Rutgers defense vs. Iowa offense

[Degaz-RU]

According to the B1G website, in all 18 games so far, Rutgers is:
#1 in scoring defense at 58.7 ppg
#1 in FG% defense at 36.4%
#3 in scoring margin at +12.3
#3 in 3-pt FG% defense at 29.2%
#2 in rebounds at 41.5
#6 in rebounds allowed at 32.9
#4 in rebounding margin at +8.6
#4 in blocked shots per game at 4.9
#2 in steals per game at 7.0

Meanwhile, Iowa is
#1 in scoring offense at 79.9 ppg
#2 in 3-pt FG% at 36.1%
#4 in 3-pt FGs made per game at 8.3
#2 in assists per game at 18.3
#1 in assist/TO ratio at 1.5
And of course you have two of the top 8 scorers in the conference.

So this is a really intriguing matchup of strength vs. strength. Rutgers defense vs. Iowa offense. Iowa's goal should be to score 75+, because Rutgers is going to struggle to score 70. We're not going to beat them in a shootout.

Then again, who knows if we can make this like last year's Illinois (or Iowa) road games, where we scored a lot of points against mediocre defenses. Although, Iowa's defense this year is better than it was last year.​

 

[AreYouNUTS]

We can’t let this game come down the FT’s IMHO. Hopefully the refs let both teams play.

 

[Mr Magoo]

We’ve been closing out much better recently, except for a few lunges at the three point shooter while jumping past them yesterday. That will be key since Weiskamp and Frederick are really good 3 point shooters. They spread the floor and Garza is a beast. They also have the revenge factor since we torched them at their place last year. Their fans seemed to think we played dirty since they have no idea what defense is. This, plus a young team reading our own press clippings on the road will make this one very tough .

 

[winfield102]

We are 13-1 when we give up under 71 and 1-3 when we give up 71 or more (Bryant was the 1 win).

 

[RUfromSoCal?]

Time for the spell on Garza:

 

[zappaa]

Gonna be a tough one.
Thank God our players aren’t scared like me.

 

[BellyFullOfWhiteDogCrap]

The reason I'm hopeful is our defense forces our opponents to play faster than they're used to. Team offense, shooting, and scoring are all about rhythm. We will disrupt their offensive rhythm to some degree. How much? That's the big question, and of course, we need to knock down some shots.

 

[BigLou]

This is going to be a very difficult game. I am sure they remember the spanking we gave them on their home court last year. No sneaking up on the Hawkeyes now.

 

[zappaa]

The reason I'm hopeful is our defense forces our opponents to play faster than they're used to. Team offense, shooting, and scoring are all about rhythm. We will disrupt their offensive rhythm to some degree. How much? That's the big question, and of course, we need to knock down some shots.

I agree!
We’re a great defensive team, that will not change because we’re playing Iowa on the road.

 

[Caliknight]

Defense travels. Not saying we are going to win, but I'd rather roll in playing lights out on D then trying to outscore them.

 

[Degaz-RU]

I wonder if perhaps we should press them full court. Not sure they have super athletic guards, and this would certainly take them out of their half court rhythm and limit Garza’s touches.

 

[RUKnights86]

Going to be interesting matchup for sure. They are not a very deep team given the injuries they have (Bohannon, Nunge, etc.) with 5 guys averaging over 25 mpg. Need to find a way to work them into some foul trouble.

One food for thought on a strategy is their guards are not the tallest, wonder if it would be a smart strategy to get guys like Caleb, Tez, Paul etc. on the block, clear out Johnson so Garza is not inside and try to play that way a little more.

 

[zappaa]

I wonder if perhaps we should press them full court. Not sure they have super athletic guards, and this would certainly take them out of their half court rhythm and limit Garza’s touches.

We’ll change it up on them and tire em out.
One thing about us everyone’s noticing.
You never know who’s going to score and you never know what we’re going to do on defense.
We’re a nightmare to prepare for

 

[RUEd]

Who guards Garza? Does it have to be Johnson?

 

[Degaz-RU]

Who guards Garza? Does it have to be Johnson?

I think so. Garza gets most of his points within 12-15 feet, though he does shoot a couple of threes each game. The guy is a legit 6-11 or 7-footer.

 

[Degaz-RU]

This game is the only one of the night that will match up two ranked teams. So we’re the marquee matchup of the night.

 

[rsutton86]

I wonder if perhaps we should press them full court. Not sure they have super athletic guards, and this would certainly take them out of their half court rhythm and limit Garza’s touches.

I would press them for the sole reason of wearing them down as they don’t have a deep bench due to injuries.

 

[rsutton86]

This game is the only one of the night that will match up two ranked teams. So we’re the marquee matchup of the night.

Steve Bardo will be one of the BTN announcers. The guy is a great commentator, I’m looking forward to him calling our game.

 

[DirtyRU]

This game is the only one of the night that will match up two ranked teams. So we’re the marquee matchup of the night.

Nightcap man!!!! If it goes into OT it'll be close to midnight before it's over. :)

 

[DirtyRU]

Steve Bardo will be one of the BTN announcers. The guy is a great commentator, I’m looking forward to him calling our game.

Bardo is my favorite BTN color guy. Loved Crispin too but he moved on to ESPN.

 

[BellyFullOfWhiteDogCrap]

Garza drops 44 on Michigan

 

[RUtom]

Yea, I was going to say, we have two Michigan game films on how-not-to play Garza!

 

[BrewHawk]

Bardo is my favorite BTN color guy. Loved Crispin too but he moved on to ESPN.

I'll be interested to see if you still have this opinion after the game.

 

[brookdale-soda]

We’ll change it up on them and tire em out.
One thing about us everyone’s noticing.
You never know who’s going to score and you never know what we’re going to do on defense.
We’re a nightmare to prepare for

And our defense is trending better!

http://barttorvik.com/trends.php?y=2020&team=Rutgers&type=adjd

 

[DirtyRU]

I'll be interested to see if you still have this opinion after the game.

Uhoh here comes the trash talkin'. Listen Brew, it's a fair point. I've heard/seem enough of Bardo to know that he dumps praise on the team that's winning the game possibly moreso than other color guys. That said, if Iowa plays well and wins, and it becomes an Iowa lovefest led by Bardo, I'm OK with that because it's probably deserving since it'll mean you took down a DAMN good ballclub... and a ranked team. Lord that felt good. A RANKED team. :D

 

[theRU]

Is 2 days rest normal? We played yesterday have 2 days off but travel. They will be well rested, but maybe that hurts them and cools down the shooters?

 

[BrewHawk]

Uhoh here comes the trash talkin'. Listen Brew, it's a fair point. I've heard/seem enough of Bardo to know that he dumps praise on the team that's winning the game possibly moreso than other color guys. That said, if Iowa plays well and wins, and it becomes an Iowa lovefest led by Bardo, I'm OK with that because it's probably deserving since it'll mean you took down a DAMN good ballclub... and a ranked team. Lord that felt good. A RANKED team. :D

Naw, no trash talk. I just think he's a bit of an Iowa homer.

Congrats on the ranking. The Knights deserve it with how they're playing.

 

[RUich]

I spent some time reading some posts on two of their forums. For the most part, they think this game is going to tough but hope the home advantage makes the difference.
Some believe we get away with a lot and not get called for fouls, especially at the RAC.
We will not win a shoot out and they are better at the line. If the refs call a close game, we may well be in foul trouble early.
Many see this game just as the OP does. Great defense meets great offense. Maybe the lesser halves will make the difference.
But, would losing to the #19 team in their house really shock anyone? This is the BIG and nobody wins on the road.

 

[Arizona Knight]

Here’s the thing, we do not play old school Knicks or Pistons defense where someone is risking their life trying to get to the rim. We just play suffocating team defense with a couple of on-ball shut down guards.

It’s not like teams are getting in the bonus at the 12:00 mark every game. Heck, how many guys have actually fouled out of a game for us this year?

 

[LotusAggressor]

Going to be interesting matchup for sure. They are not a very deep team given the injuries they have (Bohannon, Nunge, etc.) with 5 guys averaging over 25 mpg. Need to find a way to work them into some foul trouble.

One food for thought on a strategy is their guards are not the tallest, wonder if it would be a smart strategy to get guys like Caleb, Tez, Paul etc. on the block, clear out Johnson so Garza is not inside and try to play that way a little more.

What kind of post up skills do any of those players have?

 

[Degaz-RU]

Here’s the thing, we do not play old school Knicks or Pistons defense where someone is risking their life trying to get to the rim. We just play suffocating team defense with a couple of on-ball shut down guards.

It’s not like teams are getting in the bonus at the 12:00 mark every game. Heck, how many guys have actually fouled out of a game for us this year?

I agree with this. It’s a false narrative that, because we play suffocating defense, we “get away” with a lot of fouls.

On the contrary, we simply play good team defense, with rotations that are crisp and relentless, and tall guards and wings whose length really bothers other teams’ guards and wings. Moreover, we’re a GREAT rebounding team, which is part of playing good defense.

Finally, we have several individual guys who are just extremely quick and play stifling on-ball defense. It starts with Mathis and Young, but Baker is also a ball hawk (2nd in the conference in steals). We also are at the top of the conference in blocks.

So, yeah, we’re not mugging teams, but rather just suffocating them.

 

[RUKnights86]

What kind of post up skills do any of those players have?

Caleb has shown some ability to take smaller guards down on the block and if i recall last year we saw Tez do some of it. Not saying that should be the main gameplan but might be good at times to take advantage of their height and clear out garza. We saw harper and yeboah do it at the 4 to start the 2nd half against minny.