The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have two big conference games coming up this week
Just when you thought Rutgers (12-5, 4-2) has already played some of their most difficult Big Ten competition this season, the Scarlet Knights are about to embark on another brutal stretch of games. The Scarlet Knights host the dangerous Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday, January 15 and then travel to East Lansing to battle the surging Michigan State Spartans on Thursday, January 19. This week's two-game stretch is going to be critical because winning at least one of these games will keep the Scarlet Knights above .500 in the conference and in position to contend for a Big Ten regular season title.
All season long Rutgers has shown everyone they have togetherness as a team, the ability to play with toughness and physicality, and the unrelenting ability to overcome adversity. These qualities have made this year's Rutgers team one of the best in the Big Ten Conference.
Not only does this team play connected as a unit, but the Scarlet Knights have had several key players step up in specific roles this season that have helped them win games. The nation now knows about Cam Spencer after the Loyola-Maryland transfer drilled two game winning shots. During the offseason, there were questions about who will step up to take the big shot this season when needed. That question has been answered.
Since joining Rutgers this year, Spencer is leading the team in scoring with 13.5 ppg; leading the team in steals with 2.5 spg; and second in assists with 3.6 apg. Spencer is also shooting an incredible 48.2% from deep, and 97.2% from the free-throw line.
Aundre Hyatt has significantly developed and improved his game during the course of the season. Hyatt has accepted his role as the 6th man coming off the bench for the Scarlet Knights, and he has had his most productive season yet. He has provided significant minutes coming off the bench as well, and is now averaging 24.8 minutes per game. Hyatt is third in scoring for Rutgers and is averaging 10.1 ppg. Hyatt is also shooting a career high 32% from beyond the arc, 76% from the free-throw line, and 4.5 rpg.
Mawot Mag has been a massive contributor to Rutgers this season as the third year junior is playing more minutes than he ever has before in his collegiate career (24.0 mpg). The suffocating defender is now averaging 5.2 rebounds per game and 1.1 steals per game. Mag's offensive production has been a big boost as he is averaging 7.2 ppg and 73.5% from the free-throw line.
All three mentioned players have been a pleasant surprise and a joy to watch on the basketball court this year. All-Preseason Big Ten player Cliff Omoruyi, Paul Mulcahy, and big Ten DPOY Caleb McConnell have been the anchors guiding this team with their profound leadership. In lieu of all the positives, there are five things Rutgers fans will need to look for and expect from this team in the two big games coming up this week in order for the Scarlet Knights to have continued success.
FIVE THINGS TO LOOK FOR THIS WEEK
1. Look for Rutgers to continue to free up Cam Spencer for the big shot. Most of the Big Ten games this season have been meat grinders for Rutgers, with the exception of the Indiana and Maryland blowouts. Rutgers has continuously relied on Spencer to bail the team out with the big game winning shots as he did against Purdue and Northwestern. It should be no surprise that Rutgers' next two games will probably come down to the last possession. Ohio State and Michigan State are both scrappy teams that will be difficult matchups for the Scarlet Knights. Each possession will be just as important as the next. If the game comes down to the wire and Rutgers needs a lift, don't be surprised if the Scarlet Knights create plays to free up Spencer to take the shot.
2. Paul Mulchay needs to continue to take charge. Rutgers is at its best when Paul Mulcahy is at his best. Mulcahy will need to avoid any mental breakdowns this week. Ohio State and Michigan State will try to fluster Paul Mulcahy and lure him into breaking down mentally. In the game against Northwestern last week, Mulcahy's emotions shows and his frustration with the officials were not held back. Mulcahy was also whistled for technical fouls for flopping. Paul Mulcahy has done an incredible job all season showing maturity and keeping his emotions in check, and this needs to continue. Mulcahy is a veteran on this team, and he has to do what he does best: floor general. Mulcahy has to continue making crafty passes and dissect each team's defense. Mulcahy is elusive as any other player when he backs down other defenders offensively.
3. Cliff Omoruyi needs to be more involved offensively. Cliff Omoruyi has been somewhat invisible the last three games, but that is not entirely his fault. The Big Ten knows Omoruyi is a key player for Rutgers and is held in high regard as one of the best centers in the conference. With that being said, Northwestern, Iowa, and Maryland have game planned well in defending Omoruyi and eliminating many chances for him to get quality touches on the ball. Omoyuri only tallied 4 points against Northwestern; 9 points against Iowa; and 4 points against Maryland. If Rutgers is going to win against Ohio State and Michigan State, Omoruyi must find ways to get involved offensively, whether it's creating space off the ball for good looks at the basket or crashing the boards for second chance points. Omoruyi has done a phenomenal job rebounding the ball all season, and he averaged 11.5 rpg in the last three games.
4. Valuable minutes off the bench will be important. Rutgers will need to rely on key players coming off the bench to provide valuable minutes. Freshman Derek Simpson and Aundre Hyatt have been intricate for Rutgers when coming off the bench and have actually provided a much needed boost to the team both offensively and defensively. In the win against Maryland, Simpson logged 18 minutes, scored 6 points, forced 1 steal, and made both free-throws from the foul line. Hyatt logged 26 minutes in the win against Northwestern and also scored 10 points, grabbed 3 boards, went 2-of-3 from deep, 1 block, and 1 steal. If Rutgers can get this type of production out of its bench against Ohio State and Michigan State, the Scarlet Knights should win these games.
5. Rutgers will increase its defensive pressure. Rutgers already boasts one of the nation's most elite defense by holding opponents to only 56.5 ppg (4th); holding opponents to shooting 37.% from the field (6th); holding opponents to 27.8% from 3PT range (10th); creating 10.1 steals per game (10th); and forcing 17 turnovers per game (29th). Expect the Scarlet Knights to ratchet up the pressure defensively on Ohio State and Michigan State. Steve Pikiell has gone to a full-court press throughout many games this year, and it has flustered the Scarlet Knights' opponents. In the second half of the 1st meeting between Rutgers and Ohio State, it was quite evident the full-court press by the Scarlet Knights slowed down the Buckeyes' offensively and forced them into making turnovers.
After the 81-57 demolition of Wake Forest this past Saturday, Rutgers will prepare for its upcoming showdown with Bucknell at The RAC on Friday, December 23rd (5 PM, BTN). This will be the 31st ever meeting between Rutgers and Bucknell with the Scarlet Knights leading the series 22-8. The series between the schools dates back to 1941. The last time both teams met on the hardwood was in November 2000 with Rutgers winning 78-48.
Bucknell enters this contest with a NET ranking of 224 and will be a Q4 opponent for Rutgers. This is a game the Scarlet Knights need to win to avoid any catastrophic damage to their tournament resume. Rutgers is currently 4-0 against Q4 opponents so far this season. Rutgers is currently ranked 39 in the NET. Rutgers has done a fantastic job putting away Q4 competition all season long and are beating Q4 ranked teams by an average of 35.5 points.
Statistically, Bucknell is led by their point guard Xander Rice, a new Jersey native and son of Monmouth head coach King Rice. Xander Rice is averaging 15.9 ppg, 4.3 apg, and 1.2 spg. Bucknell has several 3PT shooters with hot hands from deep. As a team, the Bison are shooting a very respectable 40% from 3PT range and are 7th in the nation for 3PT percentage. Xander Rice, Elvin Demonds, and Ian Motta are the trio that take a big bulk of 3PT shots. Bucknell is not a strong defensive team, but they can rebound defensively very well. Bucknell does not force a lot of turnovers on the defensive end and allows their opponents to shoot from deep.
Bucknell's Last Three Games:
12/21 - at Richmond (147, Q3), L 81-71 12/18 - vs Merrimack (357, Q4), W 61-55 12/6 - at LaSalle (307, Q4), L 82-72
KEYS TO THE GAME
No sleepwalking - Rutgers showed everyone every reason why they are still a very good basketball team after the Scarlet Knights crushed Wake Forest 81-57 last week. Rutgers must show up with the same intensity when they play Bucknell and put away the Bison early. Rutgers must play fluid on offense, set screens, create open space to shoot, and drive the lane to draw fouls. On defense, Rutgers must continue to battle in the trenches and do what it does best by forcing turnovers and force bad shots. The RAC must do its part and make the environment loud.
Defend the perimeter - The Bucknell Bison are a dangerous team when shooting from 3PT range. They are shooting a respectable 40% from deep, and are ranked 5th in the country in 3PT percentage. However, Rutgers is one of the best teams in the country in defending the perimeter. Rutgers is ranked within the top 5 in defending against 3PT range. Rutgers must continue to impose its will and make it difficult for Bucknell to shoot from deep.
Force turnovers, score points - Rutgers did a great job forcing Wake Forest to commit 22 turnovers last week. Like Wake Forest, Bucknell is another team that commits a lot of turnovers. If Rutgers can force turnovers it creates scoring opportunities on the fast break.
Get Cliff involved early - Rutgers has to get Cliff Omoruyi going early in this game. Paul Mulcahy and Caleb McConnell have to feed the ball to Cliff down low to get him going but it won't be entirely on them. Cliff is going to have to find a way to get himself in good position to score. If Cliff can get going early down low, it will draw Bucknell defenders to him and create other open looks for other Rutgers players on the floor.
Finish around the rim - Rutgers did a great job finishing around the rim last week against Wake Forest, which is good because the Scarlet Knights entering that game were poor in finishing layups and shooting from close range. Rutgers needs to convert its layups and make its close shots around the rim. Even if Rutgers does miss an occasional layup or close shot, Rutgers is one of the best teams in the country in grabbing offensive rebounds and possibly creating second chance opportunities.
Identify key players and shut them down - In tonight's preview, we mentioned Xander Rice is one of Bucknell's top players, and it's likely Caleb McConnell will receive the assignment of defending him. If McConnell can shut down Xander Rice, it's going to be a long painful night for Bucknell. Also, Cliff Omoruyi may have a difficult assignment in guarding Andre Screen. Screen is averaging 11.5 ppg and is nabbing 6.2 rpg. Cliff is going to have to get physical in the trenches and out tough Screen.
Ah, the Garden State Hardwood Classic. The biggest and baddest college basketball rivalry in all of New Jersey. It doesn't get any bigger than this when it comes to college hoops rivalries in New Jersey. It doesn't matter what record the team has or who is playing in the game. This is the game college basketball fans across New Jersey cannot wait to see. Past games have been intense and extremely physical. Just check out some of the articles listed below of previous instances of this rivalry. This is Rutgers versus Seton Hall.
Preview
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Seton Hall Pirates tip-off this Sunday, December 11 at The RAC at 6:30 PM ET, FS1. The Scarlet Knights will look to win this important rivalry game to not only bring the Garden State Hardwood Trophy back to its campus but alsoto get themselves back on track after suffering a heart-breaking 67-66 loss to the #25 Ohio State Buckeyes. The Scarlet Knights lost to the Buckeyes on a last second desperation shot which should not have counted after Big Ten officials blew two calls. The Big Ten released a statement on Friday, December 9th acknowledging the errors by the officials. (Click here to see the statement by the Big Ten.)
The Scarlet Knights enter tomorrow's contest at 24th in the NET Rankings (as of 10 December) and 27th in the KenPom. The Scarlet Knights, who boast the best homecourt advantage in all of college basketball, are currently 6-0 at The RAC this season. A win against Seton Hall will keep the Scarlet Knights from potentially dropping in the NET Rankings since the Pirates enter the contest as a Q3 opponent. Rutgers currently has one Q3 loss on its resume when the Scarlet Knights suffered a 72-66 setback against the Temple Owls on a neutral floor in late November. Since the return of their two key starters in Paul Mulcahy and Caleb McConnell, the Scarlet Knights have been playing high-level basketball and have produced the one of the nation's most elite defenses. Here is where the Scarlet Knights currently rank in several defensive categories in the country:
Scoring Defense - 6th
Forced Turnovers Per Game - 27th
3PT % Defense - 2nd
FG % Defense - 11th
Steals Per Game - 13th
The Seton Hall Pirates enter Sunday's rivalry contest at 114th in the NET Rankings (as of 10 December) and 64th in the KenPom. Seton Hall lead the all-time series 41-31. Seton Hall is 1-3 against Q1 opponents but suffered a major setback when they lost 60-55 to Siena (Q4 opponent) in late November. The Pirates are coming off a blowout 91-65 road loss to the Kansas Jayhawks but defeated Division II opponent Lincoln (PA) 82-55 this past Wednesday at Walsh Gym. Seton Hall has been hampered with a few key injuries this year with Dre Davis only playing five games, and Tray Jackson missing Wednesday's action. The Pirates are led in scoring by Tyrese Samuel, Dre Davis, and Al-Amir Dawes. Al-Amir Dawes and Jamir Harris take a bulk of the 3PT shots for the Pirates as Dawes is shooting 44% from beyond the arc and Harris is shooting 28 percent. Tyrese Samuel is nabbing 7 rebounds per game. As a whole, the Pirates rank well statistically in the country in free-throw attempts per game (1st), free throws made per game (5th), 3PT% defense (43rd), and FG% defense (83rd).
Keys to the Game
Get the ball to Cliff - Rutgers should have the advantage down low against the Pirates and the Scarlet Knights need to get the ball to Cliff Omoruyi. Let Cliff go to work on Tyrese Samuel and inflict as much damage on Samuel as he can. Cliff needs to produce on the offensive end by drawing fouls, getting good looks, and finishing around the rim.
Finish around the rim, no missed opportunities - The Scarlet Knights have had a habit of getting great looks around the rim but sometimes their layups or close shots do not fall, and possessions then turn into wasted opportunities. Rutgers has to do a better job of converting layups into points and finishing around the rim including grabbing offensive rebounds and converting second chance points because everyone knows this is going to be a very physical game. Rutgers ranks 20th in the country in offensive rebounding and Seton Hall is not very good at rebounding defensively.
No easy looks for Hall - The Scarlet Knights need to pack the paint and prevent the Pirates from driving the lane. If the Rutgers can force Seton Hall to shoot from beyond the arc or take long-range jumpers, the Scarlet Knights have a good chance at winning this game. Seton Hall is not particularly great at shooting from deep, and the Scarlet Knights have one of the best perimeter defenses in the country. Force the Pirates into taking poor shots.
Drive the lane, draw fouls - Seton Hall fouls a lot and they let their opponents take many trips to the free-throw line. Rutgers needs to drive the lane and draw fouls. If the Scarlet Knights can draw fouls early in the game and put the Pirates into foul trouble early, it's going to be a long day for Seton Hall. Rutgers has improved from the charity stripe this year as they are shooting 70%.
Get off to a good start - If Rutgers can get off to a good start and make some buckets early on, it's only going to further pump up an already raucous crowd at The RAC and make it difficult for Seton Hall to handle the rest of the way.
Additional Suggested Readings:
Jerry Carino of the Asbury Park Press - "Rutgers-Seton Hall basketball: Garden State Hardwood Classic scouting report, prediction" - Click here to read
Jerry Carino of the Asbury Park Press - "Seton Hall at Rutgers: 'the definition of a college basketball atmopshere'" - Click here to read
Jerry Carino of the Asbury Park Press - "Rutgers-Seton Hall basketball banquet: Oh, the stories" - Click here to read
Aaron Breitman of The Scarlet Faithful - "Rutgers faces an emotional test vs. Seton Hall" - Click here to read
Adam Zagoria of NJ Advance Media - "Seton Hall expecting 'loud, aggressive' environment in 'must-win' game at Rutgers" - Click here to read
Brian Fonseca of NJ Advance Media - "As Rutgers welcomes Seton Hall back to RAC, Corey Sanders recalls rivalry win that started renaissance" - Click here to read
Jersey Jumpshot Podcast - "Previewing Seton Hall vs Rutgers and a chat with Fox Sports' John Fanta" - Click to listen here
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will tip off tomorrow night at The RAC in their opening game of the 2022-23 season against the Ivy League's Columbia Lions (7 PM ET, BTN+). Columbia leads the all-time series 25-24. The last time both teams faced each other was in 2018 when the Scarlet Knights pulled off a 68-65 victory at The RAC.
Fans, there will be a new-look Rutgers team on the floor tomorrow night, and the Scarlet Knights will rely heavily on the experience of their three captains, Paul Mulcahy, Caleb McConnell, and Cliff Omoruyi; however, this calls for other rotational players to step up and takeover big roles. There are questions that remain including how will this Rutgers team operate offensively without the big production from previous studs Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr.? How will this Rutgers team look defensively? Can Rutgers close out opponents and win down the stretch? Can this Rutgers team prevent themselves from going on long scoring droughts during games? While it's a long season and there is more that remains to be seen, expect Coach Steve Pikiell to test out different rotations, schemes, and game adjustments to have a sense of where his team is early in the season. Coach Pikiell may even use the first game of the season against Columbia as a test for certain rotational players.
Last season, Columbia finished 4-22 overall, 1-13 in Ivy League play with a final NET ranking of 351. Not much has changed in the off season for the Lions, but coach Jim Engles expects his team to be improved. Heading into this game, Columbia will be a Q4 opponent for the Scarlet Knights, and this is a game they are heavily favored to win.
KEYS TO THE GAME
No sluggish starts - Rutgers has to get off to a fast start by scoring points and forcing turnovers early on. Rutgers has to look for good shots by pounding the paint and driving the lane. The Scarlet Knights must avoid forcing bad shots and unnecessary turnovers. If the Scarlet Knights can get off to a fast start and build a comfortable lead, it should help themselves build confidence. You do not want a lowly rated team like Columbia hanging around for 40 minutes.
Shut down De La Rosa and Murphy - Columbia returns two quality players on their roster, Rubio De La Rosa and Liam Murphy, both who averaged more than 12 ppg. It is expected De La Rosa and Murphy will get most of the looks for the Lions and take most of their shots. Rutgers must shut them down early by not allowing good looks and turn up the pressure to force turnovers. If Rutgers can shut down De La Rosa and Murphy, it will be a long night for Columbia.
Feed the beast - It's pretty simple. Feed Cliff Omoruyi the ball and let him go to work down low. Omoruyi led the nation in dunks last season and he has improved his mid-range jumper in the off-season. Fans should expect Omoruyi to dominate in this game.
Rebound! Rebound! Rebound! - Rutgers needs to get down in the trenches and win the battle of the boards. If Rutgers can win the battle of the boards it will limit Columbia's second chance opportunities.
Spencer and Simpson - Cam Spencer and Derek Simpson are likely to see significant minutes in tomorrow's game, and if both players can get going offensively and heat up, Rutgers should run away from Columbia comfortably.
The 2022-23 Rutgers Scarlet Knights college basketball season starts on Monday!
Check out RHI's 2022-23 Rutgers Scarlet Knights season preview
Ahh, the college basketball season is upon us, and that means the 2022-23 season tips off next week for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (vs Columbia, Monday, November 7th at 7 PM ET, BTN+). The Scarlet Knights will be looking to replicate the success they had last season and hope they can earn their third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, something this program has never achieved. But without their big playmakers Geo Baker (graduated) and Ron Harper Jr. (NBA), both who have moved on from the program, can the Scarlet Knights find ways to score down the stretch, make clutch shots in pressure situations, and win big games?
The Scarlet Knights return three key players including preseason All-Big Ten player Cliff Omoruyi, arguably one of the best centers in the conference and maybe in college basketball, assist leader Paul Mulcahy, and 2021-22 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Caleb McConnell. Behind their top three players Rutgers also returns key contributors including Aundre Hyatt, Mawot Mag, Jalen Miller, Dean Reiber, and Oskar Palmquist. In the offseason, Coach Steve Pikiell and his staff were able to nab one of the Patriot League's top scorers Cam Spencer (Loyola) from the transfer portal and recruit three quality high school players in Derek Simpson, Antonio Chol, and Antwone Woolfolk.
Many analysts across college basketball believe the Big Ten is wide open this season, and the Scarlet Knights appear to be one of the most experienced in the conference. The Scarlet Knights will try to use their experience to their advantage when taking on the Big Ten's best. But the key for the Scarlet Knights to have success this season will have to be contributions from everyone on the team. Each player is going to have step up and take over new roles to fill the void left by Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr.
It should be noted the Big Ten media selected the Scarlet Knights to finish 8th in the conference this season.
KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL SEASON
Take care of business early - Rutgers has to get off to a fast, good start to the early part of the season. Their first three opponents (Columbia, Sacred Heart, and UMass-Lowell) are likely to be Q4 opponents, and Rutgers has to shut them down quickly and keep them out of the game. Rutgers must avoid any early losses, especially to low-rated teams. Last year, Rutgers' season was on life support after suffering three early non-conference losses in a row to DePaul, UMass, and Lafayette. Not only did they suffer those three terrible losses, but the Scarlet Knights needed overtime to overcome Lehigh and a second half run to pull away from Merrimack at the beginning of last season. Rutgers must avoid a sluggish start to the season and take care of business early. If they can get off to a good start, the Scarlet Knights should be ready for their first real test of the season will be on November 18th when they face off against Temple at the Mohegan Sun.
Avoid bad losses - We talked about how important it is for Rutgers to get off to a good start immediately at the start of the season but the Scarlet Knights must avoid any bad losses throughout the season. Last year, the Scarlet Knights' season was littered with many quality wins but with many bad losses. The NCAA Tournament Committee will likely not be as kind as they were to Rutgers last season if the Scarlet Knights suffer any bad losses. This means the Scarlet Knights should finish no worse than 9-2 in the non-conference portion of the schedule but without any Q3 or Q4 losses. Rutgers must also beat the teams they are expected to beat (Northwestern, Nebraska, and Minnesota).
Avoid injuries - Rutgers must avoid the injury bug. Over the course of the last couple of seasons, Rutgers fans have witnessed the Scarlet Knights without key players for big games, and sometimes the results were not in their favor. Rutgers will already likely be without Caleb McConnell for Rutgers' opening game against Columbia. Rutgers has to stay healthy throughout the season and will need contributions from everyone on the team.
Play smart basketball from the jump - All too often we have seen the Scarlet Knights get off to slow starts against their opponents, and force bad shots or go through long stretches in games where they are ice cold from the field. Rutgers has to work hard for good looks and take good shots. Drive the ball down low for high percentage shots and pound the paint to draw fouls to get to the line. This year's team does not look like the type of team that is built to come from behind by many points. Rutgers relied all too often on Herculean efforts from Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr. to rally the team from behind large deficits to win games. Playing smart basketball also means, they must avoid committing too many fouls and getting into foul trouble. If Cliff Omoruyi gets into foul trouble early, who is going to step up and fill his role? Also, playing smart basketball means avoiding unnecessary turnovers. Last season, Rutgers committed way too many turnovers allowing other teams opportunities to score points and go on runs.
Use The RAC to your advantage - Rutgers boasts an incredible home record of 42-8 since the 2019 season making it very difficult for its opponents to win against the Scarlet Knights at The RAC. Many of the games have already been listed as sold out and the fans are going to be in a frenzy because they believe in this team. Rutgers has to feed off the energy of the crowd and deliver a knockout punch to its opponents that take on the Scarlet Knights in Piscataway. The RAC is truly one of the most underrated college basketball homecourt advantages in the country.
If Rutgers can accomplish these five keys throughout the season, the Scarlet Knights should expect to be dancing in March once again. Despite analysts across the college hoops world saying the Big Ten will be down this season, that still doesn't mean the Big Ten will not be tough. The Big Ten will always be a grind, and will always have highly-rated quality basketball teams. Rutgers will have to be ready to battle each and every night to prove it is a contender in the conference and can make the dreams of another NCAA Tournament. Rutgers should finish in the top of half of the conference once again. PROJECTION:Rutgers finishes 21-10 overall, 12-8 in conference; earns 10-seed bid to the NCAA Tournament.
ADDITIONAL RUTGERS SEASON PREVIEWS:
Aaron Breitman (The Scarlet Faithful) - "Rutgers men's basketball season preview & predictions" - Click here to read
Aaron Breitman (The Scarlet Faithful) - The Scarlet Faithful Podcast, Episode 33, Rutgers men's basketball preview with Jerry Carino - Click here to listen
Brian Fonseca (NJ Advance Media) - "Rutgers basketball season preview: New-look Scarlet Knights pursue historic NCAA Tournament 3-peat" - Click here to read
Bobby Deren (Scarlet Nation) - Scarlet Nation Podcast, Episode 109, What did we learn in Rutgers hoops' exhibition win? - Click here to listen
Declan Walsh (Sports Illustrated) - "How Rutgers reemerged as having one of college basketball's greatest venues" - Click here to read
The 2021-22 Rutgers men's basketball team provided its fans with a roller coaster ride of a season for the ages!
RHI provides a complete recap and breakdown of the 2021-22 Rutgers men's basketball season
When the final buzzer sounded last Tuesday evening in Dayton OH, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights' 2021-22 season had come to a screeching halt. Rutgers battled for over three hours with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a double-overtime thriller, which has been regarded as one of the best games of the 2022 NCAA Tournament and dubbed an instant "classic". In the end, Rutgers lost 89-87 in heartbreaking fashion. So many times this season, Rutgers has had games decided by the last possession, and unfortunately, Notre Dame scored the go-ahead bucket to win the game with 1.9 seconds left in the second overtime. Both teams played with passion, heart, and grit. It was as fun of a college basketball game as you will ever see. It was also the last time Rutgers fans would see Geo Baker play in a Scarlet Knights uniform, and likely to be the last time fans would see Ron Harper Jr. and Caleb McConnell in a Scarlet Knights uniform as well.
The Regular Season
Before the 2021-22 college basketball season tipped off for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Coach Steve Pikiell was interviewed by various media outlets, and he said that this was his "best team" that he has ever had. Almost immediately, he put his team on notice and expectations were high across the fan base. Rutgers was returning most of its experienced players and had several new faces on the bench. Rutgers' core, consisting of Geo Baker, Ron Harper Jr., and Caleb McConnell, were each expected to have big seasons and to lead the Scarlet Knights to somewhat of a steady journey through the regular season to the postseason.
With one of the weaker non-conference schedules in the country (overall rated 297 by the NET Rankings), Rutgers fans expected the Scarlet Knights to plow through most of their opponents and to enter the Big Ten regular season with a good overall record. However, the Scarlet Knights immediately got off to shaky ground and needed overtime to surpass the Patriot League's Lehigh Mountain Hawks (13-19; 10-8) in their first game of the season. The slow start to the season continued for the Scarlet Knights as they struggled but eventually were able to put away the Northeast Conference's Merrimack Warriors (14-16; 10-8) and New Jersey foe NJIT Highlanders (11-18; 6-12) [of the Atlantic East]. Despite a 3-0 start, fans and analysts across college basketball were scratching their heads and were wondering what was going on with the Scarlet Knights? After all, this team was returning its core players with lots of experience. The Scarlet Knights should not be struggling to defeat Lehigh, Merrimack, and NJIT. Slow starts and sloppy play for the Scarlet Knights against their first three opponents had fans worried that maybe this was not Coach Pikiell's best team, and could be an indication that the Scarlet Knights could lose to an opponent they should beat.
The worst case scenario actually unfolded in Rutgers' next three games. Rutgers lost on the road to the DePaul Blue Demons (15-16; 6-14) in the Gavitt Tipoff Games. In what may be considered one of the worst losses of the Steve Pikiell era, the Scarlet Knights lost to the Lafayette Leopards (10-20; 7-11) at The RAC in front of a sold-out crowd. To add insult to injury, the Scarlet Knights blew a 17 point lead on the road and lost to the Massachusetts Minutemen (15-17; 7-11). After losing three games in a row to lesser opponents (without Geo Baker), the media, analysts, and fans started writing off Rutgers and believed this to be a truly lost season for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers' NET ranking plummeted to #217, and many felt there was almost no way for Rutgers to get out of such a deep hole. Despite the three losses, Steve Pikiell told the media and the fans, "We'll be fine". No one believed him.
As Rutgers stood 3-3 overall, fans were desperate to see the Scarlet Knights win, and find their way out of a major slump. Rutgers was able to follow-up the three horrific losses with a decisive home victory over the Clemson Tigers (17-16; 8-12) in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. There was still little hope amongst the fan base, but some felt that the win over Clemson helped restore the feeling that the Scarlet Knights could turn their season around. However, Rutgers ran into eventual Big Ten regular season champ the Illinois Fighting Illini (23-10; 15-5) and were blown out by 35 points in Champaign. The media, analysts, and fans officially wrote off the Scarlet Knights in one of their worst showings in conference play in years.
What happened next, a roller coaster ride no one could have predicted. After the no-show loss to Illinois in early December. Somehow, this Rutgers team was able to string together some wins and build confidence. After losing by 35 points to Illinois, Rutgers responded and silenced critics with an historic upset of the then-ranked #1 Purdue Boilermakers (29-7; 14-6), ruining the Boilermakers' only #1 AP Poll ranking in school history. It was the first time that Rutgers had ever beaten a team ranked #1 in the country. Ron Harper Jr. will forever be remembered by Rutgers fans for his last second near mid-court heave that sent The RAC into a frenzy. (See the video below as called on the radio by Jerry Recco and Austin Johnson.)
After the incredible historic victory over the Boilermakers, Rutgers traveled to Newark to battle the Seton Hall Pirates (21-11; 11-8) in their annual Garden State Hardwood Classic rivalry. Although Rutgers lost, the Scarlet Knights showed toughness and grit, and that there was no quit in this team.
COVID issues followed after the game with Seton Hall, and Rutgers was forced to take a temporary pause. COVID forced Rutgers to cancel their non-conference match with the Rider Broncs (14-19; 8-12), but the Scarlet Knights were able to re-schedule their contests with the Maine Black Bears (6-23; 3-15) and the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (8-24; 5-13) so they would not be canceled. After the pause, Rutgers resumed play and demolished Maine and Central Connecticut State. Rutgers had looked like a totally different team. The COVID pause may have provided time for the team to reflect and work on things that were troubling the team at the start of the season. The blowout wins over the Black Bears and the Blue Devils were what fans wanted at the start of the season. It appeared as if the Scarlet Knights had turned the corner. The wins against Maine and Central Connecticut State carried over in their next two games as the Scarlet Knights dominated Big Ten foes Michigan Wolverines (19-14; 11-9) and the Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-22; 4-16). Rutgers' win over Michigan was their first ever win in program history against the Wolverines. Surprisingly, Rutgers is 1-14 all-time against Michigan. After the four-game winning streak, Rutgers improved its NET Ranking to #126. But, there was only a glimmer of hope the Scarlet Knights would be dancing in March. In order for the Scarlet Knights to dream about dancing in March, college hoops analysts believed several opportunities lay ahead and Rutgers had to seize them.
With a four-game winning streak on the line, Rutgers traveled to Happy Valley to take on their rival the Penn State Nittany Lions (14-17; 7-13). Rutgers delivered a head scratching no-show performance and were blown out by Penn State. This was viewed by many as a major opportunity blown by the Scarlet Knights. However, despite to the loss to Penn State, Rutgers responded with emphatic blowout win on the road over the Maryland Terrapins (15-17; 7-13).
In what may have been one of Rutgers' best defensive performances ever, the Scarlet Knights defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes (26-10; 12-8) and held them to 46 points. The Hawkeyes entered the game with one of the nation's most prolific high up-tempo offenses in college basketball, averaging well over 85 points per game. Rutgers was able to force Iowa to play ugly basketball and held the Hawkeyes to a dismal 27% shooting from the field; 54% shooting from the free-throw line; and 22% shooting from beyond the arc. Rutgers nabbed 7 steals in the game and outrebounded Iowa by 11 boards. Caleb McConnell held Keegan Murray, one of the nation's best players, to 13 points, which was 7 points below his average. The win over Iowa rejuvenated the Rutgers fan base and emotions began to run high again in Piscataway. College basketball analysts took notice of the win and fans began to believe in this team, again.
With the big win over the Iowa Hawkeyes, Rutgers was in solid position within the Big Ten standings with an 11-6 overall record and 5-2 conference record. The next set of four games were games many analysts felt were very critical for Rutgers and games they could win. This was a true test for Rutgers to see if they can get into the NCAA conversation and stay atop the Big Ten standings. However, things would not go Rutgers' way and they dropped three out of the four contests, including close losses to the Minnesota Golden Gophers (13-17; 4-16) and the Northwestern Wildcats (15-16; 7-13) and a disappointing non-competitive loss at home to the Maryland Terrapins. The Scarlet Knights were able sniff out a close win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers during this four-game stretch. Rutgers was 12-9 overall and 6-5 in the conference. And once again, analysts and disappointed fans began writing off the Scarlet Knights.
Although the Scarlet Knights lost three out of four since their big win over the Hawkeyes, it was attributed to the second half of the game against Northwestern that sparked an improbable run that would soon follow. Even though the Scarlet Knights lost to Northwestern, this team proved they were not done fighting. Coach Pikiell made adjustments defensively and offensively in the second half, which led to success for Rutgers in the game. The Scarlet Knights were able to erase a 24 point deficit to the Wildcats, and force overtime. Ultimately in the end, the Wildcats prevailed with the win but Rutgers learned a lot about themselves after the game. The Scarlet Knights knew what they had to do to win games when the daunting gauntlet approached in February. No one gave Rutgers a fighting chance in February, and many believed Rutgers was left for dead.
The Michigan State Spartans (23-13; 11-9) were the first opponent on the February gauntlet. The Spartans entered the game ranked 13th in the country. With their backs against the wall, Rutgers knew it was do-or-die and this game was a must-win. The Scarlet Knights delivered an unbelievable performance at The RAC, and the Scarlet Knights throttled Michigan State by 21 points. It was the second year in a row the Scarlet Knights had blasted Michigan State by 20+ points. Rutgers simply applied from they learned in the second half of the Northwestern game in the game against Michigan State, and the Spartans had no answer. Rutgers played great defense and had one of their best shooting nights of the season at 62% for the game. Rutgers hammered Michigan State on the boards, forced 15 turnovers, and grabbed 7 steals. (See the highlights of the game below.)
Riding high off the win against Michigan State, Rutgers next faced the #16 Ohio State Buckeyes (20-12; 12-8). Rutgers has not had much success against Ohio State in recent years, and Chris Holtmann entered the game with a 4-1 record at The RAC. The game was a back-and-forth affair until the Buckeyes stretched their lead to eight with just under four minutes to go. With 3:48 remaining in the game, Geo Baker and Caleb McConnell sparked one of the greatest comebacks in recent memory to help Rutgers pull out a gutsy win. Geo Baker took over the game scoring 8 of the last 10 points for the Scarlet Knights and delivering an assist down-low to big man Cliff Omoruyi. Caleb McConnell also came up with the block of the year by racing down the court and stuffing Ohio State's Malaki Branham. McConnell's block was the key play of the comeback victory. Had Branham made the easy layup, Ohio State could have extended their lead to 6 with 2:30 remaining in the game. McConnell was able to make the block, pass the ball to Paul Mulcahy, who distributed the ball to Geo Baker, who sunk a jumper to bring Rutgers within 2 points. Rutgers played incredible team defense down the stretch and kept the Buckeyes off the scoreboard. The Scarlet Knights were able to pull off the big upset. (Watch the sequence of events below.)
Following the big win over Ohio State, Rutgers made the trek to Madison to take on a hot team in the Wisconsin Badgers (25-8; 15-5). Rutgers had never won at the Kohl Center before, and the Scarlet Knights needed a road victory to get their name in the tournament conversation. In another back-and-forth affair, the Scarlet Knights were able to pull off a stunning upset and keep their tournament hopes alive. Caleb McConnell limited Wisconsin's star player Johnny Davis to 11 points, well under his scoring average of 19 points per game. Four Rutgers players were able to score in double-digits as Ron Harper Jr. led the way with 21 points.
Rutgers traveled back to Piscataway to host the Illinois Fighting Illini, and this time around fortunes changed. The Scarlet Knights imposed their will on the eventual Big Ten regular season champs, and punched them right in the mouth. The Scarlet Knights avenged the brutal 35 point loss in December by beating the Fighting Illini by 11 points. The Scarlet Knights crushed the Fighting Illini on the boards by 18 and force the Illini to shoot 26 percent from beyond the arc. At one point, the Scarlet Knights led by as many as 23 points.
Rutgers was back in the tournament discussion after pulling off an historic run by becoming the first unranked team in college basketball history to defeat four ranked teams in a row. Rutgers improved their NET ranking to 74 and were declared the National Team of the Week by ESPN and NCAA's Andy Katz. By mid-February, Rutgers had the best record in the country at 5-1 against teams ranked in the AP Top 25. Rutgers also had the third best record against Quadrant 1 teams in the NET Rankings.
Rutgers was one of the hottest teams in the country, and became a team no one wanted to play. It took a trip to Mackey Arena, one of the toughest atmospheres in all of college basketball, for Rutgers' four-game winning streak to come to an end. Rutgers put up a valiant effort against the Purdue Boilermakers in their second meeting of the season but in the end fell by 12 points. Although Rutgers lost the game, the Scarlet Knights did have one of their more efficient offensive performances of the season.
Rutgers followed the loss at Purdue with a limp performance in Ann Arbor against the Michigan Wolverines who were able to capitalize and pull away from the Scarlet Knights to seal a decisive win. The win for Michigan helped boost their tournament chances while Rutgers was placed squarely on the tournament bubble. A sense of panic started settling in amongst the fan base as Rutgers needed to pick up a couple more marquee wins to secure an NCAA Tournament bid.
The Wisconsin Badgers traveled to The RAC with revenge on their minds after the Scarlet Knights upset them on their home floor. The Badgers executed their game plan and were able to pull away from Rutgers in the closing seconds of the game. The loss to Wisconsin was just Rutgers third loss at The RAC the entire season. Rutgers was now in the midst of a three-game skid.
Rutgers would now enter the final critical phase of the season where analysts believed the Scarlet Knights had to win their final two games of the regular season if they wanted any shot at dancing in March. Just like the last two previous seasons, Rutgers found themselves in familiar territory with their backs against the wall. The Scarlet Knights had the Indiana Hoosiers (21-14; 9-11) and the Penn State Nittany Lions remaining on the docket. The Scarlet Knights delivered and won with in epic performance at Assembly Hall to knock off the Indiana Hoosiers with another last second heroic shot by Ron Harper Jr. With the win over Indiana, Rutgers has now won five straight games against the Hoosiers and are 6-1 against Indiana since the 2018-19 season. (See the video below of Ron Harper Jr.'s last second shot to seal the win against Indiana).
Following the stunning win over the Indiana Hoosiers, the Scarlet Knights prepared for their second meeting with their rival the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Nittany Lions hammered the Scarlet Knights in their first meeting but Rutgers would not allow this to happen again, especially at The RAC. Rutgers jumped out to a large lead and led by as many as 15 points in the second half. However, the Nittany Lions would not go away and kept chipping away at Rutgers lead. Penn State's Seth Lundy hit some critical shots down the stretch in the final minutes of the game to bring the Nittany Lions within 1 point. The final two plays of the game nearly gave Rutgers fans a heart attack as Paul Mulcahy turned the ball over from an inbounds pass play, and Penn State was given one last chance to win the game. Sam Sessoms put up a last second heave and his shot was off the mark. Rutgers prevailed with the victory. Most importantly, the Scarlet Knights were able to secure an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. Rutgers completed a nearly impossible mission after a dreadful start to the season.
Rutgers finished the regular season with an overall record of 18-12 and 12-8 in Big Ten play. The Scarlet Knights finished in fourth place in the Big Ten standings, their best finish in program history since joining the Big Ten in 2014. The fourth place finish also gave Rutgers its first-ever double-bye for the Big Ten Conference Tournament. Rutgers' 12 wins in Big Ten play was the most conference wins in program history since joining the conference. What appeared to be a season flying off the rails for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights turned into a roller coaster ride of a season.
Big Ten Tournament
Although their time in the Big Ten Tournament was short-lived, Rutgers made their first-ever appearance as a 4-seed. Rutgers failed to upend the red hot Iowa Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes were 12-2 in their last 14 games of the regular season, and won 6 of their last 7 games heading into the game against Rutgers. In their second meeting of the year, Rutgers got off to a fast start and led by as many as 10 points in the contest, but the Hawkeyes would go quietly. The Hawkeyes deployed a zone defense that stifled Rutgers' offense and Keegan Murray hit some huge shots to allow the Hawkeyes to come back and eventually take the lead for good. The Hawkeyes led by as many as 18 points, shot almost 50% from the field, and converted 25 of 27 free-throw attempts. Rutgers' defense could not slow down Iowa and committed 24 fouls in the game.
March Madness
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights were on edge with the fan base biting its finger nails eagerly waiting to hear their name to be called on Selection Sunday. Many bracketologists and analysts across the country had either placed Rutgers in the Field of 68, On the Bubble, or One of the Last Four Teams Out. Within 10 minutes of CBS' coverage of Selection Sunday, the Scarlet Knights were announced as an 11-seed in the Field of 68. They were set to play the 11-seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish (24-11; 15-5) in Dayton OH in the one of the First Four games. The winner would play the 6-seed Alabama Crimson Tide (19-14; 9-9). This is the first time since the 1970s Rutgers would earn back-to-back bids for the NCAA Tournament. (Note: The 2019-20 season was canceled due to the COVID pandemic. Rutgers would have earned a bid to the 2020 NCAA Tournament, thus ultimately marking this season as what would have been its third year in a row dancing in March.)
Analysts and fans across the college basketball spectrum felt that the matchup with Notre Dame was the perfect opportunity for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to grab a tournament win, and that their seeding provided them an avenue to possibly reach the Sweet 16. Jay Bilas, of ESPN, said Rutgers was one of the more undervalued teams in the tournament and Rutgers could win potential matchups against vulnerable opponents like the 6-seed Alabama Crimson Tide and the 3-seed Texas Tech Red Raiders (27-9; 12-6).
However, the Fighting Irish came well prepared for the Scarlet Knights when they met in Dayton. Mike Brey, head coach of the Fighting Irish, and his staff scouted Rutgers well and spread the floor offensively for Paul Atkinson to do his damage on Cliff Omoruyi in the paint. Aaron Breitman, writer and managing editor for On The Banks, described the Notre Dame-Rutgers game as strange because fans witnessed these two teams playing strikingly different styles that they normally do not play. A few things of note as to why the game was strikingly bizarre and different from any other game Rutgers has played this year:
Caleb McConnell, the 2021-22 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, had an electrifying night scoring a team high 23 points on 8 of 9 shooting. McConnell is not known for his scoring prowess.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish, one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country, were limited to 6 made three-point shots.
The Fighting Irish scored 58 points in the paint. Not their greatest strength.
Rutgers prides itself on defense, and the defense was just not there for the game.
Typically, Rutgers wins when Ron Harper Jr. scores more than 20+ points in a game. Harper Jr. scored 22 points, and Rutgers lost.
Both teams shot an alarming 50% from the field.
Both teams were dismal from the free-throw line. Notre Dame shot 56% and Rutgers shot 66%.
Even though Rutgers lost to Notre Dame in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament, the Scarlet Knights never went down without a fight. Rutgers and Notre Dame exchanged leads constantly throughout the game. Rutgers led by as many as 8 points in the game. The double-overtime thriller was deemed as "the best basketball game of the 2022 NCAA Tournament". If this is indeed the last game for Caleb McConnell in a Rutgers uniform, he truly saved his best performance for last. This would be the last time Rutgers fans would see Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr. suit up in a Rutgers uniform.
The End of an Era
Geo Baker, Ron Harper Jr., and Caleb McConnell will leave Rutgers with a legacy unmatched. This trio of players gambled on playing for Steve Pikiell at a time when Rutgers was the worst rated Power 5 college basketball program in the country.
Plagued by the Mike Rice Scandal and the failure to win games under Eddie Jordan, Rutgers looked for new leadership to take over the dwindling Big Ten basketball program. In 2016, newly hired athletic director Pat Hobbs turned to Steve Pikiell to become Rutgers men's basketball's head coach.
Coach Pikiell had the reputation of being a competitor and a rebuilder. History speaks for itself in regard to Coach Pikiell. Coach Pikiell previously played college basketball under Jim Calhoun. He previously served as an assistant coach at Yale, Central Connecticut State, and George Washington (most notably, he was an asst. under Karl Hobbs, who is now his current assistant at Rutgers) before receiving his first head coach job at Stony Brook.
Before arriving on The Banks, Coach Pikiell led the Stony Brook Seawolves, of the America East Conference, from 2005-2016. Coach Pikiell inherited a team that was still in its early years of Division I basketball, had poor training facilities, and typically remained at the bottom of its conference. Under Steve Pikiell's vision and the patience of the Stony Brook athletic administration, Coach Pikiell was able to turn the program from bottom feeders to winners. In his first seven seasons at Stony Brook, the Sea Wolves went 55-140 overall and 32-84 in the America East. But success was observed by the fourth season when the Sea Wolves had their first winning season in Division I as they finished 16-14 overall and 8-8 in their conference. By his fifth season at the helm, the Stony Brook Sea Wolves would go onto to win at least 22 or more games per season with a three trips to the NIT and one trip to the NCAA Tournament.
The same type of rebuilding success many witnessed at Stony Brook, is the same type of rebuilding success we are witnessing at Rutgers. Once a hapless program since the early 90's, Rutgers has risen to respectability across the Big Ten Conference and college basketball. Rutgers is no longer a destination players avoid, rather it has become a destination for players who want to compete in the best conference in the country and to have a shot at the NCAA Tournament. Steve Pikiell has proven he has been able to win by resurrecting one of the worst Power 5 college basketball programs in the country. Legendary college basketball coach Jim Calhoun once said to AD Pat Hobbs, "He's not going to work miracles, but he's going to get Rutgers back to where they think they belong and where I think they belong."
Steve Pikiell has reinvigorated a dying fan base, and now Rutgers has one of the best homecourt advantages in the country. (Check out this video of some of the loudest moments at Rutgers under Coach Pikiell by clicking here). Since 2019, under Steve Pikiell, Rutgers is an astonishing 42-8 at The RAC. This has become a place no college basketball opponent wants to play at. How has Steve Pikiell been able to accomplish this?
Coach Pikiell has been successful at Rutgers because he has mastered the art of recruiting under the radar talent and finding players that fit the system he has implemented. But most importantly, Coach Pikiell has underappreciated skill of player development. Coach Pikiell typically recruits players that are willing to learn and develop, play unselfish team-oriented basketball, and work hard in the gym. Coach Pikiell is not the typical coach that goes after highly touted five-star players or prolific scorers. As we have seen over the years, Coach Pikiell has typically recruited tough, hard-nosed physical defensive style players.
(photo courtesy of Rutgers Athletics)
In 2016, Steve Pikiell took a gamble on recruiting two/three-star recruit Geo Baker, who held other offers from Kansas State, Drexel, Penn, and Rice, to become the next driving force behind Rutgers basketball. When Geo baker committed to Rutgers in the summer of 2016, almost immediately Steve Pikiell and his staff went to work on Geo Baker helping him transcend into one of the best point guards in Rutgers basketball history. Geo Baker came to Rutgers when no one else would and bought into Steve Pikiell's vision. Year after year, Geo Baker's game improved and he eventually became the face of Rutgers basketball. Under Geo Baker's leadership, he was able to help his teammates win games and achieve the impossible...Rutgers' first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1991 and back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 1970s. Geo Baker was a clutch player that delivered incredible performances over his five year career at Rutgers. At the end of Geo Baker's career he was selected twice to the All Big Ten Conference Third-Team (2020, 2022). He became a true ambassador of Rutgers basketball, and proof that under-recruited and overlooked players can thrive at the highest level of college basketball. (Check out our article as we paid tribute to Geo Baker by clicking here and please view Jack Bisasha's tribute to Geo Baker in the links provided below).
In 2017, Steve Pikiell, Brandin Knight, and Karl Hobbs hit the recruiting trail hard in the search to fill several voids left by PG Corey Sanders departing and declaring for the NBA Draft, and the graduations of G Mike Williams, F Deshawn Freeman, and F Candido Sa. Pikiell turned his recruiting efforts to finding hidden gems in Caleb McConnell and Ron Harper Jr. Caleb McConnell, rated a three-star per 247 Sports, held other offers from Wichita State, Kent State, and Massachusetts, but ultimately in the end he chose Rutgers in the Spring of 2018. Surprisingly at the time Ron Harper Jr. was recruited, he was rated 'no stars' by all of the recruiting media sites that tracked high school recruits. Harper Jr. held offers from Radford, Liberty, Nebraska, and Georgia State, but the Don Bosco Prep graduate decided to stay in New Jersey and committed to the Scarlet Knights in August 2017. (please read the article by Jerry Carino covering Ron Harper Jr.'s recruitment to Rutgers by clicking here).
Over the course of the past four years of McConnell's and Harper Jr.'s careers, these two helped provide a major boost to a Rutgers program trying to make its staple in the Big Ten by committing themselves to playing unselfish basketball and dedication towards working hard in the gym. Fans will always have many moments and memories to share in regards to McConnell and Harper Jr. but they will always be remembered for helping Rutgers ascend to respectability in the Big Ten. McConnell and Harper Jr. were both major contributors towards helping Rutgers earn its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1991 as well as helping Rutgers earn back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths.
(photo courtesy of Rutgers Athletics)
Caleb McConnell may very well be the best defensive player in Rutgers basketball history and he was the first to earn the 2021-22 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award as well as becoming a semifinalist for the 2021-22 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. Caleb McConnell came up big many times in huge games with countless defensive stops, including steals and blocks. No other defensive stop was as big as the one he made in the game against Ohio State this season, in which McConnell sprinted the length of the floor to deny Malaki Branham an easy layup which could have extended Ohio State's lead in the closing stretch of the game. The block by McConnell was the play that ignited a furious comeback by Rutgers to win the game. Caleb McConnell was a warrior who put his body on the line and he never quit. Every game McConnell always put in his best effort. In what will likely be his last game in a Rutgers uniform, McConnell delivered the performance of his career as he scored 23 points, registered one block and one steal, grabbed 11 rebounds, made 2 assists, and shot nearly perfect from the field. (Please read our tribute to Caleb McConnell by clicking here.)
(photo courtesy of Rutgers Athletics)
Ron Harper Jr. will more than likely go down as one of the greatest Rutgers basketball players in history. His development over the course of the past four years has been remarkable, and like Geo Baker, Harper Jr. was a clutch player that delivered big play after big play and had the uncanny ability to hit big shots with a game on the line. Harper Jr. will always be remembered for his last second heave that beat previously ranked #1 Purdue but when his jersey hangs from the rafters in Piscataway, Ron Harper Jr. was one of the pioneers that helped Rutgers rise from the pits of hell to the top four in the Big Ten standings. Ron Harper Jr. finished the 2021-22 season with the highest scoring average of his career at 15.8 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, 40% three-point shooting, nearly 80% shooting at the free-throw line, and 1.9 assists per game. Harper Jr. was selected to the All Big Ten Second-Team (2022) and Third-Team (2021) as well as Honorable Mention All-American by the Associated Press (2022). (Please click here to read our tribute to Ron Harper Jr. by clicking here.)
This trio will always be remembered as the transformational group that turned around a terrible dwindling Rutgers basketball program. They will truly leave Rutgers in a better place than when they first arrived on The Banks. They are the ones that saved Rutgers basketball.
Additional Links & Coverage
Please take some time to check out some of the links below for additional coverage, including articles and podcasts of Rutgers men's basketball. Aaron Breitman, managing editor of On The Banks (OTB), is one of my favorite analysts and writers that covers Rutgers Athletics. Take a listen to his most recent podcast with fellow OTB contributor Dave White. This is a fun podcast episode where Aaron and Dave recap the Rutgers men's basketball 2021-22 season. Also, check out Asbury Park Press beat writer Jerry Carino's articles and coverage of Rutgers men's hoops. Take a second to check out the 'senior spotlight' articles by Jack Bisasha, writer for The Daily Targum. Jack does a great job reflecting on this year's Rutgers men's basketball's seniors. Take a step back to the 2020 to enjoy a piece written by Keith Sargent of NJ Advance Media and the inside story of how Steve Pikiell was hired to fix Rutgers men's basketball. Finally, check out the podcast by NJ Advance Media. Steve Politi raises some good questions while James Kratch and Brian Fonseca try to provide answers.
Aaron Breitman & Dave White, On The Banks - "On The Banks Podcast Episode #133: Rutgers men's basketball season recap" - (Click here to listen)
Aaron Breitman, On The Banks - "The 2021-2022 Rutgers men's basketball season was..." - (Click here to read)
Jerry Carino, Asbury Park Press - "Rutgers basketball: 5 offseason priorities" - (Click here to read)
Jerry Carino, Asbury Park Press - "In epic Rutgers loss to Notre Dame, Caleb McConnell went out a warrior" - (Click here to read)
James Kratch, NJ Advance Media - "Rutgers Rant Podcast: Rutgers lost a March Madness classic. What's next?" - (Click here to listen)
Jack Bisasha, The Daily Targum - "Senior Spotlight: Luke Nathan and Ralph Gonzales-Agee" - (Click here to read)
Jack Bisasha, The Daily Targum - "Senior Spotlight: Caleb McConnell" - (Click here to read)
Jack Bisasha, The Daily Targum - "Senior Spotlight: Ron Harper Jr." - (Click here to read)
Jack Bisasha, The Daily Targum - "Senior Spotlight: Geo Baker" - (Click here to read)
Keith Sargent, NJ Advance Media - "We did the deal on a handshake' over coffee and eggs | The inside story of how Rutgers hired Steve Pikiell to rebuild its men's basketball program" - (Click here to read)
Brian Fonseca, NJ Advance Media - "Unbreakable: How Rutgers' Caleb McConnell went from 'soft' and skinny to the 'toughest damn dude in the Big Ten' - (Click here to read)
Jerry Carino, Asbury Park Press - "Rutgers basketball: Ron Harper Jr. and the art of recruiting overlooked talent" - (Click here to read)
Caleb McConnell, Ron Harper Jr., and Geo Baker were all selected for Big Ten awards
Caleb McConnell, Ron Harper Jr., and Geo Baker were all selected for Big Ten awards for the 2021-22 season. Caleb McConnell made history as the first Scarlet Knight to ever earn the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award. McConnell was also selected to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Ron Harper Jr. was selected to the second-team All Big Ten, while Geo Baker was selected to the third-team All Big Ten.
Caleb McConnell helped lead the Scarlet Knights defensively throughout the entire season and put up remarkable numbers. McConnell led the Big Ten with a total of 43 steals, 11 blocks, 2.2 steals per game, 86 defensive rebounds, and 4.3 defensive rebounds per game during 20 Big Ten regular season games.
The highlight of Caleb McConnell's season was when he averaged at least 4 steals per game during the Scarlet Knights improbable four-game winning streak over four ranked Big Ten teams, including Illinois, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin. Caleb McConnell's block against Ohio State in the closing minutes is attributed to spurring Rutgers with a magical comeback that led them to victory over the Buckeyes.
Caleb McConnell is also one of ten finalists for the 2022 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, a national award for college basketball's best defensive player. He is the only player from the Big Ten nominated this season.
(photo courtesy of USA Today)
Ron Harper Jr. who has had a wonderful season for Rutgers was selected to the second-team All Big Ten. Harper Jr. averaged 15.7 points per game, 44% from the field, 39.9% from three-point range, and 6 rebounds per game during the Big Ten season. Harper Jr.'s highlights include a last second heave from near mid-court which upset then ranked #1 Purdue, and his three-point shot from deep that silenced a wild Assembly Hall crowd with 2 seconds left as Rutgers upset Indiana.
(photo courtesy of USA Today)
Geo Baker was selected to the third-team All Big Ten. Baker averaged 12 points per game, 3.9 assists per game, and 1.2 steals per game. After the massive block by Caleb McConnell, Geo Baker was the catalyst that led Rutgers to a comeback victory over Ohio State.
All three are deserving of their awards, and will forever be remembered in the hearts of Rutgers fans. They will go down as legends at Rutgers. There are too many special moments to share with these players. This has been a unique season filled with many special moments, and we can only hope we can see many more special moments from them come NCAA Tournament time and before their time is up on The Banks.
For more information on these awards please visit the articles listed below.
Rutgers hosts Penn State in a massive regular season finale with its NCAA Tournament hopes on the line; fans pay tribute to its seniors
After an exuberant 66-63 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers this past Wednesday, the Scarlet Knights immediately turned their attention and focus to the Penn State Nittany Lions. Rutgers hosts Penn State this Sunday, March 6th (12 PM ET, BTN) at The RAC its in regular season finale. It will be a very emotional and exciting day with a lot on the line. The Scarlet Knights and their fans will pay tribute to its seniors, Geo Baker, Caleb McConnell, Ron Harper Jr., Ralph Gonzales-Agee and Luke Nathan, one last time as they try to defeat the Nittany Lions to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive. A win against Penn State will almost guarantee Rutgers an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. Also, a chance at a double-bye or better a seed for the Big Ten Tournament will be on the line. Sunday's game against Penn State might arguably be the biggest Senior Day game in Rutgers Scarlet Knights basketball history.
(photo courtesy of NJ Advance Media)
How did Rutgers get here? And what is on the line?
The Scarlet Knights (17-12 overall; 11-8 conference) are in a must-win situation coming into the game against Penn State on Sunday. Rutgers is currently sitting at #75 in the NET Rankings (Q1 6-5; Q2 3-4; Q3 3-2; Q4 5-1). With a victory over Penn State (Q3), Rutgers has a chance to slightly boost its NET Ranking. The NET Rankings is a tool with different metrics involved the NCAA Tournament Committee uses to evaluate teams. There has been a lot of criticism of the NET Rankings by Rutgers fans this year because no one quite understands the metrics involved with the NET, but any bracketologist will tell you that the Committee values the NET, and Rutgers needs to improve its NET Ranking for a shot at the tournament.
Earlier in the season, Rutgers had a fluke Q4 loss to NET-ranked #319 Lafayette (53-51) followed by a terrible Q3 loss to NET-ranked #191 Massachusetts (85-83). Both losses have been defined as 'very bad losses' and have prevented Rutgers from ascending in the rankings, despite six incredible Q1 victories, and kept the Scarlet Knights square on the bubble. There have been many highs and lows with Rutgers this season. Aside from the poor losses to Lafayette and Massachusetts, Rutgers lost to the bottom four teams in the Big Ten, including Maryland (Q3, 68-60), Penn State (Q2, 66-49), Minnesota (Q2, 68-65), and Northwestern (Q2, 79-78). Rutgers was also blown out in December by Illinois (Q1, 85-51) and Seton Hall (Q1, 77-63). Rutgers was able to filter in some quality wins in December and January, including victories over then AP Top 25 ranked #1 Purdue (Q1, 70-68), Iowa (Q1, 48-46), Michigan (Q1, 75-67) and Maryland (Q2, 70-59). By the end of January, the outlook for Rutgers to make the NCAA Tournament was bleak.
However, through all of the criticism and negativity, Rutgers awoke and found their identity in February. They found their identity in the second half of a close loss to Northwestern. Credit Steve Pikiell for making adjustments, and his team responded. They started playing with intensity, toughness, and chemistry, major qualities of a typical Steve Pikiell team. These were the missing ingredients earlier in the season, and Rutgers somehow figured it out. Their incredible effort from the Northwestern game transpired over in their next four games. If you asked any analyst or fan if Rutgers was going to survive the February gauntlet, most would have told you Rutgers does not stand a chance. The Scarlet Knights were essentially left for dead.
So when the February gauntlet arrived, Rutgers battled through adversity, and were able to reel off four historic Q1 wins in a row, beating the Big Ten's top tier teams. Rutgers became the first unranked team in college basketball history to defeat four ranked opponents in a row. Rutgers knocked off Michigan State (84-63); avenged Illinois (70-59); beat Wisconsin on the road (73-65); and came from behind to defeat Ohio State (66-64). Analysts across the college basketball world took notice of Rutgers and their incredible accomplishment. ESPN and Andy Katz declared Rutgers as the National Team of the Week. Rutgers found themselves near the top of the Big Ten standings, and bracketologists across the country began placing the Scarlet Knights in the Field of 68. What we saw in February is what Steve Pikiell described for the start of the season as his "best team".
Although Rutgers was riding high with confidence, it took a trip to Mackey Arena on February 20th to stop the red hot Scarlet Knights in their path. Purdue was able to pull off an 84-72 victory at home against Rutgers. Rutgers followed up its performance at Purdue with losses to Michigan (Q1, 71-62) and Wisconsin (Q1, 66-61), which put Rutgers squarely back on the bubble. Analysts across college basketball began writing off the Scarlet Knights once again, and many bracketologists actually removed Rutgers from the Field of 68.
With their backs against the wall, Rutgers knew they needed a big win at Indiana (Q1) to resurrect their NCAA Tournament hopes. Rutgers seized the opportunity and proved all the naysayers wrong as they pulled off a stunning 66-63 win on the road at Assembly Hall, one of the Big Ten's toughest environments. Rutgers has now won seven out of its last eight meetings with the Hoosiers.
This Sunday, Rutgers will battle Penn State (12-15 overall; 7-12 conference) at a sold out RAC in front of a raucous crowd. In order for Rutgers to prove they are still worthy of an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, Rutgers must avoid a loss to Penn State (Q3). But make no mistake, Penn State will not go quietly into the night. The Nittany Lions are a tough basketball team, and new head coach Micah Shrewsbury will have his players playing with belief that they can win and play spoiler in New Jersey. Penn State has had some tough losses this season but some great wins, including a road win at Michigan State and an upset of #24 Iowa. Also, Penn State blasted Rutgers in Happy Valley earlier this season. A Q3 loss to Penn State would seriously damage Rutgers NCAA Tournament hopes.
Rutgers knows what is on the line: 1.) Potential at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament 2.) Possibility of finishing 4th place but no worse than 6th place in the Big Ten standings 3.) Possible double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament.
Potential Big Ten Tournament scenarios
Currently, Rutgers is sitting in 6th place in the Big Ten standings at 11-8. Iowa and Ohio State are both 12-7 in the standings. Behind Rutgers in the standings are Michigan and Michigan state at 10-9.
If you are a Rutgers fan you will be rooting for Ohio State to lose to Michigan and for Illinois to beat Iowa. The reason why you want Ohio State and Iowa to both lose and of course hope for a Rutgers win is because Rutgers owns the tiebreak (victories over both teams) for the season, and Rutgers could ascend to 4th place, essentially giving Rutgers a double-bye for the Big Ten Tournament. Rutgers has never finished in 4th place in the Big Ten and earned a double-bye.
If both Iowa and Ohio State win their games, Rutgers would finish no worse than 6th place and Rutgers would play the winner of the 11-seed vs 14-seed matchup Thursday, March 10th. Even if Iowa and Ohio State both lose, and Rutgers loses, Rutgers would still finish in 6th place ahead of Michigan and Michigan State. However, losing is not an option for Rutgers on Sunday because it would seriously damage their NCAA Tournament chances. Rutgers would then have to go on a Big Ten Tournament run to make up for the loss to Penn State.
If Rutgers were to win on Sunday, and Iowa were to lose but Ohio State wins -or- Ohio State loses and Iowa wins, Rutgers would finish in 5th place. Rutgers would then face the winner of the 12-seed vs 13-seed matchup.
(photo courtesy of Asbury Park Press)
Rutgers pays tribute to its senior class
Sunday's game against Penn State is going to be emotionally charged for the coaches, players, and fans. It is going to be a sad day yet an exciting day. Rutgers nation will pay tribute to its seniors, Geo Baker, Caleb McConnell, Ron Harper Jr., Ralph Gonzales-Agee and Luke Nathan. This will be the last time Rutgers fans will see Geo Baker in action at The RAC, and probably the last time Rutgers fans will see Caleb McConnell and Ron Harper Jr.
Geo Baker has been the catalyst for Steve Pikiell with helping to turn around a dead Rutgers basketball program. Rutgers basketball would certainly not be where it is today if it were not for the contributions of Geo Baker. He may very well be one of the most important players in Rutgers men's basketball history.
Rutgers men's basketball was once a dead program. It was a place that most coaches wanted to avoid despite its affiliation in the Atlantic 10 Conference and the Big East Conference. Since the 1990-91 season, when Bob Wenzel led the charge and Rutgers made its last NCAA Tournament appearance, many coaches that followed were unsuccessful. Kevin Bannon followed Bob Wenzel and went 59-60. Bannon was fired in 2001. Gary Waters went 79-75, including an NIT Championship appearance in 2004. Waters resigned in 2006. Fred Hill Jr. was hired after Waters' resignation, and went 57-77 overall. Hill Jr. was fired after four seasons on The Banks. Mike Rice Jr. went 44-51 and was fired in 2013 after being embroiled in controversy for abusing his players. Rice Jr. left a stain on the Rutgers program, and players began to transfer out after Rice Jr. was fired. Rutgers turned to Eddie Jordan, a Rutgers basketball legend, to help turn around the program. However, Jordan struggled to recruit and went a dismal 29-68. Jordan oversaw the transition of Rutgers from the Big East to the American Athletic to the Big Ten. Jordan was fired in in 2016, and Rutgers was desperate to find a coach who would lead the charge of an almost impossible situation. Who would be the next coach to take over what was the worst Power 5 basketball program in the nation? In 2016, new Rutgers AD Pat Hobbs hired Steve Pikiell as head coach.
In Steve Pikiell's second season as head coach of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, things were noticeably different. Rutgers had a different energy under Pikiell. The Scarlet Knights started winning some games and play competitively in the Big Ten. Pikiell relied on his 2017 recruiting class to start making contributions in the 2017-18 season. Geo Baker was one of his primary recruits in the 2017 recruiting class. Baker was a borderline two-/three-star recruit, with offers from only a few low-major schools, when he came to The Banks, and Pikiell inserted him into the playing mix almost right away. Baker had several breakout games in the 2017-18 season. He and former Rutgers standout Corey Sanders carried Rutgers to a massive upset victory over 6-seed Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament, making Rutgers the first 14-seed in Big Ten Tournament history to reach the Quarterfinals. Although Rutgers lost to #11 ranked Purdue in the Quarterfinals, it was Geo Baker who scored 25 pts and pushed the Boilermakers to the edge of a near loss. Purdue escaped with a 82-75 victory.
Geo Baker almost immediately moved to the forefront of Rutgers as its true leader after his first season. Time and time again, Baker continued to make big play after big play in the seasons that would follow. Baker was the savior for Rutgers when found itself down to Nebraska at The RAC in the 2019-20 season. Baker hit a clutch three-point shot that would lift Rutgers to a season-saving 75-72 victory. With their backs against the wall and in the last game of the season, Geo Baker carried Rutgers to an overtime victory over Purdue at Mackey Arena to deliver what would have been Rutgers first NCAA Tournament bid since the 1990-91 season if COVID-19 had not canceled the season. Throughout the 2020-21 season and current season, Baker would continuously lead the charge and guide to Rutgers to many come-from-behind improbable victories. It was Geo Baker who became almost superhuman in a massive come-from-behind rally to upset #16 Ohio State. Baker scored 25 points, but it was the final series of shots Baker that took, and incredible passing to help Rutgers win the game against the Buckeyes. Baker has been clutch in the moment when Rutgers has needed him most. It was not always about scoring points with Geo Baker, but it was the plays he made that never showed up in the stat sheets. It was the crisp passes he made to his teammates. His basketball IQ grew, and he made better decisions with the ball each year. It was the confidence boosters he gave his teammates when they felt down about missing a shot or making a bad play. He carried himself as a true ambassador of Rutgers basketball.
(video courtesy of Brian Fonseca of NJ Advance Media; Geo Baker throws down a thunderous dunk. The RAC goes insane. Also, check out Jerry Recco and Joe Boylan on the call for Geo's dunk, click here.)
Although Caleb McConnell and Ron Harper Jr both have another year of eligibility remaining, it is likely they will be moving on from Rutgers. No formal announcement has been made yet by both players. Caleb McConnell and Ron Harper Jr. have made incredible contributions to Rutgers basketball and have forever cemented their legacies in Rutgers basketball history. They were both extraordinary pioneers that helped Rutgers become a better team in college basketball.
McConnell was a consensus three-star recruit, and Harper Jr. was given a no star rating by ESPN, 247Sports, Rivals, and Scout. When these players were recruited by Steve Pikiell, fans began to wonder if Pikiell was able to recruit quality players. But little did many Rutgers fans know at the time, Pikiell loves to build and mold players. There is a certain quality about a basketball player that Pikiell and his staff love. Pikiell is not going to lure five-star one-and done kids to Rutgers because that is not what he is looking for. Pikiell knew he would get commitment and stability out of McConnell and Harper Jr. In return, Pikiell helped them become even better players than they were when they first arrived to Piscataway.
Ron Harper Jr.'s game has improved drastically since arriving in 2018, and he is now one of five finalists for the 2021-22 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. Caleb McConnell is now one of ten semifinalists for the 2021-22 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award and potentially the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. No one would have seen this coming from the day they arrived in the 2018-19 season. Like Baker, time and time again, we have seen incredible performance after incredible performance from these two players to help churn out tough grinding wins against the Big Ten's best. Most notably, it was Ron Harper Jr. who nailed a three-pointer that gut-punched Indiana in the closing seconds of this past week's game to keep the Scarlet Knights' tournament chances alive. It was Ron Harper Jr. who nailed a near mid-court heave that upset then ranked #1 Purdue. It was Ron Harper Jr. who took over many games between 2018 and 2022 that rocked the Big Ten's best. Who can forget the incredible block by Caleb McConnell in the closing minutes against Ohio State this season? McConnell's block sparked a run by Rutgers to come from 10 points down to upset the Buckeyes and secure an important Q1 win. McConnell is averaging an incredible 2.3 steals per game this season, and has nearly 30 more steals (67 steals) the Big Ten's second best steal leader Chase Audige of Northwestern!
(video courtesy of Brian Fonseca of NJ Advance Media. The last four minutes of Rutgers vs Ohio State. Rutgers pulls off an incredible upset from the likes of Caleb McConnell's block, and Geo Baker fueling a 10-0 run.)
There are so many special moments that these players have given us over the last 4-5 years, but as they get ready to graduate and move on from Rutgers basketball, you must remember how these young men have developed over the years into true leaders. Under the close guidance of Steve Pikiell, Brandin Knight, and Karl Hobbs, they became the true catalysts that helped saved this once faltering Rutgers basketball program. Baker, McConnell, and Harper Jr. are the reason why Rutgers fans have a reason to cheer, and why The RAC is now one of the toughest venues for opponents to play at in the country. When they leave, they will have left Rutgers basketball in a much better place.
