Winning matters, the team found a way to win and gritted it out despite the usual post Turkey Day hangover. We should have saw this coming actually. Team played great with energy against EMU with that defensive effort and were probably looking ahead to the three games coming in the next 10 days and thought they could skate through this one. First half up by 10, 29-19, it seemed like while RU certainly was not sharp they were doing enough to control the game and keep Boston U at bay. Baker was the offensive start with 15 but the defensive effort was solid enough where you did not feel too concerned that this would be a close game. However Boston U came out ready to fight in the 2nd half and in the first few minutes the whole complexion of the game changed. As the Terriers clawed back, RU made mistake after mistake with bad turnovers and shot selection and just got tighter and tighter. The shots just were not falling, some going in and then coming out. It was a struggle even to make a free throw
We have seen these type of games before, Hartford two years ago where RU was lucky to escaped and of course Stony Brook last year which turned into a loss despite seemingly doing enough to win. So while the game was ugly some positives can be taken. This team is still learning to gain chemistry and learn to win. Its still learning to win when a lot of shots are not falling and when much of the team just cannot seem to do anything right. Face it, besides Geo, Eugene, and Shaq, the rest of the team was brutal. Peter Kiss was particularly bad today. He is being counted on to provide offense. He has struggled since a couple of good games and today was just a rough day for him, so I am little concerned. If he isnt up to speed vs Boston U, what happens in the Big 10. Harper Jr, Johnson, and Mathis all struggled...but again is it a surprise...young guys with the Turkey day hangover. As much as Pikiell can tell them that this was going to happen to them..in one ear and out the other.
Yet when it came down to it,. people stepped up. Key point in the game, RU up 45-42 with around 2 minutes to go...Pike I think called a great play for Thiam who hit it and got fouled. Thiam invisible until then made it happen...3 point play that put RU up 48-42..that was the breathing room they needed to basically seal the deal...Basically RU was a few plays away from making the game much easier for themselves but for some reason kept shooting themselves in the foot. Credit RU's defense...they played Boston U tough so while RU was not hitting shots,they still were not letting Boston U score much at all. Perhaps the new tougher defensive effort for this team is taking its toll offensively on the new players. Terriers never got the lead, I think only getting to maybe one. RU may have been outhusteled and outplayed at times but they were not to be outdone. Credit the players and coaching staff for sticking to it and grinding it out...important to get experience in a close game.
Eugene..just wow...20 points, 17 boards..that is a man's effort. He really has found a nice balance from trying to do too much to contributing. I love this effort from him today. Shaq Doorson 6 points...12 rebounds are you kidding me. He is exceeding my expectations
Obviously there are negatives to take. I am beginning to see enough of the RU offense where I think we will struggle at times..not all the time but we are clearly not the team that will shooting 40-50% from 3...on the other hand, we will not shooting 5-22. There are major flaws in the offense. Geo and Eugene cannot be expected to do everything. Kiss must step up his game or his minutes will get reduced with more Harper and Montez. I will give those two a pass along with Myles but its games like these that show this team has a loooooooooong way to go to be able to compete night in and out in the Big 10. Talent is just too young to make that leap right now. The next 3 games is quite the gauntlet right now. I do not see a scenerio where RU does not come away with 3 losses...and they are tightly packed in games. There is not much recovery time from Miami to MSU. Miami is the most winnable of the 3 but by the time we get to Wisconsin I think this team will just be worn down. We will certainly know more about this team during this stretch...and I think its a great thing to get away from home...5 games in 15 days in just too much for home cooking. This team needs to road and a new challenge.
We have seen these type of games before, Hartford two years ago where RU was lucky to escaped and of course Stony Brook last year which turned into a loss despite seemingly doing enough to win. So while the game was ugly some positives can be taken. This team is still learning to gain chemistry and learn to win. Its still learning to win when a lot of shots are not falling and when much of the team just cannot seem to do anything right. Face it, besides Geo, Eugene, and Shaq, the rest of the team was brutal. Peter Kiss was particularly bad today. He is being counted on to provide offense. He has struggled since a couple of good games and today was just a rough day for him, so I am little concerned. If he isnt up to speed vs Boston U, what happens in the Big 10. Harper Jr, Johnson, and Mathis all struggled...but again is it a surprise...young guys with the Turkey day hangover. As much as Pikiell can tell them that this was going to happen to them..in one ear and out the other.
Yet when it came down to it,. people stepped up. Key point in the game, RU up 45-42 with around 2 minutes to go...Pike I think called a great play for Thiam who hit it and got fouled. Thiam invisible until then made it happen...3 point play that put RU up 48-42..that was the breathing room they needed to basically seal the deal...Basically RU was a few plays away from making the game much easier for themselves but for some reason kept shooting themselves in the foot. Credit RU's defense...they played Boston U tough so while RU was not hitting shots,they still were not letting Boston U score much at all. Perhaps the new tougher defensive effort for this team is taking its toll offensively on the new players. Terriers never got the lead, I think only getting to maybe one. RU may have been outhusteled and outplayed at times but they were not to be outdone. Credit the players and coaching staff for sticking to it and grinding it out...important to get experience in a close game.
Eugene..just wow...20 points, 17 boards..that is a man's effort. He really has found a nice balance from trying to do too much to contributing. I love this effort from him today. Shaq Doorson 6 points...12 rebounds are you kidding me. He is exceeding my expectations
Obviously there are negatives to take. I am beginning to see enough of the RU offense where I think we will struggle at times..not all the time but we are clearly not the team that will shooting 40-50% from 3...on the other hand, we will not shooting 5-22. There are major flaws in the offense. Geo and Eugene cannot be expected to do everything. Kiss must step up his game or his minutes will get reduced with more Harper and Montez. I will give those two a pass along with Myles but its games like these that show this team has a loooooooooong way to go to be able to compete night in and out in the Big 10. Talent is just too young to make that leap right now. The next 3 games is quite the gauntlet right now. I do not see a scenerio where RU does not come away with 3 losses...and they are tightly packed in games. There is not much recovery time from Miami to MSU. Miami is the most winnable of the 3 but by the time we get to Wisconsin I think this team will just be worn down. We will certainly know more about this team during this stretch...and I think its a great thing to get away from home...5 games in 15 days in just too much for home cooking. This team needs to road and a new challenge.