In our seven b1g games we have failed to score first. In the three wins we also failed to score first in the second half. In 3/4 losses we did score first in the second half.

For some reason we like spotting teams points and adjusting.

Another week down, and Andy Katzs is back with his March Madness Weekly Word of power rankings, honors and musings from the past week and the week ahead in men’s college basketball.

It's top 3 for sure. Win out and number one. Here is how I rank them:

1. 24 squad IF we win out or go 8-5, beat Illinois, and lose in a very respectable performance to a SEC bowl team.
3. 14 squad - this squad was good. 8-5. Beat Michigan. Nova, Carew, Turay -- a fun team (and they had injuries too... if Paul James is healthy they could have been better).
3. 24 squad if we go 8-5 but are middling in winning the last three. Very good season, but could have been better.
5. 23 squad - 7-6, beating Miami, very respectable.
6. 24 squad if we go 7-6 or worse.

Schiano has taken Rutgers from the dregs to being a good team. Go 9-4 and it's a very good team.

For some perspective on how injuries or lack thereof help or hurt teams look back to 2006 and name one player outside of Sean Tucker who missed even a game that year. I can't think of one other starter who missed time. I can't think of one bench player who missed time either. 11-2 and ranked as high as #7 finishing at #12.

I think trainers do know more today and hold players out. There are also better and more frequent surgeries. But even still just 1 player missing any time is pretty amazing.

We know about Chin and Felter is back (assuming he’d be 100% by camp) and we get Asamoah (sp) back and Zalinkus and Needham (also assuming he’s healthy). We’ve seen Taj White and assume he’d slide over into Pierce’s LT spot. My question to you both is what of the younger guys we haven’t seen, who shows real promise and progress? We have some big boys we’ve recruited that needed development so I’m curious about the next generation. Thanks.

Here are the Big Ten bowl tie-ins:

- Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs SEC - Dec 31
- ReliaQuest Bowl vs SEC - Dec 31
- Duke's Mayo Bowl vs ACC - Jan 3 (this one alternates with Las Vegas, and the B1G sent NW to LV last year) - but see note below about the west coast teams
- Music City Bowl vs SEC - Dec 30
- Pinstripe Bowl vs ACC - Dec 28
- Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs Big 12 - Dec 26
- Quick Lane Bowl vs MAC - Dec 26

One other twist: the former Pac-12 teams - Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington - will remain eligible for the former Pac-12 bowl ties and affiliations. That means if any of those four aren't in the College Football Playoff, they'll be eligible for the Alamo, Independence, Holiday, LA, Las Vegas, and Sun bowls.

So root for FOUR Big Ten teams to make the CFP, as that leaves more bowls available for the rest of us.

The clear preferences for Rutgers are the two Florida bowls, Music City, and Mayo. This way we avoid December 26 in the other three bowls, which would reduce attendance being the day after Christmas.

If we win our last two games, we will be 8-4 (5-4), which should increase our chances at the better bowls.

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I'm attending the game this Saturday for the first time since I was a student. I'm going with my younger brother and it'll be his first game. I want him to be able to see the pre-game things like scarlet walk and senior day festivities. What time should we get to the stadium?

I'll be parking on Livingston campus. Do they still have a shuttle from the RAC to the stadium?

Thanks in advance!

Derkack was awesome yesterday. His help defensive and ability to push the fast break is going to create a lot of points for teammates. He also didn’t take any bad shots. Derkack has clearly bought in and is make the extra pass. It’s fun to watch.

MSU?
MINNY?

Looks like it from they’re recent broadcast commentary

1. Offense looked great. 98 points is the most we’ve ever scored under Pike. Finally got the 3-point game going, but also a lot of good passing, not much one-on-one hero ball at all. 21 assists on 31 made FGs.

2. But the defense was… bad. We gave up 51 points in the 2nd half (matching our 51 point output). Granted, Bashir was just unconscious beyond belief, but we were also playing lazy defense and leaving him open. Pike has a big job ahead of him getting these guys to play tougher D.

3. Pike should be offering Bashir a scholarship and NIL deal before he gets on the bus back to West Long Branch. Holy crap can that kid ball and shoot.

4. Color me worried about Ace Bailey’s health. Left the game late and walked into the locker room with the trainer. Played a solid game with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block.

5. Jordan Derkack is such a good all-around player, a consummate glue-guy who’s a good defender, good rebounder, and great passer. 6 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and a whopping 9 assists. And that 50 foot down court bounce pass to JMike on the fast break — Wow.

6. We finally got the 3-point shooting untracked, going 11-20 from deep. ZBo 4-7, Hayes 3-4, Harper 2-3. Biggest one was Harper’s corner three to push the lead back up to 15 after Monmouth cut into the lead and was giving our fans agita.

7. Harper had a “quiet” 20. But every point critical, and he added 6 assists. Scored 20+ in his first three games as a true freshman.

8. Martini finally broke out on offense with 18 points on 7-10 shooting. And Hayes with 11. They combined for 7 made threes. This is why we got them.

9. Sommerville with 10 points, his third straight double-digit game as a true freshman. Also showed some toughness with 7 rebounds, and demonstrated some good weak side rim protection with 2 blocks. Ogbole played 6 awful minutes.

Gotta get Ace healthy so he can play in Kennesaw next week and in Vegas.

Actually a small concern. Since this is the first time in awhile that we have so many players who are draft eligible, i assume we will have some opt outs?

Again, these are all decisions kids need to make with their families and i don’t judge anyone. It just seems like if we do have a bunch of opt outs, we will really struggle.

Maryland gained 183 of their 457 total yards in the last 9:50, over 3 drives and with no TO's, BUT not scoring a single point. That might be the ultimate definition of a "bend but don't break D" right there (we had held them to about 290 yards total O through the first 50+ minutes). Crazy!!!

It's been 10 days since we kicked off against Minnesota and a bunch of things have changed.

A) We removed Moses Walker from the linebacker rotation (for the most part) and a lot of the defensive breakdowns have been minimized.

B) We elevated KJ Duff and Ian Strong to true starters on the outside and and focusing on placing Miller in the slot, within the offensive gameplans.

C) The offense has actually gotten better by asking more of the WRs and AK at QB.....this is after injured players Monangai didn't play vs Minnesota, Kenny Fletcher was lost for the season and we limited snaps for now, with Benjamin Black, Chris Long and even Christian Dremel.

D) Big passing plays have taken the heat off the offensive line.....we lost Felter for the season....Needham is also out for the season.....the aggressive playcalling and WR play of Duff and Strong have reduced the need on Monangai to carry the offense, but now a big passing play OR a defensive back committing a holding penalty against Duff and Strong is almost expected once a half.

E) The general public has noticed.....RU opening as a 1.5 point underdog vs #24 Illinois AND in less than 24 hours, the line has flipped to RU as a 2 PT favorite.

The last 2 games have been the best 2 games in the Schiano 2.0 era.....not the best performances by the defense or offense....but for the 1st time in almost 5 years......we are OUT of excuses....

A) Every team has injured players out for the season....Some of the backups have not only performed but stepped up and improved the roster.

B) The coaching staff has stepped up....they have called more blitzing on defense and replaced players who were not performing up to standard or when mistakes are made, another player goes into the game and is expected to play well.

C) The loss of Monangai vs Minnesota forced the staff to look elsewhere for plays to be made. I would never advocate for it having to happen this way, but I don't feel like Benjamin or Raymond can't step in and make plays, if Kyle doesn't get 25 carries.

So, now what?? For me, anything can happen in a game on any given Saturday, but I expect to make plays now on offense vs Illinois and Michigan State. I actually feel like even a mistake or 2 on a drive, isn't the end of the world, we can make up for it with our impact WR play.

8-4 is not only in play, but unless I'm missing something, RU should be able to score 24, 27 or 30+ in both games. Doesn't mean we will win both, but I can't see any reason why RU shouldn't move the ball in the air.....(which opens up the ground attack).

I fully expect the skeptical RU fans to knock this down....but the excuses have gone away for me....we can't use injuries anymore, so it now just comes down to players and playmaking.

Fill the stadium Saturday folks, I know the 4 game streak was ugly, but now we can pass, score and look explosive on offense.....there's a reason to show up !!