Feb 11, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Derek Simpson (0) gets caught in a screen by Illinois Fighting Illini forward Coleman Hawkins (33) as teammate Jayden Epps (3) dribbles the ball during the second half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
No. 24 Rutgers lostat Illinois 69-60 on Saturday in a game that fell apart in the second half. With the Scarlet Knights leading 47-41 with 15 minutes to play, the game shifted soon after.
When Cliff Omoruyi picked up his third foul with 13:54 to play, the game changed. With him out of the game, the Illini went on to produce a game changing 19-0 run. Rutgers missed 14 straight shots over a ten minute period. While the team closed on a 13-9 run over the final five minutes, the issue was never in doubt.
“We played a good 31 minutes of basketball today. Illinois played great the last nine minutes and we didn’t,” said head coach Steve Pikiell. “I am looking forward to a home game. It’s been three on the road here and we’ve got to play better on the road for sure. We didn’t shoot it the way we liked and didn’t execute in the last nine minutes especially. They got us on the backboards and gave up 48 percent for the game, which is not a recipe on the road against a really good team. But you have to give Illinois credit. Their big guys bothered us around the basket. Cliff (Omoruyi) got into foul trouble. They scored points around the rim and they’ve got some good players. Coleman Hawkins was a problem all night. Dainja just started and got them off to a good start. Terrence Shannon is a good player. We just have to play better than that on the road.”
For game highlights, postgame pressers, my reaction video and box score, scroll below.
Game Highlights
Steve Pikiell Postgame Presser
To be added.
Brad Underwood Postgame Presser
AB’s Reaction Video
Rutgers Full Box Score
#
Player
PTS
FG
3FG
FT
OR
DR
REB
A
PF
TO
BL
ST
MIN
+/-
4*
MULCAHY, PAUL
12
5-9
1-2
1-2
0
4
4
2
5
2
1
1
34
-6
5*
HYATT, AUNDRE
12
5-13
2-5
0-1
4
1
5
0
0
0
1
1
30
-1
10*
SPENCER, CAM
2
1-5
0-1
0-0
0
0
0
2
1
1
0
2
26
-12
11*
OMORUYI, CLIFFO
14
5-12
0-0
4-5
7
3
10
0
4
2
2
0
24
4
22*
MCCONNELL, CALE
14
5-14
1-3
3-4
1
2
3
3
1
1
1
5
36
-6
0
SIMPSON, DEREK
4
2-8
0-1
0-0
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
21
-14
1
PALMQUIST, OSKA
2
1-4
0-3
0-0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
8
-2
2
MILLER, JALEN
0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
13
WOOLFOLK, ANTWO
0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
2
2
0
1
1
1
0
6
-5
21
REIBER, DEAN
0
0-4
0-1
0-0
0
5
5
0
1
0
0
0
14
-7
TM
TEAM
–
–
–
3
1
4
0
1
0
TOTALS
60
24-69
4-16
8-12
15
20
35
7
14
9
6
9
0
GAME PCT
34.8
25.0
66.7
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As always, thank you for generating so much high quality content. Here are a few of my takeaways:
1) I actually feel bad for Reiber. He’s a stretch-4 who is forced to backup Cliff and he just doesn’t have the physical makeup to be a backup big man in this league. We all realized this was a gap in this year’s squad and unfortunately it was a major factor in why RU lost today.
2) The people who really follow this team certainly appreciate the many skills that Paul brings to the floor each night. However, he’s got to stop whining after seemingly every call. LeBron, Curry, etc., can get away with it because of their elite status. With Paul, it is annoying. Just play.
3) Aaron got into this a little in the reaction video and I’ve been saying it for a couple of weeks now. The book is out on Cam. Just have a defender shadow him at all times in the half court. I can practically hear Underwood saying before the game: Under no circumstances are you to double off of Cam. I’m just very surprised that RU has been unable to adjust. Think back to the IU game, Cam had maybe two really good looks at a three and one of those was in transition. Compare that to the many times that Miller Kopp had a wide open look? I just don’t get it.
4) It will be interesting to see what Cliff does after this season. He’s just not nearly a finished product. Maybe he goes straight to the G League and fine tunes his game or maybe he comes back for one more run at RU. Regardless, Cliff has come a long way but his game still has a ways to go.
RU needs some home cookin’. Go RU!
It was a rare occurrence. At home games for football and basketball I stay until the end win or lose. I turned the game off with 7-8 minutes left. It was too distressing to watch. The turnovers, missed layups, dumb fouls etc. That ten-year contract extension may have been a little premature. No, I am not saying he’s not a good coach. No, I am not saying he should be fired. It seems to me that we were outplayed and outcoached in the second half.
Only two other comments: (1) The article was concise and had all the information in one place. (2) Agree with the comments BATALIBOLI98 made entirely.
I am really praying that we avoid being on the wrong side of a Valentines Day massacre at home against Nebraska.
BataliBoli98
February 12, 2023 at 4:26 am
As always, thank you for generating so much high quality content. Here are a few of my takeaways:
1) I actually feel bad for Reiber. He’s a stretch-4 who is forced to backup Cliff and he just doesn’t have the physical makeup to be a backup big man in this league. We all realized this was a gap in this year’s squad and unfortunately it was a major factor in why RU lost today.
2) The people who really follow this team certainly appreciate the many skills that Paul brings to the floor each night. However, he’s got to stop whining after seemingly every call. LeBron, Curry, etc., can get away with it because of their elite status. With Paul, it is annoying. Just play.
3) Aaron got into this a little in the reaction video and I’ve been saying it for a couple of weeks now. The book is out on Cam. Just have a defender shadow him at all times in the half court. I can practically hear Underwood saying before the game: Under no circumstances are you to double off of Cam. I’m just very surprised that RU has been unable to adjust. Think back to the IU game, Cam had maybe two really good looks at a three and one of those was in transition. Compare that to the many times that Miller Kopp had a wide open look? I just don’t get it.
4) It will be interesting to see what Cliff does after this season. He’s just not nearly a finished product. Maybe he goes straight to the G League and fine tunes his game or maybe he comes back for one more run at RU. Regardless, Cliff has come a long way but his game still has a ways to go.
RU needs some home cookin’. Go RU!
Henry Rutgers
February 12, 2023 at 5:46 am
It was a rare occurrence. At home games for football and basketball I stay until the end win or lose. I turned the game off with 7-8 minutes left. It was too distressing to watch. The turnovers, missed layups, dumb fouls etc. That ten-year contract extension may have been a little premature. No, I am not saying he’s not a good coach. No, I am not saying he should be fired. It seems to me that we were outplayed and outcoached in the second half.
Only two other comments: (1) The article was concise and had all the information in one place. (2) Agree with the comments BATALIBOLI98 made entirely.
I am really praying that we avoid being on the wrong side of a Valentines Day massacre at home against Nebraska.