Rutgers didn't beat Northwestern, but it did put together its best performance in weeks en route to the close loss.
Head coach Chris Ash saw a foundation to build off of after watching the film.
"I think we did a lot of good things in the game," Ash said Tuesday on the Big Ten coaches teleconference. "We're just a step or two away from doing, in my opinion, some great things. Unfortunately, we're still a step or two away, an inch away from getting that done."
The Scarlet Knights took a lead into the fourth quarter before the Wildcats rallied for an 18-15 win.