I would not normally be all that discouraged about losing to a NCAA bound team on the road in their place when they do not lose. However tonight the way the game played out was infinitely winnable. It was a missed opportunity to make a statement that things were different. Nebraska did not play like a team who wanted to nail down a NCAA bid. Nor did they even play like a team that was tight with alot riding on the line. They went got a lead early and then coasted. Most of the game they went through the motions on offense with some bad turnovers and some pourus defense allowing guys like Wolf and GG to get hot. Door was left open for sure. Then when RU got to within 6 all Nebby did was turn to Tominanga who simply went on a personal 9-0 scoring run and the game was over. More disheartening is the fact that even with going through the motions, Nebraska was still outhustling Rutgers and getting every 50/50 ball. RU watched flat footed on most rebounding attempts while Nebraska simply grabbed rebounds. Tired of watching rebounds go off of Cliffs hands out of bounds. You are not coming back with plays like that.
The fact is the game was lost at the beginning when our vaunted starters pulled no shows besides J Will. How many times am I going to watch Cliff pull a now show manhandled by his opponent. Derek fail to make a transition bucket. Hyatt remind me why I did not want him back for a 5th year. The only reason RU had any pulse in the first half down by 12 not 24 was that Wolf and Gavin stepped up for their teammates and brought energy. I said at half that if Pike wanted to win, he needed to start the same 5 that played at the end of the first half. Instead of course we got the same 5 and the same results as Nebby was up as much as 15. It wasnt until Wolf and Gavin came in that the lead was chipped away. But they cannot do it all after getting handed a 15 point defecit on the road. In a frustrating game I am rethinking my thoughts on Wolf after a 9 points/9 rebound game....5 offensive boards and 2 assists. I beyond stoked about Gavins performance tonight especially how active he is defensively. Showing more confidence in his shot as well....yes only 3-10 fg, 10 points, 3 board, 2 blocks, 2-2 ft. Pike is finally finding something here and he needs to ride this the next couple of games. Looks like Mag probably will not go anymore. Hyatt is a disaster and I am going to hold my tongue here on Derek but I let my thoughts know in the game thread.
I said turn the page two games ago. It is beyond time and Pike maybe realizing it now. Lets hope he realizes it for the next couple of games and perhaps if they are fortunate enough to make the nit. Again offseason is huge. Some players need to leave. Some players like Mag/Cliff were there likely will be indecision need to be agressively handedly by Pike.. Pike need to ask if its worth first and then are you 100% with us or not. Sometimes hard choices need to be made to move the program forward. Perhaps GG and Wolf were not put in the best situation by Pike and by their teammates. I believe my eyes when I see certain players not acknowledging others. Again next year is new deal for Pike but can he actually navigate the roster offseason. No one wants to be 19-12 scraping in the field. We have two godsend players. The portal should be salivating to play with them.
Back to Nebraska.....congrats to them. They are headed to the NCAA tourney. Hoiberg will be Big 10 coach of the year. Hoiberg has had a rough go at times with major roster movement from year to year. This year finally some consistency and all his players bought in. An incredible story with Tominanga....he is a great kid...why wouldnt he be showing his emotions. He is having the time of his life and its about enjoying it. He will be a great story to watch in the NCAA tournament. Nebraska as a program reminds me of the 2020/2021 Pike NCAA teams.
For Rutgers it remains a Jekyll and Hyde group. Was their really people trying to build a path for a NCAA bid for this team because they beat Michigan. Bollocks...this team is what it is. They are 15-14 and 5-4 with J Will. Nothing more, nothing less. Incredibly frustrating. Its been messy since game 1 in Trenton vs Princeton and game 29 in lincoln there isnt much difference. A win over Ohio State is quite possible so is a loss. Yet this team simply is not more than a medicore bunch and the season a disappointing one in light of last year tanking. A roster terribley constructed. A combo of bad luck and bad recruiting and too many lacking hunger. How many times can I write the SAME RECAP. Next year is bright but again all those questions need to be answered. I have seen better coaches flounder with top talent. Aggressiveness is what I need to see in the portal and with the roster. If not I fear a program playing with a hand tied behind their back next year.
The fact is the game was lost at the beginning when our vaunted starters pulled no shows besides J Will. How many times am I going to watch Cliff pull a now show manhandled by his opponent. Derek fail to make a transition bucket. Hyatt remind me why I did not want him back for a 5th year. The only reason RU had any pulse in the first half down by 12 not 24 was that Wolf and Gavin stepped up for their teammates and brought energy. I said at half that if Pike wanted to win, he needed to start the same 5 that played at the end of the first half. Instead of course we got the same 5 and the same results as Nebby was up as much as 15. It wasnt until Wolf and Gavin came in that the lead was chipped away. But they cannot do it all after getting handed a 15 point defecit on the road. In a frustrating game I am rethinking my thoughts on Wolf after a 9 points/9 rebound game....5 offensive boards and 2 assists. I beyond stoked about Gavins performance tonight especially how active he is defensively. Showing more confidence in his shot as well....yes only 3-10 fg, 10 points, 3 board, 2 blocks, 2-2 ft. Pike is finally finding something here and he needs to ride this the next couple of games. Looks like Mag probably will not go anymore. Hyatt is a disaster and I am going to hold my tongue here on Derek but I let my thoughts know in the game thread.
I said turn the page two games ago. It is beyond time and Pike maybe realizing it now. Lets hope he realizes it for the next couple of games and perhaps if they are fortunate enough to make the nit. Again offseason is huge. Some players need to leave. Some players like Mag/Cliff were there likely will be indecision need to be agressively handedly by Pike.. Pike need to ask if its worth first and then are you 100% with us or not. Sometimes hard choices need to be made to move the program forward. Perhaps GG and Wolf were not put in the best situation by Pike and by their teammates. I believe my eyes when I see certain players not acknowledging others. Again next year is new deal for Pike but can he actually navigate the roster offseason. No one wants to be 19-12 scraping in the field. We have two godsend players. The portal should be salivating to play with them.
Back to Nebraska.....congrats to them. They are headed to the NCAA tourney. Hoiberg will be Big 10 coach of the year. Hoiberg has had a rough go at times with major roster movement from year to year. This year finally some consistency and all his players bought in. An incredible story with Tominanga....he is a great kid...why wouldnt he be showing his emotions. He is having the time of his life and its about enjoying it. He will be a great story to watch in the NCAA tournament. Nebraska as a program reminds me of the 2020/2021 Pike NCAA teams.
For Rutgers it remains a Jekyll and Hyde group. Was their really people trying to build a path for a NCAA bid for this team because they beat Michigan. Bollocks...this team is what it is. They are 15-14 and 5-4 with J Will. Nothing more, nothing less. Incredibly frustrating. Its been messy since game 1 in Trenton vs Princeton and game 29 in lincoln there isnt much difference. A win over Ohio State is quite possible so is a loss. Yet this team simply is not more than a medicore bunch and the season a disappointing one in light of last year tanking. A roster terribley constructed. A combo of bad luck and bad recruiting and too many lacking hunger. How many times can I write the SAME RECAP. Next year is bright but again all those questions need to be answered. I have seen better coaches flounder with top talent. Aggressiveness is what I need to see in the portal and with the roster. If not I fear a program playing with a hand tied behind their back next year.
