This game changes everything

[seels2662]

I know that we have a very little shot at winning this game at Miami, and I know that there are other trap games (Fordham, @Stony Brook), but if we do win this game, I truly think this changes everything. A win packs the RAC for most of this season, and I have seen the magic at the RAC along with many here there is no denying it when it is a full house there is something special....we win games we have no business winning.

 

[MCKnight2004]

Agreed, a win Wednesday awakens the fan base. Regardless, we can still enter big ten play with 11 wins. I think a special season is brewing, I was one who said this team can win 18 games and be alive for the NIT and that was before even seeing the team play a single game... now I firmly believe this team is capable

 

[colbert17]

One step at a time........

 

[Upstream]

One step at a time........

And the step I really want to take is to bring home a win on Wednesday. I'm anticipating this game more than any other bb game in a long time.

 

[njcanesfan]

This is not duke or Kentucky. We have the same shot of beating them as they have beating us. I'm not going into this game as "underdog".

 

[AshSaturday]

Don't think this Miami team is unbeatable. I expect our guys to play hard.

That said I just got done watching an American Pharoah journey for about the 5th time (Thanks to my good buddies Piscataway Mike and brother to be witness to that history).
Just started thinking that his career, like our program, was a process that had its ups and down from his 2 year old season to conclusion (and he's adapted as a breeder like Ron Jeremy to the set of an adult movie).

While I think beating Miami and perhaps winning another game two might bring some more publicity even sooner but this is still the infancy of the Pikiell era whose upside is gonna surprise a lot of people around the country.

Although I don't expect a win I'd much rather see a "W" or good showing against Seton Hall that will enhance recruiting. Rutgers needs to get back to being New Jersey's college basketball team. The new facilities will eventually be in place. We have the coach. It's now time for the team and program to improve. That could involve moving backwards sometimes.

As seemingly a great coach and great guy who top players would like to play for (maybe we hard that under Waters who was a bit of a fish out of water in NJ) I can't wait until 4-star players start sign wth RU at a clip of a few a year. As such Pikiell seems to have a knack for choosing players who fit his system ALREADY.

A win Wednesday will be nice but it's not urgent or season making. Frankly if the team stays healthy and plays the "D" I don't think there's anyone that they can't beat on a given Knight. Shoot, a much worse Jordan team from two years ago beat a team in the NCAA Final who took out Kentucky (yes it was a short staffed team but many teams have problems-in 1990 or 91 a above average RU team with a beach boy center (I believe) took out UNLV at the RAC that was 59-3 (including that big upset loss to Dook in the NCAA Final but who beat RU by their normal 25-30 points plus). Rutgers caught them overlooking us at the end of a road trip.

Lke the other poster who started a recent thread stated "NJoy the Ride"

 

[TDIrish27]

I think beating Seton Hall would have a bigger impact personally.

 

[RUBigFrank]

Would agree with above that Seton Hall is a harder beat - do not agree that we have little shot against Miami.

DePaul game proved we can play well on the road - this will be a good test.

 

[Upstream]

I think beating Seton Hall would have a bigger impact personally.

Beating Seton Hall on Wednesday would be a monumental challenge.

 

[bac2therac]

lets calm down here. Miami is not Duke and they are not ranked. Its a beatable team. I would say its like RU going into Iowa and winning...tough challenge but still possible. I think because its December and students avoid the RAC like a plague during that time and XMas concerns for the general pop, I dont see a big surge in RAC attendence just by beating Miami. The real buzz will happen when RU beats Seton Hall. That will get the fans in the seats right from the get go when Big 10 season starts. Fans should not start to put expectations on this team if they beat Miami..way too soon IMO

 

[Upstream]

BAC -- The excitement of beating Miami isn't because anyone thinks we are beating a top team. It is because we are advancing to 7-0 with a road win against a non-cupcake, and a decent chance to win all, or almost all, of our remaining OOC games. I think that is enough to get students and alumni to the RAC.

 

[jmc11201]

I don't know much about Miami...but what I've seen from Rutgers so far is a team that rebounds well and plays very hard on defense. Rebounding and defense are effort-type items and should be there all season. If Rutgers shoots the ball well, there is no reason a win can't happen. I don't know that offensively we are all that great, but a good shooting night leads to a win.

 

[RUJMM78]

A win increases perception with some recruits and national media .The real challenge for the coaching staff is keeping the team positive after losing games to league competition.There will be no sure wins and grinding out wins won't be easy even at the RAC.

 

[FastMJ]

I'm not worried about losing to Miami. we're playing with house money and on the road. It's more important that we get through those next 5 games cleanly avoiding any WTF losses. 11-1 would be pretty sweet heading into a packed Seton Hall game at the RAC on Xmas eve-eve.

 

[knight82]

I'm not worried about losing to Miami. we're playing with house money and on the road. It's more important that we get through those next 5 games cleanly avoiding any WTF losses. 11-1 would be pretty sweet heading into a packed Seton Hall game at the RAC on Xmas eve-eve.

When was the Seton Hall game moved to the RAC?

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

There are 20+ more important games ahead of us. 18 B1G games+SHU+B1G tourney.

The reality is we have a lot of boring B1G home games with the biggest names coming at the end. The odds of us beating a top 10 at home before March could be zero.

Beating Wisconsin or Michigan State on the road in January would get attention.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Yeah, this is a "house money" type of game. Lose, and we're just meeting expectations (and are still 6-1 with the chance to go 12-1 or 11-2 OOC). Win, and it's certainly a highER profile win, but the reality is that it means very little (other than it's another W) for our long-term prospects for attendance. There's too much that needs to happen between now and January 1st to think that a W against Miami will cause a long-term increase in attendance.

 

[PaKnight]

Wins are better than losses, but this one game has very little impact on the direction of the program.

 

[Upstream]

There's too much that needs to happen between now and January 1st to think that a W against Miami will cause a long-term increase in attendance.

I agree with this. I believe a W vs Miami will provide a short-term boost in attendance. But if the L's start piling up in January (as I expect), then attendance will take a hit again.

 

[RU85inFla]

I watched UF play both Seton Hall and Miami over the last week. A good showing on Wednesday will really give insight into how this team can compete this year. Both were good games and all 3 teams are borderline top 25 teams. I am hoping for the upset but a competitive game at the worst. I like this team allot. They are easy to watch.

 

[FastMJ]

When was the Seton Hall game moved to the RAC?

My bad

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

We are 6-0 and not thinking about anything but winning........however

Before the season a lot of people thought a good measuring stick for the team and coaching staff was the lack of blowout losses. This is game 1 of 11 where we should be 10+ point underdogs. Being competitive in 8/9 of these 11 and win 2 or 3 of them would be a very good sign.

 

[seels2662]

I think you guys are missing the point here. You are talking about important and I agree the B1G schedule is more important to the standings, however we will still be playing to an empty house in January, even if we win all the other games we are favored in this month and next month. Win this game, and January games will be packed, which will give us a leg up on those games where previously it wouldn't.