Just want to touch on some points about last night
Detachment helps alot. Being able to watch the game with no expectations and not getting frustrated and fretting over everything is a better way to watch. Even managed to doze off in both halves!
Game went pretty much as I expected. Washington has some good talent but not deep behind their starters and has been even more up and down this year than Rutgers with losses to Seattle and wins over Maryland. What was a posiitive to see was RU competing from the start so there was no hangover from the debacle laydown at Oregon. As sad as it sounds both teams had a lot to play for making the Big 10 tournament so both teams gave full effort there. It was a well played game back and forth and yeah neither team was interested in playing defense and it was all about offense but that is just the way its going to be. Do not expect Rutgers to play much defense the rest of the year. This was the blueprint game of Princeton and Nebraska where RU split. A better version of the Iowa game because Dylan showed up. At this point in the year where RU needs wins to make the Big 10 tourney, the all offense no defense style offers the best shot at securing these wins. Take the games for what they are. There will be no grinding it out in the Big 10 tourney expending energy. Its going to be about Dylan or Ace being superstars and getting enough contribution from the rest and the supporting cast not shooting RU out of game. Greene Rice take your stinkin defense elsewhere because you will not see it that I am sure of. Is it a true sustainable way to win...of course not, but it offers the best chance to win on any given night if that makes sense.
RU won because of a few reasons...
1. Dylan Harper had one of his classic games. 34 points, 9-18 fg, big time from 3 at 4-8, 12-14 ft, 5 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals. One of his finest overall games as a Knight. Washington could not stop him and if they tried to slow him down they put him at the line so great awareness by Pike and Dylan to keep drawing those fouls. He was the best on the court for sure and that is with the Huskies having 2 very special talents as well.
2. Dylan Harper was still on the floor at the end of the game whereas Osobor had fouled out playing only 26 minutes. Huge that Washington did not have him in overtime. Ironic that a Dylan miscue in regulation turning the ball over would lead to that inbound play that the Huskies muffed and Great fouled out on. Without Osobor the Huskies offense was limited and could not find anyone to step up in crunch time
3, RU made defensive stops...remember Princeton, couldnt stop anything. Well in the tight game here, I believe Grant forced the turnover guarding the inbound that landed in J Wills hands that allowed RU to tie and then in OT playing good D and limiting UW to one shot and then the D on the final play...heavy pressure around Boom forcing him to take a bad rushed 3 and perserving the victory. Shots and stops.
4. 9-19 from 3 point land....yes most of that was Dylan but take him away and they were still 5-11. J Will hit 2 of them and the one later was big time. Derkack hit one as well. What was notable was who didnt shoot 3s and thats a key here....RU has to have the right people taking 3s. Grants just one attempt very good, dont want him shooting 3s, not a good 3 point shooter despite his early success. Martini played 16 minutes, did not take a 3. Hayes 3 minutes no 3s, Davis 24 minutes no 3s. I think RU did very well in shot selection
5. Ace/Dylan Show....Ace was solid as well...6-13 fg, 5-9 ft could have been better 18 points, 8 boards did have foul trouble. You want Dylan and Ace approached 35 shot attempts combined and we got 33 from them. You dont want Grant/Lathan/Davis taking 8-10 fg, you arent going to win that way. It will be the Ace/Dylan show the rest of the way. Two very winnable games and two games that are likely rough goes
6. J Will played liked the J Will we all thought we had. 32 minutes, 4-7 fg, 2-2 from 3, That late foul shooting could have been costly at just 3-6, 3 steals, 13 points...will need this effort to beat Minny/USC
Washington shot 34-65 fg for 52% and still lost.
Lathan looks out of shape and vs top centers in the league is overmatched. Its not bashing its just reality. Purdue/Michigan will not be a good matchup for him.
Pike coached a solid game and his players in the right positions to make stops. The Harper play in regulation sucks but I think that is Dylan wanting to be the hero rather than what Pike wanted.
RU now with 6 conference wins has a little cushion and the inside track of making the Big 10 tourney. Looking more and more that Washington along with probably Penn State and Northwestern are the odd men out. One more win probably does it for RU to get to 7 wins but it would be academic by also beating Minny at home. A goal of 8-12 for such a disappointing season isnt a bad one all things considering. RU could track as the 12/13 seed which could give them a matchup with Indiana or USC and then maybe end with the 5 seed in the next round which could be UCLA or Maryland and obviously the former is preferred
Detachment helps alot. Being able to watch the game with no expectations and not getting frustrated and fretting over everything is a better way to watch. Even managed to doze off in both halves!
Game went pretty much as I expected. Washington has some good talent but not deep behind their starters and has been even more up and down this year than Rutgers with losses to Seattle and wins over Maryland. What was a posiitive to see was RU competing from the start so there was no hangover from the debacle laydown at Oregon. As sad as it sounds both teams had a lot to play for making the Big 10 tournament so both teams gave full effort there. It was a well played game back and forth and yeah neither team was interested in playing defense and it was all about offense but that is just the way its going to be. Do not expect Rutgers to play much defense the rest of the year. This was the blueprint game of Princeton and Nebraska where RU split. A better version of the Iowa game because Dylan showed up. At this point in the year where RU needs wins to make the Big 10 tourney, the all offense no defense style offers the best shot at securing these wins. Take the games for what they are. There will be no grinding it out in the Big 10 tourney expending energy. Its going to be about Dylan or Ace being superstars and getting enough contribution from the rest and the supporting cast not shooting RU out of game. Greene Rice take your stinkin defense elsewhere because you will not see it that I am sure of. Is it a true sustainable way to win...of course not, but it offers the best chance to win on any given night if that makes sense.
RU won because of a few reasons...
1. Dylan Harper had one of his classic games. 34 points, 9-18 fg, big time from 3 at 4-8, 12-14 ft, 5 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals. One of his finest overall games as a Knight. Washington could not stop him and if they tried to slow him down they put him at the line so great awareness by Pike and Dylan to keep drawing those fouls. He was the best on the court for sure and that is with the Huskies having 2 very special talents as well.
2. Dylan Harper was still on the floor at the end of the game whereas Osobor had fouled out playing only 26 minutes. Huge that Washington did not have him in overtime. Ironic that a Dylan miscue in regulation turning the ball over would lead to that inbound play that the Huskies muffed and Great fouled out on. Without Osobor the Huskies offense was limited and could not find anyone to step up in crunch time
3, RU made defensive stops...remember Princeton, couldnt stop anything. Well in the tight game here, I believe Grant forced the turnover guarding the inbound that landed in J Wills hands that allowed RU to tie and then in OT playing good D and limiting UW to one shot and then the D on the final play...heavy pressure around Boom forcing him to take a bad rushed 3 and perserving the victory. Shots and stops.
4. 9-19 from 3 point land....yes most of that was Dylan but take him away and they were still 5-11. J Will hit 2 of them and the one later was big time. Derkack hit one as well. What was notable was who didnt shoot 3s and thats a key here....RU has to have the right people taking 3s. Grants just one attempt very good, dont want him shooting 3s, not a good 3 point shooter despite his early success. Martini played 16 minutes, did not take a 3. Hayes 3 minutes no 3s, Davis 24 minutes no 3s. I think RU did very well in shot selection
5. Ace/Dylan Show....Ace was solid as well...6-13 fg, 5-9 ft could have been better 18 points, 8 boards did have foul trouble. You want Dylan and Ace approached 35 shot attempts combined and we got 33 from them. You dont want Grant/Lathan/Davis taking 8-10 fg, you arent going to win that way. It will be the Ace/Dylan show the rest of the way. Two very winnable games and two games that are likely rough goes
6. J Will played liked the J Will we all thought we had. 32 minutes, 4-7 fg, 2-2 from 3, That late foul shooting could have been costly at just 3-6, 3 steals, 13 points...will need this effort to beat Minny/USC
Washington shot 34-65 fg for 52% and still lost.
Lathan looks out of shape and vs top centers in the league is overmatched. Its not bashing its just reality. Purdue/Michigan will not be a good matchup for him.
Pike coached a solid game and his players in the right positions to make stops. The Harper play in regulation sucks but I think that is Dylan wanting to be the hero rather than what Pike wanted.
RU now with 6 conference wins has a little cushion and the inside track of making the Big 10 tourney. Looking more and more that Washington along with probably Penn State and Northwestern are the odd men out. One more win probably does it for RU to get to 7 wins but it would be academic by also beating Minny at home. A goal of 8-12 for such a disappointing season isnt a bad one all things considering. RU could track as the 12/13 seed which could give them a matchup with Indiana or USC and then maybe end with the 5 seed in the next round which could be UCLA or Maryland and obviously the former is preferred
