Slow start but in the end it was the best performance of the season. I have mentioned how streaky this team is and tonight continued the trend but the important thing to take away is that RU continues to bounce back from some paltry offensive stretches and responds with longer stretches of exhillatering basketball that gets the RAC on their feet in appreciation. That is a true sign of progress. The first half of the first half was not good hoops by Rutgers. Howard came in and simply was not afraid of RU and thought they were well coached. Felt that RU was not ready to match Howard's energy early on. RU went down 14-8 and was sputtering offensively not converting on a bunch of Howard turnovers. Howard had 8 turnovers but RU had only 8 points. I was reminded of the Gtown game in the 2nd half where RU had just 3 fg in 11 minutes. This time it was 3 fg in the first 9 and half minutes. Yet it was an interesting lineup of Noah, J Mike, Oskar, Gavin, Cliff that sparked a 20-2 run and RU would never relinquish the lead. Whether it was J Mike's energy. Noah taking charge on offense with a 3 and some drives to the hoop and on defense with 3 steals. Cliff crashing the board and converting. Gavin with his first dunk while contributing more than just scoring. Later, it would be Derek closing out the half with a giant 3 that pushed the lead up to 39-31 after a mini Howard run. RU had gone from some fugly looking basketball to looking in sync and bearing down on defense. RU was getting contributions from everyone and that was the biggest takeaway heading into halftime.
RU would trade baskets for a while with Howard to start the 2nd half. It was a 2nd chance rebound for an open 3 which started a freak Howard barrage of 3 pointers. It was one of those things. They got hot whether they were covered or uncovered. Three treys at the game time RU hit another dry streak on offense with just 2 points over 5 minutes and suddenly at 49-45 Howard was back in the game. But where they really. I liked that RU was challenged and responded with bells...more like responded with Noahs and Gavins, Cliff and Andres, dunks and 3s steals and Dereks. The Scarlet Streaks went on a 24-8 in more than 6 minutes and built a 20 point and the game was over. The most impressive RU performance on either end of the court. Glimpses of the speedy high octane offense that some have promised while giving all that feisty scrappiness on defense cleaning up the board and forcing turnovers. By the 5 minute mark everyone was in feel good win mode at the RAC feeling very satisfied with the product on the court.
Derek had his best overall game as a Knight. I wondered after Boston U when will Simpson happen. After Bryant we saw stirring of life. The Gtown game saw the further progression. Now with his Howard performance, Derek strutting his stuff. 23 points, 7-10 fg, 7-9 at the line. I believe his streak was ended at 18, 2-2 from 3, 4 assists. This was a heady and confident Derek
Noah was a beast today. Started slow again early but picked it up. How about 5 steals. His defensive peformance was a delight, On offense he was the catalyst for the first RU run that gave them lead but his in rhythm 3 that put RU up 65-53 maybe was his best shot of the night. Noah was a difference maker and his last 3 halves of basketball have erased many of the concerns I had through his first few games that this experiment may not work.
Cliff did Cliff yet again. Slow start but got better as the game went on. Put it in a dominating defensive performance with 14 boards and 5 blocks and his offensive production of 6-10 fg with 15 points quite and encouraging sign. More importantly he looked like he was having fun out there and less of the frustration looks from some other games
Hyatt did not have a great first half but in the 2nd it was a different story as he answered in big spots as Howard was trying to keep pace with a 3 and a dunk. Hyatt would finish 5-11 fg with 12 points.
Gavin was solid tonight...only 7 points but a couple of dunks in key junctures and it was not about him just playing in the corner chucking 3s. Pike gave him more minutes tonight at 25 and I did not have a problem with his D. Love that he contributed 3 boards but the 3 assists he had is what I am looking at. Gavin contributed more tonight in just being a points guy. I felt this was a sneaky important game in his development we had not seen yet.
Wolf more quiet night but solid overall....2-3 fg did he really take a 3....5 boards in just 20 minutes.
I didnt think J Mike played as many minutes as he did but he did at 23. Just 1-2 fg but it wasnt about that. Team's pace seems to just pick up with him in there. Had 4 assists and 2 boards and a steal.
Oskar was a pleasant surprise tonight after a bad game vs Gtown. Saw a dunk and unexpected moves to the hoop. Oskar playing like a guy who wants to fight for his minutes. 3-4 fg 7 points in just 15 minutes. Kudos to Oskar.
Chol had a nice bucket late in the game in very limited minutes.
Things are coming together folks. This team is getting better. After Princeton I felt things were a mess. While I saw glimpses in the next 2, it wasnt til Georgetown where I felt that okay I can see where this team could be successful. Now this game taking further strides. Each player is now better than they were from opening day. This team is quick. Its almost like at times they forget the potential they have and it finally kicks in and they go off. Pike is still figuring out the rotation but I think he is getting closer to figuring things out. Slow and steady. Yes some kinks still to work out. Team still has to be considered streaky but those streaks are lengthening in a good way. Even though I have been a critic of the weak scheduling, these 4 games are the perfect tests for integrating so many new parts. Like what I see, will not get too overconfident with one more tuneup vs St Peters before Illinios invades the RAC but I am bac 2 feeling it again about this season.
RU would trade baskets for a while with Howard to start the 2nd half. It was a 2nd chance rebound for an open 3 which started a freak Howard barrage of 3 pointers. It was one of those things. They got hot whether they were covered or uncovered. Three treys at the game time RU hit another dry streak on offense with just 2 points over 5 minutes and suddenly at 49-45 Howard was back in the game. But where they really. I liked that RU was challenged and responded with bells...more like responded with Noahs and Gavins, Cliff and Andres, dunks and 3s steals and Dereks. The Scarlet Streaks went on a 24-8 in more than 6 minutes and built a 20 point and the game was over. The most impressive RU performance on either end of the court. Glimpses of the speedy high octane offense that some have promised while giving all that feisty scrappiness on defense cleaning up the board and forcing turnovers. By the 5 minute mark everyone was in feel good win mode at the RAC feeling very satisfied with the product on the court.
Derek had his best overall game as a Knight. I wondered after Boston U when will Simpson happen. After Bryant we saw stirring of life. The Gtown game saw the further progression. Now with his Howard performance, Derek strutting his stuff. 23 points, 7-10 fg, 7-9 at the line. I believe his streak was ended at 18, 2-2 from 3, 4 assists. This was a heady and confident Derek
Noah was a beast today. Started slow again early but picked it up. How about 5 steals. His defensive peformance was a delight, On offense he was the catalyst for the first RU run that gave them lead but his in rhythm 3 that put RU up 65-53 maybe was his best shot of the night. Noah was a difference maker and his last 3 halves of basketball have erased many of the concerns I had through his first few games that this experiment may not work.
Cliff did Cliff yet again. Slow start but got better as the game went on. Put it in a dominating defensive performance with 14 boards and 5 blocks and his offensive production of 6-10 fg with 15 points quite and encouraging sign. More importantly he looked like he was having fun out there and less of the frustration looks from some other games
Hyatt did not have a great first half but in the 2nd it was a different story as he answered in big spots as Howard was trying to keep pace with a 3 and a dunk. Hyatt would finish 5-11 fg with 12 points.
Gavin was solid tonight...only 7 points but a couple of dunks in key junctures and it was not about him just playing in the corner chucking 3s. Pike gave him more minutes tonight at 25 and I did not have a problem with his D. Love that he contributed 3 boards but the 3 assists he had is what I am looking at. Gavin contributed more tonight in just being a points guy. I felt this was a sneaky important game in his development we had not seen yet.
Wolf more quiet night but solid overall....2-3 fg did he really take a 3....5 boards in just 20 minutes.
I didnt think J Mike played as many minutes as he did but he did at 23. Just 1-2 fg but it wasnt about that. Team's pace seems to just pick up with him in there. Had 4 assists and 2 boards and a steal.
Oskar was a pleasant surprise tonight after a bad game vs Gtown. Saw a dunk and unexpected moves to the hoop. Oskar playing like a guy who wants to fight for his minutes. 3-4 fg 7 points in just 15 minutes. Kudos to Oskar.
Chol had a nice bucket late in the game in very limited minutes.
Things are coming together folks. This team is getting better. After Princeton I felt things were a mess. While I saw glimpses in the next 2, it wasnt til Georgetown where I felt that okay I can see where this team could be successful. Now this game taking further strides. Each player is now better than they were from opening day. This team is quick. Its almost like at times they forget the potential they have and it finally kicks in and they go off. Pike is still figuring out the rotation but I think he is getting closer to figuring things out. Slow and steady. Yes some kinks still to work out. Team still has to be considered streaky but those streaks are lengthening in a good way. Even though I have been a critic of the weak scheduling, these 4 games are the perfect tests for integrating so many new parts. Like what I see, will not get too overconfident with one more tuneup vs St Peters before Illinios invades the RAC but I am bac 2 feeling it again about this season.