Rutgers up next
- Thread starter wbrhawkeye
- Start date
Indeed it is!
Pikiell’s reaction for first ranking in 41 years is pure Tunnel vision:
““Nope. No thoughts,” he said on Sunday. “We’re trying to go to Iowa."
According to the B1G website, in all 18 games so far, Rutgers is:
#1 in scoring defense at 58.7 ppg
#1 in FG% defense at 36.4%
#3 in scoring margin at +12.3
#3 in 3-pt FG% defense at 29.2%
#2 in rebounds at 41.5
#6 in rebounds allowed at 32.9
#4 in rebounding margin at +8.6
#4 in blocked shots per game at 4.9
#2 in steals per game at 7.0
Meanwhile, Iowa is
#1 in scoring offense at 79.9 ppg
#2 in 3-pt FG% at 36.1%
#4 in 3-pt FGs made per game at 8.3
#2 in assists per game at 18.3
#1 in assist/TO ratio at 1.5
And of course you have two of the top 8 scorers in the conference.
So this is a really intriguing matchup of strength vs. strength. Rutgers defense vs. Iowa offense. Your goal should be to score 75+, because Rutgers is going to struggle to score 70. We're not going to beat you in a shootout.
#1 in scoring defense at 58.7 ppg
#1 in FG% defense at 36.4%
#3 in scoring margin at +12.3
#3 in 3-pt FG% defense at 29.2%
#2 in rebounds at 41.5
#6 in rebounds allowed at 32.9
#4 in rebounding margin at +8.6
#4 in blocked shots per game at 4.9
#2 in steals per game at 7.0
Meanwhile, Iowa is
#1 in scoring offense at 79.9 ppg
#2 in 3-pt FG% at 36.1%
#4 in 3-pt FGs made per game at 8.3
#2 in assists per game at 18.3
#1 in assist/TO ratio at 1.5
And of course you have two of the top 8 scorers in the conference.
So this is a really intriguing matchup of strength vs. strength. Rutgers defense vs. Iowa offense. Your goal should be to score 75+, because Rutgers is going to struggle to score 70. We're not going to beat you in a shootout.
Well, the ranking has nothing to do with that. This was going to be a competitive game regardless, like almost all the BIG conference games this season. hell, the Scarlet Knights may have had a bigger chip on their shoulders, if they had not been ranked...
I don't disagree with that at all.
Pikiell is hopefully keeping them grounded. I think Wednesday night is gonna be f-u-n
Well it will be fun for one team anyway. I'll say this. This will be a totally different game then the one Iowa played in Friday against Michigan. Excellent game with great pace and flow. Even mentioned by many of the national talking heads as a great game of college bball, the way it should be played. Wednesday will be different. This will be a scrappy ugly game, If Iowa lets Rutgers make it like that. If Iowa can push the pace, and keep their flow they win by 15 to 20 points. If not it will go down to the wire. Either way, it will be a good test to prepare the Hawks for Wisconsin, who is another team that needs to muddy the game up to win on the road.....
Not be be argumentative but exactly how did things change?
There is now a # next to the team name nothing more.
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One thing I like favoring Iowa in a close game Wednesday.
In B1G conference games, Iowa is #1 in FT shooting at 78%. RU is dead last at 62%
https://bigten.org/confstats.aspx/2019-20/mbb/confonly?path=mbball
In B1G conference games, Iowa is #1 in FT shooting at 78%. RU is dead last at 62%
https://bigten.org/confstats.aspx/2019-20/mbb/confonly?path=mbball
Yes. The only thing it changes is emotions and the B1G is a grind every night for every team so this was going to be a battle regardless of any ranking.
Get the DePaul tape out and watch what not to do against a quick defensive team
My heart is still broken over that shot.
It wasn’t a shot, it was a prayer
Well there's a long standing belief that God hates Rutgers, so prayer being answered makes sense.
Only fanbase I've ever seen inventing excuses prior to the game.
Genuinely nice fans you guys have, should be a great game. Our offense isn’t very good and we can’t shoot free throws but our defense is elite and the guys play for each other.
Harper is down 15/20 lbs. from last year. He was listed at 255 last year but admitted he was over 260. He said at the beginning of the season he was down to 245 and it looks like it too.
Just calling it like I have seen it in the couple of Rutgers games I have watched this year. Their players are very physical, and it makes them a really tough team to beat, especially at home.
I did add the caveat, IF Iowa is able to get into their flow, and this doesn't turn into a slow down wrestling match like some BIG games do. Iowa has been one the top 5 efficency teams all season, in fact #1 for good part of the year. Rutgers like most of the BIG schools has struggled on the road. If Iowa gets this game going to their pace they'll be in the 75 to 85 point range and they'll run Rutgers or anybody out of Carver. If Rutgers is able to muddy the game like Wisky does, and they keep Iowa under 70, then it will be a close one.
I doubt their anymore athletic then Michigan, and they didn't get out with a win. Whats the plan for the Garzilla?
Have you read this thread? Pretty much everyone is giving Rutgers props for having a good team
It would have been easier to cheer if it hadn't hit the backboard first. So much pain.
