Rutgers Tournament Resume vs Bubble Teams, 2023 Version

 

photo courtesy of Getty Images

How does Rutgers tournament resume stack up against the other bubble teams?

As Selection Sunday is only hours away, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights have another very interesting tournament resume just like last season. There are positives and there are negatives. Let's compare Rutgers' resume to the rest of the bubble teams. (Note: All information is current as of 11 March. Seeding projections are based on averages from BracketMatrix.com.)

graphic courtesy of Mike Broadbent (The Knight Report)

RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (19-14; 11-11)

• Latest Seed Projection: 11 (Last Four In)
• Appearing In Total Brackets: 114 out of 118
• NET Rankings: 40
• KenPom Rankings: 35
• NET SOS: 41
• NC SOS: 314
• Home Record: 14-5
• Away Record: 4-7 (includes three Q1 wins & one Q2 win)
• Neutral Record: 1-2 (includes one Q2 win)
• SOR: 57
• Quadrant Record:
• Q1: 5-7
• Q2: 5-3 
• Q3: 2-4
• Q4: 7-0
• Best Wins: 12/3, Indiana (27, Q1); 1/2, at Purdue (5, Q1); 1/5, Maryland (22, Q1); 1/11, at Northwestern (41, Q1); 1/15, Ohio State (48, Q2); 1/24, Penn State (55, Q2); 2/4, Michigan State (33, Q2); 2/26, at Penn State (55, Q1); 3/9, vs Michigan (58, Q2)
• Bad Losses: 11/18, vs Temple (127, Q3); 2/14, Nebraska (93, Q3); 3/2, at Minnesota (220, Q3)
• Interesting Note: Of all the bubble teams, Rutgers has the worst non-conference strength of schedule at 314. Rutgers does own the most true Q1 road wins out of all the teams projected to make the field. Rutgers also owns 7 wins over teams projected to the make the field and two Q1A wins.

BUBBLE TEAMS -

MISSISSIPPI STATE (21-12; 9-11)

• Latest Seed Projection: 11 (Last Four In)
• Appearing In Total Brackets: 114 out of 118
• NET Rankings: 49
• KenPom Rankings: 49
• NET SOS: 38
• NC SOS: 230
• Home Record: 12-4 
• Away Record: 4-6 (includes one Q1 win & one Q2 win)
• Neutral Record: 5-2 (includes one Q1 win & two Q2 wins)
• SOR: 41
• Quadrant Record:
• Q1: 4-8
• Q2: 4-3
• Q3: 5-1
• Q4: 8-0
• Best Wins: 11/21, vs Marquette (12, Q1); 1/28, TCU (29, Q1); 2/4, Missouri (42, Q2); 2/11, at Arkansas (22, Q1); 2/25, Texas A&M (20, Q1); 3/9, vs Florida (60, Q2)
• Bad Losses: 1/11, at Georgia (152, Q3)
• Interesting Note: Mississippi State is 5-2 on neutral floors, which is a very solid record. The Bulldogs own one of the best neutral floor victories this year when they defeated Marquette 58-55 back in November. The Bulldogs do have one Q1A win on the season and it came on the road against Arkansas back in mid-February.

PITTSBURGH (22-11; 15-7)

• Latest Seed Projection: 11 (Last Four In)
• Appearing In Total Brackets: 80 out of 118
• NET Rankings: 67
• KenPom Ranking: 78
• NET SOS: 89
• NC SOS: 145
• Home Record: 14-3 
• Away Record: 7-5 (includes three Q1 wins)
• Neutral Record: 1-3
• SOR: 58
• Quadrant Record:
• Q1: 4-4
• Q2: 3-5
• Q3: 5-1
• Q4: 10-1
• Best Wins: 11/28, at Northwestern (41, Q1); 12/2, at NC State (45, Q1); 12/30, North Carolina (46, Q2); 1/3, Virginia (23, Q1); 1/28, Miami (35, Q2); 2/1, at North Carolina (46, Q1)
• Bad Losses: 1/21, Florida State (221, Q4); 3/1, at Notre Dame (186, Q3)
• Interesting Note: Pittsburgh has zero Q1A wins and has the worst SOR among the projected teams to make the field. Pittsburgh lost by 31 to Michigan earlier in the season as well as a 25 point loss to West Virginia and 27 point loss to Duke.

ARIZONA STATE (22-12; 13-10)

• Latest Seed Projection: 11 (Last Four In)
• Appearing In Total Brackets: 95 out of 118
• NET Rankings: 66
• KenPom Rankings: 68
• NET SOS: 54
• NC SOS: 188
• Home Record: 10-5
• Away Record: 7-6 (includes three Q1 wins)
• Neutral Record: 5-1 (includes two Q1 wins & two Q2 wins)
• SOR: 47
• Quadrant Record:
• Q1: 5-6
• Q2: 4-5
• Q3: 5-0
• Q4: 8-1
• Best Wins: 11/16, vs VCU (61, Q2); 11/17, vs Michigan (58, Q2); 12/1, at Colorado (70, Q1); 12/12, vs Creighton (16, Q1); 1/12, at Oregon (47, Q1); 2/25, at Arizona (10, Q1); 3/4, vs USC (50, Q1)
• Bad Losses: 11/13, at Texas Southern (302, Q4)
• Interesting Note: Arizona State has a very good neutral record but picked up two additional neutral wins in the PAC-12 Tournament. The Sun Devils lost to San Francisco by 37 points in December, their largest margin of defeat for the season. Majority of Arizona State's Q1 wins are low Q1 wins except for their wins over Arizona and Creighton.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE (23-10; 13-9)

• Latest Seed Projection: 11 (Last Four Byes)
• Appearing In Total Brackets: 102 out of 118
• NET Rankings: 45
• KenPom Rankings: 55
• NET SOS: 78
• NC SOS: 244
• Home Record: 15-2
• Away Record: 4-6
• Neutral Record: 4-2
• SOR: 40
• Quadrant Record:
• Q1: 1-6
• Q2: 7-4
• Q3: 5-0
• Q4: 10-0
• Best Wins: 11/24, vs Dayton (76, Q2); 12/17, vs Vanderbilt (79, Q2); 1/4, Duke (17, Q1); 1/7, at Virginia Tech (78, Q2); 1/14, Miami (35, Q2); 2/19, North Carolina (46, Q2); 3/8, vs Virginia Tech (78, Q2)
• Bad Losses: None
• Interesting Note: NC State has only one win against Q1 teams but zero Q3/4 losses.

NEVADA WOLF PACK (21-10; 12-7)

• Latest Seed Projection: OUT (First Four Out)
• Appearing In Total Brackets: 28 out of 118
• NET Rankings: 37
• KenPom Rankings: 41
• SOS: 70
• NC SOS: 134
• Home Record: 13-1
• Away Record: 6-7 (includes one Q1 win & two Q2 wins)
• Neutral Record: 2-2
• SOR: 53
• Quadrant Record:
• Q1: 4-5
• Q2: 3-3
• Q3: 11-2
• Q4: 3-0
• Best Wins: 11/28, Sam Houston State (65, Q2); 12/28, Boise State (27, Q1); 1/13, Utah State (19, Q1); 1/23, New Mexico (53, Q2); 1/31, San Diego State (14, Q1); 2/7, at New Mexico (53, Q1)
• Bad Losses: 2/27, at Wyoming (172, Q3); 3/4, UNLV (91, Q3)
• Interesting Note: Nevada is lacking in quality road wins. The Wolf Pack only have one Q1 road win on the season but it comes against a lower rated Q1 opponent.

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS (18-15; 9-11)

• Latest Seed Projection: OUT (First Four Out)
• Appearing In Total Brackets: 31 out of 118
• NET Rankings: 45
• KenPom Rankings: 38
• NET SOS: 8
• NC SOS: 192
• Home Record: 11-5
• Away Record: 4-7 (includes three Q1 wins)
• Neutral Record: 3-3 (includes one Q2 win)
• SOR: 44
• Quadrant Record:
• Q1: 6-12
• Q2: 4-2
• Q3: 3-1
• Q4: 5-0
• Best Wins: 12/6, Sam Houston State (65, Q2); 1/2, West Virginia (24, Q1); 1/18, Oklahoma (68, Q2); 1/21, Iowa State (20, Q1); 2/1, at Oklahoma (68, Q1); 2/11, at Iowa State (20, Q1); 2/4, TCU (28, Q1); 2/8, Texas Tech (64, Q2); 3/4, at Texas Tech (64, Q1); 3/8, vs Oklahoma (68, Q2)
• Bad Losses: 11/10, Southern Illinois (120, Q3)
• Interesting Note: The Cowboys have played one of the toughest schedules in the country; however, they only have one Q1A win on the season. The Cowboys are 4-10 against high Q1 competition.

CLEMSON TIGERS (23-10; 15-7)

• Latest Seed Projection: OUT (First Four Out)
• Appearing In Total Brackets: 3 out of 118
• NET Rankings: 60
• KenPom Rankings: 64
• NET SOS: 102
• NC SOS: 334
• Home Record: 15-1
• Away Record: 5-6 (includes two Q1 wins & one Q2 win) 
• Neutral Record: 3-3 (includes one Q1 win)
• SOR: 54
• Quadrant Record:
• Q1: 4-4
• Q2: 3-2
• Q3: 7-2
• Q4: 9-2
• Best Wins: 11/29, Penn State (49, Q2); 12/30, NC State (45, Q2); 1/4, at Virginia Tech (77, Q2); 1/7, at Pittsburgh (67, Q1); 1/14, Duke (16, Q1); 2/25, at NC State (45, Q1); 3/9, vs NC State (45, Q1)
• Bad Losses: 11/11, at South Carolina (234, Q3); 12/10, vs Loyola-Chicago (267, Q4); 1/31, at Boston College (168, Q3); 2/18, at Louisville (315, Q4)
• Interesting Note: Clemson has zero high Q1 wins and has a total of four Q3/4 losses with their worst coming towards the end of the season against Louisville.

The East

top photo courtesy of USA Today; bottom photo courtesy of Getty Images

The East now belongs almost exclusively to UConn and Rutgers

by Richard Kent, Contributor

Rutgers Hoops Insider contributor Richard Kent examines the landscape and powershift of big time basketball in the East.

It seems like a long time ago when traditional powers from the East were in full control of the region, and were consistently making the NCAA Tournament with deep runs to the Final Four.

In 1985, three powerhouse teams from the Big East Conference made it to the Final Four. While Georgetown and St. John's were expected to make runs to the Final Four as top seeds, it was 8-seed Villanova who outlasted Georgetown to capture the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship.

In 1996, the 4-seed Syracuse Orange made an unprecedented run to the Final Four and lost in the title game to eventual champion Kentucky Wildcats. Seven years, Syracuse returned to the championship and won the title. The UConn Huskies captured titles in 1999, 2004, 2011, and 2014. Villanova captured two national championships in 2016 and 2018.

But fast forward to today, and you'll notice UConn sits lofty at 7 in the NET Rankings and Rutgers is 21. Take another look at the NET Rankings and you'll notice traditional staples Seton Hall are ranked 58, Villanova at 88, Syracuse at 93, St. John's at 93, and Georgetown at a staggering 230. Let's also forget not to mention, Georgetown has a dreadful record of 6-19 and are the owners of the worst 29 game Big East Conference losing streak, the longest in the conference's history.

Providence has played well in spurts over the years under Ed Cooley. Pittsburgh, a team once known for finishing at the top of its league, is finally on the trajectory to having its first winning season since the 2015-16. Boston College has disappeared from any degree of national visibility after joining the ACC and a few head scratching coaching hires. 

Once a proud program, St. John's will finish near the bottom of the Big East once again, and fade into irrelevancy. Fans are calling for the head of Mike Anderson after what was a promising start to the season. St. John's has only been the NCAA Tournament three times over the span of 20 years.

Georgetown is replicating another terrible season and no one is sure if the Hoyas will win another game this season. Last year, the Hoyas finished 6-25 and it's looking like they are about to match that again. Patrick Ewing will most certainly be fired after this dismal season.

Syracuse is not having the season Jim Boeheim and fans envisioned. Boeheim may only coach one more season.

Without Jay Wright patrolling the sidelines, Villanova has fallen further down the Big East standings and will endure its first losing season since in nearly 12 years under new coach Kyle Neptune.

Next year, Danny Hurley and the UConn Huskies are projected to have a top 5 recruiting class, while the Steve Pikiell and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights are projected to have the same in 2024, according to 247 Sports. Neither Syracuse, Villanova, or Seton Hall are projected to have Top 100 recruiting classes in 2023.

The East now belongs almost exclusively to UConn and Rutgers.

Two great coaching hires at UConn and Rutgers have changed the eastern dynamic.

Danny Hurley has turned around UConn's fortunes after the fallout from the Kevin Ollie era. In the last two seasons, Hurley has steadied UConn to two NCAA Tournament berths but this season Hurley may have his best team yet. By mid-December, UConn was ranked as high as number 2 in the AP Top 25 Poll. 

Danny Hurley has brought in top notch talent to UConn as he was able to secure a big commit from 4-star center Donovan Clingan in the 2022 recruiting class, but Hurley's 2020 and 2021 recruiting classes are paying the most dividends, especially with Adama Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins.

Steve Pikiell, a UConn graduate who learned more about the game under Jim Calhoun, has worked miracles at Rutgers, and is on the verge taking the Scarlet Knights to their 3rd consecutive NCAA Tournament bid, and better yet possibly earning a single-digit seed as well. Rutgers is currently ranked 24 in the AP Top 25 Poll and are projected to earn a 6-seed, according to KenPom. Pikiell is also the current favorite for Big Ten Coach of the Year.

The Rutgers program turnaround is largely attributable to Pikiell and his staff, which features former Pittsburgh star Brandin Knight, former UConn great Karl Hobbs, and former George Washington standout TJ Thompson (who previously played for Hobbs) as his assistants. Together, the entire collective have scoured the country and have found "diamonds in the rough" like Caleb McConnell, Geo Baker, and Derek Simpson, who they have coached up with their blue collar, defense-first coach mentality. That was a page directly out of the legendary Jim Calhoun's coaching book.

Michigan State's Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo constantly sings praises of Pikiell any chance he gets, and he means it.

Will UConn win its 5th National Championship this year? Will Rutgers possibly see its first in the foreseeable future? Only time will tell, but Hurley and Pikiell are on the hunt and they can both certainly take each program to the big stage. Pikiell has a shelf reserved in his office for a National Championship ball, and don't be surprised if that space is occupied in the next five years. Both coaches have done a tremendous job with their respective programs, and they have risen above the traditional schools of the East.

For Rutgers fans, the many years of losing in Piscataway has come to an end but it doesn't stop there because Pikiell is ready to take Rutgers the distance. With stud recruits like Gavin Griffiths and Ace Bailey headed to Piscataway to take this program to the next level (and prized recruit Dylan Harper possibly on his way), the sky is the limit for long suffering Rutgers faithful.

5 Things to Look For This Week (January 15-19)

 

photo courtesy of NJ Advance Media

Five Things to Look For This Week 

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. 

Keys to the Game: Seton Hall at Rutgers, Garden State Hardwood Classic (December 11, 2022)

 

photo courtesy of Getty Images

Seton Hall (5-4) at Rutgers (6-3, 1-1)

Garden State Hardwood Classic

New Jersey's Most Intense College Hoops Rivalry

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 also to 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

1. 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.
2. 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. 
3. 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.
4. 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%.
5. 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

Keys to the Game: Columbia at Rutgers (November 7, 2022)

 

photo courtesy of NJ Advance Media

Columbia at Rutgers

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

1. 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. 
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

2022-23 keys to the season and predictions

 

photo courtesy of Rutgers Athletics

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

2023 KenPom ratings released, rating for each opponent

 

(photo courtesy of Rutgers Athletics)

The 2023 KenPom Ratings were released just over a week ago, and we have the ratings for each of the Scarlet Knights' opponents this coming season

The 2022-23 Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's college basketball season is only 14 days away, and the Ken Pomeroy Ratings were recently released for the upcoming season. This is the time of year college basketball fanatics and data analysts start crunching numbers and making predictions for the upcoming season. In the words of creator Ken Pomeroy, “[t]he purpose of this system is to show how strong a team would be if it played tonight, independent of injuries or emotional factors.” Without going too far down the rabbit hole, his ranking system incorporates statistics like shooting percentage, margin of victory, and strength of schedule, ultimately calculating offensive, defensive, and overall “efficiency” numbers for all teams in Division I. For a detailed description of Ken Pomeroy's ratings, visit kenpom.com.

This year's KenPom Ratings have rated the Scarlet Knights at 50. Ole Miss (SEC) comes in at 49 and Cincinnati (American) follows Rutgers at 51. The latest KenPom Ratings project Rutgers to finish 19-12 overall, 10-10 in the Big Ten.

Here are the KenPom Ratings for each team on the Scarlet Knights' schedule:

Nov. 7, Columbia* (316)

Nov. 10, Sacred Heart* (304)

Nov. 12, UMass-Lowell* (170)

Nov. 18, vs Temple* (92)

Nov. 22, Rider* (186)

Nov. 26, Central Conn. State* (333)

Nov. 30, at Miami* (42)

Dec. 3, Indiana (12)

Dec. 8, at Ohio State (32)

Dec. 11, Seton Hall* (48)

Dec. 17, Wake Forest* (80)

Dec. 23, Bucknell* (283)

Dec. 30, Coppin State* (315)

Jan. 2, at Purdue (25)

Jan. 5, Maryland (56)

Jan. 8, Iowa (23)

Jan. 11, at Northwestern (70)

Jan. 15, Ohio State (32)

Jan. 19, at Michigan State (31)

Jan. 24, Penn State (46)

Jan. 29, at Iowa (23)

Feb. 1, Minnesota (109)

Feb. 4, vs Michigan State (31)

Feb. 7, at Indiana (12)

Feb. 11, at Illinois (33)

Feb. 14, Nebraska (108)

Feb. 18, at Wisconsin (55)

Feb. 23, Michigan (26)

Feb. 26, at Penn State (46)

Mar. 2, at Minnesota (109)

Mar. 5, Northwestern (70)

* non-conference game

Deep Dive: A look into Rutgers' opponents

 

(photo courtesy of USA Today)

We take a look into Rutgers' future non-conference opponents for the upcoming season

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights' 2022-23 non-conference schedule has finally come to form. In the past week the Scarlet Knights scheduled a home-and-home contest with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, per report by Jon Rothstein of College Hoops Today. The Demon Deacons will visit the Scarlet Knights this upcoming season. Next season, the Scarlet Knights will travel to Winston-Salem. Also, the Scarlet Knights scheduled a multi-team event at The RAC a couple of weeks ago. The event will take place between November 10-16 and includes games against the Columbia Lions, Sacred Heart Pioneers, and UMass-Lowell River Hawks. The Scarlet Knights will play its Garden State rival the Seton Hall Pirates on December 11 at The RAC in the Garden State Hardwood Classic. Rutgers has also scheduled contests with the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils, Coppin State Eagles, Bucknell Bison and the Rider Broncs. Per Brian Fonseca (of NJ Advance Media), Rutgers scheduled a contest with the Temple Owls on a neutral floor at The Mohegan Sun. Lastly, Jon Rothstein reported the Scarlet Knights will head on the road to take on the Miami Hurricanes in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Let's take a look into each one of Rutgers' non-conference opponents for the 2022-23 season (highest to lowest according to last season's NET rankings).

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

• Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)
• Conference Finish: 5th
• Record: 25-10 overall; 13-7 conference
• Final NET Rankings: 42
• Final Sagarin Ratings: 42
• Last Year's Noteworthy Wins: at Virginia Tech (80-61); at Virginia (63-55); at Florida State (68-60); Notre Dame (79-74)
• NIT Tournament: Quarterfinal, lost to #1 Texas A&M 67-52
• Series against Rutgers: Wake Forest leads the series against Rutgers 1-0. 
• Last meeting: Both teams met for the first time in 2015 when the Demon Deacons beat the Scarlet Knights 69-68 in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.
• Key Returners/Transfers: Jake LaRavia (14.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.6 spg), Daivien Williamson (11.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.2 apg), Tyree Appleby (10.9 ppg, 3.7 apg), Jao Ituka (15.3 ppg)
• Notes: The Demon Deacons are led by Steve Forbes who will enter his 3rd season at the helm. Forbes has done a great job turning the Demon Deacons and helped them post a 25-10 overall record. Many felt the Demon Deacons were robbed from making last year's NCAA Tournament; however, they were able to go on a remarkable run in the NIT Tournament before falling to Texas A&M in the quarterfinals. The reason why the Demon Deacons were left out of the NCAA Tournament picture was because of their lack of Q1 and Q2 wins. The Demon Deacons padded their non-conference schedule with a slew of low NET ranked teams. The matchup between Rutgers and Wake Forest this upcoming season will be an interesting one, and will likely be another crucial test for both teams during the non-conference portion of the schedule. This is a game Rutgers probably needs to win at The RAC to help their tournament resume and NET ranking. Credit Steve Pikiell for scheduling the Demon Deacons and allowing Rutgers to face a quality opponent in the non-conference portion of the schedule. Wake Forest returns some experience and will have a solid program in the 2022-23 season. One small side note, Rutgers and Wake Forest both recruited freshman Bobi Klintman last year and Klintman committed to the Demon Deacons.

Miami Hurricanes

• Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)
• Conference Finish: 4th
• Record: 26-11 overall; 14-6 conference
• Final NET Ranking: 47
• Final Sagarin Rating: 52
• Last Year's Noteworthy Wins: at Duke (76-74); vs Auburn (79-61); UNC (85-57); at Virginia Tech (78-75); vs USC (68-66); vs Iowa State (70-56); at Wake Forest (76-72); vs Wake Forest (92-84)
• NCAA Tournament: Elite Eight, lost to #1 Kansas 70-56
• Series against Rutgers: Miami leads the series against Rutgers 10-6 according to Sports Reference.
• Last meeting: Rutgers def. Miami 57-54 at the Watsco Center in 2018.
• Key Returners/Transfers: Isaiah Wong (15.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.0 apg), Jordan Miller (10 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 apg), Nijel Pack (17.4 ppg, 43.6 3-pt%), Norchad Omier (17.9 ppg, 12.2 rpg)
• Notes: Jim Larranaga will enter his 12th season, and his Hurricanes will be loaded with talent on the roster. This might be the toughest team Rutgers faces in the non-conference schedule. The Hurricanes will likely start four players who averaged scoring in double-digits. Expect the Miami Hurricanes to make another return to the NCAA Tournament and finish near the top of the ACC standings. Miami's most dangerous players are Isaiah Wong, Jordan Miller, Nijel Pack (transfer from Kansas State), and Norchad Omier (transfer from Arkansas State). Rutgers will have to compete for 40 minutes against the Hurricanes and keep this one close if they expect to pull off the upset. Rutgers can ill afford to get off to a slow start and fall behind by double-digits. This is just one of two great opportunities for Rutgers to possibly steal a Q1 win on the road. 

Seton Hall Pirates

• Conference: Big East
• Conference Finish: 6th
• Record: 21-11 overall; 11-8 conference
• Final NET Ranking: 48
• Final Sagarin Rating: 36
• Last Year's Noteworthy Wins: at Michigan (67-65); Texas (64-60); UConn (90-87); Creighton (74-55); at Creighton (65-60)
• NCAA Tournament: First Round, lost to #8 TCU 69-42
• Series against Rutgers: Seton Hall leads the series against Rutgers 36-25 since 1949-50 according to Sports Reference.
• Last meeting: December 12, 2021 - Seton Hall def. Rutgers 77-63 at The Prudential Center.
• Key Returners/Transfers: Kadary Richmond (8.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.1 apg), Alexis Yetna (8.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg), KC Ndefo (10.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg), Al-Amir Dawes (11.3 ppg, 40% 3pt), Femi Odukale (10.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.4 apg) 
• Notes: Kevin Willard left Seton Hall for the head coach position at Maryland. Highly touted Shaheen Holloway who led the 15-seed St. Peter's Peacocks on a miracle run to the Elite 8 in the NCAA Tournament takes over as the Pirates' new head coach. Holloway has picked up some key transfers in the portal and has some experience returning to the roster. The Pirates should be able to re-load for next season and be a threat in the Big East. The matchup between the Scarlet Knights and the Pirates will be pivotal for both teams when they meet in December at The RAC for the Garden State Hardwood Classic.

Temple Owls

• Conference: American Athletic
• Conference Finish: 4th
• Record: 17-12 overall; 10-7 conference
• Final NET Rankings: 111
• Final Sagarin Ratings: 108
• Last Year's Noteworthy Wins: at UCF (66-62); SMU (64-57)
• AAC Tournament: Quarterfinals, lost to Tulane 69-60
• Series against Rutgers: Temple leads the series against Rutgers 32-15 per Sports Reference.
• Last meeting: Temple def. Rutgers 88-82 at Liacouras Center in 2014.
• Key Returners/Transfers: Khalif Battle (24.1 ppg), Damian Dunn (14.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.0 apg)
• Notes: Aaron McKie may have his best team yet next season as Temple returns experience and two major key players, Khalif Battle and Damian Dunn. Temple should finish near the top of the American Athletic Conference, and should be good enough to earn a berth into the NCAA Tournament this upcoming season. When Rutgers and Temple tip off at the Mohegan Sun, this will be an absolute dog fight. Expect Rutgers and Temple to trade punches in this contest. This will probably be one of the most fun and entertaining games of the Rutgers non-conference schedule.

Rider Broncs

• Conference: Metro Atlantic Athletic
• Conference Finish: 9th
• Record: 14-19 overall; 8-12 conference
• Final NET Rankings: 240
• Final Sagarin Ratings: 239
• Last Year's Noteworthy Wins: at St. Peter's (58-49); Monmouth (74-65); vs Iona (71-70)
• MAAC Tournament: Semifinals, lost to Monmouth 72-68.
• Series against Rutgers: Rutgers leads the series against Rider 12-1 per Sports Reference.
• Last meeting: Rutgers def. Rider 68-56 at The RAC in 2012. Rutgers was scheduled to meet with Rider last season but the game was nixed due to COVID-19 issues within the Rutgers program.
• Key Returners/Transfers: Dwight Murray (13.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.7 apg), Allen Powell (12.1 ppg, 2.5 apg), Mervin James (11.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
• Notes: Although both schools are approximately 30 miles apart, Rutgers and Rider will meet just for the 14th time in history. Rider is coming off a 14-19 season and will be looking to stay atop the MAAC for the 2022-23 season. Rider is led by Kevin Baggett who will be entering his 11th season at the helm. Per reporting from The Rider News, at least five players have entered the transfer portal by the end of the 2021-22 season; however, Rider has added a couple high school recruits and transfers, including Tariq Ingraham from Wake Forest and Allen Betrand from Rhode Island. Folks will have to wait and see what impact Ingraham and Betrand may have when they arrive to Lawrenceville.

UMass-Lowell River Hawks

• Conference: America East
• Conference Finish: 8th
• Record: 15-16 overall; 7-11 conference
• Final NET Rankings: 247
• Final Sagarin Ratings: 255
• Last Year's Noteworthy Wins: at George Washington (67-56); at Dayton (59-58)
• America East Tournament: Quarterfinals, lost to UMBC 93-85 OT.
• Series against Rutgers: Rutgers leads the series against UMass-Lowell 1-0 per Sports Reference.
• Last meeting: Rutgers def. UMass-Lowell 89-66 at The RAC in 2015.
• Key Returners/Transfers: Ayinde Hakim (11.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.7 apg), Allin Blunt (11.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
• Notes: Pat Duquette will be entering his 10th season at the helm for the UMass-Lowell River Hawks. Duquette is 110-155 overall at UMass-Lowell. Under his guidance, the River Hawks have been unable to finish better than 5th in the America East Conference. The River Hawks have had very little success since joining the America East. Duquette was able to nab three transfers from the portal including Mikey Watkins (Merrimack), Abdoul Karim Coulibaly (St. Bonaventure), and Yuri Covington (William & Mary). However, the River Hawks lost four players to the transfer portal, most notably Kalil Thomas who averaged 9.0 ppg.

Coppin State Eagles

• Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic
• Conference Finish: 7th
• Record: 9-23 overall; 6-8 conference
• Final NET Ranking: 301
• Final Sagarin Rating: 315
• Last Year's Noteworthy Wins: vs Howard (59-57); vs NC Central (79-73)
• MEAC Tournament: Championship, lost to Norfolk State 72-57
• Series against Rutgers: Rutgers leads the series against Coppin State 1-0.
• Last meeting: Rutgers def. Coppin State 64-39 at The RAC in 2017.
• Key Returners/Transfers: Sam Sessoms (11.6 ppg), Justin Winston (8.7 ppg), Jesse Zarzuela (14.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
• Notes: Juan Dixon enters his 5th season behind the helm at Coppin State. He was able to pick up two key transfers in the offseason, Sam Sessoms and Justin Winston. Sessoms is a familiar face to Rutgers, as the Scarlet Knights have faced him several times when he played at Penn State. Despite landing two key transfers in the portal, the Eagles should be a walk-over for the Scarlet Knights. Expect Coppin State to land near the bottom of the MEAC once again.

Sacred Heart Pioneers

• Conference: Northeast (NEC)
• Conference Finish: 7th
• Record: 10-20 overall; 6-12 conference
• Final NET Rankings: 323
• Final Sagarin Ratings: 313
• Last Year's Noteworthy Wins: at Lafayette (74-67); Long Island (69-65)
• NEC Tournament: Quarterfinals, lost to Long Island 82-75
• Series against Rutgers: Rutgers leads the series against Sacred Heart 4-0 per Sports Reference (since 1949-50).
• Last meeting: Rutgers def. Sacred Heart 86-63 at The RAC in 2020.
• Key Returners/Transfers: Nico Galette (12.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.0 apg)
• Notes: Anthony Latina is coming off another rough campaign with the Pioneers as they 10-20 overall and 6-12 in the NEC. If there were any positives from last season, Sacred Heart was able to reel off wins against LaSalle, Lafayette, and Columbia on the road last year. The Pioneers nabbed an upset conference win against Long Island at home. Sacred Heart ranks near the bottom of the NET Rankings, and play in one of the worst conferences in the country. This is a game Rutgers should not lose, especially at home. There is a little bit of turnover on the roster as the Pioneers lost three players to the transfer portal, including their most productive scorers in Aaron Clarke and Tyler Thomas. Both Thomas and Clarke averaged more than 16 ppg. Latina is bringing in three transfers in the portal including Brendan McGuire (Quinnipiac), Raheem Solomon (Niagara), and Aidan Carpenter (Siena). How much production Latina gets out of his three incoming transfers remains to be seen. Sacred Heart returns 11 letterwinners and a several starters, according to SacredHeartPioneers.com.

Bucknell Bison

• Conference: Patriot League
• Conference Finish: 10th
• Record: 9-23 overall; 5-13 conference
• Final NET Rankings: 334
• Final Sagarin Ratings: 322
• Last Year's Noteworthy Wins: Rider (81-74); Siena (65-65); Boston (89-78)
• Patriot League Tournament: Quarterfinals, lost to Colgate 96-68
• Series against Rutgers: Rutgers leads the series against Bucknell 18-6 per Sports Reference (since 1949-50).
• Last meeting: Rutgers def. Bucknell 78-48 at The RAC in 2000.
• Key Returners/Transfers: Xander Rice (13.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.9 apg), Andre Screen (11.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg)
• Notes: There isn't much to talk about last season when it comes to Bucknell basketball.  The Bison had a brutal campaign last season after finishing with a total of 9 wins overall and finished at the bottom of the Patriot League. Bison head coach Nathan Davis is in rebuild mode as he tries to get his Bison back into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Last season was the worst finish for the Bison since Davis took over the program in 2015. Davis has a young team but loses three players to the transfer portal, most notably Andrew Funk. Funk averaged over 17 ppg and has committed to Penn State. Davis was able to grab Jack Forrest (St. Joseph's) from the portal. The good news for the Bison, Xander Rice and Andre Screen will be returning. Rice averaged 32.5 minutes per game and 13.1 ppg, while big man Screen averaged 11.4 ppg and 6.5 boards per game.

Central Connecticut State Blue Devils

• Conference: Northeast Conference
• Conference Finish: 9th
• Record: 8-24 overall; 5-13 conference
• Final NET Rankings: 345
• Final Sagarin Ratings: 348
• Last Year's Noteworthy Wins: Long Island (65-62)
• NEC Tournament: Quarterfinals, lost to Bryant 73-59
• Series against Rutgers: Rutgers leads the series against Central Connecticut State 4-0 per Sports Reference.
• Last meeting: Rutgers def. Central Connecticut State 79-48 at The RAC in 2021.
• Key Returners/Transfers: Nigel Scantlebury (13.4 ppg, 3.5 apg)
• Notes: Patrick Sellars arrived last year to Central Connecticut State with a massive rebuild on his hands. The Blue Devils ranked near the bottom of the NET last year and were only able to win 8 games last season. The Blue Devils return several starters and picked up a transfers Kellen Amos (Binghamton) and Brody Limric (Quinnipiac). The outlook for the Blue Devils looks grim as they should repeat near the bottom of the Northeast Conference.

Columbia Lions

• Conference: Ivy League
• Conference Finish: 8th
• Record: 4-22 overall; 1-13 conference
• Final NET Rankings: 351
• Final Sagarin Ratings: 345
• Last Year's Noteworthy Wins: Penn (73-69)
• Ivy League Tournament: Did not qualify
• Series against Rutgers: Rutgers leads the series against Columbia 21-17 per Sports Reference (since 1949-50).
• Last meeting: Rutgers def. Columbia 68-65 at The RAC in 2018.
• Key Returners/Transfers: Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (12.3 ppg, 3.2 apg), Liam Murphy 12.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
• Notes: Jim Engles might be feeling the heat in New York as the Columbia Lions finished a dismal season with only 4 total wins and dead last in the Ivy League. Engles is 39-99 since taking over Columbia in 2016. The Lions finished with one of the worst NET Rankings in the country (351 out of 358). The Lions lost Ike Nweke to the transfer portal, one of their most productive players. Nweke averaged 15.9 ppg and 6.3 rpg. Nweke committed to Quinnipiac. Engles was able to bring in four new freshman recruits. There has not been much turnover on the roster as Columbia returns Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa and Liam Murphy, both players who averaged more than 12 ppg.

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have scheduled their 11 non-conference opponents. Rutgers fans will have plenty of opportunities to see the Scarlet Knights tip off at home this upcoming season as nine of the eleven non-conference games will be played at The RAC. The two remaining non-conference games will be played on the road, including one at a neutral site.

The scheduling philosophy has been tweaked just a little bit this year, as Rutgers will play four high major non-conference opponents as compared to last season when Rutgers only faced two quality opponents (Seton Hall and Clemson). Also, Rutgers will play its first neutral court non-conference game since Rutgers tipped off against St. Bonaventure in Toronto, Canada in 2019. This is all encouraging news and gives Rutgers four chances at snagging quality wins.

The Scarlet Knights will host the Seton Hall Pirates on December 11th at The RAC, and this could possibly be a Q1/Q2 opportunity for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers will also host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, who are expected to be a solid program in the ACC this year. When the Demon Deacons come to Piscataway, they could possibly be a Q1 opponent but likely a Q2 opponent. These are two quality opportunities for Rutgers to seize to help improve their NET ranking. Last year, surprisingly Rutgers was an astonishing 7-7 against Q1 opponents; however, the Scarlet Knights were just 2-4 against Q2 opponents.

The Scarlet Knights will travel to Coral Gables and face the Miami Hurricanes on November 30th in the annual Big Ten-ACC Challenge. This will be Rutgers third trip to Coral Gables in 6 years. Assuredly, this will be a Q1 opportunity for the Scarlet Knights. If Rutgers were able to pull off the upset of Miami this upcoming season, it will significantly help boost Rutgers' tournament resume and NET ranking. 

For the first time since 2019, Rutgers will play a neutral site game in their non-conference slate against the Temple Owls. Despite the Owls finishing 111 in the NET Rankings last season, Temple will be a much more improved team in 2022, and this could potentially be a Q2 opportunity for the Scarlet Knights. It definitely helps the Scarlet Knights that they are playing a quality opponent on a neutral court (Mohegan Sun in CT). Neutral court victories are viewed as valuable to the NET Rankings.

Overall, Rutgers fans have a lot to look forward to when the Scarlet Knights tip off against four quality opponents this upcoming season. These are all great opportunities for Rutgers to help bolster its tournament resume. Last year, fans were on edge because of head scratching losses to low level non-conference opponents and the lack of quality non-conference opponents on their schedule. Rutgers' non-conference strength of schedule rating was 255th in the country. It was the improbable run the Scarlet Knights went on through the Big Ten gauntlet in February that helped them bolster their tournament resume and to eventually earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Listen, we know Rutgers fans want this team to play more high major non-conference opponents, but it is ridiculous to expect Rutgers to play against high major opponents for a good chunk of their non-conference schedule. The Scarlet Knights already play in the toughest conference in the country filled with high major opponents. However, it might have been more beneficial if Rutgers had scheduled a couple more high mid-major programs on the non-conference docket rather than fill the rest of their schedule with potential Q4 opponents.

Despite playing a few more quality opponents this season, Rutgers did continue the trend of playing low-level opponents. Of the seven contests against low-level opponents, at least five opponents were NET rated 301 or worse. One can say Rutgers scheduled games against low-level opponents because Coach Pikiell may want to test different lineups and play certain players to see what fits best in his rotations when the Big Ten Conference schedule arrives. Although this may be true, Rutgers will have to learn its lesson from last year and avoid any catastrophic losses at home. 

All too often last season, Rutgers allowed low-level opponents to hang around and keep games close, and somehow Rutgers managed to lose to a few low-level opponents, including Lafayette and UMass. The embarrassing loss to the Lafayette Leopards, who were NET rated 319 last season, left a major stain on Rutgers' tournament resume, and if it were not for the improbable run we mentioned earlier, the Scarlet Knights probably would not have made the NCAA Tournament. Rutgers nearly lost to the Lehigh Mountain Hawks in their season opener, which would have been another devastating blow to the team's resume. Following the game against Lehigh, Rutgers had to battle toe-to-toe with the Merrimack Warriors before pulling ahead late in the game for the victory.

There is almost no benefit for Rutgers scheduling low-level opponents in the non-conference schedule. A win over a 300+ NET rated team does not bolster Rutgers' resume or NET ranking. It is likely all seven of their non-conference games against low-level competition will be Q4 matchups. These are the games Rutgers must avoid losing at all costs, especially because the games at home. A home loss to a Q4 opponent would be a devastating blow to Rutgers' tournament resume. It is also likely the NCAA Tournament Committee may not be as forgiving to Rutgers as they were last year. Rutgers will have to remain focused and determined to win all of their games against their low-level competition.

It would be a dream come true if Rutgers were to finish the non-conference portion of their schedule undefeated but it is not likely. Rutgers fans can expect the Scarlet Knights to probably finish 9-2 or 10-1 in the non-conference slate, with at most two losses to two of the four high major opponents. In a very early projection, RHI predicts the Scarlet Knights to win and lose the following non-conference games:

• Miami Hurricanes (Away, Q1), L
• Wake Forest Forest Demon Decons (Home, Q2), W
• Seton Hall Pirates (Home, Q2), W
• Temple Owls (Neutral, Q2), L
• Rider Broncs (Home, Q4), W
• UMass-Lowell River Hawks (Home, Q4), W
• Coppin State Eagles (Home, Q4), W
• Sacred Heart Pioneers (Home, Q4), W
• Bucknell Bison (Home, Q4), W
• Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (Home, Q4), W
• Columbia Lions (Home, Q4), W