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anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy
Guest
I'll have a separate thread on what we have to do imo to take the next step to becoming a postseason team next year but for now, we look back on the 2018-2019 season.
1) Despite the end to the season deflating us, looking back on the season as a whole, I would say we performed better than I expected. I predicted 15-15 (7-13) and looking back on things, I felt our performance overall was better than I expected considering coming into the season we had 6 new players, 4 freshman who we were relying on to play significant minutes, no point guard and two game one starters (issa and kiss) were more or less worked out of the rotation by years end.
2) The growth of the freshman: If back in November you told me that Caleb McConnell would be a big-time contributor for this team come big ten play I would've laughed at you and probably put you on ignore for being a troll. The growth of his game this year from November to March was exciting. He was one of our only players who could get into the lane and get to the bucket, he showed off a confident smooth stroke from 3 and proved to be arguably our best defender along with Montez. He has a bright future and I think he'll play exclusive at the 2 over the next few years.
3) Ron Harper's shot coming back. In non-conference play Ron's 3-ball just simply wouldn't fall but once the calendar turned, so did his fortunes. I think most of us knew his shot would start falling, he came to Rutgers known as a sniper and it was just a matter of making a little adjustment here and there. What impressed me most about Ron as the season went on though was his ability to lock down the other teams best player when needed. He shut down Romeo Langford, a lottery pick, when we beat IU, when we needed a stop on Copeland last night for example, he was the one we called upon and he stepped up to the task. His basketball iq and knowledge is second to none on this team. Another off-season of S&C and this kid should be expected to be a force in 2019-2020.
4) Geo's inconsistency. Looking back on it and we shouldn't be that surprised, Geo is not a natural PG, and he was asked to carry the load in more ways than one this year both as a PG and as a young leader. There were some games where Geo didn't see a shot he didn't like, there was others where he refused to shoot. I think with the addition of guys like Mulcahy and Young along with another year of experience for the freshman, we'll see a more consistent Geo next year who looks for his shot and gets his shot more often than he did this year.
5) Myles the Monster. As the season went on he began to throw his weight around a little bit and assert his dominance. With his wingspan he started to really become more of a legitimate rim protector too. He's still developing his game but the future is extremely bright for him.
6) Eugene. What more can we say about the kid. Absolute warrior. Basically played on 1 leg for the last couple months. There's not another guy in this league imo who wants to win games more than eugene. He does everything he possibly can to win and he plays with a competitiveness and a fire that you don't often see. As a senior next year, I think he'll realize that his career went by very quickly and will push guys to their limits in the hopes of getting to a tourney before he exits.
7) The turning point. @Minnesota 1/12, we're getting blown out, minnesota is basically toying with us running fast breaks, throwing ally oops, dunking the ball and screaming. Amir Coffey gets a head full of steam and is going up for a dunk on Ron Harper, Ron fouls him hard and quiets the crowd. The team looks around at each other and says OK. A few trips later down the floor, montez takes it strong to the hole, gets fouled, hands the ball to isaiah washington who throws the ball back at his head, montez goes right after him. Now the guys start looking at each other once again. I believe it is at this point, Pikiell realizes he recruiting some kids who have different attitudes and who care about winning and the culture has now turned. Pike realizes that someone had to step up now that Eugene was out for an unknown period of time and who was it who was going to lead? Freshman? Wow. Granted we go on to get crushed @Purdue without Eugene but I truly feel this game not only turned our season but turned our program.
8) Learning to win on the road. Nabbing 3 big ten road wins and a win at a down Miami team showed that this team is starting to learn how to win on the road, a must if you want to be postseason eligible.
Last but not least, overall this was a pretty good season all things considered but next year, the excuses end, and the expectations arrive. Next year is truly a postseason or bust season. Not necessarily the tourney but if the team doesn't at least make the NIT I think we can all say that we will be disappointed.
1) Despite the end to the season deflating us, looking back on the season as a whole, I would say we performed better than I expected. I predicted 15-15 (7-13) and looking back on things, I felt our performance overall was better than I expected considering coming into the season we had 6 new players, 4 freshman who we were relying on to play significant minutes, no point guard and two game one starters (issa and kiss) were more or less worked out of the rotation by years end.
2) The growth of the freshman: If back in November you told me that Caleb McConnell would be a big-time contributor for this team come big ten play I would've laughed at you and probably put you on ignore for being a troll. The growth of his game this year from November to March was exciting. He was one of our only players who could get into the lane and get to the bucket, he showed off a confident smooth stroke from 3 and proved to be arguably our best defender along with Montez. He has a bright future and I think he'll play exclusive at the 2 over the next few years.
3) Ron Harper's shot coming back. In non-conference play Ron's 3-ball just simply wouldn't fall but once the calendar turned, so did his fortunes. I think most of us knew his shot would start falling, he came to Rutgers known as a sniper and it was just a matter of making a little adjustment here and there. What impressed me most about Ron as the season went on though was his ability to lock down the other teams best player when needed. He shut down Romeo Langford, a lottery pick, when we beat IU, when we needed a stop on Copeland last night for example, he was the one we called upon and he stepped up to the task. His basketball iq and knowledge is second to none on this team. Another off-season of S&C and this kid should be expected to be a force in 2019-2020.
4) Geo's inconsistency. Looking back on it and we shouldn't be that surprised, Geo is not a natural PG, and he was asked to carry the load in more ways than one this year both as a PG and as a young leader. There were some games where Geo didn't see a shot he didn't like, there was others where he refused to shoot. I think with the addition of guys like Mulcahy and Young along with another year of experience for the freshman, we'll see a more consistent Geo next year who looks for his shot and gets his shot more often than he did this year.
5) Myles the Monster. As the season went on he began to throw his weight around a little bit and assert his dominance. With his wingspan he started to really become more of a legitimate rim protector too. He's still developing his game but the future is extremely bright for him.
6) Eugene. What more can we say about the kid. Absolute warrior. Basically played on 1 leg for the last couple months. There's not another guy in this league imo who wants to win games more than eugene. He does everything he possibly can to win and he plays with a competitiveness and a fire that you don't often see. As a senior next year, I think he'll realize that his career went by very quickly and will push guys to their limits in the hopes of getting to a tourney before he exits.
7) The turning point. @Minnesota 1/12, we're getting blown out, minnesota is basically toying with us running fast breaks, throwing ally oops, dunking the ball and screaming. Amir Coffey gets a head full of steam and is going up for a dunk on Ron Harper, Ron fouls him hard and quiets the crowd. The team looks around at each other and says OK. A few trips later down the floor, montez takes it strong to the hole, gets fouled, hands the ball to isaiah washington who throws the ball back at his head, montez goes right after him. Now the guys start looking at each other once again. I believe it is at this point, Pikiell realizes he recruiting some kids who have different attitudes and who care about winning and the culture has now turned. Pike realizes that someone had to step up now that Eugene was out for an unknown period of time and who was it who was going to lead? Freshman? Wow. Granted we go on to get crushed @Purdue without Eugene but I truly feel this game not only turned our season but turned our program.
8) Learning to win on the road. Nabbing 3 big ten road wins and a win at a down Miami team showed that this team is starting to learn how to win on the road, a must if you want to be postseason eligible.
Last but not least, overall this was a pretty good season all things considered but next year, the excuses end, and the expectations arrive. Next year is truly a postseason or bust season. Not necessarily the tourney but if the team doesn't at least make the NIT I think we can all say that we will be disappointed.
