Tonight was a real clunker.

[Knights 1212]

We really did not play well at all tonight. We had 28 points in the first half and only trailed 32-28. Freeman had 11 points and Gettys had 10 points in the first half. Sanders had 5 and Johnson had 2. No one else on our team scored in the first half.

In the second half Freeman did not score and Gettys rarely got the ball and only scored 2. Williams who didn't score in the first half came to life and scored 14 points in the second half. Sanders only scored 1 point in the second half. Nigel scored 7 but 4 were in the last 3 minutes or so when the game was basically over. I don't think we really had anyone who played well for the entire game. It was not the toughness that we had showed in just about every earlier game except for Michigan State and our second game vs. Iowa. I sure hope we can play with all heart on senior day on Saturday.

 

[DHajekRC84]

(here's a copy of my last comment on the game thread)..

I'm calling out the defense. Gettys 1 Foul, Sanders 1 foul (in first minute), Johnson 0 fouls, Freeman 2 fouls. Stick your friggen nose in there.

Only guy with 3 fouls was Mr. Hustle (Williams ) who also had 6 bounds. The other guys mailed in the 2nd half which is why it is so hard to commit to spending 5 hours on a week night going to a game. Tired of being more committed then the team is every damn game.

I'll be there on Sat.. but getting really tired of the efforts (or lack there of) at home. WTF do these guys want/ WTF do these guys need to watch and experience to get it? can't they sense what is working or not working in game? Who's playing well? Who's not stepping up?

SO frustrating...

 

[bac2therac]

I think people are not giving Maryland credit at all. I think the reason RU played poorly is that Maryland really upped their game today and played their A game. Maryland was very good on D in the first half even though they played poorly on offense. In the 2nd half, they excelled on both ends. They brought their A game and that is why RU got spanked. RU played its usually game in the first half and hung but it was about talent in the 2nd half and once Maryland got rolling it was off to the races. I thought overall it wasnt a bad game for RU considering they were only down 4 at half. Maryland is just better at every position and RU cannot shoot the ball

I thought the effort was fine tonight. Maryland is 23-7 and has a shot to be a sweet 16 teams

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I do think we have hit a wall. Freeman especially.

 

[bac2therac]

Did Freeman score in the 2nd half? I think Turgeron might have made an adjustment at halftime that Pike didnt counter. Wasnt specifically watching Freeman but they must have clamped down on him

 

[goru7]

I think people are not giving Maryland credit at all. I think the reason RU played poorly is that Maryland really upped their game today and played their A game. Maryland was very good on D in the first half even though they played poorly on offense. In the 2nd half, they excelled on both ends. They brought their A game and that is why RU got spanked. RU played its usually game in the first half and hung but it was about talent in the 2nd half and once Maryland got rolling it was off to the races. I thought overall it wasnt a bad game for RU considering they were only down 4 at half. Maryland is just better at every position and RU cannot shoot the ball

I thought the effort was fine tonight. Maryland is 23-7 and has a shot to be a sweet 16 teams

Listen, Maryland was desperate coming off the 3 game losing streak and played their A game but it was clear we played one of the worst halves we have played all year. We did not match Maryland's urgency , especially on the defensive end, and especially our guards. Just listened to Coach's post game presser, and it was very clear how pissed he was that the guards, specifically Nigel and Corey , played on the defensive end. We gave up 47 points for an half, which should never happen to a Steve Pikiell, Jay Young coached team.. We are in a funk at the RAC that rarely happens on the road.

 

[RU-ROCS]

Maryland played great in the second half, but the second half was also RU's worst effort since the home rout to Iowa. I agree that the only RU player who brought his A-game effort for the entire game was Mike Williams. The MD guards, especially Cowan, did a great job defending Sanders and Johnson.

 

[bethlehemfan]

The defense in the second half was pathetic. They pretty much quit.

 

[RUJMM78]

Maryland has better talent at every position which is the reason they won by 20 points.Rutgers has no player close to Trimble in talent who is a outstanding passer to team mates which resulted in dunks,layups and 3 pointers.In contrast Rutgers scored only 59 points which won't win B1G games.The blame belongs with players who can't shoot and not the defense which is under constant pressure to keep the team in games.Yes, it looks bad when Maryland scores so easily but that has more to do with their talented players than Rutgers giving up on defense.

 

[bethlehemfan]

Maryland has better talent at every position which is the reason they won by 20 points.Rutgers has no player close to Trimble in talent who is a outstanding passer to team mates which resulted in dunks,layups and 3 pointers.In contrast Rutgers scored only 59 points which won't win B1G games.The blame belongs with players who can't shoot and not the defense which is under constant pressure to keep the team in games.Yes, it looks bad when Maryland scores so easily but that has more to do with their talented players than Rutgers giving up on defense.

Disagree. Total cop out. Yes md much better but Rutgers quit playing defense

 

[DHajekRC84]

Disagree. Total cop out. Yes md much better but Rutgers quit playing defense

against a team that doesn't shoot great from the line either. 68% in the league games. Couple of good shooters @ 75 & 83% but the rest of the team is right there with RU in the 50's! Play hard, use your fouls, send them to the line. Sorry, if you're not using some of your fouls you not playing hard enough defense. (and you know how much the refs like to call fouls on Rutgers lol)

 

[rutger80]

All you need to know about our defense last night, was to see how many layups or follow-ups they had. When they weren't hitting threes, they were scoring off dribble penetration because our guards didn't follow into the paint. I can remember one play in particular where the guard cut to the basket with the ball, Gettys followed and while the center rolled off the screen, Williams stood there and pointed instead of getting in front of the center. That was the whole second half.

 

[HeyHuey]

Definitely a tale of 2 halves. Should have been 2 point game at the half.

 

[mikefla]

I do think we have hit a wall. Freeman especially.

sheer lunicy ....he was the 2nd leading scorer and rebounder this game

you mean Sanders stunk I think....

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

sheer lunicy ....he was the 2nd leading scorer and rebounder this game

you mean Sanders stunk I think....

I meant Freeman. The motor is not running like it was earlier in the season. His OREB really show it.

 

[RUJMM78]

Listen, Maryland was desperate coming off the 3 game losing streak and played their A game but it was clear we played one of the worst halves we have played all year. We did not match Maryland's urgency , especially on the defensive end, and especially our guards. Just listened to Coach's post game presser, and it was very clear how pissed he was that the guards, specifically Nigel and Corey , played on the defensive end. We gave up 47 points for an half, which should never happen to a Steve Pikiell, Jay Young coached team.. We are in a funk at the RAC that rarely happens on the road.

Lets cut to the chase and admit that 25 years of futility was largely based on mediocre recruiting and failure of the coaching staffs to get players to over achieve.This season is just a rehash of prior futility with different names of players and coaches.Mediocre recruiting has a more lasting impact especially in a power conference.

 

[goru7]

Lets cut to the chase and admit that 25 years of futility was largely based on mediocre recruiting and failure of the coaching staffs to get players to over achieve.This season is just a rehash of prior futility with different names of players and coaches.Mediocre recruiting has a more lasting impact especially in a power conference.

25 years of mediocre to bad basketball has nothing to do with this year. Stop with your incessant blasting of the crappy players you think we have. The dumpster fire from the administration and the coaches is over. We have a real coach that has a great staff. Yes we all agree we need better players , especially in this conference. Easier said than done coming off 11 straight losing seasons and the negative recruiting and the AAU guys that steer their guys away from Rutgers. Coach Pikiell will get it done. Frankly, although we only have 2 wins , anyone would half a brain can see that 5-6 other conference games were there for us to win but our players do not know how to win and we do not have a closer. Coach has done a remarkable job making us competitive and having every Big 10 studio analyst , play by play guy ,and every coach point that out. We are not the laughing stock we have been the last 11 years, and that is due to Coach. This season is nothing like a rehash of prior futility like you claim . If you cannot see it , get a pair of contact lens or better glasses. Your incessant posts have grown old and repetitive.

 

[RUJMM78]

25 years of mediocre to bad basketball has nothing to do with this year. Stop with your incessant blasting of the crappy players you think we have. The dumpster fire from the administration and the coaches is over. We have a real coach that has a great staff. Yes we all agree we need better players , especially in this conference. Easier said than done coming off 11 straight losing seasons and the negative recruiting and the AAU guys that steer their guys away from Rutgers. Coach Pikiell will get it done. Frankly, although we only have 2 wins , anyone would half a brain can see that 5-6 other conference games were there for us to win but our players do not know how to win and we do not have a closer. Coach has done a remarkable job making us competitive and having every Big 10 studio analyst , play by play guy ,and every coach point that out. We are not the laughing stock we have been the last 11 years, and that is due to Coach. This season is nothing like a rehash of prior futility like you claim . If you cannot see it , get a pair of contact lens or better glasses. Your incessant posts have grown old and repetitive.

I have continually stated that Coach Pikiell has done a terrific job squeezing every possible point from a team that lacks shooters .I didn't say the team had crappy players but like most fans on this board have questioned the talent as compared to the league competition.

To think perception doesn't impact recruiting based on past losing seasons is utter nonsense .Previous head coaches wouldn't have been fired if they recruited better talent which would have then translated into winning seasons.
Nobody knows if Coach Pikiell and staff can break the cycle of poor recruiting.All fans want Pikiell to be successful because we are tired of being at the bottom of league rankings .Your tirade is not appreciated because all you are trying to do is divert attention from the fact the team won only 2 league games which fans at any other school would be unhappy about.I don't need a pair of glasses to know that roster changes are needed for next season because league opponents have better young talent.

 

[yellowlot]

help defense got there late and terps always found the man, who was left open for a close to the basket score, happened like 8 or 9 times. I also thought Trimble could get to the basket anytime he wanted to, it almost seemed he was letting the other guys have at it, as they didnt really need him vs RU.