Players make plays, big time players make big time plays. Coaches coach, Winners win.
What a crazy and exasperating game featuring a wild swing in momentum that RU gained back at just the right time. It happened so fast it left you wondering did this just happen. If one thing is clear about Rutgers this season that may be quite different than other versions of Pike's teams. This particular team fights on and finds way to grasp victory from the jaws of defeat. Uncannily it seems like Rutgers has played virtually the same game on the road 3 times in Big 10 play. The Pikiell Blueprint. The thread the needle. Its amazing. At OSU, the game was tied at 57 with 3:44 left. At Purdue the game was tied at 55 with 3:44 left. At Northwestern the game was tied at 55 with 3:44 left. And the storyline of tonights game followed fully matched the Purdue game in that RU got up by 10 or so and led throughout but could never pull away and then had to withstand a late charge where RU was desperately trying to hold on. In both games some may say officiating was a factor. In both games, RU seemed to lose their composure. In both games, RU lost the lead late. In both games, they regrouped. In both games, Cam Spencer delivered the winning shot. Didnt hear Pike's post game comments but he loves these winning ugly games where the offense just scraps enough and the D comes up big in the right moments. Not many coaches could pull this off in the country. This blueprint of his which requires his team buy in and stick to their task. The close margins drive us crazy but can you argue with its success. Pike's confidence in his team to come up big, put the bad parts of the game or poor officiating behind them and buckled down and win those last 200 seconds of the game is bold and striking. On paper, RU lost to OSU state but in reality they won the game. RU beat Purdue because they made that one extra play. RU beat Northwestern because they made two big stops and a big time shot. Pikiell owns these moments.
RU did so many things right for much of the first 33 minutes. There would be no slow start and RU took any chance of the crowd being much of factor. RU established that they were going to be physical and Northwestern was going to have make a lot of 3s if they wanted to win this game. Any inside game was shut down and RU was getting just enough on offense to control tempo. Sure RU should have been up more and it was maddening that everytime RU got up 10, here came the Wildcats with 3. Later in the 2nd half it seemed like the refs were calling the game tight and the fouls mounted on RU. I thought RU didnt handle those moments all that wall and it torpedoed a few offensive possessions. But then suddenly, the Cats had all the momentum, went from 52-43 down to 53-52 up. They would extend that lead to 4 at 62-58 on a ridiculous banked in 3 that had me declaring GOODNIGHT IRENE in the game thread. That completed a 19-6 run over about 5:40 of play. Northwestern had scored on 11 straight possessions. They were taking it to Rutgers and taking the game away. You have to make plays to win games, no one is handing you a win as you try to hold on. Rutgers fans know they have seen this movie before but this isnt the same Rutgers team is it? RU dug deep and finished the game on a 7-0 run. They rewon this game.
But man what does Cam Spencer mean to this program. Well without him, we would be in trouble. I was not saying that in the early games vs decent schools where Cam couldnt hit anything and looked a bit scared. Now we have Cam becoming a big time player. His shot at Purdue was no fluke and tonights shot was the result of great coaching and great execution by his teammates mainly Paul and Cliff. Pike has to be commended to have a play in his arsenal where Cam gets such clean wide open look. Cam was 3-7 fg at half and then hit a couple of 3s in the opening minutes of the 2nd half but then RU lost its focus and RU was struggling on offense, it seemed like Cam wasnt getting any touches or shots. Ok the banker may or may not have been called but at 58-55, RU needed that one to go down to tie it up. After Paul's clutch free throws to cut it to 2. RU got the stop on a Mag rebound setting up Cam for his moment. Then with ice in his veins he delivered the free throws to seal the deal. Big time players make big time shots. Cam finished with 23 points, 7-13 fg, 6-7 from 3, 3-3 ft, 4 boards. Also dont forget that assist late to Hyatt for a needed 3. Cam's best game yet as a Scarlet Knight.
Dont forget Paul who even though he seemed to lose some composure at times came up big on the last two possessions. Drawing that foul, making that one and one and then setting up the play for Cam. Paul struggled with his shot again just 4-13 but finished with 12 points, 6 boards, 6 assists, 2 steals in a warrior like 37 minutes. This was a good bounceback from the Iowa game for Paul. I know he had a big game last year for Northwestern and they were playing tough D on him. Paul really had to work to distribute the ball to put his teammates in the right positions. Being a leader even when the shots arent falling, Paul did everything else he needed to and overcame some adversity with the officials.
Cliff....struggled in the first half, was beat on D, couldnt finish around the rim. Still wound up with 9 boards and he basically made the NU big a non entity on offense holding him to 2. When Cliff is getting a whopping 3 assists you know he is contributing in other ways as well. Also was in on that turnover by Buie after Cam hit the 3. Its 3-4 games now I think he has struggled with his shot and I think Pike is starting to move away from Cliff at least for now as one of the main options. Seems if Cliff cannot be established early its just not happening. Can you imagine how dominant Rutgers can be if Cliff can get back to playing like we have seen him in the past.
Mag was silently effective on offense tonight, especially early and finish 4-5 fg with 8 points in just 15 minutes. Foul trouble and to be honest he struggled a bit in the first half. When he wasnt fouling, his D was good as usual. Hyatt took his minutes and Hyatt delivered especially late with some shots and most of hitting the floor for that all important tie up that with 7 seconds left. Looking at Hyatts stat line its like the same every game and that brings a smile to make face. Embracing the role even with expanded minutes and not forcing anything, 3-7 fg, 2-3 from 3, 10 points, 3 boards, 2 assists. Hyatt being Hyatt and that is now a good thing!. Caleb shut down the NU guards for the most part. Neither Buie or Audiege ever got any kind of momentum this game shooting a combined 8-25. Caleb had another one of those late turnovers in crunch time and it was far from his best game just a little off for him, it happens. Not much offensively with just 4 points. Reiber gave us 6 minutes got a nice bucket and followed on an illfated jam but probably played 2 minutes too long as RU got abused on the boards during a stretch where Dean was in. Derek gave 9 minutes, no points, no factor at all and got beat a couple times on D. Learning lesson for him. I like Pike is limiting his minutes. Woolfolk all of sudden riding pine didnt get into the game. Pike really rode the starters this game....wow.....Paul and Cam with 37, Caleb 36, Cliff 34. Worked tonight but yet what a miracle worker Pike is. Threading that needle with Hyatt as an option for scoring off the bench.
Is their a fine line between winning and losing. Not getting it done tonight would have been sort of crushing coming off the Iowa loss given that RU had a small cushion and was in control much of the game. I wouldnt say this was a must win but its the kind of game a program needs to win to be taken seriously as Big 10 title contender and also you never want to start a losing streak in this league because every game is war. Some wars are easier than others. Northwestern is a good team, much improved. They snuck on some teams. Not sure if they will make a NCAA run but they have a chance because they do play solid D. Getting wins like these means you dont have that pressure to HAVE to win at Michigan State or Wisconsin or Illinois later in the season. Tonight also alleviated any fears stemming from the loss at home to Iowa. Was it Rutgers best game, far from it but going on the road and finding ways to win. These are the type of losses that RU fans would watch other teams get at the RAC in the Bannon and Waters and Rice years. RU just won its 2nd road league game in 3 tries and they really won the other one. That is taking the next step up. In some ways at least for the NET and resume purposes getting that road win at Northwestern is better than winning at home vs Iowa. Ohio State is a big rematch game but hopefully the players do not get caught up in what happened last game. Thats for the fans only. I think we will see RU getting back to playing RAC basketball and not what we saw vs Iowa. OSU is a really good team and well coached. However the status of Zed Key could play a major role on Sunday. No win is a must win. Its one game at a time. Win a war and move onto the next battle which will unfold with all kinds of different variables and complexities. Yet its a comfort heading into the next stretch of games knowing that the Pikiell blueprint is coming up roses
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