Is PSU Do or Die For #RHOOPS?
- Thread starter playorbplayd
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Of course not. It is definitely a game we can win, but I am equally sure that PSU sees it the exact same way. We are on the way back, 11 wins already (granted no BIG wins yet) and likely to get anywhere from 2 to 5 more and the whole team minus CJ returns next year plus 2 hopefully offensively gifted recruits. This isn't going to happen in one "do or die" game. A win would go a long way to creating a better buzz and feeling around the team but if we lose this one and win the next what is the difference. Each game is important in the growth of the program. Stay competitive and win the occasional game and this year is a success.
Excellent post. I couldn't agree more. It will be nice to get our first B1G win against PSU. It will go a long way for our team's confidence going forward.
We were one of if not the worst team in D1 last year. To say this game is do or die is just absurd.
Exactly what evil can become of us if we lose this game? We have won NOTHING of significance in 25 f***ing years. We have been beaten year in and out by crappy mid majors. We have been embarrassed mightily by good (and bad ) P5 teams for years on end. We have been embarrassed nationally by a maniacal coach.
If we're not dead by now, a loss on Sunday isn't going to push us over edge.
If we're not dead by now, a loss on Sunday isn't going to push us over edge.
When everyone says there is no place to go but up with this program, they meant it. Every win will be celebrated, every loss will come with a "it's ok, keep trying and don't give up". Our bar is super low, and just coming out of OOC with no unexpected losses is a success. We are playing with house money now, no pressure at all.
This is the moving target of progress.....First it was at DePaul......then it was don't get embarrassed by Miami, keep the game respectable.....then it was don't get tripped up by an "WTF" OOC home game (Hartford almost got us).....then it was a "trap" at Stony Brook.....then it was Fordham at MSG......all passing grades and tests for a team not used to winning at all.....
After the Penn State game, there are 6 to 8 other chances to move the ball forward....we also play at Penn State, which is more than likely the best chance we have at a road conference win this season.....that would be the "game" to see if RU can sustain some progress....There are so many milestones as part of the rebuild of the program that it's going to be hard to keep track of how many steps forward RU has taken.....if PSU knocks down shots from 3 on Sunday, it has no bearing on RU's lack of progress.....if they shoot a poor percentage here would mean very little as well.
Many fans wrote off Nebraska and Penn State, but both have better and more impressive wins than RU so far this year.....it's kinda hard to determine too much less than 15 games into a new coaching regime.....maybe after 45-50 games and a couple of recruiting classes and off-seasons, but way too early to make that type of statement....I think RU has already shed the labels or thoughts that this is the same ol Rutgers.....
Beating PSU isn't as important as playing good/sound/team-oriented basketball at home and staying within the defensive and rebounding gameplans.....That's the formula over a 18-19-20 game B1G schedule that will take care of the Penn State, Nebraska types of winnable games, is establishing some pattern of consistency and finding out who can perform at this level, who needs to improve and develop etc....
After the Penn State game, there are 6 to 8 other chances to move the ball forward....we also play at Penn State, which is more than likely the best chance we have at a road conference win this season.....that would be the "game" to see if RU can sustain some progress....There are so many milestones as part of the rebuild of the program that it's going to be hard to keep track of how many steps forward RU has taken.....if PSU knocks down shots from 3 on Sunday, it has no bearing on RU's lack of progress.....if they shoot a poor percentage here would mean very little as well.
Many fans wrote off Nebraska and Penn State, but both have better and more impressive wins than RU so far this year.....it's kinda hard to determine too much less than 15 games into a new coaching regime.....maybe after 45-50 games and a couple of recruiting classes and off-seasons, but way too early to make that type of statement....I think RU has already shed the labels or thoughts that this is the same ol Rutgers.....
Beating PSU isn't as important as playing good/sound/team-oriented basketball at home and staying within the defensive and rebounding gameplans.....That's the formula over a 18-19-20 game B1G schedule that will take care of the Penn State, Nebraska types of winnable games, is establishing some pattern of consistency and finding out who can perform at this level, who needs to improve and develop etc....
I want this game more about the revenge and beating that school than worrying if it is do or die. If you saw them in game 1 at the garden you can see they have a guard (#34?) who is the guy to stop. If Mike Williams wasn't so important on the O side I'd say he need's to be the guy...but somebody else needs to take that guy on and out of his game.
I think we can all agree that this team should win some BIG games. The group of teams that will fall into this category as possible wins is not all that big. I think PSU is one of those teams. Not winning this game would mean that the number of teams we can possibly beat is a bit smaller.
Its a must win if fans are concerned about recruiting ,perception in the NJ/NY Metro area and increasing attendance at future home games.A loss will support the narrative that Rutgers can't compete in the B1G as shown by the 3-33 record the first two years.Kicking the can down the road won't work in a power conference.
its not do or die but I do feel its a must type win for the program at this point to show its ready to take the next leap in conference play. Penn State at the RAC is THE most winnable game on paper in conference play so you would like to think they can meet that challenge and beat them.
If RU want to get the casual fans interest its a game they need to win, teamwise it will not make a difference to the overall progress of the program though this year as post season probably isnt happening. For a program that has lost 33 of its last 34 league games, you want to start this season off with a win
If RU want to get the casual fans interest its a game they need to win, teamwise it will not make a difference to the overall progress of the program though this year as post season probably isnt happening. For a program that has lost 33 of its last 34 league games, you want to start this season off with a win
Agree. It's only year one for Pikiell and crew, but these are the types of games you need to win. I don't see the team going 1-17 in conference again this year, so let's start by getting this one.
What this game is a win that you really need to have if you want to have his season be a turnaround season at 7-11/18-13 with a shot at the NIT
A sign that the out of confrence games translate to confrence play, in between the easier games there and the three road games we did lose...to teams with at large aspirations
A sign that the out of confrence games translate to confrence play, in between the easier games there and the three road games we did lose...to teams with at large aspirations
Only partially on-topic but I had a similar feeling when the Michigan fanboys were saying RU/Ash would regret tweaking UM/Harbaugh in the offseason. I thought, what could they possibly do that they haven't done already? They already took like 5 of the top 10 recruits in NJ and blew us out in Ann Arbor. What are they gonna do, beat us by 11 touchdowns?
Anyway, until we repay the B1G invite karma I assume it can always get worse in some way I haven't yet envisioned. So we'll see. In any case I think we win on Sunday.
It can't get worse than Mike Rice when it was the week of the Final Four and Rutgers basketball was literally 5 of the 7 SportsCenter headlines one day
Not "do or die"....I think coach P said "measuring stick" I like that[thumb2]
but this one sure would go a LONG way in making for a HAPPY 2017 ! for me !
thats the way the ball bounces
:cool2:[jumpingsmile]...........:cool2:[jumpingsmile] ........ :cool2:[jumpingsmile]
but this one sure would go a LONG way in making for a HAPPY 2017 ! for me !
thats the way the ball bounces
:cool2:[jumpingsmile]...........:cool2:[jumpingsmile] ........ :cool2:[jumpingsmile]
STOP.....this is just not a do or die game - it's an in conference game and one game on the schedule. It would be a nice win for our program, but this game in no way makes or breaks us. Goal is the NIT - we need to eke out about 6 more wins somewhere and I really don't care who they are against, just as long as we get them.
Think it may be time for a pinned post on how NIT selection works currently.
If we had lost 6 or 7 games in our cupcake OOC schedule, I'd say we really need a reason to buy in...but as it stands, we beat the teams we "should" beat, which is a heck of a lot more than we can say about the past few years. So while I think a win today would be a really positive sign, it's certainly not do or die for me just yet.
The only way it is a "must win" is in terms of revenue for this year. If we win then there will be games in the future that will sell out. If we lose not so much. As far as the team itself goes, this season was house money for Pikiell the whole time.
