Three points we will eventually learn

[Scarlet Shack]

1.) every league game is 5% of the total and nothing , positive or negative , is decided until 20 games are played

2.) a lot of league games really are about matchups and styles …especially when the talent in the league is pretty good and pretty equal…

3.) how you manage the grind of 20 extremely competitive games and come out with a wind ready to go in March …is THE

Right now….the real question is will we bounce back?

Three years ago…8-3 went to 9-9, then we got our second wind and won the last two to put us in line for the bid

Two years ago …we really lost gas in February , and then recovered to beat minny , and Indiana to get the 10 seed…and then had very good ncaa energy

Last year …we were on the bubble from thanksgiving on …and we had to rally right up to the last two regular season games to get on the right side of the bubble …and I thought we didn’t have the bounce in the loss to Iowa and then to ndame in the ncaa

So…the question is …will we have a bounce or not

We shall see…..

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

1.) every league game is 5% of the total and nothing , positive or negative , is decided until 20 games are played

2.) a lot of league games really are about matchups and styles …especially when the talent in the league is pretty good and pretty equal…

3.) how you manage the grind of 20 extremely competitive games and come out with a wind ready to go in March …is THE

Right now….the real question is will we bounce back?

Three years ago…8-3 went to 9-9, then we got our second wind and won the last two to put us in line for the bid

Two years ago …we really lost gas in February , and then recovered to beat minny , and Indiana to get the 10 seed…and then had very good ncaa energy

Last year …we were on the bubble from thanksgiving on …and we had to rally right up to the last two regular season games to get on the right side of the bubble …and I thought we didn’t have the bounce in the loss to Iowa and then to ndame in the ncaa

So…the question is …will we have a bounce or not

We shall see…..

Not feeling it this year. I think Katz just jumped off the bus.

 

[ScarletDave]

1.) every league game is 5% of the total and nothing , positive or negative , is decided until 20 games are played

2.) a lot of league games really are about matchups and styles …especially when the talent in the league is pretty good and pretty equal…

3.) how you manage the grind of 20 extremely competitive games and come out with a wind ready to go in March …is THE

Right now….the real question is will we bounce back?

Three years ago…8-3 went to 9-9, then we got our second wind and won the last two to put us in line for the bid

Two years ago …we really lost gas in February , and then recovered to beat minny , and Indiana to get the 10 seed…and then had very good ncaa energy

Last year …we were on the bubble from thanksgiving on …and we had to rally right up to the last two regular season games to get on the right side of the bubble …and I thought we didn’t have the bounce in the loss to Iowa and then to ndame in the ncaa

So…the question is …will we have a bounce or not

We shall see…..

Backs against the wall just how we like it

Agree with you on matchups. We are 1-16 against Michigan for a reason. Their tall length killed us tonight and they played twin towers
We matchup with PSU, Minn and even NW better

 

[RUfanSinceAnderson]

Backs against the wall just how we like it

Agree with you on matchups. We are 1-16 against Michigan for a reason. Their tall length killed us tonight and they played twin towers
We matchup with PSU, Minn and even NW better

Who guards pickett??

 

[Scangg]

The tough part here is...

We broke the losing streak with a big road win

Caleb returns

Blackout game

Start strong and get early lead

Then we completely fall apart

 

[Scangg]

Who guards pickett??

Is this rhetorical?

 

[RUJMM78]

Backs against the wall just how we like it

Agree with you on matchups. We are 1-16 against Michigan for a reason. Their tall length killed us tonight and they played twin towers
We matchup with PSU, Minn and even NW better

Michigan played without Howard and still dominated the game after a early Rutgers lead.

 

[ImBadRU]

Wut matters is our glaring weaknesses

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

Michigan played without Howard and still dominated the game after a early Rutgers lead.

Pitiful

 

[BigEastPhil]

We can beat PSU. Caleb neutralizes Pickett. Cliff dominates as PSU has no interior defense. Time for team to play desperate. .

 

[Scarlet Shack]

The tough part here is...

We broke the losing streak with a big road win

Caleb returns

Blackout game

Start strong and get early lead

Then we completely fall apart

I agree it doesn’t look good

But remember 3 three years ago…9-8 in the big ten on the line and we played the worse half of the year against PSU and down 20

This board is in melt down mode because they had a bounce …

You can swing from the outhouse to the penthouse pretty Quickly

The question is can we have that bounce back and stop playing so tight and let it rip again …

If we do, we dance ….

 

[Scangg]

I agree it doesn’t look good

But remember 3 three years ago…9-8 in the big ten on the line and we played the worse half of the year against PSU and down 20

This board is in melt down mode because they had a bounce …

You can swing from the outhouse to the penthouse pretty Quickly

The question is can we have that bounce back and stop playing so tight and let it rip again …

If we do, we dance ….

I don't think we can return to pre Mag form but we can bounce back enough to get a couple wins and make the dance

This team won't quit and will dig deep

My hopes of a deep tournament run are down the tubes now though. I just want to make the dance at this point

 

[BigEastPhil]

I don't think we can return to pre Mag form but we can bounce back enough to get a couple wins and make the dance

This team won't quit and will dig deep

My hopes of a deep tournament run are down the tubes now though. I just want to make the dance at this point

You’re spot on per the other thread. Mag loss is immeasurable. We don’t have the depth to compensate nor the players to overall raise their game.

 

[Kbee3]

We can beat PSU. Caleb neutralizes Pickett. Cliff dominates as PSU has no interior defense. Time for team to play desperate. .

It was time in the second half tonight.
In our house.
Possibly the worst offensive performance by any team that mattered to me....ever.

 

[BigEastPhil]

It was time in the second half tonight.
In our house.
Possibly the worst offensive performance by any team that mattered to me....ever.

Seton Hall game was just as atrocious but this game had more on the line.

 

[bac2therac]

Michigan played without Howard and still dominated the game after a early Rutgers lead.

this...and Michigan played very good D credit them, but I dont think they did anything that special tonight or presented some incredible offense prowess. RU shot itself in the foot in the first half where it should have been up double digits and then again in the 2nd half when they pulled within 2.

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

this...and Michigan played very good D credit them, but I dont think they did anything that special tonight or presented some incredible offense prowess. RU shot itself in the foot in the first half where it should have been up double digits and then again in the 2nd half when they pulled within 2.

It was a good run. We beat a #1 again. Can't ask for mo. Next year we light up the nets.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I don't think we can return to pre Mag form but we can bounce back enough to get a couple wins and make the dance

This team won't quit and will dig deep

My hopes of a deep tournament run are down the tubes now though. I just want to make the dance at this point

This is exactly what I said learning about the Mag injury.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

this...and Michigan played very good D credit them, but I dont think they did anything that special tonight or presented some incredible offense prowess. RU shot itself in the foot in the first half where it should have been up double digits and then again in the 2nd half when they pulled within 2.

Bufkin was special and put the team on his back on the defensive end. He took Mulcahy colmpletely out of the game and 8 feet further away from where he wanted to be.

 

[zappaa]

This is exactly what I said learning about the Mag injury.

Yes-make the dance for the resume.
This team in its current form is going nowhere

 

[zappaa]

Bufkin was special and put the team on his back on the defensive end. He took Mulcahy colmpletely out of the game and 8 feet further away from where he wanted to be.

There has to be a way to attack pressure D the second you cross mid-court.
There has to be an offensive strategy you worked on all week to get players into positions to make a play

 

[RUBlackout]

What the OP describes is our luck down the stretch that helped us getting into the NCAA tourney. We have sweated out each of the past 3 seasons wondering if we would even make it..no comfort in that. SO while all of us were cheering for these accomplishments because our long drought we have only limped into the tournament. Here we are again in year 4.....

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

There has to be a way to attack pressure D the second you cross mid-court.
There has to be an offensive strategy you worked on all week to get players into positions to make a play

We saw it vs Temple in the 2nd half. It was F our half court offense and set high picks and drive to the hoop.

We don’t have the personnel. What Michigan did is our kryptonite

 

[koko2315]

I don't think we can return to pre Mag form but we can bounce back enough to get a couple wins and make the dance

This team won't quit and will dig deep

My hopes of a deep tournament run are down the tubes now though. I just want to make the dance at this point

100 agree
It seems 70% of this board wants to speak our ncaa snub into existence
Why? So you can say I told you so?

 

[FIJI'83]

It’s not about lack of effort or not playing with desperation, it’s a lack of talent and lack of mental toughness. As to the former, the scholarships of Miller and Reiber should not be renewed. Palmquist is a serviceable bench player but not more. Simpson can’t shoot and get’s overwhelmed on the floor by aggressive opposing guards resulting in turnovers; not remotely ready. Wolf was inexplicably not developed and lost good developmental minutes to Reiber. Cam’s lack of speed and elevation on shots is well documented. Suffice to say, Cliff needs to be sent to a preeminent big man’s camp to learn post moves.

As to lack of mental toughness, Hyatt’s goose egg no show last night is Exhibit A as is his inability to score on breakaways. Paul also fits here-as well- although playing thru his shoulder injury has been admirable. However, he has shown a lack of leadership, is often visibly frustrated, refuses to take on more of a scorer’s role, and has not raised the level of play of those around him.

Separate and apart from the rest, Caleb’s effort last night was warrior like. He’s offensive game is not good, but what matters is that he is a defensive specialist who is tough as nails. If he was on a team that could score, his Reavis Island ability to shut down top flight opposing scorers would be a special weapon. I hope he finds a spot on a G League team next year, develops his shot, and eventually finds a spot on a NBA team. He deserves it.