Minny 5 Thoughts

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

1) Jacob Young is evolving into our best player. We all knew he was a 1st team all B1G type of defender but his offensive game and confidence is just incredible. He needs more minutes. He also frustrates opposing guards so much, he literally yells in their faces while d’ing them up.

2) Montez’s run: the crazy part about this team is you simply never know when or who its gonna come from. After going down 10-2 montez put the team on his back and took over. Much like jacob, if he can ever learn to play under control and share the ball and kick it once in a while when he drives hes going to play more and be a bigger asset.

3) too many great open looks from 3. We got lucky minny isnt a good 3 pt shooting team. We gave up way too many great looks from 3 and our rotations were just slow and lazy at times.

4) Geo’s dagger: its clear that left thumb is really effecting his ability to play his game but when the team needed a bucket most with 1 second on the shot clock geo came up HUGE and seals the game. Just enormous.

5) Crashed those damn boards: everyone, a complete group effort. I think i read we had 15 offensive boards in the 1st half? No way that can be right. But love the culture of this team. Caleb, Paul especially. This was a great game for Paul today. He cut down on the dribbling, became the board man, passed the ball tremendously. He earned every minute he got today, hope to see more games like this. Just wish pike rides the hot hands a little more.

 

[RUSCFORMERLYRULOU]

1) Jacob Young is evolving into our best player. We all knew he was a 1st team all B1G type of defender but his offensive game and confidence is just incredible. He needs more minutes. He also frustrates opposing guards so much, he literally yells in their faces while d’ing them up.

2) Montez’s run: the crazy part about this team is you simply never know when or who its gonna come from. After going down 10-2 montez put the team on his back and took over. Much like jacob, if he can ever learn to play under control and share the ball and kick it once in a while when he drives hes going to play more and be a bigger asset.

3) too many great open looks from 3. We got lucky minny isnt a good 3 pt shooting team. We gave up way too many great looks from 3 and our rotations were just slow and lazy at times.

4) Geo’s dagger: its clear that left thumb is really effecting his ability to play his game but when the team needed a bucket most with 1 second on the shot clock geo came up HUGE and seals the game. Just enormous.

5) Crashed those damn boards: everyone, a complete group effort. I think i read we had 15 offensive boards in the 1st half? No way that can be right. But love the culture of this team. Caleb, Paul especially. This was a great game for Paul today. He cut down on the dribbling, became the board man, passed the ball tremendously. He earned every minute he got today, hope to see more games like this. Just wish pike rides the hot hands a little more.

Good thoughts. Jacob got a little wild late in the game but you glad that. The palming calls on him were BS.
Mulcahy was a little more assertive on offense today - needs to be even more.
I agree about the open three pointers.
Rebounding was the key - from Paul to Caleb to Myles - it was awesome.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Yeah, JY really settling into his role as a sparkplug on offense, and defensive stopper. In his previous "Good Jacob" games over the past five games, he always still had a WTF drive into the lane or an ill-advised three early in the shot clock.

Today? Not a single out of control drive or "bad" three. There was one possession -- sort of a half transition possession where we beat Minny down the floor -- where Young COULD HAVE launched an early three from the corner, but it would have been contested, and he back out and restarted the offense. That shot 100% goes up 7 or 8 games ago.

The kid is uber-talented, but Pike deserves immense credit for the way he's coached him up.

 

[198hamilton]

180 for you on Mulcahy
When he leaves the banks he will be considered one of RUs all time greats

 

[ScarletDave]

Too easy to forget Paul M is a freshman. Just has some b-ball IQ that most don’t and makes amazing plays not scared at all by these elite players we face

 

[RutgHoops]

Our rotation is very, very good. Every kid we play goes hard. Pike gets 8.5 players effective minutes. Myles was the only RU player to play 30. Minny had 4 players play 33+ and another play 28. They were gassed. Even when they had it to 7 with the ball late they had no chance. They were done.

With this team, I’d rather a bunch of guys go hard and play relentless rather than “ride a hot hand”.

Just my $0.02

 

[AshCatchEm]

I'd be fine with Mathis having a career trajectory similar to Jacob young. He can be a very effective player by the time he's a senior

 

[S_Janowski]

Mathis has a knack for giving this team a jolt or spark when we need it. He’s done it a number of times..hopefully he keeps developing his game.

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

180 for you on Mulcahy
When he leaves the banks he will be considered one of RUs all time greats

Again, as i said. Im not saying he shouldnt play, just when hes not having a good game and the matchups not great he shouldnt play too many mins

 

[RUBOB72]

Without question Jacob Young is one athletic and exciting player...many on this board were quite negative about his early play while others insisted including the staff that once the rust wore off he would be special ...and he is... perhaps the reason we can can go much further in the next 2 months is because of this Texas reject... said tongue in cheek.

 

[RU Mike73]

Nice to see your story change KYK. I remember you calling for Pike’s head earlier in the season. Too many rotations you complained. Now that’s whywe are so deep.

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

Nice to see your story change KYK. I remember you calling for Pike’s head earlier in the season. Too many rotations you complained. Now that’s whywe are so deep.

Never called for pikes head.

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

Also, with the emergence of jacob, its clear geo is playing no where near where the thumb needs to be, to be effective. Personally, id wanna see him play fewer minutes until that thumb is 100%. Keeping him in at the end when minny threw in the towel made no sense to me

 

[Mr_Twister]

Only 7 turnovers.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Without question Jacob Young is one athletic and exciting player...many on this board were quite negative about his early play while others insisted including the staff that once the rust wore off he would be special ...and he is... perhaps the reason we can can go much further in the next 2 months is because of this Texas reject... said tongue in cheek.

Young is very useful... Now. He was way too selfish at season start.

Down 10-2, being forced into halfcourt offenses off made shots, I begged for Young to come in because the can push the ball in transition off made shots.. I wanted anything we could do to change the game dynamic. Pike was very smart to call a Timeout with only 30 seconds to go before a TV timeout would have been in effect.

BTW.. I wouldn't use Mulcahy and Young together.. they counter eachothers usefulness. Mulcahy is half-court assist guy and Young is hurry-up, cause chaos guy.

 

[BellyFullOfWhiteDogCrap]

I would love for Montez to use a jump stop on dribble penetration.

Paul was poised and continues to impress. Love how he uses the hesitation dribble in traffic.

Caleb was a beast on the boards today. First career double/double.

Defense on Carr was a thing of beauty. Kudos to JY and Tez.

 

[jtung230]

Harper is the issue right now. Forcing it way too much. The team didn’t move the ball as well today. Felt like guys dibbled the ball too much. Not sure if it was Minny’D. Paul bounced bad today. He had a good matchup and took advantage. MVP was Caleb.

 

[G- RUnit]

Again, as i said. Im not saying he shouldnt play, just when hes not having a good game and the matchups not great he shouldnt play too many mins

Why not same for Harper? You guys jump all over Montez and Young? Weird.

 

[BOCA93]

Also, with the emergence of jacob, its clear geo is playing no where near where the thumb needs to be, to be effective. Personally, id wanna see him play fewer minutes until that thumb is 100%. Keeping him in at the end when minny threw in the towel made no sense to me

And also, I fear he’s going to jack up his good hand trying to tomahawk over every other opposing center.

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

Why not same for Harper? You guys jump all over Montez and Young? Weird.

Even when rons not scoring hes a plus player. Really good rebounder, boxes out very well, stretches the floor, etc

 

[cubuffsdoug]

3) too many great open looks from 3. We got lucky minny isnt a good 3 pt shooting team. We gave up way too many great looks from 3 and our rotations were just slow and lazy at times.

I think Rutgers is speeding up teams with the way they are overplaying the initial play, and that throws off the rest of the offensive set for opponents. Rutgers is quick enough to impact the 2nd and 3rd options on the play. So when you can be wide open for a shot, you're out of rhythm because you expect the defender to be there. Rutgers did this against Indiana and Minnesota, and both shot well below their season average. IU season average is 30%, but shot 10% against Rutgers. Minnesota's season average is 33% but shot 32% today. Rutgers didn't do it against Illinois, and I think it was one of the differences in the game. Illinois season average is 31% but shot 35% against Rutgers.

I think part of the reason Rutgers may not have done this against Illinois was probably due to the quickness (& threat) of IU guards who can score from 3 or drive. Minnesota and Indiana guards don't present that big of a threat. Speed up the game against them, and they are DONE. We saw that last two games.

Iowa guards fall into this category, but the one difference is the big men can shoot 3s.

 

[RUtrumpet92]

Good call on Baker hitting that three. That pretty much ended the comeback chances.

I think the open looks for Minnesota was part of the game plan today. We harassed the hell out of Carr and Oturu, and if that meant leaving someone else open to do it, so be it. Take out the early 4-5 start and the last two meaningless shots, and they really didnt hurt us. But they shot around their season average on 3's. Including today, they are at 28.9% from 3 in conference play. They were 13 of 46 in between. Less than 30%!

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Even when rons not scoring hes a plus player. Really good rebounder, boxes out very well, stretches the floor, etc

I wonder if Harper is missing Geo.. that is, that he is not "seen" as well as Geo's replacements. In any case I would make sure Harper is out there when Geo is in... Even if only to test this theory.

 

[RU848789]

1) Jacob Young is evolving into our best player. We all knew he was a 1st team all B1G type of defender but his offensive game and confidence is just incredible. He needs more minutes. He also frustrates opposing guards so much, he literally yells in their faces while d’ing them up.

2) Montez’s run: the crazy part about this team is you simply never know when or who its gonna come from. After going down 10-2 montez put the team on his back and took over. Much like jacob, if he can ever learn to play under control and share the ball and kick it once in a while when he drives hes going to play more and be a bigger asset.

3) too many great open looks from 3. We got lucky minny isnt a good 3 pt shooting team. We gave up way too many great looks from 3 and our rotations were just slow and lazy at times.

4) Geo’s dagger: its clear that left thumb is really effecting his ability to play his game but when the team needed a bucket most with 1 second on the shot clock geo came up HUGE and seals the game. Just enormous.

5) Crashed those damn boards: everyone, a complete group effort. I think i read we had 15 offensive boards in the 1st half? No way that can be right. But love the culture of this team. Caleb, Paul especially. This was a great game for Paul today. He cut down on the dribbling, became the board man, passed the ball tremendously. He earned every minute he got today, hope to see more games like this. Just wish pike rides the hot hands a little more.

Agree with all of this. Good post.

 

[BellyFullOfWhiteDogCrap]

Harper is the issue right now. Forcing it way too much. The team didn’t move the ball as well today. Felt like guys dibbled the ball too much. Not sure if it was Minny’D. Paul bounced bad today. He had a good matchup and took advantage. MVP was Caleb.

I don't think Harper is an "issue", nor is he forcing. He's in a little slump. It happens. Pike knows this too. After Harper hit the 3, Pike called an iso play for him on the block the next possession. He missed, but Pike knows that players of Harper's ability need to shoot themselves out of slumps. I thought he took a few tough shots, but they were shots we've all seen him make before.

 

[jtung230]

I don't think Harper is an "issue", nor is he forcing. He's in a little slump. It happens. Pike knows this too. After Harper hit the 3, Pike called an iso play for him on the block the next possession. He missed, but Pike knows that players of Harper's ability need to shoot themselves out of slumps. I thought he took a few tough shots, but they were shots we've all seen him make before.

His shot is still there when he sets his feet. The 3 he hit from Geo was a beautiful stroke. His step back or fade away jumpers are forced.

 

[SirScarlet]

Huge minutes from Mulcahy.

Another stellar perfomance.

Good op (tho I dont agree JY is best player and i actually think our rotations were excellent)

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

Also that 2 minute spurt that Duke played we got shelled. Oturu scored like 5-7 points in those minutes. Duke is just a lost cause at this point i think

 

[G- RUnit]

Even when rons not scoring hes a plus player. Really good rebounder, boxes out very well, stretches the floor, etc

I think he’s a great inside player. No more outsiding shooting. Don’t need it.

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

Deeeeeefense.

 

[SirScarlet]

Also that 2 minute spurt that Duke played we got shelled. Oturu scored like 5-7 points in those minutes. Duke is just a lost cause at this point i think

When duc came in it showed me how intelligent oturo is. We were clearly putting Duc in to try and stay with athletically...oturo recognized that immediately and simply shot right over him.

He is one heck of a player...he impressed me

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

When duc came in it showed me how intelligent oturo is. We were clearly putting Duc in to try and stay with athletically...oturo recognized that immediately and simply shot right over him.

He is one heck of a player...he impressed me

He has a chance to play in the league imo

 

[SirScarlet]

He has a chance to play in the league imo

Me and my buddy were saying he's probably good enough to go to the NBA after this year (not sure if he will).

He's a dominant player already at this level. Not sure if he's strong enough for the league (yet) but skillwise he can do everything well.

I've seen him before multiple times on TV but I can't get over how impressive he was today.

 

[TODDB33]

Also, with the emergence of jacob, its clear geo is playing no where near where the thumb needs to be, to be effective. Personally, id wanna see him play fewer minutes until that thumb is 100%. Keeping him in at the end when minny threw in the towel made no sense to me

Think Pike had him in prior to Ninny calling off dogs. Probably wanted ball on his hands if they were going to try n foul for 3 for 2

 

[TODDB33]

Also that 2 minute spurt that Duke played we got shelled. Oturu scored like 5-7 points in those minutes. Duke is just a lost cause at this point i think

Kyk Oturo went off in 2nd half because they forced ball onto him in the paint. Touches he got and where he got them he probably would have scored on MJ also. Duke gave Myles few minutes rest and really didn't cost us anything

 

[linzalonic]

Duke was a liability on both ends, and our lead shrunk as a result. Needed Shaq out there while Myles sat.

 

[BigEastPhil]

Mulcahy and Myles Johnson have a special bond on the court. Many of Paul's great passes are to Myles.