This is an NCAA Tournament team

[Scangg]

We need this team to be a juggernaut at home now and knock off the top teams to have a shot

 

[bethlehemfan]

This team plus JY... what could have been... *sigh*

Was just thinking that

 

[rubjk]

agree with this. I think it’s a an issue of hating to play on the road

don’t think it’s hating. It’s not having the energy to feed off of and not being able to generate it. I’d be shocked if we don’t have sports psychologists on staff.

 

[rucoe89]

Forget NCAA. The Best Team Ever is going to struggle to make NIT. Reality is they do not deserve NCAA. That has to be earned and the body of work so far isn’t impressive overall despite a few nice wins.

 

[fluoxetine]

Forget NCAA. The Best Team Ever is going to struggle to make NIT. Reality is they do not deserve NCAA. That has to be earned and the body of work so far isn’t impressive overall despite a few nice wins.

They don’t deserve it as of right now but there are still enough games left.

 

[mugrat86]

This team plus JY... what could have been... *sigh*

Young was a heck of a defender, and a great one on one player who could create his own shot, but everyone complained we had no offensive sets. This year our offense and ball movement has been great. Not sure we would see that with JY

I do agree that we should have pressed them all game. In all my years watching bball, I have never seen a team make so many contested shots with just a second on clock

 

[RUChoppin]

They don’t deserve it as of right now but there are still enough games left.

Agree with this.

But if we play the next 13 the way we've played our last 13, I don't think we'll need to worry about selection Sunday. Anything can happen, and that's why they play the games, but we haven't been consistent enough to have much confidence.

 

[Scangg]

Young was a heck of a defender, and a great one on one player who could create his own shot, but everyone complained we had no offensive sets. This year our offense and ball movement has been great. Not sure we would see that with JY

I do agree that we should have pressed them all game. In all my years watching bball, I have never seen a team make so many contested shots with just a second on clock

This team would have an NCAA resume with JY. He defense is elite and we lack scoring and someone who can get to the rim.

We win today with JY... Lafayette UMass DePaul PSU could all be wins. Most of those would be IMO

 

[SantaFeScarlet]

With this roster, NCAA tournament was the minimum standard. We are exceedingly mediocre and not sure if it’s the coach or the players or both. Oh well.

Coaches.... Terrible coaching today and ultimately they're responsible for their players and getting them motivated to play

 

[SantaFeScarlet]

don’t think it’s hating. It’s not having the energy to feed off of and not being able to generate it. I’d be shocked if we don’t have sports psychologists on staff.

That's on Pike

 

[rubjk]

That's on Pike

Ok so how would you solve it?

 

[wngarbarini]

Do you folks really think we can win 9 games the rest of the year to make the NCAAs?

 

[RUBOB72]

We are both on the same page here . I love Rutgers but realistically we probably are not winning 9 more games .Maybe we win 5-6 ? Maybe win 1 or 2 in the B1G that is the only chance slim but doubtful.And even then the bad losses can not be changed so our only hope then is our conference strength shows up well. Even that is questionable .

 

[SantaFeScarlet]

Ok so how would you solve it?

That's Hobbs' job

 

[rubjk]

That's Hobbs' job

Oh yeah, fire him. We went from no dancing for decades, to for all practical purposes to dancing twice, so if we don’t do it once we fire the coach. Hope you don’t hire/fire people at your job. It’s not as easy as you think it is. I’m guessing you want a sleazy program, bagmen and Pitino.

 

[fluoxetine]

Agree with this.

But if we play the next 13 the way we've played our last 13, I don't think we'll need to worry about selection Sunday. Anything can happen, and that's why they play the games, but we haven't been consistent enough to have much confidence.

The last 13 games (since 11/27) we've been #76 in efficiency and at exactly 0 in wins above bubble (both according to Barttorvik). Considering we have ground to make up, that's definitely not going to get it done.

 

[Knight Owl]

Question is…can Rutgers go 10-0 at home in conference?

Remaining:
Maryland
MSU
OSU
Illinois
Wisconsin
Penn St

If they go 5-1 rest of the way at home somehow, they would need to find two more road wins…
@
Nebraska
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Purdue
Michigan
Indiana

That’s 12-8 in conference and certainly bubble area going into BIG Tournament.

 

[Scangg]

Question is…can Rutgers go 10-0 at home in conference?

Remaining:
Maryland
MSU
OSU
Illinois
Wisconsin
Penn St

If they go 5-1 rest of the way at home somehow, they would need to find two more road wins…
@
Nebraska
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Purdue
Michigan
Indiana

This is probably the more realistic path to success. Just dominate the RAC and try to steal a couple road wins. We can beat teams who are better than us at the RAC so some of these scary games can be wins

 

[fluoxetine]

Question is…can Rutgers go 10-0 at home in conference?

Remaining:
Maryland
MSU
OSU
Illinois
Wisconsin
Penn St

If they go 5-1 rest of the way at home somehow, they would need to find two more road wins…
@
Nebraska
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Purdue
Michigan
Indiana

Think we want to be at least 19-11 to feel decent going into the Big Ten Tournament. Which means if we go 5-1 at home we would need 3 road wins. Plus a tourney win probably.

 

[Danprusa_4]

Forget NCAA. The Best Team Ever is going to struggle to make NIT. Reality is they do not deserve NCAA. That has to be earned and the body of work so far isn’t impressive overall despite a few nice wins.

I’ve come to conclusion you’re right and wrong. They could still earn it

 

[RUChoppin]

Think we want to be at least 19-11 to feel decent going into the Big Ten Tournament. Which means if we go 5-1 at home we would need 3 road wins. Plus a tourney win probably.

Yeah, and I just don't see it with this team, at least what we've seen from them. Can they win any given game left on their schedule? Yeah... aside from maybe @Purdue. But stringing together as many wins as we need would need a consistency we just haven't seen from this team.

Right now it feels like our ceiling is "NIT bubble" - but things could change, as this team is hard to predict.

 

[Scangg]

There is just a difference between you don't think they can win enough of the remaining games and "its over"

 

[bac2therac]

18-12 is fine

 

[fluoxetine]

18-12 is fine

You think 18-12 gets us in? Or 19-13 I guess? Surely not 18-13?

 

[Scarlet Shack]

They just don’t want it bad enough. None of our stars look as if they really WANT to go Dancing this year. In the past years yes they looked competitive and looked like they wanted it. Especially young Ron, Geo, Caleb, Paul. Now with some NCAA Tournament appearances it just looks like these guys already reached their goal so they just don’t care. I believe this is an NCAA TEAM they just don’t want it bad enough. It’s sad. Because we could’ve went dancing again this year. (feedback always necessary haha)

I agree with this 100%....the lack of urgency from our upperclassmen is troubling.

Considering the theme was “unfinished business”....and with a lot of upperclassman on their last go, I expected this team to walk into the RAC on November 10th and be hungry.

Instead, we show up on the court against teams we should beat and go through the motions . Don’t kid yourself , we almost lost the Lehigh game as well.

It’s maddening to see us lose to some of the teams we have lost to...and yet be good enough to beat Purdue without Geo.

This team if it played a determined purpose right now ...should be 15-3 and in the top 12...

Our margin of error is now razor thin to make the NCAA and for them to back up their claim of unfinished business

Next three are must wins

 

[Scarlet Shack]

18-12 is fine

I hope you are right . I’m considered that’s not quite enough

 

[bac2therac]

Im fine with getting to 18-12 and then show up in Big 10 tourney with a win

No matter what our record is 17-13 or 19-11 we will be in the group of bubble schools

All i ask is for the team to be in position

 

[JavaDunk18]

Magic number is 13, however we get there. Number of Big Ten wins..
This includes BTT. 12-8 plus 1 win in BTT, 11-9 plus 2 BTT etc.
12 would put us on bubble depending on what other schools around country do.
However we get there, we are not out until this number is mathematically impossible.
(& there is still always possibility of winning the BTT)

 

[Danprusa_4]

I agree with this 100%....the lack of urgency from our upperclassmen is troubling.

Considering the theme was “unfinished business”....and with a lot of upperclassman on their last go, I expected this team to walk into the RAC on November 10th and be hungry.

Instead, we show up on the court against teams we should beat and go through the motions . Don’t kid yourself , we almost lost the Lehigh game as well.

It’s maddening to see us lose to some of the teams we have lost to...and yet be good enough to beat Purdue without Geo.

This team if it played a determined purpose right now ...should be 15-3 and in the top 12...

Our margin of error is now razor thin to make the NCAA and for them to back up their claim of unfinished business

Next three are must wins

Well said. Agree completely

 

[Danprusa_4]

Magic number is 13, however we get there. Number of Big Ten wins..
This includes BTT. 12-8 plus 1 win in BTT, 11-9 plus 2 BTT etc.
12 would put us on bubble depending on what other schools around country do.
However we get there, we are not out until this number is mathematically impossible.
(& there is still always possibility of winning the BTT)

Of course. And we’ll have to get lucky with some bubble teams ahead of us with respect to lose some games in the final moments. It’s still possible but will be very tough. Won’t be surprised if we make the NIT though

 

[Danprusa_4]

18-12 is fine

Hopefully BAC. It depends who our wins are against

 

[Danprusa_4]

Question is…can Rutgers go 10-0 at home in conference?

Remaining:
Maryland
MSU
OSU
Illinois
Wisconsin
Penn St

If they go 5-1 rest of the way at home somehow, they would need to find two more road wins…
@
Nebraska
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Purdue
Michigan
Indiana

That’s 12-8 in conference and certainly bubble area going into BIG Tournament.

It’s definitely possible. Hoping we pull a couple of unexpected road wins somewhere in the gauntlet.