Q&A with JBR Bracketology

Selection Sunday is only a month away, and only a few teams from the college basketball landscape have locked in their bids for the NCAA Tournament while others are fighting for their lives to get into the tournament.

The Big Ten Conference is one of the most competitive leagues from top to bottom and are projected to land as many as eight teams in the field, maybe even nine. However, there is certainly a lot of basketball left in the regular season for teams to make a run and cover lost ground. There is also enough basketball left for teams to have an utter catastrophic collapse at the end of the regular season.

Once the regular season is over, the conference tournaments begin, and bid stealers lurk in the shadows and the most unlikely upsets occur.

You can just feel the anxiety and nervousness amongst the fan bases. 

That's why I've decided to reach out to bracketology expert Jason R. of JBR Bracketology. Jason explains the hard work that goes into creating a bracket, and the specific data he analyzes when selecting teams. Jason also answers my questions about what Rutgers needs to do to ensure a bid into the NCAA Tournament and what possible seed they can achieve. I also asked a few questions about other teams in the Big Ten and where do they project to land in the field, as well as some of the perceived bubble teams in the Big Ten.

Please follow and support JBR Bracketology on Twitter @ JBRBracketology. Jason updates his brackets every few days during the week.

 

Rutgers Hoops Insider (RHI): Jason, thanks for taking some time out of your day today to do a Q&A with me. You’re a 2015 Maryland graduate and have been following college basketball for as long as you can remember. You told me Maryland’s national championship in 2002 fueled your passion for college hoops at a very young age. Over the last four years, you’ve taken up an interest in bracketology and call it JBR Bracketology. So, I think it would be appropriate as my first question to ask why did you take up an interest in doing your own bracketology?

Jason R. (JBR): Thanks for having me! I first started bracketology during the 2020 season. Maryland was a top 10 team most of the season and I just kept feeling like the Terps were being disrespected by bracketologists, as the Big Ten was the #1 conference that season per KenPom. So I was curious to see what they were seeing, what was holding the Terps back.

RHI: In last year’s NCAA Tournament, you selected 67 out of 68 teams correctly, and at least had 66 out of 68 teams seeded within +/-1 seed line for a total score of 357. Is there a magic formula you use when selecting teams? What rankings and metrics do you pay most attention to when it comes to selecting teams? What truly goes into building a bracket?

JBR: I had two real misses last year – one was including Texas A&M over Notre Dame, and the other was seeding Colgate as a 16 when the committee had them as a 14 seed. The Texas A&M snub served as a reminder how little the committee takes the final two days of conference tournaments into account. Colgate was a silly one to get wrong, but have tweaked my formula to better account for the mid to low major AQs and what the committee is looking for. I am proud of the fact that every single at large team I had seeded exactly correct or one seed line off. Following Selection Sunday, I spent several hours combing through the data to make changes for this year to be as accurate as I can be when matching what the committee is looking for!

In terms of a secret formula, I have always been very analytical. I love my spreadsheets, I love math, I love using numbers. In other words – yes, I do use a secret formula. When I first started back in 2020, I was obviously new and had a tough time figuring out how to adjust the weights for quad records, the NET, the resume metrics, the predictive metrics etc. to best match the committee. It’s a growing process and I make changes all the time. Most of them now are pretty minor, but being adaptable is key. The categories I look at are weighted record (different weights for wins by Quad), weighed win percentage, Quad 1A wins, wins over projected 1 or 2 seeds, NET, KPI, SOR, KenPom, Sagarin, BPI and Non-Conference SOS. They are all weighted differently, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is always going to be quality wins.

RHI: I’ve noticed you have had many constructive debates and conversations with many bracketologists, and sometimes you’ve been critical of some bracketologists. What do you think separates yourself from some of the other bracketologists, and why do you think your bracket this year will be more accurate than most other bracketologists?

JBR: Haha, yes, I do love some occasional friendly banter. One of the things I think I excel at in this field is eliminating bias. Because my seeding is almost entirely formulaic, it reduces the chances that I let my own personal bias influence where a team is seeded. Now obviously, my formula is dictated by my own mathematical inputs and various weights I put on each category, but me disliking Duke isn’t going to change where my formula has them. As an example, I am pretty sure my formula has been lower on Maryland than Bracket Matrix/ consensus for weeks now. But that’s ok. I’m not necessarily trying to make friends here, just trying to display what I honestly think committee would do.

RHI: I wanted to shift gears and turn our attention to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Big Ten Conference. I’m going to get straight to the point and ask you, how many teams from the Big Ten are going to make the tournament this year? Which teams?

JBR: I will say Big Ten gets 8 bids. Northwestern all but secured their spot with a massive win over Purdue. I could see Wisconsin or Michigan earning the league's 9th bid, but I think the chances of that are low with each of them dropping key games this weekend.

RHI: You have the Purdue Boilermakers as the number 1 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament in your latest projections. Alabama has been playing incredible basketball all year, do you think the Crimson Tide could dethrone the Boilermakers? If not Alabama, is there anyone else that can grab the number 1 spot?

JBR: Well, I think that will be switched already with Purdue falling to Northwestern as I type this. Alabama will move to #1, while Purdue will drop to #2. In terms of other teams capable of earning the #1 overall seed, I would say the winner of the Big 12 – Kansas or Texas, just because they will have an insane number of Quad 1 (and Quad 1A) wins.

RHI: Rutgers (21 in NET) is coming off a very difficult week. They had a big win over Michigan State at The Garden just about over a week ago, but they lost their key defensive starter Mawot Mag to an ACL tear in the process. Then Rutgers followed the Michigan State victory with two road losses to two very good teams in Indiana (Q1) and Illinois (Q1). Where do you have Rutgers in the field in your next update?

JBR: My next update will come out Monday afternoon. There were a lot of teams around Rutgers that lost this weekend, but I would expect Rutgers to come in as a low end 7 seed, if not the top 8 seed. The loss of Mawot Mag hurts, and we have now seen Rutgers go 0-2 without him, albeit against high level competition on the road.

RHI: Rutgers only has six games left in the regular season. In your opinion, what does Rutgers have to do to get back on the 5/6-seed line? At a minimum, what does Rutgers have to do to earn a single digit seed in the tournament?

JBR: To earn a single digit seed, I think Rutgers just needs to finish 3-3. To get back to the 5/6 line where they were before the Indiana & Illinois losses, they probably need to go 5-1. Currently, just one of their final 6 games are Quad 1 (2/26 @ Penn State). If Rutgers finishes 4-2, they probably end up with a 7 seed. Of course, none of this happens in a vacuum. What the other teams around them do matters as well.

RHI: Wisconsin (73 in NET) and Penn State (62 in NET) are two teams that started off the season in great shape. Now, both teams are on the verge of collapse and are desperate to save their seasons. You had Wisconsin as one of your “First Four Out”, where are the Badgers now after their epic collapse against Nebraska on Saturday? Is Penn State still in the bubble conversation after losing their 4^th in a row? What do both teams have to do to get back in the conversation?

JBR: As I stated previously, my next update will come out Monday afternoon. The bubble had a *rough* Saturday, my guess is Wisconsin roughly stays in the same spot, as a member of the first four out, but maybe a couple spots closer to the next four out. Penn State following their loss to Maryland is going to have a really tough time making the tournament at this point. Good news is Penn State still has five Quad 1 games remaining. Win at least 3 of those, and they will at least be close. Win four and they’re probably a lock to earn an at large bid. But that is much easier said than done.

RHI: Maryland has been surging lately but they have been gifted a lighter conference schedule than most other Big Ten teams. By season’s end they will have played the Big Ten’s bottom tier teams twice (Nebraska, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Wisconsin). Maryland is 3-8 against Q1 opponents and they have only one Big Ten road win all season, which was against Minnesota, yet the Terps have a NET Ranking of 28. You currently have Maryland in the field as a 9-seed. The Terps close out the season against Purdue (home), Nebraska (away), Minnesota (home), Northwestern (home), Ohio State (away), and Penn State (away). What does Maryland have to do down the stretch to improve its seed? What is the worst case for scenario?

JBR: Terps likely jump to an 8 seed with their win over Penn State. But Maryland is still lacking an elite win. They have three Quad 1 wins, which is pretty good, but none of them are Quad 1A. To get to the 5 or 6 line, Maryland will either need to knock off Purdue or win at least 2 of their remaining road games - @ Nebraska, @ Ohio State, @ Penn State. Most likely scenario for Maryland I think is a 7 or 8 seed. Worst case scenario would be dropping down to bubble/ last four in.

RHI: Michigan has been a strange team no one’s been able to figure out. They have a couple head scratching losses but they also have some very impressive wins. Michigan is currently 14-11 overall, and 8-6 in the Big Ten with a NET Ranking of 64. Is Michigan in the bubble conversation? Should we dismiss Michigan from any tournament chatter? What do you think Michigan has to do to get into the tournament?

JBR: I wouldn’t dismiss Michigan, they do still have talent and are always a tough out. But that loss to Indiana on Saturday really hurt their at large chances. Currently 14-11, the Wolverines likely need to finish 5-1 to be a lock. 4-2 would get them close. 3-3 or worse, and Michigan will need to win Big Ten Tournament to earn a bid.

RHI: Give us your final prediction on Rutgers in their next six games, and where do you think they will land in the field on Selection Sunday.

JBR: I will say Rutgers finished 21-10 (13-7) and earns a 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Feel free to follow me on Twitter - @JBRBracketology! Love talking college basketball with fellow Big Ten fans.

RHI: Jason, thanks again. It was a great conversation and hopefully we can do it again soon.

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.

Rutgers defeats Michigan State at The Garden

 

photo courtesy of Rutgers Athletics

Rutgers triumphant over Michigan State at the World's Most Famous Arena

by Richard Kent, Contributor

NEW YORK, NY -  Rutgers defeated Michigan State 61-55 at Madison Square Garden to improve to 16-7 overall on the season, and 8-4 in the Big Ten. Now, the Scarlet Knights undisputedly hold onto second place, and inched closer to a second straight double-bye for the  Big Ten Tournament at the United Center in Chicago, which takes place March 8-12.

Michigan State led 25-19 at the half, but Rutgers responded and outscored the Spartans by 12 in the second half to secure the win. Paul Mulcahy led the Scarlet Knights in scoring with 17 points, while Cliff Omoruyi had 15 points and 12 boards. Caleb McConnell and Paul Mulcahy also combined for 7 steals. The win avenged a 70-57 loss to Michigan State at the Breslin Center on January 19.

In yesterday's meeting, Rutgers did a much better job shutting down Michigan State's offense. When both teams met in January, the Spartans shot 12-of-22 from 3-point range, but yesterday Rutgers limited the Spartans to 4-of-19 from deep.

Two other major storylines developed and might become just as significant as the win itself. With six and a half minutes left in the first half, defensive stalwart Mawot Mag went down with what appeared to be a knee injury. Mag grimaced in pain and never returned to the game. In the first half through 13 minutes of play, Mag was the leading scorer for Rutgers with 7 points. He is scheduled to meet with doctors today for a further evaluation of his knee.

The attendance at Madison Square Garden was the other significant storyline. About 14,844 fans were announced at the game, and easily 80% of the total attendance were clad in Scarlet. Anyone questioning whether Rutgers should play at least one game per year at the world’s most famous arena or questioning whether Rutgers would travel in numbers as well as any other team to Madison Square Garden is way off base. Yes, that includes the traveling contingents from UConn, Duke, and Syracuse. Rutgers fans showed up and made themselves heard.

There were more than 50 members from the media at yesterday's game, and many of them were national writers. If the game had been held at Jersey Mike's Arena, there probably would have been no more than 15 members of the media at the game.

Rutgers Should Consider a Future Non-Conference Game at MSG

In 2020, the Jimmy V Classic had scheduled Rutgers to face off against then ranked #1 Baylor at Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately, the game was scrapped due to COVID-19 and logistics. Since then Rutgers has not been considered for the Jimmy V Classic, but maybe the Jimmy V Classic should reconsider having Rutgers participate after yesterday's massive turnout. After all, Rutgers is New York City's team.

Rutgers should also show interest in trying to schedule a worthy non-conference foe to play at Madison Square Garden. A game that could ignite The Garden more than any in the future would be a Rutgers-UConn matchup; however, for a number of reasons that game will probably not happen unless the two meet at an NCAA Tournament game. 

A close source to the program shared that a Rutgers-Providence game at Mohegan Sun was considered for this season, but never developed; however, a future Rutgers-Providence matchup at The Garden could be another attractive non-conference matchup that would certainly put fans in the stands.

BRACKETOLOGY: Where is Rutgers projected to land in the field of 68?

 

image courtesy of the NCAA

Where is Rutgers projected to land in the 2023 NCAA Tournament?

Let's Talk About the Resume

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are off to one of their most impressive seasons under Steve Pikiell. The Scarlet Knights are current 16-7 overall, 8-4 in the Big Ten, and remain in the top four of the conference standings. Rutgers owns a number of quality wins including their upset 65-64 upset of #1 Purdue in early January for the second year in a row. Rutgers also has a  combined Q1/2 record of 7-6 which is another upside for them in terms of the NET. The Scarlet Knights are currently ranked 19 in the NET Rankings.

Currently, Rutgers is 3-4 against Q1 opponents but they also own quality victories over Purdue, Indiana, and Northwestern. The victories over Purdue and Indiana might be the most impressive for Rutgers on the season. The Scarlet Knights beat Purdue on the road and beat Indiana by 15 points. Rutgers' losses to Q1 teams have been relatively close as their largest defeat was to Michigan State in mid-January by the score of 70-57.

The Scarlet Knights have a solid 5-2 record against Q2 opponents. Rutgers owns victories over Michigan State, Maryland, Ohio State, Wake Forest, and Penn State. It should be noted that of the five Q2 wins by Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights beat Maryland by 14, Penn State by 20, and Wake Forest by 24. Beating Q2 teams by that many points is highly impressive.

Rutgers is currently 1-1 against Q3 opponents. As of right now, the only glaring loss on Rutgers' resume is a 72-66 neutral floor defeat to Temple back in mid-November when Rutgers was missing two key starters. However, this is may change as the Temple Owls have been surging in the NET Rankings and the loss may bump to a Q2 loss for Rutgers. Temple is currently 115 in the NET, and for the game to become a Q2 loss, the Owls would have to rank 100 or better. The Scarlet Knights face two more Q3 opponents on the season to include a home game against Nebraska (2/14) and an away game against Minnesota (3/2).

This year's team has avoided all of the landmines on their schedule. In fact, Rutgers is beating Q4 opponents by 30 points or more, which helps to boost their ranking in the NET. This past week the Scarlet Knights waxed the Minnesota Golden Gophers at The RAC, 90-55. This victory accounts for the largest margin of victory over a conference foe for Rutgers since joining the Big Ten.

The Metrics

The metrics are definitely trending in Rutgers favor as the Scarlet Knights are rated the 2nd best team in the country for defensive efficiency, according to KenPom. Although, their defense is rated 2nd in the land, the Scarlet Knights offense is not too bad as they rank 121st for offensive efficiency. 

It really has been the elite defense by Rutgers that has helped them garner big wins. Rutgers is currently 8-0 in the Big Ten when holding opponents under 65 points. Overall, the Scarlet Knights are also 16-1 when holding opponents under 65 points for the season.

Across several major college basketball metrics heavy web sites, Rutgers ranks within the Top 20 in the country. 

• KenPom - 14
• Sagarin - 17
• Torvik - 16
• Haslametrics - 20
• ESPN BPI - 9

The Remaining Schedule

The remaining schedule for Rutgers tends to lighten up after a very difficult week that lies ahead. Rutgers faces a tough test when they travel on Tuesday to Bloomington, IN to face the Indiana Hoosiers. Then Rutgers travels to Champaign, IL next Saturday to face the Illinois Fighting Illini. These two games are probably Rutgers stiffest challenges that remain on their schedule. Both games will be opportunities for Rutgers to pick up Q1 victories.

If Rutgers were to win both games this week against Indiana and Illinois, the Scarlet Knights would put themselves well into the driver's seat for a 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament barring any collapses towards the end of the season. A 4-seed for Rutgers would be a protected seed and the Rutgers would likely play in Albany, NY in the 1st Round of the NCAA Tournament. 

If Rutgers were to split this upcoming week, they are still in very solid position to possibly earn a protected 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Again, barring any bad losses towards the end of the season.

If Rutgers finishes this week at 0-2 but win majority of their remaining games on the season, the Scarlet Knights are probably looking at a 5/6-seed in the NCAA Tournament, and will succumb to the committee's decision of where they play in the 1st Round for the NCAA Tournament.

Bart Torvik and KenPom projects Rutgers to finish 21-10 overall, and 13-7 in the Big Ten. Torvik also gives Rutgers a 47% chance to win in Bloomington, and a 49% chance to win in Champaign. 

Rutgers is favored to win in all of their games after the games against Indiana and Illinois.

Remaining Schedule:

• 2/7, at Indiana (Q1, 22)
• 2/11, at Illinois (Q1, 25)
• 2/14, Nebraska (Q3, 99)
• 2/18, at Wisconsin (Q1, 68)
• 2/23, Michigan (Q2, 71)
• 2/26, at Penn State (Q31, 54)
• 3/2, at Minnesota (Q3, 224)
• 3/5, Northwestern (Q2, 57)

What do the Bracketologists Think About Rutgers?

According to BracketMatrix.com, Rutgers has appeared in 90 brackets and are averaging a 5-seed. Bart Torvik is the only analyst that projects Rutgers to land a potential 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Torvik also gives Rutgers a 99.1% chance of making the NCAA Tournament. JBR Bracketology gives Rutgers the lowest seed of the many bracketologists. JBR Bracketology projects Rutgers to land in the field of 68 as a 7-seed.

• Brad Wachtel of Facts and Bracks projects Rutgers to be a 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament. He has Rutgers potentially facing 12-seed Kent State in Albany, NY. Brad is one of the highest rated and most accurate bracketologists, according to BracketMatrix.com.
• Jonathon Warriner of Making the Madness projects Rutgers as a 5-seed in the East Region in Albany, NY. He has Rutgers potentially facing 12-seed Southern Mississippi.
• Mike Decourcy of FOX Sports projects Rutgers as a 5-seed in the Midwest Region. Decourcy has Rutgers potentially playing the 12-seed winner of the First Four game between Oklahoma State and Arizona State in Orlando, FL. Of the major sports networks, Mike Decourcy is a highly-rated bracketologist and has been very accurate over the last couple of years, according to BracketMatrix.com.
• ESPN's Joe Lunardi projects Rutgers to be in the NCAA Tournament as a 5-seed playing in the West Region and potentially facing 12-seed Oral Roberts in Albany, NY. Joe Lunardi is one of the more popular bracketologists in college basketball, but receives lower scores and ratings according to BracketMatrix.com.
• JBR Bracketology projects Rutgers to land in the NCAA Tournament as a 7-seed potentially facing 10-seed NC State in Denver, CO. 

** UPDATE - As of 2/5, Maryland is now a Q1 victory for Rutgers. The Terrapins moved up to 28th in the recent edition of the NET Rankings. The NET Rankings were updated after this article was written.**

Q&A with Camden Markel of The Daily Targum

A lot has transpired over the last couple of weeks for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball program, including huge commitments from a few highly rated Rutgers recruits. Also, with the announcement of Dylan Harper, one of the top recruits in the country for the '24 class, narrowing down his schools of choice down to five (Rutgers, Duke, Auburn, Indiana, and Kansas), we thought this would be the perfect time to share this Q&A with Rutgers fans. 

To help us understand a little more about the incoming '23 and '24 classes and to understand more about what it means to be a student journalist at Rutgers, Rutgers Hoops Insider reached out to an aspiring young student journalist Camden Markel of The Daily Targum for a good old Q&A. Camden has covered much of the recent Rutgers men's basketball recruiting news for The Daily Targum. You can check out Camden's work at https://dailytargum.com/staff/camden-markel. Also, you can follow Camden on Twitter @CamdenMarkel.

Rutgers Hoops Insider (RHI): Camden, thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to do a Q&A with me today. You're a student journalist with The Daily Targum and have done a great job covering Rutgers Men's Basketball, especially the recruiting aspect. Let me start this Q&A by asking you, how did you get involved with becoming a student journalist and wanting to write for The Daily Targum?

Camden Markel (CM): Well I’m majoring in journalism and media studies and basketball is my biggest interest, so writing for The Daily Targum was really a no brainer. It’s been a great platform for me to be a part of thus far and I can’t wait to continue writing for them. 

RHI: While you're a student at Rutgers, do you plan on covering just Rutgers Men's Basketball, or are there any other Rutgers sports you plan on covering?

CM: Basketball is definitely my top sport and my favorite one to cover. I would say it’s the sport I’m most knowledgeable about as well so it maximizes my writing potential. I also love football and have written a football article for The Daily Targum in the past and would be happy to cover that more in the future. With that being said, I did just receive the beat writer position for Rutgers Men’s Lacrosse so I’ll be covering a lot of that in the future. I appreciate any writing opportunity that I can get, so whether it’s basketball, lacrosse or anything else in between, I’m happy to cover it and get my writing out there.

RHI: What have you learned the most about covering Rutgers Men's Basketball since you started writing for The Daily Targum?

CM: I’ve learned just how passionate the Rutgers community is with the men’s basketball team. With covering the team, recruiting especially, I’ve had to really keep my ear to the ground and stay up to date with all the latest information regarding the team. Doing this, I found myself on Twitter a lot and learned of the countless number of accounts that are dedicated solely to Rutgers basketball. It's clear that there’s a passion for this program and there’s a great niche within the fandom of people who all share that same passion and knowledge of Rutgers basketball.

RHI: I mentioned earlier that you have done a great job covering the recruiting aspect for Rutgers Men's Basketball. According to Rivals.com, the 2023 recruiting class for Rutgers, which includes Gavin Griffiths, Baye Ndongo, and Jamichael Davis, ranks as the 25th best in the nation. What impact do you think this recruiting class will have on Rutgers Men's Basketball going forward?

CM: The impact of those three will be immeasurable. I think they’ll fit right in at Rutgers. They each fit a certain mold that head coach Steve Pikiell continues to desire to have on his team. As freshmen, I think there’s a chance that all three of them get solid playing time right away and mesh into the system smoothly. I think moving forward, this recruiting class could have a snowball effect on the Knights’ recruiting moving forward. We’ve already seen this a bit with the commitment of Ace Bailey. Ultimately, I think this could go down as the recruiting class that shifted the culture of Rutgers basketball and made it a clear desirable destination for high-level recruits.

RHI: Rutgers fans are extremely excited to see highly-touted recruit Gavin Griffiths (West Hartford CT) join the program next season. Griffiths ranks as the 20th best player nationally in the 2023 Recruiting Rankings by Rivals.com and they recently upgraded him to 5-stars. He is rated 42nd nationally by ESPN, 38th by On3, and 37th by 247 Sports. Rutgers fans got a real glimpse of what Griffiths is capable of when he showcased his talents "The Battle of New Jersey" at The RAC. What can you tell us about Gavin Griffiths and what he brings to the table next year when he suits up for Rutgers?

CM: Griffiths will surely contribute right away. As we’ve seen up to this point, he pretty much does it all for his high school squad. Although he may not come in right away and be the focal point of the entire offense, his shooting ability alone should slot him into the starting lineup and allow him to get plenty of shots up every time he touches the floor for the Knights. I expect him to be more of a spot-up shooter coming in as a freshman but I believe he will progress into a three-level scorer as time goes on. Rutgers has always been a team where the guys getting big minutes are the guys who have been on the team for multiple years, but Griffiths will surely shift that trend a bit as he is simply too good and too highly rated to be denied his fair share of minutes.

RHI: You covered Rutgers' recruitment of Jamichael Davis (Powder Springs GA), and fans were sort of caught off guard when Davis committed to the Scarlet Knights in mid-December. I'm super excited about Jamichael Davis. I've seen some film on him, and he is a very crafty, speedy and athletic guard who can inject some life into the backcourt; however, there isn't a whole lot known about him. What can you tell us about Davis? What does he do that impresses? Tell us why Rutgers is excited to have him play for the team next year? Do you think Davis has a chance at joining the rotation next year?

CM: To be honest, I was right there with the majority of people when he committed as I had to really do my research to educate myself on Davis and his game. Since his commitment, it seems like his name has been popping up more and more and the hype is building. As a teammate of Ace Bailey, Davis was sort of that guy that you’d see when you’re watching Bailey’s highlights and think, “this guy can play too”. Now, there are highlights of his own popping up and he’s getting the solo recognition he deserves. Davis possesses incredible athleticism and burst. What really impresses me is the ferocity and fearlessness you can see in him when he plays. He’s not the biggest guard but it doesn’t matter to him as he’ll take on just about anybody. Davis fits that Derek Simpson archetype that Pikiell seems to be sought after and surely the Rutgers staff is excited to get another fearless, athletic guard to hopefully develop into a star. I think next year, barring the inevitable roster mix ups of players leaving and players joining the team, Davis has a chance to crack the rotation in the same way Derek Simpson has this season with some sporadic, exciting minutes off the bench where he hopefully lights a spark.

RHI: Baye Ndongo (Putnam CT) was a big commit for the Scarlet Knights as he chose Rutgers over Michigan, San Diego, Nebraska, and Colorado. He is an impressive player with size and athleticism, and his stock is only climbing on several college basketball recruiting services. Rivals.com recently rated him as the 140th best player nationally in the 2023 Recruiting Rankings. Ndongo appears to be the type of player that might be able to make a direct impact for Rutgers next season. Tell us why you think Ndongo is the type of player Rutgers needs and what role he will play when comes to Rutgers next season.

CM: Ndongo is lengthy, athletic and versatile. These are three traits that just about any team can use from their players. Ndongo is a natural at blocking shots and can guard out on the wing and in the post. With the right role and development, I’d project him to be an excellent glue guy for the Knights who can play as a small-ball center or either of the forward positions in a more traditional lineup. I believe he still has some developing to do as he remains a pretty raw prospect at the moment, but we’ve seen Pikiell take in players like that in the past and have them pan out tremendously (Cliff Omoruyi is an example of this). Ndongo has fantastic size standing at 6-foot-10 and perhaps even more importantly, he moves very fluidly at that size. He does things that not many players of his stature can do. While we mostly have just seen this in flashes, with time, Ndongo could turn into that highly coveted archetype of players who possess incredible size, length and athleticism and pair it with skills similar to that of a smaller wing player. Coming in so raw, I expect him to deliver some blocked shots and dunks early on at Rutgers. The hope is that soon after, we see him flourish into a guy who can score in various ways in addition to his versatile defensive ability.

RHI: By now, the college basketball world knows the Rutgers 2024 recruiting class is going to be loaded. Rutgers was able to secure huge commits from 5-star Airious Bailey (Powder Springs GA) and 4-star Dellquan Warren (Erie PA). The current Rutgers 2024 recruiting class ranks 3rd in the nation, according to Rivals.com, which might be the highest recruiting class ever under Steve Pikiell. What can you tell us about how this recruiting class is going to shape Rutgers basketball for the future?

CM: Like I said earlier, I think the 2023 class, especially Gavin Griffiths, set the tone that major recruits can come play here. This 2024 class takes that idea and runs with it. Having such highly touted recruits commit to Rutgers puts the program under national spotlight. It shows to the average college basketball fans, coaches and teams that something is being built here. Whether it’s visible to the general public or not, there’s something to be said about such highly regarded players visiting here, meeting the coaches and the program and ultimately choosing them over other programs that may be more renowned across the country by most people. This recruiting class will change the scope of Rutgers basketball forever if they can capitalize on the talent of these recruits with on-court success.

RHI: Rutgers fans were extremely pleased when Dellquan Warren committed to Rutgers after the Scarlet Knights thumped Coppin State. Warren is a true speedster on the court and plays extremely tough defense. Warren currently ranks 91st nationally in the 2024 Recruiting Rankings, according to Rivals.com. He is the prototype for what Steve Pikiell and his staff were looking for. Where do you think Warren fits on the roster when he joins Rutgers in 2024? What role do you think he steps into when he plays?

CM: I think when Warren joins the team he will certainly have some competition in the backcourt but he’ll be up for that challenge. Warren has athleticism, a solid jumper and looks to be a great facilitator on offense. Watching him play, I can already see the Big Ten point guard in his game. I think he’ll do just that for Rutgers when he arrives in 2024 and he’ll run Steve Pikiell’s offense very well. 

RHI: Airious "Ace" Bailey is heralded as one of the highest rated recruits in Rutgers basketball history. He is rated 5th nationally in the 2024 Recruiting Rankings, according to Rivals.com. He is also rated 5th by On3, 6th by 247 Sports, and 7th by ESPN. He announced his decision to commit to Rutgers after the Scarlet Knights pulled out an overtime win against Ohio State at The RAC. Not only does he have the tools and skills to be a powerful offensive player, but he is a great rebounder, which is something Steve Pikiell really likes in a player. When Bailey arrives to The Banks, do you think he will make an immediate impact on the floor? What other intangibles does Bailey possess that could help Rutgers?

CM: I think Bailey will surely make an immediate impact. A player of his caliber can be a top option on Rutgers right away and should immediately be one of the better players, at least better freshmen, in the Big Ten Conference. Bailey can fill just about any role Pikiell needs him to. He could be an isolation/primary scorer, a secondary scorer or simply a role player who grabs rebounds and gets buckets when he needs to. I expect him to immediately be a top two scorer on the team when he arrives in 2024. 

RHI: It's already known that Rutgers is recruiting 5-star Dylan Harper, brother of Ron Harper Jr., extremely hard. According to Rivals.com, Dylan Harper is rated the 10th best player nationally in the 2024 Recruiting Rankings. Rutgers is up against some quality blue blood competition as Duke, Indiana, and Kansas have all offered Harper. In October, Harper took an official visit to Duke, but he has also taken four unofficial visits to Rutgers and has been noticed in attendance at several games at The RAC. Do you think Rutgers is close to sealing the deal with Dylan Harper? Some fans get the warm fuzzy feeling he would commit to Rutgers because he is the brother of the great Ron Harper Jr. but do you think this is true? If Harper decides to commit elsewhere, what other players has Rutgers prioritized in the 2024 recruiting class?

CM: I’m not completely sold on saying that Rutgers is close to sealing the deal with Harper. I think it’s definitely a top 2-3 option for him but at the end of the day he’s going to go where he wants to, Rutgers family legacy aside. In addition to Harper in the 2024 class, Rutgers is targeting a long time friend and AAU teammate of Harper, 4-star small forward Tyler Betsey. The Knights are also targeting 4-star power forward Donnie Freeman who visited the RAC for the win over Indiana this season alongside Harper. 4-star point guard Del Jones, 4-star shooting guard Kur Teng, 3-star power forward Bryce Dortch, 3-star small forward Nate Guerengomba and 3-star small forward Darrion Sutton are other names in the 2024 class who have received offers from Rutgers. 

RHI: The future looks extremely bright for Rutgers basketball. I said it earlier, the 2023 and 2024 recruiting classes are going to loaded with great players with all around great skills and each player brings something unique to Rutgers. I don't want to get too high on my horse here and I don't want to gaslight fans, but do you think with how well these classes are projected to be, do you think Rutgers could be competing for a national championship?

CM: Come 2024, if Rutgers is rolling out lineups consisting of Dellquan Warren, Dylan Harper, Gavin Griffiths, Ace Bailey and Donnie Freeman, then yes. Rutgers should be competing for a national championship. A lot has to go right for the Knights, but the chance is certainly there and the stars could  end up aligning. 

RHI: Camden, once again, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this Q&A. I appreciate all of your answers and opinions. Let's do this again.

CM: Thanks so much!!

The Rise of Rutgers Men's Basketball Under Steve Pikiell