RUTGERS-MICHIGAN GAME THREAD

[bac2therac]

Sanders is not good in crunch time and the lack of leadership really hurts

 

[Plum Street]

It was a great effort. We don't have the talent yet. Pike can coach.

 

[greenknight]

They played real well....no foul on Corey

 

[RUJMM78]

The difference in the game was the offensive rebounds that gave Michigan extra possessions and a dagger 3 pointer at crunch time by Wilson.Rutgers played another tough defensive game holding Michigan to 68 points.The problem is that Rutgers can't reach the 70 point plateau which in many cases this season would have resulted in wins.

Rutgers got 41 points from Sanders,Johnson and Williams but only 23 points from the front court.Far too many missed shots around the basket .Rutgers had only 1 basket in the last 2 minutes but got points at the foul line to keep the game a nail biter to the last possession.

Once again at crunch time no go to scorer which has been the story throughout the league games.

 

[TMCB]

Despite our record these games are fun to watch again!

 

[Hondo77]

The recent loses in the last 2 minutes of a g as me are tough to watch. What we need and I hope Pikiel can find the guy to fill what I call the Phil Sellers role. As Tom Young often did....
"Just give the ball to Phil" and he did the rest. Right now the effort is there with an average group and no real dominant player. With that key guy this team would be in a post season tourney. But certainly anyone with a fair amount of objectivity sees the growth and progress made this year.

Dick Vitale found Phil, not Tom.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

From the stands looking at replay it looked like Corey bumped with the body. I'd need to see a closer look to be sure. I also thought I saw Corey shake his head as if he knew he fouled him.

 

[MGSA99]

Leading the league in moral victories.

 

[Knights 1212]

I can only imagine how the guys feel. You can only come up empty so often. Our guys are working so hard. I sure hope they can get rewarded before this season ends.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

People keep stating the same things over and over again....there is no such thing as a "go-to" scorer in big time college basketball....a good team will take away a teams best first or second option and it's up to the entire offensive gameplan to find the open player and it comes down to whether the players on the court can create their own offense.

The reason RU and most teams struggle in the final 4 minutes of games that are close, is defensive focus gets turned up 2-3 notches....RU faces tougher defense in the last 4 minutes and RU's defense has been pretty good for the last 4 minutes in most games.....Teams that play against RU, aren't automatically getting their best players, wide open looks.

It will take time and another guard and forward to be added to the roster that can make an individual play with a pass or shot and right now, we are limited to Sanders and perhaps Nigel Johnson creating offense off the dribble.

A veteran team or team with 4 out of 5 options on the court, can trust it's offense and run it, allowing whomever is left open to score or have a chance to create offense or draw fouls...Right now RU ( when all 3 guards are not on the court at the same time), are limited to 2 out of the 5 that can generate their own offense/jump shot. The offense in the last four minutes saw a Freeman step back that was partially blocked, Sanders partially blocked, Gettys a tough bank that missed and a putback or two by Mike Williams to stay within striking distance....Michigan's offense wasn't much prettier at the end either.

The roster next year should offer more opportunities for the guards to have more options and the goal of finding a wing player changes the entire flow of what we run. It's much easier to score when you have a solid 5th year larger SG or undersized SF that can at least spot up or get points off the dribble. Right now that wing separates RU's overall from being 13-16 from likely being 16-13 right now.....we are probably looking at 4-12 or 5-11 in conference right now.

These are fixable items without requiring elite talent to close the gap...a revamp of the roster for 2017-18 with a couple of tweaks can make a huge difference.

 

[Duff366]

That foul call on Sanders in the last minute was f*in ridiculous..

 

[RU848789]

From the stands looking at replay it looked like Corey bumped with the body. I'd need to see a closer look to be sure. I also thought I saw Corey shake his head as if he knew he fouled him.

As I said a few pages ago, when it happened, no way was that a foul in any game, but especially with one second left in the shot clock and under a minute left in a game where they were letting the guys play. I rarely play the ref card, but that was a very bad call. I thought the officiating was great, otherwise and one play doesn't make a game, but that was a tough one to swallow.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

There are 2 big issues with our team. We can't shoot and our guards lack vision. If there isn't improvement we won't win until they are gone.

Today shooting wasn't an issue and as a whole our offense wasn't bad.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I thought Freeman and Gettys down low was the way to go. We got good looks, empty trips, and abandoned the advantage I felt we had.

 

[bac2therac]

There are 2 big issues with our team. We can't shoot and our guards lack vision. If there isn't improvement we won't win until they are gone.

Today shooting wasn't an issue and as a whole our offense wasn't bad.

Sanders is good but every team in the league has a Sanders, I think our fans thought he was going to be a savior for our program. He is our best player and brings alot to the table but as for as awareness late in games and leadership that is something lacking from him that the team desperatley needs

 

[RUfromSoCal?]

i should be encouraged...

but, last couple have been heartbreaking...

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I'll say it to I am blue in face. If Corey and Nigel continue to penetrate with blinders we will never win. Plain and simple.

Big possession Sanders beats his man and Wilson (I believe) follows the scouting report and is right where he needs to be and blocks the shot.

 

[80RU]

From the stands looking at replay it looked like Corey bumped with the body. I'd need to see a closer look to be sure. I also thought I saw Corey shake his head as if he knew he fouled him.

I read one of the Michigan boards and every single Michigan poster agreed that they got they got bailed out on that call. And you could see Cory continue to plead his case to the referee after the timeout – – he certainly did not agree with the call.

 

[greenknight]

As a matter if fact there was no foul on Freeman on 3pter before half either. He never touched him. The player fell on his own looking for foul call

 

[RUJMM78]

People keep stating the same things over and over again....there is no such thing as a "go-to" scorer in big time college basketball....a good team will take away a teams best first or second option and it's up to the entire offensive gameplan to find the open player and it comes down to whether the players on the court can create their own offense.

The reason RU and most teams struggle in the final 4 minutes of games that are close, is defensive focus gets turned up 2-3 notches....RU faces tougher defense in the last 4 minutes and RU's defense has been pretty good for the last 4 minutes in most games.....Teams that play against RU, aren't automatically getting their best players, wide open looks.

It will take time and another guard and forward to be added to the roster that can make an individual play with a pass or shot and right now, we are limited to Sanders and perhaps Nigel Johnson creating offense off the dribble.

A veteran team or team with 4 out of 5 options on the court, can trust it's offense and run it, allowing whomever is left open to score or have a chance to create offense or draw fouls...Right now RU ( when all 3 guards are not on the court at the same time), are limited to 2 out of the 5 that can generate their own offense/jump shot. The offense in the last four minutes saw a Freeman step back that was partially blocked, Sanders partially blocked, Gettys a tough bank that missed and a putback or two by Mike Williams to stay within striking distance....Michigan's offense wasn't much prettier at the end either.

The roster next year should offer more opportunities for the guards to have more options and the goal of finding a wing player changes the entire flow of what we run. It's much easier to score when you have a solid 5th year larger SG or undersized SF that can at least spot up or get points off the dribble. Right now that wing separates RU's overall from being 13-16 from likely being 16-13 right now.....we are probably looking at 4-12 or 5-11 in conference right now.

These are fixable items without requiring elite talent to close the gap...a revamp of the roster for 2017-18 with a couple of tweaks can make a huge difference.

I disagree with the notion that there aren't go to scorers in big time college basketball.I would take Douby or Coleman right now over Rutgers current guards and there would be more points on the board.The Wisconsin center certainly was a go to scorer in defeating Rutgers.Yes, successful teams have multiple go to scorers which is the reason that close games are wins rather than losses.

The most important position that needs improvement next season is the small forward.That position needs to average 10-15 points per game and be a consistent 3 point shooter.Basketball is a game of runs as seen with Michigan going on a 10-0 run after Rutgers had a 56-52 lead.Rutgers was never able to come back because Michigan maintained a 2-6 point lead by 3 pointers and foul shots.Another heart breaking loss which hopefully will put greater urgency on roster changes for next season.Status quo won't work in the B1G because opponents have better young talent.

 

[APKnight]

Maybe Mike Williams should be our go to guy at crunch time.