It was a tough loss because we missed an opportunity to steal one against a very good team. It looked like it was going to be ugly early, one of those 20 point losses which RU has avoided all year long and one that almost every team in this league has picked up this year. However this team possesses something uncanny. They do not give up. They scrap and claw and do all those necessary fundamentals to get back into the game. They exploit an opponents mistakes and then the elite defense comes to clamp down. RU had no business being in this game down 30-16 with 7:30 left vs an Indiana team so potent on offense playing on its home court. An unlikely 19-8 run led by the Hyatt and Oskar draining 3s and all of a sudden its a game. Next men up indeed. Holding Indiana to no fgs over the course of almost 9 minutes in the 2nd half is a testament to just how great this defense is. Trace was held in check, we were defending at the rim, poking and getting turnovers. It was a thread the needle type of defense that RU needed and RU would get it down to 59-56 with the ball but alas could not hit a bucket to save their lives late and melted down in crunch time.
I do not know how many times I have talked in these recaps about cogs in the wheel and everyone needs to be there. We saw what happened when Paul and Caleb were out early in the season. The loss of Mag is really big. Do not want to downplay it. Still no one will feel sorry for Rutgers. Almost every team has an injury at some point or loses a player for the year. The successful ones will adapt the best they can. Others will struggle and perhaps use it as an excuse. Mag's defense is irreplacable but cannot dwell on that, its about NEXT MAN UP...and NEXT MAN UP did pretty well when leaned on. Hyatt got the start, not a great night overall shooting but had a pivotal stretch in the first half with 2 treys in the closing minutes of the first half when RU went from down 10 to just down 3. Hyatt did lead the team with 4 boards in the first half. 2nd half there was less of Hyatt and the shot was off. That's okay, Pike leaned on Derek more. Derek not too good in the first half but more comfortable in his second half minutes. Hit a big open corner 3 plus a huge jumper to cut the gap to 57-52 and then another right around Trace for a layup to cut the gap to 59-56. Big time shots in big time situations are only going to help the kids development. Pike will be leaning on Derek alot the rest of the season. I think he did a very admirable job. 18 minutes, 3-5 fg, 7 points, 3 boards. Might be his 2nd best game as a Knight behind the first Indiana game. And then there is Oskar. Back to back to back 3s at a time where RU was looking for any kind of offensive. Oskar deserves a best supporting actor nomination for his work in the Minnesota and Indiana game. He is a role player. He is not perfect. Dont expect him to be. He is going to play great defense. He is there to hit a 3, get some boards and provide minutes. 13 minutes, 3-4 fg, 2 boards, 9 points....AMAZING NEXT MAN UP. Derek and Oskar rose to the occasion. An incredible sign at this difficult time. Also Reibs got in the action with a really nice basket and I actually liked his denial fronting Trace the ball. Just 5 minutes but thats all we need from him. Woolfolk finding out its a big tough at this level. Made progress earlier in the year but just has take some step back. However there will be a game he will be called on and asked to provide something. Cam was not good early but came on late in the first half. I still think he should have had some more open shots set up for him but Indiana was so tight on him. Needed to lean on him more in those last few minutes.
I know this board loves to rag on Indiana but credit where credit is due. This is a very good team. Indiana matched Rutgers physicality, not many teams can do that. Trace is an excellent player. 20 points, 18 boards. 6 assists and played 39 minutes. Never knock this kid. Indiana is poised to be a sweet 16 team. They have Trace but they have a guy like Kopp who killed RU again with 18 points that can hit plus Schifino is such a crafty player. In fact going to say that Woodson move to have Schifino guard Paul and Cam incredibly tight played a huge role in the win for them. He bothered Paul all day and RU was often already 10-12 seconds into the shot clock before setting up the offense. Rutgers didnt seem comfortable at all in their half court today, sure they got some open 3s because Indiana was willing to leave those open. Just a great strategy by Woodson...harass Paul and deny Cliff the ball. It worked and Paul never got untracked and Caleb was horrible with his shot. Indiana does have the tendency to self destruct and they gave windows of opportunity for RU to win this game but RU failed to seize the day. In the end they leaned on Trace who sealed the deal for them. Thats what you want senior leaders to do. Very tough to steal a game vs a sweet 16 contender on their home court when your own seniors are not stepping up and thats what happened to RU
I do not want to knock on Paul and Caleb totally but cannot dismiss their absolute futility on the offensive end. Defense again was still on target. However it was disappointing to see them come up small and perhaps more disappointing to see them not trust their teammates. 6 plays changed the game in a new york minute. Caleb was particularly guilty of not trusting his teammates, 1-12 fg was dreadful for Caleb but he did not care. He was going to shoot no matter what and yes his decision to shoot likely cost RU a shot at this coming down to one possession. His offensive game was ugly through much of the game but nothing worse than his selfish shot at 59-56 after Paul bungled what should have been an easy layup. Instead of resetting the offense at a critical time and finding a better shot...at 59-56 Caleb shoots an ugly open 3 from straight on and misses, Trace scores on the other end, then Paul gets fouled on a drive and misses the front end of one and one. Cliff lets rebound go off leg after RU made the initial stop and Galloway hits jumper and fouled and its 63-56...Caleb comes down intent to shoot and misses badly and its game over and Paul would miss another one and one. I do not think our 3 seniors are immune to criticism. Not so much Cliff but in that spot yeah you got to come down with that rebound. Paul played scared all night. I have seen him have lesser games in the game following a star performance. Maybe Paul and Caleb felt that they had to shoulder the load with Mag out. I dont know. They didnt have their shots all game and did not find them late. For Caleb its not that he missed, its that he was selfish and did not work to get his teammates involved. For Paul just a performance where it seemed he was bullied by Indiana. The three of them need to get their head wrapped around the idea that Mag is out
Pike admirable job trying to throw out some lineups. You sacrifice defense for offense. Pike going 4 guards late again is an interesting development that i think we will continue to see more of. Cannot complain with him today.
The disappointing part tonight is that RU had chances to win this game. One they seemed not ready to match Indianas energy earlier and that is understandable without Mag. Late they did everything on defense to get in position and thats why its a shame. Each game evolves differently, there is no guarantee that Illinois evolves in a way where RU is in a one possession game late. That matchup will be tougher. They are tougher, they play good D and rebound. They will be rested. The win over Michigan State was a must for me because I didnt like the idea of possibly coming out of the gauntlet 7-7. RU didnt have to win tonight. RU will be okay. I think Illinois beat Rutgers. The key is for the three pronged leaders to get their heads on straight and lead by example. They have to be willing to trust. They need to leave some inflated egos at the door. The loss of Mag hurts alot, but it does not mean it has to derail the potential of this season. Tonight shows you that.
I do not know how many times I have talked in these recaps about cogs in the wheel and everyone needs to be there. We saw what happened when Paul and Caleb were out early in the season. The loss of Mag is really big. Do not want to downplay it. Still no one will feel sorry for Rutgers. Almost every team has an injury at some point or loses a player for the year. The successful ones will adapt the best they can. Others will struggle and perhaps use it as an excuse. Mag's defense is irreplacable but cannot dwell on that, its about NEXT MAN UP...and NEXT MAN UP did pretty well when leaned on. Hyatt got the start, not a great night overall shooting but had a pivotal stretch in the first half with 2 treys in the closing minutes of the first half when RU went from down 10 to just down 3. Hyatt did lead the team with 4 boards in the first half. 2nd half there was less of Hyatt and the shot was off. That's okay, Pike leaned on Derek more. Derek not too good in the first half but more comfortable in his second half minutes. Hit a big open corner 3 plus a huge jumper to cut the gap to 57-52 and then another right around Trace for a layup to cut the gap to 59-56. Big time shots in big time situations are only going to help the kids development. Pike will be leaning on Derek alot the rest of the season. I think he did a very admirable job. 18 minutes, 3-5 fg, 7 points, 3 boards. Might be his 2nd best game as a Knight behind the first Indiana game. And then there is Oskar. Back to back to back 3s at a time where RU was looking for any kind of offensive. Oskar deserves a best supporting actor nomination for his work in the Minnesota and Indiana game. He is a role player. He is not perfect. Dont expect him to be. He is going to play great defense. He is there to hit a 3, get some boards and provide minutes. 13 minutes, 3-4 fg, 2 boards, 9 points....AMAZING NEXT MAN UP. Derek and Oskar rose to the occasion. An incredible sign at this difficult time. Also Reibs got in the action with a really nice basket and I actually liked his denial fronting Trace the ball. Just 5 minutes but thats all we need from him. Woolfolk finding out its a big tough at this level. Made progress earlier in the year but just has take some step back. However there will be a game he will be called on and asked to provide something. Cam was not good early but came on late in the first half. I still think he should have had some more open shots set up for him but Indiana was so tight on him. Needed to lean on him more in those last few minutes.
I know this board loves to rag on Indiana but credit where credit is due. This is a very good team. Indiana matched Rutgers physicality, not many teams can do that. Trace is an excellent player. 20 points, 18 boards. 6 assists and played 39 minutes. Never knock this kid. Indiana is poised to be a sweet 16 team. They have Trace but they have a guy like Kopp who killed RU again with 18 points that can hit plus Schifino is such a crafty player. In fact going to say that Woodson move to have Schifino guard Paul and Cam incredibly tight played a huge role in the win for them. He bothered Paul all day and RU was often already 10-12 seconds into the shot clock before setting up the offense. Rutgers didnt seem comfortable at all in their half court today, sure they got some open 3s because Indiana was willing to leave those open. Just a great strategy by Woodson...harass Paul and deny Cliff the ball. It worked and Paul never got untracked and Caleb was horrible with his shot. Indiana does have the tendency to self destruct and they gave windows of opportunity for RU to win this game but RU failed to seize the day. In the end they leaned on Trace who sealed the deal for them. Thats what you want senior leaders to do. Very tough to steal a game vs a sweet 16 contender on their home court when your own seniors are not stepping up and thats what happened to RU
I do not want to knock on Paul and Caleb totally but cannot dismiss their absolute futility on the offensive end. Defense again was still on target. However it was disappointing to see them come up small and perhaps more disappointing to see them not trust their teammates. 6 plays changed the game in a new york minute. Caleb was particularly guilty of not trusting his teammates, 1-12 fg was dreadful for Caleb but he did not care. He was going to shoot no matter what and yes his decision to shoot likely cost RU a shot at this coming down to one possession. His offensive game was ugly through much of the game but nothing worse than his selfish shot at 59-56 after Paul bungled what should have been an easy layup. Instead of resetting the offense at a critical time and finding a better shot...at 59-56 Caleb shoots an ugly open 3 from straight on and misses, Trace scores on the other end, then Paul gets fouled on a drive and misses the front end of one and one. Cliff lets rebound go off leg after RU made the initial stop and Galloway hits jumper and fouled and its 63-56...Caleb comes down intent to shoot and misses badly and its game over and Paul would miss another one and one. I do not think our 3 seniors are immune to criticism. Not so much Cliff but in that spot yeah you got to come down with that rebound. Paul played scared all night. I have seen him have lesser games in the game following a star performance. Maybe Paul and Caleb felt that they had to shoulder the load with Mag out. I dont know. They didnt have their shots all game and did not find them late. For Caleb its not that he missed, its that he was selfish and did not work to get his teammates involved. For Paul just a performance where it seemed he was bullied by Indiana. The three of them need to get their head wrapped around the idea that Mag is out
Pike admirable job trying to throw out some lineups. You sacrifice defense for offense. Pike going 4 guards late again is an interesting development that i think we will continue to see more of. Cannot complain with him today.
The disappointing part tonight is that RU had chances to win this game. One they seemed not ready to match Indianas energy earlier and that is understandable without Mag. Late they did everything on defense to get in position and thats why its a shame. Each game evolves differently, there is no guarantee that Illinois evolves in a way where RU is in a one possession game late. That matchup will be tougher. They are tougher, they play good D and rebound. They will be rested. The win over Michigan State was a must for me because I didnt like the idea of possibly coming out of the gauntlet 7-7. RU didnt have to win tonight. RU will be okay. I think Illinois beat Rutgers. The key is for the three pronged leaders to get their heads on straight and lead by example. They have to be willing to trust. They need to leave some inflated egos at the door. The loss of Mag hurts alot, but it does not mean it has to derail the potential of this season. Tonight shows you that.