I don't think RU played a bad game, they needed to make chippies, which means very little to me in the grand scheme. They showed they could play up tempo at times and need to make better decisions in transition....but that is to be expected.
It's the segment of the fanbase talking about doghouse and not understanding the game or opponent. There's nothing worse than being limited to playing one style of basketball (2022-2023) and hoping your opponent misses shots in order to have a chance win games. Somehow that gets credited to RU playing good defense....but as last year moved into February, teams figured out what RU couldn't do on offense and if you can't create offense in transition, you have no chance to win consistently.
I will provide a friendly reminder that RU imploded with no chance to win a slower paced game at PSU, until Simpson came into the game and generated offense off the dribble......BUT to erase a 20+ point deficit at PSU, required PSU to shoot something like 1 for 17 down the stretch in the 2nd half. That game was ugly and painful to watch for extended stretches, as was Michigan and NW at home. That boring, limited brand of basketball, can't be repeated or the standard because people believe it means RU somehow plays better defense by slowing the tempo.
