Tag: Cliff Omoruyi

Gallery: Rutgers basketball celebrates a big – and important – win over rival Seton Hall

Rutgers basketball got a much-needed win on Saturday night over Seton Hall.

It was a thorough and complete performance from Rutgers basketball on Saturday night in a 70-63 win over rival Seton Hall. It is the kind of performance that Rutgers hopes they can build on with the heart of the Big Ten schedule fast approaching.

With the win, Rutgers is now 6-3 (0-1 Big Ten) on the season and they captured the Garden State Hardwood Classic Trophy, the annual rivalry trophy for their game against Seton Hall. It was the first time since 2013 that Rutgers beat Seton Hall at the Prudential Center (Newark, New Jersey).

It was a bit of a breakout performance for Cliff Omoruyi, who had 11 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocked shots. Noah Fernandes led all Rutgers scorers with 19 points.

Also encouraging was that Mawot Mag, in his first game of the year since suffering a season-ending injury last February, played 24 minutes.

Rutgers very much needed the win, following disappointingly lopsided losses against No. 24 Illinois and at Wake Forest. The Scarlet Knights raced out to a 12-5 lead early in the opening minutes of the game and took a 33-25 lead into halftime.

The big news from the night was the play of Omoruyi, who looked dominant and imposing on both ends of the court. This coupled with the return of Mag and Rutgers looked calmer and more composed on the court.

“When he plays like that, he is a problem. When we added some experience here another eight rebounds from Mawot and Cliff does a lot of great things,” head coach Steve Pikiell told reporters after the game.

“He had two straight days of great practices and really good leadership. I was proud of him. He is a problem when he plays like that and causes a lot of problems in the lanes when he blocks and alters a ton of shots.”

Scroll down and check out the best photos from Rutgers beating Seton Hall!

Rebounding hurt Rutgers basketball in loss to No. 24 Illinois

Rutgers basketball got physically dominated in a loss to Illinois.

It isn’t often that a Steve Pikiell-coached Rutgers basketball team loses the rebounding battle. And it isn’t often, as was the case on Saturday afternoon, that they doubled up by the opposition.

In a 76-58 home loss to No. 24 Illinois, there was a 55-27 disparity in rebounding. Most worrisome for Rutgers was that the Illini held a 19-9 advantage on the offensive glass, a stat that hasn’t traditionally been that way in the last four years under Pikiell.

Those second-opportunity points were tremendous for the Illini, as they staked themselves to an early lead on the road.

And while Rutgers held a 17:10 advantage in forced turnovers, it wasn’t enough to overcome Illinois’ clear edge on the boards.

“That’s the most turnovers they had so far this season but again, we just didn’t do what we needed to do on the backboards,” Pikiell told reporters after the game.

“We didn’t get our own offensive rebounds and we missed a lot and they manhandled us on the glass. You know I’m not happy with that, I know these guys I think this team is good we gotta figure that out obviously.

“When you’re playing a team that has size at every position, I knew that would be an issue for us but didn’t think it would be that kind of an issue. But tip of the hat, they had to go get them and they did and we had a few that came out of our hands and we had some offensive rebounds that just got taken from us and a lot of different things that happen when you don’t rebound effectively and they got us every which way on the backboards.”

Another troubling storyline to emerge from this game was the stat line from senior center Cliff Omoruyi. In Big Ten play, Rutgers needs Omoruyi to step up and be strong on both ends of the court.

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And while he did have nine rebounds and eight blocked shots, Omoruyi had just seven points in 3-of-10 shooting from the floor. It is the third time in seven games this season that Omoruyi hasn’t reached double-digit scoring.

“It always changes every year – when you are the top guy on the scouting report and they have a lot of time to prepare for you he is going to get that.,” Pikiell said

“He has to be better than the scouting report 0 we talk about that a lot.  Cliff has to understand that guys are keying in on him when we throw him the ball in the post.  We are getting better at not turning the ball over but the ones we have have been when we are trying to force it down to him.  It is a team collective effort.”

Rutgers is now 5-2 (0-1 Big Ten) on the season.

Watch: Cliff Omoruyi has two dunks in the opening 13 seconds as Rutgers beats Georgetown

Rutgers basketball got a big win over Georgetown on Wednesday night.

Cliff Omoruyi started the game in impressive fashion, with two dunks in the game’s opening 13 seconds. He set the tone for Rutgers as they beat Georgetown 71-60 in the Gavitt Games.

After losing their season opener to Princeton, Rutgers has now won three straight games. Georgetown drops to 1-2.

Omoruyi finished with eight points and six rebounds in 27 minutes played. He was 4-of-7 on shooting and had four blocks.

This was an important win for Rutgers, albeit against a rebuilding opponent. Georgetown, under head coach Ed Cooley, has pieced together some talented pieces and should be able to contend for the postseason this year. Getting a win against the Hoyas is a good resume builder for Rutgers as well as a confidence booster.

 

Sophomore guard Derek Simpson led Rutgers with 15 points. Freshman guard Jamichael Davis, who played 21 minutes, impressed with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting.

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They next play Howard on Saturday at Jersey Mike’s Arena.

What to make of Rutgers basketball’s season opening loss to Princeton?

Rutgers basketball dropped its season opener to Princeton 68-61 in an in-state matchup. Here are the five takeaways from RU’s season opener.

On Monday, Rutgers men’s basketball (0-1, 0-0) dropped their season opener to the Princeton Tigers (1-0, 0-0) 68-61 in an in-state matchup as part of the Jersey Jam in Trenton, New Jersey.

Princeton led most of the game, as there were only five lead changes in this New Jersey matchup. The Tigers’ ability to shoot behind the arc is the key to the Scarlet Knights’ loss in their season opener. Princeton shot 45 percent (9-for-20) from three-point range as the Scarlet Knights struggled behind the arc, shooting only 29 percent (4-for-14).

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Princeton senior guard Matt Allocco led the way for the Tigers, recording a team-high 21 points and nine rebounds. On the glass, forward Caden Pierce had a team-high 15 rebounds for the Tigers.

As for the Scarlet Knights, senior center Cliff Omoruyi led the way in scoring. The former First Team All-Big Ten Defensive center recorded a team-high 12 points along with seven rebounds and four blocks.

In his Rutgers debut, UMass transfer Noah Fernandes contributed ten points and three assists in 26 minutes. Also, second-year forward Antwone Woolfolk contributed double-digit points (10) in 19 minutes.

Below are the five takeaways from Rutgers’ season-opening loss to Princeton.

 

Rutgers men’s basketball tips off its 2023-24 season against Princeton tonight

Rutgers men’s basketball will open their 2023-24 campaign tonight with an in-state matchup against Princeton.

Rutgers men’s basketball will open their 2023-24 campaign tonight with an in-state matchup against Princeton. Rutgers will travel to Trenton to face the Tigers at Cure Insurance Arena, a neutral site that separates Rutgers (40 miles) and Princeton (12 miles) from the proposed location.

The Scarlet Knights are coming off a 19-win season and an invitation to the National Invitational Tournament. Last season, the Scarlet Knights finished the 2022-23 season with a record of 19-15 (10-10 Big Ten) and are returning nine players from last year’s roster. Out of nine returning players, four of them started at least five games last season (Cliff Omoruyi, Aundre Hyatt, Mawot Mag, and Derek Simpson).

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As the Scarlet Knights’ season tips off tonight, Rutgers will be anchored by former First Team All-Big Ten Defensive center Cliff Omoruyi. Rutgers senior center led the team in scoring (13.2 ppg), rebounds (9.6 RPG), and blocks (72) last season. For his efforts last season, Omoruyi was selected Second Team All-Big Ten and First Team All-MET.

As for Princeton, the Tigers finished their 2022-23 season with a 23-9 (10-4 Ivy League) and the No. 1 spot in the Ivy League standings. The Tigers are anchored by returning senior guard Matt Allocco. Last season, Allocco ranked third on the team and 20th in the Ivy League in points-per-game (10.7). Also, the Hilliard, Ohio, native ranked second on the team and 18th in his conference for assists per game (2.2). In 32 games last season, Allocco averaged 1.4 three-pointers per game, which ranked him 17th in the conference.

The season opener will tip off at 7 p.m., streaming on Peacock.

 

Ranking the Top-10 Big Ten players heading into the basketball season

Ranking the top 10 players in the Big Ten entering the college basketball season.

The long-awaited 2023-24 college basketball season begins today, and the Big Ten’s slate of games features 10 of the conference’s teams in action. Iowa, Indiana, Maryland and Michigan will have to wait one more day.

The Big Ten does not lack star power as the conference boasts the reigning national player of the year in Purdue’s Zach Edey as well as a bunch of premier guards. As we all know, guard play dominates college basketball, especially in March.

Before the games tip off this evening, we take a look at the top 10 Big Ten players. Are any freshmen ranked? Does any supplant Edey as number one?

Honorable mentions (in no particular order): Bruce Thorton (Ohio State), Keisei Tominaga (Nebraska), Mackenzie Mgbako (Indiana), Jamison Battle (Ohio State), Tyler Wahl (Wisconsin), Coleman Hawkins (Illinois), Chucky Hepburn (Wisconsin).

Rutgers basketball Cliff Omoruyi named to the All-Big Ten Preseason Team

Rutgers center Cliff Omoruyi was named to the 2023-24 All-Big Ten Preseason Team, marking consecutive All-Big Ten Preseason honors. 

Rutgers basketball center Clifford Omoruyi was named to the 2023-24 All-Big Ten Preseason Team, marking consecutive All-Big Ten Preseason honors for the Scarlet Knight.

The Benin City, Nigeria, native is the third player to receive this honor, joining teammates Ron Harper Jr. (2021-22) and Geo Baker (2020-21). Also, the 2023-24 season is the fourth consecutive season a Scarlet Knight was named to the All-Big Ten Team.

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The Rutgers center is returning to the Scarlet Knights after declaring for the NBA Draft in March, electing to take his skills to the pro level. He was invited to the 2023 NBA G League Elite Camp, working out with many NBA teams. In the end, Omoruyi elected to return to Rutgers to play another season for head coach Steve Pikiell and the Scarlet Knights.

In 2022-23, Omoruyi was one of the best centers in the Big Ten Conference. He produced a team-high 13.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game last season. While starting all 34 games last season, the Rutgers big man had 13 double-doubles and blocked 72 shots, ranking No. 15 in the country and No. 3 in the Big Ten.

In three seasons with the Scarlet Knights, Omoruyi has recorded 918 points, 666 rebounds, 128 blocks, and 48 assists in 89 games. Also, he has logged a 56.3 shooting percentage, averaging 10.3 points per game for his college career.

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Where is Rutgers ranked in the Big Ten Basketball Preseason Power Rankings?

After finishing last season No. 10 in the Big Ten Conference, where is Rutgers basketball ranked in the Big Ten Preseason Power Rankings?

After finishing the 2022-23 season as No. 10 in the Big Ten Conference, the Scarlet Knight will look to improve their conference record heading into the 2023-24 season. Where is Rutgers basketball ranked in the Big Ten Basketball Preseason Power Rankings?

According to On3, the Scarlet Knights are ranked No. 10 in their preseason Big Ten rankings as they gear up to kick off the 2023-24 season against the Princeton Tigers on November 6. Last season, Rutgers finished with a conference record of 10-10 and an overall record of 19-15.

With the absence of guards Cam Spencer and Paul Mulcahy, the Scarlet Knights will be searching for scoring in their backcourt heading into the upcoming season. Spencer and Mulcahy started a combined 62 games last season, scoring a combined average of 21.5 points per game.

Rutgers sophomore Derek Simpson and transfer guard Noah Fernandes will fill those empty backcourt positions for the Scarlet Knights. As a Freshman last season, Simpson averaged 12.7 points per game and started six games for the Scarlet Knights. As for Fernandes, the former UMass point guard is coming off a season-ending ankle injury and will look to provide some scoring for the Scarlet Knights in his last year of eligibility. Before his injury last season, he averaged 13.4 points and 4.1 assists in 11 games. 

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The Scarlet Knights will be anchored by their returning center, Cliff Omoruyi, one of the best rebounders and paint protectors. Omoruyi recorded 449 points, 325 rebounds, and 72 blocks for the Scarlet Knights last season.

With the return of forward Mawot Mag from a season-ending ACL injury, the Scarlet Knights are adding one of the best defenders in the conference to their starting lineup. In 2022-23, Mag started the first 23 games of the season before a season-ending injury, averaging 5.3 rebounds and 7.8 points per game.

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In the offseason, head coach Steve Pikiell and his staff added freshman Gavin Griffiths to their 2023-24 roster. Griffiths can easily be the top shooter in his class, something the Scarlet Knights were missing in 2022-23. According to 247Sports, Griffiths was the No. 20 recruit in the country, and he adds size, length, and athleticism to the Rutgers’ backcourt.

The biggest question for the Scarlet Knights is whether they can stay healthy, and can Pikiell get this group to play efficient defense while contributing consistent offense each night.

 

Breaking: Cliff Omoruyi is returning to Rutgers basketball

Cliff Omoruyi will return to Rutgers basketball for his senior season.

Rutgers basketball is getting one more year of Cliff Omoruyi. The center, who had tested the NBA draft waters, made his announcement on Wednesday night.

The news about Omoruyi’s return is a big development for Rutgers basketball, giving them a returning piece with All-Big Ten credentials. Omoruyi returns to the Big Ten as one of the best big men in the country.

Omoruyi is coming off a season of growth and development. Last season as a junior, he posted a career-high scoring average (13.2 points per game). He also had a career-high in rebounds  (9.6 per game) and blocks (2.1 per game).

Earlier this month at the G-League Elite Camp, Omoruyi had some strong flashes and performed very well in his opening game. As a starter, Omoruyi scored 12 points and added seven rebounds in Saturday’s win for ‘Team Four.’

With the return of Omoruyi, Rutgers has a team that has NCAA Tournament potential, especially with the offseason addition of Noah Fernandes out of the transfer portal.

A lot will be expected of Derek Simpson, the guard who flashed at times last season as a freshman for Rutgers. Also, incoming freshman Gavin Griffiths, a four-star, is expected to factor into the rotation and adds a strong shooting touch to the program.

Rutgers basketball: How did NBA draft prospect Cliff Omoruyi do at the G League Elite Camp?

Cliff Omoruyi had a strong weekend at the G League Elite Camp.

Rutgers basketball center Cliff Omoruyi showed well this weekend at the G League Elite Camp. The NBA draft hopeful certainly helped his professional aspirations and might have solidified himself as a player ready to take the next step in his professional.

It was two solid days for Omoruyi, even if he sparkled the most in his first game of the event. Omoruyi was assigned to ‘Team Four.’

As a starter, Omoruyi scored 12 points and added seven rebounds in Saturday’s win for ‘Team Four.’ As part of a design to see that all the players got their chance to be showcased before NBA scouts and teams, most players at the event started one of the two scheduled games.

On Sunday as part of a rotation of players and minutes, Omoruyi came off the bench, scoring three points and adding three rebounds in just 17 minutes.

He made his only shot in what was a loss for ‘Team Four.’

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He also measured and tested well:

  • Heigh: 6-feet-9 inches
  • Weight:
  • Hand-dimension (width): 11 inches
  • Standing reach: 9-feet and 2.5 inches
  • Wingspan: 7-feet and 6.25 inches

His height and weight at good, as is his body fat, which checked in at 6 percent.  But his wingspan and standing reach is impressive. His solid performance over the weekend coupled with his length should intrigue some scouts.

This was a fantastic weekend for Omoruyi, possibly even to the point where he will become a draftable player.

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