It is good to win. Rutgers needed this win. The fans needed it. The NCAA tourney team sheet needed it. Beating Wisconsin is not as sexier as in some other seasons but this was a Q1 (oscillating) road win against a school projected in the NCAA tourney (last 4 in). It is a quality win no matter how you look at. It is RU 6th win vs a team projected in the field. RU still needs a game or two for good measure but this alleviates some of the pressure and doubts growing on their backs after 3 straight losses the worst of which was the Nebraska debacle at the RAC.
Not a pretty win. No one cares about style points in the month before March madness. A few ugly breakdowns on defense led to back to back to back to back 3s by Wisconsin and all of a sudden a 5 point lead was a 3 point deficit. RU easily could have folded and the whole recap and narrative would be different. Wisconsin could have won on one of their flurry of last second tries but they didn't. Let's bac up a bit. Rutgers was dealt an enormous blow to their gameplan when Caleb McConnell was declared out for this game due to late back spasms. That just pretty much threw the whole approach to the game in disarray so the coaching staff was going to face a tough job adjusting on the fly. Oskar got the start and generally played okay missing a few open shots but hit one later. RU generally survived without Caleb in the first half. Next man up as RU weathered that first half with a 2 point lead that probably should have been more. RU rode some sizzling shooting from Cam 5-6 from 3 in the first half for 19 points. The Hepburn foul trouble was a big help the counter Caleb being out and perhaps even moreso in the first half. I did not like RU D at times in this game especially from the perimeter. These were wide open shots and after a long stretch of futility, Wisconsin hit 4 in a row and took the lead. But RU defense buckled down. In the final 3:36 of the game, Wisconsin would not score a point. Possessions ran quick too. Both schools would only have the ball 4 times in that final 3:36 eating up much of the clock. I said in the game thread it was the upperclassmen who needed to show something. During that 12-4 Badger run they looked a bit defeated and panicked rather than controlled and comfortable and RU really controlled much of this game on the road. Well you saw a bunch of guys step up and give it all they had. Despite that flurry of 3s given up, RU deserved this win. That is why I was getting pissed in the game thread. RU had weathered the loss of Caleb. They kept digging and digging in all game. There was a really good stretch of D for about 5 minutes of the 2nd half but the problem was RU just could not get out of their own way. So yeah if RU didnt win, I would have been disappointed. Every time RU had a chance to build a nice cushion they slogged off. See last 90 seconds of first, RU going through their own fg drought after the 17 minute mark of the 2nd half and then when the lead was 5 in the 2nd. A few times where we blinked on D and did not value the possessions and had wrong guys shooting. Yet RU got back in familiar territory late. One possessions games, ride the D and hope one of your captains rises to the occasion. He did.
After a timeout where you knew this play had to be called by Pike, Paul found Cliff for an easy dunk and the lead was down to just 1. Hyatt made a coveted rebound off a missed 3 and his heady play grabbing the all important offensive board after a Simpson miss at the rim. Andre would dunk on the putback erasing all the memories of blown bunnies from this game and others. A Cliff board off a missed 3 gave RU the ball with about 46 seconds left and a shot at taking the game to 2 possessions. RU played such great D on that last play. In on the D on the drive, altering the shot, contesting the rebound and then comes all the way out on the 3 to tip it with no foul. Brilliant play by Cliff who was shaky especially in the first half. GIVE IT ALL YOU GOT CLIFF! BIG TIME BIG TIME! Players make plays. Leaders rise to the occasion. Cliff went a warrior like 38 minutes. 5-12 shooting, 8 boards, 2 blocks, 12 points. Cliff can be so inconsistent. Missing dunks and getting beat at the rim but when he brings it, whoa.
Pike dealt a bad hand by the Caleb injury. I have not heard any of his post game comments or interviews so do not know the details. Cannot complain with the lineups. Had Reiber out there at times with Cliff and went back to Reiber in 2nd who had a career highlight dunk alley oop assisted by Paul. Reibs played 16 minutes, I didnt like his one jump shot he took in the 2nd half but overall a very solid game. 2-4, 5 points, 2 boards and even an assist. Alot of the lineup issue was alleviate by Cam finding his stroke early. Hit those 3s three in a row and he was off to the races. He would cool off considerably in the 2nd half and Gard definitely adjusted so those looks were not quite so open. Cam came up with a big one, his only made fg in the 2nd half that broke a 4 minute drought. Cam finished 7-14, 6-10 from 3, 5 boards and he skied for some of them for 22 points in 34 minutes. Bravo, a return to form for Cam who wasnt even on the court in a couple of these last games in the closing minutes. I hope people are giving credit to Hyatt today. I think his best overall game since Mag when out because it was more of what I can do to help the team rather than what can I do to take a shot. Big difference and when he does this, his value really shoots up. Aundre was 4-9 fg for 8 points, our leading rebounder with 9, 3 assists, 2 blocks in 34 minutes. Oskar 18 minutes in a starting role, 3 points on just 1-3 fg but he played his role and has to be applauded for that. Paul lack of aggression still a problem in the first half but came out more energy in the 2nd hitting on a couple shots earlier. 36 minutes on 3-7 fg, 6 points, 6 assists. Definitely played smarter late but still think he should be looking for his shot more. Derek played 21 minutes but was a quiet 1-3 fg, 2 points although the one that went down was nice looking. On paper you would think he would be more active vs a team like Wisconsin but I actually like he only shot the ball 3x. He needed to provide minutes, stick with his man and dont hurt RU. Overall I think he accomplished that without throwing up forced shots.
So hopefully Caleb can heal up and RU has some extra time to heal up for Michigan. A win here would go along way to all but securing a NCAA bid...think 2 overall are needed. Obviously today took that monkey off their back. And its interesting with their backs sort of against the wall, this is what Pike's team do, every single damn time. They give it all they go and secure that road win under duress. Everyone can exhale and breath for a few days and put away the angst. The bus is moving again albeit with some knocks and pinging and their may be a few repairs to be made but Rutgers has derailment that was cropping up in the back of our minds.