There was good reason to be worried after the unsettling first half vs Temple in the first game without Paul Mulcahy. The team was all out of sorts and just were not ready for that type of situation where you had a freshmen running the point and a scoring onus put on a couple of guys who have yet to prove it. Its understandable. Like I said in the recap for that game, that first half and ultimately losing is going to be a good thing for Pikiell and the team in the long run. The second half of that game showed some real good signs. So everyone here had some level of concern with Rider coming into the building. A team expected to finish near the top of the MAAC standings and only lost to Providence by one plus they could shoot the 3 which gave RU problems at times vs Temple. Suddenly Rutgers looked vulnerable again at home as thoughts of last years struggles still stick with us. Coach Pikiell and his Knights proved us wrong. There would be no struggle at all. In fact it was an impressive display of preparedness and hunger that is an intangible that the more talented team of last season seemingly lacked.
One of my earlier thread recaps was zestful exuberance and I just cannot get off this train of thought. RU is very eager to do better. Its an incredible trait to have. First last nights win starts and end with Coach Pikiell and his staff. You know that they feared what was going to happen vs Temple away from the friendly confines of the RAC in a sterile environment. Even with his coaching acumen and experience there was little that could be done to expect a team to be able to function properly without its floor general. Team can only learn by getting out there and making the mistakes and failing. With a weekend to prepare, Coach Pikiell had RU in the right mindset learning from their mistakes. The one biggest thing I saw was immediately that sense of hunger and want was there from the opening tip. This was Rutgers house and RU was going RU got back to what they do best which is play tough defense so even when the shots don't fall which happened in a stretch vs Rider, its the defense setting the tone and that eventually led to many transition opportunities where the Knights simply put the game away. Have to say really impressed with RU's trapping and on the ball defense. Yes its Rider not Illinois but these guys are playing hard for 40 minutes. I did not see any let up in sight right on to the end of the game. There is an eagerness to succeed and work hard and its importance cannot be understated.
Learning from mistakes. Derek Simpson was going to be a key part of how this game went because he was not ready to take a lead role vs Temple and its unfair to even expect success in that difficult spot. Derek even with 4 turnovers was much more comfortable and in control. I said in the game thread I didnt want him to shoot after he ran the court and took a bad quick 3 point pullup like he was all star Geo Baker. I think the score was 47-32 at the time so RU had yet to break this open. I noticed after that Derek didnt take another shot until a three pointer made at 2:46. Derek played 28 minutes but Miller cut into his minutes and that was a good thing. Derek does not need to burden of having to be a big scorer for RU. I thought him taking 10-11 shots is too much. Need to get him in the habit of picking and choosing his spots. He had 4 assists but none was more impressive than the sizzling pass to Cliff for a would be dunk where Cliff was fouled. Shows you all the potential there with this kid. 8 points on 2-6 shooting, 3-4 ft, 4 assists, 4 tos, 2 blocks. Those are the kind of numbers (besides tos) you like to see. In some ways Pike had a little too much confidence in him early, but you have to risk failure to gain reward. Derek will be a good one.
I was impressed with Jalen Miller tonight. A whopping 24 minutes, did I actually see a lineup of one time with Jalen, Cam and Derek? Again offense is a struggle for him but defense isnt. He brings some experience that Derek does not have and in the right situations is a decent option off the bench.
Woolfolk is quite the relevation. Glimpses in some early games, last night was his most comfortable. Its funny because how many times does RU bring a bigger guy in but they look totally lost their first stretch of games on the court. Echoing what is being said by many posters, what is so cool is Woolfolk looks so comfortable on the court for his experience level. Yes he is the "hungry wolf" as Areyounuts labeled him. Are you kidding me...9 rebounds in just 19 minutes and 8 points 3-6 shooting, a block and a steal. He now looks like he can be a viable option and not just for minutes or fouls but to actually contribute cleaning up around the basket. He had a about a two minute stretch in the first half where he was everything during a stretch where RU gained seperation from Rider. Layup, 2 free throws, steal, missed one and one but then got his own rebound and put it in for a score. RU went from just up 14-10 to a 21-10 lead and never looked back. Thats a key moment in the game and has to be huge for this kids confidence and I am sure that coaching staff is absolutely delighted looking over the game film.
Cam Spencer was ineffective and neutralized most of the game vs Temple but the kid is a gamer and he came back ready to assert himself last night. Those two early 3s were huge and when they went down you just knew Cam was going to have a big night. The most impressive play of the game for Cam that personifies him was in the second half, Rider playing some really good on ball D, Cam struggling a bit dribbling, shot clock winding down. Cam still fighting through pulls back for the 2...swish it goes down. That was another key part of the game, Rider had some step in their game still at 47-33 and RU wasnt shaking them. That Cam bucket seemed to put a dagger in the Broncos hearts started an unbelievable 22-3 run and suddenly RU was up 69-36. Cam had 4 steals and really impressed he stepped his D up last night. 19 points on 7-12 shooting, 4-7 from 3s. Great bounce back game for him.
Cliff is Cliff. Incredible at time but also frustrating. He had a shaky first half shooting the ball. Overall 8-16 which should be better but should we really be complaining. By the 2nd half Cliff was a monster and he finished with 20 points and 12 boards and 3 blocks. Just another night at the office. These are great numbers and I think we take them for granted. The foul shooting is now suddenly foul at 4-11 and I think its all mental now. Obviously he feels more pressure with Paul and Caleb out and its only going to get harder with tougher competition coming from Miami and Indiana. But I am not worried about Cliff. He is the one constant on this team and we know exactly what he will bring vs top tier players.
Mag...loved his game tonight, it was his best of the season, 9 points, 8 boards in 22 minutes. Hit all 3 of his shots and only one turnover. Loved loved loved his defense especially in traps. Mag looked in synch rather than playing at some wild pace. This is the kind of game that sways me back to him starting over Hyatt when and if Caleb comes back. I really wasnt impressed with Hyatt tonight. Just 2-9 fg, 7 points, missed all his 3s and he was in foul trouble. I think I am being fair in his critique. I want to see more consistency from him and stepping up in a leadership and production role.
Reiber put in 16 points EDIT: minutes not points and if he has been hurting at least this helps his conditioning. It was an okay performance but nothing to change my opinion about his limited role on this team going forward. The air on Chol's 3 knocked that one pillar down holding up the RAC ceiling. I thought Aiden Terry was going to get clobbered on that breakaway layup attempt but thankfully no contact but good to see him get the points on goaltending.
Do not want to move the pendulum too far in the other direction. I wasnt impressed with Rider. They looked thin and were not physical and we know RU will be facing much better going forward (CCSU being the exception). Still this was needed kind of feel good bounce back for the program after the Temple miscue. RU needed to get through this game without picking up a bad loss and I saw those hunger signs from the team and coaching staff that alleviate a few fears. Some fears still remain. We desperately need at least one of Paul and Caleb back. I want both back but starting to officially get a little worried. As hungry and eager as this team is, its potential is extremely limited without them and there is a scary challenging gauntlet right around the corner
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