Reality....You usually have to lose a bunch of close ones before learning how to win them

[Scarlet Shack]

Guys:

I remain pretty surprised at the general reaction over the last few games....

Please take a GOOD look at the roster.

We have 11 guys....coming into this year....with a combined 11 years of division one basketball experience. JUCO ball isn't playing experience... And a lot of these guys did not play a lot minutes.

Point is....not only do we have a pretty raw group of kids....but exactly who did these learn from to play winning basketball and make winning basketball plays. No one!

So, you have to learn how to compete and play with the big boys. And we are totaling doing that...in our losses...
-Down 4 at Miami at the half
-Lead at SHU at the half...and tied with 5 to go
-Lead Iowa on the road by 8 with 8 minutes to go
-Even PSU, Wisconsin on the road and Michigan State we weren't quite in striking distance...but down 8-12 with 8 minutes to go

Point is...the competition has gotten better...and we have played better. And we are playing pretty damn tough on the ROAD. Really the only disappointment this year remains the PSU game at home. Hope we can make that up later on

But we just don't know how to handle the end game yet . Very clear against SHU and Iowa on the road. And you just got to go through it a few times...and then you might get over the hump and get a couple....being at home helps but

Sure we want Ws....but you have to learn to get to that point to be in position to win in the second half....and then learn how to make plays when the defense is tighter, make the extra stop, how to turn on an extra gear....

Pretty sure the guards we have are good enough that the light will kick on eventually in and we will turn our share of these close game into wins....sooner or later

This isn't an excuse post...its just reality and what I see....

 

[wheezer]

IMHO, it also is a reflection of the competition level....early on, RU had a game where we trailed all game, the other guys converted on 13 possessions in a row in the second half.....and we pulled that game out......

so, the team is capable of hanging in during a tough game, and having enough poise to win a game.... but much harder in the big 10 match ups.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

100%

 

[scarlet4life]

No question this team fights and competes now. Even in losses, they are fun to watch because they aren't getting totally outclassed (I didn't see MSU game so I don't know about that.) Biggest problem is the scoring droughts. There is one almost every game of 4-5 minutes, or more. OOC that's a 10-0 run for the other team. In conference, that can easily be a 20 point run and game over.
That said, this team is absolutely progressing, and while they may not win any more games this year, they are light years ahead of the last few years.

 

[RUJMM78]

Guys:

I remain pretty surprised at the general reaction over the last few games....

Please take a GOOD look at the roster.

We have 11 guys....coming into this year....with a combined 11 years of division one basketball experience. JUCO ball isn't playing experience... And a lot of these guys did not play a lot minutes.

Point is....not only do we have a pretty raw group of kids....but exactly who did these learn from to play winning basketball and make winning basketball plays. No one!

So, you have to learn how to compete and play with the big boys. And we are totaling doing that...in our losses...
-Down 4 at Miami at the half
-Lead at SHU at the half...and tied with 5 to go
-Lead Iowa on the road by 8 with 8 minutes to go
-Even PSU, Wisconsin on the road and Michigan State we weren't quite in striking distance...but down 8-12 with 8 minutes to go

Point is...the competition has gotten better...and we have played better. And we are playing pretty damn tough on the ROAD. Really the only disappointment this year remains the PSU game at home. Hope we can make that up later on

But we just don't know how to handle the end game yet . Very clear against SHU and Iowa on the road. And you just got to go through it a few times...and then you might get over the hump and get a couple....being at home helps but

Sure we want Ws....but you have to learn to get to that point to be in position to win in the second half....and then learn how to make plays when the defense is tighter, make the extra stop, how to turn on an extra gear....

Pretty sure the guards we have are good enough that the light will kick on eventually in and we will turn our share of these close game into wins....sooner or later

This isn't an excuse post...its just reality and what I see....

Your supposition is that more games/experience will correct the problem areas.I disagree because the solution rests with recruiting more talented players that can score.This team simply doesn't have enough scoring options to play and win in a 40 minute game against more talented opposition.At crunch time there are no players who step up and make the big basket .Close games become double digit losses.Coach Pikiell and staff can only make marginal improvements with the current squad especially against B1G competition.Fans wish there was a magic potion to result in league wins .

 

[zebnatto]

I manage to agree with both SS and 78: I think this team still has to learn to win. When they do that, they'll win a few. I think last night was one of those.

But talent and recruiting are big factors to. When a game is close with six minutes left, the other team is really gonna clamp down. Given our current skill level, when they do that, we're really in trouble.

 

[bac2therac]

I agree that they have to learn to win, yesterday was the first time they were ahead by that much against a quality team with less than 10 minutes left, they had nothing to pull from and couldnt do it. The game was lost at 49-41 when there seemed to be missed opportunities as both Iowa and Rutgers couldnt get untracked. The issue though is does this team have enough offensive fire power to close out games or win them late. They missed several opportunties yesterday to retake the lead very late. Without consistent shooting, I wouldnt bet on them being able to pull out close games late

 

[winfield102]

I thought we did that against the cupcakes. We consistently closed out game when they got tight. The competition is better and we are an extremely poor shooting team. I think we'll get lucky offensively a few times and hopefully steal a few games.

 

[ScarletLongIsland]

Guys:

I remain pretty surprised at the general reaction over the last few games....

Please take a GOOD look at the roster.

We have 11 guys....coming into this year....with a combined 11 years of division one basketball experience. JUCO ball isn't playing experience... And a lot of these guys did not play a lot minutes.

Point is....not only do we have a pretty raw group of kids....but exactly who did these learn from to play winning basketball and make winning basketball plays. No one!

So, you have to learn how to compete and play with the big boys. And we are totaling doing that...in our losses...
-Down 4 at Miami at the half
-Lead at SHU at the half...and tied with 5 to go
-Lead Iowa on the road by 8 with 8 minutes to go
-Even PSU, Wisconsin on the road and Michigan State we weren't quite in striking distance...but down 8-12 with 8 minutes to go

Point is...the competition has gotten better...and we have played better. And we are playing pretty damn tough on the ROAD. Really the only disappointment this year remains the PSU game at home. Hope we can make that up later on

But we just don't know how to handle the end game yet . Very clear against SHU and Iowa on the road. And you just got to go through it a few times...and then you might get over the hump and get a couple....being at home helps but

Sure we want Ws....but you have to learn to get to that point to be in position to win in the second half....and then learn how to make plays when the defense is tighter, make the extra stop, how to turn on an extra gear....

Pretty sure the guards we have are good enough that the light will kick on eventually in and we will turn our share of these close game into wins....sooner or later

This isn't an excuse post...its just reality and what I see....

Great points Shack.

 

[RickB113]

I agree with OP to a certain extent. I don't think it is learning how to win though. The problem is the end of the game exposes our biggest weakness which is lack of scorers. You need play makers to close games and we have one. The defense tends to stiffen at the end of games. If you are leading you usually milk the shot clock which leads to a high pick and roll with 8 seconds on the shot clock and that is where you need guys who can make plays. Unfortunately I just think we get exposed at the end of games which is understandable given our lack of scoring options. It is what it is until we get better scorers.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

We lack the same scorers in the 1st 30 minutes in the game yet were adequately efficient offensively.

The last 10 minutes of the game the ball stuck in the hands of the guards. We must learn when things get tight to run offensive set. It is a learning experience.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

When a game is close with six minutes left, the other team is really gonna clamp down.

That is why running your offensive sets are so important. They work even better when the opponent clamps down. Screens and hard cuts work better.

 

[lester19]

I think hitting foul shots is also a function of learning how to win. Earlier in the year the free throw shooting seemed to be much better, so it's not like they can't do it. In a tight game the opposing team has to fear sending players to the line. Right now they want to send us to the line.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

We lack the same scorers in the 1st 30 minutes in the game yet were adequately efficient offensively.

The last 10 minutes of the game the ball stuck in the hands of the guards. We must learn when things get tight to run offensive set. It is a learning experience.

Nailed it....it totally gets tighter....

You have to run it that much crisper, that much tigher and timed perfectly to run it at 21 feet and not at 24 feet....you have to be that more precise in the pass. that much stronger going to the basket...and much more aware of when to pull up and when to take it all the way to the rim...especially because the whistle will often disappear more

I am pretty confident that this wiil come....but it will take more close games...which we will, along the way, lose more than we win...

The talent gets you to the 36 minute mark tied...then I think its how well you coach and play the end game. Sure every once in a while you get a special player making a special play at the end...but more close games are won or lost by how well you play team offense and defense in crunch time

 

[RickB113]

We lack the same scorers in the 1st 30 minutes in the game yet were adequately efficient offensively.

The last 10 minutes of the game the ball stuck in the hands of the guards. We must learn when things get tight to run offensive set. It is a learning experience.

I just explained why the last 5 minutes is different than the firsst 30 to 35. But whatever you are right. All the good teams run their sets in the last four minutes and the game is no different down the closing minutes. Teams don't try and milk the clock. Defenses don't get tougher. Close games don't come down to playmakers. You are right.

 

[RUJMM78]

I think hitting foul shots is also a function of learning how to win. Earlier in the year the free throw shooting seemed to be much better, so it's not like they can't do it. In a tight game the opposing team has to fear sending players to the line. Right now they want to send us to the line.

Rutgers had only four foul shots against Iowa which was six times less than Iowa.

 

[RUChoppin]

I just explained why the last 5 minutes is different than the firsst 30 to 35. But whatever you are right. All the good teams run their sets in the last four minutes and the game is no different down the closing minutes. Teams don't try and milk the clock. Defenses don't get tougher. Close games don't come down to playmakers. You are right.

Never seen any teams milk the clock on defense.

If you're within a score or two with 4 minutes left, it is important that the offense doesn't panic and continues to run their sets and their game plan. I agree with you if you're down 5 or 6 with under a minute left and you need to push the tempo and rely on playmakers to get it done... but we're struggling well before that point.

 

[GoFish2]

Guys:

I remain pretty surprised at the general reaction over the last few games....

Please take a GOOD look at the roster.

We have 11 guys....coming into this year....with a combined 11 years of division one basketball experience. JUCO ball isn't playing experience... And a lot of these guys did not play a lot minutes.

Point is....not only do we have a pretty raw group of kids....but exactly who did these learn from to play winning basketball and make winning basketball plays. No one!

So, you have to learn how to compete and play with the big boys. And we are totaling doing that...in our losses...
-Down 4 at Miami at the half
-Lead at SHU at the half...and tied with 5 to go
-Lead Iowa on the road by 8 with 8 minutes to go
-Even PSU, Wisconsin on the road and Michigan State we weren't quite in striking distance...but down 8-12 with 8 minutes to go

Point is...the competition has gotten better...and we have played better. And we are playing pretty damn tough on the ROAD. Really the only disappointment this year remains the PSU game at home. Hope we can make that up later on

But we just don't know how to handle the end game yet . Very clear against SHU and Iowa on the road. And you just got to go through it a few times...and then you might get over the hump and get a couple....being at home helps but

Sure we want Ws....but you have to learn to get to that point to be in position to win in the second half....and then learn how to make plays when the defense is tighter, make the extra stop, how to turn on an extra gear....

Pretty sure the guards we have are good enough that the light will kick on eventually in and we will turn our share of these close game into wins....sooner or later

This isn't an excuse post...its just reality and what I see....

Good points all, but we knew these things all season and preseason yet you assured us that RU was an NIT team this year and an NCAA team next year. So it now it just come off like excuses.

 

[lester19]

Rutgers had only four foul shots against Iowa which was six times less than Iowa.

Yes, in this game RU only had 4 foul shots. However, there have been other games that were close or would have been much closer had we shot better FTs.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

I think after less than 20 total games and less than 9 months together, we are further along than where I expected in both wins and margin of defeat against better teams......other than Michigan State, PSU and Wisconsin, which were really never in doubt, Seton Hall and Iowa were up for grabs at the 4 minute mark. That's 2 out of 5 losses where RU played well enough to win both before the last 4 to 5 minutes, or could have built a larger lead in both games.

The next 14 conference games plus whatever additional game or two in Washington DC at the B1G tournament are important. We escaped a real problem with Sanders ankle not requiring him to miss any game time and are getting the points from players many expected to see....otherwise the progress and potential conversations really go out the window.....you can't evaluate anything, if the roster isn't healthy enough to see what can or can't happen.

The question isn't wins and losses or the first 34-36 minutes on how we play....it's whether RU can play well enough before the last 4 to 5 minutes to have a large enough lead vs expecting crisper defense and offense in the last 5 minutes vs the first 34-35 minutes.

The next step for these 14-15 remaining games is to determine whether we are going to play more guards and cut back minutes of Thiam, Eugene & Laurent or find more minutes for those three players. It's an interesting dynamic because short term wins would mean more Mike Williams together with Nigel and Corey, but eventually, all 3 players would wear down faster on both ends of the court.

To get the jumpers and fresh legs to make shots that we need from Corey, Nigel and Mike, we need them at 28-29 minutes a game, vs 32-33 minutes...that extra 4 minutes against better competition, winds up costing the roster at the end of games, when we need those 3's to drop and that extra step to get to the basket....we need something from the SF spot to get more wins, more points over this extended stretch of the first 34-35 minutes of games, against better talent.

I think Eugene and Laurent both match up very well vs Northwestern and Iowa type of rosters, so I expect a very close game tonight at the RAC....

 

[winfield102]

They are so offensively challenged. It's not about learning how to win. They closed against the cupcakes. We ain't closing against anyone else this year. I'll be surprised if we get 2 more wins, shocked if we get 3.

 

[bac2therac]

down 46-43 getting a couple of hoops to cut the gap, did anyone actually believe we would pull it out, I didnt, yes they need to learn how to win but its not going to be this year when they pull close games out