Many said it early on that loss to Fordham really was going to kill our post season chances. Coach Pike, has brought this young team along great,but man do I wish we had a couple of those games back!!!
Need to finish 3-2,15-15,and win one tournament game.
- Thread starter ruready4somefootball
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Every year we have one or two clunkers that should never happen. Last year it was Stony Brook and Hartford that kept us from a .500 record. Many of us said Fordham could keep us from a winning record. I was there and stated it immediately after the game. It happened but it never should have.
We can still do it. We need to win our 2 home games and one the road. If Ward doesn't play we might have a shot. Hopefully the kids can bounce back on Wednesday.
At some point we have to get past the notion of this or that....these are phantom milestones that don't matter as much as how does the program look and feel going into the teeth of the B1G. RU had a completely different lineup, rotation, lack of experience and chemistry back in December or even struggling vs Boston University on Black Friday or overtime vs Columbia in late December.
We walked into a buzzsaw vs Maryland in game 1 starting January. We are in mid February with a completely different lineup mindset and approach to the game.
Losing to Fordham, Stony Brook etc doesn't even cross my mind when we've defeated Ohio State, Indiana, have 2 B1G road wins and beat Nebraska at full strength.
We are toe to toe with ranked Iowa, whose playing better than a lot of teams want to give credit for.....we took a redhot talented Illinois team to OT on the road. There are thoughts that RU could compete with MSU on the road, something unheard of 2 to 3 years ago....or 2 months ago.
We've gotten way ahead of ourselves from leaving the RAC vs Northwestern about a month ago, with fans saying this is a 1 -19 or 2-18 B1G record....now we're pushing for a 9th or 10th place finish, shooting to not play Day 1 of the B1G tournament with thoughts that was can not only have 6 B1G wins but shooting for 7 or 8.
I would take 8 B1G wins if it meant losing to Fordham 2 months ago. The climate of how RU is progressing is pretty impressive, all things considered.
We walked into a buzzsaw vs Maryland in game 1 starting January. We are in mid February with a completely different lineup mindset and approach to the game.
Losing to Fordham, Stony Brook etc doesn't even cross my mind when we've defeated Ohio State, Indiana, have 2 B1G road wins and beat Nebraska at full strength.
We are toe to toe with ranked Iowa, whose playing better than a lot of teams want to give credit for.....we took a redhot talented Illinois team to OT on the road. There are thoughts that RU could compete with MSU on the road, something unheard of 2 to 3 years ago....or 2 months ago.
We've gotten way ahead of ourselves from leaving the RAC vs Northwestern about a month ago, with fans saying this is a 1 -19 or 2-18 B1G record....now we're pushing for a 9th or 10th place finish, shooting to not play Day 1 of the B1G tournament with thoughts that was can not only have 6 B1G wins but shooting for 7 or 8.
I would take 8 B1G wins if it meant losing to Fordham 2 months ago. The climate of how RU is progressing is pretty impressive, all things considered.
Progress is going to be tracked better based on what bart or kenpom says vs. wins or losses. This is NOT the year we are going to postseason.
Judge this team possession by possession.
Judge this team possession by possession.
this...for me I have come to grips with the Iowa loss, because wins/losses are not the measuring stick this year, I am looking at the fact we played toe to toe and it wasnt a case of not closing out the game, basically we got beat on a freak shot. The team rallied in the last few minutes to to take the lead. I am fine with their play and how the game went down. Going forward again I would like to win as many as possible but some things I am looking for.....MSU..not alot its a tough game and yes the team may be off mentally..throwaway game for me....Minny...they are good and playing for a NCAA bid, last game they emasculated us, this time it must be different, RU has to show toughness and actually play D. At Iowa is a tough game that I want to see them compete near the same level at home. Doing that will show me something. Penn State at home I want to see RU be the aggressive team taking charge on their home court and showing swagger. At Indiana, I want to see a legit chance to win the game with less than 4 minutes left, this is the type of big hurdle game for the program in a spot they have not won. Not a must win but its about are they challenging a talented but down Indiana on their home court. Overall want to see glimpses of all the moving parts of the new offense going forward where wealth and shots are spread all around.
We lost six games by 20+ last year. We've only lost one this year and that was at Purdue without Eugene.
Michigan State could have become the second and still can but less likely without Langford and Ward.
And yeah, we lost to St. John's by 19 and Minnesota by 18 so it's a bit arbitrary but even cutting down the blowouts is a sign of progress.
Michigan State could have become the second and still can but less likely without Langford and Ward.
And yeah, we lost to St. John's by 19 and Minnesota by 18 so it's a bit arbitrary but even cutting down the blowouts is a sign of progress.
2015-16: 20 10+ point losses, 12 20+ point losses, 6 30+ point losses, 1 50+ point loss
2016-17: 11 10+ point losses, 5 20+ point losses
2017-18: 12 10+ point losses, 6 20+ point losses, 2 30+ point losses
2018-19: 7 10+ point losses, 1 20+ point loss, 1 30+ point loss
Definitely progressing in the right direction.
This moving parts of the offense is the entire key. This is becoming more of a team vs a Eugene/Geo dependent lineup.
I now believe if Cassius Winston slows down Geo, RU can still compete with Sparty in a respectable fashion for 32 minutes. I'm not sure they can for a full 40 off a phantom loss and not if MSU has Langford and Ward healthy and on the road, but they don't in this matchup so, let's tee it up and there's nothing to lose whatsoever.
In the summary of bac here on the remaining 5 games, it's imperative that we rebound the opponents missed shots as a staple of how we play. Baker gathering rebounds with Mathis, McConnell and Harper allow any of those 4 players to initiate the push up the floor.
It's possible to see a pretty good amount of Harper matched up with Aaron Henry, a bonafide defensive player. There's really not a good individual matchup in half court vs MSU, so I would push the ball off misses and take the 1st available driving lane or shot presented before they are set.
Once Ohio State got rebounds, they were content with a slower paced tempo and feeding Wesson, believing he could score or foul out Ward and their bigs. Can Eugene find space??? Yes. But it's tough sledding inside.....if there was ever a time I'd green light Eugene on the secondary break, to take top of the key 3s, these last 5 games would be the time to do it.
I don't see a plus matchup vs MSU, unless we score in transition or have Eugene pulling people away from the hoop. But he's capable of doing it....only question is whether Pike green lights him the rest of the way.
We probably need to win 20 games to make the NIT, I doubt we will be one short. It is sports, you are going to win some close games and you are going to lose some.
Even beating Fordham and NW and we are 6-9 in league, 14-11. Can’t win every close game.
Id like winning 2 more at least, finishing 7-13 in league and 14-16 heading into Chicago as 10 seed.
Id like winning 2 more at least, finishing 7-13 in league and 14-16 heading into Chicago as 10 seed.
Hypothetically, beat Fordham and NW, and we're looking a possible 16/17 win season heading into the tournament as a 9/10 seed, a final record over .500 for the first time since 2005-06, and kenpom in the 60s... with a better than decent chance at making the NIT.
Still, this was always a growth year, and I wasn't expecting postseason or even a win total to match last season. Next year is when we need to start making noise.
the Fordham loss had to happen just like the Northwestern loss had to happen, they were the catalysts for the growth in the freshmen this year and a switchup of who got what minutes and what role.
Oh I agree, those were necessary lessons in the development, and should pay dividends next year. I was just responding to the "even beating..." comment.
This program is so far ahead of where it was 3 years ago. It is a viable B1G 10 program that can compete with mid level conference teams and give the better teams a run.
Finishing .500 would be a great achievement. However, I just want to see them to continue to play well and I'd love to see one B1G 10 tourney win. We are not that far away and I totally expect us to compete for a post season spot next year. Once we crack that barrier we'll be on our way.
Finishing .500 would be a great achievement. However, I just want to see them to continue to play well and I'd love to see one B1G 10 tourney win. We are not that far away and I totally expect us to compete for a post season spot next year. Once we crack that barrier we'll be on our way.
Win last 2 and go 1-1 in B1G tourney puts us at 17-15. Where would we go?At that point, if a NIT invite doesn't come, then the CBI invite would, and a reward to the team for working so hard would be the school saying yes.More practice, and just another level for the team to climb.
I get as frustrated as anyone about those WTF losses, but then I remember, we just weren't as far along in our development and had to learn a lesson. Hopefully those losses are a thing of the past next year. Don't forget, we played nip and tuck with Boston U and barely beat Columbia back then.
People forgetting how close Miami was on those last two shots...geo's block from behind and the open three that missed.
Totally different team right now.
Player and team development.
I want NIT too but if not..the over achievement and infusion of life into the program is remarkable.
Yes, I think Bac said it best in the post up top that I missed before I posted. These were lumps they had to take to sort out roles and learn a lesson. It stunk at the time, but that's how builds work.
Exactly. We don't "need" to do anything except play well. This year never was about the postseason, and it still isn't. Maybe in the old NIT, but not now. As long as the players know they can compete, the coaches know they can compete and the fan base is into it, we're fine.
The time is coming -- very soon -- when we will "need" to do things. But I'm still enjoying the ride for now.
The Iowa banked corner shot was the most demoralizing loss.Fordham and Northwestern were games where Rutgers offense was missing in action.
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