Just as some feared. RU had played solid losing by just 6 at Indiana and then leading at Illinois for 25 minutes. Would getting home by a tonic or was the bottom not reached yet. It would be nice to take the Indiana level of play and bring it to the RAC and we win going away. That's not how things work. Teams losing confidence like RU experienced in the Illinois game cannot just flip the switch back on. I expected somewhat of a struggle today but more of an ugly defensive kind of game where RU grinds it out with defense and stops. I was totally unexpected to get blitzed by the 12th place team in league. It was a 10 point loss by that was a Valentine's Day Massacre. What we knew, what we trusted in, what we experienced, what we cheered on all year....that was destroyed tonight. The vaunted Rutgers elite defense talked up ad nauseum. Defensive player of the year, shot blocker at the rim, physical bully at the point.......where have you gone. Nebraska knew their task. Coach Hoiberg had his team execute a perfect game plan. They went for RU's rib cage, tore it open and the ripped their heart out and tossed it over their shoulder like it was nothing.
Mawot Mag was the teeth of the defense. His loss is immeasurable but does not mean the end of the world. Pike and his team had been hanging in there trying to find answers to hide an open wound. They still had heart didn't they? Well Nebraska took it from them. They taunted the vaunted RAC with whispers and gestures. They walked right onto our home court and emasculated RU. Sure the loss was only 10 and RU kept it under that for most of the 2nd half, it might as well been 30. RU was never coming back in this game. Everyone knew it after they made their only run in the first 3 minutes cutting it to 1, oh sure they got it to 5 or 6 a times but the game was lost early. Again credit the Nebraska coaching staff. They won this game. They knew RU was weak. RU played right into their hands. RU had plenty of offense tonight. RU scored 72. You do not need to score more than that to beat Nebraska. I do not know what the Pikiell plan was in this game but it was absolutely piss poor and that he adjusted to absolutely nothing. But again adjustments would likely be too late. Nebraska has been awfull all year long on the road besides Minnesota, usally losing these games 72-56. You beat Nebraska by beating them early and making them look silly on the offensive end and then take it to them on the defensive. end. Inexplicably the dumb press, just the wrong kind of move, may have got a turnover or two early but nothing after that. All that energy expended just so Nebraska could take an open 3 or then absolutely dribble right into the pain uncontested for bunny after bunny. When you play Eddie Jordan defense the entire first half, you lost the game. RU was scoring too but RU will never win by having to score 75-80 points. The dye was cast. RUs rallies if you call them that were feeble and petite. Some of the worst play I have seen individual by a few players, i will not even name them by names or go into the fact that at least 3 if not 4 players are recruiting misses...yes recruiting matters..alas thats another thread
Do not blame the crowd either as i saw some yahoos doing. RU fans are smart. They were more than willing to cheer this team on during the right moments. RU had nothing. That is the shocking thing. They were empty all night. The most stunning thing is that NO ONE on this team, not ONE PLAYER or staff was willing to even put a hard foul or body on Nebraska on one of those layups in the 2nd half. If this wasnt a petite performance I do not know what was. So disappointing when your heart is ripped out, you hope you hope that there is some soul to save you and that was not happening. The lack of leadership plus a bunch of jawing all but confirmed this team is a mess right now.
Like I said in other recaps, no one cares if you lose a player. Many schools go through injuries. The season goes on. You either get together and figure things out or you cry and feel sorry for themselves. Stunningly RU pulled the latter. There are still 5 games left, not sure if that is a good thing or bad. Nebraska was the easiest on paper game of the 6 and Rutgers lost...at home. RU still has 5 wins vs teams in the field including a feather in their cap win at Purdue. No one can take that away from them. Those wins last. Unfortunately sullying up the resumes with bad losses like tonight can change things in a hurry. RU probably in the 8 seed line after tonight, if you want to hold on to good news. Reality is that this team appears to be spiraling without their teeth, without heart and apparently without soul Last game I said RU had reached a crossroads. Each game provides an opportunity. Wisconsin is up next. A team coming off a big win tonight to keep their own NCAA path on target yet a team that might be a much better matchup. March Madness does not have to end in March Sadness. This is big boy basketball, time to pick yourself off the floor, man up and decide what you want.
Mawot Mag was the teeth of the defense. His loss is immeasurable but does not mean the end of the world. Pike and his team had been hanging in there trying to find answers to hide an open wound. They still had heart didn't they? Well Nebraska took it from them. They taunted the vaunted RAC with whispers and gestures. They walked right onto our home court and emasculated RU. Sure the loss was only 10 and RU kept it under that for most of the 2nd half, it might as well been 30. RU was never coming back in this game. Everyone knew it after they made their only run in the first 3 minutes cutting it to 1, oh sure they got it to 5 or 6 a times but the game was lost early. Again credit the Nebraska coaching staff. They won this game. They knew RU was weak. RU played right into their hands. RU had plenty of offense tonight. RU scored 72. You do not need to score more than that to beat Nebraska. I do not know what the Pikiell plan was in this game but it was absolutely piss poor and that he adjusted to absolutely nothing. But again adjustments would likely be too late. Nebraska has been awfull all year long on the road besides Minnesota, usally losing these games 72-56. You beat Nebraska by beating them early and making them look silly on the offensive end and then take it to them on the defensive. end. Inexplicably the dumb press, just the wrong kind of move, may have got a turnover or two early but nothing after that. All that energy expended just so Nebraska could take an open 3 or then absolutely dribble right into the pain uncontested for bunny after bunny. When you play Eddie Jordan defense the entire first half, you lost the game. RU was scoring too but RU will never win by having to score 75-80 points. The dye was cast. RUs rallies if you call them that were feeble and petite. Some of the worst play I have seen individual by a few players, i will not even name them by names or go into the fact that at least 3 if not 4 players are recruiting misses...yes recruiting matters..alas thats another thread
Do not blame the crowd either as i saw some yahoos doing. RU fans are smart. They were more than willing to cheer this team on during the right moments. RU had nothing. That is the shocking thing. They were empty all night. The most stunning thing is that NO ONE on this team, not ONE PLAYER or staff was willing to even put a hard foul or body on Nebraska on one of those layups in the 2nd half. If this wasnt a petite performance I do not know what was. So disappointing when your heart is ripped out, you hope you hope that there is some soul to save you and that was not happening. The lack of leadership plus a bunch of jawing all but confirmed this team is a mess right now.
Like I said in other recaps, no one cares if you lose a player. Many schools go through injuries. The season goes on. You either get together and figure things out or you cry and feel sorry for themselves. Stunningly RU pulled the latter. There are still 5 games left, not sure if that is a good thing or bad. Nebraska was the easiest on paper game of the 6 and Rutgers lost...at home. RU still has 5 wins vs teams in the field including a feather in their cap win at Purdue. No one can take that away from them. Those wins last. Unfortunately sullying up the resumes with bad losses like tonight can change things in a hurry. RU probably in the 8 seed line after tonight, if you want to hold on to good news. Reality is that this team appears to be spiraling without their teeth, without heart and apparently without soul Last game I said RU had reached a crossroads. Each game provides an opportunity. Wisconsin is up next. A team coming off a big win tonight to keep their own NCAA path on target yet a team that might be a much better matchup. March Madness does not have to end in March Sadness. This is big boy basketball, time to pick yourself off the floor, man up and decide what you want.
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