Rutgers Men’s Basketball made major improvements that have brought plenty of hype to Piscataway this offseason.
According to Blue Ribbon, the Scarlet Knights did not do enough.
The college basketball publication recently shared its College Basketball Yearbook for the upcoming season. It placed Rutgers 15th in the Big Ten in a newly-established 18-team conference. The Scarlet Knights did not have any Preseason All-League selections, despite the addition of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey.
Can Rutgers be near the bottom of the Big Ten once again?
Last season, Steve Pikiell and company finished as the penultimate team in the standings. The Big Ten has expanded with the addition of West coast presences Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and USC.
It was clear from the early moments of the 2023-24 season that Rutgers lacked offensive firepower. The addition of freshmen Harper and Bailey is expected to change this immediately but Lathan Sommmerville and Bryce Dortch, along with Dylan Grant, also come in as first-year players.
Pikiell navigated the transfer portal well. The Scarlet Knights will return just three players from last year’s team and Pikiell filled out the rest of the roster with experience. This includes New Jersey natives Zach Martini and Jordan Derkack. PJ Hayes provides an elite outside threat while Tyson Acuff is a complete guard that can bring depth in the backcourt.
Blue Ribbon might not believe in this edition of the Scarlet Knights but there is a chance for plenty of fireworks at Jersey Mike’s Arena this season.
