Let's Talk About the Resume
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are off to one of their most impressive seasons under Steve Pikiell. The Scarlet Knights are current 16-7 overall, 8-4 in the Big Ten, and remain in the top four of the conference standings. Rutgers owns a number of quality wins including their upset 65-64 upset of #1 Purdue in early January for the second year in a row. Rutgers also has a combined Q1/2 record of 7-6 which is another upside for them in terms of the NET. The Scarlet Knights are currently ranked 19 in the NET Rankings.
Currently, Rutgers is 3-4 against Q1 opponents but they also own quality victories over Purdue, Indiana, and Northwestern. The victories over Purdue and Indiana might be the most impressive for Rutgers on the season. The Scarlet Knights beat Purdue on the road and beat Indiana by 15 points. Rutgers' losses to Q1 teams have been relatively close as their largest defeat was to Michigan State in mid-January by the score of 70-57.
The Scarlet Knights have a solid 5-2 record against Q2 opponents. Rutgers owns victories over Michigan State, Maryland, Ohio State, Wake Forest, and Penn State. It should be noted that of the five Q2 wins by Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights beat Maryland by 14, Penn State by 20, and Wake Forest by 24. Beating Q2 teams by that many points is highly impressive.
Rutgers is currently 1-1 against Q3 opponents. As of right now, the only glaring loss on Rutgers' resume is a 72-66 neutral floor defeat to Temple back in mid-November when Rutgers was missing two key starters. However, this is may change as the Temple Owls have been surging in the NET Rankings and the loss may bump to a Q2 loss for Rutgers. Temple is currently 115 in the NET, and for the game to become a Q2 loss, the Owls would have to rank 100 or better. The Scarlet Knights face two more Q3 opponents on the season to include a home game against Nebraska (2/14) and an away game against Minnesota (3/2).
This year's team has avoided all of the landmines on their schedule. In fact, Rutgers is beating Q4 opponents by 30 points or more, which helps to boost their ranking in the NET. This past week the Scarlet Knights waxed the Minnesota Golden Gophers at The RAC, 90-55. This victory accounts for the largest margin of victory over a conference foe for Rutgers since joining the Big Ten.
The Metrics
The metrics are definitely trending in Rutgers favor as the Scarlet Knights are rated the 2nd best team in the country for defensive efficiency, according to KenPom. Although, their defense is rated 2nd in the land, the Scarlet Knights offense is not too bad as they rank 121st for offensive efficiency.
It really has been the elite defense by Rutgers that has helped them garner big wins. Rutgers is currently 8-0 in the Big Ten when holding opponents under 65 points. Overall, the Scarlet Knights are also 16-1 when holding opponents under 65 points for the season.
Across several major college basketball metrics heavy web sites, Rutgers ranks within the Top 20 in the country.
- KenPom - 14
- Sagarin - 17
- Torvik - 16
- Haslametrics - 20
- ESPN BPI - 9
The Remaining Schedule
The remaining schedule for Rutgers tends to lighten up after a very difficult week that lies ahead. Rutgers faces a tough test when they travel on Tuesday to Bloomington, IN to face the Indiana Hoosiers. Then Rutgers travels to Champaign, IL next Saturday to face the Illinois Fighting Illini. These two games are probably Rutgers stiffest challenges that remain on their schedule. Both games will be opportunities for Rutgers to pick up Q1 victories.
If Rutgers were to win both games this week against Indiana and Illinois, the Scarlet Knights would put themselves well into the driver's seat for a 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament barring any collapses towards the end of the season. A 4-seed for Rutgers would be a protected seed and the Rutgers would likely play in Albany, NY in the 1st Round of the NCAA Tournament.
If Rutgers were to split this upcoming week, they are still in very solid position to possibly earn a protected 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Again, barring any bad losses towards the end of the season.
If Rutgers finishes this week at 0-2 but win majority of their remaining games on the season, the Scarlet Knights are probably looking at a 5/6-seed in the NCAA Tournament, and will succumb to the committee's decision of where they play in the 1st Round for the NCAA Tournament.
Bart Torvik and KenPom projects Rutgers to finish 21-10 overall, and 13-7 in the Big Ten. Torvik also gives Rutgers a 47% chance to win in Bloomington, and a 49% chance to win in Champaign.
Rutgers is favored to win in all of their games after the games against Indiana and Illinois.
Remaining Schedule:
- 2/7, at Indiana (Q1, 22)
- 2/11, at Illinois (Q1, 25)
- 2/14, Nebraska (Q3, 99)
- 2/18, at Wisconsin (Q1, 68)
- 2/23, Michigan (Q2, 71)
- 2/26, at Penn State (Q31, 54)
- 3/2, at Minnesota (Q3, 224)
- 3/5, Northwestern (Q2, 57)
What do the Bracketologists Think About Rutgers?
According to BracketMatrix.com, Rutgers has appeared in 90 brackets and are averaging a 5-seed. Bart Torvik is the only analyst that projects Rutgers to land a potential 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Torvik also gives Rutgers a 99.1% chance of making the NCAA Tournament. JBR Bracketology gives Rutgers the lowest seed of the many bracketologists. JBR Bracketology projects Rutgers to land in the field of 68 as a 7-seed.
- Brad Wachtel of Facts and Bracks projects Rutgers to be a 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament. He has Rutgers potentially facing 12-seed Kent State in Albany, NY. Brad is one of the highest rated and most accurate bracketologists, according to BracketMatrix.com.
- Jonathon Warriner of Making the Madness projects Rutgers as a 5-seed in the East Region in Albany, NY. He has Rutgers potentially facing 12-seed Southern Mississippi.
- Mike Decourcy of FOX Sports projects Rutgers as a 5-seed in the Midwest Region. Decourcy has Rutgers potentially playing the 12-seed winner of the First Four game between Oklahoma State and Arizona State in Orlando, FL. Of the major sports networks, Mike Decourcy is a highly-rated bracketologist and has been very accurate over the last couple of years, according to BracketMatrix.com.
- ESPN's Joe Lunardi projects Rutgers to be in the NCAA Tournament as a 5-seed playing in the West Region and potentially facing 12-seed Oral Roberts in Albany, NY. Joe Lunardi is one of the more popular bracketologists in college basketball, but receives lower scores and ratings according to BracketMatrix.com.
- JBR Bracketology projects Rutgers to land in the NCAA Tournament as a 7-seed potentially facing 10-seed NC State in Denver, CO.
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