Who is our "crunch" guy?

[RUich]

Seems like every other team as that "guy" who everyone knows is the one who is going to get the ball in the final seconds to win the game.
With our rotating star of the night, it would seem like we are really at a distinct disadvantage in a similar situation.
Sure, there's always Baker with some of the shots he has made, but is he our guy by default?
Who would you want taking that last critical shot?

 

[superfan01]

Kiss

 

[carmenst]

Baker

 

[zebnatto]

Baker

 

[Joey Bacala]

Baker

p.s. have you watched any games this year?

 

[JavaDunk18]

Baker, of course, but sometimes needs to be the decoy. Harper as second choice, should drive to hoop, like the way he got big bucket at Illinois last year. Plus he’s one of the better foul shooters. Myles only in sure fire alley-oop, or on a put-back bucket. Yeboah, as another option. Should have gotten ball sooner in last possession vs PSU, as he might have had a better look..

 

[Knight Ed_rivals]

Baker is shooting 26% from 3 and 38% from the field on the season. He is shooting only 12% from three over the past 4 games. If Mr. "Crunch" hit even a single one of his 3's against Penn State, we probably would have won. But he can throw as many bricks as he wants, as long as he hits a shot in the last two minutes of a close loss, some fans on here will still think he's amazing.
Note to Geo fans. The whole game is "crunch". Shooting poorly all game and frankly all year, does not make someone "crunch."

 

[LotusAggressor_rivals]

"Crunch guys" are much better shooters than the guys on this team.

 

[RUJMM78]

When the leading Rutgers scorer is only averaging 12 points a game its hard to identify a consistent crunch time scorer.

 

[Plum Street]

It should be baker . But our biggest shot of the season was taken by Yeboah

 

[Ru-baby]

With what we have seen how can anyone not think Geo is nails? He's been extraordinary at end game situations. Don't recall anything like it in RU history.

 

[rubaseball78_rivals]

Our crunch guy at end of game is Baker. What we are lacking is that go to guy who can take over a game and pull out of a drought.

 

[Plum Street]

With what we have seen how can anyone not think Geo is nails? He's been extraordinary at end game situations. Don't recall anything like it in RU history.

Agree. That’s another thing that sucked about the other night . If geo took the last shot and missed it would have been an easier pill to swallow . You live and die with the guy that got you there

 

[BigEastPhil]

Agree. That’s another thing that sucked about the other night . If geo took the last shot and missed it would have been an easier pill to swallow . You live and die with the guy that got you there

I agree. But if it wasn’t Baker, the next guy I’d like taking the shot is Kwasi. Just would have preferred for us to be more composed at the end as it was like we had no clue what to do when Geo didn’t have the ball at the end. When in doubt drive to the basket. Don’t settle.

 

[Ruthinking]

I really wish it would be Caleb from 15 feet! I’ve got more confidence in Caleb from14-16 feet than anyone.

but the correct answer in Geo.

 

[Scangg]

If you had to ask this question, you can't possibly be following this team play. There is only one player we go to in crunch time. We go to that player every single time. That player has made a lot of "crunch" shots

 

[RAC’emUp]

I’m going to go with the guy that the Illinois coach called the best clutch player in the country.

 

[Rufaninga]

Baker is shooting 26% from 3 and 38% from the field on the season. He is shooting only 12% from three over the past 4 games. If Mr. "Crunch" hit even a single one of his 3's against Penn State, we probably would have won. But he can throw as many bricks as he wants, as long as he hits a shot in the last two minutes of a close loss, some fans on here will still think he's amazing.
Note to Geo fans. The whole game is "crunch". Shooting poorly all game and frankly all year, does not make someone "crunch."

For true "Crunch" stat see what is his % with less than 60 seconds to go

Difference maker when game is on the line, who can Make the shot under pressure.

You site all 60 minute shooting %, but ask who should take the last shot. It's Baker by a MILE

 

[SirScarlet]

It should be baker . But our biggest shot of the season was taken by Yeboah

I'm not surprised you take the glass half empty angle

Just out of curiosity why are you ignoring all of the games we did win where he took the last shot?

Without them we are not even having this conversation.

 

[Plum Street]

I'm not surprised you take the glass half empty angle

Just out of curiosity why are you ignoring all of the games we did win where he took the last shot?

Without them we are not even having this conversation.

What are you talking about ? I said I would be perfectly fine living and dying with baker .
So what are you talking about ?

 

[koleszar]

Agree. That’s another thing that sucked about the other night . If geo took the last shot and missed it would have been an easier pill to swallow . You live and die with the guy that got you there

I would've had no problem with a Baker shot or a Young drive the way he was playing in that game. But a Yeboah shot(he was not having a good game) and the discombobulation we saw was very disconcerting. It looked like a full on Chinese fire drill once Baker decided to run about 12 secs. off the clock. That was another head scratcher. Run your offense from the get go, if we even have one, which I really believe we don't.

 

[SirScarlet]

What are you talking about ? I said I would be perfectly fine living and dying with baker .
So what are you talking about ?

I quoted your post. Not sure what you're confused about. What did you mean by the last statement in your post?

 

[Plum Street]

I quoted your post. Not sure what you're confused about. What did you mean by the last statement in your post?

Agree. That’s another thing that sucked about the other night . If geo took the last shot and missed it would have been an easier pill to swallow . You live and die with the guy that got you there

I thought I was clear

 

[RutgersChow]

Baker is shooting 26% from 3 and 38% from the field on the season. He is shooting only 12% from three over the past 4 games. If Mr. "Crunch" hit even a single one of his 3's against Penn State, we probably would have won. But he can throw as many bricks as he wants, as long as he hits a shot in the last two minutes of a close loss, some fans on here will still think he's amazing.
Note to Geo fans. The whole game is "crunch". Shooting poorly all game and frankly all year, does not make someone "crunch."

This is pretty spot on. Compared to Mathis and Young he is also a defensive liability on the ball in that he gets beat to often and he struggles getting over screens, and you're right - shoot 30% from three and we win at least one of these games.

 

[Scangg]

This is pretty spot on. Compared to Mathis and Young he is also a defensive liability on the ball in that he gets beat to often and he struggles getting over screens, and you're right - shoot 30% from three and we win at least one of these games.

While true, that has nothing to do with taking the last shot at crunch time. Geo needs to shoot better overall though. I think he would be the first to admit that. We are still in great shape to make the dance. We need Geo's leadership down the stretch here. Just one big game out of the next two might be enough

 

[nukem]

 

[Saint Puppy]

Geo is Mr. Clutch, and because of that I want him to be our Go-To player all game, but as much as I want him to be he just isn't. Last player we had who was a Go-To player was Corey Sanders, but I don't think Corey was ever the type of player who made those around him better. I love the chemistry of this team, but they need someone to step up and be the Alpha!

 

[srru86]

I’m going to go with the guy that the Illinois coach called the best clutch player in the country.

Yes

 

[RUChoppin]

Baker is our crunch guy because he's the only one I trust to get a good shot off with the ball in his hands and the shot clock winding down. I get nervous if anyone else on the team has the ball with less than 5 seconds on the shot clock - that they're not going to either get a shot off, they're not going to get anything close to a clean look, they're going to turn the ball over trying to force something, they're going to pick up their dribble... whatever. Unfortunately, he's streaky and his overall % isn't great.

Harper's probably #2 on the list - but if he has the ball with 5 seconds left, it needs to be within 15 feet of the basket for me to feel comfortable.

Yeboah, though, I trust with an open three more than anyone else. So, if he were to receive a kickout pass with under 5 seconds and shot it, I'm good with that.... but he isn't someone I'm looking at to create his own shot and make a play happen late in the shot clock. Someone else makes the defense react and gets him the ball for an open look, though? Great.

 

[RutgersChow]

I'

Baker is our crunch guy because he's the only one I trust to get a good shot off with the ball in his hands and the shot clock winding down. I get nervous if anyone else on the team has the ball with less than 5 seconds on the shot clock - that they're not going to either get a shot off, they're not going to get anything close to a clean look, they're going to turn the ball over trying to force something, they're going to pick up their dribble... whatever. Unfortunately, he's streaky and his overall % isn't great.

Harper's probably #2 on the list - but if he has the ball with 5 seconds left, it needs to be within 15 feet of the basket for me to feel comfortable.

Yeboah, though, I trust with an open three more than anyone else. So, if he were to receive a kickout pass with under 5 seconds and shot it, I'm good with that.... but he isn't someone I'm looking at to create his own shot and make a play happen late in the shot clock. Someone else makes the defense react and gets him the ball for an open look, though? Great.

I'm for running your offense the last 20 seconds. Think about it - if your best end of game option is Geo standing out there by himself and going one on one - if its such a great option, then why not do it all game long? This is your best option for scoring and you only do it one time during the game. And statistically, why does Harper have to be closer to the basket then Geo. He's the better three point shooter this year. Quite honestly, he's the better player. Put the ball in the better players hand more often than not. Quit honestly, I think Pike is probably gonna ride Geo straight to the NIT. I hope not.

 

[RUChoppin]

I'

I'm for running your offense the last 20 seconds. Think about it - if your best end of game option is Geo standing out there by himself and going one on one - if its such a great option, then why not do it all game long? This is your best option for scoring and you only do it one time during the game. And statistically, why does Harper have to be closer to the basket then Geo. He's the better three point shooter this year. Quite honestly, he's the better player. Put the ball in the better players hand more often than not. Quit honestly, I think Pike is probably gonna ride Geo straight to the NIT. I hope not.

I'm not saying not to run the offense, or to hold the ball until the last 5 seconds on the shot clock - I mean when we've run our offense without getting a shot off, and there's 5 seconds left, I want the ball in Baker's hands because he is the best we have at creating his own shot with his step back jumper, or drawing the defense to get the ball to a player ready to catch and shoot (Yeboah, Harper, etc).

Harper hasn't yet shown as much ability to consistently make a play for himself from the outside to get a clean look. He's much better creating his shot late in the clock from the post than from the outside, or receiving a pass to then take the open shot.

Baker has shown the ability at getting an open shot in pressure situations with the clock winding down. Harper may be the better overall player and Harper/Yeboah have better shooting percentages, but in that last 5 seconds Baker's been best able to consistently get a good look and a shot off.

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

Captain.