Best shit kicking of Seton Hall since a 1998 81-49 beatdown of a Tommy Amaker led SHU team
Best atmosphere since Florida overtime win 2011 on the eve of the Pinstripe Bowl
Biggest win in Steve Pikiell era
Most meaningful win with the spotlight on Rutgers since sometime maybe in 2006 under Waters
Quietest Seton Hall Pirate fans in the history of the RAC
Best halftime entertainment ever.
Wow
Today was something else. The RAC was truly juiced and unlike some previous times, it delivered along with the team. It was one of the rare beatdowns right from the tip. I remember a game back in 1991 with the last RU NCAA team vs Temple on a Friday night against a good Owl team that RU jumped on them like 18-2 and went on to win easily (I think it was game just two days before flying out to play UNLV). Games like these do not come around often but when it comes together, the RAC and the team really feed off of each other and the opponents just becomes stuck in their mistery. RU did everything right from that electricifying alley oop from Myles to Ron and right after that a Geo assist for another Ron slam to draining 3s at a ridiculous clip to the incredible swarming D which was relentlessly harrassing SHU and forcing turnovers for transition opportunities. Before you know it, it was 19-3 with about 8 minutes gone and it would balloon to 28-7 at one point before the Pirates finally got up from Rutgers laying about a dozen haymakers on them.
Kyk was right. This was men against boys. Honestly SHU looked a tall county college team. A bunch of lanky tall players who are not particularly good at anything they do and who were thrown around like rag dolls on the board. 46-29 RU rebounding advantage are you kidding me. There was not one thing that the Pirates did better than Rutgers did today..not one. It was as complete an utter devastating beatdown that I have seen from this program vs a quality opponent in years. And what was so great is that RU kept the level of play strong throughout. Sure they werent able to keep the hot shooting from early on and there were some offensive lulls but this game never got closer than 13. Everytime SHU looked like they could sneak back in, RU simply whacked them...and at 47-34 a point where RU just had 2 points in 5 minutes, it was a Ron Harper stretch where he hit a 3 and converted an old fashion 3 point play that sealed the deal for RU and the fat lady was singing with still over 9 minutes left in the game. Such a satisfying complete win from start to finish. Offense to defense. Major credit goes to such a team effort and major credit goes to Pikiell for his gameplan and getting his team mentally ready but not overhyped..remember last year a couple of games they came in way too crazy. Do not overlook the mental aspect of what the coaching staff has to do, its such a huge balance act between instilling confidence and swagger and a team with their hair on fire trying to do too much.
Last game I really complimented Geo for taking over a being the man. I never expect Geo to the man every night and to be the leading scorer but I do expect him provide the leadership which allows others to step up and produce. I really do think the performance the other night helped this team step up and risk failure to seek reward. It started mainly with the defensive effort but you could see that Harper was a man on a mission and Myles was just a beast on the boards with his 13 boards and staying out of foul trouble. Caleb was smooth tonight, he seemed to just get his at important moments whether it was a steal or a bucket or a 3. I dont need to see Caleb being the focal point of the offense., I love this Caleb tonight, 4-5 shooting, 9 points, 3 steals. How about Yeboah? Seems like each game he is gathering his confidence and is more comfortable in becoming aggressive in taking his shots.Those were big 3s tonight, He played a game high 30 minutes and his size definitely bothered SHU, 8 rebounds, 14 points, 2 blocks, his best game thus far. Mathis only bucket but very good defense. His stat line isnt impressive but thats the key here. Mathis has a knack to force things a little so deferring to others tonight, big step...4 assists tonight. As said before Geo wasnt the go to guy. He did have a strong first half though and 5 assists, doing it other ways and that is a leader. Shaq provided valuable minutes and had one really nice looking shot. He just has to play his role, nothing more. Mulcahy got 13 minutes, again played his role, this wasnt going to be the matchup where he had to do anything. Young...well I will let others talk about him. 1-6, 2 points, 5 turnovers 2 fouls in just 18 minutes. He clearly is struggling. And RU did turn it over 19 teams, if they cleaned up some of the sloppy stretches they would have won by 40 tonight. When this team can get over some of the sloppiness and bad shot selection it will be a NCAA team. They are getting there but it may take another year for them to truly understand.
Powell was out for the 2nd half and Mamu being out also hurt SHU but guess what, I don't care. RU was winning when Powell was in and would have won anyway. No one has shed tears for RU misfortune so dont let anyone try to take the savor out of this win today. Wishing the best for Powell because he is a once in a lifetime type player so hopefully he has a speedy recovery although concussion can be brutal to get back from for a hoops player
And now what is next, well traditionally RU follows up big wins with ridiculous losses. Lafayette will be dangerous befor Christmas. RU has now strung 2 solid wins together back to back....Wisconsin and SHU. The issue the past two decades is they really cannot put that 4-5-6 game win streak together to vault the program forward. I am not one who likes to look ahead too far but really seeing big time opportunity with these two last non conference games, a trip to the worst team in the Big 10 and then a home game vs PSU. How those 4 games go down are going to shape the expectations for this team as we get the meat of the schedule. Again RU good at being the hunter not so proven as the hunted. Lets see what happens. Still no matter what we have seen the team grow exponentially since that bad loss to St Bonnies and even since that flat effort vs Pitt. Every game will not be at the RAC so the team has to make its own energy when it hits the road but today just may mark a big turning point in the season.
One note about the RAC....as I said best atmosphere since Florida. It needs to be that way not just for Penn State but for every league game. Penn State needs this atmosphere. Fanbase has to step up because some of those games during break RU hasnt done a good job bringing it. We need to establish the RAC as the pit it used to be and can be once again.
Best atmosphere since Florida overtime win 2011 on the eve of the Pinstripe Bowl
Biggest win in Steve Pikiell era
Most meaningful win with the spotlight on Rutgers since sometime maybe in 2006 under Waters
Quietest Seton Hall Pirate fans in the history of the RAC
Best halftime entertainment ever.
Wow
Today was something else. The RAC was truly juiced and unlike some previous times, it delivered along with the team. It was one of the rare beatdowns right from the tip. I remember a game back in 1991 with the last RU NCAA team vs Temple on a Friday night against a good Owl team that RU jumped on them like 18-2 and went on to win easily (I think it was game just two days before flying out to play UNLV). Games like these do not come around often but when it comes together, the RAC and the team really feed off of each other and the opponents just becomes stuck in their mistery. RU did everything right from that electricifying alley oop from Myles to Ron and right after that a Geo assist for another Ron slam to draining 3s at a ridiculous clip to the incredible swarming D which was relentlessly harrassing SHU and forcing turnovers for transition opportunities. Before you know it, it was 19-3 with about 8 minutes gone and it would balloon to 28-7 at one point before the Pirates finally got up from Rutgers laying about a dozen haymakers on them.
Kyk was right. This was men against boys. Honestly SHU looked a tall county college team. A bunch of lanky tall players who are not particularly good at anything they do and who were thrown around like rag dolls on the board. 46-29 RU rebounding advantage are you kidding me. There was not one thing that the Pirates did better than Rutgers did today..not one. It was as complete an utter devastating beatdown that I have seen from this program vs a quality opponent in years. And what was so great is that RU kept the level of play strong throughout. Sure they werent able to keep the hot shooting from early on and there were some offensive lulls but this game never got closer than 13. Everytime SHU looked like they could sneak back in, RU simply whacked them...and at 47-34 a point where RU just had 2 points in 5 minutes, it was a Ron Harper stretch where he hit a 3 and converted an old fashion 3 point play that sealed the deal for RU and the fat lady was singing with still over 9 minutes left in the game. Such a satisfying complete win from start to finish. Offense to defense. Major credit goes to such a team effort and major credit goes to Pikiell for his gameplan and getting his team mentally ready but not overhyped..remember last year a couple of games they came in way too crazy. Do not overlook the mental aspect of what the coaching staff has to do, its such a huge balance act between instilling confidence and swagger and a team with their hair on fire trying to do too much.
Last game I really complimented Geo for taking over a being the man. I never expect Geo to the man every night and to be the leading scorer but I do expect him provide the leadership which allows others to step up and produce. I really do think the performance the other night helped this team step up and risk failure to seek reward. It started mainly with the defensive effort but you could see that Harper was a man on a mission and Myles was just a beast on the boards with his 13 boards and staying out of foul trouble. Caleb was smooth tonight, he seemed to just get his at important moments whether it was a steal or a bucket or a 3. I dont need to see Caleb being the focal point of the offense., I love this Caleb tonight, 4-5 shooting, 9 points, 3 steals. How about Yeboah? Seems like each game he is gathering his confidence and is more comfortable in becoming aggressive in taking his shots.Those were big 3s tonight, He played a game high 30 minutes and his size definitely bothered SHU, 8 rebounds, 14 points, 2 blocks, his best game thus far. Mathis only bucket but very good defense. His stat line isnt impressive but thats the key here. Mathis has a knack to force things a little so deferring to others tonight, big step...4 assists tonight. As said before Geo wasnt the go to guy. He did have a strong first half though and 5 assists, doing it other ways and that is a leader. Shaq provided valuable minutes and had one really nice looking shot. He just has to play his role, nothing more. Mulcahy got 13 minutes, again played his role, this wasnt going to be the matchup where he had to do anything. Young...well I will let others talk about him. 1-6, 2 points, 5 turnovers 2 fouls in just 18 minutes. He clearly is struggling. And RU did turn it over 19 teams, if they cleaned up some of the sloppy stretches they would have won by 40 tonight. When this team can get over some of the sloppiness and bad shot selection it will be a NCAA team. They are getting there but it may take another year for them to truly understand.
Powell was out for the 2nd half and Mamu being out also hurt SHU but guess what, I don't care. RU was winning when Powell was in and would have won anyway. No one has shed tears for RU misfortune so dont let anyone try to take the savor out of this win today. Wishing the best for Powell because he is a once in a lifetime type player so hopefully he has a speedy recovery although concussion can be brutal to get back from for a hoops player
And now what is next, well traditionally RU follows up big wins with ridiculous losses. Lafayette will be dangerous befor Christmas. RU has now strung 2 solid wins together back to back....Wisconsin and SHU. The issue the past two decades is they really cannot put that 4-5-6 game win streak together to vault the program forward. I am not one who likes to look ahead too far but really seeing big time opportunity with these two last non conference games, a trip to the worst team in the Big 10 and then a home game vs PSU. How those 4 games go down are going to shape the expectations for this team as we get the meat of the schedule. Again RU good at being the hunter not so proven as the hunted. Lets see what happens. Still no matter what we have seen the team grow exponentially since that bad loss to St Bonnies and even since that flat effort vs Pitt. Every game will not be at the RAC so the team has to make its own energy when it hits the road but today just may mark a big turning point in the season.
One note about the RAC....as I said best atmosphere since Florida. It needs to be that way not just for Penn State but for every league game. Penn State needs this atmosphere. Fanbase has to step up because some of those games during break RU hasnt done a good job bringing it. We need to establish the RAC as the pit it used to be and can be once again.
:chairshot:I agree!:chairshot:
