Tag: Steve Pikiell

What did Rutgers basketball head coach Steve Pikiell say about Zach Martini?

Zach Martini officially joins Rutgers basketball.

Need met talent for Rutgers basketball last week, with Zach Martini committing to the Big Ten program out of the transfer portal. For a team with high expectations heading into next season, Martini is a big addition to Rutgers.

On Tuesday, Martini’s addition out of the transfer portal was announced by Rutgers basketball and head coach Steve Pikiell. He adds a Big Ten caliber skillset to the program.

Martini comes to Rutgers having made 29 starts last season for Princeton where he averaged 8.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for Princeton. In his final game for the Tigers, a loss to UNLV in the first round of the NIT, Martini scored 17 points.

The 6-foot-7 forward fits a major need for Rutgers. A solid scorer with range, Martini is a strong defensive presence and a high-character player. He adds experience and leadership to the program.

“We are thrilled to officially welcome Zach Martini to The Knighthood,” Pikiell said on Tuesday in a release from Rutgers basketball.

“Zach is a player that brings all the things we are looking for in the transfer portal with his experience, toughness, and the ability to shoot the basketball. Zach comes from a tremendous family and his ties to Rutgers and love for New Jersey were evident during the entire process. He is a proven winner, and I am so excited that he has embraced being a part of the unique opportunity next season provides.”

Earlier in the transfer portal process, Rutgers added guard Tyson Acuff.

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Last year for Eastern Michigan, Acuff averaged 21.7 points per game.

Computers? Don’t talk about computers! Rutgers basketball’s Steve Pikiell responds to analyst projections for his team

Steve Pikiell talks about Rutgers basketball’s grit and perseverance.

Rutgers basketball has won four straight games, with the Scarlet Knights suddenly turning around a season that seemed stuck in neutral. And with Rutgers win over Northwestern on Thursday night, head coach Steve Pikiell took the time to defend his locker room…and make a point about analysts projecting his team’s downfall.

Pikiell, in fact, pointed out his take on computer projections and analysis as his team claws its way back into the postseason conversation. Computers, Pikiell said, have no place once the ball goes into play.

(Pikiell didn’t hear this week’s news about the return of EA Sports College Football apparently but his broader point remains).

But it was a bit of a rant that paged his inner Jim Mora Sr.

After four straight wins, Rutgers isn’t a lock for the postseason by any stretch. But they are certainly in the conversation again. It was a laughable thought two weeks ago.

“These guys figure it out. That’s what happens. Games aren’t played on computers,” Pikiell told reporters after the game.

“Referees make calls during games. Guys are hurt. Guys are injured and the guys figure it out. These guys have done a fantastic job of figuring it out and that’s what I like the most. No games are played on computers. Keep that in mind. We need to go through the game. We need to make free throws. That KenPom guy – I need to recruit him because this guy has every answer to everything.

“He’s never played and I don’t think he shoots well. I don’t think he’s a good defender but he’s got every answer to everything. Still got to play the games.”

With the win, Rutgers is now 14-10 (6-7 Big Ten). They have a lot more work to do if they are going to make the postseason but they are at least putting themselves in a position to contend.

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This win, over a Northwestern team that projects to be in the NCAA Tournament, is a nice resume builder for Rutgers. They overcame a significant deficit midway through the first half to get the 63-60 win.

Oskar Palmquist came off the bench to make three big shots, all three-pointers, to spark the comeback.

“We have been down and this team just keeps on fighting. Oskar really helped us in the first half by making some huge shots and cutting their lead to seven,” Pikiell said.

“You will be up sometimes, you will be down sometimes. This group is really practicing the right way. We’re doing a great job at getting prepared for these games and you never know what obstacle you will face. It just takes everybody to stay alive and I appreciate it.”

Michigan State’s Tom Izzo on the state of Rutgers basketball: I feel for Steve Pikiell

Michigan State head coach Tim Izzo talks about Rutgers basketball

Rutgers basketball is in a transition year, one clearly made worse by some offseason decisions that came as a major surprise to the program. Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo is a believer that Rutgers’ down year is due in part to these offseason choices where two starters shockingly entered the transfer portal.

Michigan State beat Rutgers 73-55 on Sunday. With the loss, Rutgers is now 9-7 (1-4 Big Ten).

This offseason, Rutgers shockingly lost its starting backcourt when Paul Mulcahy and Cam Spencer went in the transfer portal.

The loss of Spencer (to UConn) was a huge surprise and stung the program. Rutgers took a chance on Spencer, who played three seasons for Loyola (Maryland). Spencer took a big step up and excelled at Rutgers.

He was being counted on as a big contributor this season. Instead, he parlayed his success at Rutgers that into an opportunity with UConn.

“Don’t rule them [Rutgers] out either. Those two wings, (Mawot) Mag and (Aundre) Hyatt, they’re good players and (Cliff) Omoruyi is a monster,” Izzo told reporters after the game.

“I think they’re getting a little more out of their guards. But, I feel sorry for him [Pikiell], it’s one thing these crazy rules that we have to all deal with, but I think he lost two of his guys in the summer. One went to UConn and one went to Washington. When you lose them in the summer you don’t get to get another player and so I feel for Steve on that. It’s hard enough when you lose them in the spring, but when you lose them in the summer… I think those young guards are coming but they’re young. So, I think all those had a factor in it.”

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Spencer is currently averaging 15,6 points per game, a career high. His 51.4 field goal percentage and 46.8 percentage from three point is a major reason why UConn is 15-2 on the season.

Steve Pikiell hoping to rebound from Rutgers basketball’s latest loss

Rutgers basketball struggled to rebound in their latest loss.

Steve Pikiell said it is on him to address his team’s rebounding woes. The Rutgers basketball head coach’s comments came after his team was dominated on the glass in a 70-60 loss to Mississippi State.

In a year where it was obvious that Rutgers basketball was re-loading and getting ready for its top-10 class coming in next year, there was always going to be a bit of a talent deficiency. But it was still surprising to see Rutgers get out-rebounded 47-26 on Saturday afternoon.

The hallmark of Rutgers the last five years under Pikiell has been its toughness. And with one of the Big Ten’s top centers in Cliff Omoruyi returning for his senior year, it is especially surprising to see Rutgers get out-worked off the glass the way they did on Saturday.

“I watched too much film and I think they are one of the best defensive teams in the country and I thought for twenty minutes we hung around, but it’s on me to figure out this rebounding thing,” Pikiell told reporters after the game.

“We didn’t do a great job on the backboard and obviously that led to free throws. We played an NCAA tournament team and I told our guys if we can find a way for 40 minutes then we would have a chance. This was a big, physical basketball game and we didn’t take care of the backboards the way we needed to.”

Omoruyi had 3 points and no rebounds against Mississippi State. He played just 20 minutes with foul trouble.

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Rutgers saw their two-game winning streak snapped and are now 7-4 (0-1 Big Ten) on the season.

Figuring out the rebounding issue ahead of the start of the Big Ten regular season schedule. Keeping Omoruyi on the court and out of foul trouble would help Rutgers find some balance in rebounding.

“He was in foul trouble today and that was really tough. He never really got into the flow at all. We played on some runs without him and when I left him in he got two quick fouls right away,” Pikiell said.

“We couldn’t get a break today and obviously, we need Cliff. He’s very good, but it’s a team game and it’s on me to make sure he doesn’t get into foul trouble. We have to play better as a group and I have to do better.”

Steve Pikiell in attendance for Rutgers recruit Lathan Sommerville’s latest game

Lathan Somerville has been incredibly impressive to start the year.

Every time Lathan Somerville takes the court, excitement builds for the Rutgers basketball commit (and signee’s) future. The Illinois native is part of Rutgers 2024-2025 class after choosing Rutgers over schools such as Missouri, Seton Hall, and Villanova. While his debut is still months away, Steve Pikiell spent Saturday watching the talented forward/ center.

With Pikiell in attendance, Somerville showed off his dynamic skillset. While he added multiple dunks to his resume, the future Scarlet Knight was also a menace on defense. He finished the afternoon with a few blocks while creating turnovers.

 

His performance came as no surprise. In the past, Pikiell has highlighted Somerville’s ability to impact a game in multiple ways.

When discussing his play in November, Pikiell said, “He is a player that can play multiple positions. He can rebound and pass as well as any player in the nation at his position. I know he’s going to have a great career and we are really excited about how good he is going to become. We’re so excited to add Lathan to the RU family.”

Once Somerville joins the mix, he will be part of a program with high expectations. Rutgers is off to a 4-1 start, with new faces like Gavin Griffiths already playing key roles. This weekend gave a sneak peek of what Pikiell can expect when Somerville calls Jersey Mike’s Arena home.

Derek Simpson is providing a boost to Rutgers offense

Derek Simpson has had a great season for Rutgers basketball.

During the first few weeks of the college basketball season, Rutgers fans have had plenty of reasons to celebrate. The Scarlet Knights have won four straight and are off to a 4-1 start. While their success has been fueled by familiar faces such as Clifford Omoruyi, Derek Simpson has been a scoring machine.

In five games, the New Jersey native is averaging 10.8 points and 1.2 steals per game. Simpson is also putting his teammates in a position to be successful, averaging a team-leading four assists per game. His play has stood out to Rutgers’ head coach, Steve Pikiell.

 

“He has just been taking command the past couple of games,” Pikiell told reporters about Simpson following a post-game press conference this weekend.

“He’s really shown some tremendous leadership. It starts with his defense. They’re really good guards today to playing against. One is a transfer from Maryland and some all-league type guys, so I think it starts with his defense. He had it going today and is one of the best foul shooters in the country. He’s taking care of his body. He’s practicing the right way, there are great days ahead.”

In Rutgers latest win, Simpson took center stage as the Scarlet Knights reached the 80-point mark for the first time this season. The talented sophomore led the team in scoring with 23 points while making two three-pointers. Along with Omoruyi and Aundre Hyatt, the Scarlet Knights have a trio that frustrates opponents on a nightly basis.

While the season is far from over, Simpson is making an immediate impact and providing a needed boost offensively.

Steve Pikiell talks about 5-star signee Ace Bailey: ‘People will really like watching him play’

Rutgers basketball head coach Steve Pikiell talks about the 2024 recruiting class and landing Ace Bailey.

With Ace Bailey signed, sealed and delivery expected, Rutgers men’s basketball head coach Steve Pikiell was able to publicly comment for the first time on the class of 2024 prospect. A five-star forward, Bailey is a top-five recruit in the nation.

On Saturday, Bailey signed his National Letter of Intent (NLI) and officially committed his future to Rutgers. Bailey had originally given Rutgers his verbal in January.

He is the highest-ranked recruit in program history. The early signing period saw Rutgers land all four committed players in the class of 2024.

Following Wednesday’s win over Georgetown, Pikiell was able to talk a bit about the players he will be getting on campus this summer. Asked about this group, Pikiell said that he is “Thankful (for) all of them, they’re all going to be really good players.”

But Bailey is the pinnacle of this class and the caliber of recruit that Rutgers has never before landed.

“Ace is a s special talent. Loyal, great family, great work ethic,” Pikiell said.

“It just shows you where Rutgers is, I think that’s important We’re a great academic school, we play in a great league. We sell out, we have great crowds.

“To be able to get a player like that will be fun. People will really like watching him play.”

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A forward from Georgia, Bailey is explosive with great length and the ability to play above the rim. He is the second-best player in the nation according to Rivals.

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.

 

Ahead of St. John’s scrimmage this weekend, Rick Pitino hails Rutgers basketball and head coach Steve Pikiell

Rutgers basketball is praised by Rick Pitino.

St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino believes that he will know more about his team and their potential following this Saturday’s scrimmage against Rutgers. That’s because Pitino has heard the buzz about Rutgers basketball and head coach Steve Pikiell.

Having made three straight trips to the postseason, Rutgers basketball is returning to make a return to the NCAA Tournament this year. They have a deep team but there are some question marks about how good this team can be.

During his team’s media day, Pitino was asked about his expectations for his group. Hired this offseason, Pitino was a massive addition as a head coach to a St. John’s program that has been consistently inconsistent over the past decade.

Pitino answered that after Saturday’s scrimmage against Rutgers, he will know more about both teams.

“I’m going to answer politically correct just because I don’t know the competition. I’ll know more Saturday. I think Saturday is going to tell me more. Because I’ve had two people, Bill Raftery being one, a couple other people saying that they were very impressed with Rutgers,” Pitino told reporters.

“And I think Rutgers feels they are every bit as good as last year if not better. They are a really well-coached team, coach Pikiell does an outstanding job,fundamentally in every phase of the game.”

It is a good test for both programs.

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For Rutgers, it is a chance to see how freshman four-star Gavin Griffiths and transfer portal guard Noah Fernandes fit into the program. And for Pitino, his first game in charge of St. John’s will be a first look at the new pieces that have come into the program.

 

“For us, being a young team, playing against Rutgers early in the season, that will tell me where we’re at. And that will judge how good we are,” Pitino said.

“Right now, I’m optimistic, I’m hopeful but I really don’t know the competition. So Saturday will tell us a lot of things.”

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(h/t to The Knight Report for the video)

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.