My REALISTIC goals...

[SBP]

FWIW...

Unfortunately, I only see us winning 4 more games:

Northwestern
Penn State
Michigan
Purdue

That said, giving us 20 regular season, plus 1 B1G win (worst case), 21 wins and we are SQUARELY on the BUBBLE...

Plus, committee looks for STRONG FINISHING TEAMS, so there is very little margin for error.

A bad time to start playing poorly, and we are now spending a lot of the “house money” we have earned.

Also, with the emphasis on balance in the tournament, if there’s a mid major who has 22 wins and finishes strong, they push us out.

We need that B1G SIGNATURE WIN in the next couple games to put us “IN”.

Gonna be close.

 

[bac2therac]

At Penn State is a big win because its a q1 road win..winning at Purdue is another q1 win. This scenerio because its 2 roads and another borderline q1 win puts us in good position for a bid

 

[Local Shill]

Three of those four wins the OP has will be very heavy lifts.

Win totals aren't the end all be all. RU's 19 wins would likely include far more quad 1 and quad 2 wins than a mid-major with 22 wins (to use the OP's example).

 

[RU-ROCS]

FWIW...

Unfortunately, I only see us winning 4 more games:

Northwestern
Penn State
Michigan
Purdue

That said, giving us 20 regular season, plus 1 B1G win (worst case), 21 wins and we are SQUARELY on the BUBBLE...

Plus, committee looks for STRONG FINISHING TEAMS, so there is very little margin for error.

A bad time to start playing poorly, and we are now spending a lot of the “house money” we have earned.

Also, with the emphasis on balance in the tournament, if there’s a mid major who has 22 wins and finishes strong, they push us out.

We need that B1G SIGNATURE WIN in the next couple games to put us “IN”.

Gonna be close.

I'd take that in a heart beat. If we win at Purdue and at PSU were are definitely in. Those would be two big-time quality road wins.

 

[JavaDunk18]

These are not the 4, that I see. If so, it would be very impressive to win at PSJ and Purdue..I think 3 of the 4 home games and OSU on the road..either way, we should be in barring a blowout loss in BTT, and even then We would fall to the Dayton spot..committee probably has all the big ten spots allocated, and waiting to see how it shakes out

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

At Penn State is a big win because its a q1 road win..winning at Purdue is another q1 win. This scenerio because its 2 roads and another borderline q1 win puts us in good position for a bid

Good position for a bid? That scenario has us as a 6 seed or maybe even a 5. Unlikely. Youre not winning at psu or mackey.

i hate to say it but i see a collapse coming. I think we finish with 8-9 big ten wins and miss the tourney. We havent looked good since the minny game and weve honestly gotten lucky to pull some games out

 

[ScarletKid2008]

If RU doesn't beat MD tonight (as they're a heavy underdog), then at PSU is your next best bet for the signature road win. They have the least intimidating and lamest home crowd in the league. That stupid lion roar pumped in adnusium all evening is the loudest thing they got. Some of us should even consider making the trip if it comes down to a "must win" for our resume.

Anyways .... one game at a time. LONG way to go with a lot that could change. But we're definitely at a fork at this point and need to rally. But so does just about every single team in the country outside the top 20. Buckle up ... here we go !

 

[bac2therac]

Good position for a bid? That scenario has us as a 6 seed or maybe even a 5. Unlikely. Youre not winning at psu or mackey.

i hate to say it but i see a collapse coming. I think we finish with 8-9 big ten wins and miss the tourney. We havent looked good since the minny game and weve honestly gotten lucky to pull some games out

Ru can win at Penn State and win at Mackey, RU has shown they can compete on the road against better programs

 

[RUwishbone]

Does anyone think we can beat Illinois at home, I do and with the Tie breaker in the Big 10 tourney being the best team in the standings you beat after head to head . I think this game is the caper .
need to win 3 of 4 remaining home games and were good enough for a big dance bid plain and simple. as long as we can pull off a road win or a big 10 tourney win. Win all our home games and we have done something no power conference team as been able to do. It makes us a stand out on paper and give cred by protecting the home court all season long.

 

[Plum Street]

FWIW...

Unfortunately, I only see us winning 4 more games:

Northwestern
Penn State
Michigan
Purdue

That said, giving us 20 regular season, plus 1 B1G win (worst case), 21 wins and we are SQUARELY on the BUBBLE...

Plus, committee looks for STRONG FINISHING TEAMS, so there is very little margin for error.

A bad time to start playing poorly, and we are now spending a lot of the “house money” we have earned.

Also, with the emphasis on balance in the tournament, if there’s a mid major who has 22 wins and finishes strong, they push us out.

We need that B1G SIGNATURE WIN in the next couple games to put us “IN”.

Gonna be close.

Where do I sign for this ?

 

[RUBigFrank]

Our conference road losses have been to 1,2, 4 in the standings.

#4 is tonight.

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

Ru can win at Penn State and win at Mackey, RU has shown they can compete on the road against better programs

competing and finishing are two different things. Since joining the big ten in 2014 I think we have single digit road wins and by far the worst road record in the conference

 

[goru7]

We are unlikely losing a home game and will be one of the undefeated home teams in the country as there are about 24 teams left out of 353 teams. We have 5 opportunities to win on the road at Maryland, at Ohio State, at Wisconsin, at Penn State and at Purdue. Tonight’s is the hardest because Maryland is one of the 24 undefeated home teams that has played well lately but I expect the game to go to the wire. All the other 4 have lost at home and their home court advantages of past years is not what it was and frankly we are better than Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Purdue and a toss up with Penn State . It is time for our team to play a complete 40 minute game followed by multiple ones throughout February . The focus and eliminating of the inconsistencies will stop tonight . Pike has to rely on the hot hands , and if Geo or Ron are not playing well, there is enough other guys to bring home a W. Time to play more inside out and get the damn ball down low to Myles and Ron , and let more plays be run for Akwasi, Montez, and Caleb. Stop shooting too many threes and do them out of kick outs or offensive rebounding . We had been shooting almost 50% from 2 before Michigan so go back to our midrange and short shot game. Time for the defense to ratchet back up as well as Jacob and Montez and Geo have to hound opposing point guards. That is the recipe for a 6th -7th seed.

 

[RU84]

I'd take that in a heart beat. If we win at Purdue and at PSU were are definitely in. Those would be two big-time quality road wins.

Exactly! I'd be doing cartwheels if we get 4 wins. That alone is a stretch as we'll probably only be favored v. Northwestern. 20 wins should be enough from the Big this year.

 

[bac2therac]

omg the bridge jumping today on the board is making my eyes bleed

rutgers lost one fricking game

they are 7-4 league and in a tie for 4th...one frigging game out of first place

by reading the board you would think they were 4-7...some of the thinking here is flat out pathetic

 

[goru7]

omg the bridge jumping today on the board is making my eyes bleed

rutgers lost one fricking game

they are 7-4 league and in a tie for 4th...one frigging game out of first place

by reading the board you would think they were 4-7...some of the thinking here is flat out pathetic

Cannot agree more. I am looking at the Illinois game on the 15th as the game for first place as we are only one game out and the vast majority of the bandwagon jumpers over the last month are already abandoning ship. It is nauseating. Grow a set. There is nothing this year from this team that resembles anything like the prior 29 . We have never played defense like this. We have almost never had multiple options on offense that can lead us in scoring on any given night. We have not had a 2 way center in forever . You negative nellies, go look at the upcoming schedules of Michigan State, Illinois, Maryland, Iowa , and Penn State. Go find some wins in those schedules. This is the toughest league in the country. Only our pathetic bandwagon fans, after a 2 game win streak and 1 loss in a game we played our worse offensive and defensive game of the year , and still had a chance to win with a few minutes to go, would post the **** on here. We will kick Michigan’s *** at home as John’s will not be sneaking up on anyone. They scored one basket, a killer 3, off a broken play loose ball in the last 9 minutes . It sucks we lost. Everybody was pissed. This team doesn’t deserve the ******** bandwagon fans .

 

[RU848789]

FWIW...

Unfortunately, I only see us winning 4 more games:

Northwestern
Penn State
Michigan
Purdue

That said, giving us 20 regular season, plus 1 B1G win (worst case), 21 wins and we are SQUARELY on the BUBBLE...

Plus, committee looks for STRONG FINISHING TEAMS, so there is very little margin for error.

A bad time to start playing poorly, and we are now spending a lot of the “house money” we have earned.

Also, with the emphasis on balance in the tournament, if there’s a mid major who has 22 wins and finishes strong, they push us out.

We need that B1G SIGNATURE WIN in the next couple games to put us “IN”.

Gonna be close.

I still think 20-11/11-9, regardless of the B1G tourney, is a lock in such a tough conference (probably around a 9 seed), as our NET will stay pretty high if we finish 4-5. However, your scenario with 2 more highly valued road wins and a tourney win gets us to a 6-7 seed. Of course, winning 4 more is not a lock given our schedule and that we haven't been playing as well as we were. Team needs to step it back up, especially Geo, who has been bad since he came back, and Harper, who has been too inconsistent. Not confident that MD on the road is the team we'll do it against, however.

 

[RU848789]

competing and finishing are two different things. Since joining the big ten in 2014 I think we have single digit road wins and by far the worst road record in the conference

WTF difference does past history mean now? None, as this is a totally different team. I'm far more concerned with the team not playing as well lately, especially Geo and Harper, than thinking about the past. We might still not make the NCAAs, but it won't be because of past history.

 

[Knights 1212]

I think goru makes a lot of sense. We have had many bandwagon fans jump on our bandwagon in the last month or so. Where were they when we were doing poorly for years? Those of us who have been true fans for ages are the ones who really bleed scarlet. I live and die with our team and have for years. I have attended games for 49 years and have only missed about 5 home games since the RAC opened. I even attended 13 games in the 75-76 season. Some posters are ripping our team after we lost one game in which we were barely favored. A true fan roots for their team through thick and thin. I love this team and how much pleasure they have brought to many of us this season. I try to attend 2 practices every week and I can say honestly these guys are so locked into everything for this team and are so united as a team. I hope they can make the NCAA as I know how proud they will be and how proud they will make me as an RU fan.

 

[anon_xekqhstck0ygt]

exactly .... as bad as RU played against UM it was a 2 point game at the end....bad nights from 2 guys, only 5 foul shots, one of their not so good shooters was lights out. reverse just ONE of any of those, and its a W.

omg the bridge jumping today on the board is making my eyes bleed

rutgers lost one fricking game

they are 7-4 league and in a tie for 4th...one frigging game out of first place

by reading the board you would think they were 4-7...some of the thinking here is flat out pathetic

 

[bowlgoal]

We win 20 and we are in and that’s not going to be an easy task. Would be great to finally get an unexpected win like tonight or at Wisconsin or OSU. These are all extremely difficult places to play. Purdue is hell to play at home. We are playing okay on the road but not enough to win. We need the eye of the tiger

 

[Scangg]

Good position for a bid? That scenario has us as a 6 seed or maybe even a 5. Unlikely. Youre not winning at psu or mackey.

i hate to say it but i see a collapse coming. I think we finish with 8-9 big ten wins and miss the tourney. We havent looked good since the minny game and weve honestly gotten lucky to pull some games out

You cant just say we aren't winning at PSU or Purdue. Obviously, we could win at least one of those games.

Teams go through periods of looking good at times and looking worse at times during a season. Just like when we play our best it's not sustainable for every game, the same holds true for when we struggle. Why would you assume we struggle the entire rest of the season bc we had a couple not so great games?

You could also argue we also got unlucky to not pull out more of those games.

competing and finishing are two different things. Since joining the big ten in 2014 I think we have single digit road wins and by far the worst road record in the conference

Other years completely irrelevant. Come on kyk. You know it has no bearing at all on this season and this team. MAYBE you could argue last year matters a tiny bit but it's still a different team with basically the only people playing last year significant minutes as freshman

 

[bac2therac]

Cannot agree more. I am looking at the Illinois game on the 15th as the game for first place as we are only one game out and the vast majority of the bandwagon jumpers over the last month are already abandoning ship. It is nauseating. Grow a set. There is nothing this year from this team that resembles anything like the prior 29 . We have never played defense like this. We have almost never had multiple options on offense that can lead us in scoring on any given night. We have not had a 2 way center in forever . You negative nellies, go look at the upcoming schedules of Michigan State, Illinois, Maryland, Iowa , and Penn State. Go find some wins in those schedules. This is the toughest league in the country. Only our pathetic bandwagon fans, after a 2 game win streak and 1 loss in a game we played our worse offensive and defensive game of the year , and still had a chance to win with a few minutes to go, would post the **** on here. We will kick Michigan’s *** at home as John’s will not be sneaking up on anyone. They scored one basket, a killer 3, off a broken play loose ball in the last 9 minutes . It sucks we lost. Everybody was pissed. This team doesn’t deserve the ******** bandwagon fans .

we also have to remember teams get up for bigger games it just how things are. The Nebby/Purdue games were not going to have the same juice and sizzle that a game vs Maryland or Illinois will have...and that goes for the RAC too.

Beating Michigan would have been nice but geez

 

[wheezer]

G

i hate to say it but i see a collapse coming. I think we finish with 8-9 big ten wins and miss the tourney. We havent looked good since the minny game and weve honestly gotten lucky to pull some games out

I have this fear also....wins...I can see the NW game....the Illinois game.... Michigan....of course all at home.....that's it, and not enough......can hope for the Ohio st away, they were/are struggling....

I just don't feel it, and I want to be wrong....the team has lost something from Nebraska on.

edit:...if we win tonight, destroy this post

 

[goru7]

I have this fear also....wins...I can see the NW game....the Illinois game.... Michigan....of course all at home.....that's it, and not enough......can hope for the Ohio st away, they were/are struggling....

I just don't feel it, and I want to be wrong....the team has lost something from Nebraska on.

edit:...if we win tonight, destroy this post

Really cannot put my finger on it but you think the team has lost something. Not blaming Geo, but we were really playing well when Geo went out and Caleb was adapting to taking over at point guard. Pike’s sub pattern has been altered. He was bringing in Geo, Jacob, Paul and sometimes Shaquille at the under 16 timeout . In my opinion you cannot sub in 3 point guards and take out your wings , Akwasi, Montez, Ron and Caleb . 3 point guards will not work. After doing that for 2 to 3 games, he altered it , and subbed Geo alone against Michigan at the under 16 timeout. Then at the 13 minute mark , he brought in Jacob and Paul. He cannot play with 3 point guards and I think Paul has to play less.
Seton Hall just got Sandro back from the wrist fracture. Williard played him 10 minutes against DePaul at home and they struggled and were down at half and rallied late to win by 7. He played against Xavier at home and they got blown out with their first loss in 10 games.
There might be something with the rotations and easing back an injured starter back to the lineup that is causing what your seeing. Pike has to figure it out, restrict Paul’s minutes and if Geo is not playing well , then don’t be blindly loyal to him, since Caleb and Jacob are more than capable of filling his role both offensively and defensively.

 

[wheezer]

Really cannot put my finger on it but you think the team has lost something. Not blaming Geo, but we were really playing well when Geo went out and Caleb was adapting to taking over at point guard. Pike’s sub pattern has been altered. He was bringing in Geo, Jacob, Paul and sometimes Shaquille at the under 16 timeout . In my opinion you cannot sub in 3 point guards and take out your wings , Akwasi, Montez, Ron and Caleb . 3 point guards will not work. After doing that for 2 to 3 games, he altered it , and subbed Geo alone against Michigan at the under 16 timeout. Then at the 13 minute mark , he brought in Jacob and Paul. He cannot play with 3 point guards and I think Paul has to play less.
Seton Hall just got Sandro back from the wrist fracture. Williard played him 10 minutes against DePaul at home and they struggled and were down at half and rallied late to win by 7. He played against Xavier at home and they got blown out with their first loss in 10 games.
There might be something with the rotations and easing back an injured starter back to the lineup that is causing what your seeing. Pike has to figure it out, restrict Paul’s minutes and if Geo is not playing well , then don’t be blindly loyal to him, since Caleb and Jacob are more than capable of filling his role both offensively and defensively.

wow....way more analysis than I would be capable of..... interesting post

 

[Scarlet83]

Good position for a bid? That scenario has us as a 6 seed or maybe even a 5. Unlikely. Youre not winning at psu or mackey.

i hate to say it but i see a collapse coming. I think we finish with 8-9 big ten wins and miss the tourney. We havent looked good since the minny game and weve honestly gotten lucky to pull some games out

Dude, you run scolding hot and freezing cold. We beat Minnesota and Purdue, then lost a close one to Michigan. We can play with anyone. Let’s just root hard and see how many games this team can win.