I thought that perhaps with each win my game threads might be getting shorter but there are so many thing to talk about from this game I just hope I remember to touch up on them all. Wow what a game. This is was the type of game we are used to watching among Big 10 elites. Now we are an elite. Two schools evenly matched, Illinois perhaps with the top 2 in overall talent but RU no question with the deeper talt its top 6. Both schools similar in that they are going to ride their best players, I will touch upon it later but it was critical that RU got Illinois in foul trouble. I said it last year and I said it another thread yesterday, Rutgers and Illinois has turned into a rivarly. Two overtime games at Illinois and the last 2 games at the RAC, last year an even game until RU broke loose and won with the Illini missing Ayo but this years game was a well played blow for blow NCAA type game. Such an important early season test for Rutgers to legitimize their 5-0 start and national ranking. Illinois already well seasoned off a convicing win over Duke and hard fought losses to Baylor and Missouri. Winner gets some early Big 10 bragging rights and getting these wins early in the season are so important especially at home.
What I really liked the most about this season is the way RU is winning and its quite different from what we are used to as fans. You know RU started the game out poorly. Illinois was energized, focused and well prepared. Not intimidated at all came in and just made shots and forced RU into rushing everything. In the game thread, I said Rutgers was unprepared, that was the wrong description, they were prepared, its that they were too excited, everything was rushed on offense, the shots were just a little too hurried in their release and ended up long. Their defense was scrambling rather than forcing Illinois to work. Credit Illinois for hitting at an amazing clip early. At one point they were 15-25 at 60% but RU wasn't making them work hard enough for those shots. Something Pike learned early in this game was that Cliff was not going to be able to even hold his own against. Cockburn. Cockburn abused him early and it was clear Myles needed to get in quickly and stay there. Once Myles was in there it changed things so Young and Mathis started to get more into the flow. Still RU was struggling though, at one point down 11. Mathis didnt have a particular good 2nd half but give him credit because his 10 points in the first half kept RU hanging around. Ron Harper didnt get his first basket until 13 and half minutes into the game, a 3 and he hit another one later. RU did all the little things to chip away and cut the deficit to just 4. They had been outplayed for most of the half so being down just 4 was so important. Pikiell usually wins halftime and RU went into the half with monmentum and rode the Pikiell halftime speech into taking it to another gear in the 2nd half.
RU was virtually all business and its almost like they are running the same template every game. In the 3 cupcake type games RU was able to shake off rust earlier in the first half. Against Syracuse it took to maybe around the 5 minute mark where RU got over the hump and didnt look back. Today like with Maryland it seemed to happen about midway in the 2nd half. RU just goes into another gear and all of a sudden are up 8, 10 points. Some like to call it spurtability. This is so different than what we are used to seeing with RU wins which either really on big huge starts ala SHU and Maryland last year or scraping by like we were used to with the Waters and Rice. Rutgers is winning these games by taking full control and then answering every bell. For a 4 or so minute stretch, RU outcored Illinois 16-3. going from down 1 to 12 ahead. Sure the final margin was 3, but when it counted, RU just simply flat out kept making shot after shot after shot. To think RU played such outstanding defense that Illinois was limited to just 15 points in the first 13 minutes of the 2nd half. A team so potent as Illinois who average like 88 a game and ended up getting to that number was just befuddled by what RU was throwing at them. Answering every time. It seems like the common theme in the wins is that Ron Harper Jr is going to just take over these games in the situations and cement the wins. Geo is the shot maker in the close games but right now Harper once again proved he is the provider.
Be my Baby....Be my little Baby....Ronnie Harper and the Ronettes. What a song he sang in the 2nd half. Just another 28 point game with 5 treys and 9 boards. As mentioned, Ron was quiet in the first half, just 2 of 7 but both were threes. Illinois was playing some good defense on him but still if Ron did not get going, RU had little chance to win. Once he did, he was unstoppable. Harper nailed a 3 to give RU their first lead at 49-47 but it wasnt until his dunk at the around the 10 minute did we see Harper in full song. Harper scored 18 in the final 10:15 of the game. Two huge made 3s was just the response after Illinois had gained some moment with their own 3s. These are the crucial times in games where leads evaporate. We have seen RU teams of old crumble at this juncture. This team is confident. It wasnt just Harper hitting big shots. Jacob Young as well nailed a bunch of jumpers after Illinois made buckets. That is how top elite schools respond and that is how they win games. We are nervous as fans because we are not used to seeing our Rutgers teams step up and respond in big spots but this team is so confident now, I think they have gone a long way to erasing those fears as we watch the game. You know what else elite teams do? They make free throws down the stretch. RU hit on 8-10 to do enough to keep a fiesty and never give up Illinois at bay. Even with their awful percentage early of 6-14, RU finished 25-36 for the day hitting 19 of their last 22 which is incredibly impressive.
I started a thread on Paul but going to mention it here because he was responsible for the game changing moment that catapulted RU in a position where all the other guys could do their thing and shine. Paul sold fouls incredibly well today. He drew a crucial 4th foul on Curbello , made his free throws and was able to bait Williams into committing his 4th foul that set in motion a 6 point RU possession. Geo had his two free throws, Paul shot the flagrant foul shots and then RU converted on a dunk by Mathis to all of a sudden go up 7 at 62-55. This totally changed the flow of the game and Illinois was seemingly reeling from this body blow. The game went from a tip and tuck affair where RU was kept off guard by what Illinois could throw at them to Illinois having two key players on the bench in foul trouble not able to use Curbello speed to dish it off to the big guys and losing Williams a key defender. Illinois blinked that point offensively and that was just enough for RU to take advantage of and build a nice cushion the rest of the way. Back to Mulcahy also made two key free throws late when Illinois cut it to 83-79. In the first half Mulchay went up against Cockburn and blocked his shot. Intangibles, all the little things, Paul brought some toughness today. 30 minutes 7 boards, 6-6 at the line...all the things you want.
Mentioned Young before, I thought early he was forcing and out of control, He and Mathis did keep RU in the game though and you have to live with both of their sometimes questionable decision making. jacob was on in the 2nd though. 8-15 shooting, 7-8 at the line for 24 points. He and Ron combined for 52 and were quite the tandem in that 2nd half. Myles of course another monster game. He played 30 minutes and we needed all 30 of them. Even if Cliff did not get hurt Myles needed to be in there as much as possible. In earlier games in his career against big time centers, Myles would often get himself in foul trouble or being ineffective on the boards. Today he clearly established he would be winning the battle of the boards vs Cockburn while doing all the thing to wreck havoc with Illinois establishing a consistent inside game. Cockburn had 17 and 12 but what were his numbers when Myles was in the game. Just another 13 rebound game with 3 blocks and just missing a double double with 9 points. It is clear that now Myles himself has to be consider one of the elite centers in this league and probably one of the elite defensive centers in the country..no joke.
Touch on Geo a little bit..wow got 30 minutes and even though he was just 2-7 I like he got the minutes to get his legs back into it. Obviously Illinois is a quick team so Geo going to be at a disadvantage but he looked quicker today. He dished off 5 assists and if he isnt ready to be the playmaker right now I like that he was in reserve..just 7 shots to let others handle that role. Geo will eventually get back to 100% and geez how good will we be then.
Cliff obviously a boy vs a man today. No shame in that and then the unfortunate injury. With Mag out and Cliff getting injured, RU is in a bit of trouble going forward meaning someone is going to be forced into major minutes as a role player whether that is Palmquist or Doucoure or a combo of both. You can only get by playing 6 or 6 and half players so many games. Long run it catches up to you so just be aware as we set expectations.
For RU fans not being able to attend this game at the RAC is a real bummer. The atmosphere would have been juiced from the start and that likely alters that early Illinois start where they were comfortable and their bench could be heard shouting defense. I know in the 2nd half the place would have approached top levels when RU was going on their run. I think the game got closer than it should have later in the game because of no crowd. Those are the situations where RU is up 6-9 points where the loud crowd can help get a stop on the defensive end. Illinois was able to play through and keep hitting shots with no hometown crowd. Certainly helps road teams in the league this year in those spots and I think it aided Illinois today. Credit them, Ayo and Frazier never gave up late. Their crucial mistake I believe was the freshmen Miller crucial mistake of hoisting a rushed 3 down only 5 with 29 seconds left. In many ways, RU winning without the crowd is a good learning experience and something they had trouble with last season.
No question about it that this team has ground from a fringe top 25 school last year to a solid top 15 school perhaps higher this season. The entire team has seemingly upped their game several notches and their work as a unit is a testament to the hard work that Coach Pikiell and the rest of the staff puts in. 6-0 is incredible right now, we have a few days to enjoy moving up in the rankings but there is no rest in the Big 10. Ohio State on Wednesday afternoon poses another challenge and RU will be the hunted in this game.
What I really liked the most about this season is the way RU is winning and its quite different from what we are used to as fans. You know RU started the game out poorly. Illinois was energized, focused and well prepared. Not intimidated at all came in and just made shots and forced RU into rushing everything. In the game thread, I said Rutgers was unprepared, that was the wrong description, they were prepared, its that they were too excited, everything was rushed on offense, the shots were just a little too hurried in their release and ended up long. Their defense was scrambling rather than forcing Illinois to work. Credit Illinois for hitting at an amazing clip early. At one point they were 15-25 at 60% but RU wasn't making them work hard enough for those shots. Something Pike learned early in this game was that Cliff was not going to be able to even hold his own against. Cockburn. Cockburn abused him early and it was clear Myles needed to get in quickly and stay there. Once Myles was in there it changed things so Young and Mathis started to get more into the flow. Still RU was struggling though, at one point down 11. Mathis didnt have a particular good 2nd half but give him credit because his 10 points in the first half kept RU hanging around. Ron Harper didnt get his first basket until 13 and half minutes into the game, a 3 and he hit another one later. RU did all the little things to chip away and cut the deficit to just 4. They had been outplayed for most of the half so being down just 4 was so important. Pikiell usually wins halftime and RU went into the half with monmentum and rode the Pikiell halftime speech into taking it to another gear in the 2nd half.
RU was virtually all business and its almost like they are running the same template every game. In the 3 cupcake type games RU was able to shake off rust earlier in the first half. Against Syracuse it took to maybe around the 5 minute mark where RU got over the hump and didnt look back. Today like with Maryland it seemed to happen about midway in the 2nd half. RU just goes into another gear and all of a sudden are up 8, 10 points. Some like to call it spurtability. This is so different than what we are used to seeing with RU wins which either really on big huge starts ala SHU and Maryland last year or scraping by like we were used to with the Waters and Rice. Rutgers is winning these games by taking full control and then answering every bell. For a 4 or so minute stretch, RU outcored Illinois 16-3. going from down 1 to 12 ahead. Sure the final margin was 3, but when it counted, RU just simply flat out kept making shot after shot after shot. To think RU played such outstanding defense that Illinois was limited to just 15 points in the first 13 minutes of the 2nd half. A team so potent as Illinois who average like 88 a game and ended up getting to that number was just befuddled by what RU was throwing at them. Answering every time. It seems like the common theme in the wins is that Ron Harper Jr is going to just take over these games in the situations and cement the wins. Geo is the shot maker in the close games but right now Harper once again proved he is the provider.
Be my Baby....Be my little Baby....Ronnie Harper and the Ronettes. What a song he sang in the 2nd half. Just another 28 point game with 5 treys and 9 boards. As mentioned, Ron was quiet in the first half, just 2 of 7 but both were threes. Illinois was playing some good defense on him but still if Ron did not get going, RU had little chance to win. Once he did, he was unstoppable. Harper nailed a 3 to give RU their first lead at 49-47 but it wasnt until his dunk at the around the 10 minute did we see Harper in full song. Harper scored 18 in the final 10:15 of the game. Two huge made 3s was just the response after Illinois had gained some moment with their own 3s. These are the crucial times in games where leads evaporate. We have seen RU teams of old crumble at this juncture. This team is confident. It wasnt just Harper hitting big shots. Jacob Young as well nailed a bunch of jumpers after Illinois made buckets. That is how top elite schools respond and that is how they win games. We are nervous as fans because we are not used to seeing our Rutgers teams step up and respond in big spots but this team is so confident now, I think they have gone a long way to erasing those fears as we watch the game. You know what else elite teams do? They make free throws down the stretch. RU hit on 8-10 to do enough to keep a fiesty and never give up Illinois at bay. Even with their awful percentage early of 6-14, RU finished 25-36 for the day hitting 19 of their last 22 which is incredibly impressive.
I started a thread on Paul but going to mention it here because he was responsible for the game changing moment that catapulted RU in a position where all the other guys could do their thing and shine. Paul sold fouls incredibly well today. He drew a crucial 4th foul on Curbello , made his free throws and was able to bait Williams into committing his 4th foul that set in motion a 6 point RU possession. Geo had his two free throws, Paul shot the flagrant foul shots and then RU converted on a dunk by Mathis to all of a sudden go up 7 at 62-55. This totally changed the flow of the game and Illinois was seemingly reeling from this body blow. The game went from a tip and tuck affair where RU was kept off guard by what Illinois could throw at them to Illinois having two key players on the bench in foul trouble not able to use Curbello speed to dish it off to the big guys and losing Williams a key defender. Illinois blinked that point offensively and that was just enough for RU to take advantage of and build a nice cushion the rest of the way. Back to Mulcahy also made two key free throws late when Illinois cut it to 83-79. In the first half Mulchay went up against Cockburn and blocked his shot. Intangibles, all the little things, Paul brought some toughness today. 30 minutes 7 boards, 6-6 at the line...all the things you want.
Mentioned Young before, I thought early he was forcing and out of control, He and Mathis did keep RU in the game though and you have to live with both of their sometimes questionable decision making. jacob was on in the 2nd though. 8-15 shooting, 7-8 at the line for 24 points. He and Ron combined for 52 and were quite the tandem in that 2nd half. Myles of course another monster game. He played 30 minutes and we needed all 30 of them. Even if Cliff did not get hurt Myles needed to be in there as much as possible. In earlier games in his career against big time centers, Myles would often get himself in foul trouble or being ineffective on the boards. Today he clearly established he would be winning the battle of the boards vs Cockburn while doing all the thing to wreck havoc with Illinois establishing a consistent inside game. Cockburn had 17 and 12 but what were his numbers when Myles was in the game. Just another 13 rebound game with 3 blocks and just missing a double double with 9 points. It is clear that now Myles himself has to be consider one of the elite centers in this league and probably one of the elite defensive centers in the country..no joke.
Touch on Geo a little bit..wow got 30 minutes and even though he was just 2-7 I like he got the minutes to get his legs back into it. Obviously Illinois is a quick team so Geo going to be at a disadvantage but he looked quicker today. He dished off 5 assists and if he isnt ready to be the playmaker right now I like that he was in reserve..just 7 shots to let others handle that role. Geo will eventually get back to 100% and geez how good will we be then.
Cliff obviously a boy vs a man today. No shame in that and then the unfortunate injury. With Mag out and Cliff getting injured, RU is in a bit of trouble going forward meaning someone is going to be forced into major minutes as a role player whether that is Palmquist or Doucoure or a combo of both. You can only get by playing 6 or 6 and half players so many games. Long run it catches up to you so just be aware as we set expectations.
For RU fans not being able to attend this game at the RAC is a real bummer. The atmosphere would have been juiced from the start and that likely alters that early Illinois start where they were comfortable and their bench could be heard shouting defense. I know in the 2nd half the place would have approached top levels when RU was going on their run. I think the game got closer than it should have later in the game because of no crowd. Those are the situations where RU is up 6-9 points where the loud crowd can help get a stop on the defensive end. Illinois was able to play through and keep hitting shots with no hometown crowd. Certainly helps road teams in the league this year in those spots and I think it aided Illinois today. Credit them, Ayo and Frazier never gave up late. Their crucial mistake I believe was the freshmen Miller crucial mistake of hoisting a rushed 3 down only 5 with 29 seconds left. In many ways, RU winning without the crowd is a good learning experience and something they had trouble with last season.
No question about it that this team has ground from a fringe top 25 school last year to a solid top 15 school perhaps higher this season. The entire team has seemingly upped their game several notches and their work as a unit is a testament to the hard work that Coach Pikiell and the rest of the staff puts in. 6-0 is incredible right now, we have a few days to enjoy moving up in the rankings but there is no rest in the Big 10. Ohio State on Wednesday afternoon poses another challenge and RU will be the hunted in this game.