Don't look now but RU is back in action on Saturday at 2 PM. Now while most write this off as a loss, you can point to last years unlikely win as never say never. Moreso has been Wisconsin struggles this year to find their identity after those graduation losses and the loss of Bo Ryan. At just 8-6 and off a hard fought home loss to Purdue, the Badgers are in danger of missing the NCAA tourney this year if they cant start righting the ship. Once again its a game that RU could compete and possibly win if they bring the effort and shooting of the past two games AND Wisconsin continues their struggles and overlooks Rutgers. For me I just need to see effort and competitiveness again, cant build if you revert back to the ways of the GW game.
Moving ahead big picture, I don't think yesterday's valiant performances changes any long term thinking. We still don't have depth and don't have size. Our big guys aren't coming back anytime soon. I still think you are good for 2-3 wins in league. One thing is clear that finally we have shown some improvement by playing a stretch of 3 of 4 games at a fairly high level...Monmouth, Lowell, Indiana with FDU being the exception but even in that game RU turned the jets on late to take control. That's improvement over games like GW and SHU where RU looked like a high school team and the coaching was nonexistent. RU has played better team ball and a lot of that is because of the emergence of Grier as an option but just how much can we count on him. Hes not going to score 20 a night...can he score 12 a night? If he can it will give others chances to improve their game as well. Sanders has improved game by game. Not worried about him at all. He will make his mistakes and learn but already he is the leader of the team
The key to me will be getting Foreman and Williams on the right track. I think overall especially the latter the play has not been consistent and not been enough for what we need for this rebuilding process. They seem to be trying hard. We will find out is it truly talent that they just are not good enough or can they get better. Its going to be tough with a lot of losses coming up for the team to keep their chin up but Eddie is going to have to find a way for them to keep their chins up despite the onslaught ahead
The game following Wisconsin is a trip to Maryland and while RU played them close twice last year, this one has all the makings of a blowout. Then back to the RAC for a very winnable game against Nebraska...in fact to me its a MUST win at that point in the season to inject some energy heading into their toughest 5 game stretch of the season where RU will be 15-20 point underdogs
Moving ahead big picture, I don't think yesterday's valiant performances changes any long term thinking. We still don't have depth and don't have size. Our big guys aren't coming back anytime soon. I still think you are good for 2-3 wins in league. One thing is clear that finally we have shown some improvement by playing a stretch of 3 of 4 games at a fairly high level...Monmouth, Lowell, Indiana with FDU being the exception but even in that game RU turned the jets on late to take control. That's improvement over games like GW and SHU where RU looked like a high school team and the coaching was nonexistent. RU has played better team ball and a lot of that is because of the emergence of Grier as an option but just how much can we count on him. Hes not going to score 20 a night...can he score 12 a night? If he can it will give others chances to improve their game as well. Sanders has improved game by game. Not worried about him at all. He will make his mistakes and learn but already he is the leader of the team
The key to me will be getting Foreman and Williams on the right track. I think overall especially the latter the play has not been consistent and not been enough for what we need for this rebuilding process. They seem to be trying hard. We will find out is it truly talent that they just are not good enough or can they get better. Its going to be tough with a lot of losses coming up for the team to keep their chin up but Eddie is going to have to find a way for them to keep their chins up despite the onslaught ahead
The game following Wisconsin is a trip to Maryland and while RU played them close twice last year, this one has all the makings of a blowout. Then back to the RAC for a very winnable game against Nebraska...in fact to me its a MUST win at that point in the season to inject some energy heading into their toughest 5 game stretch of the season where RU will be 15-20 point underdogs
