Hard to win on the road, Part 23

[SmellyCat]

Because I'm a glutton for punishment I made this chart. The six close road games NU lost. Yes, there are also close road games NU won, and maybe they've made comebacks or closed in other games that offset these, but they all hurt, and NU was in all of these games until the last few minutes (or seconds).

Opponent​	Date​	Final​	Late Score​	Lost Lead/Tie​
Wisconsin​	1/13​	63-71​	63-63​	2:32​
Nebraska​	1/20​	69-75​	65-65​	3:29​
Purdue​	1/31​	96-105 (OT)​	81-80 (Reg) 87-87 (OT)​	0:15 (Reg) 2:42 (OT)​
Minnesota​	2/3​	66-75 (OT)​	58-56 (Reg) 63-63 (OT)​	0:44 (Reg) 2:31 (OT)​
Rutgers​	2/15​	60-63​	58-58​	0:56​
Michigan St.​	3/6​	49-53​	46-45​	3:18​

I would guess that a lot of other teams could make a chart that looks similar, but NU was blown out on the road just once. What does this data mean? Are they wearing down late? Can they not close? Is Boo not as clutch as we thought? Meaningless numbers? Do with it what you will.

I know a lot of people think NU can't win in the BTT because of its history, but maybe without hometown cooking, they can win a game or two on a neutral site.

 

[GatoLouco]

Because I'm a glutton for punishment I made this chart. The six close road games NU lost. Yes, there are also close road games NU won, and maybe they've made comebacks or closed in other games that offset these, but they all hurt, and NU was in all of these games until the last few minutes (or seconds).

Opponent​	Date​	Final​	Late Score​	Lost Lead/Tie​
Wisconsin​	1/13​	63-71​	63-63​	2:32​
Nebraska​	1/20​	69-75​	65-65​	3:29​
Purdue​	1/31​	96-105 (OT)​	81-80 (Reg) 87-87 (OT)​	0:15 (Reg) 2:42 (OT)​
Minnesota​	2/3​	66-75 (OT)​	58-56 (Reg) 63-63 (OT)​	0:44 (Reg) 2:31 (OT)​
Rutgers​	2/15​	60-63​	58-58​	0:56​
Michigan St.​	3/6​	49-53​	46-45​	3:18​

I would guess that a lot of other teams could make a chart that looks similar, but NU was blown out on the road just once. What does this data mean? Are they wearing down late? Can they not close? Is Boo not as clutch as we thought? Meaningless numbers? Do with it what you will.

I know a lot of people think NU can't win in the BTT because of its history, but maybe without hometown cooking, they can win a game or two on a neutral site.

Forget about not being able to close it. We closed it at home, every time, other than Iowa. We also closed it on the road at IN and PSU, and those were also close games.

Just last night, as I've done many times, just like you, I thought 1 more close loss to add to every single other road loss other than at IL. IMO it just means this team was that close to actually winning the B1G. Not that winning the league would have been normal. It would have required some luck (other teams can easily claim the same what if scenarios). But we were that close when we get into the details.

Just like you learn in sunk cost theory, let bygones be bygones and let's rock the WR on Saturday

 

[Hungry Jack]

Painful to lose like that, especially with the fatigue coming into play and missing those late free throws.

God dammit. What could have been with a healthy team this year.

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

This is why Pound the Rock is so apt for this program.

I find it very appropriate for my own life. Keep grinding through adversity and see what happens.