Nice win for a “gutted” program

[RUSCFORMERLYRULOU]

At the very least you couldn’t **** on Pike tonight. We all know you wanted to.

I can only **** on him for one thing for last night. The slow start. It has plagued us throughout his RU tenure and this year it’s really bad.
Again, nice win, happy for the team. Steal two road wins and see what happens. But the road is about Pike weakness.

 

[whofrewdatmataRU13]

I’m not saying this win gets us back to contention, I’m saying our program is fine after a large part of this forum rendered it dead 3 days ago.

Go RU

Program is now "fine" after beating a mediocre UCLA team that is trending down. I guess one game trumps the body of work we have seen throughout the whole season

 

[RUfan1977]

This team was built around Dylan. When they don’t have him they have very little chance to win. The last few loses weren’t because Pike forgot how to coach… it was because our best player was sick and not himself. Dylan seemed like he’s back to 85-90% . If we get a healthy Dylan, the team will compete with anyone. The hole is very deep but all you can do is play the next game.

With a healthy Dylan, RU’s chances of winning are much improved. However, experience playing college basketball is also important. Pikiel wouldn’t have been able to start four freshman earlier in the year. Grant in particular has improved dramatically over how he played in out of conference games. RU also needs to play solid defense and at least against UCLA they did defend and rebound well.

 

[Mikemarc]

Program is now "fine" after beating a mediocre UCLA team that is trending down. I guess one game trumps the body of work we have seen throughout the whole season

Team vs program. Again.

 

[ru66]

Another OP with an agenda.
He didn’t sweat it out with us fanatics on the game thread.

maybe like many of us he was actually at the game

 

[zappaa]

maybe like many of us he was actually at the game

Your mother in law didn’t pass away 3 days ago either

 

[Scangg]

Exactly this

You get the two road games you suddenly have ALOT of juice going into MSG against Sparty

If we get these next two that place will be ELECTRIC

This. If there is any chance for a miracle run we need a win streak now and getting road wins is huge. A win streak and momentum heading into MSU for a shot at a bigtime signature win

The "fans" criticizing the team with no Dylan Harper for essentially 3 games is what's baffling to me. Any credible program that goes 3 games without their best player is going 0-3 in the B1G, no questions asked.....if that player is an expected Top 3 pick in the draft, it is a lock for 0-3.

The same fans now only want to see winning the next 2 road games, when Nebraska has won 20 straight home games, is another level of illogical thinking.

You'd have to be blind or something to not acknowledge a solid effort, irregardless of UCLA struggling or not. But there are just RU fans who are trained to think the worse and will always be miserable people in general.

If the roster can start 4 freshman against any UCLA roster and win, I'd like to think that means RU has something to build upon. Just because it doesn't immediately happen in the 1st half of Nebraska, the same fans will be back to whining and crying again.....Onto Nebraska!!

We really do need to beat Nebraska... and PSU, sorry

The problem is the team dug itself a massive massive hole where we need wins and we need them now. For any chance at a miracle run, it is going to require us to win many games that we aren't "supposed" to win. It is what it is

You can't live in the fantasy world where the season is going as planned and we could take a loss at Nebraska and move on, no big deal. Nebraska is great at home. Tough . Go in and get the win anyway if you want to keep miniscule dreams of dancing alive

 

[RUTrack94]

Team looked good versus Columbia and UCLA when at full strength at home. Harper not being 100% hurt the team:

Let’s see how the team does the next few games at full strength.

 

[seansherm]

It was good to get a win. We caught UCLA at a good time while their confidence is waning. Showed up with some urgency and effort on defense. Went to the proper starting lineup, the results off the bat weren't great, but the bench steadied things. Dylan and Ace did Dylan and Ace things in the second half, with some help from JWill and good foul shooting. I even liked that Pike went with the Ogbole/Martini combo together. I do wonder now if Acuff should be w Ace and Dylan where his shot attempts may be limited and find it hard to get into a shooting groove.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

again..you’re talking about the team. My post is about the “program” which was rendered dead by many on Thursday. There’s a difference between the two - but tonight’s game at the RAC put to rest, in my opinion, the program is dead.

The team? Sure, we’ll see where they are at in the next few games.

So the question for you is.. if this team continued as it had been, finished at .500 even with 2 superstars.. does that mean the program is mired in mediocrity for long enough to call it "dead"?

Also, while we have 2 superstars in these early days of NIL.. could we afford that based on the idea that if big time supporters fund big time recruits then we will become a top-flight program.. only to see this year's results dispute that? If the money dries up, then, in these days of NIL, would the program then be effectively "dead"?

I don't really care about entertaining and arguing answers to these questions. I am merely pointing out that those who want to see problems and danger can do so without too much effort.. and do so logically.

Just think about the last days of Big East football and Rutgers going to the AAC. Seemed like the end of the world. Schiano saw recruiting failures and the problems and limitations involved in being in such a conference. Some here could have talked about the effective end of the program.. and rightfully so. And then... the Big Ten came calling.

So.. my response to questions about the end of the football or basketball programs is that we are in the Big Ten... so that ain't gonna happen. But I understand the conditions that can limit future success.

 

[Mikemarc]

So the question for you is.. if this team continued as it had been, finished at .500 even with 2 superstars.. does that mean the program is mired in mediocrity for long enough to call it "dead"?

Also, while we have 2 superstars in these early days of NIL.. could we afford that based on the idea that if big time supporters fund big time recruits then we will become a top-flight program.. only to see this year's results dispute that? If the money dries up, then, in these days of NIL, would the program then be effectively "dead"?

I don't really care about entertaining and arguing answers to these questions. I am merely pointing out that those who want to see problems and danger can do so without too much effort.. and do so logically.

Just think about the last days of Big East football and Rutgers going to the AAC. Seemed like the end of the world. Schiano saw recruiting failures and the problems and limitations involved in being in such a conference. Some here could have talked about the effective end of the program.. and rightfully so. And then... the Big Ten came calling.

So.. my response to questions about the end of the football or basketball programs is that we are in the Big Ten... so that ain't gonna happen. But I understand the conditions that can limit future success.

My answer to a “dead program” is in a post above.

To me, a dead or a gutted program is one that can’t keep a head ciach, had no culture, loses genes by 50+, wins 8 games a season, can’t fill up half the RAC, can’t fill a student section, doesn’t get national tv slots, etc..

All things the program was before pikiell got here.

I don’t think 3 mediocre seasons is gonna get us to that point. It’s certainly not there now as people suggested it was on Thursday.

 

[MADHAT1]

The overreaction over last game was insane. Lots of you saying our program was over…

Finally healthy and can hopefully make a nice run, let’s see.

I still hold hope for the Big Dance but expect the little one (NIT) if the team keeps on playing this way .

 

[ru66]

Your mother in law didn’t pass away 3 days ago either

Don't know what or who you're referring to-- I m referring to the op who you accused of " of not sweating it out" on the game thread--as if those at the actual game were not.

 

[Mikemarc]

Don't know what or who you're referring to-- I m referring to the op who you accused of " of not sweating it out" on the game thread--as if those at the actual game were not.

Yah…really weird posts on this thread by zap - I’ve always respected his posts and opinions, but his posts on this thread a bit off..

 

[RutgersChow]

No just sucks I think

Guys go from not even playing to starting (Grant), and starting to not even playing (Derkack). A little odd.

 

[RU09FOOTBALL]

I think Pike has finally realized that Derkack’s only playing for himself. He’s not a team player. This is understandable given where he came from. Rutgers needs Derkack to be a role player. He’d be far more valuable to the team if he prioritizes playing perimeter defense and grabbing five boards a game.

 

[zappaa]

Don't know what or who you're referring to-- I m referring to the op who you accused of " of not sweating it out" on the game thread--as if those at the actual game were not.

You do only one thing on this board, I don’t have to tell you or anyone else what it is… they know.
You’re famous for it.

 

[ru66]

You do only one thing on this board, I don’t have to tell you or anyone else what it is… they know.
You’re famous for it.

Yup,tell the truth.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Your mother in law didn’t pass away 3 days ago either

sorry for your family's loss Zap.

 

[anon1753890747]

Yup. A win on the road this week will be great for the team..

the only way I begin to move into the program is “fine” camp, is if they make the tournament.
Otherwise there are, will be problems.
I am rooting for the next 3 road wins, next let’s put together a multiple game winning streak.
Pike finally put the right guys on the floor.
1 win at home against a team that’s 3k miles from home on its 3rd game of a long road trip doesn’t put RU in the tournament.

 

[seansherm]

the only way I begin to move into the program is “fine” camp, is if they make the tournament.
Otherwise there are, will be problems.
I am rooting for the next 3 road wins, next let’s put together a multiple game winning streak.
Pike finally put the right guys on the floor.
1 win at home against a team that’s 3k miles from home on its 3rd game of a long road trip doesn’t put RU in the tournament.

I know most were in love with that starting line up, but we need to wait and see how it performs. The 5 starters were together on the floor for a total of 9 minutes in the game, and were outscored by UCLA. Then the lineup with the four kids plus JWill instead of Acuff was even worse in it's 4 minutes together. All line up combo's that featured the four freshman were outscored - in total by 6 in 16 total minutes, with some pretty poor analytics.

 

[anon1753890747]

I know most were in love with that starting line up, but we need to wait and see how it performs. The 5 starters were together on the floor for a total of 9 minutes in the game, and were outscored by UCLA. Then the lineup with the four kids plus JWill instead of Acuff was even worse in it's 4 minutes together. All line up combo's that featured the four freshman were outscored - in total by 6 in 16 total minutes, with some pretty poor analytics.

Um, that line up, while getting accustomed to each other, managed to finally seize control of the game while playing the first minutes of the second half.
Acuff complemented Harper allowing for the spacing and complementary game for him to explode, on the other end that lineup defended rebounded to allow for RU to seize control, for the first time I can remember all season.
The last minutes played together matter the most especially when you are talking about 4 freshman.
Moving forward in the second half starting that lineup set up the rotations and substitutions for the rest of the game to allow for the team to put together its best performance to date.
But thanks for analytics, which lots of times don’t tell the full story.
The first minutes of the second half = scoreboard.
Rutgers has struggled all season to take leads and make plays to seize control, that lineup finally broke through❗️
BAC you know I am right.

 

[BillyC80]

Can’t look at the starting lineup in a vacuum. UCLA came out pressing and caused a couple turnovers early, getting off to a 7-0 lead, from which we mostly recovered with our starters. Then the subs came in — JWill, JMike, Ogbole — with high energy and intensity, and it was game on.

We might not get that same energy if those 3 guys start. So, I give Pike credit for pushing the right buttons and getting good production from both the starters and the bench in the game as a whole.

 

[seansherm]

Um, that line up, while getting accustomed to each other, managed to finally seize control of the game while playing the first minutes of the second half.
Acuff complemented Harper allowing for the spacing and complementary game for him to explode, on the other end that lineup defended rebounded to allow for RU to seize control, for the first time I can remember all season.
The last minutes played together matter the most especially when you are talking about 4 freshman.
Moving forward in the second half starting that lineup set up the rotations and substitutions for the rest of the game to allow for the team to put together its best performance to date.
But thanks for analytics, which lots of times don’t tell the full story.
The first minutes of the second half = scoreboard.
Rutgers has struggled all season to take leads and make plays to seize control, that lineup finally broke through❗️
BAC you know I am right.

We'll see, hope it is the line up that allows things to take off, but for one night, it wasn't responsible. Dylan turned the game around, mostly on his own, with a little help from Ace. Acuff, who I really think will be a key, was pretty non existent, I mostly don't credit the line up for the other night. It will get better though.
I agree, rotations were better, part of that was not putting the ball in the wrong hands. We stayed big with EO and Martini, keeping Ace to be a difference making 3.

 

[Scangg]

The same fans now only want to see winning the next 2 road games, when Nebraska has won 20 straight home games, is another level of illogical thinking.

Good thing the players and coaches don't think winning a couple tough games is illogical