Tag: Derek Simpson

Rutgers basketball guard Derek Simpson enters the NCAA Transfer Portal

On Monday, Rutgers basketball guard Derek Simpson entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after two seasons with the Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers basketball guard Derek Simpson has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after two seasons with the Scarlet Knights.

The transfer portal officially opened on Monday and will remain open until May 1. Simpson joins Antonio Chol and Antwone Woolfolk are the only Scarlet Knights to enter.

A former three-star recruit, Simpson appeared in all 32 games this past season. Simpson started 25 games during his sophomore season, averaging 8.3 points with a team-high 93 assists and 44 steals. He also shot a team-best 86.4% from the free-throw line.

In early January, Simpson scored 23 points against Ohio State. In 34 minutes of work, Simpson recorded a 56.3 percent shooting percentage going 9-for-16 from the floor. He also added eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals in a 76-72 loss.

[lawrence-related id=36527,36392]

Simpson struggled with inconsistency on offense throughout his sophomore season, averaging 8.3 points per game, 3.2 rebound points per game, and 2.9 assists per game, shooting just 30 percent from the field. He continued to play high-level defense, hitting the boards hard, and posted an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2-to-1.

Simpson excelled in his freshman season, playing in all 34 games with six starts, averaging 20.1 minutes per game. He logged 7.1 points per game and had 50 assists and 26 steals during the 2022-23 season. He finished his first year strong, averaging 13.7 points in the final six games of the year.

 

Rutgers men’s basketball winning streak comes to an end at Minnesota

Rutgers basketball’s four-game losing streak is snapped.

On Sunday night, Rutgers men’s basketball dropped their first game of the month to Minnesota 81-70. The Scarlet Knights came into this Big Ten game having won four straight games.

After a solid first half that ended deadlocked at 37-37, Rutgers struggled in the second half to get anything going offensively. With the loss, Rutgers is now 14-11 (6-8 Big Ten).

Minnesota was dominant  as they outscored Rutgers 44-31 in the second half and were led by Pharrell Payne. The Cottage Grove, Minnesota, native scored a team-high 21 points and hauled in 11 rebounds. He got some help from Elijah Hawkins, who scored 16 points.

 

While Sunday night did not go as planned for Rutgers, there were a few bright spots, such as Clifford Omoruyi. The talented center scored 19 points and added eight rebounds to his resume. Derek Simpson also had a big game, scoring 19 points.

[lawrence-related id=35448,35435]

Minnesota went to the free-throw line 34 times.

In this matchup, Rutgers was unable to get many stops close to the basket. They were outscored in the paint 38-30. Minnesota also fared much better beyond the arc, making eight three-pointers. Rutgers only made four shot and 21.1 percent from three-point range.

Following a disappointing result, Rutgers will turn their attention to Purdue. They are set to go on the road to take on the second-best team in the country on February 22. So far this season, they are 3-6 away from Jersey Mike’s Arena.

Jeremiah Williams to make Rutgers debut against Michigan

Jeremiah Williams will play for Rutgers at Michigan.

Rutgers men’s basketball will get a midseason boost on Saturday with the return of Jeremiah Williams. The Iowa State transfer is eligible to play after sitting out 20 games for violating the NCAA’s gambling policy. His return comes four games early, as his suspension was supposed to last until February 18.

In his college career, Williams has toured the country. He played two years for Temple, averaging 9.2 points and 4.2 assists per game. After his run with the Owls, Williams transferred to Iowa State for the 2022-2023 season. However, he never played for the Cyclones after damaging an Achilles tendon during a workout in October 2022.

According to Jerry Carino in his breaking story on Williams’ return:

The U.S. District Court of New Jersey on Friday granted an injunction to the 6-foot-5 combo guard so he can suit up at Michigan Saturday; the NCAA’s suspension was supposed to last four more games, which would have allowed Williams to begin playing Feb. 18 at Minnesota.

 

After months of anticipation, Rutgers backcourt should improve with Williams back in the mix. He is a good ball-handler and a solid rebounder. He still has two years of eligibility remaining.

[lawrence-related id=34908,34902]

While Williams should get playing time right away, it will be interesting to see how he is worked into the rotation. Head coach Steve Pikielll has relied on his young guards, such as Derek Simpson, Jamichael Davis and Gavin Griffiths this season.

Although Rutgers’ matchup with Michigan will mark his first game action, this will not be Williams’s first time playing with his teammates. He has been practicing with the team since July.

Click here to read Carino’s full story on Williams getting an injunction so he could play for Rutgers.

Rutgers men’s basketball conquers Big Ten demons in win over Indiana

Rutgers men’s basketball got a big lift with a midweek win over Indiana.

On Tuesday night, Rutgers men’s basketball finally got their first Big Ten win of the season in their fourth try. Rutgers beat Indiana 66-57 as five players,Rincluding Mawot Mag, scored double figures. While Mag continued to be a scoring machine, he got help from various sources.

Along with Mag, Aundre Hyatt, Derek Simpson, Austin Williams and JaMichael Davis had at least 10 points. Hyatt’s play, in particular, stood out since he is Rutgers’s leading score. Before Tuesday’s win, he had not scored more than nine points in a game since December 30th.

As Rutgers rolled to their ninth win of the season, they were able to take care of the Hoosiers mistakes. Indiana turned the ball over 18 times, allowing 18 points off turnovers. Their largest lead of the night was seven points.

 

While Tuesday night didn’t go as planned for Indiana, there were still a few bright spots. That includes the talented trio of Malik Reneau, Mackenzie Mgbako, and Kel’el Ware. They each scored 13 points and Ware had a big night on the boards with 13 rebounds.

[lawrence-related id=34006,33969,33977]

With their first conference win of the season in the books, Rutgers will shift its focus to its next game against Michigan State on Saturday. Through 15 games, the Spartans are off to a 9-6 start.

Down big in the first half, Rutgers basketball battles back in loss at Ohio State

Rutgers basketball lost a tight Big Ten game at Ohio State.

On Wednesday night, Rutgers men’s basketball faced Ohio State in their first game of 2024. While the Scarlet Knights were able to keep things close, the Buckeyes emerged with a 76-72 win and improved to 8-1 at home.

Rutgers is now 8-5 (0-2 Big Ten) following the loss at Ohio State.

As Rutgers struggled to stop Ohio State, the Buckeyes’ Bruce Thornton was a scoring machine. Thornton, a guard, scored 24 points while dishing out seven assists. He has been Ohio State’s best player all season and he showed why in front of 10,614 fans at Value City Arena.

Although Clifford Omoruyi and Aundre Hyatt struggled, Rutgers got some solid offensive play from their backcourt. Derek Simpson led the way offensively with 23 points, and Noah Fernandez helped out with 17. The duo continued to step up when needed.

 

While Wednesday night ended in disappointing fashion, Rutgers showed a lot of fight. After being down 45-32 in the first half, Rutgers outscored Ohio State 40-31 in the second half. Had they not gotten off to a slow start, an upset was well within reach.

[lawrence-related id=33713,33711]

After three days off, Rutgers will be back in action on Wednesday against Iowa. The Hawkeyes are off to an 8-6 start and have lost their last game on Tuesday. For Rutgers, taking care of the basketball will be vital after turning the ball over 11 times against Ohio State.

Rutgers men’s basketball ends 2023 with thrilling win over Stonehill

Rutgers basketball got a win to close out December.

In their final game of 2023, Rutgers basketball won in thrilling fashion over Stonehill. After letting a six-point lead slip away, Derek Simpson was the hero on Saturday afternoon and secured a win for Rutgers with less than 20 seconds left.

With Rutgers trailing Stonehill 58-56, Simpson drained a three-pointer with 12.7 seconds left. While the New Jersey native was the talk of social media, he got some help from Rutgers other stars, including Clifford Omoruyi.

After a quiet game against Mississippi State last Saturday, Omoruyi was a force against the Skyhawks. The talented center added 17 points and 15 rebounds to his resume. It marked the second time in his last there games that Omoruyi recorded a double-double.

Rutgers is now 8-4 (0-1 Big Ten) following the tight win.

[lawrence-related id=33502]

 

Due to Omoruyi’s play, Rutgers avoided a disappointing loss to a Skyhawks team with only two wins this season. The Scarlet Knights ended the first half up 35-26 but were outscored 29-24 in the second half.

[lawrence-related id=33570,33567]

In an afternoon in which Rutgers struggled to score, they played well defensively. Stonehill turned the ball over 17 times and committed 26 fouls. They also allowed Rutgers to score 12 fast break points.

[lawrence-related id=33544]

Although Rutgers still has plenty to work on, they will close out 2023 with an 8-4 record. That will be important heading into January as things will get more challenging due to a schedule full of Big Ten teams.

Who are the top five players for Rutgers basketball this season?

Rutgers basketball has had some ups and downs this season but still has a very solid foundation moving forward.

With the start of 2024 only weeks away, Rutgers fans are excited about what the new year will bring to college basketball. The Scarlet Knights are off to a 7-4 start and are 0-1 in conference play. While Rutgers currently sits towards the bottom of the Big Ten standings, January represents a chance for them to make up some ground.

As the Scarlet Knights have made the most of non-conference play, five players have stood out the most. That list includes Clifford Omoruyi, Aundre Hyatt, Gavin Griffiths, Noah Fernandes and Derek Simpson. The talented group has frustrated opponents with their offensive play and ability to take advantage of mistakes.

 

With Omoruyi and Hyatt averaging over ten points a game, Fernandes and Simpson have provided balancing scoring. In his freshman year, Griffiths has shown why he was a highly regarded recruit and has already carved out a role in the lineup.

Scroll down for a breakdown of their 2023 campaigns!

Rutgers searching for first road win of the season in matchup with Wake Forest

Rutgers basketball faces a solid Wake Forest team on Wednesday night.

On Wednesday night, Rutgers basketball will be looking to get back into the win column after Illinois snapped their five-game winning streak on Saturday. After enjoying the comforts of home, Rutgers will travel to Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum to take on Wake Forest.

Entering this matchup, Wake Forest is 3-0 at home. In their most recent win over Florida, Hunter Sallis led the way offensively with a team-high 24 points. As the Demon Deacons try to stay undefeated at home, they will be tasked with limiting Rutgers talented trio of Clifford Omoruyi, Derek Simpson and Aundre Hyatt.

 

Through Rutgers first six games, Hyatt is averaging a team leading 11.6 points a game. Omoruyi has been a monster on the boards, averaging 9.1 rebounds a game. Along with Simpson, who has been a scoring machine, the Rutgers’ offense has been hard to stop.

[lawrence-related id=32701,32690]

As the Scarlet Knights look to improve to 6-2, they will be in unfamiliar territory. Wednesday night will mark their first road game of the season. It will be a good test for the Scarlet Knights, who have plenty to prove after losing their first Big Ten game of the season.

To leave North Carolina with a win, they will need their offense to be at its best and to limit turnovers.

Rutgers men’s basketball faces tough test against Illinois

Rutgers basketball hosts Illinois on Saturday.

On Saturday afternoon, Rutgers will put their perfect home record on the line against the No. 24 Illinois. On the season, the Scarlet Knights are 5-0 at Jersey Mike’s Arena and are outscoring opponents by 15 points a game.

As Rutgers looks to pull off an upset, they will have to take care of the ball. So far this season, the Fighting Illini are undefeated when they win the turnover battle. However, during their 5-1 start, that has not been an issue for Rutgers.

 

In their first Big Ten matchup of the season, Rutgers will need a big game from their stars. They have been led by Aundre Hyatt, who is averaging a team-high 12 points a game. Derek Simpson, who is averaging 10.7 points a game, and Clifford Omoruyi have also terrorized defenses.

[lawrence-related id=32586,32566]

They will be tasked with stopping Terrance Shannon Jr., who is averaging 19.5 points a game. Heading into this matchup, Illinois has been a winning machine, as their last loss came on November 14 to Marquette.

With all eyes in the Big Ten on Piscataway, this game is the perfect test for Rutgers. They have not played a ranked team this season and match up well against Illinois. This game should provide plenty of memorable moments for fans of both teams.

Rutgers athletics struggle as November winds down

With winter sports in full swing, Rutgers fans have shifted their focus to basketball and wrestling

With winter sports in full swing, Rutgers fans have shifted their focus to basketball and wrestling. However, after a promising start, the trio has struggled lately. Men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and wrestling have posted a combined 9-7 record.

Of the three, men’s basketball is off to the best start. After losing their season opener, Rutgers has won four straight and has been led by familiar faces in Aundre Hyatt and Clifford Omoruyi. On Monday night, they took on Saint Peter’s with a chance to extend their winning streak to five games.

However, women’s basketball has not had the same luck. They lost their last game to Boise State and fell two games under five hundred. On Wednesday night, they will have the opportunity to get back on track when they take on Delaware State.

Rutgers will be looking to return to its winning ways in December as conference games become more important.

Scroll down and check out how Rutgers sports have been doing this winter!