GAME 6 Miami: The Build is here

[seels2662]

I still think this could be an NIT team. Been saying it here since the summer. We are still on pace. To me the next two games plus SHU are house money but we cannot slip with the other OOC games. The next game to me is huge not for the team but for us. There is a real chance for the RAC to be the RAC again, and if that happens the postseason is a real possibility.

 

[G- RUnit]

Great review! If Thiam hits some wide open threes on very good looks it's a blowout. Potential is there. SHU beat these guys by a point on a neutral floor. Bodes well for a great game with the SHU who seems afraid to open upper deck.


Any comments on the walk call where ball was hit out of Eugene's hand and he started to dribble again and they called a walk? Thought it was a bad call. Could have been a game changer. Thankfully it wasn't.

 

[BIGRUBIGDBIGredmachine]

I had to listen to most of 1st half on radio driving home from work. Boylan and Recco were complaining that Miami was getting away with a number of walks. How did it look on TV?

 

[Scarlet Blind]

One word--- CHEMISTRY. The whole team likes each other, no me or I players. They are all about wins in the end, no individual stats. It goes a long way in this day and age. If you see these players on IG, you can see they are on the court together working outside of practice, hanging out as friends together. It shows when game time happens. They remind me of those length and height teams like Leonard Hamilton's FSU or the John Thompson's old Georgetown teams or South Florida teams that were tourny teams. This team stays together and healthy, they could compete for a bid, which is their goal this year.

 

[RUonBrain]

A key moving forward is getting some points from the center position.Rutgers won this game scoring only 57 points which against a steady diet of B1G competition probably won't be enough points to win games.On the other hand Rutgers might be following the Virginia model consistently winning low scoring games.

In the postgame interview, Larranaga’s comment about being surprised how low the score was reminded me of Virginia.

Suck it, Larranaga!

 

[Shell21]

Agree, Myles has hit a lull since his great start. We could really use him step up some.

They don't get Myles the ball enough..Multiple times last night I saw him with post position and either Kiss or Montez didn't get it into him...

 

[jtung230]

Great win. Let’s keep it rolling.

 

[RUinFla]

Two things. Big guys take longer to develop and note that Miami was a tired team that only played seven guys. Great win against a solid opponent on the road, which is good for the new guys, especially. Will hope for more out of McConnell and Carter, but Mathis and Harper are keepers. And Kiss is working into real games at this level.
TL

 

[Scangg]

A key moving forward is getting some points from the center position.Rutgers won this game scoring only 57 points which against a steady diet of B1G competition probably won't be enough points to win games.On the other hand Rutgers might be following the Virginia model consistently winning low scoring games.

We need to enter the ball into the post more. Shaw and Myles have good position many times and we don't seriously look inside. It seems like EO in the post is the only time we actually make that pass. Myles has game and is a good passer. He should be getting a few post touches every game

 

[bac2therac]

BAC2THERAC: You mentioned that this isnt a complete team yet. What pieces or growth are needed to get there, and ultimately string one big game after another?

@Greco85 I think this team's youth will play a factor at some point in these games when they go up against deeper teams. Miami had some guys out and I think only was playing like 7. To win consistently RU will need 3 of the 4 of Mathis, Harper, Johnson, and Kiss to have solid contributions with one or more having to have significant contributions as Kiss did last night..that may be asking too much

Also the backup point guard situation is a concern. Baker is going to have to play a lot of minutes. There is a serious drop off with McConnell...Next year with Mulcahy and Young we will have lots of depth at guard to spell Baker and spread the minutes. around. Also inside scoring is not going to be a strength at all for this team. Doorson is there for defense and rebounding and some putbacks. Johnson is very green. Doucoure seems awol right now.

So despite the win last night, I think this team has enough holes that it will struggle to put that consistent effort. One thing that can hide some deficiencies is strong defense and we are beginning to see that emerge the last few games and especially last night. It will keep them in games when the offense is struggling. Next year we should plug some of the holes up and able to start piling up more wins

 

[bac2therac]

What stood out to me most in watching last night's game ( and BAC briefly observed this as well) is that Rutgers looked to be as talented if not better than a very good Miami team and I never had the feeling that Rutgers would some how find a way to lose this game . They demonstrated a poise and confidence rarely seen with past teams. I can't say enough about two players who at the beginning of the season little was expected of them--Doorsen and Harper. Doorsen has been an amazing revelation. His 10 rebounds and box out at the end of the game on the missed 3 point shot were huge. And Harper! My God--it's hard to believe his poise and basketball smarts . No wonder he's one of the first guys off the bench and does a lot of the little things that contribute to team wins. Great find by Pike.

most of the time, well more like all of the time after a great effort that falls short, we say great effort but we dont have all the horses to pull it out...I think last night you saw we do have the horse. I think for this year the margin of error with them is slim...because of their youth and lack of backup point guard but the ceiling for the future is high. RU had just as much talent on the court as Miami did. Pike has completed the first step of rebuilding

 

[bac2therac]

Bac = best hoops beat writer we have. Good work.

ha...well its alot better to be positive about recaps and be excited than how its been for awhile around here

 

[bac2therac]

Great post BAC. Do not underestimate BAC’s line about the lesson learned at closing out the Boston University game. Staying together and playing through adversity when your shooting is off is important especially for a young team.

Like Coach said after the game Defense travels.

that Boston U game was certainly funky but this team got more out of it than beating them by 25. One it got their attention and focus for the next game and two as you said they learned to trust each other and play through adversity. Remember the meltdown last year vs Stony Brook...and that was with much more experienced players. How huge is it that Haper and Mathis and Johnson and Kiss are getting the experience of closing out games twice in a row.

 

[MadRU]

that Boston U game was certainly funky but this team got more out of it than beating them by 25. One it got their attention and focus for the next game and two as you said they learned to trust each other and play through adversity. Remember the meltdown last year vs Stony Brook...and that was with much more experienced players. How huge is it that Haper and Mathis and Johnson and Kiss are getting the experience of closing out games twice in a row.

Not saying the final result of the St Johns game would have changed but it would have been interesting if we played a tight game like the BU game before St Johns instead of the few blowouts we played

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Team got into Jersey at 3am

Some players had tutoring at 9am
Then classes
Then practice

Hope they are sleeping now

 

[bac2therac]

Not saying the final result of the St Johns game would have changed but it would have been interesting if we played a tight game like the BU game before St Johns instead of the few blowouts we played

I think the SJU game was a perfect storm. Alot of hype for that game and this team just wasnt ready...probably because those early games were blowouts. I thought this team may have been too cocky..they definitely were overhyped at the start..too much emotion and then couldnt gain any composure while SJU simply walked in and shot the lights out looking like men. It would be nice to play this game again because I think RU would fare much better this time. Sometimes the approach to the game is everything. While certainly RU is going to go into tomorrows game once again with the hype, I think they may have learned their lesson from the last time with the mindset approaching a big game

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Agreed.. good coach.. hope he gets some some of New Jersey and New York's best soon. He has a good eye for talent also.. as the current team is showing.

Pike knows what he's doing.

 

[e5fdny]

 

[mullerpesq]

Watching that game I kept thinking about the FBI investigation and recent criminal convictions surrounding NCAA pay-to-play deals. During the trial testimony other schools were mentioned in connection with additional payoff schemes and Miami was one of them. So, if that's true, Miami likely had players on the court the other night who probably got bought and paid to play there...and we still won. Love that.

 

[kcg88]

Watching that game I kept thinking about the FBI investigation and recent criminal convictions surrounding NCAA pay-to-play deals. During the trial testimony other schools were mentioned in connection with additional payoff schemes and Miami was one of them. So, if that's true, Miami likely had players on the court the other night who probably got bought and paid to play there...and we still won. Love that.

They're holding out their one player (Dewan Hernandez) who was prominently involved.

 

[e5fdny]

Watching that game I kept thinking about the FBI investigation and recent criminal convictions surrounding NCAA pay-to-play deals. During the trial testimony other schools were mentioned in connection with additional payoff schemes and Miami was one of them. So, if that's true, Miami likely had players on the court the other night who probably got bought and paid to play there...and we still won. Love that.

Well in true Rutgers conspiracy thinking...

Maybe they were paid to lose this one. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: