What is Your Prediction For the Out Of Conference Games?

[RutgersMO]

13 in all.

I'm figuring 10-3...but would love to see a "W" against DePaul, Miami / definitely the Hall.

But with Corey, Williams, Johnson in the back court and some bigs up front, I'm figuring we don't roll over for ANYONE!

Here's to 13-0! Here's to the start of YET another new era. Here's to the 1976 team's 40th anniversary... and the best gift we can give them is a card with all the DANCES filled up!

MO

 

[Mr Magoo]

9-4. I think we lose at DePaul, at Miami, and at Seton Hall plus one WTF loss.

We get around 3 conference wins for about a 12 win season.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

We really should be 10-3....there are a lot of cupcakes there and NOT one unwinnable game

The optimist would love to say more...but got to show me first

Strongly, but cautiously, optimistic

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

With new pieces and a new coaching staff it is just a stab in the dark making a prediction. Every year at this time there is enthusiasm and 95%+ of fans over estimate performance. We hear stories about how player X has improved and the new pieces give us options we haven't had previous years.

Same is true so far this year. The coaching staff is saying all the right things (especially for my ears). We have current players that have improved or are in better shape.

With all that said, the secret scrimmage with Monmouth now has me intrigued. What if it is really different this time? What if there is a combination of much better coaching and better talent. What is everyone stays healthy and, as important, stay on the same page?

Time to bite...

Molloy 100%
Drexel 80%
@DePaul 35%
Niagara 85%
North Texas 85%
Hartford 90%
@Miami 5%
Morgan State 90%
Cent CT 90%
@ Stony Brook 40%
FDU 80%
Fordham 50%
@SHU 10%

Let's go 7-1 (Molloy, Drexel, Niagara, N Texas, hartford, CT CT, and FDU)
Let's go 2-3 (@depaul, @miami, @shu, fordham, @stony brook)

Puts us at 9-4...

I will be impressed if we are 5-1 going to Miami and equally impressed 8-3 going to MSG game vs. Fordham. With that being said, i will not be disappointed with multiple losses to the "easy" games if i feel they are "program building" moments. The biggest question mark I have with this team is if our returning players are capable of being reprogrammed.

The path I see...

1. learn how to compete
2. learn how to win and also learn how to lose

 

[Dpgru]

Considering the level of competition and the preseason enthusiasm I think anything less than 9 - 4 would be disappointing. More than 10would be very encouraging.

 

[knights1212]

If we can stay healthy I think we can go 10-3. I believe we will win all 8 games at home. I also think we will defeat DePaul and Stony Brook. We might even be able to beat Fordham at MSG. Out 2 toughest games are Miami and SHU. We must though stay healthy. That is a key plus the players must continue to buy into what Pikiell is saying.

 

[higgins3]

Just to stay healthy.

Predictions are impossible to make given the variables. I am feeling crazy today though-so I will say we get 7 OOC wins!

 

[bac2therac]

I believe the program has lost 40 of its last 47 games. Keep this in mind, even with a new coach and more depth and another year for the returning players, shaking off the losing will be a process. Program has to learn to win. I expect anywhere between 8-5 to 10-3. They will have a WTF for sure.

 

[Dpgru]

If we can get 10 OOC wins and 5/6 conference wins and end the year at 15/16 wins close to a 500 season I would be ecstatic. But then again I was hoping for a 6/6 football season so disappointment runs deep in my DNA.

 

[RutgersMO]

I believe the program has lost 40 of its last 47 games. Keep this in mind, even with a new coach and more depth and another year for the returning players, shaking off the losing will be a process. Program has to learn to win. I expect anywhere between 8-5 to 10-3. They will have a WTF for sure.

Hoping Rutgers can be a WTF for SH, DePaul / Miami...

I can hope can't I?

MO

 

[Russ Wood]

Just to stay healthy.

Predictions are impossible to make given the variables. I am feeling crazy today though-so I will say we get 7 OOC wins!

I think you are right

 

[RUONTHERISE]

11-2. With a win over DePaul or seton hall

 

[colbert17]

I'm going to super optimistic.
I say 12-1 with the only loss being Miami.

 

[playorbplayd]

I like us for 8/9 wins excluding Molloy, that puts us at 9/10 w/them. Who the heck knows though.

New coach, new system. Can take a bit to adjust early on.

That being said, last year the only real bad OOC loss was St. John's which slipped away.

St. Peter's and St. Francis (PA) were the bad ones in 2014-15.

FDU and William & Mary were the bad ones in 2013-14. You can throw UAB in there also.

This schedule is set up to win early, KenPom has Stony Brook and Fordham favored to beat us in the games we "should win". IMO KenPom has Stony Brook severely overrated, no reason to lose that road game with what they've lost.

Worth remembering that it's a process, expect bumps in the road.

 

[RickB113]

10-3

 

[rubaseball78]

Hoping Rutgers can be a WTF for SH, DePaul / Miami...

I can hope can't I?

MO

It would be nice to have a WTF win for a change like we did against Wisconsin.

 

[Rutgers25]

I think you are right

With our scheduled, 7-6 OOC would be very dissapointing...

 

[knights1212]

I totally agree. I think we must win 10 or more in our OOC this season to get the fans interested in coming to the RAC and to put a bit of a buzz in the program. We also need to get a lot of fans at the Prudential Center when we play SHU on Friday December 23.

 

[MCKnight2004]

Well coached teams with superior physical talent have to win vs low and mid majors, I think we finally have both, a good coach and superior physical talent compared to our low mid major non conference opponents. So 10 wins is expected, with a win vs DePaul, Miami or SHU as a nice surprise victory to get us to 11

 

[higgins3]

Hoping Rutgers can be a WTF for SH, DePaul / Miami...

I can hope can't I?

MO

"Hope is a good thing, and no good thing ever dies."

Depaul is tough. I favor players from New Jersey, and I think Eli Cain has a decent game. I think if we were to win one, it would be Depaul. Admittedly, I know close to nothing about the BE this year.

The hall will be interesting. I think they get the best of us again. Who knows though. If Pikiell players Thiam at SG for times, Powell on Thiam would be interesting.

I think Powell starts by mid season. Another Jersey kid who I hope has a great career.

 

[higgins3]

Carrington, Powell, Desi Rod, Ish Sanogo, Angel Del.

Sanders, Johnson,Laurent,Free, Gettys.

All depends. If our bench becomes more serviceable, and by serviceable I mean we can get 6-7 minutes of good defense and passing in transition from Batie, we may have a shot at them.

 

[higgins3]

I like us for 8/9 wins excluding Molloy, that puts us at 9/10 w/them. Who the heck knows though.

New coach, new system. Can take a bit to adjust early on.

That being said, last year the only real bad OOC loss was St. John's which slipped away.

St. Peter's and St. Francis (PA) were the bad ones in 2014-15.

FDU and William & Mary were the bad ones in 2013-14. You can throw UAB in there also.

This schedule is set up to win early, KenPom has Stony Brook and Fordham favored to beat us in the games we "should win". IMO KenPom has Stony Brook severely overrated, no reason to lose that road game with what they've lost.

Worth remembering that it's a process, expect bumps in the road.

I think part of Seton Halls success depends on how quickly Myles Powell is a starter. I think it is relatively quickly. Delgado has not been an emphasis on their offense, and now they are starting to diversify and use him a bit more from what I have read. How selfless they are will determine their fate, as the case for most teams who have 3-4 guys who can score the ball. I do not judge Carmelo Anthony for not passing out of double teams two years ago, but if he still holds onto the ball now, that team will not have a ton of success.

Same with Hall.

 

[hinson32]

I think we all need to temper our expectations. All fans fall into the off-season, we are going to surprise people and be better this year trap. I guess it is what fans do. We won seven games last year. Rutgers has NEVER, well maybe in the 70's, been able to win on the road. I think we go something like 8-5 in non conference and wind up with 10-11 wins this season. For me this season, I want to see a team that actually plays defense, rebounds and gives effort each night.

P.S.- we are no where close to Seton Hall talent wise.

 

[higgins3]

I think we all need to temper our expectations. All fans fall into the off-season, we are going to surprise people and be better this year trap. I guess it is what fans do. We won seven games last year. Rutgers has NEVER, well maybe in the 70's, been able to win on the road. I think we go something like 8-5 in non conference and wind up with 10-11 wins this season. For me this season, I want to see a team that actually plays defense, rebounds and gives effort each night.

P.S.- we are no where close to Seton Hall talent wise.

You are right, but we like a sport and the season is approaching. Like you said, it is natural to get excited.

At all spots, is Seton Hall better than us?

Is Kadeen Carrinton a ton better than Corey Sanders?No. Equals with Carrington getting an edge.

Is Myles Powell better than Nigel Johnson?Probably equals.

Is Desi Rod Better than JLaur? Slightly.

Ish better than Freeman?Slightly, but negotiable.

Del better than Gettys?Yes.

How about their Backup?I will leave that to others. I think our backup might be slightly better. Actually, I will go and say our bench might be better than theirs.

What will decide these games is if Rutgers can match the toughness of the BE. Seton Hall is a great school that has beat Rutgers in talent 90% of the time. Still, Rutgers will compete more this year. There will be more kids diving on the floor.

"Sooooooo your saying theres a chance???!"

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

"Hope is a good thing, and no good thing ever dies."

Depaul is tough. I favor players from New Jersey, and I think Eli Cain has a decent game. I think if we were to win one, it would be Depaul. Admittedly, I know close to nothing about the BE this year.

The hall will be interesting. I think they get the best of us again. Who knows though. If Pikiell players Thiam at SG for times, Powell on Thiam would be interesting.

I think Powell starts by mid season. Another Jersey kid who I hope has a great career.

too bad he isn't at Rutgers

 

[higgins3]

too bad he isn't at Rutgers

Yeah, we never went after him that strongly. Onward.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Yeah, we never went after him that strongly. Onward.

that is an understatement

 

[RutgersMO]

You are right, but we like a sport and the season is approaching. Like you said, it is natural to get excited.

At all spots, is Seton Hall better than us?

Is Kadeen Carrinton a ton better than Corey Sanders?No. Equals with Carrington getting an edge.

Is Myles Powell better than Nigel Johnson?Probably equals.

Is Desi Rod Better than JLaur? Slightly.

Ish better than Freeman?Slightly, but negotiable.

Del better than Gettys?Yes.

How about their Backup?I will leave that to others. I think our backup might be slightly better. Actually, I will go and say our bench might be better than theirs.

What will decide these games is if Rutgers can match the toughness of the BE. Seton Hall is a great school that has beat Rutgers in talent 90% of the time. Still, Rutgers will compete more this year. There will be more kids diving on the floor.

"Sooooooo your saying theres a chance???!"

And every once in a while someone lands a lucky punch too.

GO RU!

MO

 

[ColonelRutgers]

Still have real concerns about the health and durability of Doorson, Diallo, and Freeman. Those are three important front court pieces who essentially missed last year with serious injuries. The big bodies maybe aren't as critical for the early season schedule but there are a lot unknowns. That said, I can't remember being so pumped up to see a game versus Molloy. (Also never heard of Molloy until a couple of months ago.)

 

[Ole Cabbagehead]

Just to stay healthy.

Predictions are impossible to make given the variables. I am feeling crazy today though-so I will say we get 7 OOC wins!

I don't like to get preseason hyped, but I take the over on 7. I think 8... hoping for 9.

 

[higgins3]

I don't like to get preseason hyped, but I take the over on 7. I think 8... hoping for 9.

i think tops we can predict is probably 10 wins. A game has yet to be played. Molloy will not tell us what we have. Drexel and Depaul will both be games where we can start to make a somewhat feasible prediction on how the season will go. Still, so many variables. Health, games close together, matchups, weird times, etc.

 

[Ole Cabbagehead]

i think tops we can predict is probably 10 wins. A game has yet to be played. Molloy will not tell us what we have. Drexel and Depaul will both be games where we can start to make a somewhat feasible prediction on how the season will go. Still, so many variables. Health, games close together, matchups, weird times, etc.

I agree. I always predict 10, since there are usually 10 "winnable" games, and 3 likely losses. But the past few years have taught me that we will probably not replace the "wtf loss" with an upset of a better team. We will also probably have more than one of them. So this year I am tempering my expectations. I still think we are better than 7 though. I am hoping for 9, would be thrilled with 10. On the season, I expect 12 or 13 wins, and would be very very happy with 14 wins.

 

[higgins3]

I don't like to get preseason hyped, but I take the over on 7. I think 8... hoping for 9.

I did not know Drexel was that bad last year. In the game they played versus UNCW, Gettys had 6 rebounds in ten minutes. Not bad.

 

[bac2therac]

I think we all need to temper our expectations. All fans fall into the off-season, we are going to surprise people and be better this year trap. I guess it is what fans do. We won seven games last year. Rutgers has NEVER, well maybe in the 70's, been able to win on the road. I think we go something like 8-5 in non conference and wind up with 10-11 wins this season. For me this season, I want to see a team that actually plays defense, rebounds and gives effort each night.

P.S.- we are no where close to Seton Hall talent wise.

truth

 

[toby83]

DePaul def the one anxious to see. Assume they are a top 100 team, with two legit players - a real good senior point guard (who can't shoot) and the kid from Jersey who looked really good as a freshman, he can score. That's the game.