Photo credit Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Rutgers suffered a bad shooting night and it resulted in a 70-57 loss on the road at Michigan State. It was a terrible shooting night in which RU shot just 34% from the field and only 2 of 17 from three-point range (12%). On the flip side, Michigan State made 12 of 22 from behind the arc for 55%. The 30 point differential from the three-point line was the differencein the game.
“The ball went in, it’s a game of runs, we expect them to run, they really got us in transition, and to tie the game back up,” head coach Steve Pikiell said after the game. “That’s how these games go. We had a run to begin the game. They had the next run. I really liked the fact we got into halftime, within a couple of possessions, but just we’re never able to get over the hill here and you know, it’s good team.”
Here are game highlights, Pikiell’s postgame presser, my rapid reaction video and the box score.
Game Highlights
Rutgers Postgame Presser
AB’s Rapid Reaction
Rutgers Full Box Score
#
Player
PTS
FG
3FG
FT
OR
DR
REB
A
PF
TO
BL
ST
MIN
+/-
3*
MAG, MAWOT
6
2-6
0-0
2-3
3
2
5
2
2
1
1
0
28
-2
4*
MULCAHY, PAUL
12
5-8
0-0
2-2
0
1
1
4
2
4
0
1
35
-13
10*
SPENCER, CAM
8
3-14
1-8
1-1
1
6
7
3
1
1
0
3
34
-7
11*
OMORUYI, CLIFFO
12
5-13
0-1
2-3
5
7
12
0
1
0
0
0
31
-5
22*
MCCONNELL, CALE
11
4-11
1-4
2-3
4
2
6
5
2
4
0
4
37
-13
0
SIMPSON, DEREK
4
2-4
0-1
0-0
0
2
2
0
1
1
0
0
11
0
5
HYATT, AUNDRE
2
0-7
0-3
2-2
2
2
4
0
3
0
0
0
16
-17
13
WOOLFOLK, ANTWO
2
1-1
0-0
0-1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
-2
21
REIBER, DEAN
0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
-6
TM
TEAM
–
–
–
3
2
5
0
0
TOTALS
57
22-64
2-17
11-15
18
24
42
14
12
11
1
8
GAME PCT
34.4
11.8
73.3
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It is way too early to write off this team. Michigan State was hot. I swear, I think they could have drop kicked the ball from mid court and it would have gone in. I remain concerned about the lack of offensive production from O’Connell and Omoruyi. O’Connell’s shot selection seems to continue to deteriorate and Omoruyi misses shots from six inches away. Why either of these plays are taking shots beyond the arc is mystifying to me. I’ve said several times that if you are depending on one or two players and they have an off night you are going to fail some of the time. I’m not the least bit upset at Spencer’s shooting. He had good looks, mostly took good shots but had an off night. I’d be concerned if he had or has 2-3 off nights in a row but I don’t think he will. It was interesting to read the coaches comments about Hyatt’s shooting in practice. Maybe he should wear his practice jersey in the game. It wasn’t our night. Still love this team. Next.
That shooting comment on Hyatt was actually an answer to my question to coach about whether it was just an off night or he disliked something like shot selection. As you know, bad shooting nights happen. I’m actually encouraged it was as close as it was considering how poorly they shot the ball.
I’d like to see more Hyatt and less McConnell. Hyatt seems like the kind of player that plays better the more he plays. McConnell may be a defensive beast, but we can’t win without more offense from his position.
I’m still very positive and supportive of this team and staff. The only school I dislike as much as Princeton is Penn State. We’ll be there helping give our guys the sixth man advantage.
Henry Rutgers
January 20, 2023 at 1:37 pm
It is way too early to write off this team. Michigan State was hot. I swear, I think they could have drop kicked the ball from mid court and it would have gone in. I remain concerned about the lack of offensive production from O’Connell and Omoruyi. O’Connell’s shot selection seems to continue to deteriorate and Omoruyi misses shots from six inches away. Why either of these plays are taking shots beyond the arc is mystifying to me. I’ve said several times that if you are depending on one or two players and they have an off night you are going to fail some of the time. I’m not the least bit upset at Spencer’s shooting. He had good looks, mostly took good shots but had an off night. I’d be concerned if he had or has 2-3 off nights in a row but I don’t think he will. It was interesting to read the coaches comments about Hyatt’s shooting in practice. Maybe he should wear his practice jersey in the game. It wasn’t our night. Still love this team. Next.
Aaron Breitman
January 20, 2023 at 2:44 pm
That shooting comment on Hyatt was actually an answer to my question to coach about whether it was just an off night or he disliked something like shot selection. As you know, bad shooting nights happen. I’m actually encouraged it was as close as it was considering how poorly they shot the ball.
Henry Rutgers
January 20, 2023 at 3:38 pm
I’d like to see more Hyatt and less McConnell. Hyatt seems like the kind of player that plays better the more he plays. McConnell may be a defensive beast, but we can’t win without more offense from his position.
I’m still very positive and supportive of this team and staff. The only school I dislike as much as Princeton is Penn State. We’ll be there helping give our guys the sixth man advantage.