I know Rider is horrible, BUT.....

[knight82]

One aspect of the game that doesn't matter who you're playing is how hard your team is playing. And I confidently say that these kids played harder than at any time last season. As talented as our two NBA first rounders were, I think this team is going to be more fun to watch if they continue to play with this kind of passion.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Obviously it’s hard to take anything away from this game (Rider is very bad) but one thing is clear… this team will play defense. Back to holding teams under the speed limit.

 

[RU89]

One aspect of the game that doesn't matter who you're playing is how hard your team is playing. And I confidently say that these kids played harder than at any time last season. As talented as our two NBA first rounders were, I think this team is going to be more fun to watch if they continue to play with this kind of passion.

Without question............the team will definitely be more fun to watch. This team can't shoot but they play hard, have active hands and try to rebound..........last years team did none of that. I can actually see this team upsetting a much better opponent at home on a night when the RAC is rocking......which always motivates a team that plays hard on defense........and they have a good shooting night. That's how Steve's teams had upsets in the past............this team will be inconsistent because of offense and poor free throw shooting but they will put it together a few nights and have a couple upsets.

 

[knight82]

Without question............the team will definitely be more fun to watch. This team can't shoot but they play hard, have active hands and try to rebound..........last years team did none of that. I can actually see this team upsetting a much better opponent at home on a night when the RAC is rocking......which always motivates a team that plays hard on defense........and they have a good shooting night. That's how Steve's teams had upsets in the past............this team will be inconsistent because of offense and poor free throw shooting but they will put it together a few nights and have a couple upsets.

I think this team is going to be a lot like the Pike teams from his first few years here. Not great, but a team you can root for

 

[JonathanAlan]

My biggest takeaway from the game is that Rutgers won't be the worst college program in New Jersey this year. Otherwise it was hard for me identify any Rutgers player that could start for any of the top 15 Big Ten teams. Tariq Francis did have some nice minutes.

 

[RU89]

I think this team is going to be a lot like the Pike teams from his first few years here. Not great, but a team you can root for

Agree

 

[Nycrusupporter]

A couple of things I said in other threads. I thought Francis and Grant both played well tonight. I don’t think the defense was bad, but Rider had a ton of open shots, and also a bunch of lightly contested opportunities around the basket, and they were just awful. They easily left at least 20 to 25 points on the court that they should have converted.

 

[Bob Chaewsky_rivals]

Without question............the team will definitely be more fun to watch. This team can't shoot but they play hard, have active hands and try to rebound..........last years team did none of that. I can actually see this team upsetting a much better opponent at home on a night when the RAC is rocking......which always motivates a team that plays hard on defense........and they have a good shooting night. That's how Steve's teams had upsets in the past............this team will be inconsistent because of offense and poor free throw shooting but they will put it together a few nights and have a couple upsets.

I think the free throw shooting will be OK. Buchanon?

 

[mugrat86]

I think if last years team had this supporting cast, they win 20 games

 

[goru7]

My biggest takeaway from the game is that Rutgers won't be the worst college program in New Jersey this year. Otherwise it was hard for me identify any Rutgers player that could start for any of the top 15 Big Ten teams. Tariq Francis did have some nice minutes.

Not sure if you watched Dylan Grant. He developed better handle resulting in 3 beautiful dunk drives to the basket . He has expanded his game. Dylan should be steadily in double figures this year and could start for a lot of BIG 10 teams. Offensively as a team they will be challenged but defensively they should be able to hang with everybody. Center is the main concern . One thing that was noticeable was when they got a defensive rebound and pushed it , they passed ahead and got 2-3 three pointers out of it. Expect to see that more this year

 

[Sweet Pea's Corner]

Well not to be a downer but PJ Hayes scored a season high 12 pts in a season high 28 minutes in the opener vs Wagner last year hitting 2 of 4 from the 3 and everyone went gaga over the team. Let's just take one game at a time this year.

 

[seels2662]

I think if last years team had this supporting cast, they win 20 games

That is a great way to put it.

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

One aspect of the game that doesn't matter who you're playing is how hard your team is playing. And I confidently say that these kids played harder than at any time last season. As talented as our two NBA first rounders were, I think this team is going to be more fun to watch if they continue to play with this kind of passion.

I agree. They seemed to be scrapping out there, more so than last years soft team

 

[Scarlet Blind_rivals]

We've figured out 4 guys in the.rotation, JMike, Francis, Grant and Buchanan Jr. It's a start, we have four more games to figure out another 4-5 players.

Our biggest issue is the 5, Ogbole still has no touch on his shot, but can rebound. Ware is raw and how was Baye Fall a 5? He's a very tall wing. It's going to be a lot of small ball 5s this year. No way Ogbole, Ware, and Fall cover 40 minutes, 25-30 if we are lucky.

I hope Kaden Powers sees more time, he plays with a swag and nice size. Badalau rebounds well and isn't shy about shooting, they will fall in some games. Zrno has nice form on his shot. Mark, Nwuli, Dortch willing defenders not much to speak of offensively.

Outside of Ogbole 0-5, Badalau 0-5, they shot 13-21 around the rim. 10-27 is pretty good from 3pt range. Only 7 TOs a good thing. We've seen tons more vs bad teams with more experienced teams.

It's a good start and only 6 pts off the Virginia Rider game, 87-53 to our 81-53.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

We've figured out 4 guys in the.rotation, JMike, Francis, Grant and Buchanan Jr. It's a start, we have four more games to figure out another 4-5 players.

Our biggest issue is the 5, Ogbole still has no touch on his shot, but can rebound. Ware is raw and how was Baye Fall a 5? He's a very tall wing. It's going to be a lot of small ball 5s this year. No way Ogbole, Ware, and Fall cover 40 minutes, 25-30 if we are lucky.

I hope Kaden Powers sees more time, he plays with a swag and nice size. Badalau rebounds well and isn't shy about shooting, they will fall in some games. Zrno has nice form on his shot. Mark, Nwuli, Dortch willing defenders not much to speak of offensively.

Outside of Ogbole 0-5, Badalau 0-5, they shot 13-21 around the rim. 10-27 is pretty good from 3pt range. Only 7 TOs a good thing. We've seen tons more vs bad teams with more experienced teams.

It's a good start and only 6 pts off the Virginia Rider game, 87-53 to our 81-53.

The difference between our MOV and Virgina’s was Rider’s FT percentage…. Rider was 83% against us.

 

[RUJMM78]

The big question going forward is how a team strength is defense translate to winning games against B1G Ten opponents that have far better offensive talent?Winning any game on the road will be a great challenge.Rutgers must get some offense from the center position along with the freshmen recruits.The easy out of conferencs games must be used to identify the players who will get most of the minutes starting with the Vegas Tournament.Francis,Grant and Davis were the most impressive Rutgers players against Rider.

 

[newell138]

easily a sweet 16 year

 

[Redrich66]

I think if last years team had this supporting cast, they win 20 games

Agreed. Better all round talent and hustle.

 

[MADHAT1]

easily a sweet 16 year

stranger things have happened in sports, but this will not happen .
I just hope for a Dance invite, but don't expect one.
Free Throws and Center play might be a problem

 

[RUInsanityToo]

I think if last years team had this supporting cast, they win 20 games

As I watched the game, thought the same exact thing.

 

[NightKnight]

stranger things have happened in sports, but this will not happen .
I just hope for a Dance invite, but don't expect one.
Free Throws and Center play might be a problem

Covid 26 has smacked humanity with a vengeance. The Mamdani Riots have left the city in ruins. Mikie Sherrill has called on strikes within her own perimeter. Amidst disease, despair and disaster, the NCAA has called for a mini 16 team tournament, perhaps an appeal to normalcy. One of only 17 teams to have five survivors, Rutgers does not make the cut ...until just hours before they are set to play, the 5th player on the 16th team starts coughing blood. Rutgers steps in. Sweet 16, baby.

 

[mugrat86]

Well not to be a downer but PJ Hayes scored a season high 12 pts in a season high 28 minutes in the opener vs Wagner last year hitting 2 of 4 from the 3 and everyone went gaga over the team. Let's just take one game at a time this year.

The difference is Hayes did nothing any else but shoot. I definitely saw a different degree of athleticism yesterday than Hayes, Martini or Acuff

 

[RU-ROCS]

One aspect of the game that doesn't matter who you're playing is how hard your team is playing. And I confidently say that these kids played harder than at any time last season. As talented as our two NBA first rounders were, I think this team is going to be more fun to watch if they continue to play with this kind of passion.

I agree, but with no legit Big 10 center and no real offensive firepower, I will be shocked if RU can finish above the bottom third of the conference.

 

[LeapinLou]

I think if last years team had this supporting cast, they win 20 games

You, know that crossed my mind as well. Let's say you had these changes:
- you had "this" Dylan Grant instead of last year's Dylan Grant,
- you had "this" J-Mike instead of last year's JMike
- you had Tariq Frances instead of Jeremiah Williams
- you had Badalau instead of Hayes
- you had Buchanan instead of Derkack
- you had a healthy Tyson Acuff from day 1
- you keep Martini for experience/leadership
- you keep Ace, Dylan and Sommerville.

It seems like a pretty decent team. You still have the issue of rim protection. That was a big problem last year. Not being able to retain Cliff made a colossal difference.

 

[RCBeta]

You, know that crossed my mind as well. Let's say you had these changes:
- you had "this" Dylan Grant instead of last year's Dylan Grant,
- you had "this" J-Mike instead of last year's JMike
- you had Tariq Frances instead of Jeremiah Williams
- you had Badalau instead of Hayes
- you had Buchanan instead of Derkack
- you had a healthy Tyson Acuff from day 1
- you keep Martini for experience/leadership
- you keep Ace, Dylan and Sommerville.

It seems like a pretty decent team. You still have the issue of rim protection. That was a big problem last year. Not being able to retain Cliff made a colossal difference.

Welcome to the NIL nightmare!
Find and train some hidden gems, and off they go to big payday elsewhere.

 

[mugrat86]

You, know that crossed my mind as well. Let's say you had these changes:
- you had "this" Dylan Grant instead of last year's Dylan Grant,
- you had "this" J-Mike instead of last year's JMike
- you had Tariq Frances instead of Jeremiah Williams
- you had Badalau instead of Hayes
- you had Buchanan instead of Derkack
- you had a healthy Tyson Acuff from day 1
- you keep Martini for experience/leadership
- you keep Ace, Dylan and Sommerville.

It seems like a pretty decent team. You still have the issue of rim protection. That was a big problem last year. Not being able to retain Cliff made a colossal difference.

Martini was terrible

 

[Sweet Pea's Corner]

Last years team would have a hard time beating Disco Tech.