Everyone relax. For starters just like I said after Michigan State there are no moral victories at this point in the rebuild. I think Pikiell has brought this team to the point where they expect to win games and not play close. This team comes out to play and win. No doubt about it. The hunger is there, its just that its just too soon. Yes its frustrating that this game was there for the taking. A couple of shots here and a defensive stop there and things could have turned out different. Certainly I think the last few minutes of the first half and the first 5-7 minutes of the second half was the difference maker tonight. Rutgers blinked and Wisconsin took advantage. Last week I said that RU learned from the Boston U game and was able to close the game out against Miami....tonight showed as the bump in competition from Miami to Wisconsin showed being able to play with the lead and extend it on the road. Rutgers is not quite ready to do it against the #12 team in the country.
Rutgers punched Wisconsin to open the game which was great to see. There was no tired legs to start, no heads down after the MSU loss. RU came out with good energy and followed the gameplan and got contributions in unexpected places. Wisconsin punched RU and RU seemed to show those tired legs and not be as resilient as they have been. But guess what, give Wisconsin credit. That is a good team. Happ is the best player on the floor by far. They are a team that does not lose its composure plus they have more experience than RU. Remember RU beat this team at the RAC last year in a defensive battle...but last year RU had the experience. So while Wisconsin seemed to gain control of the lead, it might have gone up to 11? what I loved tonight was the fight back by RU. Just when you thought RU was dead all of a sudden its only 5 with 100 seconds to go. This game easily with tired legs and nothing going down could have been a 18 point loss but it wasnt
I know some are frustrated but I think its about expectations. RU has closed the gap between themselves and the top 4 in the league. We are disappointed because we lost on the road to a #12 team who will finish top 4 in the league and a possible Sweet 16 type team...consider that. Consider the bright spots tonight we got from Carter....seemingly in no man lands doghouse all of sudden 7 first half points dominating the paint in the first half...where did that come from. He came not even playing until the last minute or two of a game to being a major contribution. Kudos to him for keeping his held high and working hard and kudos to the coaching staff for trusting in him. 18 minutes, 4-5 shooting, 9 points, 4 boards, played some pretty solid defense...a true breakout game for him and that is only going to make this team that much tougher and deeper as we go forward. Carter as a force in the paint can open up some of our offensive stalwarts for some easier shots. Caleb once again got big time minutes and looked solid out there. MSU was not a fluke as he logged 11 important minutes tonight. Mathis got more time and it looks like right now his role is concentrating on the defensive end and deferrring to others for offense. Harper seemed out of the rotation early but did play better later in the game. Again its going to be up and down with these freshmen. We are so young...we are so young...we are so young. People need to understand that when judging the team from game to game or even within the game. Consistency is what they do not have yet. They can hit some shots or make a stop but until they do that for long stretches it puts enormous pressure on Geo and Eugene do try and do it all and both of them are guilty of pressing too much sometimes and that hurt the team tonight.
RU will be okay. They will win some Big 10 games. The freshmen are just scratching the surface right now. Two losses in a row but the trajectory is still positive the past two weeks. Fordham is a dangerous quiz coming up. I have seen better teams than RU fail it. Its imperative that Pikiell continues to get this team to be resilient and keep its head up and focus and go into that ratty gym and win. I know everyone wants to speed the timeline but RU just played two top 15 teams tough. Its not a fluke. Patience is a virtue. Its coming.
Rutgers punched Wisconsin to open the game which was great to see. There was no tired legs to start, no heads down after the MSU loss. RU came out with good energy and followed the gameplan and got contributions in unexpected places. Wisconsin punched RU and RU seemed to show those tired legs and not be as resilient as they have been. But guess what, give Wisconsin credit. That is a good team. Happ is the best player on the floor by far. They are a team that does not lose its composure plus they have more experience than RU. Remember RU beat this team at the RAC last year in a defensive battle...but last year RU had the experience. So while Wisconsin seemed to gain control of the lead, it might have gone up to 11? what I loved tonight was the fight back by RU. Just when you thought RU was dead all of a sudden its only 5 with 100 seconds to go. This game easily with tired legs and nothing going down could have been a 18 point loss but it wasnt
I know some are frustrated but I think its about expectations. RU has closed the gap between themselves and the top 4 in the league. We are disappointed because we lost on the road to a #12 team who will finish top 4 in the league and a possible Sweet 16 type team...consider that. Consider the bright spots tonight we got from Carter....seemingly in no man lands doghouse all of sudden 7 first half points dominating the paint in the first half...where did that come from. He came not even playing until the last minute or two of a game to being a major contribution. Kudos to him for keeping his held high and working hard and kudos to the coaching staff for trusting in him. 18 minutes, 4-5 shooting, 9 points, 4 boards, played some pretty solid defense...a true breakout game for him and that is only going to make this team that much tougher and deeper as we go forward. Carter as a force in the paint can open up some of our offensive stalwarts for some easier shots. Caleb once again got big time minutes and looked solid out there. MSU was not a fluke as he logged 11 important minutes tonight. Mathis got more time and it looks like right now his role is concentrating on the defensive end and deferrring to others for offense. Harper seemed out of the rotation early but did play better later in the game. Again its going to be up and down with these freshmen. We are so young...we are so young...we are so young. People need to understand that when judging the team from game to game or even within the game. Consistency is what they do not have yet. They can hit some shots or make a stop but until they do that for long stretches it puts enormous pressure on Geo and Eugene do try and do it all and both of them are guilty of pressing too much sometimes and that hurt the team tonight.
RU will be okay. They will win some Big 10 games. The freshmen are just scratching the surface right now. Two losses in a row but the trajectory is still positive the past two weeks. Fordham is a dangerous quiz coming up. I have seen better teams than RU fail it. Its imperative that Pikiell continues to get this team to be resilient and keep its head up and focus and go into that ratty gym and win. I know everyone wants to speed the timeline but RU just played two top 15 teams tough. Its not a fluke. Patience is a virtue. Its coming.
