Grinding it out

[bac2therac]

Coack Pikiell touched upon just that in the WCTC post game interview. He was very happy with the way the team responded to its poor shooting night and grinding it out. Stat sheet was not pretty but this was a good challenge for this young team. I mentioned in the game thread at 45-40, RU wasnt able to put North Texas away. There was under 8 minutes left and everytime RU looked like it was going to take control, North Texas would make a shot or RU would put up a bad shot or there would be a turnover. From that point on led by Mike Williams the team seemed to take flight with alot of energy and hops and the shot rolled in as the defense ratched it up and all of a sudden RU went on a 18-2 to go up 61-44 game over. So while the last 8 minutes were impressive. I felt what made it more impressive was that RU hung around and grinded it out for the first 32 minutes and responded to adversity without panicking or curling into a ball like we have seen recent RU teams do.

In many ways to team this was the most satisfying win of the season because the team had to work the hardest on all the other things and also overcome the pre Thanksgiving doldrums. It may have played its worst half of the season but that may have benefitted them in the growth of the team going forward. League play is going to be full of grind it out games and the players really lack any experience in playing in grind it out games. So another win now 5-0. The weaknesses are there to see..poor shooting and some shaky perimeter defense and thats going to hurt them against better teams than North Texas who played hard and outhustled RU for about 30 minutes but who werent particularly good at anything. RU won only SEVEN games last year, they already have FIVE. Thank you Coach Pikiell!

 

[TMCB]

Not every win is pretty, love that we win on effort defense and rebounding.

 

[Shell21]

Not every win is pretty, love that we win on effort defense and rebounding.

Posted this on the roundtable.....

I went to the game tonight..We shot horribly , but we move the ball on offense and were getting open looks that just didn't fall. We are relentless on the boards, specifically Freeman who's an animal . Our defensive rotations are "knight and day" better than anything I've seen from a Rutgers team in years. As a high school coach, I can really appreciate this. We fight over all screens and get really good back side help to protect against screen rolls.

We still need to improve on closing out on shooters, as their big kid hit some threes on us (was a tough cover for CJ out there). Things I love is our depth, as we can go with multiple different lineups to combat what the other team is doing. I love how Pikiell put Sa in to cover their big kid who was shooting threes, and he rewarded him with tough D and 5 blocks. If Thiam or anyone else can consistently make some threes (he didn't tonight) we will be a tough out in the big ten and maybe surprise a few teams.

Great thing is, you can see and feel the energy this team plays with ion every possession and you know Pikiell has them focused to grind out every possession. Although early, I'm very encouraged so far.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Bac

Interesting

Thought we really played pretty well (couple of turnovers too many)...and we just missed shots

I mean...we really got pretty good looks and just missed them ...maybe a little quick with the trigger in the first half but overall thought we got good shots and just missed too many

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Best win of the year. You find out what type of team you are when you are 1-16 from 3. It was bound to happen and we still won going away.

I really like the fact that Sanders is accepting his role against a zone defense. Has to be killing him.

I love the fact that we are making opposing guards work 94 feet. It shows in the last 10 minutes of games when they wear down.

 

[MadRU]

Was thinking, the first half was probably our worse half on the offensive side, looked at the scoreboard and we were only down 1 point.

 

[ScarletRunner]

I predict some very solid B1G teams are going to come into the RAC on a day when their shots aren't falling, and face a tough interior defense and (hopefully) vocal and hostile crowd. The game will be a grind-it-out slog, and while the other team might make it out of there with a win, they are going to HATE the experience.

This makes me happy :smiley:

 

[mikefla]

I am with Scarlet Shack,,,
I thought we played well most of the game and just some shots didnt go in the 1st half.
In the 2nd half we took control.
-SA blocked 5 shots(potentially 10 pts)plus 6rebs, 4 pts ......
-Sanders had a balanced 9pts, 6 asst, 6rebs........
-Nigel had 10pts 3 asst, 5rebs
-Gettys 8pts, 1 block, 4 rebs
-Mike Williams 10pts 2blocks 6rebs
-Thiam threw in 8pts
and
Freeman had 13pts and a "not in my house" 15 rebounds !!!!

Every game so far I see people CONTRIBUTING !

 

[higgins3]

So much fun at the rac. It is coming alive. Tons of fan support which is fantastic. I was given 112 seats by some cheerleaders and my buddy and i had a blast. If we are sticking to man help against shooters, the team must use the invisible line so they dont get caught so on the reversals so much. I like iso defense on shooters, even if you have switches which will happen anyway. Coach pikiell has to enjoy getting his players time against these teams. What a time. Happy thanksgiving, folks!
​

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Was thinking, the first half was probably our worse half on the offensive side, looked at the scoreboard and we were only down 1 point.

1. Hair too many turnovers
2. Not enough transition looks

3-10. We didn't shoot it well

To me not shooting isn't playing bad, just not getting the intended results.

 

[NJDOVES]

Couldn't make the game but listened to it. I was anxious to read the recap of Star Ledger and THNT, which both sucked! I love this board! Thanks to all for posting!!! Have a great Thanksgiving!

 

[bac2therac]

1. Hair too many turnovers
2. Not enough transition looks

3-10. We didn't shoot it well

To me not shooting isn't playing bad, just not getting the intended results.

there was also way too much settling for 3 point attempts...this team shouldnt be taking 12 in one half

 

[bac2therac]

Best win of the year. You find out what type of team you are when you are 1-16 from 3. It was bound to happen and we still won going away.

I really like the fact that Sanders is accepting his role against a zone defense. Has to be killing him.

I love the fact that we are making opposing guards work 94 feet. It shows in the last 10 minutes of games when they wear down.

in agreement

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Yes. Playing big at the 4 and 5 are going to make

there was also way too much settling for 3 point attempts...this team shouldnt be taking 12 in one half

I disagree. You need to take and make 3a.

Pikiell agreed with you as there was a concerted effort to get the ball inside vs zone in 2nd half.

 

[MadRU]

there was also way too much settling for 3 point attempts...this team shouldnt be taking 12 in one half

This^^^^ and a few too many turnovers in the half also.

We did get good looks, shots not falling, but needed to get the ball inside more until shots start falling.

I am not complaining, it just shows our play has been pretty consistent. Effort has been there since the season started. I recognize we have issues with shooting, some days will be better then others, some halves will be. As long as the effort stays consistent, I believe the team will grow and gain confidence. Getting easy baskets leads to confidence.

 

[bac2therac]

this isnt a good enough shooting team to shoot 12 3s, some of them were very rushed. I also felt in the first half RU struggled offensively into getting into any rhythm, whether it was putting up a bad shot, missing easy shots, or just being outhustled. So clearly I think it was our worst half of the season if you compare it to the rest of the games but I wasnt worried because RU was only down 1 and Pike is the coach not EJ. RU was much more composed and grinded it out in the 2nd half until they simply wore the Mean Green down

 

[bac2therac]

This^^^^ and a few too many turnovers in the half also.

We did get good looks, shots not falling, but needed to get the ball inside more until shots start falling.

I am not complaining, it just shows our play has been pretty consistent. Effort has been there since the season started. I recognize we have issues with shooting, some days will be better then others, some halves will be. As long as the effort stays consistent, I believe the team will grow and gain confidence. Getting easy baskets leads to confidence.

good point, you can see what happens once the shots start falling, the defense revs up and for the first time since I think Waters, the program has spurtability

 

[MadRU]

Yes. Playing big at the 4 and 5 are going to make


I disagree. You need to take and make 3a.

Pikiell agreed with you as there was a concerted effort to get the ball inside vs zone in 2nd half.

Yes you do need to take and make threes. But when you are 1 for 12, you do have look inside early and often until the ball starts to fall for you. IMHO. Don't abandon the three but search for other options first, and second until the shots start falling.

 

[knights1212]

I agree. In the first half we settled too often for a three. We didn't get the ball too often down low. In the second half we got the ball many times to Freeman down low and good things happened. Several times we hit the man near the foul line with a pass when there were 2 guys by the man receiving the pass. This caused problems at times. I also thought that at times last night we were not passing the ball as fast as we should have against the zone. In the earlier games the ball moved more rapidly. I am thrilled though with the win and how hard we are playing. This has been enjoyable to watch.

 

[jonS]

In his own quiet way Mike Williams has been very instrumental in Rutgers success so far. I love his energy on defense , hustle , ability to rebound and make a key shot ( especially a 3) when it's needed. No doubt thanks to the coaching staff, now when he shoots a 3 his form is much improved and he sets himself rather than take an off-balnce rushed shot. At times I feel like he's Pikiell's player representative--he translates into action what Pikiell wants most to happen on the court.

 

[RUJMM78]

Winning without a good shooting night is a sign of progress and a indication of how a coaching staff can make changes in personnel during games that strongly impact the final result.
Rutgers wasn't attacking the zone as efficiently as past games because interior passing not as crisp and players were not finishing around the basket even on offensive rebounds.The player put at the top of the key must make the 8 ' jump shot or drive to the basket for a layup and or pass to the corners for a open 3 pointer.The options are there and it just requires better execution.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Yes you do need to take and make threes. But when you are 1 for 12, you do have look inside early and often until the ball starts to fall for you. IMHO. Don't abandon the three but search for other options first, and second until the shots start falling.

Which is exactly what coach did. I do think B1G time we need to take and make the 3s even when we are 1-12. Against Mean Greene coach put us in a better position to win.

 

[ScarletDave]

I will take grind-it-out games where we lead by 19 in the second half and win by 13 points, over the kind of wins UConn is having! (Which is 3 BAD losses & a scrape by against Chaminade)