards, aren’t complimenting each other’s skill sets.

What’s wrong with saying that?
 

Greene Rice FIG

Heisman
Dec 30, 2005
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I am reading all of these different ideas and thoughts......quite frankly I don't like them all.

Myles Johnson --- he has fouled out of 1 game this year. We want to get off to good starts.

Montez Mathis -- you have to get a pulse on the psyche of our players. Montez has to start.

Geo Baker and Caleb -- Geo went off when he became the primary ball handler. For better or worse he is better with the ball in his hands.

When Pike sticks to his normal rotations people complain he needs to play the hot hand. When he deviates people say the opposite.

I am a huge fan of players knowing their roles. I have ZERO problems in the 1st half with a set substitution pattern where Geo Jacob Paul and Shaq know exactly when they are going in games. It is very important with this Rutgers team and the way we play minutes are maxed at certain levels.
 

Greene Rice FIG

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Dec 30, 2005
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I'm far from an expert. The only head-scratcher for me last night was that Montez spent most of the second half on the bench. He's probably been our best player the last 5 games.

Montez fan here....I think given the opponent and the energy he had he was where he should have been. The only question I had in my mind was whether I would have had him in the game late when it was a defense - offense sitaution. In the end Baker did a fine job on Buie at the end og regulation.
 

RUsojo

Heisman
Dec 17, 2010
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I am reading all of these different ideas and thoughts......quite frankly I don't like them all.

Myles Johnson --- he has fouled out of 1 game this year. We want to get off to good starts.

Montez Mathis -- you have to get a pulse on the psyche of our players. Montez has to start.

Geo Baker and Caleb -- Geo went off when he became the primary ball handler. For better or worse he is better with the ball in his hands.

When Pike sticks to his normal rotations people complain he needs to play the hot hand. When he deviates people say the opposite.

I am a huge fan of players knowing their roles. I have ZERO problems in the 1st half with a set substitution pattern where Geo Jacob Paul and Shaq know exactly when they are going in games. It is very important with this Rutgers team and the way we play minutes are maxed at certain levels.

We got wrecked when that last rotation was on LOL

Yea Geo is a ball handler. Lot of his problems over the years have been Pike thinking he needs to play off the ball. He’s said it a bunch of times and it’s blatantly clear he needs the ball. Geo/McConnell was a great fit.
 

RutgHoops

Heisman
Aug 14, 2008
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We got wrecked when that last rotation was on LOL

Yea Geo is a ball handler. Lot of his problems over the years have been Pike thinking he needs to play off the ball. He’s said it a bunch of times and it’s blatantly clear he needs the ball. Geo/McConnell was a great fit.

Pike has played Geo as our primary PG since the day Corey left. I think you are wrong here.
 

RutgHoops

Heisman
Aug 14, 2008
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Yes he has. I’m saying that after Corey left he has said many times he wanted to get Geo off the ball.

I watch all the pressers and have not heard it. Maybe I missed it.

Until Paul PG has been the one position we have struggled recruiting. Pike clearly prefers size at the PG position and that isn't easy to find. And Paul was never going to be a Day One starter. Geo was the PG last year, this year and more likely than not next year.

Even when Caleb and Geo play together, Geo is primarily on the ball. And I think he has evolved in to a pretty good "lead guard".
 

RUsojo

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Dec 17, 2010
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I watch all the pressers and have not heard it. Maybe I missed it.

It has been clear to me that PG (until Paul) has been the one position we have struggled recruiting. Pike clearly prefers size at the PG position and that isn't easy to find. And Paul was never going to be a Day One starter. Geo was the PG last year, this year and more likely than not next year.

Even when Caleb and Geo play together, Geo is primarily on the ball.

It’s a good pairing. To be frank I don’t understand why McConnell is a primary ball handler on this roster. And I don’t understand pairing him with Tez and no other guard.
 

RutgHoops

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Aug 14, 2008
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It’s a good pairing. To be frank I don’t understand why McConnell is a primary ball handler on this roster. And I don’t understand pairing him with Tez and no other guard.

Because @Greene Rice FIG is correct in his post above. Montez has to start on this team. Has to. So either Caleb or Geo starts at the "1" unless you are sitting Harper (which I wouldn't because he is too important on the glass). Until his injury it was Geo. Since the injury it has been Caleb. I think that decision is spot on.

Next year I think you see a Geo-Tez-McConnell-Harper-Myles starting unit. But I am a long way from having to think about next season.
 

RUsojo

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Dec 17, 2010
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Because @Greene Rice FIG is correct in his post above. Montez has to start on this team. Has to. So either Caleb or Geo starts at the "1" unless you are sitting Harper (which I wouldn't because he is too important on the glass). Until his injury it was Geo. Since the injury it has been Caleb. I think that decision is spot on.

Next year I think you see a Geo-Tez-McConnell-Harper-Myles starting unit. But I am a long way from having to think about next season.

Agree with the last part.

As far as Tez totally agree.

BUT, we are getting off to slow starts because Pikiell wants to play Geo 30 minutes but off the bench.... clearly he’s healthy. He should be starting. This whole discussion is on pairings and rotations; Geo has been playing...so there is no excuse IMO
 
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MLBash93

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Jan 23, 2012
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Sorry Pike doesn't agree with you. But he's 17-7 this year and well you are 0-0
 

RutgHoops

Heisman
Aug 14, 2008
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Agree with the last part.

As far as Tez totally agree.

BUT, we are getting off to slow starts because Pikiell wants to play Geo 30 minutes but off the bench.... clearly he’s healthy. He should be starting. This whole discussion is on pairings and rotations; Geo has been playing...so there is no excuse IMO

Caleb is our third leading scorer since being put back in the starting lineup once Geo was injured. He's also our 3rd leading rebounder in B1G games and 2nd in assists in B1G games.

I thought the contention was about rotations. Geo and Caleb are both going to play 26+ per game. Not sure it matters who starts. The "rotations" aren't changing if Geo starts or Caleb starts. Paul is still coming in with Young and Geo/Caleb at the 5 or 6 minute mark (or so), Carter for Myles at around 7 or 8 (barring foul trouble), Harper back in for Yeboah around 9 or 10 .... the rotation doesn't change whether Geo or Caleb start.
 

Greene Rice FIG

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Dec 30, 2005
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I think the discussion about the starting 5 is a worthy debate. I am not sure who would be removed if we insert Geo back in. Given that he is a sophomore and has verbalized "being a team player" I'd think Caleb would be the person.......assuming a change at all.
 
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RUsojo

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Dec 17, 2010
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Caleb is our third leading scorer since being put back in the starting lineup once Geo was injured. He's also our 3rd leading rebounder in B1G games and 2nd in assists in B1G games.

I thought the contention was about rotations. Geo and Caleb are both going to play 26+ per game. Not sure it matters who starts. The "rotations" aren't changing if Geo starts or Caleb starts. Paul is still coming in with Young and Geo/Caleb at the 5 or 6 minute mark (or so), Carter for Myles at around 7 or 8 (barring foul trouble), Harper back in for Yeboah around 9 or 10 .... the rotation doesn't change whether Geo or Caleb start.

Yes the exactly right. The conversation is about rotations/pairings. The staring lineup is a bad lineup combination. You can’t have McConnell and Tez paired together with no other guard.

It’s about minutes and who plays together within those minutes.

If Geo is paired with McConnnell more, or just not trotted out with Young AND Mulcahy, then that will help.

Keep in mind when Geo plays 30 minutes we are 2-2 in P5 play. When Geo is out or plays less than 30 minutes we are 7-4 in P5 play.

Im not saying just one thing. I’m not saying Geo can’t play 30 minutes (although I think there are alternatives to doing so). I’m saying for sure he can’t play 30 minutes with the lineup combinations Pike uses.