RAPID REACTION — UCLA

[Degaz-RU]

1. This is the paradigm we thought we were getting this year. Good defense, good offense, led by our two star freshmen, but with tertiary contributions from JWill and others.

2. Quiet first half for Dylan, but took over out of halftime with two big threes. That 8-0 run to start the 2nd half put us in the lead that we never relinquished. Dylan looked like his old self tonight, getting down hill and hitting clutch shots. 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.

3. Solid all around game for Ace, with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Biggest bucket of the night was his lone three to push the lead back up to 4 after UCLA cut the lead to 1 point in crunch time.

4. JWill with the aforementioned tertiary contribution tonight, with 11 points on 5-7 from the field. He didn’t force things but attacked the rim when it was there.

5. The defense was really really good at times. Still struggle with interior defense, but we made the Bruins work for everything.

6. Sommerville with a quiet good game, with 6 points and 9 big rebounds. Missed two critical FTs that would’ve pushed the lead back up to 9, and then UCLA cut it to 4. But he redeemed himself by hitting 2 FTs a few minutes later.

7. Third straight game Dylan Grant hit a three, and another one looked good but rimmed out. He is active on the glass and had 2 blocks. He’s the interior scrapper we’ve been lacking but can also hit threes.

8. Still a loooooong way to go to get back into tournament conversation, but feels good to get a solid win.

 

[Simce91]

14 rebounds and 10 points from the 5 spot - well done

 

[Rokodesh]

A lot of good basketball tonight. Didn't get beat on many cuts to the rim or overpowered by their big guys. Manny and Lathan both played well and the refs missed a lot.

Much much better job on the boards than we've seen earlier in the year.

 

[Simce91]

A lot of good basketball tonight. Didn't get beat on many cuts to the rim or overpowered by their big guys. Manny and Lathan both played well and the refs missed a lot.

Much much better job on the boards than we've seen earlier in the year.

2025/26 5 spot will be in good shape if they both return

 

[Degaz-RU]

9. Forgot to mention FTs. We started out 8-15 or something, but ended up 21-31 (67.7%). Still not good enough overall, but hit 13 of last 16. Even better news, the Chattanooga duo went 9-9 (Ace 5-5, and JMike 4-4, all in crunch time).

 

[RU23]

2025/26 5 spot will be in good shape if they both return

I always thought Ogbole was a senior?

 

[scarletpumpernickl]

Also, Jamichael Davis played within his level. Never forced an unadvised drive in a crowd. Great job sinking 4-4 FT's near the end.

 

[Knight Shift]

This seems off the mark? Did Martini do that much? I watched 1st half and second half on my phone at a firehouse, so did not pay close attention.



This is better:

 

[RUisB1Gtime]

The defensive length of our new starting five is much better. Grant, Acuff, Sommerville, Ace , Dylan...

Also I started a thread a few weeks ago suggesting Jwill as 6th man. Acuff as 2 guard next Dylan is a better fit. And it allows Jwill to come in, handle the ball, and play his game.

 

[Degaz-RU]

10. Also forgot to mention DNPs for both Hayes and Derkack. I understand Hayes, but I don’t even remember seeing JD on the bench. Anybody know if he’s sick or hurt?

 

[Loyal_2RU]

1. This is the paradigm we thought we were getting this year. Good defense, good offense, led by our two star freshmen, but with tertiary contributions from JWill and others.

2. Quiet first half for Dylan, but took over out of halftime with two big threes. That 8-0 run to start the 2nd half put us in the lead that we never relinquished. Dylan looked like his old self tonight, getting down hill and hitting clutch shots. 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.

3. Solid all around game for Ace, with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Biggest bucket of the night was his lone three to push the lead back up to 5 after UCLA cut the lead to 2 points in crunch time.

4. JWill with the aforementioned tertiary contribution tonight, with 11 points on 5-7 from the field. He didn’t force things but attacked the rim when it was there.

5. The defense was really really good at times. Still struggle with interior defense, but we made the Bruins work for everything.

6. Sommerville with a quiet good game, with 6 points and 9 big rebounds. Missed two critical FTs that would’ve pushed the lead back up to 9, and then UCLA cut it to 4. But he redeemed himself by hitting 2 FTs a few minutes later.

7. Third straight game Dylan Grant hit a three, and another one looked good but rimmed out. He is active on the glass and had 2 blocks. He’s the interior scrapper we’ve been lacking but can also hit threes.

8. Still a loooooong way to go to get back into tournament conversation, but feels good to get a solid win.

Ogbole competed at a high level tonight. Was critical. Dylan Grant also. This game team looked tough for the first time in a long while

 

[richthedentist]

This seems off the mark? Did Martini do that much? I watched 1st half and second half on my phone at a firehouse, so did not pay close attention.

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This is better:

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He was ok he missed 2 wide open 3 pointer

 

[robjknight]

Some bad calls and no calls by the refs tonight- but the worse was #4 on Harper.

 

[RAC93]

10. Also forgot to mention DNPs for both Hayes and Derkack. I understand Hayes, but I don’t even remember seeing JD on the bench. Anybody know if he’s sick or hurt?

He has just been bad, Pike smartened up and realized his negative plays staying on the sidelines off the court was a net positive for the team on the court. I am sure he’ll play again at some point but he’s been really bad with drive after drive that have no chance of him scoring.

 

[Loyal_2RU]

He was ok he missed 2 wide open 3 pointer

He played well and both misses were good looks and good strokes

 

[Knight Shift]

He was ok he missed 2 wide open 3 pointer

Someone else, like I said, I was distracted in a meeting for second half:

 

[winfield102]

Good win against a team that really needed a win. They need to finish 9-5 to get to 20 wins (11-9 in the b1g).

Grant did some good things. Really wished he had been on the court more earlier this season.

Thought Lathan was slipping on the screen too often. Was that just me thinking he was looking for opportunities to get the ball. He still posts up when Ace or Dylan have the ball on the wing. Thought he played hard though.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Some bad calls and no calls by the refs tonight- but the worse was #4 on Harper.

I had a Duke fan call about a missed travel call on UCLA.. it was that egregious

 

[Shelby65]

Also, Jamichael Davis played within his level. Never forced an unadvised drive in a crowd. Great job sinking 4-4 FT's near the end

Yes, I've been a vocal Davis detractor along with Derkack. Still think he merits less PT than Acuff but his foul shots were vital. So, today he earned his minutes.

 

[runrutgersrun]

Even better than just winning the game tonight on national TV...I missed the game but....looks like FS1 has me covered with a midnight replay later after the Vikings-Rams game! Life is good and Western civilization is safe for another day... RUMBB is playing defense again!! GO RU!

 

[PaKnight]

10. Also forgot to mention DNPs for both Hayes and Derkack. I understand Hayes, but I don’t even remember seeing JD on the bench. Anybody know if he’s sick or hurt?

He was on the bench.

 

[Unionst]

Martini played ok. As far as the plus/minus goes his performance is a good example of why you can’t put much faith in that. Dylan was minus 4. Dylan played a lot better and was far more important than Zach. Zach had neither a positive nor negative effect but was on the court at the right time with the right people.

 

[goru7]

Martini played ok. As far as the plus/minus goes his performance is a good example of why you can’t put much faith in that. Dylan was minus 4. Dylan played a lot better and was far more important than Zach. Zach had neither a positive nor negative effect but was on the court at the right time with the right people.

He made 1 three and missed 2 threes wide open , one rimmed out , missed the layup when he got fouled , made 1-2 foul shots , defended their center well on a few possessions. He gave You something as compared to prior games of 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 defense . Need him to try and give a little more than something he gave last night.

 

[goru7]

9. Forgot to mention FTs. We started out 8-15 or something, but ended up 21-31 (67.7%). Still not good enough overall, but hit 13 of last 16. Even better news, the Chattanooga duo went 9-9 (Ace 5-5, and JMike 4-4, all in crunch time).

Ace seems to have corrected the free throw glitch.

 

[G- RUnit]

Martini played ok. As far as the plus/minus goes his performance is a good example of why you can’t put much faith in that. Dylan was minus 4. Dylan played a lot better and was far more important than Zach. Zach had neither a positive nor negative effect but was on the court at the right time with the right people.

Agree it is often a weird stat re: Dylan.

But it is often a good stat to be considered too and did reflect the game, i.e., we played pretty well when Martini, O and JWill were in the game.

“On the court at the right time with the right people” sounds a little like, “All he does is scores touchdowns” ;-)

 

[RUPete]

10. Also forgot to mention DNPs for both Hayes and Derkack. I understand Hayes, but I don’t even remember seeing JD on the bench. Anybody know if he’s sick or hurt?

He was there and looked fine to me - but who knows?

 

[BossNJ]

Good win against a team that really needed a win. They need to finish 9-5 to get to 20 wins (11-9 in the b1g).

Grant did some good things. Really wished he had been on the court more earlier this season.

Thought Lathan was slipping on the screen too often. Was that just me thinking he was looking for opportunities to get the ball. He still posts up when Ace or Dylan have the ball on the wing. Thought he played hard though.

Nobody sets good screens on this team.

 

[Loyal_2RU]

He was on the bench.

Coach said he loved his rotations tonight

 

[Loyal_2RU]

Coach said he loved his rotations tonight

And that he loves Jordan

 

[RUPete]

And that he loves Jordan

We’re going to need these guys at other times depending on match ups. And who knows? Maybe sitting and watching how the team played last night showed Jordan how he needs to play more under control on offense.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

We’re going to need these guys at other times depending on match ups. And who knows? Maybe sitting and watching how the team played last night showed Jordan how he needs to play more under control on offense.

I think defense is the bigger issue

 

[RUPete]

I think defense is the bigger issue

Hopefully it helps in that way too. It’s not like the guy doesn’t have a motor out there.

 

[zebnatto]

Nobody sets good screens on this team.

I think it’s up to the dribbler to give the pick time to set up then comes past him tight and hard.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Hopefully it helps in that way too. It’s not like the guy doesn’t have a motor out there.

It stalls a LOT. He may lead the team in getting beat down the floor in transition. He is a jogger.

 

[RUPete]

It stalls a LOT. He may lead the team in getting beat down the floor in transition. He is a jogger.

Whatever man. Trying to be positive here. I do think he tries to mix it up on the glass. Again, maybe watching will help him get the message.

 

[Loyal_2RU]

Whatever man. Trying to be positive here. I do think he tries to mix it up on the glass. Again, maybe watching will help him get the message.

The message is that it is a team game that needs to be shared on offense and defense...

 

[jakeknight]

Different take, Dylan is/was about 75-80%, which is still better than most guys on the court, thought we played hard on defense, probably looked better than it was, UCLA missed quite a few open looks. Summerville is improving with more playing time, Ogolbe was more active and assertive, and he physically bothered the UCLA, which was nice to see. We didn’t shoot the 3 ball particularly well.
Ace has really improved much more active on defense, rebounding the ball at a high level, he was always a real offensive talent, but the other phases of his game has really improved. As I said above we played much harder on defense, but we still were not real sharp on on screens, but we are clearly improving. Also UCLA looked soft, struggled, and didn’t play particularly hard or shoot the ball all that well, hope some of that was us.