Lock it up. Rutgers will FINALLY see their name called on Selection Sunday. RU would have their name called last season but then came Covid. Amazingly its almost like we saw this movie as the season wound down last year. RU built up a strong resume early on but sort of tailed off toward the latter parts of the year leaving their lacking a bit. RU needing to lock in BEFORE the Big 10 tourmanent just like last season. Saturday noon road game against a team who had NCAA aspiration most of the year. Two things different of course, instead of coming off a rousing win over first place Maryland, RU was limping in off a 21 point beatdown by last place Nebraska. Instead of playing Purdue who had longshot but still alive NCAA hopes, they were facing a Minnesota program that was imploding game by game and ravaged by injuries. Much like the game last year, RU took control and then let Minnesota back in the game and like last year they sent it into overtime. From there things would go RU ways and they secured the victory., Winners make winning plays, losers go home.
30 freaking years later, I was at RU when they last went in 91 and blessed to have 2 NCAAs and 2NITs in that stretch, never ever would I think we would have so much futility since. Despite all the ups and downs this season, all the highs of being ranked #12 and taking down Illinois, all the lows of the five game losing streak and 8 minute scoring droughts, this team has accomplished its mission. Forget about the bad, its March, its tourney time. Forget about the meltdown in this game and the inability to seal this easily in regulation. You know why? It simply does not matter. Making the dance supersedes everything. Rutgers back against the wall, not making it easy on themselves simply won. They were winners, winners make plays, losers go home.
Let's talk about Jacob Young and his evolution over 3 seasons. One on the bench as a transfer patiently sitting out. One trying to find any kind of consistency with his flashes of brilliances hampered by trying to do too much. And the final one in 2020-21, Jacob becoming a starter, becoming a difference maker, changing the game, becoming our best defender and gaining the respect of his teammates. Today we saw the best of Jacob Young and the culmination of 3 years working hard within the program. Jacob delivered the win today. Whether it was with his shot making...8/13 today including the tone setter in overtime or his court vision or his ball distribution in overtime leading to a 6 points lead. Jacob had himself a game, 23 points, 7 assists, 5 boards and 4 steals playing relentless minute after minute on D. Jacob set the tone. Jacob was the leader. His teammates and coaches trusted him and proof of that is what you saw in overtime. Today we saw Jacob put his stamp on this program. Today we saw Jacob become a leader. Everyone loves this kid but those mistakes we hate but you know what it doesn't matter. What matter is that with Rutgers backs against the wall, Jacob delivered a performance that put the 2020-2021 Scarlet Knights in the history books and his legacy in the Rutgers annals has been cemented.
Here is just what some of Jacob did today in overtime
Jacob hits jumper RU up 65-63
Jacob blocks Carr shot
Jacob assist to Myles, RU up 67-63
Jacob rebounds Curry miss
Jacob assist to Caleb for dunk, RU up 69-63
Jacob hits jumper and foul shot, RU up 74-68
Jacob hits foul shot, RU up 75-70
That is not even going back to what he provided earlier in the game. Go back to a key last two minute stretch before halftime, where JY had 4 points, an assist to Geo for 3 , a rebound off a Minny miss then delivering an assist for a monster jam by Mathis and all of a sudden RU is up 9 with all the momentum heading into the locker room. Just another example of Jacob's explosiveness and ability to change the course of a game. Jacob was also in on in that play in regulation that could prevented a disastrous loss in regulation by stepping in front of a Curry pass with 15 seconds left.
Its not to say that the rest of the team did not have their moments. While Jacob delivered the win, everyone seem to contribute in their own ways that got RU a double digit lead. Geo with a flurry of 3s before halftime which broke open a tight game and logging in 43 minutes before fouling out. Myles hauling in 15 boards including 4 in overtime and how fitting for him to hit his final 2 foul shots to make it 77-70. Montez have his best game since Purdue. A hound on defense and making some nifty offensive moves. Caleb contributing in all ways. He was under the basket for that dunk in OT and hitting free throws in that 6-0 RU spurt to start overtime. Plus he had 4 steals. Never question his work ethic and willingness to contribute. Ron had a couple of 3s which were key at both times.
We can hem and haw and dissect until we are blue in the face about what happened in this game and what has happened at times all season long....yet it will not matter, this team will continue to keep us guessing, it will almost do the opposite of what we think is going to happen everytime. Just when we are out, they pull us back in. We can talk about what we could have been but why? Rutgers is in the dance. We have waited for this moment. It was ruined by a nasty virus last year. Let us soak those feeling in and flush out 30 years of negativity and unfilled promises from the Wenzel, Bannon, Waters, Rice, Jordan eras. It is finally happening.
Dance with me
I want to be your partner
Can't you see?
The music is just starting
Night is calling, and I am falling
Dance with me
Fantasy could never be so killing
I feel free, I hope that you are willing
Pick the beat up, and kick your feet up
Dance with me
Let it lift you off the ground
Starry eyes, and love is all around us
I can take you where you want to go
Oh, oh
Dance with me
I want to be your partner
Can't you see?
The music is just starting
Night is calling, and I am falling
Dance with me
30 freaking years later, I was at RU when they last went in 91 and blessed to have 2 NCAAs and 2NITs in that stretch, never ever would I think we would have so much futility since. Despite all the ups and downs this season, all the highs of being ranked #12 and taking down Illinois, all the lows of the five game losing streak and 8 minute scoring droughts, this team has accomplished its mission. Forget about the bad, its March, its tourney time. Forget about the meltdown in this game and the inability to seal this easily in regulation. You know why? It simply does not matter. Making the dance supersedes everything. Rutgers back against the wall, not making it easy on themselves simply won. They were winners, winners make plays, losers go home.
Let's talk about Jacob Young and his evolution over 3 seasons. One on the bench as a transfer patiently sitting out. One trying to find any kind of consistency with his flashes of brilliances hampered by trying to do too much. And the final one in 2020-21, Jacob becoming a starter, becoming a difference maker, changing the game, becoming our best defender and gaining the respect of his teammates. Today we saw the best of Jacob Young and the culmination of 3 years working hard within the program. Jacob delivered the win today. Whether it was with his shot making...8/13 today including the tone setter in overtime or his court vision or his ball distribution in overtime leading to a 6 points lead. Jacob had himself a game, 23 points, 7 assists, 5 boards and 4 steals playing relentless minute after minute on D. Jacob set the tone. Jacob was the leader. His teammates and coaches trusted him and proof of that is what you saw in overtime. Today we saw Jacob put his stamp on this program. Today we saw Jacob become a leader. Everyone loves this kid but those mistakes we hate but you know what it doesn't matter. What matter is that with Rutgers backs against the wall, Jacob delivered a performance that put the 2020-2021 Scarlet Knights in the history books and his legacy in the Rutgers annals has been cemented.
Here is just what some of Jacob did today in overtime
Jacob hits jumper RU up 65-63
Jacob blocks Carr shot
Jacob assist to Myles, RU up 67-63
Jacob rebounds Curry miss
Jacob assist to Caleb for dunk, RU up 69-63
Jacob hits jumper and foul shot, RU up 74-68
Jacob hits foul shot, RU up 75-70
That is not even going back to what he provided earlier in the game. Go back to a key last two minute stretch before halftime, where JY had 4 points, an assist to Geo for 3 , a rebound off a Minny miss then delivering an assist for a monster jam by Mathis and all of a sudden RU is up 9 with all the momentum heading into the locker room. Just another example of Jacob's explosiveness and ability to change the course of a game. Jacob was also in on in that play in regulation that could prevented a disastrous loss in regulation by stepping in front of a Curry pass with 15 seconds left.
Its not to say that the rest of the team did not have their moments. While Jacob delivered the win, everyone seem to contribute in their own ways that got RU a double digit lead. Geo with a flurry of 3s before halftime which broke open a tight game and logging in 43 minutes before fouling out. Myles hauling in 15 boards including 4 in overtime and how fitting for him to hit his final 2 foul shots to make it 77-70. Montez have his best game since Purdue. A hound on defense and making some nifty offensive moves. Caleb contributing in all ways. He was under the basket for that dunk in OT and hitting free throws in that 6-0 RU spurt to start overtime. Plus he had 4 steals. Never question his work ethic and willingness to contribute. Ron had a couple of 3s which were key at both times.
We can hem and haw and dissect until we are blue in the face about what happened in this game and what has happened at times all season long....yet it will not matter, this team will continue to keep us guessing, it will almost do the opposite of what we think is going to happen everytime. Just when we are out, they pull us back in. We can talk about what we could have been but why? Rutgers is in the dance. We have waited for this moment. It was ruined by a nasty virus last year. Let us soak those feeling in and flush out 30 years of negativity and unfilled promises from the Wenzel, Bannon, Waters, Rice, Jordan eras. It is finally happening.
Dance with me
I want to be your partner
Can't you see?
The music is just starting
Night is calling, and I am falling
Dance with me
Fantasy could never be so killing
I feel free, I hope that you are willing
Pick the beat up, and kick your feet up
Dance with me
Let it lift you off the ground
Starry eyes, and love is all around us
I can take you where you want to go
Oh, oh
Dance with me
I want to be your partner
Can't you see?
The music is just starting
Night is calling, and I am falling
Dance with me
