Just another quick recap because I want to focus on bacatology for tomorrrow night update
Once again I have to start by saying its most enjoyable to watch Rutgers games without bring expectations and worrying about NCAA tournament resumes. For the 2nd straight game, it was enjoyable to watch a totally offensive minded game of hoops and one where RU came out on the winning end again. This one a little more well done that at Washington. Helps being at home. Like I said after the Washington to win, get used to the blueprint. Its about offense, offense, offense....outscoring your opponent and hope that they miss a little more than you do. Early on it looked like USC was at least playing a bit of defense but that quickly disappeared. RU wasnt playing any defense and both teams shot ridiculous over 50% in the first half. RU got a tad of seperation toward half and then had a strong start to the 2nd half pushing the lead up to 10. That cushion would hold sway the rest of the way. The Trojans were hard to shake off. USC would keep pace chipping away at times getting it down to 5 but RU would build the lead back up again. Eventually RU finally got over the hump nursing a 68-61 with about 8 and half left. Over about 4 minutes, they would go on a decisive 14-4 run that bulged the lead to 17 at 82-65. Even though the close out wasnt pretty, USC never got closer than 6 and RU put the game away for good with a scintillating 26-28 free throw performance hitting about 10 of them in the closing minutes
It was as good as an overall performance from Rutgers as you have seen this year. Yes alot of it was Dylan Harper basically money but make no mistake, a whole slew of guys were on their game offensively. RU shot a wicked 55.6& on 30-54 fg shooting, 9-20 from 3 and the aforementioned sick 26-28 at the line. Blueprint, blueprint, blueprint. Scoring 95 points in a Big 10 game is rare air for Rutgers but they had it going. Dylan was 9-13 and 4-8 from 3, 3-3 ft for 25 points and 9 assists. He is RU's moneymaker and he was feeling it for the 2nd straight game and USC had no one that could defend him. There was one particular blow by in the 2nd half worth every ooh and ah. Ace Bailey struggled to find his groove. Just 5-12 fg for 14 points, he did get a couple of 3s. The thing its still a solid night from Ace but we put such high expecations on him. Lathan struggled defensively early and then limited minutes because of foul trouble yet he came roaring out at halftime with back to back buckets setting the tone for RU building on its halftime lead. Grant not his best game and limited minutes to 18 as Pike rode Bryce more than usual. Just 2 points, on 1-3 fg. hought J Will would have had a bigger game after hitting 2 buckets early but he wound up with just 7 for the game on 2-4 fg in 20 minutes and 3-4 ft
The real story though was the bench who contributed 69 minutes and a whopping 37 points on 11-18 fg, 3-7 from 3, and 12-13 at the line. The biggest unsung hero was Bryce Dortch who was 4-4 and 1-1 ft with 2 blocks in just 14 minutes for 9 points . Dortch had a notable stretch in the 2nd half with a block and then a layup and one plus another tip in all in key stretch that put RU up 12 where they never really looked back. Big shots at big times from players other than Dylan. Would see that from J Mike who hit a big time 3 that put RU up 13 right after the Dortch flurry. J Mike would also bring it home late with 6 ft in the final 30 seconds to snuff out any USC comeback. J Mike finished 8-8 at the line and for a guy that traditionally struggles with his free throw shooting, it was quite the redemption. In just 15 minutes, Davis contributed 13 points on 2-5 fg with 2 offensive rebounds and 2 plays. Tyson Acuff just 18 minutes but in the 2nd half, two critical shots that may have saved the game....USC within 59-54, Tyson hit a jumper and then drained a 3 to push the lead back to 64-54. Needed every bit of his 10 points on 3-5 fg. Earlier Zak Martini hit an important layup that pushed the lead to 55-47. Martini also drained a big 3 at the right time in the first half that tied the game. 18 minutes, 5 points, 5 rebounds. Guy played his role. Collectively the bench was awesome. These kinds of heady critical contributions with Dylan/Ace getting some rest. Ogbole was back for 2 minutes. Unexpected surprise but not ready for the speed of the game. Derkack not really playable this game just 2 minutes. Lathan would go 6-6 ft and 10 points, 3 boards in 21 minutes. Love the way he still is finding ways to contribute even while struggling out there.
Pike deserves credit for getting this team to bounce back after two awful efforts starting in the 2nd half at Oregon and continuing with a concerning lack of effort in the loss to Iowa. The freshmen are buying in ALOT. Ace/Dylan have not packed it in and the role players are filling their spots. Its only vs Washington and USC but you have to start somewhere. The other option is losing. Do not get overexcited. The season is what it is. Its disappointing for sure and failure because a NCAA bid should have happened but maybe we can get some more morsels of good times and a bit of a run in the Big 10 tourney. Take the win, that is consecutive wins and 7 Big 10 wins. RU in very very good shape to make the Big 10 tourney. Next 2 will be tough and the blueprint of 55% shooting vs the likes of Michigan and Purdue defense on the road does not seem like it will have success. I know Harper didnt play vs Michigan the first time and RU did set a slower tempo to stay in range. I just do not think they will be able to do it in Ann Arbor. I worry about Wolf/Vlad vs Lathan/Grant/Bryce on the road. Still Minnesota to end the year should be a Rutgers win no excuses. RU still has the best 2 players on the court and although Garcia is tough and they will be playing to make the Big 10 tourney as well, its a spot this program just has to win in. If you are looking for defense...well you will have to wait until the 2025-2026 Rutgers edition because its likely not in the cards the rest of this year. Milk this offense for all its worth Pike.
Once again I have to start by saying its most enjoyable to watch Rutgers games without bring expectations and worrying about NCAA tournament resumes. For the 2nd straight game, it was enjoyable to watch a totally offensive minded game of hoops and one where RU came out on the winning end again. This one a little more well done that at Washington. Helps being at home. Like I said after the Washington to win, get used to the blueprint. Its about offense, offense, offense....outscoring your opponent and hope that they miss a little more than you do. Early on it looked like USC was at least playing a bit of defense but that quickly disappeared. RU wasnt playing any defense and both teams shot ridiculous over 50% in the first half. RU got a tad of seperation toward half and then had a strong start to the 2nd half pushing the lead up to 10. That cushion would hold sway the rest of the way. The Trojans were hard to shake off. USC would keep pace chipping away at times getting it down to 5 but RU would build the lead back up again. Eventually RU finally got over the hump nursing a 68-61 with about 8 and half left. Over about 4 minutes, they would go on a decisive 14-4 run that bulged the lead to 17 at 82-65. Even though the close out wasnt pretty, USC never got closer than 6 and RU put the game away for good with a scintillating 26-28 free throw performance hitting about 10 of them in the closing minutes
It was as good as an overall performance from Rutgers as you have seen this year. Yes alot of it was Dylan Harper basically money but make no mistake, a whole slew of guys were on their game offensively. RU shot a wicked 55.6& on 30-54 fg shooting, 9-20 from 3 and the aforementioned sick 26-28 at the line. Blueprint, blueprint, blueprint. Scoring 95 points in a Big 10 game is rare air for Rutgers but they had it going. Dylan was 9-13 and 4-8 from 3, 3-3 ft for 25 points and 9 assists. He is RU's moneymaker and he was feeling it for the 2nd straight game and USC had no one that could defend him. There was one particular blow by in the 2nd half worth every ooh and ah. Ace Bailey struggled to find his groove. Just 5-12 fg for 14 points, he did get a couple of 3s. The thing its still a solid night from Ace but we put such high expecations on him. Lathan struggled defensively early and then limited minutes because of foul trouble yet he came roaring out at halftime with back to back buckets setting the tone for RU building on its halftime lead. Grant not his best game and limited minutes to 18 as Pike rode Bryce more than usual. Just 2 points, on 1-3 fg. hought J Will would have had a bigger game after hitting 2 buckets early but he wound up with just 7 for the game on 2-4 fg in 20 minutes and 3-4 ft
The real story though was the bench who contributed 69 minutes and a whopping 37 points on 11-18 fg, 3-7 from 3, and 12-13 at the line. The biggest unsung hero was Bryce Dortch who was 4-4 and 1-1 ft with 2 blocks in just 14 minutes for 9 points . Dortch had a notable stretch in the 2nd half with a block and then a layup and one plus another tip in all in key stretch that put RU up 12 where they never really looked back. Big shots at big times from players other than Dylan. Would see that from J Mike who hit a big time 3 that put RU up 13 right after the Dortch flurry. J Mike would also bring it home late with 6 ft in the final 30 seconds to snuff out any USC comeback. J Mike finished 8-8 at the line and for a guy that traditionally struggles with his free throw shooting, it was quite the redemption. In just 15 minutes, Davis contributed 13 points on 2-5 fg with 2 offensive rebounds and 2 plays. Tyson Acuff just 18 minutes but in the 2nd half, two critical shots that may have saved the game....USC within 59-54, Tyson hit a jumper and then drained a 3 to push the lead back to 64-54. Needed every bit of his 10 points on 3-5 fg. Earlier Zak Martini hit an important layup that pushed the lead to 55-47. Martini also drained a big 3 at the right time in the first half that tied the game. 18 minutes, 5 points, 5 rebounds. Guy played his role. Collectively the bench was awesome. These kinds of heady critical contributions with Dylan/Ace getting some rest. Ogbole was back for 2 minutes. Unexpected surprise but not ready for the speed of the game. Derkack not really playable this game just 2 minutes. Lathan would go 6-6 ft and 10 points, 3 boards in 21 minutes. Love the way he still is finding ways to contribute even while struggling out there.
Pike deserves credit for getting this team to bounce back after two awful efforts starting in the 2nd half at Oregon and continuing with a concerning lack of effort in the loss to Iowa. The freshmen are buying in ALOT. Ace/Dylan have not packed it in and the role players are filling their spots. Its only vs Washington and USC but you have to start somewhere. The other option is losing. Do not get overexcited. The season is what it is. Its disappointing for sure and failure because a NCAA bid should have happened but maybe we can get some more morsels of good times and a bit of a run in the Big 10 tourney. Take the win, that is consecutive wins and 7 Big 10 wins. RU in very very good shape to make the Big 10 tourney. Next 2 will be tough and the blueprint of 55% shooting vs the likes of Michigan and Purdue defense on the road does not seem like it will have success. I know Harper didnt play vs Michigan the first time and RU did set a slower tempo to stay in range. I just do not think they will be able to do it in Ann Arbor. I worry about Wolf/Vlad vs Lathan/Grant/Bryce on the road. Still Minnesota to end the year should be a Rutgers win no excuses. RU still has the best 2 players on the court and although Garcia is tough and they will be playing to make the Big 10 tourney as well, its a spot this program just has to win in. If you are looking for defense...well you will have to wait until the 2025-2026 Rutgers edition because its likely not in the cards the rest of this year. Milk this offense for all its worth Pike.
