Tomorrow's Penn State game is the make or break game for this season, I think. Watching from afar, I have seen a lot of talent on this year's team, and have read all the angst about the coaching. To me, this game is must win because:
1 - Rutgers is 4 - 6; to be over .500 entering the main part of conference season, they need this win. The next 3 final OOC games are eminently winnable.
2 - Rutgers is on a 5 game losing streak. Penn State is on a 4 game losing streak. Penn State's best win is against a .500 St. John's team, we don't have a best win.
3 - For any hopes of anything resembling a successful season we will need to beat the B1G teams we think we should beat. That includes Penn State.
4 - From an over-all point of view, the sad OOC schedule provides little boost to any hopes. Wagner is 6-1, but hasn't played anybody significantly better than they are, which is not good. Stony Brook opened the season strong. Other than that, there is not a single Rutgers OOC opponent over .500 and one that is winless. So again, it is all about the B1G.
Sadly, I think a successful season would have to be judged on a low bar, but it is going to have to start with beating State Penn. That simple.
1 - Rutgers is 4 - 6; to be over .500 entering the main part of conference season, they need this win. The next 3 final OOC games are eminently winnable.
2 - Rutgers is on a 5 game losing streak. Penn State is on a 4 game losing streak. Penn State's best win is against a .500 St. John's team, we don't have a best win.
3 - For any hopes of anything resembling a successful season we will need to beat the B1G teams we think we should beat. That includes Penn State.
4 - From an over-all point of view, the sad OOC schedule provides little boost to any hopes. Wagner is 6-1, but hasn't played anybody significantly better than they are, which is not good. Stony Brook opened the season strong. Other than that, there is not a single Rutgers OOC opponent over .500 and one that is winless. So again, it is all about the B1G.
Sadly, I think a successful season would have to be judged on a low bar, but it is going to have to start with beating State Penn. That simple.