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GAME 15 WISCONSIN: For all intents and purposes, that's a wrap

bac2therac

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And with that the 2024-2025 Rutgers basketball season has come to a close....This team has all but run out of their nine lives to salvage a successful season. A successful season means an NCAA tournament appearance. A successful season rests on a blind faith miracle at this point. Mathmetically possible with an enormous 16 games left but that is the issue isn't. 15 games into the season sitting at 8-7 with 16 left, Rutgers has done zero to even put themselves in a resume. They are an afterhought nationally. They are going to be fighting just to make the Big 10 tournament. There is no resume. There is just one semi quality win. There are bad losses. There are bad metrics and bad predictive numbers. But beyond that the eye test is everything with this team. There is no metamorphis coming to turn an ugly worm into a beautiful butterfly and give flight to all our hopes and aspirations. There is nothing to even hint that Rutgers is capable of digging themselves out of this grave they reside in. Many saw the trouble early and perhaps now even the last holdouts are cognizant.

Obviously the loss of Dylan effected the trajectory of this game and the Indiana game. No I cannot say just if he was at 100%, the outcome of the past 2 games would have been changed. Dylan did not even look 50%. He appeared to be an old man who couldnt move out there. That means he was totally ineffective and likely hurt the team by having him in and played a big part in going down 33-17 early. Whether its flu or any other kind of injury it sucks because he is Rutgers only consistent and difference maker on offense that you can rely on each game. Its his team and it runs a certain way with him. Without him Rutgers actually played more like the Pike pounding nails, we are going to try to thread the needle with tough defense and a couple of timely shots in an ugly scrapfest. There were moments that it looked like Pike was going to pull it off. RU got so close within 3 and then was just repelled and the door rudely slammed in their face. A return in the late stages of the 2023 and 2024 offenses which we know are brutal.

For starters, RU was not ready to play this game and defend its home court. Struggled to score early and let Wisconsin just get confident right from the get go. RU down 12-3 early and that is not how you beat a Wisconsin team who is beatable but coming off an offensive high of 116. By the time RU could stablize itself and adjust, they spotted the Badgers a 33-17 and that was too much to overcome. Its a shame because played its best defense of the year in the latter stages of the first half and much of the 2nd. They chipped away and fought and hung around through adversity and got pokeways and got steals forcing Wisconsin into 16 turnovers converting them into points while generally protecting the ball themselves. For a moment there we could believe in them. The hard work and the pounding nails, you could see a classic Pikiell win in the hazy distance. At 60-57 nearing the 6 minute mark, RU had held Wisconsin to just 17 second half points in 14 minutes. An incredible stat to see given the defensive woes all year long. Alas just like this season it was not meant to me. Wisconsin closed the game out like men and did it in impressive fashion. RU's offense was shutdown while Wisconsin made shot after shot. Big credit to them because the Badgers had to work hard to get this one. In the end, a quick and deadly 13-2 over the course of the next 5 minutes sealed Rutgers fate and there with the last gasp of breath for the 2024-25 season.

I can tell you one thing though. With Dylan out, Rutgers played differently. It was not the same Rutgers. Rutgers slowed the possessions down, mucked it up and concentrated on turning Wisconsin over. That kind of gameplan does not happen with Dylan in the game. Its not a knock on Dylan, it is what it is. When Dylan it is in the game, he runs the show along with Ace. The focus is 100% on offense. That dye was cast a long time ago. Two players in particular one on offense...Tyson Acuff and one on defense Dylan Grant were unexpected highlights. I will admit and eat some crow on Grant. I said he was unplayable. Obviously I was wrong. Pike must have his methods to why he didnt play but DG stepped up big time given the opportunity in really buoying this team in the comeback. Some 3s and some blocks and some boards. 3-8f g, 8 points, 2 blocks and 3 offensive boards...probably the best all around off the bench performamce I have this year by anyone on Rutgers. Acuff made shots at times and was leading scorer with 17 points albeit on a shaky 6-15 fg in 30 minutes. How much do we take from these performances. On the latter, Acuff was the main option for offense besides Ace who was brick city. As @The RUT pointedout, Acuff was more comfortable in his position tonight with the ball. That does not happen when Dylan is in the game. While certainly it helps Acuff as volume shooter to see the ball go in the hoop, I would hesitate to put too much into this peformance given his role changes drastically when Harper comes back. Making back to back 3s and 3 overall definitely a plus but he also threw up some ugly bricks especially in the closing minutes and also had a key turnover. Certainly some plusses but still not convinced long term. Grant on the other hand has a higher ceiling right now and will be getting more minutes going forward. How many is the question and can he replicate this performance when the pace and tempo is slower than it would be with Harper in the game. I think off of this performance we will see less Martini and Hayes and less Egobole and more Summerville.

Further cementing the vultures circling the season were dismal performances from Jeremiah Williams just reduced to 22 minutes, 2-7 fg shooting and 4 points. 2 years ago, prominent posts and mods heralded his coming and that he was he a game changer. After his initial 3 game debut last year, everyone figured out and he was expected to be a leader and pivotal bridge player but now has turned into an afterthougt. J Mike had his moments today but again as a bridge player its just not enough. The bar was set so low for him early, we praise the improved play but its simply not nearly enough. Just 2 assists and if he is taking 10 shots that is simply too many for my liking. Ace Bailey was a disaster tonight. 3-16 fg, this was even worse than his debacle at Kennesaw. Plus he was in foul trouble and then goaded into an immature technical that fouled him out. Went from a phenomenal performance to a bricklaying performance in one game. Shot selection caught up with him tonight on a night we desperately needed him to perform to his press credentials. EO was awful...13 minutes and 1 board and blew his layup. He takes a small step forward then another large step back. Just not good enough. Lathan really didnt have a good game tonight, 6 points, but 4 of those on the last 2 possessions. He was a boy amongst the Wisconsin men. Derkack was okay today but again some good and his typical mistakes. He is a role player who has to be forced into more minutes because there simply isnt anyone else. Hayes had one layup but played only 4 minutes for some reason. Martini was lost as usual in 8 minutes. Pretty sobering and a reminder that this roster is not the kind of roster you compete for a NCAA bid.

Wisconsin...you see Wisconsins roster is. I know some were down on them after the departure of Hepburn and others but they brought back Crawl and Blackwell who has really blossomed this year and Tonje from Colorado State has been a super portal addition for Gard. They are so well coached and I was impressed with their ball movement. Even when their shots didnt go down, they were all great shots and everyone knew where they were suppose to be on the court. Experience and coaching matters and there was a clear difference..and without Dylan, Wisconsin easily had the talent advantage tonight. They will contend for the Big 10 title and be a tough out in the tourney. I think they struggled with RU throwing some wrinkles at them and kept the door open for RU to win the game. However their poise down the stretch in a tough environment was impressive and you can just see the stark difference between the two clubs.

There were positives tonight and that is a shock considering a double digit loss but in the grand scheme of things it seems too little too late too hollow. I refuse to fall for it. I felt going into the 3 game home stretch, RU had to win 2 to keep ANY hopes alive but likely needed 3 if we were being REALISTIC about things. Well this was likely the easiest of the 3 and each one gets progressively harder for different reasons. Now with Purdue and UCLA each one is a must win but this program is headed in the wrong direction. Nothing I saw tonight or at any other point this year shows me they are ready to turn a corner and sweep these next 2. Mathematically yes, but come on man. I am not living on blind faith and blind loyalty. I see the Fat Lady and she is near.
 
And with that the 2024-2025 Rutgers basketball season has come to a close....This team has all but run out of their nine lives to salvage a successful season. A successful season means an NCAA tournament appearance. A successful season rests on a blind faith miracle at this point. Mathmetically possible with an enormous 16 games left but that is the issue isn't. 15 games into the season sitting at 8-7 with 16 left, Rutgers has done zero to even put themselves in a resume. They are an afterhought nationally. They are going to be fighting just to make the Big 10 tournament. There is no resume. There is just one semi quality win. There are bad losses. There are bad metrics and bad predictive numbers. But beyond that the eye test is everything with this team. There is no metamorphis coming to turn an ugly worm into a beautiful butterfly and give flight to all our hopes and aspirations. There is nothing to even hint that Rutgers is capable of digging themselves out of this grave they reside in. Many saw the trouble early and perhaps now even the last holdouts are cognizant.

Obviously the loss of Dylan effected the trajectory of this game and the Indiana game. No I cannot say just if he was at 100%, the outcome of the past 2 games would have been changed. Dylan did not even look 50%. He appeared to be an old man who couldnt move out there. That means he was totally ineffective and likely hurt the team by having him in and played a big part in going down 33-17 early. Whether its flu or any other kind of injury it sucks because he is Rutgers only consistent and difference maker on offense that you can rely on each game. Its his team and it runs a certain way with him. Without him Rutgers actually played more like the Pike pounding nails, we are going to try to thread the needle with tough defense and a couple of timely shots in an ugly scrapfest. There were moments that it looked like Pike was going to pull it off. RU got so close within 3 and then was just repelled and the door rudely slammed in their face. A return in the late stages of the 2023 and 2024 offenses which we know are brutal.

For starters, RU was not ready to play this game and defend its home court. Struggled to score early and let Wisconsin just get confident right from the get go. RU down 12-3 early and that is not how you beat a Wisconsin team who is beatable but coming off an offensive high of 116. By the time RU could stablize itself and adjust, they spotted the Badgers a 33-17 and that was too much to overcome. Its a shame because played its best defense of the year in the latter stages of the first half and much of the 2nd. They chipped away and fought and hung around through adversity and got pokeways and got steals forcing Wisconsin into 16 turnovers converting them into points while generally protecting the ball themselves. For a moment there we could believe in them. The hard work and the pounding nails, you could see a classic Pikiell win in the hazy distance. At 60-57 nearing the 6 minute mark, RU had held Wisconsin to just 17 second half points in 14 minutes. An incredible stat to see given the defensive woes all year long. Alas just like this season it was not meant to me. Wisconsin closed the game out like men and did it in impressive fashion. RU's offense was shutdown while Wisconsin made shot after shot. Big credit to them because the Badgers had to work hard to get this one. In the end, a quick and deadly 13-2 over the course of the next 5 minutes sealed Rutgers fate and there with the last gasp of breath for the 2024-25 season.

I can tell you one thing though. With Dylan out, Rutgers played differently. It was not the same Rutgers. Rutgers slowed the possessions down, mucked it up and concentrated on turning Wisconsin over. That kind of gameplan does not happen with Dylan in the game. Its not a knock on Dylan, it is what it is. When Dylan it is in the game, he runs the show along with Ace. The focus is 100% on offense. That dye was cast a long time ago. Two players in particular one on offense...Tyson Acuff and one on defense Dylan Grant were unexpected highlights. I will admit and eat some crow on Grant. I said he was unplayable. Obviously I was wrong. Pike must have his methods to why he didnt play but DG stepped up big time given the opportunity in really buoying this team in the comeback. Some 3s and some blocks and some boards. 3-8f g, 8 points, 2 blocks and 3 offensive boards...probably the best all around off the bench performamce I have this year by anyone on Rutgers. Acuff made shots at times and was leading scorer with 17 points albeit on a shaky 6-15 fg in 30 minutes. How much do we take from these performances. On the latter, Acuff was the main option for offense besides Ace who was brick city. As @The RUT pointedout, Acuff was more comfortable in his position tonight with the ball. That does not happen when Dylan is in the game. While certainly it helps Acuff as volume shooter to see the ball go in the hoop, I would hesitate to put too much into this peformance given his role changes drastically when Harper comes back. Making back to back 3s and 3 overall definitely a plus but he also threw up some ugly bricks especially in the closing minutes and also had a key turnover. Certainly some plusses but still not convinced long term. Grant on the other hand has a higher ceiling right now and will be getting more minutes going forward. How many is the question and can he replicate this performance when the pace and tempo is slower than it would be with Harper in the game. I think off of this performance we will see less Martini and Hayes and less Egobole and more Summerville.

Further cementing the vultures circling the season were dismal performances from Jeremiah Williams just reduced to 22 minutes, 2-7 fg shooting and 4 points. 2 years ago, prominent posts and mods heralded his coming and that he was he a game changer. After his initial 3 game debut last year, everyone figured out and he was expected to be a leader and pivotal bridge player but now has turned into an afterthougt. J Mike had his moments today but again as a bridge player its just not enough. The bar was set so low for him early, we praise the improved play but its simply not nearly enough. Just 2 assists and if he is taking 10 shots that is simply too many for my liking. Ace Bailey was a disaster tonight. 3-16 fg, this was even worse than his debacle at Kennesaw. Plus he was in foul trouble and then goaded into an immature technical that fouled him out. Went from a phenomenal performance to a bricklaying performance in one game. Shot selection caught up with him tonight on a night we desperately needed him to perform to his press credentials. EO was awful...13 minutes and 1 board and blew his layup. He takes a small step forward then another large step back. Just not good enough. Lathan really didnt have a good game tonight, 6 points, but 4 of those on the last 2 possessions. He was a boy amongst the Wisconsin men. Derkack was okay today but again some good and his typical mistakes. He is a role player who has to be forced into more minutes because there simply isnt anyone else. Hayes had one layup but played only 4 minutes for some reason. Martini was lost as usual in 8 minutes. Pretty sobering and a reminder that this roster is not the kind of roster you compete for a NCAA bid.

Wisconsin...you see Wisconsins roster is. I know some were down on them after the departure of Hepburn and others but they brought back Crawl and Blackwell who has really blossomed this year and Tonje from Colorado State has been a super portal addition for Gard. They are so well coached and I was impressed with their ball movement. Even when their shots didnt go down, they were all great shots and everyone knew where they were suppose to be on the court. Experience and coaching matters and there was a clear difference..and without Dylan, Wisconsin easily had the talent advantage tonight. They will contend for the Big 10 title and be a tough out in the tourney. I think they struggled with RU throwing some wrinkles at them and kept the door open for RU to win the game. However their poise down the stretch in a tough environment was impressive and you can just see the stark difference between the two clubs.

There were positives tonight and that is a shock considering a double digit loss but in the grand scheme of things it seems too little too late too hollow. I refuse to fall for it. I felt going into the 3 game home stretch, RU had to win 2 to keep ANY hopes alive but likely needed 3 if we were being REALISTIC about things. Well this was likely the easiest of the 3 and each one gets progressively harder for different reasons. Now with Purdue and UCLA each one is a must win but this program is headed in the wrong direction. Nothing I saw tonight or at any other point this year shows me they are ready to turn a corner and sweep these next 2. Mathematically yes, but come on man. I am not living on blind faith and blind loyalty. I see the Fat Lady and she is near.
😎🍸
 
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Tomorrow I’ll tell people, “yeah seasons over, but I did make a @bac2therac post game thread last night”
I saw your post and thought you nailed it because most were running with an opposite thought about Acuff turning the corner. I wanted to give you full credit for that one! Hopefully you will tell your grandkids one day!

Acuff missed a bunch of shots late in crunch time that dampned my thoughts but RU was like 1-13 fg in the last 6 minutes or so..absolutely dreadful
 
Rutgers never had a lead in the game.

Thought tone of game was unfortunately dictated at beginning of game with JMike taking too many shots / missing them all and committing a turnover etc.

It was 10-2 after 3 minutes and we couldn’t recover.

To be fair, JMike played better as the game progressed

Ace shooting 3-16 magnified the ineptitude tonight.

Free throw shooting woes again tonight ! Ugh.

Thank goodness Dylan Grant was freed from jail and Acuff stepped up!

Don’t need to see Martini or Hayes anymore. Enough is enough already !

Onto Wisconsin- it’s amazing how this squad year after year wins 20 games and is always generally NCAA tourney bound !

Gard knows how to run an offense / recruit players that fits his system and recruits players who can shoot.
 
Rutgers never had a lead in the game.

Thought tone of game was unfortunately dictated at beginning of game with JMike taking too many shots / missing them all and committing a turnover etc.

It was 10-2 after 3 minutes and we couldn’t recover.

To be fair, JMike played better as the game progressed

Ace shooting 3-16 magnified the ineptitude tonight.

Free throw shooting woes again tonight ! Ugh.

Thank goodness Dylan Grant was freed from jail and Acuff stepped up!

Don’t need to see Martini or Hayes anymore. Enough is enough already !

Onto Wisconsin- it’s amazing how this squad year after year wins 20 games and is always generally NCAA tourney bound !

Gard knows how to run an offense / recruit players that fits his system and recruits players who can shoot.
Phil I heard you on TheKnightline tonight. I felt I was listening to the glorydays of NYC radio on the Art Rust Jr show with a a classic longtime caller
 
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Spot on recap, especially hate how spot on these recaps are after losses as they seem to bring back my level of pissedoffedness due to the accurate recap. That is the issue at this point, if we are being honest and accurate, this team is what it is and based upon the eye test we have all witnessed so far this year that there is no magic pill. That was my favorite part of the recap was the reference to the eye test and that nothing we have seen from this team indicates that they are ready to turn a corner. Mathematically there are 16 games left, but pragmatically there is not much hope that the math is going to add up to anything resembling an NCAA bid. Going back to the old days of Monday Night Football, after this one ended Dandy Don would have broken out into the first bars of “Turn out the lights, the party’s over” concerning our NCAA chances.
 
I agree with just about everything bac wrote except for holding out for the chance of the miracle run. ("Fantasy," you say. Oh, leave an old man alone!)

The fact of the matter is that if we give DG the benefit of the doubt given his thin body of work, we have not two, not three, but four legit Power Five players. I believe LS was rated around #100 recruit nationally. And I think DG was in the top 150. (Not sure about BD.) In the days of yore, though this season is disappointing to the point of dismal, there'd be bountiful hope for the future, as in "just wait!"

At the halfway point of the season (Is that the good news?), we know that Ace and a healthy DH are going to get plenty of minutes and for the most part excel. LS, though he's taken some heat, has overall performed well for a freshman big. Defense is going to take time, but clarify his role in terms of being a post scorer and kicking out (but a big man needs to eat, so he must know that he may be able to repost and actually get the ball back), and increase his minutes from twenty to 25. We are going to need DG next season and he seems to deserve his minutes, maybe 18-20 mpg based on performance and matchups.

In this sense, I think we can have it both ways: put our best product on the floor (I'm thinking best chance [slim, yes] for the Dance is to go into the B1G Tournament a few games over .500 and make it to the finals there) and also increase the likelihood of LS and DG returning.
 
Wisconsin...you see Wisconsins roster is. I know some were down on them after the departure of Hepburn and others but they brought back Crawl and Blackwell who has really blossomed this year and Tonje from Colorado State has been a super portal addition for Gard. They are so well coached and I was impressed with their ball movement. Even when their shots didnt go down, they were all great shots and everyone knew where they were suppose to be on the court. Experience and coaching matters and there was a clear difference..and without Dylan, Wisconsin easily had the talent advantage tonight.
I've been lurking the past couple of days and thought I'd give you a Wisconsin perspective on the game (I realize many will stop reading right there).

Other than FG shooting, that was a bad game by Wisconsin. The Badgers usually lose if they turn it over 8 more times than their opponent, give up 12 more ORebs than they get, and shoot only 6 FTs for the game. I don't honestly remember anything like that happening in a win before. Plus no Klesmit or Winter for the last quarter or so of the game (I know - cry me a river when your top 3 lottery pick barely played, but UW relies on those guys to play their roles, and their absence was felt). The difference in the game was UW going 24-35 inside the arc and RU going 18-47. That's the 12-point margin of victory/loss.

Also, just a minor correction that Tonje was at Mizzou last year and got hurt after having been at CSU prior to that.
 
I've been lurking the past couple of days and thought I'd give you a Wisconsin perspective on the game (I realize many will stop reading right there).

Other than FG shooting, that was a bad game by Wisconsin. The Badgers usually lose if they turn it over 8 more times than their opponent, give up 12 more ORebs than they get, and shoot only 6 FTs for the game. I don't honestly remember anything like that happening in a win before. Plus no Klesmit or Winter for the last quarter or so of the game (I know - cry me a river when your top 3 lottery pick barely played, but UW relies on those guys to play their roles, and their absence was felt). The difference in the game was UW going 24-35 inside the arc and RU going 18-47. That's the 12-point margin of victory/loss.

Also, just a minor correction that Tonje was at Mizzou last year and got hurt after having been at CSU prior to that.
I thought the Badgers were going to win by 30 but they started to tighten up toward the end of the first half and much of the 2nd. I think Rutgers got 15 points off turnovers. In the end RU did all the things needed to beat and disrupt Wisconsin,, they just failed to meet the moment down 3 and proceeded to shoot like 1-13 for a stretch when it mattered
 
I thought the Badgers were going to win by 30 but they started to tighten up toward the end of the first half and much of the 2nd. I think Rutgers got 15 points off turnovers. In the end RU did all the things needed to beat and disrupt Wisconsin,, they just failed to meet the moment down 3 and proceeded to shoot like 1-13 for a stretch when it mattered
Rutgers did a lot of things right, especially on the defensive end, to scrap its way back and get the score to 58-55 and then it was 60-57. They eventually had the ball down three with a chance to get within one or tie the game. Ace missed a one footed, Novitzki like fade away jumper and Wisconsin hit a three (think it was Tonje) to go up 6 and then RU could not do a thing the rest of the game. Turned out game was over when Wisconsin hit that three to go up 6.

There were some really good stretches for Rutgers last night, but it was the same issue this team has had all year which is playing somewhere close to an entire game of good and consistent basketball. The closest to a consistent, complete, and locked in game we saw from this group was the Columbia game. But other than that, each game has been filled with long stretches of inconsistency, lack of scoring, lack of rebounding and poor defense. If this team had displayed more consistency within games instead of playing only 20 good minutes of basketball over a 40 minute game, they probably would have 4 more wins this year. This team has more talent than last year’s team, yet still shares the same inability to win like last year’s team.
 
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The big lessons from this season to me are:

1. you have to recruit your style, no matter what. You can have star player that does their thing offensively, but the majority of players need to fit what the coaches coach. This team is missing a defensive eraser a la Montez Mathis or Caleb, and the role players are minus defenders

2. Subject to #1, you can’t let recruits also be the GM, especially in this era where it’s a 1 year commitment. Not bringing in a center to appease Sommerville is a huge mistake. There’s no guarantee he stays after the season, and now this season is wasted.

3. If this coaching staff can’t find a way to develop players in this landscape, it’s time to move on. It’s actually been concerning how little development has been seen the past 3 seasons. As a developmental program, we’ve seen huge leaps from Geo, Myles and Eugene, moderate leaps from Ron, Caleb…and that’s really it? At this point it looks more like they got lucky on some under recruited guys that had innate work ethic.
 
The big lessons from this season to me are:

1. you have to recruit your style, no matter what. You can have star player that does their thing offensively, but the majority of players need to fit what the coaches coach. This team is missing a defensive eraser a la Montez Mathis or Caleb, and the role players are minus defenders

2. Subject to #1, you can’t let recruits also be the GM, especially in this era where it’s a 1 year commitment. Not bringing in a center to appease Sommerville is a huge mistake. There’s no guarantee he stays after the season, and now this season is wasted.

3. If this coaching staff can’t find a way to develop players in this landscape, it’s time to move on. It’s actually been concerning how little development has been seen the past 3 seasons. As a developmental program, we’ve seen huge leaps from Geo, Myles and Eugene, moderate leaps from Ron, Caleb…and that’s really it? At this point it looks more like they got lucky on some under recruited guys that had innate work ethic.

Definitely feels like Pike got lucky with his initial recruiting classes. Talent evaluation has been horrific ever since
 
I think Rutgers got 15 points off turnovers.
From what I can tell in the short spurts I visit this board, you and a couple others are interested in stats. So, I'll offer you my standard rant about "points off turnovers". Tell me what the difference is between points scored after a dead-ball turnover and any other possession. Even points after a steal isn't that much different than points after a defensive rebound.

Hardly anybody does this (or maybe even understands it), but I prefer calculating the points lost due to turnovers. Last night, Wisconsin scored at 1.39 points per non-turnover possession. If they had zero turnovers (and scored at that rate), they would have scored 22 more points. For RU, with only 6 turnovers, they only lost 8 points. So it was +14 for RU.
 
I saw your post and thought you nailed it because most were running with an opposite thought about Acuff turning the corner. I wanted to give you full credit for that one! Hopefully you will tell your grandkids one day!

Acuff missed a bunch of shots late in crunch time that dampned my thoughts but RU was like 1-13 fg in the last 6 minutes or so..absolutely dreadful
We never had shooters but we always had tenacious defenders.

Now we have neither, especially when it counts.

Every team we face has multiple 3 point threats on the floor at the same time. We’re lucky if we have one or two, and then they rarely make any clutch shots.

Given our opponents’ superior 3 point shooters, driving into the paint and back door cuts are always open for them.

No one fears our 3 point shooting so they pack the paint and crash the boards for our inevitable misses. And when we do drive into the paint, perimeter defenders collapse on the ball and never pay a price because we don’t burn them with 3s.

People say it’s Pike’s lack of offensive coaching but if we had perimeter threats our offense wouldn’t be half as stagnant.

Why is it so hard for this coaching staff to bring in 3 pt shooters??? Or even guys that can hit free throws consistently?

Why?
 
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Excellent review per usual. Well done and you mostly nailed it.

However once again you like many other fans bend over backwards to support JMike. He’s a starter or is getting starter minutes and by no stretch is he a bridge player. You can’t just write off the faults. He had 29 minutes yesterday. JWill had 22 minutes. So JMike with 4-10 from the field and only two assists from the field was by far bigger problem than JWIll or arguably an equal issue IMHO. JWill for all his faults still a decent rebounder. 5 yesterday.

As Big East Phil noted the tone of the started early when we fell behind 8-2 and 12-3 and never recovered: “Thought tone of game was unfortunately dictated at beginning of game with JMike taking too many shots/missing them all and committing a turnover, etc.

I agree 100 percent. We never recovered. All the effort to get close…. At least two fans noted. Most of posters who ripped Simpson crickets when it comes to JMike, who may be more problematic.

If this had been Simpson you guys would absolutely be killing him. Instead we get “we praise the IMPROVED PLAY but it’s simply not enough.

Hypocrisy much?? Improved play. Perhaps his shooting has improved marginally at best but defense has declined significantly.

Again you guys killed Simpson as a sophomore who had better results. SMH.
It’s okay because he is an alleged bridge player, when he is anything not?? SMH again.

As disappointing and maybe ultimately devastating to our NCAA hopes and maybe I’m delusional as well but after the atrocious start I thought we played pretty well. Offensive rebounds a plus. Turnovers not too bad. Didn’t realize Derkack had 4. Lathan looks like improving defensively.

I can’t help but think as another poster posted if we had a healthy Dylan, we could have won these two games. I have not given up all hope but we may have dig a hole too deep. Schiano has had several comeback seasons mid season, why not Pike?

23-74 is inexcusable. Have to run a better offense.
6-13 from the line is even more inexcusable. It’s so disheartening. Have to fix it.

Acuff while his numbers weren’t great showed he can be a spark and if he gets healthy and in better shape maybe will be the instant offense we need.

Grant shows potential and looks to be the developmental player Pike loves.

Thought Derkack did his job but free throwing was supposed to be a strength and he has repeatedly hurt us at the line.

Ace was due for a let down game, hardly find fault with a one man team, double and tripled teamed. I do think a bit in love with baseline shot. Like to see more at the line and top of the key and easier to rebound.

Purdue while a Top 20 team is not the Top 5 team of last few years. Have to begin the climb back the next two games. One game at a time. Go RU!
 
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It was a wrap in offseason. The roster construction was confounding. It’s hard to think about where the program goes from here.
Next season is looking like a disaster unfortunately. Hard to imagine being able to recruit well after this season if it continues on this trajectory

Who even knows if Lathan Grant and Dortch will stay
 
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Lathan will be the man and will get the ball. He’d be unwise to move on.
 
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15 Chapters of a Disaster

GAME 1 WAGNER: New Chapter Begins
GAME 2 ST PETER'S: Learning to Fly
GAME 3 MONMOUTH: Yes they can score but...
GAME 4 MERRIMACK: That don't impress me much
GAME 5 KENNESAW STATE: From miles away
GAME 6 NOTRE DAME: Thanks for Harper
GAME 7 ALABAMA: Optimism, Caveat, and the Needle
GAME 8 TEXAS A&M: Get used to Groundhog Day
GAME 9 OHIO STATE: Stuck in a moment RU can't get out of
GAME 10 PENN STATE: Take it and run
GAME 11 SETON HALL: I will pass on the milk and cookies
GAME 12 PRINCETON: Season slipping away as every game is exactly the same
GAME 13 COLUMBIA: Hey a happy recap to end the year
GAME 14 INDIANA: Disappointment
GAME 15 WISCONSIN: For all intents and purposes, that's a wrap
 
Art Rust - that’s a name !
Sometime back in the '80s Art Rust Jr gave a talk at what was then called The Ledge. My friends and I still laugh about one comment he made. Someone asked him about why RU doesn't get more attention from the NY media. He said one problem is it is difficult dealing with the RU Athletic Dept as they seem to have a policy of keeping all information about the program "hermitically sealed" from the public.
 
15 Chapters of a Disaster

GAME 1 WAGNER: New Chapter Begins
GAME 2 ST PETER'S: Learning to Fly
GAME 3 MONMOUTH: Yes they can score but...
GAME 4 MERRIMACK: That don't impress me much
GAME 5 KENNESAW STATE: From miles away
GAME 6 NOTRE DAME: Thanks for Harper
GAME 7 ALABAMA: Optimism, Caveat, and the Needle
GAME 8 TEXAS A&M: Get used to Groundhog Day
GAME 9 OHIO STATE: Stuck in a moment RU can't get out of
GAME 10 PENN STATE: Take it and run
GAME 11 SETON HALL: I will pass on the milk and cookies
GAME 12 PRINCETON: Season slipping away as every game is exactly the same
GAME 13 COLUMBIA: Hey a happy recap to end the year
GAME 14 INDIANA: Disappointment
GAME 15 WISCONSIN: For all intents and purposes, that's a wrap
Well for me the good news is that this loss has cured me of the unreasonable expectations, due to the pre-season mega hype, that we would have this glorious path to a good seed in the NCAA tourney. I can relax and no longer need to watch the game live while telling my wife to delay dinner, followed by an ugly mood, etc. etc. Hope Dylan gets better.
 
Excellent write up BAC but I think you're too generous in your feint praise. Despite getting as close as 3 points down late in the game I never thought we could pull it off. Grant was a pleasant surprise and actually contributed off the bench. I agree about Martini--he offers nothing and looks completely lost on the floor. The first half defense was a disaster--absolutely no interior defense . I think there was one stretch when Wisconsin made basket after basket by driving the lane and making a seemingly uncontested shot. JMike had a nice game but is limited. JWill has regressed - the harder he tries the worse he is. He's trying to do too much and not let the game come to him. I commend his effort but so little to show for it. Ogbole's minutes need to be reduced. He's a liability on offense and doesn't do enough on defense and rebounding to take minutes from Summerville. This has been a very disappointing season with hopes sky high before the season only to come crashing down. Finally, the St John's pre-season game predicted our shortcomings.. We displayed offensive skills that we haven't seen in years but our lack of physicality , poor defense , and awful rebounding predicted the season to come. Many bought into the notion that defense and rebounding would improve as the season progressed but they haven't. We can improve only if we get some improved defense and rebounding from the center position and if Grant develops. Until then , more of the same.
 
Lathan will be the man and will get the ball. He’d be unwise to move on.
I don't think so....

Way I see it his offensive game has the maturity of a junior or senior. Very developed.

Unless he grows and his athleticism improves I don't see huge upside from here.
 
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1.Failure to achieve a NCAA bid will be deeply disappointing with Bailey and Harper on the roster.
2.Failure to even achieve a winning season will be totally unacceptable after last seasons fiasco.What will likely happen next season looks like more of the same futility.
3-Changes to the coaching staff are necessary to improve team performance at both ends of the court.
4.Status quo decision making will only lead to further disappointment.
5.Pikiell is a great representative for Rutgers University who faces the challenges of competing under the NIL and transfer portal environment.The old ways of player development over multiple seasons no longer apply.
 
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I don't think so....

Way I see it his offensive game has the maturity of a junior or senior. Very developed.

Unless he grows and his athleticism improves I don't see huge upside from here.
Think he will get stronger. Will become a better defensive player. Biggest improvement will be first year to second.
He’s first option next year. Right now looks like only option next year.
 
Think he will get stronger. Will become a better defensive player. Biggest improvement will be first year to second.
He’s first option next year. Right now looks like only option next year.
I am in the minority.....I'd prioritize Ogbole over Somerville next year.

That's if I can't get back DS0
 
I don't think so....

Way I see it his offensive game has the maturity of a junior or senior. Very developed.

Unless he grows and his athleticism improves I don't see huge upside from here.
Lathan went through a huge body transformation. He dropped a ton of weight. He will likely be stronger and more explosive next year after a full offseason

Plus every big man typically takes time to develop. He has shown skills but he could clean up his post game a lot still
 
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15 Chapters of a Disaster

GAME 1 WAGNER: New Chapter Begins
GAME 2 ST PETER'S: Learning to Fly
GAME 3 MONMOUTH: Yes they can score but...
GAME 4 MERRIMACK: That don't impress me much
GAME 5 KENNESAW STATE: From miles away
GAME 6 NOTRE DAME: Thanks for Harper
GAME 7 ALABAMA: Optimism, Caveat, and the Needle
GAME 8 TEXAS A&M: Get used to Groundhog Day
GAME 9 OHIO STATE: Stuck in a moment RU can't get out of
GAME 10 PENN STATE: Take it and run
GAME 11 SETON HALL: I will pass on the milk and cookies
GAME 12 PRINCETON: Season slipping away as every game is exactly the same
GAME 13 COLUMBIA: Hey a happy recap to end the year
GAME 14 INDIANA: Disappointment
GAME 15 WISCONSIN: For all intents and purposes, that's a wrap
Maybe the next is “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”
 
1.Failure to achieve a NCAA bid will be deeply disappointing with Bailey and Harper on the roster.
2.Failure to even achieve a winning season will be totally unacceptable after last seasons fiasco.What will likely happen next season looks like more of the same futility.
3-Changes to the coaching staff are necessary to improve team performance at both ends of the court.
4.Status quo decision making will only lead to further disappointment.
5.Pikiell is a great representative for Rutgers University who faces the challenges of competing under the NIL and transfer portal environment.The old ways of player development over multiple seasons no longer apply.
Deeply disappointing is an understatement.
 
Excellent review per usual. Well done and you mostly nailed it.

However once again you like many other fans bend over backwards to support JMike. He’s a starter or is getting starter minutes and by no stretch is he a bridge player. You can’t just write off the faults. He had 29 minutes yesterday. JWill had 22 minutes. So JMike with 4-10 from the field and only two assists from the field was by far bigger problem than JWIll or arguably an equal issue IMHO. JWill for all his faults still a decent rebounder. 5 yesterday.

As Big East Phil noted the tone of the started early when we fell behind 8-2 and 12-3 and never recovered: “Thought tone of game was unfortunately dictated at beginning of game with JMike taking too many shots/missing them all and committing a turnover, etc.

I agree 100 percent. We never recovered. All the effort to get close…. At least two fans noted. Most of posters who ripped Simpson crickets when it comes to JMike, who may be more problematic.

If this had been Simpson you guys would absolutely be killing him. Instead we get “we praise the IMPROVED PLAY but it’s simply not enough.

Hypocrisy much?? Improved play. Perhaps his shooting has improved marginally at best but defense has declined significantly.

Again you guys killed Simpson as a sophomore who had better results. SMH.
It’s okay because he is an alleged bridge player, when he is anything not?? SMH again.

As disappointing and maybe ultimately devastating to our NCAA hopes and maybe I’m delusional as well but after the atrocious start I thought we played pretty well. Offensive rebounds a plus. Turnovers not too bad. Didn’t realize Derkack had 4. Lathan looks like improving defensively.

I can’t help but think as another poster posted if we had a healthy Dylan, we could have won these two games. I have not given up all hope but we may have dig a hole too deep. Schiano has had several comeback seasons mid season, why not Pike?

23-74 is inexcusable. Have to run a better offense.
6-13 from the line is even more inexcusable. It’s so disheartening. Have to fix it.

Acuff while his numbers weren’t great showed he can be a spark and if he gets healthy and in better shape maybe will be the instant offense we need.

Grant shows potential and looks to be the developmental player Pike loves.

Thought Derkack did his job but free throwing was supposed to be a strength and he has repeatedly hurt us at the line.

Ace was due for a let down game, hardly find fault with a one man team, double and tripled teamed. I do think a bit in love with baseline shot. Like to see more at the line and top of the key and easier to rebound.

Purdue while a Top 20 team is not the Top 5 team of last few years. Have to begin the climb back the next two games. One game at a time. Go RU!
Excellent review per usual. Well done and you mostly nailed it.

However once again you like many other fans bend over backwards to support JMike. He’s a starter or is getting starter minutes and by no stretch is he a bridge player. You can’t just write off the faults. He had 29 minutes yesterday. JWill had 22 minutes. So JMike with 4-10 from the field and only two assists from the field was by far bigger problem than JWIll or arguably an equal issue IMHO. JWill for all his faults still a decent rebounder. 5 yesterday.

As Big East Phil noted the tone of the started early when we fell behind 8-2 and 12-3 and never recovered: “Thought tone of game was unfortunately dictated at beginning of game with JMike taking too many shots/missing them all and committing a turnover, etc.

I agree 100 percent. We never recovered. All the effort to get close…. At least two fans noted. Most of posters who ripped Simpson crickets when it comes to JMike, who may be more problematic.

If this had been Simpson you guys would absolutely be killing him. Instead we get “we praise the IMPROVED PLAY but it’s simply not enough.

Hypocrisy much?? Improved play. Perhaps his shooting has improved marginally at best but defense has declined significantly.

Again you guys killed Simpson as a sophomore who had better results. SMH.
It’s okay because he is an alleged bridge player, when he is anything not?? SMH again.

As disappointing and maybe ultimately devastating to our NCAA hopes and maybe I’m delusional as well but after the atrocious start I thought we played pretty well. Offensive rebounds a plus. Turnovers not too bad. Didn’t realize Derkack had 4. Lathan looks like improving defensively.

I can’t help but think as another poster posted if we had a healthy Dylan, we could have won these two games. I have not given up all hope but we may have dig a hole too deep. Schiano has had several comeback seasons mid season, why not Pike?

23-74 is inexcusable. Have to run a better offense.
6-13 from the line is even more inexcusable. It’s so disheartening. Have to fix it.

Acuff while his numbers weren’t great showed he can be a spark and if he gets healthy and in better shape maybe will be the instant offense we need.

Grant shows potential and looks to be the developmental player Pike loves.

Thought Derkack did his job but free throwing was supposed to be a strength and he has repeatedly hurt us at the line.

Ace was due for a let down game, hardly find fault with a one man team, double and tripled teamed. I do think a bit in love with baseline shot. Like to see more at the line and top of the key and easier to rebound.

Purdue while a Top 20 team is not the Top 5 team of last few years. Have to begin the climb back the next two games. One game at a time. Go RU!
I think Simpson get killed because of the ridiculous expectations people put on him due to what they thought was a strong final 6 or 7 games his freshman year. He actually wasn't great in that stretch, although he made things much easier on Cam. I went into last year cautioning people he wasn't as good as they were expecting and came out of it trying to explain he wasn't as bad as people think (yes, his shooting was that bad though).
JMike, people just grasping at any growth.
 
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I don't think so....

Way I see it his offensive game has the maturity of a junior or senior. Very developed.

Unless he grows and his athleticism improves I don't see huge upside from here.
But even the current incarnation of Lathan is enough to guarantee him a lot of minutes if he stays
 
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