Rapid Reaction — Minnesota

[Degaz-RU]

1. Pharrel Payne was an ANIMAL and we couldn’t do anything to stop him. Career high 21 points with 11 rebounds.

2. Such a disappointing second half after playing so well on offense in the first half. First half offensive acumen was fool’s gold, and we regressed to our usual sub-40% from the field in the second half.

3. Our defense played like crap the entire game. Worst defensive effort in weeks. Minnesota has a terrific PG (Hawkins), two good shooters, a really good stretch 4 in Garcia (who actually had an off night), and a guy who can be a terror in the middle who terrorized us the whole game.

4. We started out 3-3 from deep and then missed our next 11. Minnesota played excellent perimeter defense and didn’t give our guys room to shoot. And when we had open looks, we clanged them.

5. Nice game on offense from Cliff, unfortunately wasted because nobody else played well on offense. He was 6-9 in the first half, but then 0-1 in the second half. Ponderous.

6. JWill had a really rough night. Minnesota did a terrific job bottling him up and not letting him get down hill, and then he made some frustration plays. Teams now have five games of film and can figure out how to defend him. He also needs new sneakers, as he was slipping all game.

7. Simpson with a solid night, although he was good early and good late, but didn’t give us anything in the middle portion of the game.

8. Three point shooting was a big difference in this game. We were 4-19, and Minnesota was 8-16. That’s the difference in a 81-70 loss. Can’t win in the road against a good offense with that type of awful shooting.

9. Tied 37-37 at the half, but defense wasn’t playing well. Was hoping Pike would “win halftime” and somehow contain Payne while still defending the perimeter. But it was not to be. However, it was on the offensive end that we failed in the second half, coming up empty on the first 5 or 6 possessions and being out scored 11-2 to start the half. Minnesota just came out of the locker room more determined, and our offense failed us again. From there, it was pushing uphill and it was too much to overcome.

10. Teetering on the edge of the bubble, now need to win 2 of the remaining three road games at Purdue, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Very tall order. This was the one we had the best chance of getting.

 

[FastMJ]

This team is not good enough to withstand an off night for J Will

 

[RUtrumpet92]

We missed too many shots that they converted. There's your ballgame.

Regroup and head to Mackey.

 

[jerzeyguy]

Minnesota is strong on the inferior and has length on the outside. And they move the ball and can shoot. Bad matchup for us. I had this an L, but just hoped for different

 

[RUtrumpet92]

My other reaction... sad. But proud that we kept fighting even though it wasn't our night.

 

[BigEastPhil]

We needed Dean Reiber and Jalen Miller to sing during the game to Toto s greatest hits !

 

[RU MAN]

1. Pharrel Payne was an ANIMAL and we couldn’t do anything to stop him. Career high 21 points with 11 rebounds.

2. Such a disappointing second half after playing so well on offense in the first half. First half offensive acumen was fool’s gold, and we regressed to our usual sub-40% from the field in the second half.

3. Our defense played like crap the entire game. Worst defensive effort in weeks. Minnesota has a terrific PG (Hawkins), two good shooters, a really good stretch 4 in Garcia (who actually had an off night), and a guy who can be a terror in the middle who terrorized us the whole game.

4. We started out 3-3 from deep and then missed our next 11. Minnesota played excellent perimeter defense and didn’t give our guys room to shoot. And when we had open looks, we clanged them.

5. Nice game on offense from Cliff, unfortunately wasted because nobody else played well on offense. He was 6-9 in the first half, but then 0-1 in the second half. Ponderous.

6. JWill had a really rough night. Minnesota did a terrific job bottling him up and not letting him get down hill, and then he made some frustration plays. Teams now have five games of film and can figure out how to defend him. He also needs new sneakers, as he was slipping all game.

7. Simpson with a solid night, although he was good early and good late, but didn’t give us anything in the middle portion of the game.

8. Three point shooting was a big difference in this game. We were 4-19, and Minnesota was 8-16. That’s the difference in a 81-70 loss. Can’t win in the road against a good offense with that type of awful shooting.

9. Tied 37-37 at the half, but defense wasn’t playing well. Was hoping Pike would “win halftime” and somehow contain Payne while still defending the perimeter. But it was not to be. However, it was on the offensive end that we failed in the second half, coming up empty on the first 5 or 6 possessions and being out scored 11-2 to start the half. Minnesota just came out of the locker room more determined, and our offense failed us again. From there, it was pushing uphill and it was too much to overcome.

10. Teetering on the edge of the bubble, now need to win 2 of the remaining three road games at Purdue, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Very tall order. This was the one we had the best chance of getting.

Great post. I thought Pikiell did a horrendous job on substitutions, especially Wookfolk over Ogbole. Ogbole would have pushed around Payne, fouled out and saved us about 10 points while helping Cliff in the second half. BTW, Minnesota made Cliff a non-factor in the second half. And our shooting from outside was terrible. And JWill had a bad game which we hurt us .

 

[G- RUnit]

Officiating kept Minnesota in the game in the first half.
Start of 2nd half two quick bad shots by JMike and a turnover by JMike and Minnesota quickly goes on a 11-2 run and that was all she wrote.
Simpson almost brought us back and such a pest defensively.
We can’t withstand JWill 2-10, Hyatt 2-8 and JMike 3-8.
Thought Palm after last game deserved a few more minutes. I think Gavin will be great but right now he’s hurting us.
Hyatt, Mag, Simpson, Williams and Cliff was a decent defensive lineup that lead a nice comeback.
Simpson 85% from line and 4-4 from the line is a nice weapon.
We had a very good game from the line 18-22 but Minny was 23-34. So as much as Minny hitting threes was a big factor but Minny going to the line 33% more was just as big a factor. That’s also a big difference in a 81-70 game.
Worry about sneakers and Adidas, money be damned. J Mike slipping all over the place in the first half. J Williams slipping all over the place all game. Has been happening all year truth be told.

 

[RutgersChow]

1. Pharrel Payne was an ANIMAL and we couldn’t do anything to stop him. Career high 21 points with 11 rebounds.

2. Such a disappointing second half after playing so well on offense in the first half. First half offensive acumen was fool’s gold, and we regressed to our usual sub-40% from the field in the second half.

3. Our defense played like crap the entire game. Worst defensive effort in weeks. Minnesota has a terrific PG (Hawkins), two good shooters, a really good stretch 4 in Garcia (who actually had an off night), and a guy who can be a terror in the middle who terrorized us the whole game.

4. We started out 3-3 from deep and then missed our next 11. Minnesota played excellent perimeter defense and didn’t give our guys room to shoot. And when we had open looks, we clanged them.

5. Nice game on offense from Cliff, unfortunately wasted because nobody else played well on offense. He was 6-9 in the first half, but then 0-1 in the second half. Ponderous.

6. JWill had a really rough night. Minnesota did a terrific job bottling him up and not letting him get down hill, and then he made some frustration plays. Teams now have five games of film and can figure out how to defend him. He also needs new sneakers, as he was slipping all game.

7. Simpson with a solid night, although he was good early and good late, but didn’t give us anything in the middle portion of the game.

8. Three point shooting was a big difference in this game. We were 4-19, and Minnesota was 8-16. That’s the difference in a 81-70 loss. Can’t win in the road against a good offense with that type of awful shooting.

9. Tied 37-37 at the half, but defense wasn’t playing well. Was hoping Pike would “win halftime” and somehow contain Payne while still defending the perimeter. But it was not to be. However, it was on the offensive end that we failed in the second half, coming up empty on the first 5 or 6 possessions and being out scored 11-2 to start the half. Minnesota just came out of the locker room more determined, and our offense failed us again. From there, it was pushing uphill and it was too much to overcome.

10. Teetering on the edge of the bubble, now need to win 2 of the remaining three road games at Purdue, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Very tall order. This was the one we had the best chance of getting.

Johnson - a better recruiter and a better coach, and it's not like Minnesota is a basketball hotbed.

 

[Bobbydigital_83]

4 and 8. Missed 3s…. We shoot 35%+ and we’re really tough to beat.

Also let’s give credit. Minny is a really good team IMO who’s learning how to win. We took care of Garcia and they had others beat us. **tip the cap**

 

[kcg88]

Johnson - a better recruiter and a better coach, and it's not like Minnesota is a basketball hotbed.

Johnson is a better recruiter than the coach with the #2 and #3 recruits coming?

 

[RutgersChow]

Officiating kept Minnesota in the game in the first half.
Start of 2nd half two quick bad shots by JMike and a turnover by JMike and Minnesota quickly goes on a 11-2 run and that was all she wrote.
Simpson almost brought us back and such a pest defensively.
We can’t withstand JWill 2-10, Hyatt 2-8 and JMike 3-8.
Thought Palm after last game deserved a few more minutes. I think Gavin will be great but right now he’s hurting us.
Hyatt, Mag, Simpson, Williams and Cliff was a decent defensive lineup that lead a nice comeback.
Simpson 85% from line and 4-4 from the line is a nice weapon.
We had a very good game from the line 18-22 but Minny was 23-34. So as much as Minny hitting threes was a big factor but Minny going to the line 33% more was just as big a factor. That’s also a big difference in a 81-70 game.
Worry about sneakers and Adidas, money be damned. J Mike slipping all over the place in the first half. J Williams slipping all over the place all game. Has been happening all year truth be told.

Offensively, Omoruyi played well. Defensively, I actually thought he got away with a lot and could have easily had four fouls by halftime.

 

[billgumpper]

1. Pharrel Payne was an ANIMAL and we couldn’t do anything to stop him. Career high 21 points with 11 rebounds.

2. Such a disappointing second half after playing so well on offense in the first half. First half offensive acumen was fool’s gold, and we regressed to our usual sub-40% from the field in the second half.

3. Our defense played like crap the entire game. Worst defensive effort in weeks. Minnesota has a terrific PG (Hawkins), two good shooters, a really good stretch 4 in Garcia (who actually had an off night), and a guy who can be a terror in the middle who terrorized us the whole game.

4. We started out 3-3 from deep and then missed our next 11. Minnesota played excellent perimeter defense and didn’t give our guys room to shoot. And when we had open looks, we clanged them.

5. Nice game on offense from Cliff, unfortunately wasted because nobody else played well on offense. He was 6-9 in the first half, but then 0-1 in the second half. Ponderous.

6. JWill had a really rough night. Minnesota did a terrific job bottling him up and not letting him get down hill, and then he made some frustration plays. Teams now have five games of film and can figure out how to defend him. He also needs new sneakers, as he was slipping all game.

7. Simpson with a solid night, although he was good early and good late, but didn’t give us anything in the middle portion of the game.

8. Three point shooting was a big difference in this game. We were 4-19, and Minnesota was 8-16. That’s the difference in a 81-70 loss. Can’t win in the road against a good offense with that type of awful shooting.

9. Tied 37-37 at the half, but defense wasn’t playing well. Was hoping Pike would “win halftime” and somehow contain Payne while still defending the perimeter. But it was not to be. However, it was on the offensive end that we failed in the second half, coming up empty on the first 5 or 6 possessions and being out scored 11-2 to start the half. Minnesota just came out of the locker room more determined, and our offense failed us again. From there, it was pushing uphill and it was too much to overcome.

10. Teetering on the edge of the bubble, now need to win 2 of the remaining three road games at Purdue, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Very tall order. This was the one we had the best chance of getting.

#3 is because Ben Johnson had a game plan and out coached Pike for the 2nd year in a row. You also forgot to mention that Hyatt and Woolfolk are complete train wrecks.

 

[MCKnight2004]

Payne went by Ogbole early in first half where Ogbole fouled him, and we never saw Ogbole again. I think coach thought wolf gave them better speed and lateral movement to guard. But Ogbole would have held his size and likely fouled a terrible free throw shooter…

 

[RutgersChow]

Johnson is a better recruiter than the coach with the #2 and #3 recruits coming?

If they have better players then he's a better recruiter. And Harper and Ace aren't here yet. Pike's last three classes have been atrocious. That's pretty much common knowledge.

 

[billgumpper]

Johnson is a better recruiter than the coach with the #2 and #3 recruits coming?

I'am happy they are coming, but they are only staying a year. He needs to keep recruiting at a high level. Johnson doesnt recruit at a very high level because he is at Minny yet he has out coached Pike 2 years in a row and has beaten us.

 

[shields]

Palm was guarding Garcia when hyatt left the game. Lousy matchup.

 

[billgumpper]

Payne went by Ogbole early in first half where Ogbole fouled him, and we never saw Ogbole again. I think coach thought wolf gave them better speed and lateral movement to guard. But Ogbole would have held his size and likely fouled a terrible free throw shooter…

Payne abused Wolf on the glass and it was comical when Wolf tried to post Payne up and shoot over him.

 

[Scangg]

Officiating kept Minnesota in the game in the first half.
Start of 2nd half two quick bad shots by JMike and a turnover by JMike and Minnesota quickly goes on a 11-2 run and that was all she wrote.
Simpson almost brought us back and such a pest defensively.
We can’t withstand JWill 2-10, Hyatt 2-8 and JMike 3-8.
Thought Palm after last game deserved a few more minutes. I think Gavin will be great but right now he’s hurting us.
Hyatt, Mag, Simpson, Williams and Cliff was a decent defensive lineup that lead a nice comeback.
Simpson 85% from line and 4-4 from the line is a nice weapon.
We had a very good game from the line 18-22 but Minny was 23-34. So as much as Minny hitting threes was a big factor but Minny going to the line 33% more was just as big a factor. That’s also a big difference in a 81-70 game.
Worry about sneakers and Adidas, money be damned. J Mike slipping all over the place in the first half. J Williams slipping all over the place all game. Has been happening all year truth be told.

JMike 3/8 isn't insurmountable bad. It's 5% higher than Simpson's season average for reference

 

[billgumpper]

Palm was guarding Garcia when hyatt left the game. Lousy matchup.

6'6 Hyatt guarding 6'10 Garcia was a horrible matchup.

 

[RutgersChow]

#3 is because Ben Johnson had a game plan and out coached Pike for the 2nd year in a row. You also forgot to mention that Hyatt and Woolfolk are complete train wrecks.

Recruiting.

 

[Scangg]

Palm was guarding Garcia when hyatt left the game. Lousy matchup.

Did he even score on Palm?

I only remember one play Oskar played him well and forced a contested fade away mod range jumper that he missed

Oskar guarding Garcia for a couple minutes had 0 impact on this game

 

[RutgersChow]

JMike 3/8 isn't insurmountable bad. It's 5% higher than Simpson's season average for reference

He actually jump stopped twice on one play, maybe twice as much as the whole team has this year. He will end up being very good.

 

[Scangg]

JMike and Hyatt in a razor close most embarrassing fast break layup attempt contest tonight though

 

[G- RUnit]

JMike 3/8 isn't insurmountable bad. It's 5% higher than Simpson's season average for reference

It’s timing of bad shots and turnover. Minny jumped on it. 11-2 start of 2nd half was the difference IMHO.

 

[G- RUnit]

JMike and Hyatt in a razor close most embarrassing fast break layup attempt contest tonight though

He actually jump stopped twice on one play, maybe twice as much as the whole team has this year. He will end up being very good.

Jump starts? Good Lord. The fast break layup misses are soul crushing. They just are.

 

[winfield102]

Minn looked good on offense. I wasn't unhappy with our defensive effort. Cliff helping and trying to block shots allowed Payne to get great position to get offensive rebounds. We needed them to be off and they weren't.

I don't think we could have played better offensively in the 1st half. We weren't duplicating that. That's not who we are.

We missed a lot of layups and a couple of dunks in the 2nd half. 10? 12?

I thought we had fewer bad shots against Minn than against Wisconsin. We just struggled from 3 and at the rim.

 

[billgumpper]

Did he even score on Palm?

I only remember one play Oskar played him well and forced a contested fade away mod range jumper that he missed

Oskar guarding Garcia for a couple minutes had 0 impact on this game

At 6'8 he probably gave us a better chance, plus maybe hit a couple 3's. Hyatt was a total no show which goes right back to the consistency problem I have with him.

 

[Kbee3]

So many missed bunnies. And threes.
And I knew we were in deep chit when Wolf checked in. He brings zero to the table.

 

[Scangg]

At 6'8 he probably gave us a better chance, plus maybe hit a couple 3's. Hyatt was a total no show which goes right back to the consistency problem I have with him.

Garcia isn't an explosive athlete so he's someone Oskar could do ok with

We also could have used Oskar spacing the court to give JWill more room to drive and Cliff more room to operate

 

[robjknight]

:Seemed like JWill and Mag were under the weather and not their normal selves. Don't understand what was going on with JWill's sneakers to had at least 5 slips.
I don't believe they adjusted to Cliff in second half , we just stopped going to him. He was wide open a few times and our guards didn't see it. Once on a fast break, he was alone under the basket and our guard choose to drive and throw up a wild shot.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

Sometimes, you have to just tip your hat and recognize that the opponent just plays better than you do, makes more shots and has better guards than we do.

The game comes down to making sure players who aren't in track to beat you, don't get career highs on you. That had nothing to do with defense or gameplan, it comes down to who makes plays and who prevents those plays from happening. The Gopher guards were just better for all 40 minutes of the game.

Pike went away from what was working with Ogbole on the defensive end, to try and get a more mobile and quicker big to try and deal with Payne.......Woolfolk scored a couple of baskets, but fumbled a key pass into a turnover and just surrendered too many 2nd shots and putbacks. RU was doing better shoring up the glass before tonight by sticking with Ogbole.... putting Wolf in, was just not a good look and allowed Payne to get even more confidence.

The Gopher backcourt is just flat our better than RUs right now. They dictated the tempo and outside of the last 3 minutes of the game, were not really impacted by our guards. Give Payne and others credit, they made passes out of the post and RU somehow, decided to try and double post ups and left guards wide open for easy 3s.

There's a ton of basketball left to play and while fans may think Minnesota is the easiest of the matchups on the road, that would be 1000% incorrect. Minnesota has better guards than Purdue....better guards than Wisconsin......actually better guards than Nebraska.....certainly better than Maryland and Michigan.

The only set of guards that present that type of problem for RU, are Iowa and that system and Ohio States backcourt, which is stacked with talented players. Even though Ohio State ultimately doesn't have anything to go to on the wing and Holtmann got fired, it's not a lack of talent in Columbus.

Can RU "win out"?? I have no idea, but I like our lineups way more against the remaining 6 teams on the schedule, outside of Ohio State, who has nothing to play for and can score. It's going to take Cliff and Ogbole for 10 fouls and solid basketball against Zach Edey, but the rest of the lineup, actually is not too overwhelming for RU, now with JWill on the floor. It wouldn't shock me one bit if RU bounces back with a strong 1st half at Mackey. Get to halftime in reasonable shape and I'll take my chances Thursday night.

 

[Scangg]

The strange thing for me about the Wolf decision is that Payne isn't a smaller thinner more athletic type 5. He was winning with power and strength

Yes Ogbole got beat that one time with Payne facing up and going past him, but that was an anomaly. That's not Payne's game. I can't imagine Ogbole couldn't have given us more inside defensively one on one with Payne, rim protection, and rebounding

Wolf 0 rebounds 4 fouls in 8 minutes

 

[PatrickRU92]

I was working so had to DVR it and just watched it.

I blame Pike for this one. Why didn't we play pressure defense until the last few minutes?? We let Minnesotas offense dictate the pace of this game, and to their credit they made their shots. Hell even the tough ones went down

for 90% of the game we gave token pressure in the backcourt but never really tried to force their hand.

I don't get the strategy. We know we aren't going to be able to "out -offense" them.

Really disappointed in the game plan, I don't get it.

 

[ScarletNut]

BTW, does anyone think that Payne has a facial resemblance to Jameis Winston?

 

[kcg88]

I was working so had to DVR it and just watched it.

I blame Pike for this one. Why didn't we play pressure defense until the last few minutes?? We let Minnesotas offense dictate the pace of this game, and to their credit they made their shots. Hell even the tough ones went down

for 90% of the game we gave token pressure in the backcourt but never really tried to force their hand.

I don't get the strategy. We know we aren't going to be able to "out -offense" them.

Really disappointed in the game plan, I don't get it.

It's hard to ask for a full 40 minutes of hell defensive effort going on the road three days after the gritty NW win.

 

[PatrickRU92]

It's hard to ask for a full 40 minutes of hell defensive effort going on the road three days after the gritty NW win.

Maybe that was it. I just feel like we didn't play Rutgers basketball tonight (and didn't even try)

 

[RW90]

The strange thing for me about the Wolf decision is that Payne isn't a smaller thinner more athletic type 5. He was winning with power and strength

Yes Ogbole got beat that one time with Payne facing up and going past him, but that was an anomaly. That's not Payne's game. I can't imagine Ogbole couldn't have given us more inside defensively one on one with Payne, rim protection, and rebounding

Wolf 0 rebounds 4 fouls in 8 minutes

At the least Ogbole had five fouls to give. Payne was way too comfortable with Woolfolk in for Cliff.

 

[G- RUnit]

:Seemed like JWill and Mag were under the weather and not their normal selves. Don't understand what was going on with JWill's sneakers to had at least 5 slips.
I don't believe they adjusted to Cliff in second half , we just stopped going to him. He was wide open a few times and our guards didn't see it. Once on a fast break, he was alone under the basket and our guard choose to drive and throw up a wild shot.

Convinced sneakers are a huge problem…
Seriously. Quality control issue. JMike slipped a lot beginning of game. It appears to be more than a fluke.

 

[fluoxetine]

Johnson - a better recruiter and a better coach, and it's not like Minnesota is a basketball hotbed.

Johnson is a better recruiter than the coach with the #2 and #3 recruits coming?

Ben Johnson

2022 13-17 (4-16) #109 kenpom
2023 9-22 (2-17) #216 kenpom
2024 16-9 (7-7) #67 kenpom

Oh boy, Minnesota is slightly better than us this year, how exciting! I swear this RutgersChow guy is legit ret****d.