Unbelievable! What a game! What a gritty performance by the players! What a coaching effort! What a crowd! What a signature win!
Just so many superlatives today as RU did the unexpected against a team that on paper simply has more talent. Its not just talent that wins games. Its desire, effort, heart and coaching. If you don't have some of those you cannot win. RU and Pike took SHU and Willard to the woodshed in the department as the Pirates simply crumbled under the cacophony of the RAC crowd. SHU had no response when RU upped its game at two points in the 2nd half and Pike's coaching ran circles around a bewildered Willard who was rendered to a limp catatonic state by games end.
There were several times in this game where it appeared that RU would get run out of the building. SHU came ready to play jumping on RU very early as it seemed like they brought their A game. Neutralizing the crowd at the start eventually their lead got to 26-13 and things were not looking good for RU. But credit to the RU players as they have done most of this season. Resilient as usual they faced adversity and managed to crawl back into the game in the by the last minute of the first half managing to get within 6. An ill advised last minute though saw the Pirate lead bulge to 10 at half.
Quite frankly at halftime it looked like RU simply did not have the horses. Everytime RU would cut and chip away, SHU answered with a 3 or a dunk. In fact at halftime I said, this team is not ready to win a game like this in this kind of environment and pressure situation and we would have to wait for more talent. Well I was wrong, dead wrong. The team, the staff, and the program grew up in the 2nd half. They just put their head down and kept doing things the Pikiell way...scrapping, rebounding, getting into those lanes to get hands on balls to cause turnovers, getting back to playing tough D and all of a sudden the game was tied. RU was dominating the so called better team. At 54 all, RU had all the momentumn in this game and the RAC was absolutely rocking. But perhaps more impressive than that rally was the mettle that RU showed after SHU went on that 9-0 spurt that made it seem like uh oh here we go, game over. Again the bugaboo that had plagued RU vs FSU/Minny/MSU....being able to make a shot in the half court to respond to the opponent's run. Well this time it was different. Started with Freeman who struggled all day with his shot and then ending with Corey simply taking over. I have been harsh on Corey all year because in games against cupcakes, he wasnt even the best player on the court. Today against a top 15 school, he was. Corey brought it into showtime. His two jumpers sandwiched between two made free throws put RU in control and gave them the breathing space to close out the game. Big time performance from him today. 22 points on 9-16 shooting and quite a game on defense registering 4 steals. This is the in control, steady Corey we have all been looking for.
And make no mistake about it, this was a team win as well. Everyone chipped in. Eugene continues to grow leaps and bounds. He stepped up and made two huge free throws at 69-65. Nearly registering a double double with 11 point and 9 boards. The key here is he is starting to do this against quality opponents. Huge huge progression for him. DeSean Freeman can be frustrating at times with his missed chippies and forcing ill advised no chance shots...struggling at just 3-14 his energy and his rebounding was that of a war horse. 16 boards and managed to get 12 points. Mike Williams another struggle with his shot but contributing in other ways most importantly 20 minutes of needed time with 2 steals and 4 boards. Mike came up with a huge steal with RU down 63-61 and also skyed for a big board at 68-65 on a missed 3 point shot by SHU.. Geo Baker, what can you say. Exceeding even the most optimistic expectations. Once again logging the most minutes at 36 and playing way beyond his freshmen years...17 points, 4 assists, only 1 turnover and getting to the line. For a freshmen to play so well in this kind of game and atmosphere is impressive. The other guys Doorson, Sa, and Thiam all relatively quiet but did exactly what their role was. They stepped up the plate and gave mistake free minutes. Seems unimpressive but what they did today was so vital to the rest of the team being able to claw back in.
And all of this is because of Steve Pikiell and his staff. Last year I would notice RU starting out slow against some cupcakes but sticking to their gameplan, making some adjustments and then suddenly good things happening. Today followed the same script. The Pikiell way....heart, desire, rebounding, coaching. RU won the game because they continue to follow the Pikiell way and stay composed in adversity. He has found a way to keep the kids working hard with their head in the game even as they struggle so mightily with their shot. If you told me RU would shoot 34% today and win by 6 today, I would have said you were nuts. Look no further than the offensive rebounding stats....19-13, that was huge today. SHU was the complete antithesis of RU today. A team who thought they could win just on talent alone and thought that a 9-10 point lead is enough to win. Short term, of course SHU is in a better spot than RU, long term is a different story. I wouldnt trade one of their players for ours..especially the thug Powell with his cheap shot, nor would I take their coach who was rendered to a pile of blue mush by games end.
Lets get to atmosphere, I am sure there are other threads speficially on the RAC....we can clearly say that today the RAC WAS BACK. This wasnt a pretend RAC crowd, I have heard some platitude of great crowd given to other games...meh....today, this game...the 8300 they crammed in there..today we got our RAC back, more importantly we got the HOPE back in the program that it does not matter what opponent is coming in, RU fans BELIEVE they will win in this magical pit of horrors that has become a graveyard for ranked teams all the while Rutgers itself has been quite mediocre
One last note...expectations...that a discussion for other threads, another day. Probably need to slow down with them right now. We have seen RU in this spot before with big wins over ranked opponents...Fla/UConn under Rice....and all those wins under Bannon/Waters. I think we know we are clearly on the right path to the promised land but not so sure we can pinpoint where exactly that is.
Just so many superlatives today as RU did the unexpected against a team that on paper simply has more talent. Its not just talent that wins games. Its desire, effort, heart and coaching. If you don't have some of those you cannot win. RU and Pike took SHU and Willard to the woodshed in the department as the Pirates simply crumbled under the cacophony of the RAC crowd. SHU had no response when RU upped its game at two points in the 2nd half and Pike's coaching ran circles around a bewildered Willard who was rendered to a limp catatonic state by games end.
There were several times in this game where it appeared that RU would get run out of the building. SHU came ready to play jumping on RU very early as it seemed like they brought their A game. Neutralizing the crowd at the start eventually their lead got to 26-13 and things were not looking good for RU. But credit to the RU players as they have done most of this season. Resilient as usual they faced adversity and managed to crawl back into the game in the by the last minute of the first half managing to get within 6. An ill advised last minute though saw the Pirate lead bulge to 10 at half.
Quite frankly at halftime it looked like RU simply did not have the horses. Everytime RU would cut and chip away, SHU answered with a 3 or a dunk. In fact at halftime I said, this team is not ready to win a game like this in this kind of environment and pressure situation and we would have to wait for more talent. Well I was wrong, dead wrong. The team, the staff, and the program grew up in the 2nd half. They just put their head down and kept doing things the Pikiell way...scrapping, rebounding, getting into those lanes to get hands on balls to cause turnovers, getting back to playing tough D and all of a sudden the game was tied. RU was dominating the so called better team. At 54 all, RU had all the momentumn in this game and the RAC was absolutely rocking. But perhaps more impressive than that rally was the mettle that RU showed after SHU went on that 9-0 spurt that made it seem like uh oh here we go, game over. Again the bugaboo that had plagued RU vs FSU/Minny/MSU....being able to make a shot in the half court to respond to the opponent's run. Well this time it was different. Started with Freeman who struggled all day with his shot and then ending with Corey simply taking over. I have been harsh on Corey all year because in games against cupcakes, he wasnt even the best player on the court. Today against a top 15 school, he was. Corey brought it into showtime. His two jumpers sandwiched between two made free throws put RU in control and gave them the breathing space to close out the game. Big time performance from him today. 22 points on 9-16 shooting and quite a game on defense registering 4 steals. This is the in control, steady Corey we have all been looking for.
And make no mistake about it, this was a team win as well. Everyone chipped in. Eugene continues to grow leaps and bounds. He stepped up and made two huge free throws at 69-65. Nearly registering a double double with 11 point and 9 boards. The key here is he is starting to do this against quality opponents. Huge huge progression for him. DeSean Freeman can be frustrating at times with his missed chippies and forcing ill advised no chance shots...struggling at just 3-14 his energy and his rebounding was that of a war horse. 16 boards and managed to get 12 points. Mike Williams another struggle with his shot but contributing in other ways most importantly 20 minutes of needed time with 2 steals and 4 boards. Mike came up with a huge steal with RU down 63-61 and also skyed for a big board at 68-65 on a missed 3 point shot by SHU.. Geo Baker, what can you say. Exceeding even the most optimistic expectations. Once again logging the most minutes at 36 and playing way beyond his freshmen years...17 points, 4 assists, only 1 turnover and getting to the line. For a freshmen to play so well in this kind of game and atmosphere is impressive. The other guys Doorson, Sa, and Thiam all relatively quiet but did exactly what their role was. They stepped up the plate and gave mistake free minutes. Seems unimpressive but what they did today was so vital to the rest of the team being able to claw back in.
And all of this is because of Steve Pikiell and his staff. Last year I would notice RU starting out slow against some cupcakes but sticking to their gameplan, making some adjustments and then suddenly good things happening. Today followed the same script. The Pikiell way....heart, desire, rebounding, coaching. RU won the game because they continue to follow the Pikiell way and stay composed in adversity. He has found a way to keep the kids working hard with their head in the game even as they struggle so mightily with their shot. If you told me RU would shoot 34% today and win by 6 today, I would have said you were nuts. Look no further than the offensive rebounding stats....19-13, that was huge today. SHU was the complete antithesis of RU today. A team who thought they could win just on talent alone and thought that a 9-10 point lead is enough to win. Short term, of course SHU is in a better spot than RU, long term is a different story. I wouldnt trade one of their players for ours..especially the thug Powell with his cheap shot, nor would I take their coach who was rendered to a pile of blue mush by games end.
Lets get to atmosphere, I am sure there are other threads speficially on the RAC....we can clearly say that today the RAC WAS BACK. This wasnt a pretend RAC crowd, I have heard some platitude of great crowd given to other games...meh....today, this game...the 8300 they crammed in there..today we got our RAC back, more importantly we got the HOPE back in the program that it does not matter what opponent is coming in, RU fans BELIEVE they will win in this magical pit of horrors that has become a graveyard for ranked teams all the while Rutgers itself has been quite mediocre
One last note...expectations...that a discussion for other threads, another day. Probably need to slow down with them right now. We have seen RU in this spot before with big wins over ranked opponents...Fla/UConn under Rice....and all those wins under Bannon/Waters. I think we know we are clearly on the right path to the promised land but not so sure we can pinpoint where exactly that is.
