I will say it seems like every year now, Rutgers comes out of the gate a bit shaky against real competition causing posters like me to hand wring and to start questioning our roster, our defense, our coaching, our ceiling. And once again Bac does not learn his lesson as Pikiell once again pulls a Pikiell and Bac looks like a fool. He works and works and tinkers and tinkers and all of a sudden a team that cannot throw a ball into the ocean or defend a slashing guard in their previous game knocks off a top 10 team in RUs biggest win over a top 10 team since 1977. The Temple and Miami losses as Pike said this week were learning lessons and I think not just for the team but for the coaching staff. The game plan for Indiana was spot on and when adversity hit at times, Pike made all the right moves. I thought vs Miami he struggled for the answers in the 2nd half Much like last season it seems like the original plan coming into the season sort of got messed up. This year it was injuries to two starters and previous role players not quite ready to step up at a consistent level. Then throw in freshmen bugaboos and your transfer shooting guard struggling vs the better teams on the schedule and the pieces of the puzzle really were getting jumble. Of course Paul and Caleb back in the fold help but then what, how does Pike get the most out of a team searching for a consistent offensive threat. Sometimes it takes balls and it can be painful and today it was glorious. Ultimately it comes down to Pike giving that trust in certain players and thats why he get paid the big bucks and not us.
Cliff picking up 2 fouls in just a few minutes was maddening and RU had like 5 in the first 4 minutes. Not to be one to call out refs, but the refs got off to a brutal start officiating before settling in the 2nd half in what was a chippy game at times. With Cliff force to bench for almost 17 minutes of the 2nd half. things could have spiralled out of control. Somehow RU held sway. Pikiell got every bit out Reiber and Woofolk as he could to bridge into the 2nd half. Those guys played their roles in the needed way. Minutes, rebound, defense. Pike switched to some zone and that was quite the tonic just frustrating Indiana who could not really get many touches for Trace Jackson Davis who was bottled up in the first half. Besides Copp who I believe had 12 or 13 at halftime, RU was keeping everyone in check. Indiana came in averaging 87 points a game, to hold them to just 24 and to do it without Cliff in the game was a spectacular display of team defense. Of course it helps when your heart of the team, Paul Mulcahy returns. Paul entered to a thunderous ovation from the RAC crowd. Getting Paul back was enormous. Rutgers just goes differently with him in the game at both ends. Bringing the needed toughness and calmness to guide an offense that was playing without Cliff. Paul got on the board early with his typical bullying to the basket move and his drive to the hoop on RUs last possession before halftime to put RU up 7 was beauty in motion. Even though the RU offense wasnt in sync with perhaps too much one on one stuff, it was the defense that kept plugging away and keeping Indiana at bay. To be up 31-24 at half did bode well but adversity was right around the corner.
Hyatt a pretty decent first half. I think 4-7 with a 3 and 9 points but it was way too much Hyatt in the opening minutes of the 2nd half. After a move to a wide open bucket for a layup, Hyatt would struggle mightily and RU found themselves on the wrong end of a 11-2 run. Suddenly the dam was breaking, RU was down 35-33, chasing on defense giving up open 3s and chucking up bad perimeter shots and bricking everything. It was looking like here we go again like at Miami. But there went Pikiell with the move of the game which could be the move of the season with his insertion of Mulcahy and Derek Simpson back into the lineup. Paul promptly hits a jumper just inside the 3 point line and good call by Bigeastphil about that Paul shot being much needed to calm the waters. RU tied it up and then after an Indiana bucket, we saw one of the most devastating runs in RAC history. A 17-0 run that had the RAC on its feet through multiple Indiana timeouts and a swarming defense causing chaos on every Indiana possession. An almost 6 minute stretch of flawless basketall where we saw a freshmen guard named Derek Simpson grow a set of balls that would rival the ones that Ron Harper Jr carried at the end of the Indiana game last season after hitting the game winning 3. Derek was not good in the first half. 0-6, once again showing signs of forcing it at the wrong times. I remarked in the game thread about reigning him in and I am going to give credit to Bossnj who told me that Derek needs to keep shooting. And in reality it makes sense, with Cam struggling so much and our offensive options seemingly limited this game, we needed every bit of those balls that Derek brought to the table. When Derek had a similar flurry at the end of the game vs Rider, thats one thing, its Rider...when he scores 11 straight points vs Indiana, yeah its safe to say Derek has the biggest balls of them all. A player risking failure to seek reward. Derek got untracked and needed a saliva test. You know having Paul is going to be huge for Derek's development and his pass to Derek for a layup kicked off what would include a 3 and 2 more fgs and a free throw to boot. Simpson's 3 late with Indiana hanging around at 10 was really important to see he could carry his earlier shot late into the game during crunch time. Derek went from 0-6 in the first half to 5-7 in the 2nd half with 14 points in probably about 12-13 minutes of playing time. Today's win was a team win but there is no win today without what Derek accomplished. Everyone sees his potential and his speed, but he is young. Pike made the right call and wow not even sure he could have anticipated how well Simpson would respond. Pike rode this lineup while sitting starters Hyatt and Spencer. A risky but needed move that is going to have some major implications. Seeing Derek put it together against a top 10 is invaluable for his development going forward
Mag and then a dunk by Caleb would close out this run, RU was up 52-37 and basically it was game over in a flash. Mag's defense in this stretch was impressive. He was everywhere..getting blocks, rebounds and buckets. The attention was on Derek but Mag had the kind of sneaky good performance that makes me think he has the edge over Hyatt in the starting lineup when Paul returns to that role which may be a game or two from happening. A whopping 9 boards, 7 points and 2 blocks.
What can we say about Caleb McConnell. Any concerns about his injury seem forgotten at this point after a warrior like 37 minutes with 16 points and 10 boards. Just another day at the office right. The shots were not always falling and he has a tendency to force some action but its only because the guy want to contribute everywhere on the court and he does. Got to the line 6 times and drained them all. Seemed like key junctures Caleb was there making a hoop, getting to the line or stripping the ball on defense. If Paul is the heart of the team, Caleb is the soul. With them back and getting healthier by the second, alot of the early season analysis could be tossed in the trash bin. This is a different team with both of them in the lineup. The wheel can spin again, the cogs are all in place.
Cliff..what can we say about Cliff. I mean he has had some great stat line games but its almost as if something is missing. The foul trouble in the first half and then just having nothing offensively in the 2nd half but I will say this. Cliff was pivotal late in the game to snuff our any Indiana run. He ended up with 9 rebounds almost all of them in the 2nd half. As inconsistent as Cliff has been on defense this year, Cliff was big in the last 5 minutes, collecting a bevy of rebounds, got a block and closed it out by hitting 4 straight free throws. I know we want and demand more from him so hopefully he can find the answers to get him going like we know we can but I really liked how he kept his head in the game and finished out strong contributing.
Loved Reiber today, havent said that this year yet so a pleasant surprise vs Indiana. He held his own, playing good D and minutes without fouling. Woofolk mainly minutes in the first half, right now we just need him for minutes as his role. Grabbed 2 boards in 8 minutes with a block so successful day for him
Jalen Miller dnp and with Paul/Caleb back and Derek breakout I think his minutes will be only in spot situations.
Cam....its the one thing from my earlier recap unfortunately might be right on. Now the 3rd game vs a solid team and struggling Made only the one 3 pointer, was leaving 3 pt shooters wide open and played only 17 minutes and Derek gobbled up all his minutes. Wouldnt want to write him off yet, there will be Big 10 games where he will be a key contributor but you can sort of see the direction that Pike might go in with Derek and its going to happen slowly
Hyatt as I said had a very good first half but a brutal 2nd half and sat during the big run. I do not like a role for him shooting that much and Pike may the right move in keeping him out for much of the 2nd half. A vital part of the team for sure but not as 2nd or 3rd option.
Good lord what is it about this building...please please do not change a thing about it...I know thats a topic for another thread. Another RAC classic to go into what is becoming a growing list very quickly under Coach Steve Pikiell. This building has a life of its own and can resuscitating a team struggling a bit to find its ways. An ugly finish on the road vs Miami which just 5 points in the last 8 minutes was not giving me confidence heading into a game with an Indiana team who just kocked off North Carolina. Yes they would ripe for the picking with the proverbial letdown but with Paul possibly still out and more questions than answers cropping up on the offense end it did not seem like the right time to face a top 10 to kick off the Big 10 season in early December. But just like that place was sizzling from the get go and perhaps buoyed by that excellent idea of a winter carnival outside offer drinks and food. The RAC was the RAC. I say it like its old hat. Always tough to get the environment earlier in the season IMO, the RAC game to play and gave the team a big assist tonight to push this team on home to close out the victory
Indiana fans are trash. I will give them credit for travelling. I bet they had almost 1K in the building. They seemed to be everywhere with their aura of smugness for what I do not know. A big run in the Big 10 tourney somehow made them the Big 10 favorite and the highest ranked Big 10 team coming into this year. That win over North Carolina was impressive do not get me wrong. Indiana is good and likely a NCAA team. Trace Jackson Davis could be Big 10 POY. RU didnt see his best today and alot of that is because of Rutgers. 6 straight wins now and 8 of 9 that is simply ridiculous. Rutgers vs a big time storied program...yeah its ho hum right now. Hoosier Daddy indeed
How about the enormity of knocking off preseason Big 10 champ in game 1. Now thats something to discuss in another thread. Now what and now how do expectations change and do we worry about moving that pendulum to far in the other direction. Right now enjoy the win, a satisfying domination for our Indiana bitches. Ohio State is right around the corner followed by the Smurfs.
