Three Thoughts on Rutgers Basketball's recent loss to Nebraska
There was not much love in the air as Rutgers dropped a Valentine’s Day matchup to Nebraska 82-72 at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
Here are three thoughts after the game….
A different team
Since the loss of Mawot Mag, Rutgers has gone 0-3 and does not look like the same squad on either side of the ball. Although Nebraska finished the day 12-28 from the 3-point line, the Cornhuskers picked apart the Scarlet Knights’ defense all night long as they shot 58 percent from the field.
“I think this is the first time we've given up over 50 percent for the game in a long time,” head coach Steve Pikiell said. “They made some tough shots and they made it hard for us. I thought we had some chances too but turnovers, missing free throws, and layups [cost us].”
On the offensive side, despite finishing with 72 points one-third of it can be attributed to Aundre Hyatt who scored a career-high 24. If the Scarlet Knights want to get out of this predicament, they will need more from just about everybody, especially Cam Spencer and Paul Mulcahy who combined for 10 points.
Gut check time
Although losing Mag takes a toll on both sides of the ball for Rutgers, he should not be the difference between it going from a potential second-place Big Ten team to a squad battling to make the NCAA Tournament. Whether it is Caleb McConnell. Mulcahy, or Cliff Omoruyi, the Scarlet Knights need one of their veteran leaders to step up and prevent this three-game losing streak from snowballing any further.
“Anytime you lose anybody at this time of year it hurts,” Pikiell continued .”He's a starter and really good defender so he gave us another guy that could guard multiple positions. We've got enough though.”
At the end of the day, this loss needs to be rock bottom for Rutgers considering it now finds itself not only slipping in the Big Ten standings but in its potential tournament seeding too. With five games remaining in the regular season, the Scarlet Knights do not have much more room for error, so if they want to sit comfortably on Selection Sunday they will have to find their groove again and fast.
The Curious Case of Cliff Omoruyi
While it is hard to knock a player who nearly averages a double-double, Omoruyi seems to have taken a step back so far this season with the last few games being the most alarming. Although Omoruyi has proven he can be the most dominant player on the court at times and has shown flashes of it this season, the big man has had trouble finding an outside game for much of the year.
“He had 13 points and 12 rebounds,” Pikiell said regarding Omoruyi. “But that's what they do, they swarm the ball. They did a pretty good job at that and they always do.”
The last two games are also not something Omoruyi will be fond of considering he struggled defensively with Dain Dainja and Derrick Walker. Whether one agrees with it or not, the Scarlet Knights have shown they are a team dependent on big men's play so if they want to get back to their roots it starts with Omoruyi.
Rutgers will return to action on Saturday when it travels to the Kohl Center to face Wisconsin at noon on BTN.
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