Antwone Woolfolk was huge off the bench. Photo credit Rutgers Athletics.
It was the most beautiful rerun Rutgers fans have ever seen. With NCAA Tournament hopes hanging on by a thread, Steve Pikiell’s team came through in a major way with the season on the line. Four years in a row when RU has had their backs against the wall, they’ve found a way to win. And no surprise, it came from a superb defensive effort that held Michigan to 35% shooting and just 4 made field goals in the second half. The Scarlet Knights knocked off the trendy pick to win the Big Ten Tournament 62-50 in Chicago on Thursday.
“You know, to come in here and be locked in and hold them to, I think, four field goals in the second half goes to show you what these guys are made of,” said Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell. “Caleb hasn’t been practicing, and to give us the minutes he did today, and Jett Howard has been scoring a ton of points. To outrebound a team like this too, just goes to show you what these guys are made of. Great team win. Cliff blocked shots. Caleb doing his thing. Derek, Cam making big shots, two down the stretch. Our defense was terrific.”
The Scarlet Knights will play No. 1 seed Purdue on Friday at noon ET airing live on the Big Ten Network.
Scroll below for game highlights, postgame press conferences for both teams, my reaction video and more.
— Rutgers Men’s Basketball 🏀 (@RutgersMBB) March 9, 2023
Rutgers Postgame Press Conference
Michigan Postgame Press Conference
AB’s Reaction Video
Rutgers Full Box Score
#
Player
PTS
FG
3FG
FT
OR
DR
REB
A
PF
TO
BL
ST
MIN
+/-
0*
SIMPSON, DEREK
13
6-16
0-4
1-2
2
3
5
3
2
0
0
2
36
13
4*
MULCAHY, PAUL
8
3-6
2-3
0-0
3
2
5
5
4
3
0
3
30
9
10*
SPENCER, CAM
18
6-11
2-6
4-4
0
3
3
2
3
0
0
1
30
9
11*
OMORUYI, CLIFFO
6
3-10
0-1
0-0
3
5
8
1
4
0
3
0
28
12
22*
MCCONNELL, CALE
4
2-10
0-2
0-2
1
8
9
3
0
2
0
2
36
10
1
PALMQUIST, OSKA
2
0-0
0-0
2-2
0
2
2
1
2
0
0
1
18
6
5
HYATT, AUNDRE
5
1-4
1-2
2-2
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
9
1
13
WOOLFOLK, ANTWO
6
3-4
0-0
0-0
2
0
2
0
2
1
0
1
11
0
TM
TEAM
–
–
–
1
2
3
0
3
TOTALS
62
24-61
5-18
9-12
12
25
37
15
18
9
3
10
GAME PCT
39.3
27.8
75.0
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I have been smiling all afternoon as the game was a morning game for me on the West Coast. Thanks for having the post-game pressers. It was wonderful seeing the players happy, smiling and laughing.
What. A. Win! It was a completely different team and the biggest reason, I think by a wide margin, was the infusion of some speed on the court. Simpson’s ability to attack was the biggest difference. A few other takeaways:
1) Ditto to everything that Aaron said in his reaction. As always, awesome analysis. Thanks for that.
2) Mulcahy only made 3 baskets but they were all big. It was 7-0 MI until PM hit a deuce. He then hit an important three to again get them closer in the first half. And, of course, a big one in the second half. It was also his best defensive game in a long while.
3) Wolf’s 11 minutes were enormous and he held his own. The extended drive that he had for a basket coupled with his bully ball basket from the paint clearly displayed his wide ranging talent.
4) Pikiell was a maestro today. Obviously, having Simpson serve as the primary ball handler but lots of other little things. He played Dickinson straight up in the first half and then clearly threw him off in the second when they literally threw everyone at him, seemingly at once. RU built about a 5 point lead and MI called timeout. What did Pikiell do? He shifted to a zone which completely confused MI. Pikiell > Howard.
5) I completely agree with Aaron that Simpson’s rebound and basket off of the free throw miss changed the game. I thought that RU finished them off when Caleb came from nowhere to strip Dickinson and then hit a soft pull up in transition from about 8 feet.
6) Aaron and Vin said it perfectly. They played with pure joy and they out-toughed MI in every way. Go RU!
thevinman
March 10, 2023 at 12:46 am
I have been smiling all afternoon as the game was a morning game for me on the West Coast. Thanks for having the post-game pressers. It was wonderful seeing the players happy, smiling and laughing.
BataliBoli98
March 10, 2023 at 3:30 am
What. A. Win! It was a completely different team and the biggest reason, I think by a wide margin, was the infusion of some speed on the court. Simpson’s ability to attack was the biggest difference. A few other takeaways:
1) Ditto to everything that Aaron said in his reaction. As always, awesome analysis. Thanks for that.
2) Mulcahy only made 3 baskets but they were all big. It was 7-0 MI until PM hit a deuce. He then hit an important three to again get them closer in the first half. And, of course, a big one in the second half. It was also his best defensive game in a long while.
3) Wolf’s 11 minutes were enormous and he held his own. The extended drive that he had for a basket coupled with his bully ball basket from the paint clearly displayed his wide ranging talent.
4) Pikiell was a maestro today. Obviously, having Simpson serve as the primary ball handler but lots of other little things. He played Dickinson straight up in the first half and then clearly threw him off in the second when they literally threw everyone at him, seemingly at once. RU built about a 5 point lead and MI called timeout. What did Pikiell do? He shifted to a zone which completely confused MI. Pikiell > Howard.
5) I completely agree with Aaron that Simpson’s rebound and basket off of the free throw miss changed the game. I thought that RU finished them off when Caleb came from nowhere to strip Dickinson and then hit a soft pull up in transition from about 8 feet.
6) Aaron and Vin said it perfectly. They played with pure joy and they out-toughed MI in every way. Go RU!