Just another night in the Big 10, was it every in doubt?
Hard to zero in on any one particular theme today since this was a true team win with just everybody contributing to this wonderful hard fought victory. Yet it always seems to come back to the spinning wheel that Pikiell has constructed in Piscataway. Rutgers success this year revolves around it being "in sync" Not the greatest recruits, certainly not the most prolific of shooters or offenses. Yet probably the most relentless and unforgiving defenses in the country. There is no program in the country above Rutgers in the tough as nails category. These teeth are sharp and vicious and for large stretches of the game, Rutgers would take bites and chunks out of the prolific Buckeye offense allowing Pikiell to once again wave his wand and thread the needle yet again.
I brought it up last recap but it is not a coincidence that once again, RU finds itself in familiar territory with 3:44 to go. The previous 4 were on the road...
Miami 59-58
Ohio State tied at 57
Purdue tied at 55
Northwestern tied at 55
now add Ohio State again tied at 55
So despite the angst on offense where RU could not finish around the rim and try to get some cushion down the stretch, RU played elite level defense for much of the game and that put them right there ready to play a 3-4 minute game to close it out, It took an extra session to secure the victory today yet Rutgers is becoming more comfortable in these spots. Never going to win all the close games but its pretty clear these situations are moments where RU is comfortable being and the poise they showed in overtime vs their opponent was the difference maker.
I referenced "teeth" earlier and its easy to circle back to Mawot Mag. Mag is the teeth of this Rutgers defense. He is the unsung guy. Never going to be mistake free on either side of the ball. He is at his best by quietly going about his work on defense and then scrapping for all the get out. Mag has generally been quietly brilliant the past few weeks. While everyone is a cog in the wheel, Cam gets the attention for his shot making, Paul gets the attention for his vision, Caleb for his prolific career as a defensive stopper, Cliff has the shot blocker and dunk maker. Yet Mag who is the "other" starter, the one not talked about. Mag has throttled his energy and controlled it. You saw it today. Whether it was learning to pull back on a transition run out or sending a couple of threes smoothly through the net. While it was a team effort today, no shot was bigger than Mag's corner 3 which gave RU its biggest lead of the game to that point at 65-61 with 38 seconds left. Mawot was not done as he absolutely sealed the game with 2 free throws with 21 seconds left putting RU up 6. There were other shots today too, Mag started us off in the 2nd half and then added a critical bucket to tie the game at 55 late. His defense doesnt show up in the stats so it was pretty nice he had the stat line on offense to get him some much deserved attention. Mag had 15 points, 5-6 fg, 2-3 from 3, 3-4 at the line, a whopping 8 boards,.
I am going to post some links because we need to remember what this kid has been through, not only at Rutgers with a bunch of tooth injuries but also just getting out of his home country of Sudan. Mag is the epitome of how working hard can lead to a dream. We need to appreciate his story because sometimes that gets lost in the course of a season.
A link to a Jerry Carino article from 3 years back about Mag's journey from Sudan to Egypt to Australia to the United States https://www.app.com/story/sports/college/2019/12/18/rutgers-basketball-mawot-mag/2674833001/
Then two more articles about Mag and his teeth, one incident in high school and yet another at Rutgers
https://www.nj.com/sports/2020/01/w...recruit-fights-tooth-and-nail-on-defense.html
this one another from Carino https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...etball-mawot-mag-dental-surgeries/6585866001/
No doubt that Mag truly is the toughest nail in the teeth of the Rutgers defense
But as I said this was a team win. The D was there early and the usual potent Buckeye offense was held scoreless for 5 minutes. Unfortunately the RU offense was brutal, missing chippies and turning it over. RU went through an abysmal stretch for 5 minutes where they were held scoreless as OSU ran off 15 straight points. All of sudden it looked like Iowa all over again. OSU was hot from 3 and RU looked like they were unprepared to match the energy. A Mag 3 got things started and RU finally settled down. RU was playing indeed playing national championship level defense for the rest of the first half holding the Buckeyes to just 8 points over the final 11 minutes, in fact RU held them to just 3 points in the last 8 minutes. All of sudden the RAC crowd was into it and it was loud...real loud and the crowd easily deserves to be awarded several assists on defense. So all things considered after missing a bunch of makeable shots, down just 3 at half was just a testament to the RU D for just flummoxing a high octane offense used to scoring 35-40 points a half.
2nd half RU needed to assert themselves right out of the gate and that they did. But it was an unlikely catalyst that jump started the Scarlet Knights plight. Stevie Pikiell got called for a technical, reported his first? after I believe Caleb was pushed out of the way for a rebound. The Buckeyes hit the free throws but the RAC was enraged and once the spirits in the building are summonedm there is no way to put those genies bac into the bottle. The Rutgers faithful would be engaged and on their feet the rest of the game. The team was fired up again and the refs delivered a string of favorable calls to RU starting with a late gift foul call on a Spencer 3. Cam drained them all and we are tied. After a RAC aided turnover by OSU, Cam delivered RU first lead since the opening minutes and it was officially a brand new ball game. The lead would seesaw back and forth in a slugfest for a few minutes and RU took its biggest lead at 3 at 38-35. The Buckeyes would respond in a big way, regrouping and reeling off a quick 9-0 run to go up 6. Derek Simpson didnt play much today but lets just say his drive on the baseline flipped in to end that run was much needed. From there it was a rockfight.
An overlooked moment in this game was Cam coming from out of nowhere on Mag missed 3 with 7:54 left. Cam was fouled by Key which was his fourth. What a heady play by Cam who drained his shots and RU retook the lead. , Cliff elevated his game. After a woeful offensive start, Cliff was showing up when it mattered. Ditto for Paul who had an abysmal shooting night yet delivered a crucial 3. Unbelievably RU was in its blueprint trying to thread the needle. RU was rebounding better late and they were not turning it over. Paul found Cliff for a dunk that sent the RAC into a frenzy and RU was up 57-55. OSU wasnt going away and tied it at 57 and RU withstood not the best of shots by Sensabaugh to win the game for OSU. Send it into overtime and had to like RU's chances. OSU would just not go away. Credit them...they were never really intimidated by the crowd. Yet felt they were fading toward the end of overtime. Younger team and RU was more experienced in all ways. OSU had lost so many close games this year....UNC, Purdue and yes even the last game vs RU. Cliff was a monster on the boards and then Mag took over with his rebound and then draining his wide open 3 on an assist from Paul. The shot of the game.
The game at times was exhausting for the fan but when you come out of with a win, you feel so good. That was a hard fought win vs a very very good offensive team. To limit them to just 57 points in regulation and only 34% shooting was delightful. Yes if RU had a decent offensive game that could finish, RU likely wins by 10 but they are what they are. Rutgers gets there with defense not offense. Pikiell will almost always have RU in position to win and then give guys chances to step up and deliver a winning shot. A couple key things in this game that contributed to the win. RU had about 6 turnovers in the first 12 minutes of the game, yet they would only have 4 more in the next 33 minutes. Huge, huge huge. Another factor was rebounding, OSU still won that battle, 46-44 but I believe at the point where OSU retook the lead by 6, RU was starting to get hammered on the boards and I believe RU was behind by 8 in rebounds. RU did a much better job late including cutting the gap on the offense boards in the final few minutes of regulation.
As for players, I talked about Mag. Cliff was so much more effective in the 2nd half on offense delivering 14 points, 11 boards and a whopping 6 blocks and a fine 6-8 at the line. Cliff went from hurting the team at times early to we wouldnt have won the game without him by the final buzzer. Paul struggled with shooting, some just not even close yet was still a warrior in 42 minutes with 4 assists and one turnover. He kept the ball moving even when he and his teammates were not always successful shooting. Caleb may have been frustrating with his shot selection and 4-13 fg isnt good but cannot fault him for his defensive effort...43 minutes, 7 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals 1 turnover. Cannot take it granted what he brings to our team even with the head scratching decision making at times. Last but not least...Cam Spencer...team high 21 points, so many key plays, boards, steals, shots. Just a sick line...21 points, 9-11 ft, 7 boards, 6 assists, 4 steals and one turnover.....wow. How is that for an encore from the Northwestern game. Derek just 9 minutes and not sure he is ready for the big stage yet other than for minutes and to play a role. Solid and hit that big needed bucket. Ditto for Reiber in just 4 minutes. Spelled Cliff, got a defensive stop and board. Miller gave 2 minutes of defense and Wolf struggled in his 4 minutes. Hyatt meanwhile did not have a memorable game. A bunch of mistakes during that period where OSU went on a 15-0 run. Hyatt was just 0-4 fg and his minutes were cut to 19 after playing so solidly at Northwestern
OSU is good but not great. This is a game that Rutgers SHOULD be winning, protecting their home court especially in light over the disappointment vs Iowa. Combine this with the win at Northwestern and now there is not any pressure on RU heading out to East Lansing next week. You can never feel too comfortable in this league and things can change in a real hurry but you can feel very uncomfortable. The Buckeyes find themselves in that spot right now. Ditto for the Wildcats. Rutgers at 5-2 is now in sole possession of 2nd place and racking up another Q1 win (at least for now). Always better to fortify that resume in January so you do not have to do it in March.
Hard to zero in on any one particular theme today since this was a true team win with just everybody contributing to this wonderful hard fought victory. Yet it always seems to come back to the spinning wheel that Pikiell has constructed in Piscataway. Rutgers success this year revolves around it being "in sync" Not the greatest recruits, certainly not the most prolific of shooters or offenses. Yet probably the most relentless and unforgiving defenses in the country. There is no program in the country above Rutgers in the tough as nails category. These teeth are sharp and vicious and for large stretches of the game, Rutgers would take bites and chunks out of the prolific Buckeye offense allowing Pikiell to once again wave his wand and thread the needle yet again.
I brought it up last recap but it is not a coincidence that once again, RU finds itself in familiar territory with 3:44 to go. The previous 4 were on the road...
Miami 59-58
Ohio State tied at 57
Purdue tied at 55
Northwestern tied at 55
now add Ohio State again tied at 55
So despite the angst on offense where RU could not finish around the rim and try to get some cushion down the stretch, RU played elite level defense for much of the game and that put them right there ready to play a 3-4 minute game to close it out, It took an extra session to secure the victory today yet Rutgers is becoming more comfortable in these spots. Never going to win all the close games but its pretty clear these situations are moments where RU is comfortable being and the poise they showed in overtime vs their opponent was the difference maker.
I referenced "teeth" earlier and its easy to circle back to Mawot Mag. Mag is the teeth of this Rutgers defense. He is the unsung guy. Never going to be mistake free on either side of the ball. He is at his best by quietly going about his work on defense and then scrapping for all the get out. Mag has generally been quietly brilliant the past few weeks. While everyone is a cog in the wheel, Cam gets the attention for his shot making, Paul gets the attention for his vision, Caleb for his prolific career as a defensive stopper, Cliff has the shot blocker and dunk maker. Yet Mag who is the "other" starter, the one not talked about. Mag has throttled his energy and controlled it. You saw it today. Whether it was learning to pull back on a transition run out or sending a couple of threes smoothly through the net. While it was a team effort today, no shot was bigger than Mag's corner 3 which gave RU its biggest lead of the game to that point at 65-61 with 38 seconds left. Mawot was not done as he absolutely sealed the game with 2 free throws with 21 seconds left putting RU up 6. There were other shots today too, Mag started us off in the 2nd half and then added a critical bucket to tie the game at 55 late. His defense doesnt show up in the stats so it was pretty nice he had the stat line on offense to get him some much deserved attention. Mag had 15 points, 5-6 fg, 2-3 from 3, 3-4 at the line, a whopping 8 boards,.
I am going to post some links because we need to remember what this kid has been through, not only at Rutgers with a bunch of tooth injuries but also just getting out of his home country of Sudan. Mag is the epitome of how working hard can lead to a dream. We need to appreciate his story because sometimes that gets lost in the course of a season.
A link to a Jerry Carino article from 3 years back about Mag's journey from Sudan to Egypt to Australia to the United States https://www.app.com/story/sports/college/2019/12/18/rutgers-basketball-mawot-mag/2674833001/
Then two more articles about Mag and his teeth, one incident in high school and yet another at Rutgers
https://www.nj.com/sports/2020/01/w...recruit-fights-tooth-and-nail-on-defense.html
this one another from Carino https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...etball-mawot-mag-dental-surgeries/6585866001/
No doubt that Mag truly is the toughest nail in the teeth of the Rutgers defense
But as I said this was a team win. The D was there early and the usual potent Buckeye offense was held scoreless for 5 minutes. Unfortunately the RU offense was brutal, missing chippies and turning it over. RU went through an abysmal stretch for 5 minutes where they were held scoreless as OSU ran off 15 straight points. All of sudden it looked like Iowa all over again. OSU was hot from 3 and RU looked like they were unprepared to match the energy. A Mag 3 got things started and RU finally settled down. RU was playing indeed playing national championship level defense for the rest of the first half holding the Buckeyes to just 8 points over the final 11 minutes, in fact RU held them to just 3 points in the last 8 minutes. All of sudden the RAC crowd was into it and it was loud...real loud and the crowd easily deserves to be awarded several assists on defense. So all things considered after missing a bunch of makeable shots, down just 3 at half was just a testament to the RU D for just flummoxing a high octane offense used to scoring 35-40 points a half.
2nd half RU needed to assert themselves right out of the gate and that they did. But it was an unlikely catalyst that jump started the Scarlet Knights plight. Stevie Pikiell got called for a technical, reported his first? after I believe Caleb was pushed out of the way for a rebound. The Buckeyes hit the free throws but the RAC was enraged and once the spirits in the building are summonedm there is no way to put those genies bac into the bottle. The Rutgers faithful would be engaged and on their feet the rest of the game. The team was fired up again and the refs delivered a string of favorable calls to RU starting with a late gift foul call on a Spencer 3. Cam drained them all and we are tied. After a RAC aided turnover by OSU, Cam delivered RU first lead since the opening minutes and it was officially a brand new ball game. The lead would seesaw back and forth in a slugfest for a few minutes and RU took its biggest lead at 3 at 38-35. The Buckeyes would respond in a big way, regrouping and reeling off a quick 9-0 run to go up 6. Derek Simpson didnt play much today but lets just say his drive on the baseline flipped in to end that run was much needed. From there it was a rockfight.
An overlooked moment in this game was Cam coming from out of nowhere on Mag missed 3 with 7:54 left. Cam was fouled by Key which was his fourth. What a heady play by Cam who drained his shots and RU retook the lead. , Cliff elevated his game. After a woeful offensive start, Cliff was showing up when it mattered. Ditto for Paul who had an abysmal shooting night yet delivered a crucial 3. Unbelievably RU was in its blueprint trying to thread the needle. RU was rebounding better late and they were not turning it over. Paul found Cliff for a dunk that sent the RAC into a frenzy and RU was up 57-55. OSU wasnt going away and tied it at 57 and RU withstood not the best of shots by Sensabaugh to win the game for OSU. Send it into overtime and had to like RU's chances. OSU would just not go away. Credit them...they were never really intimidated by the crowd. Yet felt they were fading toward the end of overtime. Younger team and RU was more experienced in all ways. OSU had lost so many close games this year....UNC, Purdue and yes even the last game vs RU. Cliff was a monster on the boards and then Mag took over with his rebound and then draining his wide open 3 on an assist from Paul. The shot of the game.
The game at times was exhausting for the fan but when you come out of with a win, you feel so good. That was a hard fought win vs a very very good offensive team. To limit them to just 57 points in regulation and only 34% shooting was delightful. Yes if RU had a decent offensive game that could finish, RU likely wins by 10 but they are what they are. Rutgers gets there with defense not offense. Pikiell will almost always have RU in position to win and then give guys chances to step up and deliver a winning shot. A couple key things in this game that contributed to the win. RU had about 6 turnovers in the first 12 minutes of the game, yet they would only have 4 more in the next 33 minutes. Huge, huge huge. Another factor was rebounding, OSU still won that battle, 46-44 but I believe at the point where OSU retook the lead by 6, RU was starting to get hammered on the boards and I believe RU was behind by 8 in rebounds. RU did a much better job late including cutting the gap on the offense boards in the final few minutes of regulation.
As for players, I talked about Mag. Cliff was so much more effective in the 2nd half on offense delivering 14 points, 11 boards and a whopping 6 blocks and a fine 6-8 at the line. Cliff went from hurting the team at times early to we wouldnt have won the game without him by the final buzzer. Paul struggled with shooting, some just not even close yet was still a warrior in 42 minutes with 4 assists and one turnover. He kept the ball moving even when he and his teammates were not always successful shooting. Caleb may have been frustrating with his shot selection and 4-13 fg isnt good but cannot fault him for his defensive effort...43 minutes, 7 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals 1 turnover. Cannot take it granted what he brings to our team even with the head scratching decision making at times. Last but not least...Cam Spencer...team high 21 points, so many key plays, boards, steals, shots. Just a sick line...21 points, 9-11 ft, 7 boards, 6 assists, 4 steals and one turnover.....wow. How is that for an encore from the Northwestern game. Derek just 9 minutes and not sure he is ready for the big stage yet other than for minutes and to play a role. Solid and hit that big needed bucket. Ditto for Reiber in just 4 minutes. Spelled Cliff, got a defensive stop and board. Miller gave 2 minutes of defense and Wolf struggled in his 4 minutes. Hyatt meanwhile did not have a memorable game. A bunch of mistakes during that period where OSU went on a 15-0 run. Hyatt was just 0-4 fg and his minutes were cut to 19 after playing so solidly at Northwestern
OSU is good but not great. This is a game that Rutgers SHOULD be winning, protecting their home court especially in light over the disappointment vs Iowa. Combine this with the win at Northwestern and now there is not any pressure on RU heading out to East Lansing next week. You can never feel too comfortable in this league and things can change in a real hurry but you can feel very uncomfortable. The Buckeyes find themselves in that spot right now. Ditto for the Wildcats. Rutgers at 5-2 is now in sole possession of 2nd place and racking up another Q1 win (at least for now). Always better to fortify that resume in January so you do not have to do it in March.
