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75 points is good against anyone! Guarding the perimeter, and again...Free throws, are our main problems. Also, didn't rebound the Offensive boards this game, as in other games. So, fatigue could be playing a role. Something to remember is that this team was out of shape, not to long ago. And, even if as a team it has gotten into better shape, there is still a lag, and it's showing right now. Great prep game, shows the character this team has built, and will continue during the season.
 
1. Expected a tough game. Not much rest, around Thanksgiving, and Miami up next. Didn't expect it to be that close but games like that build character moving forward (more if you win).

2. Still struggling against the zone defense, a little troublesome and hopefully we can fix that up before B1G play. Looked like we got into a rhythm at the end, maybe we'll shift to more of an up-tempo style with Sanders/Johnson/Thiam/Freeman/Sa getting more minutes against better teams.

3. We looked better in man defense. Not sure if running the more athletic group more often would help or hurt us more, or if we'd rather have CJ, etc. in.

4. CJ with the winning shot.

5. Really do think we played tired, but same as last year, critical we make free throws and 3s with better consistency once we play better teams.

6. Freeman stepped up today which was good to see. Thought early in the year we'd need him and/or Sanders to step up in order to win. Something to note, Corey's only been shooting ~30% this year, down about 10% from last year. Look for that to improve, which I'm sure it will, and expect better offensive output from everyone once it does.

7. PLEASE buy tickets and get to the games whenever possible. Crowd looked good today and got loud even in the lower sections. SK.com has buy one get one free for Black Friday (code is BOGOMB) for every home game, including B1G games. You won't get better entertainment for $8/seat. Additionally, Ticketmaster has Seton Hall tickets for 40% off with code SHUHOOPS, and there are seats behind RU bench. We also play Fordham and Wisconsin at MSG in December and January, and we could use big turnouts (tickets on SK.com).
Yet another valuable learning experience and came away still unbeaten...I know it's been said for every previous game, but in years past we fold in this game and give up. The passion, intensity and effort is all you can ask. Bring on the U.
 
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Big poroblen -until last 4.5 mins - was lack of production from guards Sanders and Johnson and forward Williams. Could be because of quick turnaround from Tues. Thought putting Getty in high post by foul line and Freeman down low by baseline worked like a charm in beating zone as Getty found Freeman down low time and again. Grateful to be present for such an exciting end to game.
 
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Big poroblen -until last 4.5 mins - was lack of production from guards Sanders and Johnson and forward Williams. Could be because of quick turnaround from Tues. Thought putting Getty in high post by foul line and Freeman down low by baseline worked like a charm in beating zone as Getty found Freeman down low time and again. Grateful to be present for such an exciting end to game.
We don't have a forward named Williams...though Mike sure hits the glass like he is 6'9
 
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4 games in 9 days. Nothing but game prep for a team and HC who want to keep working on "practice things" to get better. I like Coach P having four days to prep for @UM. Might not win but I bet we're ready. Go RU!
 
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I love this coaching staff and I'll take the win. But today was not Pike's best effort. The way we attacked the zone the entire 1st half was so frustrating. UH was sagging off the free throw line and packing it in underneath the hoop, giving wide open looks from just below the FT line. But, RU just refused to take the 10 foot shot. And on defense, 2 of UH 3 guards were not strong ball handlers, yet we sagged off of them and gave way too many wide open looks from 3. This made no sense especially with Getys and/or Sa protecting the rim. It was not until the last 5 minutes that RU played in your face defense on the guards and the results speak for themselves, I'm not sure what took so long to take that approach, but I'm glad it happened and I'm very thankful for the win! 6-0 baby!
 
The image of the game was Freeman's soaring blocks at the backboard to stop sure baskets. I believe that he had 2 without fouls. Sweet.
 
I've said this for the better part of a decade now--I don't understand why anyone tries to play us man. I'd play zone 80% of the time against us.

I don't see it.

Teams better than us will be the defense they play best.

If we were playing FDU and they couldn't shoot from the outside I doubt we would make zone our primary D.
 
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I adtually thought we continue to get good looks even when things were cold against the Zone

We aren't having any 12 For 17 nights from three but if we can hit in the mid 30s we are good to go
 
a game like this leaves me with mixed feelings....going in, thought we should win easily....then midway through the second half we would lose, then the big come back

I don't think we can struggle with a Hartford today then expect to win many league games

I think I got a bit mislead by the Depaul game, where we looked a lot better, and on the road to boot.....

We have to start shooting way better and defend the three better also.

Hopefully our new coach has some answers
 
a game like this leaves me with mixed feelings....going in, thought we should win easily....then midway through the second half we would lose, then the big come back

I don't think we can struggle with a Hartford today then expect to win many league games

I think I got a bit mislead by the Depaul game, where we looked a lot better, and on the road to boot.....

We have to start shooting way better and defend the three better also.

Hopefully our new coach has some answers


did not see or hear the game as I was on a road trip but did follow the score so I will defer to others for analysis today....down 10 I thought for sure it was a loss that was going to be one that was going to be a teaching lesson for the team and my first reaction was it may have been a good thing to get a loss if that made any sense to get the teams attention and to get them playing with urgency early on which might make the outcome of these games not in doubt by early in the 2nd half. Hartford has no business beating this team at the RAC. Well actually it worked out, the team showed its urgency, never gave up and found a way to win a game that they shouldnt to go to 6-0...and still Pikiell can use this game as an example of they arent anything yet, havent beaten nobody and still struggling with the likes of lowly Hartford. I think this is a great wakeup call that this team has to work for everything. And perhaps it also serves as a lesson to temper the fanbase a bit that though we have a very promising and competitive teams this year, they still have a long way to go to have expecations heaped on to them. Its a program still learning how to win....7 last year and 6 already. The competition gets amped up in the coming weeks with Miami, FDU, Stony Brook, Fordham and Seton Hall all providing varying degrees of test to see just how good this team is. Right now we know that it can outalent, outcoach, and outheart programs weaker than they are but now its time to see if they can meet the challenge and do it to teams at their level and beyond. Interesting times ahead and 6-0 sure beats a bad loss.
 
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So, it was a great ending to a game I thought we had blown. The team played the first half without the intensity of the previous games. We were beaten to the 50-50 balls and rebounds time and again. I think the 16-8 lead put us on cruise control. Any time you play man to man D for 29 minutes and only have one foul to me is an indicator that we were not very aggressive. In the second half, we played tougher, but Hartford didn't miss. Got to tip your hat to the visitors. I couldn't stand the showboating of #1 after time and time again hitting the three. When their guard hit a prayer 3 with no time on the play clock, I thought we were toast.

The RAC got rowdy at the end. It is a game that we should have lost, but didn't. Hats off to Freeman, who kept us in it, and kudios to Sanders for an amazing four minute performance at the end.
 
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1) Hartford also had a home game on Wednesday and had to go on the road, so the fatigue factor should have been a wash.

4) Students are going to come to games just to see Gettys. Last guy I remember who seemed to be having as much fun in the RAC was Joel Salvi.

6) OK, it was Hartford, but Freeman was really impressive today. He looks like a kid playing for his next contract.

What a difference to see a staff that didn't stop coaching just because RU was down by 13 with under 5 to play.
 
Hartford had a couple NJ kids Dunn and Lynch that were on FIRE vs the big NJ state "power"...they kept the team pumped up.

This is a new RU team with a new coach...mistakes WILL be made,,,
they WERE made today but miraculously,,
we won !
[banana]:cool2:[banana]:cool2:[cheers][banana]:cool2:[banana]


This team is WAY better than I ever expected it to be..so far...
good coaching and everyone CONTRIBUTES!
and I believe they will get better with time
one more win and we EQUAL last years win total
[cheers]
 
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