With the beginning of faculty basketball season in early November, we’ll study the convention as a complete and Indiana’s roster over the approaching weeks.
At present, our group previews proceed with Rutgers.
Beforehand: Penn State, Washington, Minnesota, USC, Northwestern, Nebraska, Iowa, Oregon, Maryland, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan, UCLA, Illinois
A brand new period of Rutgers basketball will tip off in November with big-time expectations. After the Scarlet Knights limped to a 15-17 general file final winter, Steve Pikiell introduced in his most proficient recruiting class ever.
Pikiell constructed Rutgers into a decent and profitable Huge Ten program with a defense-first mindset, participant growth and toughness. When Pikiell arrived in Piscataway, Rutgers was the league’s laughingstock following the forgettable Eddie Jordan period.
These days are lengthy within the rearview mirror, however a major roster overhaul means Pikiell doesn’t have the Huge Ten expertise he’s been accustomed to in seasons previous. He does, nonetheless, have a roster filled with expertise.
Two of the highest three gamers within the closing Recruiting Service Consensus Index (RSCI) rankings at the moment are on the Rutgers roster: guard Dylan Harper and wing Ace Bailey, two seemingly lottery picks in subsequent June’s NBA draft.
The 6-foot-6 Harper, the youthful brother of program legend Ron Harper Jr., was the McDonald’s All-American Recreation MVP and is anticipated to be the first facilitator offensively. Harper is anticipated to be the place to begin guard, and whereas there shall be bumps within the street throughout his debut season, he’s arguably essentially the most proficient guard within the league.
Bailey, a 6-foot-10 ahead, can rating from anyplace on the ground and shall be among the finest athletes within the Huge Ten from day one. He has the instruments to be an elite defender, too, however he should regulate to the physicality within the school recreation and turn into extra selective with the photographs he takes.
There’s little query that Harper and Bailey shall be extremely productive instantly, however the complementary items will largely decide the ceiling of this Rutgers group.
The Scarlet Knights return a pair of guards who ought to assist take a few of the warmth off of Harper to dominate each recreation. Sophomore Jamichael Davis and redshirt senior Jeremiah Williams, who didn’t play till February final season, might begin alongside Harper within the revamped backcourt.
A 6-foot-2 guard, Davis will embrace the problem of guarding the opposition’s finest ball handler. He can stress the ball however might want to turn into extra environment friendly offensively. In 23.1 minutes per recreation final season, Davis averaged 5.6 factors and shot simply 37.1 p.c from the sector.
Williams performed at Temple and Iowa State earlier than arriving in Piscataway. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 12.2 factors final season and is a bodily guard who can rating and create for others.
Japanese Michigan switch guard Tyson Acuff might compete for a beginning spot or function on the spot offense as a reserve. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 21.7 factors final season in 37.9 minutes per recreation. A profession 81.2 p.c free throw shooter, Acuff earned All-Mid-American Convention third-team honors final season.
The middle place is stuffed with query marks following the switch of Cliff Omoroyi to Alabama. The Scarlet Knights will attempt to discover dependable manufacturing from junior Emmanuel Ogbole and freshman Lathan Sommerville. Ogbole may get the primary crack at beginning. The 6-foot-10 large man averaged simply 2.1 factors and two rebounds final season in 8.1 minutes per recreation behind Omoruyi. Ogbole returned late final season after a knee harm and Rutgers hopes he will be totally wholesome this season. Sommerville is 6-foot-10 and listed at 280 kilos, giving Pikiell a giant man who will convey authentic measurement and a few physicality to the paint.
Three different transfers ought to determine closely into the ahead and wing rotation. Zach Martini, a graduate switch from Princeton, is 6-foot-8 and brings measurement and taking pictures. Final season, Martini shot 38.5 p.c on 3s and averaged 8.4 factors for the Tigers.
Jordan Derkack was the participant of the yr within the Northeast Convention and averaged 17 factors, six rebounds, 3.9 assists and a pair of.1 steals for Merrimack.
And PJ Hayes IV arrives from San Diego as a 6-foot-6 grad switch who can shoot it from distance (39.7 p.c). Hayes and Martini might help area the ground for Harper and Bailey, whereas Derkack is a confirmed scorer who may defend, which can seemingly earn him loads of minutes.
Two different freshmen, 6-foot-7 Dylan Grant and 6-foot-9 Bryce Dortch, are each three-star recruits who will profit from practising in opposition to Bailey each day for a season, which ought to pay main dividends of their growth.
The projections for Rutgers are everywhere in the map. Bart Torvik’s projections have the Scarlet Knights at No. 18 nationally coming into the season. Nevertheless, the Blue Ribbon school basketball yearbook has Rutgers at fifteenth within the Huge Ten. The Lindy’s Sports activities school basketball preview journal is extra optimistic, choosing the Scarlet Knights to complete ninth within the league.
Backside line: Rutgers shall be should watch most nights due to Harper and Bailey, who’re projected to be one-and-done gamers and the highest two freshmen within the league. Dropping Omoruyi is a significant blow due to the rim safety he offered and the truth that there’s no surefire possibility to interchange him. Rutgers has the expertise to return to the NCAA event subsequent spring and might want to just do that to deem the season a hit.
Quotable: “You recognize what’s nice about these two guys? They’re NBA passers. They’re elite passers. So it’s been an actual pleasure to teach guys who actually know the way to cross and are sufficiently big to make all types of passes and are prepared passers. Our measurement is completely different. We’re large at each place, after which with the passing capability of these two guys, you are able to do lots of factor offensively when you’ve two elite passers who can shoot the ball. They open up lots of issues for me as a coach and for our group.” – Pikiell on Harper and Bailey in a preseason Q & A with the Asbury Park Press.
Filed to: 2024-25 Huge Ten preview, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
