Feb 23, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Cam Spencer (10) drives to the basket against \Michigan Wolverines guard Joey Baker during the second half at Jersey Mike's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
With Rutgers leading Michigan 13-3 to start the game, the opportunity to deliver a knockout blow was on the table. And then the Wolverines responded as Cliff Omoruyi and Paul Mulcahy were on the bench. The Scarlet Knights got tight and never recovered. It resulted in a very disappointing 58-45 loss, the team’s second straight defeat at the RAC.
“Well, I mean obviously, (we) left a lot on the table,” said head coach Steve Pikiell after the loss. “We’ve been pretty solid shooting the ball from the free throw line. It’s kind of an unusual night, especially here at home. We’ve been shooting the ball well here at home. Every time I thought we started getting a little momentum, it was either a missed free throw or turnover, and that obviously didn’t help us. In a game like this, you need those kinds of points. They’ve been very good defensively. I thought us defensively tonight too was good, except for our turnovers on offense. You can’t defend in transition like that. They got a lot of steals, and they got to the basket. Obviously, those things really hurt us.”
Below are game highlights, postgame press conferences, my rapid reaction video and the box score.
Game Highlights
Rutgers Press Conference
Michigan Press Conference
AB’s Reaction Video
Rutgers Full Box Score
#
Player
PTS
FG
3FG
FT
OR
DR
REB
A
PF
TO
BL
ST
MIN
+/-
1*
PALMQUIST, OSKA
3
1-3
1-3
0-0
0
1
1
1
2
1
0
0
25
2
4*
MULCAHY, PAUL
9
3-8
1-2
2-5
0
3
3
6
2
2
0
1
35
-5
5*
HYATT, AUNDRE
0
0-5
0-4
0-2
0
1
1
2
2
1
0
0
28
-8
10*
SPENCER, CAM
11
5-12
1-3
0-0
1
6
7
0
2
3
0
3
35
-17
11*
OMORUYI, CLIFFO
10
5-10
0-0
0-4
1
9
10
1
4
1
2
1
32
-2
0
SIMPSON, DEREK
5
1-3
0-0
3-4
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
11
-2
2
MILLER, JALEN
0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
13
WOOLFOLK, ANTWO
0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
3
1
21
REIBER, DEAN
0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
5
-12
22
MCCONNELL, CALE
7
3-6
1-1
0-1
1
4
5
1
0
2
0
2
25
-23
TM
TEAM
–
–
–
2
0
2
0
0
TOTALS
45
18-47
4-13
5-16
6
25
31
11
13
13
2
7
GAME PCT
38.3
30.8
31.3
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Points Off Turnovers – Michigan 17/Rutgers 3
Foul Shooting – Michigan 7-11/Rutgers 5-16
That’s all you need to know about this game. I’m tired of bringing up the inconsistent half court offense. To waste another solid defensive effort because your offense can only muster 45 pts is truly sad. It seems that this team has run out of steam down the stretch and the loss of Mag only accentuated it. To me, it just seems the team is mentally tired. Some of the unforced turnovers left me bewildered. When Howard went to Reed & Dickinson on the court together, Rutgers still insisted going into the teeth of that size. It was difficult to watch. So, here we are with 3 games left to play. Going into last night’s game, I had thought that 2-2 was realistic. Now I’m not sure that it was too optimistic. I won’t give up on this team and I don’t want them to end the regular season & the BT Tournament on a sour note. They deserve better but it’s up to them to regroup and get themselves right.
pj43
February 24, 2023 at 8:41 pm
Points Off Turnovers – Michigan 17/Rutgers 3
Foul Shooting – Michigan 7-11/Rutgers 5-16
That’s all you need to know about this game. I’m tired of bringing up the inconsistent half court offense. To waste another solid defensive effort because your offense can only muster 45 pts is truly sad. It seems that this team has run out of steam down the stretch and the loss of Mag only accentuated it. To me, it just seems the team is mentally tired. Some of the unforced turnovers left me bewildered. When Howard went to Reed & Dickinson on the court together, Rutgers still insisted going into the teeth of that size. It was difficult to watch. So, here we are with 3 games left to play. Going into last night’s game, I had thought that 2-2 was realistic. Now I’m not sure that it was too optimistic. I won’t give up on this team and I don’t want them to end the regular season & the BT Tournament on a sour note. They deserve better but it’s up to them to regroup and get themselves right.