Losing but progressing

[bac2therac]

Yes this game was very winnable
Yes Iowa showed their youth and practically were gifting RU the game
Yes at 51-42, RU missed a plethora of opportunites to build their lead and put the nail in the coffin
Yes it was the same movie we have seen before as RU fans
Yes there are no moral victories

BUT....

today, this was progress. Sure we want wins and the program desperately needs wins but it was undeniably a step forward. The issue here is the program has lost 37 of its last 40 games. Most games RU is losing by over 15 points. Past games against Iowa were not competitive as was past road efforts anywhere. Its not quite there yet ready to win league games especially on the road. Team was in a very unfamiliar spot at 51-42 with the lead. Sure it had similar leads against some schools in the non conference and closed it out but against real competition this team was in charted territory and they just did not handle it well. The initial thought it to be pissed that they blew a game that they basically had won, but as RU started to lose its lead and I knew the inevitable was coming, I felt that I cannot be that hard on a team that competed and did so many thing so well and so right today that hasnt learned to win. Competing is the first step, I didnt think RU competed all that much its first 3 league games except for maybe a few minutes here and there

This was by far Rutgers best game of the year. RU went on a 27-10 run at one point against a Big 10 team on the road. Iowa went over 7 minutes without a basket. RU controlled and dominated Iowa for a stretch. Reality is this team does not have much talent and cannot shoot. Progress needs to be measured in increments not wins this year because reality check, this team is going to probably win 4 or less games. The thoughts of 6 wins are out the window at this point. They just are not good enough and they just are not good enough shooters As I said before Pikiell needs to recruit a whole bunch of talent, guys who will be able to make those shots at the end of the game with 2 minutes left and the game on the line. Effort and competitiveness are signs of progress. Pike has succeeded in the first and the next step we saw today. Iowa is very young and played poorly but some of that was RU played really smart and really tough on D.

Short term the loss is a kick in the balls because a loss is a loss and its especially tough when the opponent outscores RU 26-8 down the stretch. Long term an overall step in the right direction. These two schools play at the RAC in a few weeks and its a very winnable game with the RAC. Learning experience game and after the MSU beatdown I cannot be down on the performance today

 

[RU MAN]

Yes this game was very winnable
Yes Iowa showed their youth and practically were gifting RU the game
Yes at 51-42, RU missed a plethora of opportunites to build their lead and put the nail in the coffin
Yes it was the same movie we have seen before as RU fans
Yes there are no moral victories

BUT....

today, this was progress. Sure we want wins and the program desperately needs wins but it was undeniably a step forward. The issue here is the program has lost 37 of its last 40 games. Most games RU is losing by over 15 points. Past games against Iowa were not competitive as was past road efforts anywhere. Its not quite there yet ready to win league games especially on the road. Team was in a very unfamiliar spot at 51-42 with the lead. Sure it had similar leads against some schools in the non conference and closed it out but against real competition this team was in charted territory and they just did not handle it well. The initial thought it to be pissed that they blew a game that they basically had won, but as RU started to lose its lead and I knew the inevitable was coming, I felt that I cannot be that hard on a team that competed and did so many thing so well and so right today that hasnt learned to win. Competing is the first step, I didnt think RU competed all that much its first 3 league games except for maybe a few minutes here and there

This was by far Rutgers best game of the year. RU went on a 27-10 run at one point against a Big 10 team on the road. Iowa went over 7 minutes without a basket. RU controlled and dominated Iowa for a stretch. Reality is this team does not have much talent and cannot shoot. Progress needs to be measured in increments not wins this year because reality check, this team is going to probably win 4 or less games. The thoughts of 6 wins are out the window at this point. They just are not good enough and they just are not good enough shooters As I said before Pikiell needs to recruit a whole bunch of talent, guys who will be able to make those shots at the end of the game with 2 minutes left and the game on the line. Effort and competitiveness are signs of progress. Pike has succeeded in the first and the next step we saw today. Iowa is very young and played poorly but some of that was RU played really smart and really tough on D.

Short term the loss is a kick in the balls because a loss is a loss and its especially tough when the opponent outscores RU 26-8 down the stretch. Long term an overall step in the right direction. These two schools play at the RAC in a few weeks and its a very winnable game with the RAC. Learning experience game and after the MSU beatdown I cannot be down on the performance today

All good points, but read my long post. The foul shot disparity was glaring. It was 23-4. We've had this miserable crew before. When you combine all of the no calls against us plus Nigel and Corey making horrible decisions down the stretch that leads from a game you should win to a miserable loss. And some people here wonder why Pikiell is bringing in a true PG. This is why.

 

[koleszar]

The winnable games are dwindling fast. I see maybe 1 win in conference this year. Progress is being made, but it's just not enough to overcome anyone in the B1G. This crew just doesn't have the talent or smarts to win. This rebuild is going to take a long time and the loses are just going to mount.

 

[bac2therac]

winnable games are Iowa, at Penn State, Illinois, Nebraska, Michigan, and yes I think Northwestern at home is winnable because they are not always on offensively. I think 3 is most we could get but we could get zero

 

[Degaz-RU]

I long for the day when "progress" isn't measured by playing 30 minutes of good basketball and then "only" losing by 6.

I'm so sick of this futility. I mean, I know we couldn't have expected any better this year, but after 25 years of futility, we deserve some REAL progress. And by real progress, I mean WINS.

 

[bac2therac]

I know what you mean but I think we are that much behind that its going to be slow progress and that may not include wins. I think what RU will be getting is some respect from commentators on BTN who generally have dismissed the program the past two years as a laughingstock. You better believe that coaches in this league are worried about facing us because they know the gap has been cut and certain teams will be vulnerable if they overlook RU

 

[G- RUnit]

23-4 foul shooting advantage is hard to overcome. We all love Williams' hustle and D but no points today and was non existent on this road trip and has been very sloppy with the ball. Hurt us today.

I think Laurent is coming around. Corey has been very good. I don't mind him driving to the hoop as nobody can hit an outside shot. Freeman was very good today.

Think miles better than last year and we still get a couple games.

 

[RUJMM78]

I long for the day when "progress" isn't measured by playing 30 minutes of good basketball and then "only" losing by 6.

I'm so sick of this futility. I mean, I know we couldn't have expected any better this year, but after 25 years of futility, we deserve some REAL progress. And by real progress, I mean WINS.

I share your pain because long suffering fans have seen so many of these type losses where crunch time arrives and Rutgers fails to take control of the game.

 

[djrc89]

Psu dismantled us in every facet

 

[bac2therac]

23-4 foul shooting advantage is hard to overcome. We all love Williams' hustle and D but no points today and was non existent on this road trip and has been very sloppy with the ball. Hurt us today.

I think Laurent is coming around. Corey has been very good. I don't mind him driving to the hoop as nobody can hit an outside shot. Freeman was very good today.

Think miles better than last year and we still get a couple games.

Laurent was a bright spot today, he is just a role player though and we need difference makers.

 

[bowlgoal]

We are getting better and losing is a part of that process and unfortunately there could be a lot more of that this year. But if you watched today compared to the other big ten games; you saw improvement. I get frustrated like everyone else because I want to win; but you can easily see that this team is eventually going to win. We need more shooters. The defense that is being put in place is the foundation being built. Watch all the games, come to as many as you can at the RAC. We need to support our players as they are fighting very hard and giving everything they've got. The effort level is so high. Effort turns into execution. It will happen under this coach. I've never felt more sure about it.

 

[78CollegeAve]

Have a lot of faith in the staff, but when does it plan to bring in a shooter? Thiam, Sa, Bullock and Omoruyi filled the roster. Judging from how the RU frosh look compared to real B1G frosh, maybe the staff would have been better saving one or two of those scholarships for 17 or 18 unless there's someone here on the RU 1-and-done (gone) in the EJ tradition.

 

[mrslate]

Yes this game was very winnable
Yes Iowa showed their youth and practically were gifting RU the game
Yes at 51-42, RU missed a plethora of opportunites to build their lead and put the nail in the coffin
Yes it was the same movie we have seen before as RU fans
Yes there are no moral victories

BUT....

today, this was progress. Sure we want wins and the program desperately needs wins but it was undeniably a step forward. The issue here is the program has lost 37 of its last 40 games. Most games RU is losing by over 15 points. Past games against Iowa were not competitive as was past road efforts anywhere. Its not quite there yet ready to win league games especially on the road. Team was in a very unfamiliar spot at 51-42 with the lead. Sure it had similar leads against some schools in the non conference and closed it out but against real competition this team was in charted territory and they just did not handle it well. The initial thought it to be pissed that they blew a game that they basically had won, but as RU started to lose its lead and I knew the inevitable was coming, I felt that I cannot be that hard on a team that competed and did so many thing so well and so right today that hasnt learned to win. Competing is the first step, I didnt think RU competed all that much its first 3 league games except for maybe a few minutes here and there

This was by far Rutgers best game of the year. RU went on a 27-10 run at one point against a Big 10 team on the road. Iowa went over 7 minutes without a basket. RU controlled and dominated Iowa for a stretch. Reality is this team does not have much talent and cannot shoot. Progress needs to be measured in increments not wins this year because reality check, this team is going to probably win 4 or less games. The thoughts of 6 wins are out the window at this point. They just are not good enough and they just are not good enough shooters As I said before Pikiell needs to recruit a whole bunch of talent, guys who will be able to make those shots at the end of the game with 2 minutes left and the game on the line. Effort and competitiveness are signs of progress. Pike has succeeded in the first and the next step we saw today. Iowa is very young and played poorly but some of that was RU played really smart and really tough on D.

Short term the loss is a kick in the balls because a loss is a loss and its especially tough when the opponent outscores RU 26-8 down the stretch. Long term an overall step in the right direction. These two schools play at the RAC in a few weeks and its a very winnable game with the RAC. Learning experience game and after the MSU beatdown I cannot be down on the performance today

I can't read this post, as it is too long. I assume it says you are sorry for being out on the ledge, and this team is not as bad as you said when it plays to its strengths. Did you and other also apologize to Freeman?

 

[bac2therac]

I can't read this post, as it is too long. I assume it says you are sorry for being out on the ledge, and this team is not as bad as you said when it plays to its strengths. Did you and other also apologize to Freeman?

??? out on the ledge of what, why would I be sorry? ...this team is overmatched in the league with the least talent and is going to win 0-3 games in league....so you can use whatever word you want to describe it. Why would I apologize to Freeman...had a great game today but generally will be overmatched and undersized in league games and usually neutralized

dont know why you would be so snippy and sassy to me

 

[jonS]

If Rutgers had a forward who could step out and hit mid-range jumpers on a consistent basis it would do wonders for the team. Unfortunately the only way out bigs score is down low and 5 ft from the basket. Against big tough physical teams like Michigan state Rutgers gets manhandled. The team lacks talent but plays hard, is competitive and will upset someone if they ever have a game when they get hot from outside.

 

[bac2therac]

Johnson had a chance to give the lead back to RU down 61-59 with about 1 and half left but missed the 3 and Freeman missed the rebound. Just got to hit those shots, so you see how close they were...better more consistent shooters would have made those shots or made shots earlier to give a bigger cushion. They were close but again it seems like cold shooting is going to be the issue every game

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

just finished watching. I have ZERO complaints.

2 nit picks
1. Nigel stop leaving your feet to pass
2. CJ stop playing volleyball around rim

I love the intensity

 

[RU-ROCS]

just finished watching. I have ZERO complaints.

2 nit picks
1. Nigel stop leaving your feet to pass
2. CJ stop playing volleyball around rim

I love the intensity

Agreed. A lot of poise and effort on the road. If we can bring this type of effort consistently we should win at least a couple of conference games when the shots are falling.

 

[goru7]

I long for the day when "progress" isn't measured by playing 30 minutes of good basketball and then "only" losing by 6.

I'm so sick of this futility. I mean, I know we couldn't have expected any better this year, but after 25 years of futility, we deserve some REAL progress. And by real progress, I mean WINS.

Do not disagree with you at all. We are all sick of the losing. The last few years, we lacked defense and competitive basketball. But you must admit we are progressing and playing competitive basketball things we all have been clamoring for for years. Our defense, rotations, rebounding , setting up open shots are all considerably better. Now still not finishing at the rim or missing wide open shots remains our Achilles Heel. But are really getting closer. Tonight just 2 shots probably gets us a win. Corey penetrates up 7, 51-44 with 8 and 1/2 left dishes to MIKE and the three goes in and out, CJ has the rebound and loses it. We would have stretched the lead to 10 or 9 and had held Iowa scoreless from the field for 8 minutes. The second shot was with 1:28 left and we were down 61-59 and Corey did everything well , penetrates , gets double teamed and dishes back to Nigel and his 3 again goes in and out , Deshawn gets the rebound and goes up and gets blocked. Instead of being up 62-61 or tied with a little over a minute to go, we miss the next 4 shots and have to foul . Iowa struggled to get their points tonite except for the 2 steals late. They were in a dogfight. I am with you , we have to start winning these games , no morale victories. But we have to learn how to win and we are not quite there yet.

 

[RedChucken123]

Totally agree with the title of this post.
Even though I am always the optimist and though I would have liked the win, I see progression. We're not plateauing. We're making adjustments and getting better. Just some observations and thoughts...

-I know stereotypically we think of guards to drive and/or shoot 3s and forwards shoot the mid-range, but I like what I'm seeing from Johnson for that mid-range one foot inside the 3-point line. Maybe it's just when I'm watching, but I feel like that's a good range for him.

-Finishing after the offensive rebound....Ahhh! I've seen Sa do it a few times where he tries a power dribble and I think I caught Freeman do it once today (not necessarily with the power dribble). They catch the rebound high and they continue to bring it below their shoulders even when they are close enough, when they really should just catch and shoot it right back up so defense doesn't regroup. Drives me nuts.

-Them bunnies. Them point blank ones. Bahhh!!! Someone should buy some pool noodles and smack the players with it while they are doing the Mikan layup drill. Please!!! The Mikan Drill!!! Or if anyone has any drive in those legs just power up and dunk it hard.

-Nice game from Laurent! He didn't exactly stuff the stat sheet, but he did his best trying to get us going when we came across some small droughts. Looking forward to more progress.

-Easier said than done and probably not practical and maybe even ruin the credibility of this post, lol, but I think I saw some alley-oop opportunities if they can execute the pass. Of course, if they screw it up they would look retarded, but you gotta play free and not be so uptight, like against Penn State.

 

[mrslate]

??? out on the ledge of what, why would I be sorry? ...this team is overmatched in the league with the least talent and is going to win 0-3 games in league....so you can use whatever word you want to describe it. Why would I apologize to Freeman...had a great game today but generally will be overmatched and undersized in league games and usually neutralized

dont know why you would be so snippy and sassy to me

Sorry if I offended you. You had about a thousand posts last week after the MSU game, saying there was no hope, the team is terrible, and contradicting anyone who said anything positive. You really should not be surprised when some comes back your way. And I was just having a little fun with you.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Do not disagree with you at all. We are all sick of the losing. The last few years, we lacked defense and competitive basketball. But you must admit we are progressing and playing competitive basketball things we all have been clamoring for for years. Our defense, rotations, rebounding , setting up open shots are all considerably better. Now still not finishing at the rim or missing wide open shots remains our Achilles Heel. But are really getting closer. Tonight just 2 shots probably gets us a win. Corey penetrates up 7, 51-44 with 8 and 1/2 left dishes to MIKE and the three goes in and out, CJ has the rebound and loses it. We would have stretched the lead to 10 or 9 and had held Iowa scoreless from the field for 8 minutes. The second shot was with 1:28 left and we were down 61-59 and Corey did everything well , penetrates , gets double teamed and dishes back to Nigel and his 3 again goes in and out , Deshawn gets the rebound and goes up and gets blocked. Instead of being up 62-61 or tied with a little over a minute to go, we miss the next 4 shots and have to foul . Iowa struggled to get their points tonite except for the 2 steals late. They were in a dogfight. I am with you , we have to start winning these games , no morale victories. But we have to learn how to win and we are not quite there yet.

I agree that there is one thing different about the team this year as opposed to the past three years - there are times when we actually play good defense, and we are much better at rebounding.

I suppose those things will keep us in more games, but if we STILL can't shoot and we STILL go 1-17 in league, I'm not going to feel much better. And yes, I know that's not rational, since better defense and fewer blowouts means that we made some sort of progress. But after 25 years of futility, I'm sick and tired of measuring progress by how many games we played well but still LOST.

I'm just venting. We seem to be in good hands with Pike, but who's to say this won't be the 6th coach in a row that just can't overcome this quarter century curse?

 

[RUinFla]

The staff's game plan isn't geared to making you, personally, Degaz RU feel any better. You start with effort and defense. The team plays hard and works hard on defense. When the other team is faster and more athletic and has better shooters, working hard on defense and
playing hard can only take you so far. Saw some people complaining that our freshmen were not as good as they should be. New staff, bad track record since Waters was fired, you were expecting Bill Walton? Most of the guys we have now are not B1G caliber players, but they are who we have. Cheer them for playing hard, note the progress in the guys that are B1G caliber, and stay hopeful.
TL

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I agree that there is one thing different about the team this year as opposed to the past three years - there are times when we actually play good defense, and we are much better at rebounding.

I suppose those things will keep us in more games, but if we STILL can't shoot and we STILL go 1-17 in league, I'm not going to feel much better. And yes, I know that's not rational, since better defense and fewer blowouts means that we made some sort of progress. But after 25 years of futility, I'm sick and tired of measuring progress by how many games we played well but still LOST.

I'm just venting. We seem to be in good hands with Pike, but who's to say this won't be the 6th coach in a row that just can't overcome this quarter century curse?

Last year we weren't remotely competitive against teams that didn't have their team entirely suspended. The jump from that to where we are competitive and losing is enormous. You can't possibly underestimate how terrible we were last year. I think people are forgetting already.

 

[bac2therac]

Purdue 107 Rutgers 57
Northwestern 98 Rutgers 59!
George Washington 83 Rutgers 49
Michigan State 96 Rutgers 62
Nebraska 90 Rutgers 56
Michigan State 97 Rutgers 66
Seton Hall 84 Rutgers 55
Ohio State 84 Rutgers 56
Maryland 88 Rutgers 63
Nebrasksa 87 Rutgers 63
Wisconsin 79 Rutgers 57
Minnesota 83 Rutgers 61


12 losses by more than 20....6 losses by more than 30, 1 loss by 50!

so right now we see progress even though the Wisky/PSU losses were similar margins, we did cut back on the MSU beatdown a little and we really cut down with Iowa and remember that game I think Iowa had a bigger lead that was cut in garbage time

 

[goru7]

I agree that there is one thing different about the team this year as opposed to the past three years - there are times when we actually play good defense, and we are much better at rebounding.

I suppose those things will keep us in more games, but if we STILL can't shoot and we STILL go 1-17 in league, I'm not going to feel much better. And yes, I know that's not rational, since better defense and fewer blowouts means that we made some sort of progress. But after 25 years of futility, I'm sick and tired of measuring progress by how many games we played well but still LOST.

I'm just venting. We seem to be in good hands with Pike, but who's to say this won't be the 6th coach in a row that just can't overcome this quarter century curse?

I hear you as I have felt we have been cursed since the Final Fourteam and Hinson's/ Battle's team thereafter.

 

[RUTrack94]

Looking at same competition ...

Loss to UW by 20 vs 22
Loss to MSU by 28 vs 34 and 31
Loss to PSU by 13 vs 12
Loss to Iowa by 6 vs 14

A few baskets better so far.

We'll see versus the 39 point loss to NW.

 

[goru7]

Looking at same competition ...

Loss to UW by 20 vs 22
Loss to MSU by 28 vs 34 and 31
Loss to PSU by 13 vs 12
Loss to Iowa by 6 vs 14

A few baskets better so far.

We'll see versus the 39 point loss to NW.

Looking at final scores can be deceptive . We lost to Seton Hall and Iowa , games we had 9 point leads at the half and with 8 minutes left. We never had a lead against those 2 teams the last few years nor on the road going back to the Big East days with rare exceptions. The Wisconsin game's final score was not indicative of how much more competitive we were this year, down 9 with the ball with 8 minutes left.
Very interesting is if you listen to Coach Pikiell in his last few press conferences and again in Carino's article today about Mike being named co-captain, is that he sees we are getting better and his words are we are " getting closer even though we are 0-4 and some people don't want to see it." We need this upcoming game against Northwestern tomorrow and it will not be easy because they are good, but would like to see what happens if we can get the win and whether it increases the confidence of the players and maybe they shoot better.