GAME 31 Nebraska: Bad Taste

[JonathanAlan]

The 4 freshman and Baker need strength and conditioning. We collectively hit the wall. Mathis went from a defensive stud in Bohannon to getting abused by Johnny Trueblood.

We going to blame Pikiell for this?

Caleb played all 19 minutes in 2nd half (I Think) and he had nothing at the end.

Blame Pike for not playing Kiss? Maybe? But Kiss has been.....

You nailed it on Mathis. I can still see in my mind his on ball and perimeter defense against Iowa that has been missing ever since.

 

[RUfromNJ]

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Went to Scarlet Knights.com to see if they had a box score. According to the site, we're playing Maryland at 3pm tomorrow.

Nightmare!!!

 

[MadRU]

We won’t take the next step up without a legit point guard. Been saying it since Earl Duncan played his last game for Rutgers.

Will PM be that legit point, idk, hope so.

Coach needs to really recruit hard now. I am not sold on some of our players.

 

[RU MAN]

We won’t take the next step up without a legit point guard. Been saying it since Earl Duncan played his last game for Rutgers.

Will PM be that legit point, idk, hope so.

Coach needs to really recruit hard now. I am not sold on some of our players.

I think we have that coming in next year. I would also like to see another big man, and a small forward sharp shooter.

 

[MADHAT1]

Never know what the loss of Issa did to the minds of the team going in.
Won't blame his dismissal for the way RU lost ,but feel it didn't help the players fully focus on the game beforehand.

( don't let Spanky find out I used the word focus, he might ban me :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: )

 

[bethlehemfan]

We need better guard play. Guards win games in March. A lot of growing pains. Moving in the right direction but it’s not a linear path.

 

[MadRU]

I think we have that coming in next year. I would also like to see another big man, and a small forward sharp shooter.

I think so too, but until PM proves it st this level nothing is certain.

Yes we need a rim protector to go with Myles and a shooter/scorer

 

[DHajekRC84]

I was one of the few fans that picked Nebraska to win .My reasoning was the team couldn't overcome the heart breaking loss to Penn State and the last two games was unwatchable basketball with no leadership on the court and the offense lacks go to scorers.The coaching staff had no answers to get the team out of sleep walking .

Next season the excuses need to end and a winning season better be the end result.The coaching staff needs to develop a improvement plan for each player because performance won't get better just because players are a year older.No player should be guaranteed a starting position .Recruiting two players in the off season better include front court players that can shoot/score .Floundering in the 60-65 point range won't get the job done in the B1G.

Amen. Who's gonna score from outside? Our 3 point answers (kiss and Thiam) aren't. Caleb. Harper. Sometimes baker. Not good enough for this league. Pike has to address the offense, shooting and game plan.

 

[ColonelRutgers]

You nailed it on Mathis. I can still see in my mind his on ball and perimeter defense against Iowa that has been missing ever since.

Some players can play with fouls, some can't. Mathis picked up early fouls and he was useless and never got in the flow after that. He's too hot and cold (i.e. erratic especially on offense) for me and since he can't shoot I don't trust him game in and game out. He's one guy who could be in danger of having his minutes slashed by the presence of Young if he doesn't become more consistent and also dramatically improve his shooting both from outside and at the line.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Nightmare!!!

Lol, last week I quoted sk.com stats for PSU only to find out they left 60 minutes of psu play off the chart. !

 

[BOGDANOVICH]

At least now we won't have to worry that someone will try to hire Pikiell away from Rutgers.

 

[G- RUnit]

Geo and Mathias disappeared last four games. Disappointing. Doorson never rose to the occasion.

McConnell and Harper improved game by game. Eugene was a warrior. We need more from Kiss.

Johnson also improved immensely. Carter too much up and down.

Today’s game we got screwed on fouls again. We were in double bonus for large portion of second half. They were never in the bonus. First half the same. Bit of a joke. Next year Pike has to get some T’s to get some respect.

Good year but awful loss today. No way to sugar coat it.

 

[MadRU]

Eugene has been great. Heart of a warrior, but he has to cut down on silly turnovers.

 

[RUJMM78]

We won’t take the next step up without a legit point guard. Been saying it since Earl Duncan played his last game for Rutgers.

Will PM be that legit point, idk, hope so.

Coach needs to really recruit hard now. I am not sold on some of our players.

A point guard at Rutgers needs players who can make shots which clearly is lacking right now.

 

[kcg88]

It's gonna come down to how the freshman develop. This current roster plus Mulcahy and Young isn't good enough to win 10 games in the conference.

However if Harper, Mathis, Johnson, and McConnell (or at least a few of them) show meaningful development, then we're talking. Eugene has improved a lot in his time here. Geo frankly hasn't. So we'll see what we get with this group.

 

[MadRU]

A point guard at Rutgers needs players who can make shots which clearly is lacking right now.

20 turnovers don’t get you many shoots either. Earl Duncan left, how many NCAA games since. Zero

 

[JonathanAlan]

Geo and Mathias disappeared last four games. Disappointing. Doorson never rose to the occasion.

McConnell and Harper improved game by game. Eugene was a warrior. We need more from Kiss.

Johnson also improved immensely. Carter too much up and down.

Today’s game we got screwed on fouls again. We were in double bonus for large portion of second half. They were never in the bonus. First half the same. Bit of a joke. Next year Pike has to get some T’s to get some respect.

Good year but awful loss today. No way to sugar coat it.

I thought Carter should have played more. He finishes well underneath and is a decent foul shooter.

 

[bac2therac]

the Mathis regression is a big issue, out of control on offense alot after he emerged and then disappearing act on defensive and then riding pine. How coachable is he? Caleb can play but not as the focal point. I thought Carter was poor down the stretch of the season. Kiss is a bust.

Harper and Johnson are the true future but its not enough and there is no legit 3 pt shooter and we do not have one coming in...a Weiskamp, Bohannon, type

as I said in another thread, wouldnt be surprised if there was a transfer out in the next year or 2...happens to all programs

 

[bac2therac]

You know Fig, many times I really like your contrarian points of view. And yes, I think the freshmen hit a wall. But I WILL blame Pike for this horrendously coached game. He never took advantage of their lack of substitution. He didn't force the issue inside and got Roby to foul out. He didn't change up the defense to maybe a zone D when they were having trouble hitting their shots. Yes, tonight was on the kids, but it was also on Pike, whom I love as a coach. But tonight, he did a horrible job.

the Pike decision to take Gene and Myles when they were playing well with RU still up for the two Shaqs was ABOMINIBLE.....wtf was he thinking...4 something left in game...why why why

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

the Pike decision to take Gene and Myles when they were playing well with RU still up for the two Shaqs was ABOMINIBLE.....wtf was he thinking...4 something left in game...why why why

Im not a huge fan of pikes substitution patterns. Sometimes i feel like hes trying to be mr. Nice guy and play everyone.

 

[bac2therac]

was he really worried about rest...4 freakin minutes left..that is the game there and its just that little blinking there that can tip the scales.he did in the home game vs Iowa too.....and did Geo really play all 40 minutes?

 

[RC85]

Lazy passes. Flat play by everyone except Gene. Refs protected Palmer every drive keeping Nebraska close in the first half. No offensive sets entire second half.

Had to listen to most of the game on radio. Recco and Boylan were flipping out about the refs letting Palmer get away with charges and push-offs all game.

 

[Knights 1212]

That was the one point I thought was a mistake. Gene and Myles were carrying us and only 4 minutes remained with the game on the line and they both came out of the game. They had to suck it up for the last 4 minutes. Doorson is not an offensive threat and I assumed Nebraska would foul him if he got the ball. I thought it was a mistake to take both Eugene and Myles out at that point.

 

[RuBird]

the larger picture is we lost 3 straight games playing poorly against 3 teams close to us in the standings. This wasnt PSU or Indy, it was freaking 6 player Nebraska

You are looking at the last three games, not the entire season. Why? Did you expect us to win 7 Big Ten games? We played poorly because as another poster said, we hit the wall. That is what happens. Would not expect this to happen next year

 

[bac2therac]

the last 3 games count, too much downplaying of them

its March..you want to say you played your best in March

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I thought Carter should have played more. He finishes well underneath and is a decent foul shooter.

Carter was terrible defensively

 

[rutger80]

Geo and Mathias disappeared last four games. Disappointing. Doorson never rose to the occasion.

McConnell and Harper improved game by game. Eugene was a warrior. We need more from Kiss.

Johnson also improved immensely. Carter too much up and down.

Today’s game we got screwed on fouls again. We were in double bonus for large portion of second half. They were never in the bonus. First half the same. Bit of a joke. Next year Pike has to get some T’s to get some respect.

Good year but awful loss today. No way to sugar coat it.

Yep: Nebby 33 free throws, RU 11. You only usually see that at Indiana or Syracuse, not on a neutral court.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

.....and did Geo really play all 40 minutes?

we dont have a backup PG.

Baker is shot right now

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Yep: Nebby 33 free throws, RU 11. You only usually see that at Indiana or Syracuse, not on a neutral court.

you usually dont see every penetration attempt by a team suceced, especially when some are by walkons.

 

[RuBird]

the last 3 games count, too much downplaying of them

its March..you want to say you played your best in March

Difference between downplaying it and understanding at. As I just posted get back to me when our Fab Four are seniors( heck even juniors). Look at who Nebraska relied on tonight.

 

[DHajekRC84]

You are looking at the last three games, not the entire season. Why? Did you expect us to win 7 Big Ten games? We played poorly because as another poster said, we hit the wall. That is what happens. Would not expect this to happen next year

1 question. How does that not happen to a team with 6 players but it did to us?

Palmer avgs 35 mins per game.
Glynn ...........34
Roby.............31
Allen.............30

Baker .....33
EO...........28
Montez.....26
Harper.......24

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

The quick summary is athletic ability and how that impacts the game.

Too many comments about 6 scholarship players is irrelevant. 3 of the 6 are 3 of the 4 best players.

Mathis and Harper who improved more than anyone from November to March, are the only options to stop a Palmer...Mathis sat a LOT of the 2nd half when Palmer was keeping Nebraska in it.

Watson is a plus, plus defender who is or was as quick as Corey Sanders. It isn't a surprise he stopped Geo, Baker doesn't possess elite athletic skills like Sanders.

Mulcahy is Baker without a jumper and anyone thinking this batch of guards isn't challenging on defense, isn't paying attention.

Zavier Simpson - Michigan
Glynn Watson- Nebraska
Carsen Edwards Purdue
Cassius Winston- MSU
Trent Frazier- Illinois
Wheeler- PSU
Cowan-.Serrel Smith- Maryland
Phinise- Indiana
Muhammad and Jackson- Ohio State
Trice-Wisconsin

The only guard on our roster that has the speed, quickness, scoring ability and swagger to compete at this level of player above is Jacob Young.

Mulcahy is an important development piece but the frustrating process on having Geo play the way he did in the last 2 games is what EXACTLY anticipates happening next year for those stretches.

Mulcahy is not a jump shooter or possess the ability today to raise and shoot. And if he's not faster than Geo Baker, why wont the caliber of players on most B1G rosters, guard Mulcahy the way they guard Baker??

I am all for using the spring and summer for discussions on recruiting upgrades, but PG or guard is the least of my worries.

The upgrades needed are having a legitimate quick, athletic PF to replace Eugene down the road. The defense for PF can't be a gimpy Eugene, Carter or Doucoure, trying to stop most wings or forwards in 20+ B1G games.

The overall recap of the season is best suited after a night's sleep and watching more basketball....

 

[RuBird]

1 question. How does that not happen to a team with 6 players but it did to us?

Easy answer. Way different relying on freshman as our best players ( besides Gene) and the upperclassmen Nebraska relied on. Palmer, roby and Watson have been game tested for at least the last three years. Again get back to me when our players have three years under their belts. Would certainly not expect tired legs and mental mistakes (along with physical mistakes)

All of that said we needed to get them in foul trouble early to get to their bench. That did not happen. That I will agree is on Pike

 

[bac2therac]

you usually dont see every penetration attempt by a team suceced, especially when some are by walkons.

and what does that say for our defense....3 bigs 3 fouls total

 

[DHajekRC84]

Easy answer. Way different relying on freshman as our best players ( besides Gene) and the upperclassmen Nebraska relied on. Palmer, roby and Watson have been game tested for at least the last three years. Again get back to me when our players have three years under their belts. Would certainly not expect tired legs and mental mistakes (along with physical mistakes)

All of that said we needed to get them in foul trouble early to get to their bench. That did not happen. That I will agree is on Pike

well we certainly didn't do anything to make them work..agreed.

 

[bac2therac]

Carter was terrible defensively

I think he has been poor the last several games

 

[ColonelRutgers]

The team is playing overseas this Summer. Does anyone know if Mulcahy will be able to participate? I'm not expecting much from him but this would help.

 

[bac2therac]

The team is playing overseas this Summer. Does anyone know if Mulcahy will be able to participate? I'm not expecting much from him but this would help.

great news..where are they going?

 

[ColonelRutgers]

great news..where are they going?

Can't remember. Spain maybe? Jay Young mentioned it at the last Court Club meeting.