56 rebounds - are you kidding me?

[RU848789]

Would take last year's team 3 games to get 56 rebounds. That's the sign of a team that's willing to work it's ass off on both defense and offense - we crashed the boards nicely. The defensive effort was also very strong, with people playing their positions, moving their feet and helping/switching well. We also passed and shot reasonably well - loved the balance with 4 guys in double figures and we hit FT at a 70% clip - and got to the line 27 times (without fouls at the end), which is another sign of effort.

And who is this Gettys guy? Dude is a load and played really well - admittedly against a smaller team, so I know he might struggle against bigger, more athletic big men, but he knows how to position himself and play the game and being a grad transfer, he brings some maturity to the team. Also liked what I saw from Johnson - dude is quick and can hit FTs well - we have some guards, even without Sanders having his best game or Williams, who, despite not shooting well still hustled all over the floor. Thiam and Sa had nice games, as did Laurent and Freeman had a mixed game, but made some big plays.

I know we didn't just beat Maryland, but this is a team we would've struggled to beat the last few years and we put them away pretty easily. I like. I can see this team going 10-3, OOC, and 5-13 in the B1G and maybe even making a run at 0.500. That might not sound like much, but it's a huge improvement.

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

I would like to say lets wait a bit before we bring out the party hats but I think I will just live in the moment
There have been so few moments in this century.
We are young and athletic and apparently well coached. [banana]

 

[xkiesterx]

We will not double up teams in Big Ten play, but this is great to see. We are enormous and we even have good rebounding guards. #KnightandDay, indeed.

 

[cubuffsdoug]

We will not double up teams in Big Ten play, but this is great to see. We are enormous and we even have good rebounding guards. #KnightandDay, indeed.

I think Rutgers has realistic shots at beating Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern and Penn State. At least five wins in the B1G is realistic.

 

[shields]

And Doug I think we will upset someone at home.

 

[cubuffsdoug]

And Doug I think we will upset someone at home.

Could the RAC be the "House of Horrors" once again for opponents?
Man, I wish St. John's was on the schedule this year.

 

[RUJMM78]

A sure sign of progress would be for this team to win some games on the road.

 

[RU848789]

Could the RAC be the "House of Horrors" once again for opponents?
Man, I wish St. John's was on the schedule this year.

Never thought I'd miss Waters so much after he left. The RAC has essentially been a morgue for over 10 years now. Think we might surprise 1 or 2 "better" teams at home this year.

 

[TMCB]

Like what i saw today, still need a point guard and sanders was off.

 

[shields]

If we played The Johnnies they would probably knock our kids down and we don't get the call.

 

[BigEastPhil]

I think Rutgers has realistic shots at beating Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern and Penn State. At least five wins in the B1G is realistic.

Agree...however don't discount Northwestern this year...they're good and may be poised to finally make the NCAA's this year....Also add Iowa to the list of beatable teams as they lost 4 of their 5 starters from last year.....

 

[BoogieKnight]

A sure sign of progress would be for this team to win some games on the road.

Sure, we can start with DePaul. From what I saw, the defense and hustle is certainly better. Shots and passes were contested, weak-side help closed out, big men played straight up under the basket and not a lot of stupid fouls. And yes, the improvement in rebounding was evident. We have some nice length coming off of the bench. A few major negatives I see. One, we can't shoot and that will become problematic as we start playing better teams. We have quick guards who can dribble penetrate but there's no reliable threats spotting up to kick to. Johnson can finish though...that kid was a find. Two, the team doesn't have a true point guard. Ball handling is fair at best. Finally, movement without the ball and overall decision making needs to improve on offense. Spacing was poor at times. Sanders is athletic and all but I honestly have no idea why he declared for the draft. He's a tweener who doesn't shoot it well enough to be a 2 and doesn't handle/distribute well enough to be a 1. He also needs to play under more control at times. Other than that, this team looks much better than what I've seen in quite some time. There are some pieces there to work with and I'm looking forward to see how the season plays out.

 

[RUinFla]

Agree with Boogie--not in love with Sanders' game. Johnson off the bench had six rebounds and 7 assists. Maybe he will be at PG later in the season with Sanders moving to the 2. At least for teams that are not super large.
TL

 

[AshCatchEm]

I think Rutgers has realistic shots at beating Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern and Penn State. At least five wins in the B1G is realistic.

too soon! those teams will take advantage of our 3 pointer situation

 

[80RU]

Interesting they're only 13 of those 56 rebounds were from last year's letter winners.

 

[Rutgers25]

Agree with Boogie--not in love with Sanders' game. Johnson off the bench had six rebounds and 7 assists. Maybe he will be at PG later in the season with Sanders moving to the 2. At least for teams that are not super large.
TL

Sanders didn't play great, but I saw enough of him last year to have faith that he will improve

 

[shields]

Sanders has played two games.

 

[cubuffsdoug]

too soon! those teams will take advantage of our 3 pointer situation

I think you're generalizing the situation as compared to last year. Rutgers was in a lot of those games and this roster is different from last year. Nebraska shot their load two years ago with that squad. I don't think that coach is going to last much longer with an average team. Penn State already showed you what they are. Now, they do have some freshmen that in about a year maybe dangerous, but these aren't Kentucky freshmen. Illinois looks somewhat similar to last year. Need to see a little bit more from Minnesota and Northwestern before I'll say that they're much better than Rutgers.

 

[BoogieKnight]

too soon! those teams will take advantage of our 3 pointer situation

If we play defense and rebound we will be in games. Get a good shooting night here or there we will win a few.

 

[AshCatchEm]

If we play defense and rebound we will be in games. Get a good shooting night here or there we will win a few.

Oh i agree but we could beat a team 120-0 and I'd still be cautious about being optimistic

 

[RutgersJoe]

The fact that Sanders didn't have his best game and they still won by double digits is huge. Actually playing like a team now.

 

[RU848789]

The fact that Sanders didn't have his best game and they still won by double digits is huge. Actually playing like a team now.

Agreed - we win two games handily with Sanders scoring 6 and 11 points and dishing out 11 assists, overall, and that makes me happy - and it's not like he jacked up 30 shots, he's 4-16, which isn't great, but we know he can shoot better and there are going to be some games where we'll need him to score. I love our athleticism with him and Johnson on the floor, despite the lack of height. Could see us pressing with those guys, Laurent, Freeman and maybe Thiam or Sa as the backstopper.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

I watched a lot of the Penn State vs. Duquesne game last night. Rutgers plays them home and away. They start 3 freshmen and They are sweep-able.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I watched a lot of the Penn State vs. Duquesne game last night. Rutgers plays them home and away. They start 3 freshmen and They are sweep-able.

I am sure Penn State will improve when we play them. A sweep is possible, but the odds of them sweeping us is still much greater at this point.

1 things that flipped after the Drexel game. We are now favored to win the home Penn State game. Right now the only B1G we are the favorite.

If you want to debate kenpoms algorithims before games have been played obviously fair game.

 

[cubuffsdoug]

I am sure Penn State will improve when we play them. A sweep is possible, but the odds of them sweeping us is still much greater at this point.

1 things that flipped after the Drexel game. We are now favored to win the home Penn State game. Right now the only B1G we are the favorite.

If you want to debate kenpoms algorithims before games have been played obviously fair game.

I think because of the change (huge) in personnel those figures used to judge Rutgers this year are off. The roster for Rutgers has changed so much from last year it's impossible to base the results of last year's team on this year's group. That's why I think Rutgers is going to surprise a lot of people. I think Rutgers has a chance to finish somewhere in the middle of the B1G like around 8th when all is said and done.