NBC Sports - Big 10 Early Preview

[jrh51]

We find ourselves again in the cellar. Personally, I think we have a shot of having better seasons that Ohio St and Nebraska - though I do not fault NBC for placing us last.

http://collegebasketball.nbcsports....the-leagues-offseason-wheelings-and-dealings/

 

[DocRU]

Can RU get to 8th? The top 7 teams look strong. Then the question marks start to appear 8 thru 13. RU took #8 Wisconsin to OT, beat #9 Illinois, beat #10 Penn St, beat #12 Ohio St. Then there's #11 Indiana and #13 Nebraska. For RU, finally the core of the team is juniors and seniors.

 

[Russ Wood]

Can RU get to 8th? The top 7 teams look strong. Then the question marks start to appear 8 thru 13. RU took #8 Wisconsin to OT, beat #9 Illinois, beat #10 Penn St, beat #12 Ohio St. Then there's #11 Indiana and #13 Nebraska. For RU, finally the core of the team is juniors and seniors.

I doubt RU could get to 8th place in the B1G in the 2017-18 season. That would take at least 9 wins possibly 10 and I just don't think there's a pathway to either of those numbers next season. If there's just a slight improvement in shooting, including at the FT line, I can see RU winning 6 conference games. Particularly if you get OSU and Nebraska in the RAC.

 

[bac2therac]

I cant see a scenerio where RU is not in the bottom 4 of the Big 10

 

[TruJerz]

I cant see a scenerio where RU is not in the bottom 4 of the Big 10

Unfortunately I agree. This team lost a few key players but I don't think they'll take a huge step back. I also can't see them improving much in the win column either. Winning at least 4 Big Ten games this year would be nice

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Nebraska Ohio State Illinois Wisconsin are the 4 teams we have the best shot of leapfrogging.

I will say again....Purdue #1 Michigan State #2. Not sure after that. I am wary of picking NW and MN that high. They deserve it and don't lose anything, just a hunch.

 

[MGSA99]

This year's goal - don't finish last. Simple.

 

[bac2therac]

Nebraska Ohio State Illinois Wisconsin are the 4 teams we have the best shot of leapfrogging.

I will say again....Purdue #1 Michigan State #2. Not sure after that. I am wary of picking NW and MN that high. They deserve it and don't lose anything, just a hunch.

good luck with passing Wisconsin

 

[shields]

Thiam is going to very important, put on some weight please.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

good luck with passing Wisconsin

If there were 4 teams to pass Wisconsin is one. I am not optimistic about this year. i really, really, really, really hope i am wrong but i see us 13th. #14 will be a team that implodes, but could be us. B1G is much better and on paper, on at least my paper, we are worse.

 

[cubuffsdoug]

Nebraska Ohio State Illinois Wisconsin are the 4 teams we have the best shot of leapfrogging.

I will say again....Purdue #1 Michigan State #2. Not sure after that. I am wary of picking NW and MN that high. They deserve it and don't lose anything, just a hunch.

I think the major fault of being a Rutgers fan is how we view things from one perspective, self doubt. Usually a Rutgers fan Base their analysis strictly on Rutgers. There is no consideration of the impact other teams have with changing personnel and coaches. You can't tell me Nebraska is light years ahead of Rutgers even after players desertion in a coach who may have lost his team. Illinois has a new coach, fresh faces and a bunch of underachievers the last few years. What about Ohio State? That is a cluster mess right now. You have to compare both sides of the coin to get a better View of where Rutgers stands in the league. I'm not saying Rutgers suddenly wins the league, but let's stop crapping on our team without the full facts. Rutgers has less moving parts to correct compared to a lot of teams in the league. There are maybe three possibly four teams Rutgers has a legitimate chance to be better than them this year.

 

[RUJMM78]

I cant see a scenerio where RU is not in the bottom 4 of the Big 10

The only scenario where Rutgers could make a dramatic jump in league standings is with filling the last scholarship with a double digit scorer.The loss of scoring from Johnson ,Gettys and Laurent will be hard to makeup on a team presently constituted which would have great difficulty scoring 60 points against league competition.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I think the major fault of being a Rutgers fan is how we view things from one perspective, self doubt. Usually a Rutgers fan Base their analysis strictly on Rutgers. There is no consideration of the impact other teams have with changing personnel and coaches. You can't tell me Nebraska is light years ahead of Rutgers even after players desertion in a coach who may have lost his team. Illinois has a new coach, fresh faces and a bunch of underachievers the last few years. What about Ohio State? That is a cluster mess right now. You have to compare both sides of the coin to get a better View of where Rutgers stands in the league. I'm not saying Rutgers suddenly wins the league, but let's stop crapping on our team without the full facts. Rutgers has less moving parts to correct compared to a lot of teams in the league. There are maybe three possibly four teams Rutgers has a legitimate chance to be better than them this year.

not sure if it is a fault, kind of being realistic.

The talent on Nebraska's roster is LIGHT YEARS ahead of ours....doesn't mean they will be better.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Here is the thing....I look up and down...and the only game I would write down as a 100% home or away loss is Michigan State and the only game I would write down as a 100% road loss besides Michigan state is Purdue. I don't see anyone else that if we play well that we don't have a chance to win

Depending on how the schedule breaks...I really could see us having a winning record at the RAC in big ten play...and getting 1 or 2 road wins. I don't see 6-12 or 7-11 as ridic impossible (6-12 more likely)...but 6-12 likely is 12 or 13 and 7-11 is likely 11 or 12.

Who would NOT sign up in year 2 for 6-12/17-14...and a win in the Garden to be 18-15?

I don't think its unrealistic....IF we stay away from a major injury to either Corey, DeShawn, or Mike

 

[knights1212]

Laurent only averaged 3.0 ppg this past season. I think that Thiam and Omoruyi can make up for that. We lose Nigel Johnson's 11.3 and the C J Gettys 7.7. I hope that Myles Johnson can get at least 4-5 ppg and that Sa or Doorson can improve a little. Don't forget Luke Nathan just might help a little too. I might be crazy but I think Geo Baker might get close to Nigel's numbers perhaps like 8 ppg. Somehow I think we will be very close to last years team stats.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Half court offense....execution. If there isn't MASSIVE improvement more close games at the 5 minute mark and Ls 5 minutes later.

 

[dpwhite]

Half court offense....execution. If there isn't MASSIVE improvement more close games at the 5 minute mark and Ls 5 minutes later.

I really feel it's going to come down to that last scholarship. Otherwise, our half court will likely rely on Sanders drives, Freeman close to the hoop and offensive rebounds. Otherwise, it means we got big improvement from Issa at the three point line, Williams being consistent and Baker being better than expected early on (I think he has potential to develop into a really good player, but I don't know how long that will take).

 

[RUChoppin]

Out from last year:
Johnson: 32 games, 26.2 min, 11.3 pts, 3.3 rbs, 2.0 ast, 1.2 stl
Gettys: 33 games, 22.0 min, 7.7 pts, 5.2 rbs, 1.2 ast, 0.4 stl
Laurent: 31 games, 13.3 min, 3.0 pts, 2.4 rbs, 0.4 ast, 0.5 stl
Diallo: 18 games, 8.3 min, 0.8 pts, 1.8 rbs, 0.3 ast, 0.3 stl

In for this year:
Baker (Fr)
Mensah (Juco Jr)
Johnson (Fr)
Bullock (RS Fr)

I don't think there's an expectation that these four incoming players will replace/exceed the production of the four outgoing players, so any net gains from last year will need to come from player development among the rest of the roster (Sanders, Freeman, Williams, Thiam, Sa, Omoruyi, Doorson).

Can 2017 Sanders/Williams/Baker/Mensah be more productive than 2016 Sanders/Johnson/Williams?
Can 2017 Freeman/Thiam/Omoruyi/Bullock be more productive than 2016 Freeman/Thiam/Laurent/Omoruyi?
Can 2017 Sa/Doorson/Johnson be more productive than 2016 Gettys/Sa/Doorson/Diallo?

The wild card will be the last roster spot. If used on a sit-out transfer, it's a wash (but I doubt we'll have two roster spots taken up by sit-out transfers). If we bring in a grad transfer or Juco, that should also help tip the scales toward the positive - potentially significantly, if we land another Gettys-level player.

 

[rubaseball78]

The only scenario where Rutgers could make a dramatic jump in league standings is with filling the last scholarship with a double digit scorer.The loss of scoring from Johnson ,Gettys and Laurent will be hard to makeup on a team presently constituted which would have great difficulty scoring 60 points against league competition.

Laurent average 3 ppg (2 ppg in Big 10). Not hard to replace that production. Do agree though people need to step up to cover the Johnson/Gettys scoring but players can improve year to year.

 

[ScarletKid2008]

Have to improve in:

1. Free Throw Shooting
2. Free Throw Shooting
3. Shooting
4. Free Throw Shooting

 

[bowlgoal]

We find ourselves again in the cellar. Personally, I think we have a shot of having better seasons that Ohio St and Nebraska - though I do not fault NBC for placing us last.

http://collegebasketball.nbcsports....the-leagues-offseason-wheelings-and-dealings/

I just wouldn't worry about this right now. Corey might escalate his game to a new level and surprise the shit out of people.

 

[jrh51]

I just wouldn't worry about this right now. Corey might escalate his game to a new level and surprise the shit out of people.

Worried I am not. I understand there are a lot of variables & things still to shake out. Just a slow college bball news time, and figured it's a relevant article to share.

 

[TruJerz]

Have to improve in:

1. Free Throw Shooting
2. Free Throw Shooting
3. Shooting
4. Free Throw Shooting

Yup, this can't be overlooked. If Rutgers shot just a few %'s better from the FT line they could of won 2-3 more games easily. Baker and Myles Johnson seem to be decent to good FT shooters. Souf struggled based on %'s at JUCO and having watched Matt in highschool I know he's not a great FT shooter either but the team needs to improve collectively from the FT line this year if they want to win games period

 

[higgins3]

Rutgers isn't first??Who makes these things up!?

 

[bowlgoal]

I just wouldn't worry about this right now. Corey might escalate his game to a new level and surprise the shit out of people.

Worried I am not. I understand there are a lot of variables & things still to shake out. Just a slow college bball news time, and figured it's a relevant article to share.

I hear you. I didn't mean not sharing it. I'm actually finally excited to start reading about Rutgers basketball again in any potentially positive way and those articles are coming soon.

 

[RUJMM78]

Laurent average 3 ppg (2 ppg in Big 10). Not hard to replace that production. Do agree though people need to step up to cover the Johnson/Gettys scoring but players can improve year to year.

What really matters is 60 points won't get it done in the BIG as seen last last season with 3 league wins.Lets not forget Johnson scored over 20 points in his last 2 games at Rutgers which will be difficult to match next season.

 

[rubaseball78]

What really matters is 60 points won't get it done in the BIG as seen last last season with 3 league wins.Lets not forget Johnson scored over 20 points in his last 2 games at Rutgers which will be difficult to match next season.

One of which was a blow out and many points came in garbage time.

 

[huskersalways]

Losing the Morrow kid will hurt NU some but the other 2 transfers and actually Morrow were going to see their playing time go way down. Morrow was the only one who would see the floor with the transfers that set out last year and the kids they redshirted. NU should be better but still won't be world beaters. Finally have a guard that can free up Watson to try and score more too. Everybody knows Miles is coaching for his life, no tourney, no Tim and if it gets real bad, then the AD will be out too. The natives are beyond restless.