Uh, Rutger, you had but one job...
Up 9 with less than five minutes left, give up 14-2 run, losing the ball on their penultimate possession, and bricking a potentially game tying three at the buzzer.
B1G basketball, it's fantastic!
Absolutely shit the bed. What a meltdown.
This is what happens when we give them a conference room.
March 22nd, 2021 at 10:04 AM ^
Way better showing than the shit show that was Illinois. Barf.
Horrible turnover when they could have set up the game winning shot, down 1.
It's hard to pick which was the worst turnover in the last 6 minutes. Just brutal basketball going into a turtle shell way too early.
Well, at first I didn't agree with Alphonso Ellis when he said Rutgers shouldn't be running the clock down during those last few possessions.
Though I quickly realized he was right because Rutgers didn't have clue what they were doing when they slowed down offensively to drain the clock.
Had they run the shot clock down to 2 or 3 seconds before making a layup on a back-cut, Ellis would have talking about how they were geniuses for taking so much time off the clock.
Nothing wrong with the strategy... unless it takes you out of your offensive rhythm or you don't have guys who can create a decent shot.
Who is this Alphonso Ellis you talk of? Last time I checked his name is LaPhanso Ellis.
March 22nd, 2021 at 12:18 PM ^
Okay. I just assumed it was the more common name Alphonso.
They gave up a ton of offensive rebounds late. That's the key stat that they'll kick themselves over.
March 21st, 2021 at 10:11 PM ^
Refs could have called on foul on Houston at that turnover. Not on the guy that stole the ball but on the guy that bumped the Rutgers player on the dribble just before the steal.
Regarding Alphonso Ellis's comment about stalling too soon, well it wasn't too soon if Rutgers would have made any of their shots in the last two minutes. How does running down the clock equal a missed shot?
March 21st, 2021 at 10:49 PM ^
The problem was that Rutgers often didn't know how to get quality good shots after running the clock down to almost zero.
I watch one possession where the point guard just stood there near the 3 point line dribbling, then with a few seconds remaining, he drove to the basket right into the chest of a Houston player for a turnover out of bounds.
The problem wasn't just missed shots.
Slowing down was actually right, but Alphonso apparently felt Rutgers wasn't going to be able do it right and still consistently score.
He was right.
That’s always the sign of a losing team. Winning teams stay aggressive and/or maintain the style of play that got them the lead. Losing teams do that thing where they stand around for 20+ seconds before one player goes hero-ball as the shot-clock expires. I can’t believe coaches still coach this strategy.
The 'Prevent a Win' basketball offense is as effective as it the 'Prevent a Win' football defense is. I also find it completely ridiculous to go away from what got you the lead and do something different. Then, instead of going back to what worked earlier, you double down on the panic and try forcing the slowdown. WTF???
There is only one bball slowdown scheme in history that ever worked consistently. When Dean Smith went into his 4-corner offense, the game was over. I don't care if UNC was playing the Showtime Lakers in the 80's, the game was over. But then, there was no shot clock in that game...
You cannot shelf your game plan when it got you a late lead...
...and that’s why they are called Buttgers
Not surprised at all. Rutgers gonna rutger
B1G gonna B1G
March 21st, 2021 at 11:10 PM ^
Making fun of Rutgers seems pretty lame rn when a "historically god B1G" is collectively shitting the bed
On the other hand, I'd say their tournament was more successful than those of ohio state and illinois
And at least they made the tournament. Unlike our other rival.
Loved the missed dunk.
and the 4-5 missed layups in the final 3 minutes
March 21st, 2021 at 10:02 PM ^
That was it. They couldn't hit a layup for their life.
March 21st, 2021 at 10:02 PM ^
It's my computer doing the double posts, not me.
The moment got to them.
simple as that
Rutger
It’s what the Big Ten does this tournament.
And here I was about to give them their s back
It has been a pooch-screw of epic proportions. Rutgers at least punched above its seed for most of the game. Elsewhere, a 2 lost to a 15, a 4 lost to a 13, and a 1 lost to an 8. We'll see how tomorrow goes. History may judge the '20-'21 Big Ten group pretty harshly.
History may judge the '20-'21 Big Ten group pretty harshly.
Already started. For example: https://sports.yahoo.com/b-1-g-flop-embarrassing-early-struggles-expose-proud-big-ten-041441047.html
It is embarrassing. Saying anything else about B1G's performance so far is pure cope.
not maizen, showing some somewhat similar characteristics of....maizen.
March 21st, 2021 at 10:25 PM ^
A while back, I had stopped reading this blog for some time and when I returned, I'd learned of this boogeyman named 'Maizen'. Thought it was hilarious how everyone was accused of being someone named Maizen.
I take they hated Maizen because he spoke the truth?
March 21st, 2021 at 10:32 PM ^
Every "not maizen" makes this kind of post.
March 21st, 2021 at 11:40 PM ^
Correct. We'd get Maizen-style posts and then denials--"I'm not Maizen!!"--but with that same odd little bit of praise: "I'm not Maizen!! But it sounds like this Maizen you speak of was a bold and noble teller of essential truths." Even in denial, playing Maizen up like it's Cato confronting Caesar when it's really just some creepy-ass little sparty troll.
March 21st, 2021 at 11:06 PM ^
more of a gentle pulling of your chain than any kind of serious accusation. don't lose any sleep over it.
March 21st, 2021 at 11:17 PM ^
Maizen was a guy that boiled everything down to recruiting stars. Went into great depth & detail each & every time the subject arose, to explain to all of us simpletons that if we would somehow just make the 5 star players sign with us, that we would win. He was insufferable.
You act like you don't know maizen, but you named yourself after him...
"I take they hated Maizen because he spoke the truth?"
Um, no. Nice try.
Umm... something something COVID something?
March 21st, 2021 at 10:09 PM ^
Agree. The anti-big 10 sentiment on this blog and trash talking other schools constantly is amateurish. Makes us look like we have nothing else to do but shxt on 18-22 year-olds to make us feel better. Rutgers made their first NCAA tournament in 38 years, won their first game, and, put up a hell of fight, before caving in the last 10 minutes. Give them credit for putting up a fight and wildly exceeding expectations.
The Big 10 is underperforming, and we didn't play great yesterday. Let's hope we come out with our best game of the season tomorrow.
I didn't think that running down the clock was crazy. Let's face it, scoring is not their strength. But you can only get so far when "not good at scoring" applies to your team.
Ultimately this is what it comes down to.
They weren’t really doing anything differently than before. Baker just missed that layup and Johnson couldn’t put it back up.
Then just take a shot clock violation instead of "flinging the ball into the backcourt" to the other team for a fast break. Scoring isn't Houston's strength either so giving them free points doesn't seem great either. And if that is your only path to victory, you probably don't deserve to win. I thought Rutgers had been playing well enough that they could at least try to play on the offensive end.
It's one thing to run a little clock. It's another thing entirely to just wait until 5 seconds on the shot clock then just throwing the ball to the other team. Obviously you saw which Rutger chose.
Yes, the execution was unquestionably not ideal!