ACE hasn’t been getting dumb fouls and some of them are because some other player missed their assignment and he was covering for them. ACE hasn’t been in foul trouble in many games. Yesterday’s 2 techs were immaturity. But that has zero to do with Pike taking him out at 53-50 with a lead and he could not be guarded and could not miss. You go up 10-12 then maybe buy a few minutes not when you are in a 1 possession game. He realized his mistake and had ACE at the scoring table for over a minute as Penn State went on the 9-0 run to go up 59-53 before he called the timeout. As bad a move to not identify momentum and realize how hot your player was. Pike has repeatedly cooled off our players by subbing them out after they hit a few in a row and it has nothing to do with the other team who could not stop our player. This has to stop.
GAME 19 PENN STATE: Shattered Dreams
- Thread starter bac2therac
- Start date
Ok that’s fair BUT when Pike sees his decision not working at all and the game slipping away, WHY not call timeout to get Ace back in and stop the bleeding?
Please don’t say timeouts are important because Pike burned his last with 2:30 left in the game. Another terrible decision btw
Disagree. ACE is not selfish and will pass to open players as he fed Lathan a number of times last night. But I would rather him shooting than passing to JMike , Jordan or Jeremiah that would make 2-10 three point shots when left wide open and 2 of the 3 cannot finish at the rim. Ace has become more and more efficient as the year has gone by and last night was a lengendary epic performance shooting 13-15 and 30 points. 16 for 19 and 36 might have won the game.
He didn’t hit a wall . He had the “flu “ lost 12 pounds and tweaked his ankle. No reason for that narrative.
I was screaming at the TV for Pike to call a timeout when PSU had scored 7 in a row. It was clear the momentum had changed and things were slipping away, but for some reason, he let them play on.
In my mind, the big mistake was NOT Pike subbing out Ace up 53-50 -- the guy has to rest at some point, and I think he had played the first 11 minutes of the second half -- but rather not calling a TO after the 7-0 run.
Huh? You making up things to defend now? Who said anything about Ace being selfish? I don't disagree with you, Ace, on the season now, is probably just as efficient as Dylan. My point was he's special to watch.
Incredible how many of these legendary 30+ points a night performances from these guys we are wasting. Pike found a way for us to still suck.
Just chiming in that I have a different opinion. While the 17 turnovers, two technical fouls on Ace, and overall poor performance by the "supporting cast" were problematic, the game was lost when Dylan turned his ankle. If he plays close to his norm, we win that game fairly handily, despite all the other issues. His health also cost us the Wisconsin game. You reverse these two outcomes, and the NCAA is firmly within reach.
I get the point that if you're good, you overcome these things. So I guess we're not good. But like the football team, these guys have had some pretty rotten luck.
I get the point that if you're good, you overcome these things. So I guess we're not good. But like the football team, these guys have had some pretty rotten luck.
Dylan has had a few games where he starts off slow, but he almost always turns it on later in the first half and in the second half. The ankle injury in this game prevented him from turning things up at all the entire game.
On a macro level, we are what we are — a team with two superstars and a ragtag collection of supporting castmembers that is extremely flawed. We play every game tooth and nail, and having a less than 100% Dylan Harper was absolutely a major factor in the loss.
Meh, Paul almost punched a guy near the end of a critical game.
Disagree. Ace’s stamina has improved tremendously over the last 5 games. Pike didn’t let him try and extend the 53-50 lead to double digits and the under 8 was 2 minutes away. He realized his mistake halfway thru and had ACE at the scorer’s table where he sat until he called the timeout after the 9-0 run to be down 59-53. Calling it after the 7-0 run would have the score at 57-53 but the damage was done. You let the lead evaporate and prevented an extension of the lead and now Penn STate was ahead by 4 points , the most they were ahead all game. Huge momentum swing that Pike messed up.
You said it is all about ACE and Dylan and not about the team. That implies to me you were saying they do not care about the team but only themselves. Maybe you meant something else by your statement.
I 100% believe Ace and Dylan are fully locked in on RU and winning. People like them are true competitors in everything they do in life, it's a different type of person.
If you’re one foot in the door and are more interested in highlights or post-college play you end up like Jahvon Quinerly or Isaiah Washington. Those two are the kinds of top talent you want to avoid.
If you’re one foot in the door and are more interested in highlights or post-college play you end up like Jahvon Quinerly or Isaiah Washington. Those two are the kinds of top talent you want to avoid.
This sentiment hasn't reared its head to much degree yet, but if math starts closing in on the tourney hopes, may see more.
I meant the publicity and all the talk/focus. People saying this outcome or that outcome are unacceptable because of Ace and Dylan.
Ace didn’t play the first 11 minutes so I’m not buying the rest argument. He sat for a lengthy stretch 5 mins into the half. RU was up by 2 when Pike took him out and the lead flipped. Same scenario at 9 minute mark: RU up by 2 again only this time PSU went on 8-0 run while he was on the bench. Agreed should have called TO way sooner but he was trying to get to the media. Backfired
Yes, Bailey needs some rest but it should be timed near scheduled time outs.With Harper having a poor offensive performance Bailey was the only scoring option.I stated in another thread that Bailey was going to need scoring 20 points in the second half for Rutgers having a chance to win.He scored the 20 points and Rutgers still loss by six points.Supporting cast were no shows..
Had they beaten Penn State, I think this team could've been capable of a run. I pointed that out in my latest article and clearly stated the road head will be tough. But, I agree. It's the same old story. Win a couple games followed up with disappointment.
It's a big ask to go 9-3 in their last 12 games.
This “Bailey needs rest” is nonsense, unless he is specifically asking for it. Of course, I understand sitting due to foul trouble and injuries. Baldwin played 40 minutes against us as do many of the stars in this league. It’s not like we play intense defense or anything like in years past. If we are serious about this season, which is probably too late now anyway, Bailey and Harper need to play every minute that they are not sick, injured or in foul trouble. Their replacements are simply just not good enough and some of the combinations are disastrous. They can rest in the weeks before the draft.
go watch the St. John's scrimmage and see what happens when tired players try to finish a game.
Harper and Bailey aren't Ace Baldwin.
Also PSU was on a 4 game losing streak coming in to the game. They blew a lead down the stretch to Oregon. Sometimes playing a guy 40 minutes causes you to lose games, both current and in the future
All true and good points. But it’s not just Ace Baldwin. Personally, I’ll take a somewhat tired 80% Ace or Harper over most of our others any day, especially when the combination of subs seem to be so random and thoughtless.
In essence he hasn’t hit on ONE transfer portal player since it became a thing
In fact the only transfers who have been effective under Pike were Jacob Young and CJ Gettys
Greene
We’re 10-9 practicing minutes restrictions and playing 10 man rotations
What are we holding them back for? What “late game” situations are even going to be relevant when we’re 14-14 and clearly cooked?
It’s now or never… it’s been now or never for 2 weeks and unless they are actively injured or in foul trouble they have to play 35mpg
For his own reputation and future as a coach Pike has to go down with the ship he sailed with and might as well go down swinging with his 2 stars until they can’t
Maybe the change you are looking for is asking Ace and Dylan to sacrifice offense and play better defense.
Maybe we should be having them at 30 and ask them (and the rest of the team) to go all out on the defensive end.
I don't buy for a second that this roster can't defend at levels close to last year's roster. We just aren't doing it.
12 of our 19 games we have allowed opponents (adjusted for opponent offensive ability) over 1.00 points per possession
Last year 4 out of 32 games
Year before 4 out of 34 games
Last year 4 out of 32 games
Year before 4 out of 34 games
How many games does D Harp start off slow getting others involved. Can’t say he wasn’t playing well before the Injury. He usually comes on as the game gets going….
Like I said before we prob go 2-2 in those 3 flu games and PSU without injury. That puts us 12-7 and everyone is thinking differently including yourself.
We r not though but that doesn’t mean we can get to 18/19…
Don’t lose hope…
Well we have had this discussion before..the dye was cast when they were signed. They were here to showcase their offensive skills for the NBA
Agree maybe you could sell them on that at 12-6 right now with some prospects of an actual B10 or NCAA run
Right now 60% of the season is over and you have no compelling argument to ask them to play defense when you’ve provided them no team to support
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