GAME 26 PURDUE: Tip your hat to Purdue

[bac2therac]

All good things come to an end. You are not going to win them all. Rutgers historic 4 game run ground to a halt vs a top 5 Purdue. Nothing to be ashamed about. Purdue is the best team in the Big 10. They are a legit national title contender. When on their game they are dominant. You can see what happened for about 6 minutes today. RU blinked for a few possessions and were steamrolled by the Boilermakers in a 20-1 run that left then gasping for air. As well as Rutgers had been playing, RU ran into a team that after a few subpar efforts brought their A game. I thought the first time RU won, Purdue brought their B game and it took a RU A+ effort to beat them. RU played well enough for 18 and half minutes to keep pace but it was clear they were going to need their best effort and play of the season to win. I thought Purdue really knocked RU in the face early but RU responded and came back with their own 10 point run actually outplaying the Boilers for a good 8-10 minutes. Unfortunately it fell apart quickly and RU crumble in crucial moments and Purdue landed several haymakers on RU in a 6 minute stretch. Give RU tons of credit for keep fighting going on some mini runs to keep chipping away at the defecit, getting it down to 10 at times but they never really threatened to make it a game. Just not getting enough shots to fall at the right time, not able to make the right stop or to be mentally locked in.


RU fans were very salty in the game thread. I get it. Its because Purdue is that good and its easy to hate on great teams with multiple great players. Ivey, Edey, Williams will all be playing in the NBA. And when they are on like today its hard to stop them and they will get their way and frustrate their opponents into fouling them. First game, Cliff outplayed Edey and Ivey was really kept in check. Today they took it to RU and challenge RU to D them up and RU just was not up to the task without fouling. Credit Painter and especially Ivey with exploiting RU's weaknesses with depth putting RU in foul trouble. No shame. Its tough be good and then lose to a team that is that just better. As for the refs, again, you have to adjust to how the refs are calling the game. RU is a team that takes alot of gambles and thought many of the fouls were unnecessary. At least 2 on Caleb..when you get a foul in the first 30 second on a layup he set himself up for foul trouble. I thought the first half was called pretty evenly and you cannot have that T on Cliff. A team could overcome that at home at the RAC with the crowd but its going to really be a negative in a game on the road vs a top 5 school in the country. Hope Cliff learns from this. You talk with your play and its unfortunate because Cliff was playing pretty well up to that point.

The exact sequence of where it was lost started with Paul getting stuck near the baseline and committing a foul, whether it was a foul or not is debatable but RU was going nowhere on that possession with the shotclock running down. Ivey quickly made us pay but then Caleb unneccesary and one and its 41-35. Geo turns it over then the Cliff T so instead of Cliff at the line, at 41-35, its 43-35 after Ivey makes both free throws, then Cliff hits just 1 of 2 and then RU cannot grab the rebound off a Purdue miss and Ivey easily fakes out Reiber for dunk and its 44-35 and all the monmentum in the world...could have been 41-37 with a shot to shut down down. Huge swing. And then it just got worse in the opening minutes of 2nd half. Inability to rebound gave, Purdue 3 chances to convert on their first possession and they finally did. Ivey drawing the foul on Caleb for his 3rd...bad play by Caleb. Ivey makes both then with Caleb inexplicably its Hyatt taking the shot as clock winds down and then Purdue burns us in transition and its 49-36. Paul turns it over and Stevanovic drains 3....52-36 and later in a blink its 56-36 and this puppy was over. All throughout the RU offense reverted to its woeful ways with jump shots missing galore.

Just move on. RU did not embarrass themselves. They were outplayed. They kept fighting to the end and did not lay down. Losing by 12 on the road to a top 5 school will not hurt their resume. Its hard to beat a team two times and that is going to be the challenge for RU in the next 2 games. Michigan has some turmoil but are playing for the NCAA lives. RU has to be very focused and very on point to come back and continue to work toward their goals. RU has quickly dispelled the notion that they cannot win on the road. RU beat Michigan the first time but thoroughly outplaying them yet both teams are markedly different than from the first encounter. Remember its one game at a time. Purdue was not a must win. Michigan is not necessarily a must win but RU does have to get one of these two road games. I do not see any reason that RU should lose any confidence just because they lost to Purdue and I dont see why the RU fanbase should also lose any confidence in them. NCAA tourney still within the grasp.

 

[kcg88]

Next 4 are all winnable. Lets get 'em.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Good recap

As March madness approaches…there are two things we need to learn from today thsr we didn’t do

1.) we can’t let a team get in rhythm early and play their game …we did that today and it caused us to have to chase them the entire. We need to make it gritty right from the get go. Some of that was playing on the road and that’s not the case in the NCAA …but we need to make it Rutgers basketball from the tip

2.) got to avoid the cheap fouls

 

[BIGRUBIGDBIGredmachine]

I had to listen to 1st half on radio driving home from a family function. What was Cliff T'd up for exactly? And what was Mulcahy called for on the offensive foul? It was a 1 pt game then a 9pt deficit around those 2 big calls it seemed.

 

[jordkap]

Good recap

As March madness approaches…there are two things we need to learn from today thsr we didn’t do

1.) we can’t let a team get in rhythm early and play their game …we did that today and it caused us to have to chase them the entire. We need to make it gritty right from the get go. Some of that was playing on the road and that’s not the case in the NCAA …but we need to make it Rutgers basketball from the tip

2.) got to avoid the cheap fouls

Outside of the early barrage of 3s, sprung by a banked in one, Purdue was awful shooting 3s today. It happens

 

[jordkap]

I had to listen to 1st half on radio driving home from a family function. What was Cliff T'd up for exactly? And what was Mulcahy called for on the offensive foul? It was a 1 pt game then a 9pt deficit around those 2 big calls it seemed.

Cliff put 2 fingers in Williams face to signify 2 fouls on him. Was clearly a T, albeit was kinda funny at the time

 

[bac2therac]

agree with that...though RU played exceptionally well to fight back to just 1 point. We really were sharing the ball, some of the passes were beautiful and our offense was hitting on all cylinders for a stretch while we really were Ding up on Purdue pretty good. A rotten 90 seconds ruined anything. Geo had some open jumpers that he just has to hit if we are going to beat Purdue. We could not have played worse for 5 minutes and we paid dearly for it. Still fighting back showed something to me. We could have lost by 30, same for Illinois when they were down 24 and kept chipping and lost by 11 vs RU. There are games played within games and its a positive to take.

and yes #2 big time. RU plays an agressive defense and all the refs know that. Several of RU falls including probably 4 of Calebs were just dumb unnecessary ones.

 

[Scangg]

I had to listen to 1st half on radio driving home from a family function. What was Cliff T'd up for exactly? And what was Mulcahy called for on the offensive foul? It was a 1 pt game then a 9pt deficit around those 2 big calls it seemed.

Cliff put 2 fingers RIGHT in Williams face after he picked up his second foul.

Paul got called for an illegal screen that Lavin basically said was a bad call. See it every play he said

 

[Arizona Knight]

I had to listen to 1st half on radio driving home from a family function. What was Cliff T'd up for exactly? And what was Mulcahy called for on the offensive foul? It was a 1 pt game then a 9pt deficit around those 2 big calls it seemed.

Cliff got the second foul on Williams and then inexplicably waved two fingers in his face for way too long.

 

[bac2therac]

Cliff put 2 fingers RIGHT in Williams face after he picked up his second foul.

Paul got called for an illegal screen that Lavin basically said was a bad call. See it every play he said

if that was with about a minute left, Paul ran the shotclock down so we were going to turn it over anyhow, we were in an impossible spot there, he was doing silly behind the back passes to Geo near the baseline

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

I think Purdue stepped up the intensity and finally had theie backs against the wall. They played their B+, A- game and at hoke, that's more than enough.

I think RU took another step forward in a loss. Bench gave us 18 points and although the defense definitely falls off once Caleb and Cliff leave the floor, at least we are getting points on the other end.

Last 14 games in limited minutes, Reiber is almost up to 5 PPG. Hyatt somehow gave RU something, despite not playing in the 1H.....Mag is an energy guy and junkyard player who can help.

I like where RU sits right now. 84 points isn't something teams are going to get against RU, especially when they're on the FT all day long. If we keep getting this Mulcahy production and the bench production keeps inching up, RU has expanded its ways to win. Normally when the season gets to the end, a lot of teams start running out of options.....RU is adding options and depth. I think that will payoff as we go through the last 2 weeks.

 

[motorb54]

Geo needs to throw a lob when he attempts a lob.
He threw two hard line drive passes meant as lobs that Cliff had no chance to corral
Cliff does need to catch and lay in on some of those attempts where he tries to jam

 

[G- RUnit]

Poor review by BAC. Officiating cost us the game. Purdue had 12 more foul shots and won by 12. Yes Cliff deserved the T. That’s on us and RU. Ivy taunting ignored!! While BAC notes Caleb’s fouls, he ignores three questionable fouls on Paul. 3rd bogus foul at end of half sucked the life of RU after such a nice comeback. Ivy repeatedly pushes RU players in the back no calls. Purdue was in the bonus long before RU. Ridiculous.

Nice super sub effort by Reiber.
Paul had nice game and stats.
We were passing ball so well.
Don’t know why Cliff missed a few bunnies.
Mag & Hyatt good/ decent minutes.
Caleb good game on d. Shame on refs.
Not Ron’s best game on D. A for effort. Willis Reed not to be.

Hope Michigan in turmoil. Howard is a punk.

 

[Scangg]

We committed some dumb fouls but there were also a bunch of bad calls. Both happened and when combined leads to a lot of fouls

 

[richthedentist]

I had to listen to 1st half on radio driving home from a family function. What was Cliff T'd up for exactly? And what was Mulcahy called for on the offensive foul? It was a 1 pt game then a 9pt deficit around those 2 big calls it seemed.

He taunted Williams after Williams got called for a foul it was a definite T

 

[BigEastPhil]

Kudos to Purdue who played terrific ! We did not lose...Purdue won !

Things that did us in:

- Edey was unstoppable. I'm curious what his +- was today.

- 20-1 run. I was hoping that the scoring ruts were behind us

- Ivey slam dunk. Seemed to take all heart away from us.

- Cliff T. Not smart. Momentum was shifting to us.

- Cliff wasn't the same player after his posterizing of Edey

Latter 3 occurred at end of first half that turned the game

Regardless, we hung in there and glad to see that Harp is fine !

 

[tfio]

Biggest thing I’m hoping for is that Cliff learns a lot from this game. Think he now realizes he can play with the best of them but just has to be smarter at times and keep his head when emotions are running high

 

[BIGRUBIGDBIGredmachine]

From what I saw in 2nd half refs did not do us any favors. Caleb's last foul was correct and just sloppy on his part. But Ivey was using his arm to ward off on some key drives and of course the b.s. non call on Williams against Mag for an obvious and 1 opportunity were bad.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Good recap

As March madness approaches…there are two things we need to learn from today thsr we didn’t do

1.) we can’t let a team get in rhythm early and play their game …we did that today and it caused us to have to chase them the entire. We need to make it gritty right from the get go. Some of that was playing on the road and that’s not the case in the NCAA …but we need to make it Rutgers basketball from the tip

2.) got to avoid the cheap fouls

We defended the line poorly early and they made us pay. It was unfortunate they made so many of their decent looks.

we have major fight in us. A few times we could have rolled over, but didn’t.

 

[Scangg]

Biggest thing I’m hoping for is that Cliff learns a lot from this game. Think he now realizes he can play with the best of them but just has to be smarter at times and keep his head when emotions are running high

Now we get to see Cliff go against someone besides Kofi and Edey. Domination incoming

 

[JonathanAlan]

For me what's most remarkable about this year is how Paul , Cliff, and Reiber have improved so much during the season. And Mag looks like he'll become a significant future competitor. My hats off especially to Reiber--he hadn't demonstrated anything up until midway through this season and has suddenly become a valuable contributor off the bench.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

What happens this season happens. Maybe we make NCAAs, maybe we don’t.

next year if a few core guys return we will be good next year. I didn’t feel that 3 weeks ago

 

[NYSportsFan]

All good things come to an end. You are not going to win them all. Rutgers historic 4 game run ground to a halt vs a top 5 Purdue. Nothing to be ashamed about. Purdue is the best team in the Big 10. They are a legit national title contender. When on their game they are dominant. You can see what happened for about 6 minutes today. RU blinked for a few possessions and were steamrolled by the Boilermakers in a 20-1 run that left then gasping for air. As well as Rutgers had been playing, RU ran into a team that after a few subpar efforts brought their A game. I thought the first time RU won, Purdue brought their B game and it took a RU A+ effort to beat them. RU played well enough for 18 and half minutes to keep pace but it was clear they were going to need their best effort and play of the season to win. I thought Purdue really knocked RU in the face early but RU responded and came back with their own 10 point run actually outplaying the Boilers for a good 8-10 minutes. Unfortunately it fell apart quickly and RU crumble in crucial moments and Purdue landed several haymakers on RU in a 6 minute stretch. Give RU tons of credit for keep fighting going on some mini runs to keep chipping away at the defecit, getting it down to 10 at times but they never really threatened to make it a game. Just not getting enough shots to fall at the right time, not able to make the right stop or to be mentally locked in.


RU fans were very salty in the game thread. I get it. Its because Purdue is that good and its easy to hate on great teams with multiple great players. Ivey, Edey, Williams will all be playing in the NBA. And when they are on like today its hard to stop them and they will get their way and frustrate their opponents into fouling them. First game, Cliff outplayed Edey and Ivey was really kept in check. Today they took it to RU and challenge RU to D them up and RU just was not up to the task without fouling. Credit Painter and especially Ivey with exploiting RU's weaknesses with depth putting RU in foul trouble. No shame. Its tough be good and then lose to a team that is that just better. As for the refs, again, you have to adjust to how the refs are calling the game. RU is a team that takes alot of gambles and thought many of the fouls were unnecessary. At least 2 on Caleb..when you get a foul in the first 30 second on a layup he set himself up for foul trouble. I thought the first half was called pretty evenly and you cannot have that T on Cliff. A team could overcome that at home at the RAC with the crowd but its going to really be a negative in a game on the road vs a top 5 school in the country. Hope Cliff learns from this. You talk with your play and its unfortunate because Cliff was playing pretty well up to that point.

The exact sequence of where it was lost started with Paul getting stuck near the baseline and committing a foul, whether it was a foul or not is debatable but RU was going nowhere on that possession with the shotclock running down. Ivey quickly made us pay but then Caleb unneccesary and one and its 41-35. Geo turns it over then the Cliff T so instead of Cliff at the line, at 41-35, its 43-35 after Ivey makes both free throws, then Cliff hits just 1 of 2 and then RU cannot grab the rebound off a Purdue miss and Ivey easily fakes out Reiber for dunk and its 44-35 and all the monmentum in the world...could have been 41-37 with a shot to shut down down. Huge swing. And then it just got worse in the opening minutes of 2nd half. Inability to rebound gave, Purdue 3 chances to convert on their first possession and they finally did. Ivey drawing the foul on Caleb for his 3rd...bad play by Caleb. Ivey makes both then with Caleb inexplicably its Hyatt taking the shot as clock winds down and then Purdue burns us in transition and its 49-36. Paul turns it over and Stevanovic drains 3....52-36 and later in a blink its 56-36 and this puppy was over. All throughout the RU offense reverted to its woeful ways with jump shots missing galore.

Just move on. RU did not embarrass themselves. They were outplayed. They kept fighting to the end and did not lay down. Losing by 12 on the road to a top 5 school will not hurt their resume. Its hard to beat a team two times and that is going to be the challenge for RU in the next 2 games. Michigan has some turmoil but are playing for the NCAA lives. RU has to be very focused and very on point to come back and continue to work toward their goals. RU has quickly dispelled the notion that they cannot win on the road. RU beat Michigan the first time but thoroughly outplaying them yet both teams are markedly different than from the first encounter. Remember its one game at a time. Purdue was not a must win. Michigan is not necessarily a must win but RU does have to get one of these two road games. I do not see any reason that RU should lose any confidence just because they lost to Purdue and I dont see why the RU fanbase should also lose any confidence in them. NCAA tourney still within the grasp.

Couldn’t agree more with all of this. Tough to beat a team who starts off 6/9 from 3 before the second tv timeout haha. Guys fought. The rebounding & defensive effort game 26 is wayyyy better than game 6 of this year, that’s for sure. Get this one Wednesday.

 

[Rhuarc]

Poor review by BAC. Officiating cost us the game. Purdue had 12 more foul shots and won by 12. Yes Cliff deserved the T. That’s on us and RU. Ivy taunting ignored!! While BAC notes Caleb’s fouls, he ignores three questionable fouls on Paul. 3rd bogus foul at end of half sucked the life of RU after such a nice comeback. Ivy repeatedly pushes RU players in the back no calls. Purdue was in the bonus long before RU. Ridiculous.

Nice super sub effort by Reiber.
Paul had nice game and stats.
We were passing ball so well.
Don’t know why Cliff missed a few bunnies.
Mag & Hyatt good/ decent minutes.
Caleb good game on d. Shame on refs.
Not Ron’s best game on D. A for effort. Willis Reed not to be.

Hope Michigan in turmoil. Howard is a punk.

Bad take. Road teams aren't getting calls, especially when we have a reputation for physical, in your face defense. Purdue is better than us 8 times out of 10. We got one of those this by playing a perfect game at home and having Purdue play not their best. We still looked decent in the loss, but that mental lapse at the end of the first and start of 2nd really killed off any chance we had of pulling off the upset.

No shame in losing this game at all. Bac's review was spot on.

 

[G- RUnit]

Despite them starting 6/9 from three, we were in it until refs took over.

 

[Scangg]

What happens this season happens. Maybe we make NCAAs, maybe we don’t.

next year if a few core guys return we will be good next year. I didn’t feel that 3 weeks ago

Big question for next year is the 4 and how big of a role and what role Reiber has? Do we see Dean get some of Harper's minutes at the 4?

Dean Hyatt Transfer are the likely candidates... maybe Mag if we go small? Oskar I guess if he is still around but no one is thinking he will be the answer

 

[GM]

Big question for next year is the 4 and how big of a role and what role Reiber has? Do we see Dean get some of Harper's minutes at the 4?

Dean Hyatt Transfer are the likely candidates... maybe Mag if we go small? Oskar I guess if he is still around but no one is thinking he will be the answer

Coleman Hawkins

 

[Scangg]

Coleman Hawkins

Yes please lol

 

[RUDiddy777]

For me what's most remarkable about this year is how Paul , Cliff, and Reiber have improved so much during the season. And Mag looks like he'll become a significant future competitor. My hats off especially to Reiber--he hadn't demonstrated anything up until midway through this season and has suddenly become a valuable contributor off the bench.

Nice touch on his 3s. Eager to see how Pike uses him next season. A near 7 footer who can hit 3s would be a real nice weapon.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Big question for next year is the 4 and how big of a role and what role Reiber has? Do we see Dean get some of Harper's minutes at the 4?

Dean Hyatt Transfer are the likely candidates... maybe Mag if we go small? Oskar I guess if he is still around but no one is thinking he will be the answer

My internal thinking is that Hyatt is a 10 MPG playeruntil he proves us wrong. Is Dean more than 10 MPG? He still has a lot of work defensively. WTG with that switch last possession of the 1st half.

What I'd put in pen if returning
Mulcahy 34
McConnell 34
Miller 10
Mag 24
Cliff 30
Dean 10
Hyatt 10
Total 152

If i had to take a guess Pike brings in an undersized 2 guard that on ball defends and can score. undersized 2 guards are a dime a dozen. That would make Mag or an improved Reiber be your guy.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Yes please lol

Does he have offensive skills.? He has the body

 

[Scangg]

Does he have offensive skills.? He has the body

He has all the skills. Hasn't put it all together yet, but has flashed it at times is the vibe I got from the Illinois board.

 

[gregkoko]

My internal thinking is that Hyatt is a 10 MPG playeruntil he proves us wrong. Is Dean more than 10 MPG? He still has a lot of work defensively. WTG with that switch last possession of the 1st half.

What I'd put in pen if returning
Mulcahy 34
McConnell 34
Miller 10
Mag 24
Cliff 30
Dean 10
Hyatt 10
Total 152

If i had to take a guess Pike brings in an undersized 2 guard that on ball defends and can score. undersized 2 guards are a dime a dozen. That would make Mag or an improved Reiber be your guy.

No Jones?

 

[Scangg]

My internal thinking is that Hyatt is a 10 MPG playeruntil he proves us wrong. Is Dean more than 10 MPG? He still has a lot of work defensively. WTG with that switch last possession of the 1st half.

What I'd put in pen if returning
Mulcahy 34
McConnell 34
Miller 10
Mag 24
Cliff 30
Dean 10
Hyatt 10
Total 152

If i had to take a guess Pike brings in an undersized 2 guard that on ball defends and can score. undersized 2 guards are a dime a dozen. That would make Mag or an improved Reiber be your guy.

Simpson? Wilfolk?

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

No Jones?

Player needs to prove it to me on the court.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Simpson? Wilfolk?

Player needs to prove it to me on the court. I’ll give them some minutes with pencil.

I don’t follow recruiting. They exist when I see them in front of me on the court.

 

[Scangg]

Player needs to prove it to me on the court. I’ll give them some minutes with pencil.

I don’t follow recruiting. They exist when I see them in front of me on the court.

Well if you don't follow recruiting we were in the mix for Hawkins at one point and he was the #1 realistic target I wanted that year. A tall long athletic stretch 4 with ball skills

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Well if you don't follow recruiting we were in the mix for Hawkins at one point and he was the #1 realistic target I wanted that year. A tall long athletic stretch 4 with ball skills

The fact that he stopped Harper in G1 definitely got my attention.

Would Pike ever go after a B1G player without the blessing of his coach.

Some would say tou have to win and others would do that to us, but Pike is Pike and like that.

 

[Scangg]

The fact that he stopped Harper in G1 definitely got my attention.

Would Pike ever go after a B1G player without the blessing of his coach.

Some would say tou have to win and others would do that to us, but Pike is Pike and like that.

We have seen B1G players transfer in conference before... Toussaint is another interesting player since he plays tough D and is from NY so closer to home

 

[bethlehemfan]

I don’t really think Purdue has enough depth to seriously threaten to win an nc.