Nothing has ever come easy for this group over the past 3 years. It don't come easy...you know it don't come easy. Why would it be? The final moments were apropos for this exasperating bunch who have changed the course of history of Rutgers basketball. I mean RU already played in 11 one possession games at this year. RU's darkest moment was a Lafayette 3 giving them a stunning upset at the RAC in November yet here Rutgers was still standing after all this time in March playing for a chance to secure a NCAA at large bid. In between we saw RU find their way bac and go all the way up. The highs more often than the lows and that was why they had a last chance for that last dance. Everyone told you to keep those nitroglycerin pills handy, forget about vaccine mandates, there should be blood pressure checks before entering the RAC. Did you feel a little woozy? Heart palpitating? I did, I know I did not eat much breakfest but damn I was lightheaded in the aftermath. Because if you only knew what you're putting me through...a heart attack...you're givin me a heart attack. Checking with those around me, did we win? Is it over? It took some time to grasp what we had just seen. Wait we did win, Rutgers won. That is all that matters. You can go see your doctor in the morning. Deal with the ramifications later. There will always be open appointments in April for open heart surgery. Ron, Geo, and Caleb let's dance the last dance, let's dance the last dance tonight.
So overwhelmingly happy for this group. You cannot say enough how they along with Coach Pikiell changed the culture of RU hoops much like the Brian Leonard/Ray Rice group did with Coach Schiano for football. The hard work, the swagger, the ability to never give up in perilous moments will be remembered forever in RAC lore. This year has brought the RAC to amazing highs as a fan. An atmosphere second to none in the country and cherish these memories as these are the days to remember. I will not count my chickens yet but another NCAA appearance what would have been 3 in a row without covid, likely barring some absurd snub. But again Rutgers needs to close the deal, if they are seeded 5th then beat the 12, if the first opponent is Iowa, then they need to play their asses off.
A lot went right in this game. The first 30 minutes was prototypical RU effort locked in on defense and hitting enough shots on offense to stay in control by a good margin. RU sort of wavered for a few minutes in the first half but then closed out well limiting PSU to just 5 fgs and then continued their run of 11-0 into the 2nd half to open up a 36-21 lead. The defense was excellent for RU, so locked in and PSU was forced into a few shot clock violations and late attempts with the clock running down. The RAC was happy to apply several assists. A packed, loud and engaged crowd. Everything looked and checked the boxes and with about 9:24 left and RU up 51-38. Penn State was matching us basket for basket but the thinking was at that rate RU should be able to win comfortably. That did not happen, here comes the pesky Lions. Penn State is what they are...a 12-16/7-13 2nd division school. They are like what Rutgers was for years in the Big East and the first few years of Pikiell. Pesky tough and not intimidated, Seen this before at RU, remember going to Cuse and UConn and Gtown and playing them down to the wire or in some of the Pikes beginning years having a chance to knock off Sparty on the road. The backhanded compliment team...they always say you dont want to always play the pesky scrappy team. Well I would rather be good than pesky and yeah lucky too, that works. Give credit to Penn State they did everything they needed to do to win this game. They shut down and contested our drives to the hoop or at least altering the projection. They denied the ball from Ron's hands and RU fell into the trap of not moving the ball and Paul particiularly was brutal in a key stretch when we needed a calming bucket.
I also think Pike played it cute with the lineup during this time and it bit him hard. Ron came out at 51-38. Hyatt jacked up a shot, Paul had two bad possessions in a row, our defense lapsed at the other end. I commented in the game thread, its a fine line between a comfortable win of 10-12 points and a down to the wire nailbiter. Fact is RU never should have been in that position. Turnovers, bricks, blown dunks, blown layups and biggest of all free throw shooting. Cannot go 9-17 while your opponent is going 16-18. Penn State got hot from 3 and RU was giving the game away. It was almost the opposite of many RU road games where RU starts poorly and gets better. This was RU suddenly just losing all poise. All it could have taken was a made shot or some free throws and RU very might have won by 8 or 10. Cannot have so many empty possessions and it seemed like the moment of securing a bid was weighing on their minds as they reverted back to some early season closeouts at home. Only one fg in the last 7 minutes at home! Not a big fan of Pike in this game and he was outworked and outcoached by the PSU guy clearly and not being able to inbound has been quite an issue all year long in pressure situations. Geo was stuck in a bad spot the first inbound and then Paul in an impossible spot and I hope someone asked Pike what that play was supposed to be.
The basketball gods had a choice to make. The weak pass by Paul was intercepted by Lundy and that well defended 3 by Sessions was hoisted. The gods smiled and nodded at the RAC faithful. The shot fell by the wayside Exhale... If you feel like you are hangin on a heart attack, hold on come bac ooh yeah, its just that easy. Onto the Big 10 tournament and don't forget to bring your medical records.
If you know this song, big props,,,, Billboard #35 summer of 86
So overwhelmingly happy for this group. You cannot say enough how they along with Coach Pikiell changed the culture of RU hoops much like the Brian Leonard/Ray Rice group did with Coach Schiano for football. The hard work, the swagger, the ability to never give up in perilous moments will be remembered forever in RAC lore. This year has brought the RAC to amazing highs as a fan. An atmosphere second to none in the country and cherish these memories as these are the days to remember. I will not count my chickens yet but another NCAA appearance what would have been 3 in a row without covid, likely barring some absurd snub. But again Rutgers needs to close the deal, if they are seeded 5th then beat the 12, if the first opponent is Iowa, then they need to play their asses off.
A lot went right in this game. The first 30 minutes was prototypical RU effort locked in on defense and hitting enough shots on offense to stay in control by a good margin. RU sort of wavered for a few minutes in the first half but then closed out well limiting PSU to just 5 fgs and then continued their run of 11-0 into the 2nd half to open up a 36-21 lead. The defense was excellent for RU, so locked in and PSU was forced into a few shot clock violations and late attempts with the clock running down. The RAC was happy to apply several assists. A packed, loud and engaged crowd. Everything looked and checked the boxes and with about 9:24 left and RU up 51-38. Penn State was matching us basket for basket but the thinking was at that rate RU should be able to win comfortably. That did not happen, here comes the pesky Lions. Penn State is what they are...a 12-16/7-13 2nd division school. They are like what Rutgers was for years in the Big East and the first few years of Pikiell. Pesky tough and not intimidated, Seen this before at RU, remember going to Cuse and UConn and Gtown and playing them down to the wire or in some of the Pikes beginning years having a chance to knock off Sparty on the road. The backhanded compliment team...they always say you dont want to always play the pesky scrappy team. Well I would rather be good than pesky and yeah lucky too, that works. Give credit to Penn State they did everything they needed to do to win this game. They shut down and contested our drives to the hoop or at least altering the projection. They denied the ball from Ron's hands and RU fell into the trap of not moving the ball and Paul particiularly was brutal in a key stretch when we needed a calming bucket.
I also think Pike played it cute with the lineup during this time and it bit him hard. Ron came out at 51-38. Hyatt jacked up a shot, Paul had two bad possessions in a row, our defense lapsed at the other end. I commented in the game thread, its a fine line between a comfortable win of 10-12 points and a down to the wire nailbiter. Fact is RU never should have been in that position. Turnovers, bricks, blown dunks, blown layups and biggest of all free throw shooting. Cannot go 9-17 while your opponent is going 16-18. Penn State got hot from 3 and RU was giving the game away. It was almost the opposite of many RU road games where RU starts poorly and gets better. This was RU suddenly just losing all poise. All it could have taken was a made shot or some free throws and RU very might have won by 8 or 10. Cannot have so many empty possessions and it seemed like the moment of securing a bid was weighing on their minds as they reverted back to some early season closeouts at home. Only one fg in the last 7 minutes at home! Not a big fan of Pike in this game and he was outworked and outcoached by the PSU guy clearly and not being able to inbound has been quite an issue all year long in pressure situations. Geo was stuck in a bad spot the first inbound and then Paul in an impossible spot and I hope someone asked Pike what that play was supposed to be.
The basketball gods had a choice to make. The weak pass by Paul was intercepted by Lundy and that well defended 3 by Sessions was hoisted. The gods smiled and nodded at the RAC faithful. The shot fell by the wayside Exhale... If you feel like you are hangin on a heart attack, hold on come bac ooh yeah, its just that easy. Onto the Big 10 tournament and don't forget to bring your medical records.
If you know this song, big props,,,, Billboard #35 summer of 86
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