Northwestern Post Game Thoughts

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

1) overall sloppy game but our 2 best players made big plays when we needed them most. Eugene clutch at the end and Geo with some big, timely shots.

2) Myles Johnson is really started to assert himself. Hes was a little timid the first half of the year but as the season goes on his confidence is just growing, it’s great to see. Hes gonna be a true force these next 3 years.

3) we need to learn how to defend screen action better. This is becoming a trend and a problem, whether it be simple high ball screen pick and rolls or pick and pops or simple baseline flex to the elbow extended for open three looks. Pike and jay young really need to work on these kids on defending screens.

4) outside of getting lost on some screens we played great D. Granted northwestern is offensive challenged, they really didnt get too many easy buckets.

5) id like to have seen us press them a little more. They showed vs iowa they were abysmal against the press and i think even if we didnt force turnovers they wouldnt have been able to set up their O until like 15 secs left on the shot clock. Also, what did you know? We doubled the post and they didnt score any time we did it. Its so god damn simple to do

 

[BigEastPhil]

1- Team picked up pace in 2nd half after awful 1st half.

2- Myles had a terrific game.

3 - At one point towards end of game: we had 4 frosh and Baker in game and then Eugene came in naturally.

 

[Degaz-RU]

1. Am I the only one who screams at the TV and literally pulls hair out when watching a Rutgers basketball game? My kids think I’m certifiable, but it’s just maddening watching this team at times, and even more infuriating watching the refs screw us time and time again.

2. That aside, this was just a meat grinder of a game, a Big Ten Road war. I don’t ever care how we look if we win on the road. Ugly win > pretty loss.

3. Not going to win many games only making three 3-pointers. But man were the two we hit in the second half timely ones - Caleb’s when we REALLY needed a bucket about mid way through the half, and Eugene’s during crunch time.

4. Speaking of Caleb, Pike had him in during crunch time instead of Mathis, thought that was interesting. Probably because of Caleb’s shooting ability.

5. Eugene had a rough time dealing with the constant double teams, but he came through in crunch time with that dagger three, that tough shot in the post, and then both of those fouls shots at the end. STONES.

6. The foul shooting woes almost lost us this game. Dodged a bullet.

7. Doubling the post against Pardon from the weak side absolutely worked. Pardon was a total non-factor in this game, and he usually kills us.

8. Terrific play by Myles to hit that shot under the basket. Just one more example of how we have multiple guys that can make plays on this team.

9. With 5 conference wins and 12 overall wins, we have already now met or surpassed most pre-season predictions.

10. BEAT IOWA!!!!

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

1. Am I the only one who screams at the TV and literally pulls hair out when watching a Rutgers basketball game? My kids think I’m certifiable, but it’s just maddening watching this team at times, and even more infuriating watching the refs screw us time and time again.

2. That aside, this was just a meat grinder of a game, a Big Ten Road war. I don’t ever care how we look if we win on the road. Ugly win > pretty loss.

3. Not going to win many games only making three 3-pointers. But man were the two we hit in the second half timely ones - Caleb’s when we REALLY needed a bucket about mid way through the half, and Eugene’s during crunch time.

4. Speaking of Caleb, Pike had him in during crunch time instead of Mathis, thought that was interesting. Probably because of Caleb’s shooting ability.

5. Eugene had a rough time dealing with the constant double teams, but he came through in crunch time with that dagger three, that tough shot in the post, and then both of those fouls shots at the end. STONES.

6. The foul shooting woes almost lost us this game. Dodged a bullet.

7. Doubling the post against Pardon from the weak side absolutely worked. Pardon was a total non-factor in this game, and he usually kills us.

8. Terrific play by Myles to hit that shot under the basket. Just one more example of how we have multiple guys that can make plays on this team.

9. With 5 conference wins and 12 overall wins, we have already now met or surpassed most pre-season predictions.

10. BEAT IOWA!!!!

Regarding #4: montez was a little out of control tonight, i thought having mcconnell in was the better move. Just a calmer player not looking to always go go go.

Regarding #7: doubling the post is so easy as you saw tonight and it effectively kills offenses that work through the post. Pike should do it more often

 

[KnightsofChrome]

Doorson should not be on the court, let alone start! The potential of this team is surpassed only by it's ignorance about the game of basketball. I think we have a very good coach, but he caters way too much to the older players. And, I use that word "players" with a huge grain of salt.

 

[BigEastPhil]

Doorson should not be on the court, let alone start! The potential of this team is surpassed only by it's ignorance about the game of basketball. I think we have a very good coach, but he caters way too much to the older players. And, I use that word "players" with a huge grain of salt.

Doorson is serviceable and does his job given his limitations. NW's bigs did nothing and I'm sure Doorson played a big role in contributing. Pike is rewarding and rightfully so all Doorson has been thru. Kids love to see coaches who are loyal to their players who bust their butt!

 

[hiwater]

Doorson should not be on the court, let alone start! The potential of this team is surpassed only by it's ignorance about the game of basketball. I think we have a very good coach, but he caters way too much to the older players. And, I use that word "players" with a huge grain of salt.

Wow! I don't know what you've been watching. Doorson is head and shoulders our best post defender and he has done as much offensively this year as Myles.

Johnson is not strong enough yet. He gets out of position and walled off at times allowing inside penetration to the basket from guards. Doorson never gets walled off. Nobody moves him off his spot or backs him down. He stones the opposing teams bigs where Johnson can't.yet. That will come, but it helps Johnson that Shack can tire out or beat up bigs a little before he comes in.

 

[ancienthooper]

Doorson should not be on the court, let alone start! The potential of this team is surpassed only by it's ignorance about the game of basketball. I think we have a very good coach, but he caters way too much to the older players. And, I use that word "players" with a huge grain of salt.

19 minutes, 2-3 from field, 4 pts, 5 rebs, 1 steal, 0 turnovers, excellent low post D. Very efficient. Very good contribution. Glad we have him.

 

[KnightsofChrome]

1. Am I the only one who screams at the TV and literally pulls hair out when watching a Rutgers basketball game? My kids think I’m certifiable, but it’s just maddening watching this team at times, and even more infuriating watching the refs screw us time and time again.

2. That aside, this was just a meat grinder of a game, a Big Ten Road war. I don’t ever care how we look if we win on the road. Ugly win > pretty loss.

3. Not going to win many games only making three 3-pointers. But man were the two we hit in the second half timely ones - Caleb’s when we REALLY needed a bucket about mid way through the half, and Eugene’s during crunch time.
Love your passion!

4. Speaking of Caleb, Pike had him in during crunch time instead of Mathis, thought that was interesting. Probably because of Caleb’s shooting ability.

5. Eugene had a rough time dealing with the constant double teams, but he came through in crunch time with that dagger three, that tough shot in the post, and then both of those fouls shots at the end. STONES.

6. The foul shooting woes almost lost us this game. Dodged a bullet.

7. Doubling the post against Pardon from the weak side absolutely worked. Pardon was a total non-factor in this game, and he usually kills us.

8. Terrific play by Myles to hit that shot under the basket. Just one more example of how we have multiple guys that can make plays on this team.

9. With 5 conference wins and 12 overall wins, we have already now met or surpassed most pre-season predictions.

10. BEAT IOWA!!!!

Doorson is serviceable and does his job given his limitations. NW's bigs did nothing and I'm sure Doorson played a big role in contributing. Pike is rewarding and rightfully so all Doorson has been thru. Kids love to see coaches who are loyal to their players who bust their butt!

Coaches, who reward kids for "contributing" find themselves out of a job very quickly.

 

[KnightsofChrome]

Wow! I don't know what you've been watching. Doorson is head and shoulders our best post defender and he has done as much offensively this year as Myles.

I have been watching turnovers, missed opportunities, and lack of basketball awareness. You see I don't get caught up with the occassional dunk, I see how many points a player has cost the team.

 

[KnightsofChrome]

19 minutes, 2-3 from field, 4 pts, 5 rebs, 1 steal, 0 turnovers, excellent low post D. Very efficient. Very good contribution. Glad we have him.

See, that's the difference between you and me. You see those numbers as something special, I see a lousy night in the post for a guy who should have scored 20+, 10 rebounds, and a few blocks. Again'st a lousy NorthWestern team, with no post player to speak of....

 

[Night Man]

I have been watching turnovers, missed opportunities, and lack of basketball awareness. You see I don't get caught up with the occassional dunk, I see how many points a player has cost the team.

Do you watch the defensive end?

 

[hiwater]

I have been watching turnovers, missed opportunities, and lack of basketball awareness. You see I don't get caught up with the occassional dunk, I see how many points a player has cost the team.

I see how he alters shots and stops scoring threats from backing him down. He costs other teams a lot more baskets.

 

[S_Janowski]

Doorson should not be on the court, let alone start! The potential of this team is surpassed only by it's ignorance about the game of basketball. I think we have a very good coach, but he caters way too much to the older players. And, I use that word "players" with a huge grain of salt.

First game bro?

Doorson has a purpose on this team. When we play certain opponents, he should be out there in controlled spurts.

Also Shaq Carter has kind of disappeared lately, even more of a reason to find Doorson some minutes when we can.

How could this be your takeaway from tonight? He had two big oops.

 

[KnightsofChrome]

Do you watch the defensive end?

Of course, can't win many games if you don't play stellar D! But, after you make a great stop on one end, YOU HAVE TO PUT THE BALL IN THE HOLE!

 

[bac2therac]

Doorson should not be on the court, let alone start! The potential of this team is surpassed only by it's ignorance about the game of basketball. I think we have a very good coach, but he caters way too much to the older players. And, I use that word "players" with a huge grain of salt.

Doorson was good on defense tonight and his two buckets were really needed points. Doesnt have to be great, just contribute and I think he was very good tonight in doing that

 

[KnightsofChrome]

I see how he alters shots and stops scoring threats from backing him down. He costs other teams a lot more baskets.

That's nice, and essential, but what does he do on the other side of the court!?

 

[Night Man]

He's problematic on offense.. if you give it to him in the post he turns it over way more often than he scores. He doesn't turn it over on the perimeter when he's asked to reset and hand it off, which is good. And those alleyoops, I appreciate a good 100% shot. And with Carter and Myles producing occasionally on offense it's tough to justify his minutes for his offense.

He's easily the best post defender though and sometimes that's valuable and sometimes (Illinois) it means nothing. Tonight it was valuable.

 

[KnightsofChrome]

First game bro?

Doorson has a purpose on this team. When we play certain opponents, he should be out there in controlled spurts.

Also Shaq Carter has kind of disappeared lately, even more of a reason to find Doorson some minutes when we can.

How could this be your takeaway from tonight? He had two big oops.

Only game "bro?" Been playing, coaching BBall, since you were an afterthought. So, no not first game! Basketball, is NOT situational, it's a game fought/played in a very small setting, by a few players, over a short period of time. All players on the court, have to contribute on both sides of the court, in the middle of the court, and dare I say on the bench!

 

[Night Man]

Of course, can't win many games if you don't play stellar D! But, after you make a great stop on one end, YOU HAVE TO PUT THE BALL IN THE HOLE!

Ok, we'll just take him out for Tim Duncan or Shaquille O'Neal. God why are we sitting these guys for Doorson anyway

 

[S_Janowski]

Only game "bro?" Been playing, coaching BBall, since you were an afterthought. So, no not first game! Basketball, is NOT situational, it's a game fought/played in a very small setting, by a few players, over a short period of time. All players on the court, have to contribute on both sides of the court, in the middle of the court, and dare I say on the bench!

Great use of adjectives. You should play and coach some more.

 

[KnightsofChrome]

Ok, we'll just take him out for Tim Duncan or Shaquille O'Neal. God why are we sitting these guys for Doorson anyway

Now, you are just being stupid. I would rather play 5 guards, or 5 forwards, than a Center who does not understand the game, and cost me points in the paint.

 

[KnightsofChrome]

Great use of adjectives. You should play and coach some more.

English, really! lol

 

[BigEastPhil]

Coaches, who reward kids for "contributing" find themselves out of a job very quickly.

Pike is not going to be out of a job very quickly.....

 

[Night Man]

Now, you are just being stupid. I would rather play 5 guards, or 5 forwards, than a Center who does not understand the game, and cost me points in the paint.

Welp, based on the oversimplified nonsense you've been spewing in this thread, I'll take this as a win

 

[KnightsofChrome]

Pike is not going to be out of a job very quickly.....

No! Never said he should be, but our history dictates that patience is not our strong point. Pike, is the best coach this school has ever had, but I'm afraid he is catering to the illusion of fair play.

 

[ancienthooper]

See, that's the difference between you and me. You see those numbers as something special, I see a lousy night in the post for a guy who should have scored 20+, 10 rebounds, and a few blocks. Again'st a lousy NorthWestern team, with no post player to speak of....

Oh, I think there are many differences between you and me. Foremost, I’m not the type of person to take potshots at a senior co-captain who has worked his ass off to get in the position to make a contribution to the team. It’s a shame he falls short of your expectations, but virtually everyone associated with the program is proud of what he’s accomplished.

 

[KnightsofChrome]

Welp, based on the oversimplified nonsense you've been spewing in this thread, I'll take this as a win

If I took you as someone that his/her opinion mattered, I might say, 'Ouch' but I don't. So, who care what you think!

 

[KnightsofChrome]

Oh, I think there are many differences between you and me. Foremost, I’m not the type of person to take potshots at a senior co-captain who has worked his ass off to get in the position to make a contribution to the team. It’s a shame he falls short of your expectations, but virtually everyone associated with the program is proud of what he’s accomplished.

Oh OK, I got it, you are a loser! But, worse you are a person who comply's, they say it's raining, you get an umbrella. Me, I have an opinion, right or wrong, it's mine. And, guess what, when someone tell's me it's raining, I stick my hand out of the window.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Oh OK, I got it, you are a loser! But, worse you are a person who comply's, they say it's raining, you get an umbrella. Me, I have an opinion, right or wrong, it's mine. And, guess what, when someone tell's me it's raining, I stick my hand out of the window.

You’re entitled to your opinion, but just don’t understand why you chose to air it after a win in which Doorson contributed.

In fact, when you combine Doorson’s production tonight (19 minutes, 4 points, 5 rebounds) with Johnson’s production (21, 6 and 4), that’s 10 points and 9 rebounds in 40 minutes from our two-headed center, and that’s not even counting the stellar defense they both played on Pardon.

I’ll take that production any day of the week from the 5 spot.

 

[RUtrumpet92]

Oh OK, I got it, you are a loser! But, worse you are a person who comply's, they say it's raining, you get an umbrella. Me, I have an opinion, right or wrong, it's mine. And, guess what, when someone tell's me it's raining, I stick my hand out of the window.

You can probably take the H out of your signature.... IMHO. Are you a Paul Westphal disciple with the emphasis on O?

Stats courtesy of scarletknights.com. Counting tonight, Shaq has 13 turnovers in 14 B1G games. He's not a turnover machine. He also has 13 blocks, most on the team in B1G play by five (Johnson is at 8). 53 rebounds, including 26 offensive rebounds. That's big!

Yes, Myles is much more of a threat on offense but he is still foul prone on D (36 in 14 B1G games) and is actually shooting worse from the stripe than Shaq is (8-22 vs 6-14). I also like him coming off the bench as a spark.

Get used to Shaq starting, that's not going to change.

 

[RU-ROCS]

1. Am I the only one who screams at the TV and literally pulls hair out when watching a Rutgers basketball game? My kids think I’m certifiable, but it’s just maddening watching this team at times, and even more infuriating watching the refs screw us time and time again.

2. That aside, this was just a meat grinder of a game, a Big Ten Road war. I don’t ever care how we look if we win on the road. Ugly win > pretty loss.

3. Not going to win many games only making three 3-pointers. But man were the two we hit in the second half timely ones - Caleb’s when we REALLY needed a bucket about mid way through the half, and Eugene’s during crunch time.

4. Speaking of Caleb, Pike had him in during crunch time instead of Mathis, thought that was interesting. Probably because of Caleb’s shooting ability.

5. Eugene had a rough time dealing with the constant double teams, but he came through in crunch time with that dagger three, that tough shot in the post, and then both of those fouls shots at the end. STONES.

6. The foul shooting woes almost lost us this game. Dodged a bullet.

7. Doubling the post against Pardon from the weak side absolutely worked. Pardon was a total non-factor in this game, and he usually kills us.

8. Terrific play by Myles to hit that shot under the basket. Just one more example of how we have multiple guys that can make plays on this team.

9. With 5 conference wins and 12 overall wins, we have already now met or surpassed most pre-season predictions.

10. BEAT IOWA!!!!

I also thought the awful 50% FT shooting would doom us. But, this team gutted it out. McConnel gets big props for playing sick and getting 6 boards with no TOs in 22 minutes. I’ll gladly take 3 more ugly conference wins!

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

A lot to like
1. good balance with distribution of shots and points
2. we didnt play good at all offensively
3. we broke our streak of bad defensive games
4. contribution from our freshman

Any game where we have success and Baker and EUGene dont have to do the heavy lifting is a huge success

 

[hiwater]

That's nice, and essential, but what does he do on the other side of the court!?

As much as our other big. Our O does not run through our bigs so the opportunity is not their for either of them to have big offensive games most of the time. Either way, his D way outshines any offensive deficiency that he has. We give up way more points and rebounds in the paint without him.

I know that he had just 5 rebounds, but his weight leaning on Parden kept him from being a big factor on the boards. Also, 5 boards is good for the amount of minutes that he plays as well as the fact that he is often successfully challenging/altering shots which takes him out of rebounding position at times.

 

[bowlgoal]

If you look at how this staff developed Doorsan over the last three years, it’s absolutely incredible. The man completely transformed his body and physical conditioning more than any other Rutgers basketball player I remember? He runs the court, follows shots, plays excellent defense and on occasion, makes some big post baskets. He has limitations, can turn the ball over, not good from the line and misses some chip shots that can drive you nuts.

But he became a captain and earned the starting job for a reason. He contributes, has an unselfish attitude and he can defend and rebound. Myles Johnson has a much higher ceiling and he’s the future, but Doorsan has grown on me. Never thought I would defend him but he’s become a special role player and I respect the work he’s put in to get to this level.

 

[seels2662]

Lol with the Doorson comment. I guess Johnson should be playing 40 minutes and we should appeal to the league to let him have eight fouls a game

 

[ruman]

Lol with the Doorson comment. I guess Johnson should be playing 40 minutes and we should appeal to the league to let him have eight fouls a game

This Doorson conversation is hilarious. He’s been here 5 years. He’s got 6 games left in his career. For the first time now I’m seeing that he might not be Jabbar. Thanks

 

[hoquat63]

Someone here reminds me of the guy sitting near me at the SHU game. Bitching that Shaw has done nothing in 5 years and been here 5 and not graduated. (Duh, does the term grad student mean anything?)

 

[Upstream]

And, guess what, when someone tell's me it's raining, I stick my hand out of the window.

If someone tells you that a bottle contains poison, do you taste it just to be sure?

 

[RU_DIO]

Doorson has played more and contributed more than I thought he could this year. I think we are going to miss his contributions next year when we face the bigger, stronger centers in the big next year.