What a win tonight, good to feel legit and part of the Big 10.....first back to back conference win in 20 years. What a difference a week makes. It was hard not to be down on this team they way they finished with 10 losses in 11 games but the resiliency shown in the last 2 games, seems like they find ways to come back from the dead. It wasnt a game where RU won at the buzzer or trailed and then just got it at the end. This was a game that RU fought for and deserved. Unbelievably they were the better team on the court tonight. The RU faithful took over at the end wresting control of the Garden from a loud Indiana contingent who had less to cheer for as the game went on. Great to see alot of RU faithful at the end congregating and cheering on the team in the aftermath of the game.
Pikiell was downright bossin the game coaching...Well from maybe 12 minutes in on make no mistake about it, his moves, his adjustments, his substitutions and lineups were all spot on.
First time these two teams played I thought that Miller coached the pants off of Pikiell. Both teams came off of short rests and tough loss against much better opponents. Miller not only had his team mentally ready but also prepped his team perfectly on Rutgers....totally shutting them down on offense and exploiting them on defense,.
In the first 10 minutes of the game, it looked a repeat of that game. However Pike inserted Freeman into the game and it sparked just an anemic looking offense, then I was pissed because Freeman came out and then the lead went to 24-8 and Indiana looked like they would win by 30 plus. After a timeout not sure of the time, Freeman came back in, and RU started to get in the passing lines and anticipate the passes and get some steals for easy baskets. Once that happened it seemed like RU loosened up and they starting knocking down shots.
From then on RU played some pretty stifiling defense on Indiana the rest of the game while hitting the boards hard. I have no clue what Pike said in that huddle down 24-8 and I know I was posting expletives at this team at that time in the game thread (yes I shouldnt be doing that), but that timeout and whatever he told his players was the catalyst for one of the most scintillating games I have witnessed the program win in quite some time, not because Indiana is some great team but because it quite possibly represented a tangible growth in the program building. Beating a blue blood at least in name in the Big 10 tournament...around that timeout there was a trivia question with who had the most NCAA tournament appearances and it was Indiana with like 39. And here was RU getting embarrassed down 16 and all they started to do was steal the ball, make shots, and suddenly they had the lead and all the monmentum...and then it didnt stop, RU just kept it up and up and they deserved this game so much. Corey kept making play after play shot after shot. Eugene with patience in the paint to work his shot. Geo making a big time 3 at 53-50 and then nailing his free throws down the stretch....last but not least De Sean Freeman 15 points/8 boards...as said before he was the catalyst, Corey may have been the star but DeSean stepped up head on straight and simply produced. Major kudos and good to see DeSeasn going out as a Knight like this, what a difference two weeks make since he was benched for a whole game. Also props to Pike for allowing DeSean to given another chance to contribute.
Back to Corey...omfg he has had some great games at RU where he took over but tonight could have been his best...after absolutely no showing the first 12 minutes he just turned on the focus and jets. Some of the shots and moves he made were amazing even for him. His dunk at the end to split the defenders. It was clear Corey wanted the ball and was willing to risk failure to make the plays needed to win..yes even that ill fated steal try where he fouled Indy player with 19 seconds leading to them cutting it to 3. And even as he was the man tonight, what was so great to see was that it didnt turn out to be just Corey, as mentioned before it was everybody contributing on defense and offense and fight.
Now its house money, bask in the glory Rutgers, tired legs will be a factor against Purdue but wouldnt be surprised to see the momentum and adrenaline lift get this team to play over their heads for stretches tomorrow. Its March and there is madness so that's why they play the game.
Pikiell was downright bossin the game coaching...Well from maybe 12 minutes in on make no mistake about it, his moves, his adjustments, his substitutions and lineups were all spot on.
First time these two teams played I thought that Miller coached the pants off of Pikiell. Both teams came off of short rests and tough loss against much better opponents. Miller not only had his team mentally ready but also prepped his team perfectly on Rutgers....totally shutting them down on offense and exploiting them on defense,.
In the first 10 minutes of the game, it looked a repeat of that game. However Pike inserted Freeman into the game and it sparked just an anemic looking offense, then I was pissed because Freeman came out and then the lead went to 24-8 and Indiana looked like they would win by 30 plus. After a timeout not sure of the time, Freeman came back in, and RU started to get in the passing lines and anticipate the passes and get some steals for easy baskets. Once that happened it seemed like RU loosened up and they starting knocking down shots.
From then on RU played some pretty stifiling defense on Indiana the rest of the game while hitting the boards hard. I have no clue what Pike said in that huddle down 24-8 and I know I was posting expletives at this team at that time in the game thread (yes I shouldnt be doing that), but that timeout and whatever he told his players was the catalyst for one of the most scintillating games I have witnessed the program win in quite some time, not because Indiana is some great team but because it quite possibly represented a tangible growth in the program building. Beating a blue blood at least in name in the Big 10 tournament...around that timeout there was a trivia question with who had the most NCAA tournament appearances and it was Indiana with like 39. And here was RU getting embarrassed down 16 and all they started to do was steal the ball, make shots, and suddenly they had the lead and all the monmentum...and then it didnt stop, RU just kept it up and up and they deserved this game so much. Corey kept making play after play shot after shot. Eugene with patience in the paint to work his shot. Geo making a big time 3 at 53-50 and then nailing his free throws down the stretch....last but not least De Sean Freeman 15 points/8 boards...as said before he was the catalyst, Corey may have been the star but DeSean stepped up head on straight and simply produced. Major kudos and good to see DeSeasn going out as a Knight like this, what a difference two weeks make since he was benched for a whole game. Also props to Pike for allowing DeSean to given another chance to contribute.
Back to Corey...omfg he has had some great games at RU where he took over but tonight could have been his best...after absolutely no showing the first 12 minutes he just turned on the focus and jets. Some of the shots and moves he made were amazing even for him. His dunk at the end to split the defenders. It was clear Corey wanted the ball and was willing to risk failure to make the plays needed to win..yes even that ill fated steal try where he fouled Indy player with 19 seconds leading to them cutting it to 3. And even as he was the man tonight, what was so great to see was that it didnt turn out to be just Corey, as mentioned before it was everybody contributing on defense and offense and fight.
Now its house money, bask in the glory Rutgers, tired legs will be a factor against Purdue but wouldnt be surprised to see the momentum and adrenaline lift get this team to play over their heads for stretches tomorrow. Its March and there is madness so that's why they play the game.
