Corey Sanders’ return to Rutgers for one more season is a promising sign for the men’s hoops squad. Here is a look at the positive ways in which getting Sanders back will help Rutgers.
Bolsters the defense
As much as Sanders is lauded for his offensive abilities, he continually received praise from head coach Steve Pikiell for his defense. Coincidentally, defense was a big part of Rutgers’ success last season. Bringing back Sanders immediately bolsters the defense, an area of Sanders’ game that Pikiell constantly stresses. Keep in mind that Sanders often guarded the other team’s top player through last season. He also averaged 30.4 minutes per game, which was over four minutes more than anyone else’s nightly average. Being able to score and play that kind of defense is no easy task.
A major option on offense
Rutgers struggled to put up points last season as a lack of outside shooters made for some tough nights. Sanders has the quickness to get to the basket and that alleviates a lot of pressure from the rest of the team. It can also create easy scoring opportunities for other players as defenders have to play help defense to account for Sanders. While Sanders’ point production dipped from 15.9 to 12.8 points per game in his two seasons at Rutgers, the team more than doubled its win total during his sophomore campaign. Rutgers does not have another player like Sanders who possess that same ability to create plays.
No last-minute searching
Pikiell already lost Nigel Johnson and losing Sanders might have meant he had to scramble for another guard before the season. That would have limited his options. However, Pikiell always gave off the impression that he believed Sanders would return. Now that he has, Pikiell does not have to scour the country for a grad transfer or JuCo guard. Had Sanders left, Pikiell would have had a guard contingent of Mike Williams, Geo Baker, Souf Mensah, and Peter Kiss. Baker will be a true freshman, Mensah is still not yet on campus and Kiss needs to sit out a year per NCAA transfer rules. Needless, to say Sanders’ departure would have been a major blow to the backcourt.
Better team production
Rutgers went 15-18 in Pikiell’s first season. Johnson is gone from that team as is senior center CJ Gettys. However, the team will not look drastically different I terms of personnel. Another year to grow and develop could enable the team to flirt with a winning season. Sanders’ return has made that a possibility whereas his departure might have meant a step back. Pikiell also still has time to add another player for this season. A grad transfer could come in handy and help out the backcourt.
Bolsters the defense
As much as Sanders is lauded for his offensive abilities, he continually received praise from head coach Steve Pikiell for his defense. Coincidentally, defense was a big part of Rutgers’ success last season. Bringing back Sanders immediately bolsters the defense, an area of Sanders’ game that Pikiell constantly stresses. Keep in mind that Sanders often guarded the other team’s top player through last season. He also averaged 30.4 minutes per game, which was over four minutes more than anyone else’s nightly average. Being able to score and play that kind of defense is no easy task.
A major option on offense
Rutgers struggled to put up points last season as a lack of outside shooters made for some tough nights. Sanders has the quickness to get to the basket and that alleviates a lot of pressure from the rest of the team. It can also create easy scoring opportunities for other players as defenders have to play help defense to account for Sanders. While Sanders’ point production dipped from 15.9 to 12.8 points per game in his two seasons at Rutgers, the team more than doubled its win total during his sophomore campaign. Rutgers does not have another player like Sanders who possess that same ability to create plays.
No last-minute searching
Pikiell already lost Nigel Johnson and losing Sanders might have meant he had to scramble for another guard before the season. That would have limited his options. However, Pikiell always gave off the impression that he believed Sanders would return. Now that he has, Pikiell does not have to scour the country for a grad transfer or JuCo guard. Had Sanders left, Pikiell would have had a guard contingent of Mike Williams, Geo Baker, Souf Mensah, and Peter Kiss. Baker will be a true freshman, Mensah is still not yet on campus and Kiss needs to sit out a year per NCAA transfer rules. Needless, to say Sanders’ departure would have been a major blow to the backcourt.
Better team production
Rutgers went 15-18 in Pikiell’s first season. Johnson is gone from that team as is senior center CJ Gettys. However, the team will not look drastically different I terms of personnel. Another year to grow and develop could enable the team to flirt with a winning season. Sanders’ return has made that a possibility whereas his departure might have meant a step back. Pikiell also still has time to add another player for this season. A grad transfer could come in handy and help out the backcourt.
