Preview & Keys to the Game: Bucknell at Rutgers (December 23, 2022)

 

photo courtesy of NJ Advance Media

Bucknell (7-5) at Rutgers (7-4, 1-1)

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 23^rd (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.

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: Rutgers vs. Temple (November 18, 2022)

 

photo courtesy of Getty Images

Rutgers (3-0) vs Temple (1-2)

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are coming off three straight early season victories and five days of rest as they prepare to battle the Temple Owls (1-2) at the Mohegan Sun in Montville, CT (5 PM ET, ESPNU). They are about to face unpredictable Temple team as the Owls have a strange start to their season. The Owls dropped their season opener to Wagner but rebounded with a stunning victory over inner city rival and then-16th ranked Villanova last week. This past Tuesday, Temple hosted Vanderbilt and lost in overtime. In what has been deemed as one of Aaron McKie's best teams, Temple has two key players that can shoot and score quickly. Damian Dunn and Khalif Battle are leading the way for the Owls, and Rutgers is going to have to pay extra attention in shutting them down. Temple will be Rutgers' first true test of the season, and this is the first neutral site affair for the Scarlet Knights since November 2019 when they dropped a contest to St. Bonaventure.

In our season preview for Rutgers, we listed the Rutgers-Temple matchup as the first "key game" of the season for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers will surely be tested tonight, and the Scarlet Knights might be without key players Caleb McConnell and Paul Mulcahy due to injuries. How will Rutgers will play without two of its best players? How do the Rutgers plan to guard Dunn and Battle? Can Cam Spencer and Derek Simpson step up and help deliver solid performances and lead the Scarlet Knights to victory?

KEYS TO THE GAME

• Defend the perimeter - Damian Dunn is a red hot 58% from beyond the arc, and if Rutgers is going to have success defensively they must shut down Dunn along the perimeter. Whoever is going to guard Dunn is going to have to force him into taking difficult, contested shots. Last year the Scarlet Knights were very successful in shutting down some of the Big Ten Conference's most prolific scorers but that task was usually given to Caleb McConnell. If Caleb McConnell is a no-go for tonight, one of the Rutgers' guards will have to step up. Other Temple players to defend along the perimeter include Khalif Battle and Zach Hicks.
• Get the ball down low to Cliff - Temple doesn't have the best interior defense and Rutgers should exploit the Owls by feeding the ball down low to Cliff Omoruyi, and let the big guy go to work on Jamille Reynolds. This is a game where Cliff has to takeover in the paint.
• Fast start, smartly build lead - Rutgers has to get off to a fast start and not fall behind early. Rutgers has to take smart high percentage shots and move possession quickly on the fast break. If Rutgers can do these things and build a lead, they must find ways to sustain their lead. 
• Pound the paint - Just like feeding the ball to Cliff, Rutgers has to pound the paint. Aundre Hyatt and Mawot Mag need to get involved and stay involved. Find ways to drive the lane to draw fouls early. Rutgers has proven that it can shoot at a high percentage from the charity stripe.
• Simpson and Spencer must step up - Simpson and Spencer are expected to be the floor generals and they have to make smart decisions. Find ways to score on the floor and distribute the ball among the team.

Keys to the Game: Sacred Heart at Rutgers (November 10, 2022)

 

photo courtesy of NJ Advance Media

Sacred Heart (1-0) at Rutgers (1-0)

After demolishing Columbia 75-35 on Monday this past week, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will host the Sacred Heart Pioneers at The RAC on Thursday, November 10th at 7 PM ET (BTN+). Sacred Heart will be a little bit of a step up in competition as they are currently rated 294 in the KenPom Rankings. Sacred Heart recently defeated the Division III bound Hartford Hawks 77-70 in their opening game of the season this past Tuesday. Sacred Heart saw four players score in double-digits against Hartford, including G Joey Reilly tallying a team best 23 points.

Last year the Pioneers finished 10-20 overall and 6-12 in the Northeast Conference. Sacred Heart's final NET ranking was 323 and the Pioneers did not post a single noteworthy win last year. Rutgers leads the all-time series 4-0 against Sacred Heart, and last defeated the Pioneers 86-63 in 2020. The Pioneers also lost several key scorers to the transfer portal this past off-season; however, Pioneer coach Anthony Latina is bringing in three transfers, Brendan McGuire (Quinnipiac), Raheem Solomon (Niagara), and Aidan Carpenter (Siena) to fill that void.

This is a game Rutgers should be favored heavily to win, and the talent gap between the Scarlet Knights and Pioneers is not even close. Rutgers also has more experience and athleticism. Historically speaking though, Rutgers should not take teams like Sacred Heart lightly and should remained focused and determined to win. Sacred Heart will be a Q4 opponent for the Scarlet Knights.

KEYS TO THE GAME

• No slow starts, keep your foot on the gas - Just like in the game against Columbia this past week, Rutgers needs to replicate the same start and get off to a hot one. If Rutgers can build its lead early, it should give confidence for the rest of the team. Rutgers needs to be able to manage the lead and distance themselves early from the Pioneers and not allow them to come back. In Monday's game against Columbia, Rutgers got off to a 21-5 start but only for Columbia to inch back into the game making it 25-21 at one point. Rutgers was able to reel off a 6-0 run to close the half with a 31-21 lead. If Rutgers jumps out to a big lead early on, they need to continue do what works by making high percentage shots, limit turnovers, and not to force anything. 
• Get Spencer going early - Cam Spencer played an incredible second half against Columbia and nailed shot after shot, ultimately finishing with 17 points. If Rutgers can get Spencer going in the 1st half and he can continue to stay hot, there's no stopping him. Not only can Spencer shoot but he plays tough defense and can nab some steals. On a day McConnell will likely not play, Spencer can help fill that void.
• Feed the beast - Rutgers needs to get the ball down low to Cliff Omoruyi and let the big guy go to work on an inferior team. Work to create good looks for Omoruyi to jam the ball and draw screens to free him up to shoot from the top of the key. Cliff's game has improved vastly and Rutgers needs to take full advantage.
• Bench production - Rutgers did not nearly see as much bench production as they would like to have seen against Columbia, but when those bench players come into the game on Thursday, they have to capitalize, make shots, and not foul. Rutgers may have to rely on a tight 8-man rotation but if someone else from the bench can step up, it adds another dimension to the game.
• Shut down Reilly - Joey Reilly proved on Tuesday that he is going to be one of the go-to guys on Sacred Heart as he nailed 5 of 7 three-point shots and was 9 of 12 from the field against Hartford. Rutgers is going to have to protect the perimeter on defense and guard Reilly real tight.
• Get Mag and Hyatt involved - Both players appeared to have really improved since last season as Mawot Mag and Aundre Hyatt scored in double figures on Monday. Hyatt was able to nab a double-double with 10 rebounds and 12 points. If these guys continue to produce like they did in the game on Monday, they are bound for an incredible year. Rutgers truly needs these two warriors to produce in double figures once again.

8 key games for upcoming season

 

photo courtesy of the Associated Press

What are the Rutgers Scarlet Knights' most critical games for their upcoming season?

KEY GAMES

• November 18, vs Temple Owls at Mohegan Sun - If Rutgers can get to November 18th unscathed, the Scarlet Knights should be riding high with confidence but they must not underestimate a pesky Temple Owls basketball team. This will be the Scarlet Knights' first real test of the season. Aaron McKie is projected to have his best team yet with prolific scorer Khalif Battle returning to the lineup. The match up with Temple is a great opportunity for Rutgers to nab a neutral floor victory and help their NET ranking.
• November 30, at Miami Hurricanes - Many will expect the Scarlet Knights to be 6-0 by the time they tipoff against Miami in late November. This will be the first true road game of the season for Rutgers, and they have a huge opportunity to pick up a Q1 win. Miami will be loaded offensively with lots of talent.
• December 3, Indiana Hoosiers - What a way to start of a Big Ten conference game! Rutgers hosts the preseason favorites Indiana Hoosiers in what will already be a critical game in the early part of the season. If Rutgers can deliver a one-two punch to the highly-rated Hoosiers, Rutgers could potentially be off to one of its best starts in several years. A win like this could set the tone for the rest of the season.
• December 11, Seton Hall Pirates - Rutgers hosts its bitter rivals in the Garden State Hardwood Classic, and it's a game the Scarlet Knights do not want to lose. The game is at The RAC. The crowd is going to be insane. The atmosphere is going to be intense. New Jersey better get ready for an epic showdown. A win over Seton Hall will surely give the Scarlet Knights a potential Q1/Q2 victory.
• January 5, Maryland Terrapins - The Scarlet Knights welcome back Kevin Willard to The RAC! Maryland has been one of the few teams to have success winning at The RAC and Rutgers will want to end that trend quickly.
• February 4, vs Michigan State Spartans - Rutgers has had the upper hand in the last two seasons against Michigan State with blowout victories. Michigan State will be much improved and this time around the game will be much closer. Although listed as a home game for Rutgers, the February 4th battle will be at Madison Square Garden, which unfortunately takes away the homecourt advantage of The RAC. Expect Spartans fans and Scarlet Knights fans to turn out in numbers for this classic battle in the heart of Manhattan. 
• February 23, Michigan Wolverines - This game is going to be in front of a wild crowd that might blow the roof off The RAC. Last year, things got a little heated in the handshake line after the game and expect the temperature of this game to rise. This will be a very important game concerning the standings in the Big Ten.
• February 26, at Penn State Nittany Lions - Not sure if this game could be a trap game for the Scarlet Knights, but it will be an important one between the two rivals. Rutgers and Penn State have shared some epic physical battles the last couple of seasons. Rutgers may need this win towards the end of the season to stay atop the Big Ten standings.

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.