Tag: Cliff Omoruyi

Watch: Rutgers basketball’s Cliff Omouryi is putting on a show for NBA scouts

Cliff Omoruyi is looking good in the G-League camp.

Cliff Omoruyi might be gone, this after the former Rutgers basketball standout put together a strong showing at the G-League Elite Camp.

Omoruyi’s athleticism and potential was on full display and might mean that the Rutgers center is heading to the NBA draft and not back to college for one more season.

For those watching, Omoruyi is playing for ‘Team 4.’

In an 86-81 win over ‘Team 3,’ Omoryi was second on his team in his minutes played (21:04). He went 6-fot-7 from the floor, scoring 12 points (tied with two others for the team lead) and was second on his team with six total rebounds.

His opponent in Saturday’s game was Caleb McConnell, who scored three points with three rebounds and an assist in his team’s loss.

The story from Saturday was Omoruyi, who was fluid in transition and looked dominant in his showing. There is a very real chance that Omoruyi doesn’t return to Rutgers for a final season and instead enters the NBA draft or signs a deal in Europe.

Check out Omoryi’s strong Saturday performance:

 

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The 6-foot-10 Omoruyi averaged 13.2 points, 2.1 blocks and 9.4 rebounds last season as a junior. All three numbers were career highs for the talented Omoruyi, who was a former four-star recruit.

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Rutgers basketball: Cliff Omoruyi will test NBA draft waters, won’t sign with an agent

Rutgers basketball center Cliff Omoruyi will test the NBA draft waters.

Leaving open the chance for a return to the Rutgers basketball program, Cliff Omoruyi declared for the NBA draft on Thursday. The Scarlet Knights center is one of the main reasons why Rutgers has made the postseason each of the last three years, with two of those appearances coming in the NCAA Tournament.

Omoruyi averaged a career-high 13.2 points per game this past year, his third at Rutgers. He also averaged 9.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, both impressive numbers.

He has seen growth in his ability as a scorer as well as his rebounding. Always a tenacious defender, Omoruyi has developed into one of the top post players in not just the Big Ten but also the nation.

Omoruyi released his statement about his intention to pursue a professional career on Thursday night.

 

“We are thrilled for Cliff to explore the opportunity of declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft,” Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell said in a statement released by the program. 

“Cliff has become the ultimate ambassador for Rutgers on and off the basketball court and we will support him and his family through this exciting journey.”

Omoruyi has signaled that he will not hire an agent, thereby leaving the door open for his return to Rutgers for one more season.

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Should he stay or should he go? Former NBA scout breaks down Rutgers center Cliff Omoruyi’s NBA outlook

Michael Vandegarde breaks down the NBA outlook for Rutgers center Cliff Omoruyi.

The future of Cliff Omoruyi could well be decided in the next couple of weeks. Coming off another strong season at Rutgers, Omoruyi could opt to declare his intentions for the NBA draft or announce a return for one more season of college basketball.

It is certainly a nuanced decision for Omoruyi, brimming with potential and upside who has also shown steady, significant growth over the past three years at Rutgers.

This past season as a junior, Omoruyi averaged a career-high 13.2 points per game. His field goal percentage was down this year but he saw significant upticks in his rebounding and blocked shots.

But did he do enough to impress NBA teams?

Michael Vandegarde spent 18 seasons as a scout in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers. He took a look at Omoruyi’s last season at Rutgers with an eye to see if he is ready to head to the NBA.

“Cliff is a high-level athlete that has improved each and every year. He has some elite qualities as a college player which include his physical attributes, his defensive presence, his rebounding, and his quick twitch bounce,” Vandegarde told Rutgers Wire on Monday.

“His NBA future is a question mark, as Cliff is limited as an offensive player besides dunks and putbacks.”

Vandegarde is currently involved with CoachTube, an online coaching platform that allows users to get coaching from former and current professional and college athletes across multiple sports.

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In terms of Omoruyi, Vandegarde sees a player who is tough and talented, noting his ability as a defender. Omoruyi played consistently well throughout the season against some of the top post players in the Big Ten, including Purdue’s Zach Edey.

An All-American and a likely first round pick, in two games this season Edey was held below his usual scoring and rebounding average by Omoruyi.

Vandegarde sees the upside in Omoruyi, but thinks the Rutgers center needs more growth and development.

“Also, I am not sure how well he guards the pick and roll and covers smaller players defensively,” Vandegarde said.

“The NBA is all about playing multiple positions and being able to shoot from the perimeter which are two things he isn’t at this time. Currently, I would not project him as a draft pick and I think staying in school another year is his best option.”

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Rutgers men’s basketball all-time roster: Scarlet Knight Legends

Rutgers Wire celebrates the rich history of Rutgers men’s basketball with an all-time roster selection!

Contrary to those who think Rutgers just started playing basketball three years ago, the Scarlet Knights have a long and storied history on the court.

This includes a number of NBA players and some teams that are the stuff of lore, including the 1975-76 group that made a run to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.

And while the current era of Rutgers basketball, with the team on the cusp of a third straight NCAA Tournament, is the most successful spell in program history, there is a long and storied history of basketball at the school.

Rutgers Wire chose one head coach, two assistant coaches and 10 players to make up the all-time roster. Scroll down as we begin with the best head coach in Rutgers basketball history!

Big Ten Basketball: Rutgers vs Purdue prediction, point spread, odds, best bet

Rutgers basketball faces a bigtime opponent on Friday in top-seeded Purdue.

Rutgers men’s basketball will face Purdue (26-5, 15-5 Big Ten) in the quarterfinal of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday. Rutgers got here by beating Michigan in dominating fashion in the tournament’s second round.

In the second half Rutgers outscored the Wolverines by 15 as Cam Spencer and Derek Simpson scored 23 of their combined 31 points.  However, coming off a big win they will be facing a talented Purdue team.

On Sunday, Purdue became the first Big Ten team since 2014 to win the league title by three or more games. Coming off of that win, they have unfinished business against the Scarlet Knights, who they lost to earlier this season. The Boilermakers will need a big game from Zach Edey as they look to advance beyond the Quarterfinal of the Big Ten tournament.

To help you prepare for the game and make smart decisions, here are the latest details from Tipico Sportsbook.

The game starts at 12:00 p.m. ET and can be seen on the Big Ten Network.

Rutgers men’s basketball received multiple Big Ten honors

With an overall record of 18-13 (10-10 Big Ten), five Scarlet Knights received Big Ten Conference honors for Rutgers men’s basketball.

Five Rutgers basketball players received Big Ten Conference honors this season, showing solid recognition for yet another winning season for the Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers finished the season 18-13 (10-10 Big Ten). It is a fourth straight winning season for Rutgers. Should they make the NCAA Tournament, it would be for a third straight season, a potential first for the program.

After being awarded the ESPN College Gameday National Defensive Player of the Year last week and a top-ten semifinalist for the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year, Rutgers senior guard Caleb McConnell received Co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. One of Rutgers captains, McConnell shared the defensive honor with Northwestern’s Chase Audige.

He is the fifth player ever to win the award in two-straight seasons.

McConnell finished the regular season wit a Big Ten best 2.6 steals-per-game, anchoring a Rutgers defense that was seventh in the nation.

Also, McConnell is now second in all-time steals for the Scarlet Knights, trailing Eddie Jordan by six steals for first place. He was also selected All-Big Ten Defensive First Team and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media & Coaches).

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Rutgers’ big man Cliff Omoruyi was another Scarlet Knight to receive multiple Big Ten honors. The junior center was selected First-Team All-Defense, averaging 2.1 blocks per game. Omoruyi totaled 65 blocks throughout the season, causing havoc in the paint. He is third in the Big Ten in blocks, ranking No. 23 in the nation. On top of the All-Big Ten Defensive First Team, Omoruyi received All-Big Ten Second Team (Media) and All-Big Ten Third Team (Coaches).

Rutgers senior guards Cam Spencer and Paul Mulcahy received honors, with both players being selected All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media & Coaches). Spencer was Rutgers’ most consistent scorer, averaging 12.7 points per game. Meanwhile, Mulcahy averaged 8.2 points and 4.9 assists per game for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers forward Mawot Mag went down with a season-ending injury in February but received recognition for his hard work. Mag was awarded the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for the season.​

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What we learned about Ohio State’s thrilling win over Rutgers

That was fun, wasn’t it? #GoBucks

The Buckeyes and Scarlet Knights battled a full 40 minutes on Thursday night in Columbus and an unlikely hero emerged for Ohio State. Guard Tanner Holden hit a game-winning three-point shot as time expired, giving the Bucks a 67-66 win.

The win for the Buckeyes brings their record to 7-2 with a date the reeling North Carolina next. The Tar Heels have lost their last four games and still have two more to play before hosting Ohio State.

There was a lot to take away from this game, as Rutgers is a very solid team with a star (more on that in a bit). Find out what we learned about the buzzer-beating win for Ohio State below.

Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase Preview: Temple vs. Rutgers

The Scarlet Knights and the Temple Owls will tip off against each this Friday night, both teams seeking a win on the big stage.

Tomorrow night, Friday 11/18/22 at 5 pm EST, Rutgers and Temple will tip off against each other in the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase, an event played at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

Seeking their fourth straight win, Rutgers will be battling a Temple squad that is eager to get a bounce-back win, after losing to Vanderbilt 89-87 in overtime. Rutgers, 3-0, is trying to stay perfect on the season, as Temple (1-2) is trying to get back to .500.

The game will be broadcast on ESPNU and 88.7 WRSU-FM radio.

Who has the edge?

Looking over the team stats, Rutgers has the edge in this matchup. Head coach Steve Pikiell, is thrilled with the Scarlet Knights’ balanced scoring attack, averaging 78.7 points per game. Ball movement is key to a balanced offense and Rutgers is doing just that, averaging 15.3 assists per game. Rutgers’ big man, Cliff Omoruyi, will be a force in this matchup. Omoruyi has been a force to be reckoned with in the paint, averaging 16.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocked shots.  The Owls are averaging 30.7 rebounds per game, ranking them No. 284 in the nation. Rebounding isn’t the Owls’ strength, losing the rebounding battle in their first three games.

Rutgers’ aggressive defense is going to play a major factor in this matchup. The Scarlet Knights are averaging 13.7 steals per game, ranking them 5th in the nation. Meanwhile, the Owls are only averaging 5 steals a game, ranking them 300th. The Scarlet Knights currently have 41 steals in their first three games, leading the Big Ten Conference. Turnovers lead to easy points, so look for Rutgers to put a ton of pressure on Temple’s guards.

Even though Rutgers might have the edge in this matchup, the Temple Owls are no pushover. A few nights ago, the Owls pulled off an upset, beating No. 16 Villanova 68-64. The Owls’ inconsistency is not uncommon during the season’s early stages, but Temple’s guard Damian Dunn has been on fire. In Temple’s first three games, Dunn is averaging a team-high 29.7 points per game. Pikiell will look to get the ball out of Dunn’s hands, forcing him to dish it off to his teammates. Rutgers’ will put a full-court press on the Sophomore guard, trapping him when he gets over half-court. Rutgers will try to wear Dunn down with constant pressure. If Temple is going to win this game, the Scarlet Knights are going to make sure Dunn doesn’t beat them.

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Cliff Omoruyi on his decision to return to Rutgers: ‘I want to lead the team’

Cliff Omoruyi talks about why he decided to return to Rutgers men’s basketball for his junior season.

Cliff Omoruyi is eyeing a leadership role with Rutgers men’s basketball ahead of what will certainly be a season of change for the Scarlet Knights.

Given the losses this offseason, including Geo Baker, Ron Harper Jr., Caleb McConnell and Jaden Jones all declaring that they will turn professional, there was some speculation that Omoruyi might follow suit. He is the prototype of the new breed of big men given his athleticism, ability to protect the rim and his tremendous inside presence.

But Omoruyi decided to return for at least one more season at Rutgers (a story first broken by RutgersWire in March). On Thursday, Andy Katz of the Big Ten Network had an interview with the Rutgers center where that decision to return came up.

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In fact, the first question from Katz was about why Omoruyi decided to return for what will be his junior season at Rutgers.

“One of the reasons-  I just want to be a leader, I want to lead the team,” Omoruyi said in the Big Ten Network interview.

“Another reason is that I want to get my degree in two years. I want to get it done.”

This offseason, Omoruyi said he is focused on working on his shooting angles as well as his spacing on the court. In addition, he is doing agility work to continue to build on his already notorious level of athleticism.

“I just do the extra work like stretching, working on my agility with my athletic trainer, getting my body right,” Omoruyi told Katz about his offseason work.

This past season, Rutgers men’s basketball made consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since 1976. The growth of Omoruyi into one of the best centers in the Big Ten certainly was crucial for the Scarlet Knights.

As a sophomore, Omoruyi averaged 11.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

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Rutgers basketball’s Cliff Omoruyi hosting on-campus shoe drive

Rutgers center Cliff Omoruyi is running a shoe drive on campus. All donations will be sent to his hometown in Nigeria

Clifford Omoruyi is one of the stars of the Rutgers men’s basketball program. After leading the entire country in rim-rattling dunks, he is poised to be a leader for coach Steve Pikiell’s program this season on the court, but he’s making a bigger impact off the court to start the off-season.

 

Omoruyi has set up a shoe drive on Rutgers’ campus that goes the rest of this week. Daily, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., you can bring lightly worn shoes to campus and drop them off at the RWJBH Athletic Performance Center lobby, located next to Jersey Mike’s Arena. Shoes will be donated to Omoruyi’s hometown of Benin City, Nigeria.

The early donations to the shoe drive have been strong. Omoruyi and Rutgers will be also be accepting donations at SHI Stadium before and during the Rutgers Football Spring Game on April 22. Omoruyi was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten this past season, as well as Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree. His charitable endeavor shows that he is just as strong-willed off the court as he is on.

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