Did not go in depth about individual plays in my recap because i really had a bad taste from the loss yesterday and no shows by several players.
But to me not getting the needed stops in regulation hurt. Had it to 3 with 3 minutes left but we let NW penetrate and we put them at the line and then let midget Greer just go in for a hoop. We had it to 68-67 with 2 left, our game for the taking so why was Ron trying to play hero taking an ill advised 3 quick in the shot clock. We played outstanding D on the last NW possession letting them run it down to 7 seconds without fouling and then Paul was so heady in what should have been one of the highlights of the game on that pass for a bucket to Cliff
Okay so we took it to overtime and had all the momentum and NW reeling so what happened. In some ways I was more disappointed in the overtime than what happened the first 25 minutes. As if the team once again fell back. I didnt think Northwestern did anything particularly well in that overtime. I think Rutgers blinked for a couple of possession and did not keep the eye on the prize. Paul Mulcahy scored 10 of our last 13 points in the final 5 minutes of regulation. Yet in the overtime, after he hit a jumper with 4:40 left, it was Mag, Harper, Baker, Mag 2x over the next 3 minutes before Paul took another shot which he made. Cliff hit a layup on a Paul miss and Paul scored the final points for RU to bring them within 1. Why RU went away from Paul Mulcahy for 5 straight possession is criminal. How can you do that. Yes he cannot do it all but yes he was doing it all. He was in a zone, we have seen this before. Not going to be labor that last shot because you can make the argument either way there but its clear to me that not getting the ball to Mulcahy in overtime cost RU the game.
You can say monday morning quarterback but Paul was doing everything and was responsible almost single handedly for forcing overtime. You go away from that for 3 minutes and you see how NW went on a 7-0 run and game right there. Defensively we allowed a wide open 3 from Audiege in the corner, not sure who was covering him as I havent seen a highlight, then Buie faked Geo out totally for that 3 that put NW up 5. Ron was not going to make that last shot because it wasnt his shot or spot. Some may say good luck but the fact is RU never should have been in that position down 5 in overtime. Its as if they did not learn anything from the first half. That horrific turnover by Geo for no reason but thats how this team has played. Good enough to be in it but cannot get out of their own way.
That was a game we should have won and did not. In a 5 minute situation we did not have the eye of the tiger
But to me not getting the needed stops in regulation hurt. Had it to 3 with 3 minutes left but we let NW penetrate and we put them at the line and then let midget Greer just go in for a hoop. We had it to 68-67 with 2 left, our game for the taking so why was Ron trying to play hero taking an ill advised 3 quick in the shot clock. We played outstanding D on the last NW possession letting them run it down to 7 seconds without fouling and then Paul was so heady in what should have been one of the highlights of the game on that pass for a bucket to Cliff
Okay so we took it to overtime and had all the momentum and NW reeling so what happened. In some ways I was more disappointed in the overtime than what happened the first 25 minutes. As if the team once again fell back. I didnt think Northwestern did anything particularly well in that overtime. I think Rutgers blinked for a couple of possession and did not keep the eye on the prize. Paul Mulcahy scored 10 of our last 13 points in the final 5 minutes of regulation. Yet in the overtime, after he hit a jumper with 4:40 left, it was Mag, Harper, Baker, Mag 2x over the next 3 minutes before Paul took another shot which he made. Cliff hit a layup on a Paul miss and Paul scored the final points for RU to bring them within 1. Why RU went away from Paul Mulcahy for 5 straight possession is criminal. How can you do that. Yes he cannot do it all but yes he was doing it all. He was in a zone, we have seen this before. Not going to be labor that last shot because you can make the argument either way there but its clear to me that not getting the ball to Mulcahy in overtime cost RU the game.
You can say monday morning quarterback but Paul was doing everything and was responsible almost single handedly for forcing overtime. You go away from that for 3 minutes and you see how NW went on a 7-0 run and game right there. Defensively we allowed a wide open 3 from Audiege in the corner, not sure who was covering him as I havent seen a highlight, then Buie faked Geo out totally for that 3 that put NW up 5. Ron was not going to make that last shot because it wasnt his shot or spot. Some may say good luck but the fact is RU never should have been in that position down 5 in overtime. Its as if they did not learn anything from the first half. That horrific turnover by Geo for no reason but thats how this team has played. Good enough to be in it but cannot get out of their own way.
That was a game we should have won and did not. In a 5 minute situation we did not have the eye of the tiger