Article: Job is not done yet

RUInsanityToo

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May 5, 2006
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So November and the Minny and Northwestern games don't count?!?

I'm starting to feel bad as you seem to have an issue comprehending what other people post. Let me spell it out for you....

Of course all the games count. But some people like you choose to hyper-focus on the past and what went badly. If the players acted like you they would have given up this season. Thankfully there are forward thinkers in this world who can focus on upcoming challenges instead of continually whining about past failures to everyone.
 

RUInsanityToo

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I thought it was a very good and insightful article. Sure, a bit condescending toward Rutgers fans — stating that we’re naive in matters of The Bubble — but the guy knows our team and is rooting for us, and he got quotes from three of the leading bracketologists who know what they’re talking about.

Our players should read this — it’s sobering and makes clear that we need to keep the foot on the pedal.

Do you think our players are going into each game not trying to win and thinking they don't have to keep their foot on the pedal?
 
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ScarletR30

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That is 100% irrelevant, the B1G as a league was nowhere near where it ranks now. Nebraska was a 4 seed in the NIT and had no chance to dance at any point during that season. Bad and inaccurate article.
Also Nebraska did not beat a team above them in the big ten standing that year. 0-7 I believe. The difference with Rutgers is they are beating teams that will be 1-4 seeds in the tournament. No team has previously done that.
Just don’t limp to the finish and they will be fine
 
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SantaFeScarlet

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I'm starting to feel bad as you seem to have an issue comprehending what other people post. Let me spell it out for you....

Of course all the games count. But some people like you choose to hyper-focus on the past and what went badly. If the players acted like you they would have given up this season. Thankfully there are forward thinkers in this world who can focus on upcoming challenges instead of continually whining about past failures to everyone.
Fact is they dug themselves a HUGE hole and have made a very impressive run and need to keep it going...that's fact. And your 'Forward Thinkers' line is total BS, as everyone who criticized this team's underperfroming, inlcuding me, will be rooting like hell for them the remaining 5 games....Mr. Forward Thinker.
 

bethlehemfan

Heisman
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Kind of surprised at the negative reactions here. Jones is a good dude imo. Have been reading his stuff for a long time. RU has more work to do. That’s a fact.
 
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mugrat86

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I think most of us agree that 12 wins and 1 BIG1G tournament win is a lock. 12 wins and no tournament wins we are still probably in
 

Degaz-RU

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Do you think our players are going into each game not trying to win and thinking they don't have to keep their foot on the pedal?
Have you watched our team over the past few years? There are definitely times when they lose the eye of the tiger. This happened as recently as a few weeks ago when we lost to Maryland at home.

Dealing with success is a thing.
 
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RU848789

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its incredibly condescending article and i didnt appreciate him calling us naive....while some points are fair, the tone is the typical of journalists.'

I think the guy went to great lengths to try and **** on us
yep... in all of his comparisons to past teams he neglected to mention our superior q1 record vs. those teams, which puts a negative slant on the article.
 

theRU

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Lunardis article in the ESPN app says it best about the role of the selection committee.

"I've often said a primary function of Selection Committee members is being able to identify and then adjust teams that are data outliers. On the current seed list, we can cite examples at both ends of the spectrum. North Carolina is famously devoid of any Q1 wins, but was also cruising along without a bad loss. Then the Tar Heels dropped a head-scratcher at home to Pitt. Acceptable NET and other metrics notwithstanding, UNC is "Last Four In" for this bracket. At the other end we have surging Rutgers, owners of six Q1 wins, multiple bad losses and a NET that just broke into the top 75. The numbers say Carolina gets a far better seed than the Scarlet Knights. This bracket -- and any with some common sense -- says, "No way!"
 

RUGuitarMan1

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Of course they need to win a few more games. Their not making the NCAA tournament if they go 0-5 or 1-4. They need at least 2 to 3 more wins. These next 2 road games are going to be tough.
 
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RUInsanityToo

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Have you watched our team over the past few years? There are definitely times when they lose the eye of the tiger. This happened as recently as a few weeks ago when we lost to Maryland at home.

Dealing with success is a thing.

Yes - I watch every RU game and generally a lot of basketball.

How about that there is another team on the floor who might be playing very well. The reason RU is inconsistent is likely not because they are over-confident. Its because they are inconsistent on offense and when they are having a bad shooting night and the opponent is hittong 3's they dig themselves into an early hole and it further impacts the D schemes.

If you think that RU is some kind of powerehouse that should always win against opponents with worse records - not sure I can help you out.
 

Greene Rice FIG

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There were 3 above them and they tied with Michigan for 4th. They beat Michigan at home and that was their only win over a team in the field. It should also be noted that it wasn’t like they beat a bunch of decent bubble teams either. The only NIT team was Penn State (also at home). The conference was really weak that year.

Finally - I’m not one to focus on point margin but if there’s ever a time it should matter it’s in the opening BIG tourney round for a bubble team. It’s your last chance to make a case. Nebraska ended by laying a huge egg - 19 point blow out loss to Michigan (the one good team they beat).
Conference was weak yet Michigan made it to the finals and PSU won the NIt (who cares)
 

Degaz-RU

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Yes - I watch every RU game and generally a lot of basketball.

How about that there is another team on the floor who might be playing very well. The reason RU is inconsistent is likely not because they are over-confident. Its because they are inconsistent on offense and when they are having a bad shooting night and the opponent is hittong 3's they dig themselves into an early hole and it further impacts the D schemes.

If you think that RU is some kind of powerehouse that should always win against opponents with worse records - not sure I can help you out.
We agree to disagree. I never said we’re a powerhouse. In fact, my point is that, at least historically, we don’t handle success well and lose a little bit of that “edge” that a team like ours — that is not filled with 4 stars — needs to win in this extremely difficult league.

But let’s not make more of this little disagreement than it is. EVERY team (especially one like ours) needs a reminder to stay focused, and can’t get caught up in the hype. That’s all I was saying.
 

RU-ROCS

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I had no idea Nebraska sported 13-5 in conference record with 22 wins and was snubbed.
Same with PSU with with over 20 wins and 10-8 in conference.
Sobering!
Gotta keep this going

Those two teams played a very unbalanced Big 10 schedule and had no significant wins against the top-tier of the conference. Whereas, RU has beaten every team in the Big 10’s top 7.
 

RU05

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An article like this is what happens when a team with a decent but not great record goes on a really good run.

The "naive" comment is maybe a bit much, inexperienced is probably a better term, but I'm not going to get all sensitive about it. I think this boards response to his Nebraska example is a better critique but at the end of the day author is right in that we need more wins, for however obvious that is.
 

RU82

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Jun 7, 2001
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It’s important to remember that at the end of the day we won’t be compared to history, we’ll be compared to other bubble teams. And if we’re one of the teams being considered for a final at large bid our Quad 1 wins are going to be very hard to ignore.
 
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mikeyoc

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Agreed. Stopped reading here for multiple reasons: “Further exacerbating matters is the relative naivete of the RU fan base. They have never gone through a true bubble sweat before.”
That assertion by these 'experts' is absurd. Guess they forgot 1999 when we were squarely on
the bubble at 19-13 with Dahntay Jones, Billet and Hodgson and got snubbed.
 
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FrankZ_RU93

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Jul 27, 2001
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That assertion by these 'experts' is absurd. Guess they forgot 1999 when we were squarely on
the bubble at 19-13 with Dahntay Jones, Billet and Hodgson and got snubbed.
Out of respect for my favorite team I shut down my read immediately lol
 

PSAL_Hoops

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Conference was weak yet Michigan made it to the finals and PSU won the NIt (who cares)
What’s your point? Michigan was good. They were 13-5 and had quality wins. There was an even more unbalanced schedule back then with only 18 conference games - Michigan had to play OSU and Purdue twice. Nebraska did not play any of the top teams more than once. Michigan also won the conference auto bid.


When I referred to a conference being “weak” in the context of the bubble, I was talking about number of available opportunities against legit field contenders. The home win over Michigan was a good win - it was the only one. Closing the season with a neutral blow out loss to the one good team they beat surely didn’t help.

Winning the NIT means nothing. My point was that none of the other teams in that conference were even bubble conversation worthy. It was 4 field teams and 2 NIT teams total out of 14.
 

RedTeamUpstream94

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Kind of surprised at the negative reactions here. Jones is a good dude imo. Have been reading his stuff for a long time. RU has more work to do. That’s a fact.
I personally didn’t find the article condescending. I took as him just telling it as it is . And I believe him when he says he is pulling for us (anyone who likes the sport SHOULD appreciate the way this team is playing right now). Okay I get that some of his points weren’t spot on (eg , the Nebraska comparison) but the overall point of the article IS spot-on: RU has work to do

I also don’t think he’s off on a portion of the RU fan base being naive. I made the same point on this board earlier in the week in the whole “will Caleb and paul make it to the nba” thread. We have had virtually no nba caliber talent for several decades thus many RU fans cant tell the difference between a future nba player and a very good or excellent college player.

i have personally seen this in RU fans that I know - many aren’t huge sports fans - all or most of their sports watching is ru basketball and football . So such RU fans don’t have the perspective of fans of other teams that have “been there”repeatedly before
 
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rufeelinit

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I just asked a question in another thread that probably was more appropriate for this one. How many teams will the B1G get in the tournament? This will not go chalk down the stretch and if top teams keep beating the other are we stealing spots from other leagues or from ourselves? Recently I saw a list that had 7 conference teams. Is there room for an 8th?

Purdue, Illinois, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan State are all in pretty good shape

Rutgers, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa. Could three of the four get in? Michigan's overall record would indicate they have work to do but are trending up right now. Agree with those who think we need to find three more wins to feel good about our chances.
 

Greene Rice FIG

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What’s your point? Michigan was good. They were 13-5 and had quality wins. There was an even more unbalanced schedule back then with only 18 conference games - Michigan had to play OSU and Purdue twice. Nebraska did not play any of the top teams more than once. Michigan also won the conference auto bid.


When I referred to a conference being “weak” in the context of the bubble, I was talking about number of available opportunities against legit field contenders. The home win over Michigan was a good win - it was the only one. Closing the season with a neutral blow out loss to the one good team they beat surely didn’t help.

Winning the NIT means nothing. My point was that none of the other teams in that conference were even bubble conversation worthy. It was 4 field teams and 2 NIT teams total out of 14.
My point is how a conference is perceived isn’t always reality. If B1G had 14 teams like RU we would be 7th or 8th conference on paper yet really be the best or 2nd best conference. Strength of a conference is almost cemented in December.
 

Greene Rice FIG

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I just asked a question in another thread that probably was more appropriate for this one. How many teams will the B1G get in the tournament? This will not go chalk down the stretch and if top teams keep beating the other are we stealing spots from other leagues or from ourselves? Recently I saw a list that had 7 conference teams. Is there room for an 8th?

Purdue, Illinois, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan State are all in pretty good shape

Rutgers, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa. Could three of the four get in? Michigan's overall record would indicate they have work to do but are trending up right now. Agree with those who think we need to find three more wins to feel good about our chances.
All 9 probably could.
 
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RC80

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Thanks for sharing; experts are right; but even Paul pushed back at the Ill post game saying we're not in. So not concerned about the players. What the reporter missed in his article was in not discussing the number of times over the last 40 years in actually being able to watch meaningful games in Feb/March; prior to the previous 2 seasons - you have to go back to (maybe) 2003 under GW. So I am happy to take this roller-coaster. Being on the bubble considering what this looked like earlier in the season - is ok with me.
 

BuggsyRU

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its incredibly condescending article and i didnt appreciate him calling us naive....while some points are fair, the tone is the typical of journalists.'

I think the guy went to great lengths to try and **** on us
Totally agree. He says he "hopes we make it in" at the beginning of the story, then spends the other 99 percent of the piece making his case as to why we shouldn't get in.