Best game of year

[bac2therac]

I really thought that RU was going to get this one, I did not have that feeling against Northwestern or Wisconsin or Ohio State. Just could not make the plays down the stretch which is such a familiar story. Michigan has guys at every position. A good chunk of upperclassemen and leaders who did not panic after they got done and just clamped down on defense and hit some big shots. It is something missing from RU. You can see the lack of leadership in the end games in how our offense runs. Sanders for as good as he is, continually forces things. Nigel I think had a bad play or turnover. Mike Williams stepped up big time to give RU a chance after it seemed like all was lost. RU just loses its way when its crunch time, some of that is them, some of that is the opponent. I have been taking heat for saying well the other team does not take RU seriously. I thought tonight Michigan came to play and I think it was the pretty good RU defense and the surprising RU offense that shut them down on that 20-6 run. That run after RU went down 10...a RU team coming back and fighting back from adversity and punching Michigan in the mouth. This stretch was the best RU has played all year long. This is a very good Michigan team. Its the best team IMO we have seen at the RAC this year. It was a better played game than the Wisconsin game because this was a game where not only did RU play great defense but also played great offense. The offense was the thing that has been holding this team back somewhat. Little by little each game we have seen the offense start to step up its game and get more consistency.

Yet we still lose but make no mistakes some of these teams are NCAA bound and RU is right there with them. Pike is squeezing everything and more out of these kids but also the kids deserves tons of credit as well..this is what you call overacheiving, to me a program needs to overacheive before the recruits start to come. Hopefully next year we can squeeze out a couple more wins with more experience in these situations and these first two years can be used as foundation and bridge to when Pike gets better talent. If I sound like a broken record I am but this team easily could have packed it in after Iowa. For the first time since the Waters years you can see a team that got tangibly better in all aspects of its game since the non conference schedule. Its not resulting in the wins that we all want but this year is not about that. Tonight was an entertaining and exciting game..almost tournament like. The RAC rocked tonight (still nowhere near how it used to) but it was alive and there was passion and excitement and a belief in the building. Its a shame that more students do not come to the game and its a shame that we still can not get more than 6K in the building but it is all about winning. Two more chances to come out and see this team play and no excuse not to get out there if you are a fan

 

[goru7]

I really thought that RU was going to get this one, I did not have that feeling against Northwestern or Wisconsin or Ohio State. Just could not make the plays down the stretch which is such a familiar story. Michigan has guys at every position. A good chunk of upperclassemen and leaders who did not panic after they got done and just clamped down on defense and hit some big shots. It is something missing from RU. You can see the lack of leadership in the end games in how our offense runs. Sanders for as good as he is, continually forces things. Nigel I think had a bad play or turnover. Mike Williams stepped up big time to give RU a chance after it seemed like all was lost. RU just loses its way when its crunch time, some of that is them, some of that is the opponent. I have been taking heat for saying well the other team does not take RU seriously. I thought tonight Michigan came to play and I think it was the pretty good RU defense and the surprising RU offense that shut them down on that 20-6 run. That run after RU went down 10...a RU team coming back and fighting back from adversity and punching Michigan in the mouth. This stretch was the best RU has played all year long. This is a very good Michigan team. Its the best team IMO we have seen at the RAC this year. It was a better played game than the Wisconsin game because this was a game where not only did RU play great defense but also played great offense. The offense was the thing that has been holding this team back somewhat. Little by little each game we have seen the offense start to step up its game and get more consistency.

Yet we still lose but make no mistakes some of these teams are NCAA bound and RU is right there with them. Pike is squeezing everything and more out of these kids but also the kids deserves tons of credit as well..this is what you call overacheiving, to me a program needs to overacheive before the recruits start to come. Hopefully next year we can squeeze out a couple more wins with more experience in these situations and these first two years can be used as foundation and bridge to when Pike gets better talent. If I sound like a broken record I am but this team easily could have packed it in after Iowa. For the first time since the Waters years you can see a team that got tangibly better in all aspects of its game since the non conference schedule. Its not resulting in the wins that we all want but this year is not about that. Tonight was an entertaining and exciting game..almost tournament like. The RAC rocked tonight (still nowhere near how it used to) but it was alive and there was passion and excitement and a belief in the building. Its a shame that more students do not come to the game and its a shame that we still can not get more than 6K in the building but it is all about winning. Two more chances to come out and see this team play and no excuse not to get out there if you are a fan

Really enjoyed this post as it might be your best post ever. Two minor things I will disagree with you, one is that I thought we would pull out Wisconsin, Northwestern and tonite as we were in control and had leads. Second, despite some upperclassmen, I think they did panic a little and missed some foul shots and were rattled by the crowd. DJ Wilson , a freshman hit the biggest shot of the night for them to give them back the lead 57-56. We were up 4 and looking to extend the lead and missed the easy layup, I think Laurent and they came back in back to back possessions.
Otherwise, another gut wrenching loss and as you stated we are getting better without the wins to show for it. We only had 7 turnovers tonite, in line with our last 4 games and down from the 14 per game we averaged until the last 5. We shot 10-13 from the line , one of our best efforts . We hit 6 threes and the 7th one would have forced overtime . We shot better from the field and have been the last 4-5 games. A ton of positive improvements that will either bode well for the remaining games and the tourney as well as for next year as everybody except CJ returns. Shaquille is getting better and love what Coach is doing running CJ and Shaquille for 3 minutes alternately letting them go as hard as possible , then sub out for a 3 minute blow and back in. These are the subtle things Coach is doing that make him one of the best we have ever had. Eugene last game coming through with 10 points, after struggling and Laurent tonite playing his best game, offensively and defensively, despite not finishing straight up, are examples of Coach's insight into his players and despite most of this board thinking both could not contribute anymore this year , Coach thought otherwise and has been proven right.
One last thing and you admitted it in your post which I admire, is that you always say the other team in this conference did not take us seriously and that is the only reason we competed or why they didn't play well or shoot well. The truth is that every team has given us their best shot , not taken us for granted, and have come to play. Michigan came out tonight playing like their NCAA lives were on the line and we neutralized them , defended them, took it to them, and they were damn lucky to get out of here with a win. I am sure Wisconsin, Northwestern, Iowa(road) , Minnesota, Ohio State, and Seton Hall all felt the same way that they were lucky to come away with a win..We are not as far away from success as most people think. Echo your sentiment, come out to the RAC to help us get 2 home wins to close the regular season.

 

[knights1212]

Well said by both of you. We definitely are suffering through growing pains but hopefully we can get some rewards in the not too distant future.

 

[RedChucken123]

I totally agree. We are getting there little by little. Under 10 turnovers, 10-13 free throws. And even though we are last in the conference, I don't think anyone really wants to meet us in the tournament. We consistently hang in there no matter the competition, but just tend to fumble a little down the stretch.

One of the plays at the very end, I noticed, was a little predictable. It was totally what I call, Hero-ball. I don't have a problem with specific people taking clutch shots as long as the play progressed properly. Maybe that's what is killing us. People try to save the day themselves, instead of trusting the process.

 

[RU-ROCS]

Bac- great post. I would just add that it's got to be brutal for these players and coaches to keep coming so close against quality competition only to come up empty in the end time and time again. It's a testament to them all that they are still playing incredibly hard and as a team.

 

[mikefla]

I agree. We are right WITH the big guys. Right down to the wire.
We did sink our free throws....10-13

But losing still a talent issue.

Even with Nigel doing 5-10 the bench went 7-19........4 guys went 2-9 (22%)

That said Mich had only 3 players come off the bench & went 3-6

MICH STARTERS were more productive than ours by a LOT
4 STARTERS sank 3 pointers(9/28)
5 STARTERS had 5 REBs or more
5 STARTERS had assists (13 total)
they were pretty balanced

and STILL we had a shot at winning,,,

 

[RU MAN]

I'm really proud of the way this team fights and claws for everything. No, we aren't winning these close games----yet. But with Pikiell at the helm and his terrific staff, I see nothing but better days ahead. I think we FINALLY found a real coach, who knows how to build a program and who knows what kind of players will be needed to be successful in the B1G.

Just think; we have lost at least a half a dozen of these games this year by three possessions or less. This team with a little bit more talent will learn how to make close losses into close wins. This is the difference of instead of being 13-16 to 19-10 and sitting firmly on the bubble of the NCAA's. And no, we won't be there next year. But if Pikiell and staff can recruit a stellar class for 2018 and beyond, we will be back in the Tournament sooner than later.

One other thing: Even though it's disappointing to lose these close games, this team is a hell of a lot of fun to watch. And when was the last time we actually enjoyed watching our men's team play BB? It's been awhile and the future looks really bright.

 

[ScarletDave]

Stat tonight on BTN says it all. Lost 5 in a row, but 4 of those 5 by single digits. The announcers even said how close we are. Also, BTN has been giving us mad props lately. Including tonight, saying that "Rutgers is the team that no one wants to see on their schedule right now" ... think about last year we were praying gor our first B1G win at this time .. amazing

 

[ru66]

this team deserves to win one

 

[RU848789]

I only have tix to half the games this year (odd sharing system we have, which allowed us to at least keep 2 season tix), so I haven't seen a live game in weeks, but I have tix for the last two. Hoping the RAC rocks and we can win at least one of them. Tough, tough losses, but our level of play is right there - good enough to win against many NCAA teams. Our talent isn't as bad as everyone says and our coaching up of that talent has been amazing. I'm reasonably optimistic for the future under Pikiell.

 

[RUBigFrank]

Realize that every team that plays us is bringing their A game as no one wants to be known as a victim of Rutgers based on our first two years in the conference.

 

[rubaseball78]

I noticed this and the announcers noted it, why does Laurent not want to go up over his left shoulder (left shoulder towards basket)? Three times he had position and, instead of going right up over his left shoulder, he turned and tried to up over right shoulder. I believe two were blocked and one he may have drawn a foul. At least two, he would have had a clear shot going right up over left shoulder.

 

[rutger80]

I noticed this and the announcers noted it, why does Laurent not want to go up over his left shoulder (left shoulder towards basket)? Three times he had position and, instead of going right up over his left shoulder, he turned and tried to up over right shoulder. I believe two were blocked and one he may have drawn a foul. At least two, he would have had a clear shot going right up over left shoulder.

Noticed that as well. Unfortunately one of those times was when we had our last lead, 56-55. He drove from the right side, got to the rim and tried to go up on the right instead of his left. I believe it was blocked and they came down, got an easy bucket for the lead.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

one thing we need to learn is to NOT let teams get into a comfort zone in the first half and establish rhythm

 

[RUChoppin]

Laurent still seems raw, and I'm sure the staff is working on helping him improve his game. The foul waaay in the backcourt after the ball got tipped back there with 16 seconds left on the shot clock hurt my brain.

Sometimes he seems as though he's thinking too hard about what to do next, too - maybe next year he'll have internalized more of the coaching and will have more of a natural flow.

 

[Mr_Twister]

Realize that every team that plays us is bringing their A game as no one wants to be known as a victim of Rutgers based on our first two years in the conference.

I think a few of the Big Ten opponent coaches would disagree.

 

[koleszar]

Laurent still seems raw, and I'm sure the staff is working on helping him improve his game. The foul waaay in the backcourt after the ball got tipped back there with 16 seconds left on the shot clock hurt my brain.

Sometimes he seems as though he's thinking too hard about what to do next, too - maybe next year he'll have internalized more of the coaching and will have more of a natural flow.

I said this twice during the game thread. If he just went up with the ball he would have an easy shot. Instead he receives the pass pauses and thinks what to do next. Then by time he's made up his mind it's too late. It seems like he's playing nervous trying not to make a mistake.

 

[RUJMM78]

The first real sign of making progress would be having a winning league record at home and then number two try to split games on the road.Coming close is a feel good story but tangible results are needed to get recruits excited .I will be interested in seeing how Rutgers does in 2017-18 home and away .Status quo results should not be viewed as a positive sign.I also doubt attendance will increase until the RAC becomes once again a true home court advantage.