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This is not the same team…

S

SBP

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2003
4,759
4,675
113
as the first half of the season. There’s a new confidence. Better offense. The emergence of PM, and defensive consistency.

Since the second half of NW game, things look and feel very different.

But, if there was a road game this team COULD lose in this gauntlet, it’s today. That said, I truly believe these guys have figured it out. They know what’s at stake. I’m looking for a very close game, and perhaps, just perhaps, a dub..

Keys: Paul vs Davison. Can Caleb lock up or contain Davis. Can Ron give us 20 on the road.

Toss it up and let’s rumble
 
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J

Jtg=04131996

All-Conference
Aug 2, 2010
8,165
4,878
81
I said in another thread I think Hepburn is the X Factor - the kid is quick and a great defender. If we can make him play like a freshman we’re in good shape. Wish Miller was available to nag him for a few minutes per half.
 
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D

Degaz-RU

Heisman
Dec 19, 2002
22,478
26,927
88
RUtrumpet92 said:
Mackey will be a tougher environment than today IMO. Wisconsin is a sound team but other than Davis, none of their players are individual standouts. We have a chance today.
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Think you’re underrating Davison and Wahl. Davison can light it up from deep, and Wahl has turned into a good all around scorer inside and out.

That said, I ageee with the OP that we’re a different team now. I’ve actually been meaning to post something similar. We now have TWO guys who can initiate the offense in Paul and Geo, and they work in diverse ways.

Plus the “Paul Offense” is very difficult to defend because of his court vision, size, and decision making abilities. When Paul gets in the lane, there are literally four different options: (1) feed to Cliff for a dunk; (2) dish to the left wing for an open three; (3) dish to the right wing for an open three; or (4) Paul does his pivot thingie and backs in his man for a clean look or layup.

NONE of this existed even a month ago. Add in the production we’re now getting from Reiber, and you have a completely different team.

We can do this.
 
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wheezer

wheezer

Heisman
Jun 3, 2001
169,873
25,557
113
SBP said:
as the first half of the season. There’s a new confidence. Better offense. The emergence of PM, and defensive consistency.

Since the second half of NW game, things look and feel very different.

But, if there was a road game this team COULD lose in this gauntlet, it’s today. That said, I truly believe these guys have figured it out. They know what’s at stake. I’m looking for a very close game, and perhaps, just perhaps, a dub..

Keys: Paul vs Davison. Can Caleb lock up or contain Davis. Can Ron give us 20 on the road.

Toss it up and let’s rumble
Click to expand...
The emergence of Paul as a threat in the key, coupled with Cliff converting some short shots along with the dunks is the biggest difference. Too many missed shots by Cliff previously were lost possessions, now they are successful

Ron and Geo are not always good at the same time, one must be very good each game, both at the same time gives us real hope in any game
 
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G

goru7

All-American
Dec 12, 2005
6,437
7,731
113
wheezer said:
The emergence of Paul as a threat in the key, coupled with Cliff converting some short shots along with the dunks is the biggest difference. Too many missed shots by Cliff previously were lost possessions, now they are successful

Ron and Geo are not always good at the same time, one must be very good each game, both at the same time gives us real hope in any game
Click to expand...
I will take 6 guys in double figures with a high of 17 and a low of 11 like against Michigan State rather than having Geo or Ron go off for 25. If both Ron and Geo go off and 1 or 2 others are in double figures we are likely winning every time.
 
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RUnTeX

RUnTeX

All-Conference
Dec 21, 2001
7,097
4,264
113
If Ron doesn't bring his A game, can Geo bring his instead? Most of Geo's top performances and heroics over the years have been in the friendly confines of the RAC as well as the one B1G tourney game at the Garden, but he may have had a couple on the road that I can't recall atm. Anyway, if both him and Ron can carry the offensive load along with some balance from Paul and Cliff, Rutgers can make it interesting at the Kohl.
 
R

RUJMM78

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
26,246
12,523
113
Until proven otherwise Rutgers still is the same team on the road.This team gains added confidence playing at the RAC in front of a boisterous crowd.On the road Rutgers needs to make shots to silence the crowd whichn rarely happens at crunch time.
 
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R

RUChoppin

Heisman
Dec 1, 2006
19,270
13,695
0
It is a different team than the first portion of the season just based on rotation - and that's one of the things that makes it difficult to compare this group to that group with advanced metrics.

This was the 9-man rotation up through the Illinois game (8 games), by minutes played:
264 - Harper (16.2% of our total minutes)
254 - Mulcahy (15.6%)
210 - McConnell (12.9%)
206 - Omoruyi (12.7%)
166 - Baker (10.2%)
153 - Hyatt (9.4%)
125 - Jones (7.7%)
89 - Mag (5.5%)
88 - Agee (5.4%)
26 - Palmquist (1.6%)
24 - Reiber (1.5%)
20 - Miller (1.2%)

This group went 4-4, shooting .394 from the field, with our five current starters averaging 67.8% of all minutes played.

This has been the rotation since (15 games):
508 - Harper (16.8% of our total minutes)
475 - Baker (15.7%)
469 - Mulcahy (15.5%)
435 - Omoruyi (14.4%)
428 - McConnell (14.1%)
173 - Hyatt (5.7%)
158 - Mag (5.2%)
115 - Reiber (3.8%)
109 - Miller (3.6%)
61 - Palmquist (2.0%)
51 - Jones (1.7%)
28 - Agee (0.9%)

This group has gone 10-5 against a tougher slate, shooting .459 from the field, with our five starters averaging 76.5% of all minutes played.

After those first 8 games, Pike basically removed Jones/Agee from the rotation, decreased Hyatt's overall minutes about 40%, and started leaning more heavily on his starters. Jones has only seen one double-digit-minute game since we got pasted by Illinois (CCSU) and Agee has seen none.

Those three went from accounting for 22.6% of our minutes to 8.3%... while Baker/Miller/Reiber went from 12.9% to 23.1%.
 
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G

GoodOl'Rutgers

Heisman
Sep 11, 2006
123,974
19,586
0
SBP said:
as the first half of the season. There’s a new confidence. Better offense. The emergence of PM, and defensive consistency.
Click to expand...
Dude.. it IS the same team. That "same team" played the first half of the NW game.. that was not that long ago. We have a Jekyll-Hyde team (assuming Hyde are the ones that WIN as monsters on the court). We just never know which team will show up and when.
 
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S

Scangg

Heisman
Mar 19, 2016
25,448
49,369
113
The team has fundamentally changed with new Paul.

His style of play is more repeatable so he can be more consistent. His layups and 5 footers around the rim will always be high percentage shots. The dunks to Cliff from Paul will always be dunks. Home or away.

Paul is now getting us easy buckets each game. It's huge bc we really have struggled with this and don't score in transition often and prevents scoring droughts

Teams will have to adjust and scheme to stop Paul which helps Geo and Ron.

Paul has height on Davidson. Take it at him. Get him in foul trouble.
 
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E

Eagleton95.99

All-American
Jul 25, 2001
7,560
6,484
113
There is reason to hope that PM's emergence, and the growth of some other players like Reiber and Cliff, strong play by McConnell, and the new shorter rotation, mean that there is a sustainable change in the team. But it's only been a few games with the "new" team. So it's also OK to be hopeful but not convinced yet that Mr. Hyde won't be back.
 
R

RUtrumpet92_rivals498139

All-American
Feb 5, 2003
10,980
9,385
113
Degaz-RU said:
Think you’re underrating Davison and Wahl. Davison can light it up from deep, and Wahl has turned into a good all around scorer inside and out.
Click to expand...
That's not quite what I meant so let me rephrase. Sure, Davison can shoot well and could go off today. Do you worry about him like you do Liddell, Ivey, Davis, etc.? He is not a match-up nightmare like those guys.
 
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S

Scangg

Heisman
Mar 19, 2016
25,448
49,369
113
RUtrumpet92 said:
That's not quite what I meant so let me rephrase. Sure, Davison can shoot well and could go off today. Do you worry about him like you do Liddell, Ivey, Davis, etc.? He is not a match-up nightmare like those guys.
Click to expand...
On paper, this is an excellent matchup for Rutgers.

Caleb on Davis is elite on elite. It's probably Davis's toughest matchup of the year with Caleb's length.

Paul on Davidson. Another good defensive matchup for us since Paul struggles more against explosive athletes and he has a couple inches on him

Geo is senior on freshman

Cliff is the clear superior athlete and he won't be bullied with power.

Harper can overpower Wahl
 
S

Scangg

Heisman
Mar 19, 2016
25,448
49,369
113
bac2therac said:
Wisconsin is alot tougher to play than some think
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Not saying they aren't tough. They are just a good matchup for us player vs player.

Also similar to Iowa with one star player and not a lot of explosive athletes surrounding the star. No top big man inside
 
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S

SBP

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2003
4,759
4,675
113
YES! As I stated, ALL the keys to the game went LIKE THEY SHOULD, all the pieces fell in place. GREAT team D, and Caleb on Davis, Mulcahey...RON WITH 20!!!

It's NOT the same team....
 
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G

GoodOl'Rutgers

Heisman
Sep 11, 2006
123,974
19,586
0

(no, did not know.. had to look up.. too old.. Dragon Ball Z anime)
 
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R

RUPete

Heisman
Feb 5, 2003
26,841
16,113
0
Scangg said:
It's not just the PnR. We tried it earlier in the season too. It's Paul's elevated level of play in the PnR being more aggressive. It's not only PnR either
Click to expand...
Yup. More about player development, people understanding and embracing their roles better. That’s coaching and the team getting it done.
 
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R

RUsojo

Heisman
Dec 17, 2010
29,501
28,659
113
Scangg said:
It's not just the PnR. We tried it earlier in the season too. It's Paul's elevated level of play in the PnR being more aggressive. It's not only PnR either
Click to expand...
That’s the difference I see. Doing everything else the same (obviously some Rutgers/opponent shooting variance on contested and open looks)
 
S

Scangg

Heisman
Mar 19, 2016
25,448
49,369
113
RUsojo said:
That’s the difference I see. Doing everything else the same (obviously some Rutgers/opponent shooting variance on contested and open looks)
Click to expand...
We didn't even run the pick n roll all that often... his entire play is different. More aggressive and confident looking for his shot. He's taken wayyy more fade away turn around jumpers which we didn't really see much at all earlier. I dunno man clearly a different player
 
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