Speaking for most, getting your moneys worth out of this game was the best we could have hoped for vs #2 Purdue. We got that today. It sure did not seem like it in the first half. It was every bit as ugly as it looked. RU was fortunate to just be down 33-20 after an anemic 9-34 shooting performance while Purdue would be shooting at nearly a 50% clip. Truth is Rutgers has no business making this a game considering they missed 9 straight field goals and could only muster 7 points in nearly the first 11 minutes of the game while falling behind 21-7. A suprisingly stout defensive effort was negated by a brick laying machine on offense. Just because a shot looks good doesnt mean that they had to take them. RU did not work the necessary effort on offense settling for jumpers and 3s which played right into the Boilermakers hands. I commented at 21-7 that this team looked like dogshit and was not ready to compete. Hope they read the game thread because RU did go on a small 9-0 run over the course of 2 minutes to cut the gap to 21-16. Reality was it was mostly when Edey was out. Credit Purdue because they came right back and extended the lead while the RAC started to get loud. Still I felt RU showed some toughness even as the lead grew to 13 at half. RU was out rebounding so that was a little bright spot to look at.
Second half started out with Purdue looking like they were going to win this one comfortably extending the lead to 43-29. It was following the timeout at under 16 minutes that everything changed and we were reminded of what a special coach we have in Pikiell and what a special enviroment we have at the RAC. Over the next 8 minutes, the RAC would be rocking and rolling more than ever has this season causing a myriad of issues for Matt Painter's crew. For 8 minutes, RU thoroughly flummoxed the #2 team in the country outscoring them 18-7 holding them to just a sole Zak Edey field goal. For 8 minutes, the fans were treated to Rutgers' highest level of sustained play and those watching nationally got a taste of what Pikiell's teams have been made of over the year. RU was imposing their will and making Purdue the #2 team in the country uncomfortable. Purdue began to doubt themselves. The symbiotic relationship between the team and the RAC was suddenly back in play. Could things be setting up for another monumental upset to be scribed in the tablets in the bowels of the RAC. Alas it was not to be. Purdue would respond and repel the RAC crowd every seemingly every time RU would get it to one possession. In the aftermath of the loss, give Purdue credit. They have a history of folding when challenged late especially on the road. Purdue rose to the challenged, settled down and stepped up as a team converting on free throws and layups late to seal the deal. Purdue would hold RU to just 1 fg over the last 5 minutes of the game. No shame in Rutgers losing today. No knocking of the players for not getting it done. Rutgers was not supposed to win and they did not. They do not have the horses to be #2 right now but what they do have is an uncanny ability to hang in games where they are on the verge of being blown away and keep on relentlessly coming. Against Nebraska, they battled through two seperate 12 point defecits. Today it was two 14 point defecits. In the end, Rutgers doesnt have enough talent to overcome getting down so big to a #2 even in their spacecraft called the RAC.
Pikiell usually wins halftime but he was going to have to shake things up on the offensive end for RU to even keep pace. RU fans all know the trials and tribulations of Gavin Griffiths and his outright struggle in the past 7-8 games. So how fitting that today Gavin ignited the spark. Who knew that just making a 3 point shot can give so much confidence to a player. Gavin would hit all 3 of his made shots in the 2nd half, the last 3 cut was a bigtime playmaking shot cutting the defecit to just 55-53. Do not look at the final stat line of 3-11 fg. Gavin's leap forward today goes beyond that. Gavin was agressive in looking for shot. Gavin was comfortable. He was not panicked. He did some thing defensively that showed some toughness we have rarely seen. Pikiell must have been exasperated about the Gavin situation and it looks like he has been trying to tinker with him in practice to get things on track. Today was a needed step. Gavin is not a finished product by any means. Today had to happen for him. I am glad for Gavin and glad for Pikiell. Gavin grew up today vs the #2 team in the country.
Do not discount the guy handing out shots, Jamichael Davis. J Mike making the case that he should be the guy running the show from opening tip. J Mike had himself a game....4-5 fg, 9 points, 4 assists and 4 boards and just one turnover in 23 minutes. Davis was in on all 4 offensive conversions after that 16 minute timeout with 3 assists and a jumper himself. All of a sudden the lead was down to 5. Its pretty clear that J Mike even as a freshmen held his own and looked like could go tot toe with #2 team in the country. This is a signficant development that cannot be overlooked. The RU guards have been very inconsistent this season, yet J Mike when given more time has seemed the most consistent, the most comfortable and the most valuable. The Rutgers offense was most efficient in that stretch when he played the majority of his minutes. I sense he has a connection and comfort level with Gavin.
For third game in a row, Cliff brought major mojo. I have seen him cover Edey better than today but Edey is also better than he was previous years. Cliff stayed out of foul trouble and pulled down 6 boards. What I liked about Cliff today was two times today taken it right to and juking Edey out for buckets. 13 points, 5-10 fg. Another beaut was that dunk to cut the gap to 45-40 that had the RAC going nuts. Cliff left a few free throws short that RU really could have used in the end but really have to lean on the positives in this game. Now 3 game in row, might be safe to say Cliff is back to what we expect from him.
Its strange to say but I did not think anyone on RU played an A game today and that RU was in shouting distance of Purdue at the end was a credit to Coach Pikiell in prepping his team. He got them to rebound. RU won that battle 36-32 and a whopping 15-6 offensively and yeah RU missed a ton of shots but they got plenty of 2nd opportunities that kept them in the game. Hyatt was not good in the first half 1-5 fg but had some bigger shots in the 2nd on 4-7 fg. Quietly he once again wound up the leading scorer with 15 points on 5-12 fg shooting though only 2-9 from 3 and RU's only fg in the last 5 minutes of the game. Derek was Derek, some really bad misses but when they go in they look smooth. 4-10 fg, 3 assists, 2 turnover in 25 minutes. Yet Derek was not in the game for that large stretch where RU made its run nor in crunch time. Something to watch but I feel this is more of a game by game feel by Pike. Mag was just awful for the 2nd game in a row. Terrible shot selection in the first half going 0-5 fg, took the first shot of the 2nd half then played limited minutes the rest of the way logging in at 25 with just one frigging rebound! Do not know what is going on here. Perhaps a lingering injury from the Nebraska game but Mag has to step it up. Mag was giving 10-12 a night in some other games, now imagine if he played a A game rather than a D game. Austin Williams was saddled with foul trouble throughout getting a couple of baskets but a really costly foul with 3:27 left on a Loyer 3 with RU just down 3 was the turning point of the game as Loyer hit all 3 and the lead was 6 and it appeared as if Purdue was able to gather themselves again. Wolf was 0-3 fg but was overmatched by having to tackle Edey a few times yet still contributed with 6 boards, 3 of them on the offensive end in just 10 minutes. He is playing his role as long as he is limited to those minutes. Noah 17 minutes got more action in 2nd half but besides that 3 he made (just 1-4fg) I remain unimpressed. Oskar 6 minutes was not awful but this should be his limit especially with Gavin showing signs of awakening. The more I recap, the more I wonder, how the heck did RU scrap to make this game when their opponent shot 49%, was 19-24 on free throws and RU had so many players put up just so so numbers while collectively shooting only 37.5%. Pikiell must be doing something right.
So in the end, its still a loss but in a year where NCAA talk has mostly been extinguished, it felt good to be relevant nationally even if it was not to be. There are tons of things that Pikiell and his charges can take from the gametape as positives. Now they must build on this effort with the schedule easing up a bit. Is Penn State a must win? Well no not since post season seems to be out of reach (yes even the NIT) but if you are not beating Penn State at home then who are you beating. RU absolutely has to beat Penn State and Pike needs to continue showing some flexibility in his lineups and allowing as much time for J Mike, Gavin and Derek to be on the floor in key situations as they are the future. I will actually be surprised if RU does not get off to a hot start vs Penn State and I just have a sneaky feeling we will have one of those all things start to come together type of games. Does not mean the needle is moved much but what I think this team will do league wise...still 6 or 7 wins is my bet but I think there is opportunity to flex our muscles and start imposing our will earlier and more forcefully in some of these upcoming games.
Second half started out with Purdue looking like they were going to win this one comfortably extending the lead to 43-29. It was following the timeout at under 16 minutes that everything changed and we were reminded of what a special coach we have in Pikiell and what a special enviroment we have at the RAC. Over the next 8 minutes, the RAC would be rocking and rolling more than ever has this season causing a myriad of issues for Matt Painter's crew. For 8 minutes, RU thoroughly flummoxed the #2 team in the country outscoring them 18-7 holding them to just a sole Zak Edey field goal. For 8 minutes, the fans were treated to Rutgers' highest level of sustained play and those watching nationally got a taste of what Pikiell's teams have been made of over the year. RU was imposing their will and making Purdue the #2 team in the country uncomfortable. Purdue began to doubt themselves. The symbiotic relationship between the team and the RAC was suddenly back in play. Could things be setting up for another monumental upset to be scribed in the tablets in the bowels of the RAC. Alas it was not to be. Purdue would respond and repel the RAC crowd every seemingly every time RU would get it to one possession. In the aftermath of the loss, give Purdue credit. They have a history of folding when challenged late especially on the road. Purdue rose to the challenged, settled down and stepped up as a team converting on free throws and layups late to seal the deal. Purdue would hold RU to just 1 fg over the last 5 minutes of the game. No shame in Rutgers losing today. No knocking of the players for not getting it done. Rutgers was not supposed to win and they did not. They do not have the horses to be #2 right now but what they do have is an uncanny ability to hang in games where they are on the verge of being blown away and keep on relentlessly coming. Against Nebraska, they battled through two seperate 12 point defecits. Today it was two 14 point defecits. In the end, Rutgers doesnt have enough talent to overcome getting down so big to a #2 even in their spacecraft called the RAC.
Pikiell usually wins halftime but he was going to have to shake things up on the offensive end for RU to even keep pace. RU fans all know the trials and tribulations of Gavin Griffiths and his outright struggle in the past 7-8 games. So how fitting that today Gavin ignited the spark. Who knew that just making a 3 point shot can give so much confidence to a player. Gavin would hit all 3 of his made shots in the 2nd half, the last 3 cut was a bigtime playmaking shot cutting the defecit to just 55-53. Do not look at the final stat line of 3-11 fg. Gavin's leap forward today goes beyond that. Gavin was agressive in looking for shot. Gavin was comfortable. He was not panicked. He did some thing defensively that showed some toughness we have rarely seen. Pikiell must have been exasperated about the Gavin situation and it looks like he has been trying to tinker with him in practice to get things on track. Today was a needed step. Gavin is not a finished product by any means. Today had to happen for him. I am glad for Gavin and glad for Pikiell. Gavin grew up today vs the #2 team in the country.
Do not discount the guy handing out shots, Jamichael Davis. J Mike making the case that he should be the guy running the show from opening tip. J Mike had himself a game....4-5 fg, 9 points, 4 assists and 4 boards and just one turnover in 23 minutes. Davis was in on all 4 offensive conversions after that 16 minute timeout with 3 assists and a jumper himself. All of a sudden the lead was down to 5. Its pretty clear that J Mike even as a freshmen held his own and looked like could go tot toe with #2 team in the country. This is a signficant development that cannot be overlooked. The RU guards have been very inconsistent this season, yet J Mike when given more time has seemed the most consistent, the most comfortable and the most valuable. The Rutgers offense was most efficient in that stretch when he played the majority of his minutes. I sense he has a connection and comfort level with Gavin.
For third game in a row, Cliff brought major mojo. I have seen him cover Edey better than today but Edey is also better than he was previous years. Cliff stayed out of foul trouble and pulled down 6 boards. What I liked about Cliff today was two times today taken it right to and juking Edey out for buckets. 13 points, 5-10 fg. Another beaut was that dunk to cut the gap to 45-40 that had the RAC going nuts. Cliff left a few free throws short that RU really could have used in the end but really have to lean on the positives in this game. Now 3 game in row, might be safe to say Cliff is back to what we expect from him.
Its strange to say but I did not think anyone on RU played an A game today and that RU was in shouting distance of Purdue at the end was a credit to Coach Pikiell in prepping his team. He got them to rebound. RU won that battle 36-32 and a whopping 15-6 offensively and yeah RU missed a ton of shots but they got plenty of 2nd opportunities that kept them in the game. Hyatt was not good in the first half 1-5 fg but had some bigger shots in the 2nd on 4-7 fg. Quietly he once again wound up the leading scorer with 15 points on 5-12 fg shooting though only 2-9 from 3 and RU's only fg in the last 5 minutes of the game. Derek was Derek, some really bad misses but when they go in they look smooth. 4-10 fg, 3 assists, 2 turnover in 25 minutes. Yet Derek was not in the game for that large stretch where RU made its run nor in crunch time. Something to watch but I feel this is more of a game by game feel by Pike. Mag was just awful for the 2nd game in a row. Terrible shot selection in the first half going 0-5 fg, took the first shot of the 2nd half then played limited minutes the rest of the way logging in at 25 with just one frigging rebound! Do not know what is going on here. Perhaps a lingering injury from the Nebraska game but Mag has to step it up. Mag was giving 10-12 a night in some other games, now imagine if he played a A game rather than a D game. Austin Williams was saddled with foul trouble throughout getting a couple of baskets but a really costly foul with 3:27 left on a Loyer 3 with RU just down 3 was the turning point of the game as Loyer hit all 3 and the lead was 6 and it appeared as if Purdue was able to gather themselves again. Wolf was 0-3 fg but was overmatched by having to tackle Edey a few times yet still contributed with 6 boards, 3 of them on the offensive end in just 10 minutes. He is playing his role as long as he is limited to those minutes. Noah 17 minutes got more action in 2nd half but besides that 3 he made (just 1-4fg) I remain unimpressed. Oskar 6 minutes was not awful but this should be his limit especially with Gavin showing signs of awakening. The more I recap, the more I wonder, how the heck did RU scrap to make this game when their opponent shot 49%, was 19-24 on free throws and RU had so many players put up just so so numbers while collectively shooting only 37.5%. Pikiell must be doing something right.
So in the end, its still a loss but in a year where NCAA talk has mostly been extinguished, it felt good to be relevant nationally even if it was not to be. There are tons of things that Pikiell and his charges can take from the gametape as positives. Now they must build on this effort with the schedule easing up a bit. Is Penn State a must win? Well no not since post season seems to be out of reach (yes even the NIT) but if you are not beating Penn State at home then who are you beating. RU absolutely has to beat Penn State and Pike needs to continue showing some flexibility in his lineups and allowing as much time for J Mike, Gavin and Derek to be on the floor in key situations as they are the future. I will actually be surprised if RU does not get off to a hot start vs Penn State and I just have a sneaky feeling we will have one of those all things start to come together type of games. Does not mean the needle is moved much but what I think this team will do league wise...still 6 or 7 wins is my bet but I think there is opportunity to flex our muscles and start imposing our will earlier and more forcefully in some of these upcoming games.
