Mar 10, 2023; Chicago, IL, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Mason Gillis (0) goes to the basket against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Rutgers and Purdue once again played a tough, physical battle in a game that went down to the wire. The Scarlet Knights had won five of the last six meetings against the Boilermakers including a road victory in January. Unfortunately, RU fell just short on Friday in a 70-65 loss to exit the Big Ten Tournament.
Scroll below for game highlights, both postgame press conferences, my reaction video and more.
Game Highlights
Rutgers Press Conference
Purdue Press Conference
Reaction Video
Rutgers Full Box Score
#
Player
PTS
FG
3FG
FT
OR
DR
REB
A
PF
TO
BL
ST
MIN
+/-
0*
SIMPSON, DEREK
18
5-16
2-5
6-8
0
2
2
1
3
3
0
3
27
4
4*
MULCAHY, PAUL
10
4-6
2-2
0-1
1
3
4
5
4
0
0
2
36
1
10*
SPENCER, CAM
13
5-13
2-5
1-2
2
1
3
1
4
1
0
1
35
1
11*
OMORUYI, CLIFFO
10
4-10
0-0
2-2
3
5
8
3
4
0
3
1
33
0
22*
MCCONNELL, CALE
6
3-6
0-1
0-0
2
1
3
4
5
1
0
2
36
0
1
PALMQUIST, OSKA
2
1-4
0-3
0-0
1
1
2
0
3
1
0
0
13
-11
2
MILLER, JALEN
2
1-3
0-1
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
-4
5
HYATT, AUNDRE
0
0-2
0-2
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
-8
13
WOOLFOLK, ANTWO
4
2-2
0-0
0-0
2
0
2
1
3
0
0
0
7
-8
TM
TEAM
–
–
–
2
2
4
0
2
TOTALS
65
25-62
6-19
9-13
13
15
28
15
26
8
3
9
GAME PCT
40.3
31.6
69.2
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A break here or there or a whistle or two not blown and perhaps it’s a different outcome. Regardless, it is impossible not to be proud of the guys. They left it all out on the floor and I’m even more hopeful that the lasting memory of this season, for me, won’t be Hyatt passing the ball backwards against MN but who RU matches up against in about a week. Unfortunately, the lack of depth today really hurt. -31 combined for the bench is tough to overcome.
Aaron, I wonder if you have touched base with Brad for an update on where RU stands.
The flow of the offense is better with Simpson running it. Would like to get Hyatt back in there as he is willing to put up shots (albeit too frequently). Hopefully these two games they righted the ship and they get an invite to dance.
I agree. I was surprised that Oskar got more minutes than Aundre. Its not long ago that Aaron wrote an article touting Hyatt and noted that he was the team’s second leading scorer. Also, while Oskar’s defense has improved, he is still weaker than Aundre on that end of the floor. Additionally, Aundre is a better rebounder.
When Rutgers plays like they did in Chicago, they’re a Big Dance quality team without qualification. Unfortunately, the team is at the mercy of things they can no longer control. What I took out of the performance in Chicago is that Simpson & Woolfolk should be an integral part of this program’s continuing uptrend to greater heights. No doubt Simpson has injected something this woeful half court offense has lacked – an ability to score the ball off the dribble when everyone else is stagnant. Woolfolk seems to be just scratching the surface of his potential. He’s remarkably composed on the offensive end given his experience but still a football player on the defensive end. Once he converts his football physicality to the basketball court on the defensive end, he has the athleticism and footwork to be a defensive presence. When this season is officially over, Pikiell will be faced with what I think is a reality that has to be addressed, i.e. why has the half court offense been so inconsistent despite better personnel, and how do you fix it if you want to take the program to the next level in year 8 of his tenure?
I think Penn State’s run, especially their win over Indiana really hurts us as they likely vaulted above us in the ratings. If it comes to it, we will be the last one in of the Big Ten teams.
The committee doesn’t look at teams from a conference perspective. Where you finish in the league standings and conference record doesn’t matter. The fact is Rutgers beat Penn State twice so that part of the resume looks even better. They went from having five wins against the field to having seven. Read more about the case for them making the NCAA Tournament here. https://thescarletfaithful.com/the-case-for-rutgers-to-make-the-ncaa-tournament-2023/
BataliBoli98
March 11, 2023 at 3:35 am
A break here or there or a whistle or two not blown and perhaps it’s a different outcome. Regardless, it is impossible not to be proud of the guys. They left it all out on the floor and I’m even more hopeful that the lasting memory of this season, for me, won’t be Hyatt passing the ball backwards against MN but who RU matches up against in about a week. Unfortunately, the lack of depth today really hurt. -31 combined for the bench is tough to overcome.
Aaron, I wonder if you have touched base with Brad for an update on where RU stands.
RUONE
March 11, 2023 at 3:13 pm
The flow of the offense is better with Simpson running it. Would like to get Hyatt back in there as he is willing to put up shots (albeit too frequently). Hopefully these two games they righted the ship and they get an invite to dance.
BataliBoli98
March 11, 2023 at 4:47 pm
I agree. I was surprised that Oskar got more minutes than Aundre. Its not long ago that Aaron wrote an article touting Hyatt and noted that he was the team’s second leading scorer. Also, while Oskar’s defense has improved, he is still weaker than Aundre on that end of the floor. Additionally, Aundre is a better rebounder.
pj43
March 11, 2023 at 5:56 pm
When Rutgers plays like they did in Chicago, they’re a Big Dance quality team without qualification. Unfortunately, the team is at the mercy of things they can no longer control. What I took out of the performance in Chicago is that Simpson & Woolfolk should be an integral part of this program’s continuing uptrend to greater heights. No doubt Simpson has injected something this woeful half court offense has lacked – an ability to score the ball off the dribble when everyone else is stagnant. Woolfolk seems to be just scratching the surface of his potential. He’s remarkably composed on the offensive end given his experience but still a football player on the defensive end. Once he converts his football physicality to the basketball court on the defensive end, he has the athleticism and footwork to be a defensive presence. When this season is officially over, Pikiell will be faced with what I think is a reality that has to be addressed, i.e. why has the half court offense been so inconsistent despite better personnel, and how do you fix it if you want to take the program to the next level in year 8 of his tenure?
thevinman
March 11, 2023 at 11:01 pm
I think Penn State’s run, especially their win over Indiana really hurts us as they likely vaulted above us in the ratings. If it comes to it, we will be the last one in of the Big Ten teams.
Aaron Breitman
March 12, 2023 at 4:43 am
The committee doesn’t look at teams from a conference perspective. Where you finish in the league standings and conference record doesn’t matter. The fact is Rutgers beat Penn State twice so that part of the resume looks even better. They went from having five wins against the field to having seven. Read more about the case for them making the NCAA Tournament here.
https://thescarletfaithful.com/the-case-for-rutgers-to-make-the-ncaa-tournament-2023/