Rutgers men’s basketball suffered a 76-65 loss at home to Iowa on Sunday. It was a disappointing performance to end what has been overall a very good week for the program. After a road win at No. 1 Purdue followed by a 14 point against Maryland, the Scarlet Knights were out of sync on both ends of the floor against the Hawkeyes. Iowa made 12 of 27 from three-point range for 44% while Rutgers was just 12 of 29 on layups and dunks for 41%.
Here are game highlights, the postgame presser for Rutgers, my rapid reaction video touching on the disappointing performance but positives overall from this week and the full Rutgers box score. If I can find a video of the Iowa presser, I will add it in.
Game Highlights
Rutgers postgame presser
AB Rapid Reaction
Rutgers Full Box Score
#
Player
PTS
FG
3FG
FT
OR
DR
REB
A
PF
TO
BL
ST
MIN
+/-
3*
MAG, MAWOT
9
3-10
0-2
3-4
3
2
5
1
0
2
1
1
26
-6
4*
MULCAHY, PAUL
7
2-10
1-4
2-2
0
3
3
1
1
0
0
0
32
-21
10*
SPENCER, CAM
13
4-10
3-6
2-2
1
4
5
3
3
3
0
3
30
2
11*
OMORUYI, CLIFFO
9
3-8
0-0
3-3
5
4
9
0
3
2
2
0
34
-6
22*
MCCONNELL, CALE
12
6-8
0-0
0-1
3
4
7
4
5
2
0
4
34
-15
0
SIMPSON, DEREK
8
3-11
0-4
2-2
0
1
1
1
2
0
0
2
22
-5
5
HYATT, AUNDRE
7
3-6
1-2
0-0
2
3
5
0
0
2
0
0
16
1
13
WOOLFOLK, ANTWO
0
0-0
0-0
0-1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
-3
21
REIBER, DEAN
0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
5
-2
TM
TEAM
–
–
–
0
1
1
0
1
TOTALS
65
24-63
5-18
12-15
14
22
36
10
16
12
4
10
GAME PCT
38.1
27.8
80.0
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“Iowa (10-6, 2-3) practically scored at will against the Scarlet Knights for most of the contest, with its shooting splits – 44.4% from the floor, 44.6% on three-pointers…..The Hawkeyes exploited the Scarlet Knights’ aggressive help defense, moving the ball well and CONSISTENTLY CREATING OPEN SHOTS (my emphasis)……Rutgers could not keep up, shooting 38.7% overall, including 42.8% at the rim (12-of-28 while getting blocked six times) and 29.4% on threes….” (Brian Foncesca – NJ Advance Media). Which, I think, begs the question, why were those RU offensive stats so poor?
For me (and I know I’m a broken record on this issue), it’s been the ongoing problem of a lack of a consistent half court offense. The TV guy, Robbie Hummel, pointed out several times that Iowa was confounding RU with its 2-3 zone (which appeared, to me, to morph into a match up zone at times). Hummel pointed out that the middle of the zone was open. What did RU do? On a few occasions, Mag went into the middle of that zone and most of the time was ineffective scoring or making the right pass. Who should have been in there? I nominate Mulcahy, but he was out on the perimeter dribbling around looking to make something happen. It didn’t happen. I have conceded that this team, this year, has shown some progress in its half court offense. I believe that it’s thanks, in a large part, to Cam Spencer’s presence. When you don’t move the ball well, you tend to end up taking poor, ill advised, shots, and even end up shooting 42.8% AT THE RIM! But, at the risk of beating a dead horse, I’ll move on.
What was particularly disappointing to me today was the fact that this team failed to show up ready to play. Perhaps they shouldn’t play noon time games on Sundays. Whatever, when you don’t show up ready to play in the Big Ten, you’re asking to get slapped around from the get go. RU never had the lead in this game and when its defense somehow managed to get them back into the game, they couldn’t get over the hump because their offense couldn’t match Iowa’s down the stretch. I won’t even get into the way Iowa dominated inside in the 1st half, but a very active Rebraca outscored and out rebounded Omoruyi, who continues to disappoint me with a lack of dominance on the defensive end. Assuming he returns next year (for his own good, it should be a no brainer), someone please work with Cliff in the off season on his footwork at both ends of the court instead of the 3pt shot! Yes, I know that this is a very good defensive team. But it could be even better, and it may need to be even better if an inconsistent half court offense remains the order of the day for the remainder of this season.
Ok, I got that off of my chest. On to Northwestern and, hopefully, we will see an RU team ready to play from the jump. We’re 3-2 and should be at least 4-1, in my opinion. I’m a little frustrated, as I’m sure others are. I guess maybe I’m just a half empty kind of guy. Anyway, it’s time to step it up because things aren’t going to get any easier. Perhaps this loss will serve as the impetus.
3rd game in 6 days. Sometimes, a team’s legs just aren’t there collectively. If you’ve watched this team all season, that’s the first time they’ve been slow on their rotations. They’re human, Iowa is a good offensive team. These things happen. Let’s keep things in perspective. This should’ve been just their first conference loss. They have to get back on track vs NW. I think this team will show us what they’re made of when they rebound with a strong performance at NW.
Glad to see someone else commenting. Your point is a valid take on the game and I hope you’re right. I’ll feel better when & if the offense is as offensively “connected” as the defense typically is, today notwithstanding.
We knew a team would shoot lights out and we would probably lose. There are plenty of chances left. This is a good team.
Northwestern scares me now. They’ve been playing really well. We have another opportunity for a very big win so let’s see how we react to this on Wednesday.
pj43
January 8, 2023 at 11:52 pm
“Iowa (10-6, 2-3) practically scored at will against the Scarlet Knights for most of the contest, with its shooting splits – 44.4% from the floor, 44.6% on three-pointers…..The Hawkeyes exploited the Scarlet Knights’ aggressive help defense, moving the ball well and CONSISTENTLY CREATING OPEN SHOTS (my emphasis)……Rutgers could not keep up, shooting 38.7% overall, including 42.8% at the rim (12-of-28 while getting blocked six times) and 29.4% on threes….” (Brian Foncesca – NJ Advance Media). Which, I think, begs the question, why were those RU offensive stats so poor?
For me (and I know I’m a broken record on this issue), it’s been the ongoing problem of a lack of a consistent half court offense. The TV guy, Robbie Hummel, pointed out several times that Iowa was confounding RU with its 2-3 zone (which appeared, to me, to morph into a match up zone at times). Hummel pointed out that the middle of the zone was open. What did RU do? On a few occasions, Mag went into the middle of that zone and most of the time was ineffective scoring or making the right pass. Who should have been in there? I nominate Mulcahy, but he was out on the perimeter dribbling around looking to make something happen. It didn’t happen. I have conceded that this team, this year, has shown some progress in its half court offense. I believe that it’s thanks, in a large part, to Cam Spencer’s presence. When you don’t move the ball well, you tend to end up taking poor, ill advised, shots, and even end up shooting 42.8% AT THE RIM! But, at the risk of beating a dead horse, I’ll move on.
What was particularly disappointing to me today was the fact that this team failed to show up ready to play. Perhaps they shouldn’t play noon time games on Sundays. Whatever, when you don’t show up ready to play in the Big Ten, you’re asking to get slapped around from the get go. RU never had the lead in this game and when its defense somehow managed to get them back into the game, they couldn’t get over the hump because their offense couldn’t match Iowa’s down the stretch. I won’t even get into the way Iowa dominated inside in the 1st half, but a very active Rebraca outscored and out rebounded Omoruyi, who continues to disappoint me with a lack of dominance on the defensive end. Assuming he returns next year (for his own good, it should be a no brainer), someone please work with Cliff in the off season on his footwork at both ends of the court instead of the 3pt shot! Yes, I know that this is a very good defensive team. But it could be even better, and it may need to be even better if an inconsistent half court offense remains the order of the day for the remainder of this season.
Ok, I got that off of my chest. On to Northwestern and, hopefully, we will see an RU team ready to play from the jump. We’re 3-2 and should be at least 4-1, in my opinion. I’m a little frustrated, as I’m sure others are. I guess maybe I’m just a half empty kind of guy. Anyway, it’s time to step it up because things aren’t going to get any easier. Perhaps this loss will serve as the impetus.
InPikeWeTrust
January 9, 2023 at 2:31 am
3rd game in 6 days. Sometimes, a team’s legs just aren’t there collectively. If you’ve watched this team all season, that’s the first time they’ve been slow on their rotations. They’re human, Iowa is a good offensive team. These things happen. Let’s keep things in perspective. This should’ve been just their first conference loss. They have to get back on track vs NW. I think this team will show us what they’re made of when they rebound with a strong performance at NW.
pj43
January 9, 2023 at 3:22 am
Glad to see someone else commenting. Your point is a valid take on the game and I hope you’re right. I’ll feel better when & if the offense is as offensively “connected” as the defense typically is, today notwithstanding.
Jfuntimes in NB
January 9, 2023 at 2:42 pm
We knew a team would shoot lights out and we would probably lose. There are plenty of chances left. This is a good team.
Northwestern scares me now. They’ve been playing really well. We have another opportunity for a very big win so let’s see how we react to this on Wednesday.