That was a pretty unispiring performance today that really highlighted all the issues facing Rutgers thus far this season. Replacing leadership, defense, intensity, 3 point shooting and the intangibles that had RU succeeding until the Mag injury derailed the season. Princeton was the worst kind of opponent for Rutgers to face yet RU hung in there and its somewhat surprising that RU kept it a game to the end. Boston U was overmatched clearly but RU did not shake free until the defense cranked up and Gavin started clicking. Today vs Bryant, RU basically traded baskets while fumbling its way through bad possessions, turnovers, and weak defense. Constant in all 3 games have been lack of leadership and some simple abysmal guard play.
In trying to find a positive today, perhaps..perhaps there was a glimmer today. For the first time this season, I saw the 3 main contributors returning from last year....Cliff, Hyatt, and Derek make plays down the stretch and show some leadership. What I have not been seeing is leadership by example. Pike is throwing a whole bunch of new players out there and new rotations yet the guys who have been expected to give lift this season and build off of last season have been a bit subpar with the fire they need to bring to the table. I know Hyatt has been scoring a lot and by far has been our most consistent scorer but is still prone to some really glaring miscues. Cliff was non impact vs Princeton, disappeared vs Boston and today inexclipably picked up 2 fouls on one possessions that totally derailed any normal gameplan a fragile RU offense would have in the first half. Derek continues to miss a ton of looks and is struggling with his new fit on this team. However in this game, they did set the example that hopefully can be used proceeding further. Cliff came back in later in the first half and did not pick up his 3 while RU was able to regain the lead. Cliff would come out with some more urgency in the 2nd half and ended up tying his career high rebounding total with 15. His follow up off a Derek miss at 57-55 was massive. Hyatt would make a gigantic 3 at 44-43 with RU trailing that would give RU the lead back that they would never relinquish. He followed it up with a key block at the rim at 48-44 and then nailed his free throws most notably the ones at 61-57 with just 50 seconds left. 19 points, 7-9 free throws and 8 boards, yes overalll 5-14 fg not good. Players making plays to win the game.
Then we get to Derek....uninspiring thus far this year and not in the starting lineup as many expected him to be. His shooting did not get much today but that is okay. Derek was money at the line today. He was the go to player late and Pikiell obviously felt very comfortable with the ball in Derek's hand drawing fouls. This is where the experience in the Big 10 wars showed today. Derek tapping into his potential. A game like today hopefully gives him the needed confidence to start producing like he knows he can. Kudos to Derek for a perfect 8-8 at the line, 12 points in 27 minutes with 4 assists. Derek is still only 4-19 fg for the year but maybe just maybe he can realize that this is his team. No one is coming to rescue them. He has a freshmen guard below him and a transfer 5th year guy who hasnt proven anything. This is Dereks time to shine.
There is something to be said for learning how to win with a lot of new parts. Obviously Rutgers really misses Paul and Cam. There is no debating that. They miss Mag too but Mag isnt some savior. Inserting Mag into the lineup isnt going to a magic cure. This is a far different team than last season and everyone is still trying to find their role and identity. I can feel for Pike trying to figure this out but he cannot be without criticism. Next year is next year, leave those players to next year. Pike's recruiting the past couple of years are a factor in what we see now. # games in and I expected to see more of out Noah. J Mike is solid but he is frosh with a complimentary role right now. We are desperately missing another guard. We are relying on Palm for major minutes at the 4 and he played pretty poorly during his 9 minutes today. IMO, Pike is trying to be too cute with the starters...play your best lineup....Cliff, Wolf, Hyatt, Gavin and Derek. Yes its a bigger lineup but these are the 5 guys most capable of producing. Davis going 1-8 in 18 minutes is just too many shots for my liking. Collective the 3 small guards were just 4-21 in this game which isnt far off from what they are for the season. 11-54.....that is not going to cut it folks. It is what it is. Today Gavin did not have his shot going a woeful 2-11 and 1-8 from 3. Thats not always going to happen but its not unexpected for a frosh. We can take some solace that despite alll of this woeful shooting...only 19 shots made for 31%, RU still was able to grind it out late mainly do to nailing most of their free throws in the 2nd half to finish at 24-34.
Bottom line Cliff needs to stay on the court and be smarter. Bring it 100% all game. Hyatt looks like our main offensive weapon. If he can just shake that bugaboos with some illadvised shots. Pike needs to keep trusting in Derek that he gives us our best shot at winning rather than expecting Noah to be that guy. Pike needs to settle down his rotation and get some normalcy. Team comes out too flat in these first halves without purpose. For Georgetown they will need to raise their level. Alot of work to do all around and program has to recapture some of that hunger to get better as we go forward because everyone needs to get better in a hurry.
In trying to find a positive today, perhaps..perhaps there was a glimmer today. For the first time this season, I saw the 3 main contributors returning from last year....Cliff, Hyatt, and Derek make plays down the stretch and show some leadership. What I have not been seeing is leadership by example. Pike is throwing a whole bunch of new players out there and new rotations yet the guys who have been expected to give lift this season and build off of last season have been a bit subpar with the fire they need to bring to the table. I know Hyatt has been scoring a lot and by far has been our most consistent scorer but is still prone to some really glaring miscues. Cliff was non impact vs Princeton, disappeared vs Boston and today inexclipably picked up 2 fouls on one possessions that totally derailed any normal gameplan a fragile RU offense would have in the first half. Derek continues to miss a ton of looks and is struggling with his new fit on this team. However in this game, they did set the example that hopefully can be used proceeding further. Cliff came back in later in the first half and did not pick up his 3 while RU was able to regain the lead. Cliff would come out with some more urgency in the 2nd half and ended up tying his career high rebounding total with 15. His follow up off a Derek miss at 57-55 was massive. Hyatt would make a gigantic 3 at 44-43 with RU trailing that would give RU the lead back that they would never relinquish. He followed it up with a key block at the rim at 48-44 and then nailed his free throws most notably the ones at 61-57 with just 50 seconds left. 19 points, 7-9 free throws and 8 boards, yes overalll 5-14 fg not good. Players making plays to win the game.
Then we get to Derek....uninspiring thus far this year and not in the starting lineup as many expected him to be. His shooting did not get much today but that is okay. Derek was money at the line today. He was the go to player late and Pikiell obviously felt very comfortable with the ball in Derek's hand drawing fouls. This is where the experience in the Big 10 wars showed today. Derek tapping into his potential. A game like today hopefully gives him the needed confidence to start producing like he knows he can. Kudos to Derek for a perfect 8-8 at the line, 12 points in 27 minutes with 4 assists. Derek is still only 4-19 fg for the year but maybe just maybe he can realize that this is his team. No one is coming to rescue them. He has a freshmen guard below him and a transfer 5th year guy who hasnt proven anything. This is Dereks time to shine.
There is something to be said for learning how to win with a lot of new parts. Obviously Rutgers really misses Paul and Cam. There is no debating that. They miss Mag too but Mag isnt some savior. Inserting Mag into the lineup isnt going to a magic cure. This is a far different team than last season and everyone is still trying to find their role and identity. I can feel for Pike trying to figure this out but he cannot be without criticism. Next year is next year, leave those players to next year. Pike's recruiting the past couple of years are a factor in what we see now. # games in and I expected to see more of out Noah. J Mike is solid but he is frosh with a complimentary role right now. We are desperately missing another guard. We are relying on Palm for major minutes at the 4 and he played pretty poorly during his 9 minutes today. IMO, Pike is trying to be too cute with the starters...play your best lineup....Cliff, Wolf, Hyatt, Gavin and Derek. Yes its a bigger lineup but these are the 5 guys most capable of producing. Davis going 1-8 in 18 minutes is just too many shots for my liking. Collective the 3 small guards were just 4-21 in this game which isnt far off from what they are for the season. 11-54.....that is not going to cut it folks. It is what it is. Today Gavin did not have his shot going a woeful 2-11 and 1-8 from 3. Thats not always going to happen but its not unexpected for a frosh. We can take some solace that despite alll of this woeful shooting...only 19 shots made for 31%, RU still was able to grind it out late mainly do to nailing most of their free throws in the 2nd half to finish at 24-34.
Bottom line Cliff needs to stay on the court and be smarter. Bring it 100% all game. Hyatt looks like our main offensive weapon. If he can just shake that bugaboos with some illadvised shots. Pike needs to keep trusting in Derek that he gives us our best shot at winning rather than expecting Noah to be that guy. Pike needs to settle down his rotation and get some normalcy. Team comes out too flat in these first halves without purpose. For Georgetown they will need to raise their level. Alot of work to do all around and program has to recapture some of that hunger to get better as we go forward because everyone needs to get better in a hurry.
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