I commented on the same a few years back. Every other year would work in Atlantic City, make it so RU and SHU would only play each other in final. Each team plays at least 2 games with finalist playing 3. Really need to market it well, with rolling in some key high school games in the morning, and having some of the great NJ players from all schools there, with a big push for any NJ celebrities to be associated with it. Maybe a big charity org in the mix (jimmy v?).
Why Caldwell?
- Thread starter MCKnight
- Start date
There used to be a good Italian joint near Caldwell College, on Bloomfield Ave
It may still be there
As we are 6 hours from game time I am now starting to second guess the thought there is nothing wrong scheduling 1 real cupcake. This feels like a B1G Rutgers football game (post and pre Schiano) in reverse
Pike joked Saturday at the APC following the Court Club's open practice at the RAC that Rutgers hasn't had a winning season since the Lincoln administration. Someone asked why we scheduled Caldwell. Pike's answer was a simple one, "Wins. We need wins."
It's obvious to anyone paying attention that the biggest stride RU can make to improve recruiting is finish above .500 this year. It's been 14 seasons since RU had a winning record, ending the 2005-2006 campaign with a 19-14 record and earning an NIT berth. Sure, Rutgers has to recruit against programs with bagmen, but it has to deal with MANY MORE programs who negatively recruit against Rutgers. If you don't think coaches from other programs don't tell recruits that Rutgers hasn't had a winning season since before they were in kindergarten, well, I don't know what to tell you.
It's obvious to anyone paying attention that the biggest stride RU can make to improve recruiting is finish above .500 this year. It's been 14 seasons since RU had a winning record, ending the 2005-2006 campaign with a 19-14 record and earning an NIT berth. Sure, Rutgers has to recruit against programs with bagmen, but it has to deal with MANY MORE programs who negatively recruit against Rutgers. If you don't think coaches from other programs don't tell recruits that Rutgers hasn't had a winning season since before they were in kindergarten, well, I don't know what to tell you.
D2 games specifically I think are kinda pointless but I think the relatively soft OOC scheduling in general is actually smart.
The first thing people see is the overall record and you can have the same team and get a difference of 2-3 wins just because of that scheduling..
14-17 to 16-15
16-15 to 18-13
Those will have differences in perception regardless of schedule.
And if the NCAA committee is doing their jobs properly it won't even matter for tournament berths; sure we might have to go 20-13 to get in with this schedule while 18-15 might have done it with a very difficult OOC, but the thing is it's just as hard to go 18-15 with the difficult schedule as it is to go 20-13 with the easier one.
The first thing people see is the overall record and you can have the same team and get a difference of 2-3 wins just because of that scheduling..
14-17 to 16-15
16-15 to 18-13
Those will have differences in perception regardless of schedule.
And if the NCAA committee is doing their jobs properly it won't even matter for tournament berths; sure we might have to go 20-13 to get in with this schedule while 18-15 might have done it with a very difficult OOC, but the thing is it's just as hard to go 18-15 with the difficult schedule as it is to go 20-13 with the easier one.
The scheduling that got us the 11-1 start in 2017 was a thing of genius and I challenge anyone to tell me differently.
The OT loss vs. Wisconsin at MSG and the loss at Northwestern still stick in my craw from that season.
Be forewarned... if you plan on going tonight get there very early, especially if you need gas. The gas lines will be like the early 70’s with stations closing early. All the attendants will be at the game being showered with affection while you’re in line waiting for a back up attendant to pump your gas!
IIRC the back story on the VA- Chaminade game was the Chaminade center (giving up 6+ inches in height to Sampson) was a local HS rival of Sampson. Apparently that familiarity and past experience helped keep him and therefore VA in check.
PS - I wouldn’t mind losing to Caldwell under the same circumstances... VA was #1 at the time!
This is why we need self serve pumps. We won't have to worry about the long lines into parking and those concession lines if these attendants don't eat before.....sheesh.