Lack of defense and lack of consistency of our players preventing wins

[goru7]

Ru is last in the Big 10 in field goal defense, near the bottom in 3 point defense and last in rebounding , near the bottom in blocked shots. The rebounding problem and blocked shots, protecting the rim, will get better just with our front court back next year both offensively and defensively. But the lack of pressure on the ball, the failure to defend the 3, the failure of the guards to fight over screens and go under and leave an open 3 shooter or even more evident , switching into a height mismatch and being taken advantage of, the failure to properly defend the pick and roll and hedge the pick with our big guy coming out , is absolutely killing us!! Making it worse iswe are last or next to last in making 3's which make a close game turn into a 10 point deficit in a blink of an eye. Ru was up 33-27 with the ball coming out of a timeout with I think with 4.48 left in the first half. They then proceeded to allow 2 open 3's for the tie. Then our scoring drought occurred and they got layups off pick and rolls.
Eddie has to address this before this year is out . He cannot make it easy for other teams to get into their sets. He has to pressure the ball and trap occasionally to disrupt the other team, which will be easier with our full roster. But even last year he didn't demand Mack doing it. Corey was doing it for a while but cannot because he is carrying offensive load. Mike and Bishop have to do it and Bishop has the athletic ability to do it but he doesn't. Nigel and Corey and Mike must do it next year.
The lack of consistency is killing us. Laurent goes for 23 the other night and a few points today. Mike has been more consistent lately but 10-15 has to happen every night. Bishop had 13 or 15 tonight on nice drives and zero against Illinois. DJ tried to really go to the hole and got fouled and scored a little but had zero against Illinois. Grier gave us some good games 10-15 , even an occasional 20 , but then tonight single digits. Greg had 6pts and 16 rebounds the other night and a couple points and a few rebounds tonight. They collectively have to play better. Corey is all world right now and he needs help if they are going to win 2-3 of the remaining games.

 

[RutgersYay]

I'm sure he's going to address it, just like he did in year 1 and 2.

Or not.

Also I forget what year it is.

 

[ruman]

His team's don't defend and won't defend. That's what you get with Jordan. It's been going on for 3 years. It's not because guys are hurt. Check the score of the Central Arkansas game

 

[B1GNJHoops]

You can't simply plan on outscorimg teams in the Big Ten.

We are not Maryland

 

[goru7]

You can't simply plan on outscorimg teams in the Big Ten.

We are not Maryland

Maryland /Indiana's biggest improvement is on defense . Eddie has to take a lesson from them. Crean and Turgen mention it after every game.

 

[ruman]

http://www.truthaboutit.net/2008/09/eddie-jordan-washington-wizards.html

Defense: Whether you think it actually improved this past season, or that it didn’t improveat all, or that there were some signs of improvement…..we can all conclude that the Wizards are still climbing up the mountain in terms of stopping opponents from scoring.

 

[Section114]

I coach 8 and 9 year old boys. Skills vary, not everyone can shoot or dribble well. EVERYONE plays hard on defense. That's how you win games. Should be a simple philosophy.

 

[ruman]

http://www.nbadraft.net/node/16818

The Sixers are last in the NBA in 3-point defense, allowing teams to shoot a whopping 42 percent against them. Not surprisingly, the Sixers are 1-15 when their opponent shoots 40 percent or better from 3-point range.

 

[soundcrib]

We need Tom Thibodeau.

 

[bac2therac]

In the game thread Ru was up 30-27 and I said im worried about the pace of the game...Rutgers cant win shootouts..they arent good enough. Its fools gold because the bad defense does the team in every time

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

another off the charts poor defensive game. fatigue and lack of size tell part of the story.

 

[goru7]

In the game thread Ru was up 30-27 and I said im worried about the pace of the game...Rutgers cant win shootouts..they arent good enough. Its fools gold because the bad defense does the team in every time

Pace of the game was perfect. Defense was not. Gave up 8 three pointers, 7 of them uncontested or off a scramble or loose ball. Corey could not be stopped but he would eventually run out of gas after 51 minutes against Illinois. The other players have to help and step up!!

 

[seels2662]

I missed today's game, I will catch it on the replay in the next couple of days.

I felt that for a while the front court defense has been terrible mainly because we can't afford to get anyone fouled down low, if we do we will have noone to play down there. For those who saw the game, did you get that feeling today?

 

[goru7]

I missed today's game, I will catch it on the replay in the next couple of days.

I felt that for a while the front court defense has been terrible mainly because we can't afford to get anyone fouled down low, if we do we will have noone to play down there. For those who saw the game, did you get that feeling today?

Pick and roll defense was as bad as I have ever seen it . Between that defense and failure to defend the three pointers ,was how t,his game was lost .

 

[Ray6232010]

Pick and roll defense was as bad as I have ever seen it . Between that defense and failure to defend the three pointers ,was how t,his game was lost .

Ru is last in the Big 10 in field goal defense, near the bottom in 3 point defense and last in rebounding , near the bottom in blocked shots. The rebounding problem and blocked shots, protecting the rim, will get better just with our front court back next year both offensively and defensively. But the lack of pressure on the ball, the failure to defend the 3, the failure of the guards to fight over screens and go under and leave an open 3 shooter or even more evident , switching into a height mismatch and being taken advantage of, the failure to properly defend the pick and roll and hedge the pick with our big guy coming out , is absolutely killing us!! Making it worse iswe are last or next to last in making 3's which make a close game turn into a 10 point deficit in a blink of an eye. Ru was up 33-27 with the ball coming out of a timeout with I think with 4.48 left in the first half. They then proceeded to allow 2 open 3's for the tie. Then our scoring drought occurred and they got layups off pick and rolls.
Eddie has to address this before this year is out . He cannot make it easy for other teams to get into their sets. He has to pressure the ball and trap occasionally to disrupt the other team, which will be easier with our full roster. But even last year he didn't demand Mack doing it. Corey was doing it for a while but cannot because he is carrying offensive load. Mike and Bishop have to do it and Bishop has the athletic ability to do it but he doesn't. Nigel and Corey and Mike must do it next year.
The lack of consistency is killing us. Laurent goes for 23 the other night and a few points today. Mike has been more consistent lately but 10-15 has to happen every night. Bishop had 13 or 15 tonight on nice drives and zero against Illinois. DJ tried to really go to the hole and got fouled and scored a little but had zero against Illinois. Grier gave us some good games 10-15 , even an occasional 20 , but then tonight single digits. Greg had 6pts and 16 rebounds the other night and a couple points and a few rebounds tonight. They collectively have to play better. Corey is all world right now and he needs help if they are going to win 2-3 of the remaining games.

You guys just don't get it. Smfh wow

 

[jakeknight]

Ho-Hum what else is new

 

[RUJMM78]

A depleted squad can't play a run and gun type game because the players get tired and the bench is very thin.Yes, the defense stinks but fans are failing to recognize that opponents have better talent .They make 3 pointers which is the difference maker in college basketball.In contrast most of Rutgers points came from drives to the basket against man to man defense. When Nebraska changed to zone Rutgers offense was stifled.

In the end this long losing streak always comes back to the lack of talent on the court.In far too many situations Rutgers is lucky to have two consistent scorers on the court at the same time.Defense is important but long scoring droughts is the reason for blow out losses.The players get demoralized and this effects the way they play defense.

 

[ruman]

You guys just don't get it. Smfh wow

When you lose 26 in a row, there is not much to get

 

[jellyman]

There is no doubt the defense against Nebraska was disappointing. While 2 players in particular had REAL difficulties defending (I will not mention by name, but hint: The 2 players in mind were the 2 players who did not produce much in the Illinois game), the other players were not exactly stellar, either.

In all fairness to Williams, he often had to cover a 6'6" to 6'7" guy who would back him down, and do a little turnaround and step back 12 foot jumper ... not much Williams could do about that at only 6'2". And in all fairness to Lewis, he did tweak his knee again, trying to get out to defend a long jump shot by #12 early in the game ... he had to leave the game immediately, and though he came back you could see he was even more limited than usual.

That said, when RU was up 33-27 with 5 minutes left in the 1st half, it was the offense that was awful: In the next 5 minutes, as they ended the 1st half, RU went 1-10 from the field (including missing 7 straight shots) with 4 turnovers, during a 18-1 Nebraska run, to go from a 33-27 lead to a 45-34 deficit. RU then hit a basket to make it 45-36 at half. Sanders did throw up some bad shots in that stretch - but was also on the bench for at least half that stretch (2 fouls).

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Bottom line in our rotation there are, by my count, 4 poor defenders and 1 guy with a knee injury. Our rotation is 8 so the math isn't in our favor.

You want to analyze nebraska game...
71 possessions 87-63 final
we scored .89 per and gave up 1.23

B1g average this year 1.048

.158 under normal on offense and .182 over on defense....both bad.

In B1G play .
offense .909 -1.048 =.139
defense 1.238 - 1.048 = .19

 

[Sideline20]

FIG - Wow thanks for the stats.......defense @ 1.238 per trip.......that's awful.......defense is all about heart.......the guys need some motivation.

 

[jellyman]

Bottom line in our rotation there are, by my count, 4 poor defenders and 1 guy with a knee injury. Our rotation is 8 so the math isn't in our favor.

You want to analyze nebraska game...
71 possessions 87-63 final
we scored .89 per and gave up 1.23

B1g average this year 1.048

.158 under normal on offense and .182 over on defense....both bad.

In B1G play .
offense .909 -1.048 =.139
defense 1.238 - 1.048 = .19

I know 3 of your 4 ... pretty easy to figure that one out (the 2 I would not name and 1 other easy choice). I would guess who the 4th is, also, who does other things well, and has a chance to develop into a really good player over time.

Work to do, clearly ... we shall see this year or next year, regardless who the coach is.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I know 3 of your 4 ... pretty easy to figure that one out (the 2 I would not name and 1 other easy choice). I would guess who the 4th is, also, who does other things well, and has a chance to develop into a really good player over time.

Work to do, clearly ... we shall see this year or next year, regardless who the coach is.

Sanders and Williams definitely would be + defenders surrounded by others with a shot blocker behind them.
Laurent seems to be a bit raw and at times out of position but he'll be fine.

I am having trouble finding a role for Foreman on both sides of the court. In the offseason he has to work on his perimeter game. He must be a threat to make an outside shot.

To me Sanders Johnson Williams Laurent Freeman is such a different team than what we see now. Assumption being Diallo/Doorson can block shots and not kill us positionally and Johnson defends.

I would think this 5 wouldn't be alllowing 1.1+ point per possession and have us in a position to win games offensively.

 

[jellyman]

Sanders and Williams definitely would be + defenders surrounded by others with a shot blocker behind them.
Laurent seems to be a bit raw and at times out of position but he'll be fine.

I am having trouble finding a role for Foreman on both sides of the court. In the offseason he has to work on his perimeter game. He must be a threat to make an outside shot.

To me Sanders Johnson Williams Laurent Freeman is such a different team than what we see now. Assumption being Diallo/Doorson can block shots and not kill us positionally and Johnson defends.

I would think this 5 wouldn't be alllowing 1.1+ point per possession and have us in a position to win games offensively.

I guessed right on the players you were talking about defensively, and see it the same way you do!

I agree 100% on Foreman ... he does some things that are really interesting in a positive way (gets to the rim, constant effort on the boards, etc.), but seems slow defensively, and does not show the 12-15 foot jumper he needs to hit to help the team.

By the way, Freeman looked like a really good interior passer in the 6 1/2 games he played. Our current post players turn the ball over too often, as does one of our bench guards.

If N. Johnson can hit even 33% from 3 (as he did as a Sophomore), if Laurent, Williams and Sanders keep improving, and if Freeman, Diallo and Doorson come back 100% healthy ... that seems like a team that is more competitive offensively and MAYBE defensively. That may be a core of 7 players, along with Foreman, that can selectively add into the mix the 3 current verbals (6'5" guard with SOME PG skills, maybe, 6'6" slasher and 6'9" Thiam) - for depth and to get more athletic length on the floor. Not sure that is a .500 team yet, but it should be more competitive. With Sanders, does that team have TWO other 11-13 point per game scorers, plus 2 or 3 7-8 ppg scorers, plus better defense? Because that is what it would take to get to .500 or better, probably.