Category: Rutgers basketball

Steve Pikiell likes Rutgers basketball’s continuity on the court…and on the bench

Rutgers basketball has continuity and cohesion among their coaching staff.

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Not only is Rutgers basketball returning its core on the court, with four of five projected starters from last year’s NCAA Tournament team coming back, but head coach Steve Pikiell also has continuity with his staff.

Three big pieces, assistant coaches Karl Hobbs, Brandin Knight, and T.J. Thompson are returning for another season with the Scarlet Knights. For a program that made the NCAA Tournament last year for the first time in three decades, the continuation on and off the court through the program is a big reason why Rutgers is expected to go dancing once again this season.

This is big for Rutgers in terms of a philosophical standpoint but also for relationships within the locker room and recruiting.

“There’s always expectations ‘On the bank.’ It’s a great thing. I think our team embraces it,” Piekiell said during Big Ten Media Day last week.

“I think, again, I’ve got a good blend of veteran guys. I have a terrific staff, too. Brought back Karl Hobbs, part of two national championships, Brandin Knight, we’ve been through this. T.J. Thompson. The staff that I’ve been able to keep have done a great job preparing our guys for the expectations that are ahead of us.

Last year’s team went 16-11 and won their first-round game in the NCAA Tournament, beating Clemson. Then Rutgers lost narrowly to Houston, a Final Four Team

“But I like the fact that we got some guys that have been through it a little bit, we got some experience now in the NCAA tournament,” Piekiell said. “We’re just doing some great things. If we pack the RAC, I like those expectations.”

The Scarlet Knights were picked to finish eighth in the Big Ten in the recently conducted preseason poll.

Rutgers men’s basketball picked surprisingly low in Big Ten preseason poll

Rutgers men’s basketball picked eighth in preseason Big Tenn poll.

Like Rodney Dangerfield, Rutgers basketball don’t get no respect, no respect at all.

Returning four of five starters and with some solid additions via the transfer portal, Rutgers was picked to finish eighth in the preseason Big Ten poll.

This despite an NCAA Tournament appearance last year, a win over Clemson in the tournament’s first round, and a narrow loss in the next round to Houston, who made it to the Final Four.

Rutgers went 20-11 last season and 11-9 in the Big Ten. They finished tied for fourth place in the conference.

The preseason poll saw Michigan receive the most votes followed by Purdue and Illinois. All three programs received votes in the poll:

1. Michigan, 373 (13)
2. Purdue, 373 (12)
3. Illinois, 320 (3)
4. Ohio State, 316
5. Maryland, 269
6. Michigan State, 262
7. Indiana, 219
8. Rutgers, 208
9. Iowa, 150
10. Wisconsin, 149
11. Nebraska, 105
T-12. Northwestern, 81
T-12. Penn State, 81
14. Minnesota, 34

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn was named the preseason player of the year for the Big Ten.

Former NBA scout analyzes Rutgers basketball verbal Antwone Woolfolk

Antwone Woolfolk has lots of potential and a former NBA scout thinks Rutgers got a nice piece this week.

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Rutgers basketball landed a big man on Monday night with the addition of Antwone Woolfolk. He is now the third member of the Scarlet Knights 2022 recruiting class.

Originally a tight end prospect in football, Woolfolk is now choosing to focus on the hardcourt. The 6-foot-7 senior is raw but oozing with potential.

Former NBA scout Michael VandeGarde, who spent 18 years with the Philadelphia 76ers organization, sees plenty of promise in Woolfolk’s emerging game. He was asked to evaluate the limited tape on the verbal commit.

“He is a project ‘Big’ that is more center than power forward,” VandeGarde told ‘Rutgers Wire.’

“A hard-nosed player that can handle the physical nature of the game and should be able to play good team defense.  His skill set is better than most guys with his size and strength.”

There are areas for improvement, of course, as Woolfolk had been considered a football athlete up until a couple of months ago when he began to consider basketball as a true option at the college level. VandeGarde notes that Woolfolk’s “Shooting and face-up game, rim protection, conditioning, elite quick-twitch explosion” all need to continue to be developed.

He is certainly a bit of a prospect but can and should be able to help head coach Steve Piekiell develop front-court depth.

“He projects as a four-year player that should be able to contribute quickly because of his strength and size,” VandeGarde said.  “He has good upside because he has not concentrated on one sport in high school and could makes big strides quickly.  His skill set, which is good, could really improve in the coming years.”

He likens Woolfolk to former Michigan State power forward Nick Ward, a former All-Big Ten honorable mention currently playing in Europe.

VandeGarde is currently involved in consulting with several NBA teams. He also is passionately involved with CoachTube. An online training tool that gives athletes access to instruction, knowledge, and sports coaching videos, CoachTube provides access to on-demand online training from the world’s best coaches and players.

Four-star power forward Gus Yalden: ‘I really truly enjoyed my official visit at Rutgers’

Rutgers basketball recruit Gus Yalden, one of the top players in the nation, talks about his visit to the Scarlet Knights this weekend.

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Gus Yalden had an official visit to Rutgers on Saturday, the four-star big man taking in a football game and getting some time with men’s basketball head coach Steve Pikiell.

The power forward, ranked by Rivals as the No. 73 player in the nation, got a full tour of campus and the basketball facilities. This included being able to watch the team practice.

“The morning practice was great to watch; it was competitive and had lots of teachable moments,” Yalden told ‘Rutgers Wire’ after his visit.

“Crazy that this early in the season players already dialed in and efficient.”

Personable and outgoing, the class of 2023 prospect is enjoying the recruiting process.

One of the most coveted prospects in the nation, Yalden has a host of schools after him including offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, Iowa, Louisville, Maryland, Stanford, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Xavier among others.

The trip was an opportunity to see the campus, connect with the coaching staff and players and see if the Scarlet Knights were a good fit for him.

He had an opportunity to talk with Pikiell one-on-one during the visit. The message came across loud and clear.

“Pretty simple he just said he wanted to coach me and felt like it would be great for me on and off the court. Coach Pikiell has had an impressive basketball journey…his players and the Rutgers community seem to really embrace him,” Yalden said.

“Not going to lie I’m a little surprised how much I really truly enjoyed my official visit at Rutgers… just can’t imagine making this decision without being able to get on campus.”

Yalden said he hopes to continue his official visits with Nebraska and Wisconsin next on his agenda. He also hopes to take some other programs in on unofficial visits.

After his visit, Yalden wants to come up for one more visit to check a gameday experience at Rutgers.

Rutgers basketball recruit Gus Yalden previews October visit, talks Scarlet Knights interest

Rutgers basketball recruit Gus Yalden discusses his legitimate interest in the program and talks October visit.

Gus Yalden is getting ready for a visit to Rutgers to check in on the men’s basketball program. The four-star big man out of IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) is emerging as a priority recruit for Scarlet Knights head coach Steve Pikiell.

Yalden is set to visit Rutgers the first weekend of October, per Rivals affiliate site The Knight Report.

The 6-foot-8, 240 pounds power forward is the No. 73 player in the nation according to Rivals.com. He is a member of the class of 2023. He is seriously checking out the basketball program and seems to be feeling the love from Rutgers, especially as he is consistently being recruited following a foot injury late this past season.

“I’m just looking forward to spending time with the team and getting to know the players, spending time with the coaches and actually seeing students on the campus… really just dive into the culture of what makes Rutgers a special place,” Yalden told ‘Rutgers Wire’ this week.

“Coming off an injury this summer and not being 100 percent and then not being able to play in front of coaches this fall – you really learn quickly which coaches are all in and have made you a priority. So in my book, if I’m a priority to them [then] they are definitely a priority for me and my future.”

Yalden said that the College of Charleston, Rutgers, Nebraska, Wake Forest, Ohio, and Wisconsin have been most interested in his recruitment. He currently holds offers from the aforementioned programs as well as Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, Iowa, Louisville, Stanford, and West Virginia among others.

“A coach that knows players strengths and finds ways within their style of play to highlight those skills but at the same time refuses to settle with what players can do and instead pushes the team to achieve what they never knew they could do or be taught to do,” Yalden said.

“Academically looking for a school that supports their student-athletes, offers a strong community and a program that has pride in their legacy both in the classroom and on the court.”

Steve Pikiell on Tournament loss to Houston: ‘we’re not very far off from where we want to be’

Rutgers men’s basketball head coach Steve Pikiell talks about the importance of the team’s NCAA Tournament and the big picture significance of their second-round loss.

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Rutgers men’s basketball made the NCAA Tournament this past spring for the first time since 1991. For head coach Steve Pikiell, it was a sign of not just progress but also how close his Scarlet Knights are to their eventual goal.

Rutgers lost to Houston in the second round of the tournament, a hard-fought 63-60 knockout to a team that eventually made it to the Final Four. It was a bittersweet moment but one that head coach Steve Pikiell said underscored the progress and direction of this team.

So much progress has been made over the last three years and the tournament appearance plus the first-round win should be celebrated by the program. But the team was very close to a Sweet 16 appearance and could have beaten Houston with better execution on the offensive end.

“Our focus was more than anything, the one thing the Houston game really taught us, it gave us tremendous confidence. They were to see and [Houston] played in the Final Four. We were able to see, we’re not very far off from where we want to be. We want to play in the Final Four, we want to win the national championships,” Pikiell said last week.

“I think it gave our program as a staff tremendous excitement about the future; tremendous confidence going into this year.”

Pikiell spoke to Jon Newman and Danny Breslauer of the Scarlet Spotlight podcast. Available on Apple Podcasts, the bi-weekly show is an excellent resource for Scarlet Knights fans and focuses on Rutgers sports with an emphasis not just on football and basketball but also the school’s full offering of Olympic sports.

 

While Rutgers has brought in several good pieces via their recruiting as well as the transfer portal, the program’s starting five was rocked with the transfer of Myles Johnson to UCLA this offseason. In addition, guard Jacob Young, a significant piece of the rotation over the past two years, transferred to Oregon.

“Once the season ended it quickly turning to the season that we’re almost at right now. We didn’t spend a lot of time – we knew three of those guys were graduating and leaving, so we were very prepared for that,” Pikiell said on the podcast.

“And then had meetings with everybody and I want everyone to be happy. Just thankful for the time that we had with those guys, they were great people, great teammates, and excited about the opportunity that the freshmen and incoming players have for us.”

Bobi Klintman has Rutgers in his final six

Rutgers basketball is in the final six for Swedish forward Bobi Klintman.

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Bobi Klintman has Rutgers basketball in his top six, the small forward from Sweden including the Scarlet Knights as he pared down his list this week.

Listed as 6-foot-8 and 200 pounds, Klintman is a three-star prospect according to Rivals. His list of six programs includes Rutgers, Big Ten rival Maryland as well as Kansas, Virginia, Texas A&M and Loyola-Chicago.

For Rutgers basketball, it is an interesting development as the class of 2022 has a solid core including three-star guard Derek Simpson and three-star forward Braeden Moore. Both players committed to the Scarlet Knights over this past summer. Simpson is considered a late bloomer and Moore had a very solid offer list when he chose Rutgers.

 

In terms of fit, Klintman seems ideal for head coach Steve Pikiell’s system. He boasts good length, rebounds well and plays good defense. He has the ability to shoot from behind the arc and he is a good distributor of the ball.

Perhaps helping in this recruitment for Rutgers is forward Oskar Palmquist. A member of Sweden’s U20 national team, Palmquist joined the program in 2019 and was a redshirt. Last year, he appeared in 12 games and showed some promise as a shooter.

Rutgers men’s 2020-2021 basketball schedule is out

Rutgers men’s basketball schedule is out for the 2020-2021 season.

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The Rutgers men’s basketball schedule is out, showing the pathway for the Scarlet Knights to return to the NCAA Tournament.

Last season, Rutgers made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991. As a No. 10 seed they beat Clemson in the first round before falling 63-60 to second-seeded Houston in their next game. The Scarlet Knights will play Clemson in late November as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

The schedule features three teams from New Jersey (NJIT, Seton Hall and Rider) as part of the out of conference schedule. The Scarlet Knights close out the season with a home game against rival Penn State on March 6 before participating in the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis.

The last time Rutgers made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament came in the 1975 and 1976 seasons.

 

 

Day Date Opponent Site
Wednesday Nov. 10 Lehigh RAC
Saturday Nov. 13 Merrimack RAC
Tuesday Nov. 16 NJIT RAC
Thursday Nov. 18 @ DePaul (Gavitt Games) Chicago, Ill.
Monday Nov. 22 Lafayette RAC
Saturday Nov. 27 @ UMass Amherst, Mass.
Tuesday Nov. 30 Clemson (B1G/ACC) RAC
Friday Dec. 3 @ Illinois Champaign, Ill.
Thursday Dec. 9 Purdue RAC
Sunday Dec. 12 @ Seton Hall (GSH Classic) Newark, N.J.
Saturday Dec. 18 Rider RAC
Thursday Dec. 23 Central Connecticut State RAC
Wednesday Dec. 29 Maine RAC
Tuesday Jan. 4 Michigan RAC
Saturday Jan. 8 Nebraska RAC
Tuesday Jan. 11 @ Penn State State College, Pa.
Saturday Jan. 15 @ Maryland College Park, Md.
Wednesday Jan. 19 Iowa RAC
Saturday Jan. 22 @ Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn.
Tuesday Jan. 25 Maryland RAC
Saturday Jan. 29 @ Nebraska Lincoln, Neb.
Tuesday Feb. 1 @ Northwestern Evanston, Ill.
Saturday Feb. 5 Michigan State RAC
Wednesday Feb. 9 Ohio State RAC
Saturday Feb. 12 @ Wisconsin Madison, Wis.
Wednesday Feb. 16 Illinois RAC
Sunday Feb. 20 @ Purdue West Lafayette, Ind.
Wednesday Feb. 23 @ Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich.
Saturday Feb. 26 Wisconsin RAC
Wednesday March 2 @ Indiana Bloomington, Ind.
Sunday March 6 Penn State RAC
Wednesday-Sunday March 9-13 Big Ten Tournament Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Ind.)