Arrg! Are you serious??

[Westcoast]

How many chances do you need to win the game?

Regardless, great second half. If they didn't play like shit in the first half, its a win.

Yet another lesson for a young team to learn.

 

[GORU2014]

Key thing to look for is mental toughness. We have it.

We’re going to be on the right side of these very soon.

 

[RedChucken123]

I guess we’ll take all the heartbreakers when we’re still young. It hurts. Oof. Let’s hope they are all learning experiences. This one and the Iowa game are ones you don’t forget easily.

 

[ScarletDave]

The pain

 

[RUfromNJ]

Lessons.

 

[Westcoast]

Very surprised Johnson got the rebound 2 ft from the basket and didn't even look towards the rim and threw it back out. And then McConnell put up a weak shot.

That's what happens when you rely on too many freshmen in end-game situations.

I guess when you are losing by 20 in the second half and Baker takes the collar for the night its a miracle we even had a chance to win.

 

[ScarletKid2008]

Painful. We had several great chances at the end. If Eugene and Johnson don’t kind of converge at the same time I think Johnson makes that last chance

 

[RUinOhio]

why does it have to be against PSU with their stupid uniforms? and the bucket at the end of the first half was the difference

 

[RUChoppin]

This was a lesson Johnson needed. He's gone up soft before... but this isn't one easily written off or forgotten. We win this game and seal a bye in the B1G Tourney if he goes up strong with two hands and flushes that. Needs to use this as fuel to go harder and stronger moving forward.

 

[Rufaninga]

Credit to opponent for defense in first half to put us in hole. now, it's good for RU to have off night and be in game at the end with shot to win. Pre-Pike era we go from 20 down to losing by 40.

Hate losing to them, but better to have bad night now than in B1G tourney. Maybe youg team catches fire and puts this behind them quickly.

 

[RedChucken123]

Potential lessons learned:
Johnson & Caleb - Had last play opportunities. How do you handle it next time?
Geo - When the shot is just not falling, which happens, trust the system. Trust the teammates. When the opponents are trying hard to lock you down, take that to your advantage and facilitate more. Aside from the shooting, he was still respectable elsewhere.
Issa & Kiss - Even though they were pre-ordained as our 3-shooters early on, I actually like their mid-range game better. They can take the three shot when it is open, but sometimes they jack it up too far back. Issa used to have some post game. I wish he experimented with that when the matchup is right. Kiss got a decent mid-range shot and also has the speed to blow past and shoot a floater. Pump fake the three and drive.
Montez - Free throw shooting. You can’t mimic the pressure situations from Iowa and PSU in practice. Put yourself back in that mindset and sink your free throws.
Everyone else - The game is never over till it is over. PSU were going on their first half run and everyone was out of sync. Their confidence and mentality were shot. Almost like they were semi-close to chalking it up and giving it in. Keep grinding, play through opposing runs. You never know when you needed one of those possessions back.