To Win

[zebnatto]

Entering the home stretch:

1) Both Ace and Dylan play at A- or higher level;
2) DG continues to make multiple contributions;
3) Ideally, good play from both EO and LS--but MUST have at least one;
4) JMike and JWill play mostly error free and have nice stat line, including timely hoops;
5) Plus versions of Martini, Acuff, and Dercack.

Getting several of these in a game is quite doable; getting all of them is the trick.

With all five, we are very tough.

 

[RUJMM78]

To continue winning Rutgers must have more consistency at both ends of the court.Slow starts in scoring results in a 8-10 point deficit after five minutes.On defense limiting offensive rebounds and easy back door baskets must be minimized.Having a 3 point shooter beside Bailey and Harper is key to maintain leads.Above all else Harper and Bailey must stay healthy.Having only 10 wins makes games like tonight against Penn State must wins.

 

[lion1983]

Entering the home stretch:

1) Both Ace and Dylan play at A- or higher level;
2) DG continues to make multiple contributions;
3) Ideally, good play from both EO and LS--but MUST have at least one;
4) JMike and JWill play mostly error free and have nice stat line, including timely hoops;
5) Plus versions of Martini, Acuff, and Dercack.

Getting several of these in a game is quite doable; getting all of them is the trick.

With all five, we are very tough.

Do NOT need all 5 items. In fact, if RU got all 5 items it might be the 1st time ALL SEASON that happened.

Keys to PSU:

1) Hold PSU under 80 points. PSU is 1-4 when at 80 points or fewer ... 11-2 when scoring over 80 points.

2) Rebound

3) Harper and Bailey at least B+ games, with at least 2 players adding offensive contributions.

4) Keep turnovers manageable.

Oh ... I just realized you may be talking about ALL RU's remaining games, not just the PSU game ... Sorry.

Even so ... RU does not need ALL 5 your items every game. If I had to modify your list (not change the list, but what RU generally needs):

1 - Yes, RU needs both Harper and Bailey to play at All Big Ten levels MOST games ... But against certain match-ups a B or B+ game from 1 while an A- or A game from the other would be sufficient if other items on your list occur. It is pretty clear RU will not beat ANY Big Ten team if NEITHER Harper nor Bailey are playing well in any one game. The supporting cast is just not good enough to overcome that.

2) Yes, on Grant - though it does not always have to be in the stat line.

3) Yes on Ogbole/Sommerville ... good play though may not need to be defined by points ... rebounds, wall-up defense, rim protection, improving defending the high screens ARE important. RU WILL probably need some games where Sommerville scores 8-12 points, though ... depending on other things happening in the game.

4) JWill more than Davis, frankly ... Davis needs to play error free with strong on-ball defense when he is in the game. Williams needs to do more, especially scoring and intelligent play-making more often than not.

5) Martini, Acuff, Derkack - plus versions? Do not need that EVERY game from ALL 3 ... in ANY game RU gets that from all 3, assuming Bailey and Harper are at least B+, RU stands a strong chance of winning. RU DOES need 2 players other than Bailey and Harper to provide scoring each game (i.e. 8-12 points each ... if only 8 points, may need THREE players like that in a single game) - but it does not need it to be the same players each game ... It could be 2 of Williams, Martini, Acuff, Sommerville or Derkack ... asking that of Grant seems like a lot (that 15 point game versus Nebraska seems more like the oddity than the norm)

 

[Knight Owl]

Dylan and Ace both had supersized double doubles the first game vs PSU and there’s no reason to think they won’t again.

 

[zebnatto]

Do NOT need all 5 items. In fact, if RU got all 5 items it might be the 1st time ALL SEASON that happened.

Keys to PSU:

1) Hold PSU under 80 points. PSU is 1-4 when at 80 points or fewer ... 11-2 when scoring over 80 points.

2) Rebound

3) Harper and Bailey at least B+ games, with at least 2 players adding offensive contributions.

4) Keep turnovers manageable.

Oh ... I just realized you may be talking about ALL RU's remaining games, not just the PSU game ... Sorry.

Even so ... RU does not need ALL 5 your items every game. If I had to modify your list (not change the list, but what RU generally needs):

1 - Yes, RU needs both Harper and Bailey to play at All Big Ten levels MOST games ... But against certain match-ups a B or B+ game from 1 while an A- or A game from the other would be sufficient if other items on your list occur. It is pretty clear RU will not beat ANY Big Ten team if NEITHER Harper nor Bailey are playing well in any one game. The supporting cast is just not good enough to overcome that.

2) Yes, on Grant - though it does not always have to be in the stat line.

3) Yes on Ogbole/Sommerville ... good play though may not need to be defined by points ... rebounds, wall-up defense, rim protection, improving defending the high screens ARE important. RU WILL probably need some games where Sommerville scores 8-12 points, though ... depending on other things happening in the game.

4) JWill more than Davis, frankly ... Davis needs to play error free with strong on-ball defense when he is in the game. Williams needs to do more, especially scoring and intelligent play-making more often than not.

5) Martini, Acuff, Derkack - plus versions? Do not need that EVERY game from ALL 3 ... in ANY game RU gets that from all 3, assuming Bailey and Harper are at least B+, RU stands a strong chance of winning. RU DOES need 2 players other than Bailey and Harper to provide scoring each game (i.e. 8-12 points each ... if only 8 points, may need THREE players like that in a single game) - but it does not need it to be the same players each game ... It could be 2 of Williams, Martini, Acuff, Sommerville or Derkack ... asking that of Grant seems like a lot (that 15 point game versus Nebraska seems more like the oddity than the norm)

I

Do NOT need all 5 items. In fact, if RU got all 5 items it might be the 1st time ALL SEASON that happened.

Keys to PSU:

1) Hold PSU under 80 points. PSU is 1-4 when at 80 points or fewer ... 11-2 when scoring over 80 points.

2) Rebound

3) Harper and Bailey at least B+ games, with at least 2 players adding offensive contributions.

4) Keep turnovers manageable.

Oh ... I just realized you may be talking about ALL RU's remaining games, not just the PSU game ... Sorry.

Even so ... RU does not need ALL 5 your items every game. If I had to modify your list (not change the list, but what RU generally needs):

1 - Yes, RU needs both Harper and Bailey to play at All Big Ten levels MOST games ... But against certain match-ups a B or B+ game from 1 while an A- or A game from the other would be sufficient if other items on your list occur. It is pretty clear RU will not beat ANY Big Ten team if NEITHER Harper nor Bailey are playing well in any one game. The supporting cast is just not good enough to overcome that.

2) Yes, on Grant - though it does not always have to be in the stat line.

3) Yes on Ogbole/Sommerville ... good play though may not need to be defined by points ... rebounds, wall-up defense, rim protection, improving defending the high screens ARE important. RU WILL probably need some games where Sommerville scores 8-12 points, though ... depending on other things happening in the game.

4) JWill more than Davis, frankly ... Davis needs to play error free with strong on-ball defense when he is in the game. Williams needs to do more, especially scoring and intelligent play-making more often than not.

5) Martini, Acuff, Derkack - plus versions? Do not need that EVERY game from ALL 3 ... in ANY game RU gets that from all 3, assuming Bailey and Harper are at least B+, RU stands a strong chance of winning. RU DOES need 2 players other than Bailey and Harper to provide scoring each game (i.e. 8-12 points each ... if only 8 points, may need THREE players like that in a single game) - but it does not need it to be the same players each game ... It could be 2 of Williams, Martini, Acuff, Sommerville or Derkack ... asking that of Grant seems like a lot (that 15 point game versus Nebraska seems more like the oddity than the norm)

i don’t think there’s much disagreement.
As you noted, I wasn’t speaking about PSU only but about making a run for the remainder of the season. Also, I think it’s worth noting that when on Facebook, I tend to write in shorthand. Thus, rather than explain, for instance, all the elements that would compose a good game from DG I might say a good stat line. Others, a hum, may not be into such brevity. Is it likely that we will get all five of those occurrences in all games that remain? Certainly not and I didn’t mean to imply that Dercack, Acuff, Martini all need to have good games at the same time but a contribution from one or maybe two of them would be huge. Additionally, I did point out the difficulty, if not unlikelihood, of a stretch of games in which we get all five of those. Three or four of them? That though may be the minimum to finish up the season strong.

 

[RRRRUUUU]

If Lathan can learn to box out and grab rebounds, it would be huge for this team. He tends to watch the ball and then forget about his man, who crashes the board as Lathan watches.

EO is finally doing it. But if we get 40 minutes of that on the court instead of 25, it would be huge. Lathan’s offense would be the cherry on top, but really needs to do his main job first - defend the paint and rebound.

 

[RUisB1Gtime]

Ace and Dylan do not need A games every night. What they need to be is aggressive every game. Meaning, don't always settle for open looks. Get into the lane, get fouled, get to the line. The jumper won't fall every night.

 

[brucelaw8]

Entering the home stretch:

1) Both Ace and Dylan play at A- or higher level;
2) DG continues to make multiple contributions;
3) Ideally, good play from both EO and LS--but MUST have at least one;
4) JMike and JWill play mostly error free and have nice stat line, including timely hoops;
5) Plus versions of Martini, Acuff, and Dercack.

Getting several of these in a game is quite doable; getting all of them is the trick.

With all five, we are very tough.

6) Play solid,team defense

 

[ScarletDave]

Well we went up 9-2 this game and are losing by 10. Whats the next strategy

 

[zebnatto]

Ace and Dylan do not need A games every night. What they need to be is aggressive every game. Meaning, don't always settle for open looks. Get into the lane, get fouled, get to the line. The jumper won't fall every night.

In my opinion, especially looking at the schedule ahead of us, I do believe that Ace and Dylan H need to bring their A games. By this, I mean that they need to play really well. That in no way conflicts with being aggressive. It does of course conflict with turning the ball open over often? For settling for long shots when other options are available. For losing focus. For forgetting that there are two ends of the floor.

My argument is that for us to win with any regularity,, they need to play really well, i.e.: bring their A games

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

6) Play solid,team defense

That is 50% of it.....deserves to be point #1. Don't need to hit many on the list if the defense is there

 

[rubjk]

Entering the home stretch:

1) Both Ace and Dylan play at A- or higher level;
2) DG continues to make multiple contributions;
3) Ideally, good play from both EO and LS--but MUST have at least one;
4) JMike and JWill play mostly error free and have nice stat line, including timely hoops;
5) Plus versions of Martini, Acuff, and Dercack.

Getting several of these in a game is quite doable; getting all of them is the trick.

With all five, we are very tough.

On offense the key has been movement with and without the ball, quick passing and no mindless dribbling around the 3 point line. Our wins featured this.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Ace and Dylan can bring their C+ games and we will win if we can defend. The way we have been defending this year it requires an elite Top 10 offensive performance on offense most nights to win against these top teams.

There has to be a commitment to get stops. we have to get more 0s on defensive possessions....too many 2s and 3s.