Embracing Expectations: 4 Thoughts On Penn State Round 2

Rutgers loses to Penn State 65-64. I don’t know how I can have four thoughts on this, but here I go.

My Heart Is Broken: I think I speak for every Rutgers player, every Rutgers fan and anyone who has followed Rutgers basketball intently for the last forever... that was crushing. You have a lead with 36 seconds left after an absolute furious rally. It feels like maybe—FINALLY—the basketball gods are going to shift things your way just a little bit. But no... the basketball gods laugh... and Penn State hits a 3 with about 26 second left. Rutgers can’t get a good look and ball game.

Yeah, I don’t know. I’m kind of shattered right now: I mean, Rutgers gets behind 21 and looks like they’ve looked on the road lately. They can’t get things going in the first half at all. But in the second half, they absolutely shut down Penn State until the last play. Ron Harper played fantastic defense on Lamar Stevens, but still they can’t get the win. That was the dagger. Thank God Rutgers has about a week off, because I don’t know how you come back from that.

One More Basket Would have Won it But no: Remember the argument about 2 for 1 against Northwestern? I think Rutgers went 2 for 1 tonight with Geo Baker hitting that shot to give them the lead (he was fouled)... but it didn’t work. Rutgers couldn’t put together one more good possession and oh god... why couldn’t they? I mean really, we need a little magic here. Two more wins gets Rutgers in... but this game... oh man this game.

This game is going to go down in the annals: If Rutgers misses the NCAA Tournament, Myles Dread will be the reason why. If you win that game, Rutgers is in. They didn’t win. There are about 3 more chances. Rutgers needs to regroup. I’m not sure how I’m going to regroup right now, but Rutgers has to. Oh my God... how did that happen? When do we get a break? If you’re coming here for solid analysis... why? That was brutal. BRUTAL. Ugh.