Unbelievable! What a year! What a team! We have been caught up in just finding a way to make it to the NCAA tournament for 30 years it sort of overshadowed just what this program staff has truly accomplished. The highs outweighing the lows. Our ugly play has been a constant for much of the latter half of the year but we need to accept that. It can be painful to watch us at times, there are moments where if we would just get out of our own way we have a helluva lot easier time putting these teams away. We are exactly what we R. What you see is what you get. We are a team that will play tooth and nail and do everything they can to try and grind out a win. There will be tastes of brilliance but stretches of pure ugliness but its our ugly. Our scrappy, ugly, Jersey way of basketball where nothing comes easy but somehow we keep showing up. Think about it, tonight followed the prototypical Rutgers victory this season. The one thing we did better was that we kept pace early so we didnt need to dig out from a big hole. How many wins were based playing solid D and timing one run that gave us a cushion down the stretch...Syracuse, Purdue, Minnesota, Minnesota again, Indiana. These lunch pail games where defense and getting turnovers and limiting the opponent to one shot and then exposing them in transition with a flurry of buckets leaving them wounded on defense and less confident on offense.
What to say about Geo. His tweets aside because that has nothing to do with him as a player so keep that commentary out of this thread. There have been questions about Geo's legacy here on the board. Without a doubt Geo has cemented his story. Whether there is a part 2 next year, only Geo knows but he emphatically answered his doubters. This kid rated 415 or whatever took a chance on RU and Coach Pikiell took a chance on Geo as well. Geo showed some flashes as a freshmen but we never knew he was capable of what he did at the Garden. From there the expectations were placed on Geo. Perhaps unfairly perhaps not. Many wanted Geo to be Corey Sanders but Geo wasn't Corey Sanders who had more natural skills. Geo was Geo. He had to work for everything from when he was that 95 pound weakling to the man he is today. Geo teased us with some incredible late game step backs and 3s and it seemed like it was setting up for a monster year for him. But Geo struggled this year whatever that might mean, failed to find his consistency after his injury and at times seem to disappear even in big spots. I do not even think Geo was the most vocal leader, maybe he just isnt that kind of guy. What I do know is that Geo leads by example. Seen it before and seen it tonight. I have no doubt that Coach Pikiell trusted Geo with the ball in the late stages to make a play to win Rutgers a game...successful or not, Pike was going to ride with his playmaker and one responsible for much of the success of RU rising from the ashes. Geo hit the 3 after a timeout from the wing that put RU up 58-55 and then Geo missed two 3s in big spots at 58-56. Win or lose, Pike was going with Geo. Last play of the game and Clemson deciding to play it out with a 6 second differential on the clock, a busted pass that bounced off Harper and landed back in Geo's hands who promptly went up and layed in. Could anyone have scripted it better? Would you want any other actor or player in the last 30 years taking that shot. Geo made some history tonight. He cemented our first NCAA win in 38 years. He will be forever loved here not for his stats or 3 point shooting or natural ability but for taking a chance on a moribund program and for all those times he delivered in a big spots that warmed our hearts.
Geo made the play of the game just like JY made the play of the game vs Minnesota but at some point everyone contributed. Caleb McConnell taken some criticism this year for some up and down play but damn tonight he was such an X factor on offense and defense, scrapping for everything and having the headiness to just be everywhere. A double double..wow 13 points/10 boards in 24 minutes. How about that layup at 53-52 where we desperately needed something. Such an opportunistic game and example of a player who contributes even though other parts of his game might struggle. Jacob Young was absolutely unstoppable in our stretch where RU went on a 16-2 run over 5 minutes. Rutgers was shutting Clemson down, poking the ball away and then running and making Clemson pay, Young had 5 points in that stretch but it was clear his presence at the time was vital. You see what happened when he was taken out, RU fell into a funk. Since we did win, I am going to overlook what could have been a brutal coaching decision by Pikiell. It all worked out for the best. Myles certainly didnt have his best night but he got a couple of key rebounds late, a huge block of a Sims shot and I believe in on the play at 58-56 where Sims traveled. Myles was a warrior after taking that fall on his back and he still got his 10 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals. Do not forget Paul McCauley, he nailed two huge 3s again completely his roll just like he did vs Minnesota, key moments where RU was really struggling on offense he allowed them to stay in the game. Ron had a bad night shooting 3-14 but still wound up with 10 and he really was awful from 3 but Ron is always going to be a threat. All of his 10 were needed and added touch of swagger at times tonight. Cliff gave 9 minutes, 3 boards, he did what he had to do tonight, no issue. Mathis..lets just say no comment on this night
This is Rutgers basketball. Embrace it. We will never be the style of Ohio State who by the way came up looking very small today or Iowa who has so many options on offense. This team has such a small margin of error. To win they have to fight for everything. In some of our losses, we didnt and its no surprise why we lost. Its no surprise that wins like tonight harken back to wins from last year and its no surprise some of the guys who stepped up tonight in big spots. The haters will hate, people will scoff and laugh Rutgers???? Yet who is laughing now. Would you rather be Purdue right now or Ohio State or Tennessee. A funny thing happens in tournaments. Team make the own luck and then some ride their own waves. This is the first step. Dream big dreams. Remember Loyola Chicago, I was just looking at their run from 3 years back and was reminded how they won most of their games by the skin of their teeth and I think on at least one last shot. All bets are off in the NCAA. You can write your own history. Rutgers lives to see another day against the most reasonable 2 seed they can find
Be proud Rutgers fans, we have all suffered for way too long. Bathe yourself in it the next two days. Rutgers Nation is standing strong this weekend. Our fans were joyous and loud and real and all of America heard them tonight. We are blessed with success
These are days you'll remember
Never before and never since
I promise
Will the whole world be warm as this
And as you feel it
You'll know it's true
That you are blessed and lucky
What to say about Geo. His tweets aside because that has nothing to do with him as a player so keep that commentary out of this thread. There have been questions about Geo's legacy here on the board. Without a doubt Geo has cemented his story. Whether there is a part 2 next year, only Geo knows but he emphatically answered his doubters. This kid rated 415 or whatever took a chance on RU and Coach Pikiell took a chance on Geo as well. Geo showed some flashes as a freshmen but we never knew he was capable of what he did at the Garden. From there the expectations were placed on Geo. Perhaps unfairly perhaps not. Many wanted Geo to be Corey Sanders but Geo wasn't Corey Sanders who had more natural skills. Geo was Geo. He had to work for everything from when he was that 95 pound weakling to the man he is today. Geo teased us with some incredible late game step backs and 3s and it seemed like it was setting up for a monster year for him. But Geo struggled this year whatever that might mean, failed to find his consistency after his injury and at times seem to disappear even in big spots. I do not even think Geo was the most vocal leader, maybe he just isnt that kind of guy. What I do know is that Geo leads by example. Seen it before and seen it tonight. I have no doubt that Coach Pikiell trusted Geo with the ball in the late stages to make a play to win Rutgers a game...successful or not, Pike was going to ride with his playmaker and one responsible for much of the success of RU rising from the ashes. Geo hit the 3 after a timeout from the wing that put RU up 58-55 and then Geo missed two 3s in big spots at 58-56. Win or lose, Pike was going with Geo. Last play of the game and Clemson deciding to play it out with a 6 second differential on the clock, a busted pass that bounced off Harper and landed back in Geo's hands who promptly went up and layed in. Could anyone have scripted it better? Would you want any other actor or player in the last 30 years taking that shot. Geo made some history tonight. He cemented our first NCAA win in 38 years. He will be forever loved here not for his stats or 3 point shooting or natural ability but for taking a chance on a moribund program and for all those times he delivered in a big spots that warmed our hearts.
Geo made the play of the game just like JY made the play of the game vs Minnesota but at some point everyone contributed. Caleb McConnell taken some criticism this year for some up and down play but damn tonight he was such an X factor on offense and defense, scrapping for everything and having the headiness to just be everywhere. A double double..wow 13 points/10 boards in 24 minutes. How about that layup at 53-52 where we desperately needed something. Such an opportunistic game and example of a player who contributes even though other parts of his game might struggle. Jacob Young was absolutely unstoppable in our stretch where RU went on a 16-2 run over 5 minutes. Rutgers was shutting Clemson down, poking the ball away and then running and making Clemson pay, Young had 5 points in that stretch but it was clear his presence at the time was vital. You see what happened when he was taken out, RU fell into a funk. Since we did win, I am going to overlook what could have been a brutal coaching decision by Pikiell. It all worked out for the best. Myles certainly didnt have his best night but he got a couple of key rebounds late, a huge block of a Sims shot and I believe in on the play at 58-56 where Sims traveled. Myles was a warrior after taking that fall on his back and he still got his 10 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals. Do not forget Paul McCauley, he nailed two huge 3s again completely his roll just like he did vs Minnesota, key moments where RU was really struggling on offense he allowed them to stay in the game. Ron had a bad night shooting 3-14 but still wound up with 10 and he really was awful from 3 but Ron is always going to be a threat. All of his 10 were needed and added touch of swagger at times tonight. Cliff gave 9 minutes, 3 boards, he did what he had to do tonight, no issue. Mathis..lets just say no comment on this night
This is Rutgers basketball. Embrace it. We will never be the style of Ohio State who by the way came up looking very small today or Iowa who has so many options on offense. This team has such a small margin of error. To win they have to fight for everything. In some of our losses, we didnt and its no surprise why we lost. Its no surprise that wins like tonight harken back to wins from last year and its no surprise some of the guys who stepped up tonight in big spots. The haters will hate, people will scoff and laugh Rutgers???? Yet who is laughing now. Would you rather be Purdue right now or Ohio State or Tennessee. A funny thing happens in tournaments. Team make the own luck and then some ride their own waves. This is the first step. Dream big dreams. Remember Loyola Chicago, I was just looking at their run from 3 years back and was reminded how they won most of their games by the skin of their teeth and I think on at least one last shot. All bets are off in the NCAA. You can write your own history. Rutgers lives to see another day against the most reasonable 2 seed they can find
Be proud Rutgers fans, we have all suffered for way too long. Bathe yourself in it the next two days. Rutgers Nation is standing strong this weekend. Our fans were joyous and loud and real and all of America heard them tonight. We are blessed with success
These are days you'll remember
Never before and never since
I promise
Will the whole world be warm as this
And as you feel it
You'll know it's true
That you are blessed and lucky