When a loss translates to Wins

[BillyC80]

RU stood tall against a good FSU squad, and the outstanding character of our team was revealed in a game we didn't win.

We now have 5 guys who have scored 20+ points in a game -- Corey, DeShawn, Mike, Geo and Eugene.

Eugene's agility from the high post area and through the lane for scoring finishes has now opened up new offensive strategies for our coaching staff.

And while Eugene and our other 20-pt scorers cannot be expected to produce at that level consistently, opposing coaches now have to gameplan for that possibility.

Add to that the fact that we bring rebounding and defensive intensity EVERY night, and you have a team that will put a scare into almost any opponent.

Really excited for what this team can accomplish this year, and last night we served notice that we will not be an easy out.

 

[ScarletDave]

An effort like last night will win you more games than you lose. That FSU team is better than 10 of the 14 B1G teams .. unfortunately we have 2 of the other 3 in the next week but I’m feeling excited for he rest of the season

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Eugene driving from the high post is NOT something that can be counted on working on a regular basis in the B1G.

Ball movement and hard cuts off the ball will be what scores us points (along with made perimeter shots) in B1G. I think when Leonard Hamilton looks at the tape he is going to be disappointed by his interior defense.

We will need to make perimeter shots and FTs and stay healthy and out of foul trouble.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

An effort like last night will win you more games than you lose. That FSU team is better than 10 of the 14 B1G teams .. unfortunately we have 2 of the other 3 in the next week but I’m feeling excited for he rest of the season

NOOOOOOOOO! Especially the team last night without the 7'4'' guy. this is what we like to think. Florida State is lacking guard play, althought they got it from 2 last night.

 

[ScarletDave]

NOOOOOOOOO! Especially the team last night without the 7'4'' guy. this is what we like to think. Florida State is lacking guard play, althought they got it from 2 last night.

We stopped the trees they had (never seen so much height) but then their little guy #2 who was 2-7 from 3pt through 5 games, hit 4 on us last night. So you never know. Any players on any given night. And don’t know why anyone says Gene won’t be able to drive against the B1G when they play zone like he did last night. He will.

 

[BillyC80]

Re Eugene's post play -- maybe not FIG (remains to be seen), but now opposing coaches and players have to look out for it, which will open up other possibilities, especially if Eugene learns to kick out passes to open guys on the perimeter.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Maybe not FIG (remains to be seen), but now opposing coaches and players have to look out for it, which will open up other possibilities, especially if Eugene learns to kick out passes to open guys on the perimeter.

Eugene is always a willing passer...and yes it does add another dimension.

I'd be interested to look at the tape and see when Eugene penetrated and see was it against zone, was it when we didn't have a traditonal center, and where was our other big on the floor.

 

[BillyC80]

Also FIG, ball movement will now be more effective with Eugene showing flashes of what he can do from the high post.

 

[RUJMM78]

Stats can be used to give a point of view but in sports winning is the only thing that matters.Rutgers is a mediocre shooting team especially from the 3 point line.I fully expect more opponents to play zone against Rutgers which will clog the driving lanes and impact the effectiveness of Sanders,Omoruyi and Freeman.Defense and rebounding will keep Rutgers in games but making shots with the game on the line is the stat that matters the most .

The goal for this season is a winning record and difficult games like Florida State must translate into wins at least 5/6 times for the goal to be achieved.There is no margin for error including any of the remaining out of conference games excluding Seton Hall..

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I still don't think we see much zone. We got 18 OREB vs FSU. We'd.crush most B1G that went zone on us on the o glass

 

[knights1212]

Where is the guy who said Eugene would be playing less than 10 minutes a game and would not be a contributor? Too many of our fans are way too critical of our players.

 

[BillyC80]

FIG, good point about our O rebounding. Even though our shooting petcentage was lower than FSU's, how did we stack up to them on points per possession?

 

[mikefla]

put simply....Corey, DeShawn, WIlliams, Geo and Eugene are the "RU engine" this year

When only 3 show up...we struggle
In the FSU game DeShawn, Corey and Eugene stepped up
Williams & Geo didnt do much and we struggled

We needed Mike to get hot...just 1 hot stretch(I suspect he is still injured)

 

[zebnatto]

When Eugene gets the ball at the foul line against zone (it must have been zone, at least in term of the picture I have in my head) he had more composure, aggressiveness, decision making, and patience than any RU guy of recent years.

 

[Unionst]

It seems to me that in a man defense Eugene's drives to the basket would get stopped by giving him space and making him shoot from 15. Also by not going for ball or head fakes. It will be interesting to see if coaches do this and how effective he might be. I think he is still at least a year away from developing the needed outside shot.

 

[ScarletDave]

Completely agree with this. Eugene got his points because he was opportunistic and took what the defense gave him. This can't be counted on every game but it's what makes him special by taking advantage of it and having the skill to do so.

When you score 22 points in a game, you find a lot of ways to do it.

 

[BillyC80]

RU showed they belong on the same floor as a legitimate tourney team.

After rewatching the game last night, this is what stood out to me:

- Geo had a better game than he's being credited with. Despite a couple of freshman mistakes, he ran the point well against a pressing team with good quick guards.

- Issa was outstanding defensively and offensively was always a threat that had to be covered deep.

- Cofer was the real difference-maker for FSU, imo, despite the late game heroics by Walker.

- The way DeShawn went down, it shook up our guys temporarily, in particular Corey who looked out of synch for a few critical minutes when FSU went on an 11 point run that tilted the game in their favor for good.

- Eugene gave FSU fits and has opened up a new dimension for RU offensively. Defensively he made some spectacular plays as well, which should be recognized but was overshadowed by his scoring.