Pregame reads:
Richard Pitino said yesterday that this will be the best Rutgers team he's played while at Minnesota, and I'd agree that this team is better than last year's. The Scarlet Knights are gritty and tough -- the identity that Steve Pikiell likes in his teams -- and are No. 4 in the country in rebounding, No. 43 in defense according to Kenpom, and No. 302 in pace. The downside to this Rutgers team is their offense: they're No. 214 according to Kenpom and have struggled with floor spacing and getting buckets in general.
Corey Sanders is probably the Scarlet Knight that Gopher fans know best. He's a junior, former four-star combo guard that's likely their most talented player, but he's been inefficient this year. Sanders is better attacking the basket than he is jump shooting. With Sanders in the backcourt is true freshman combo guard, Geo Baker, a shooter who's actually leading the team in scoring. He's skilled and has been productive (although less productive against good competition) although quite honestly I would still take Washington over Baker. Amir Coffey for once will actually match up with someone his size: Rutgers' small forward, Issa Thiam, is a 6'8" 3 and D player. Power forward DeShawn Freeman is a bull of an undersized power forward that boards really well, plays hard, and doesn't foul. Four-star true freshman Mamadou Doucoure starts at center. He's not much of a scoring threat and that shots he does take comes at the basket. He rebounds well but isn't much of a shot blocker and is more foul prone than Reggie Lynch.
Rutgers runs a lot of four-out ball screen motion on offense. Defensively, they play mostly man but will mix in halfcourt traps and 2-2-1 and 2-3 zones.
Richard Pitino said yesterday that this will be the best Rutgers team he's played while at Minnesota, and I'd agree that this team is better than last year's. The Scarlet Knights are gritty and tough -- the identity that Steve Pikiell likes in his teams -- and are No. 4 in the country in rebounding, No. 43 in defense according to Kenpom, and No. 302 in pace. The downside to this Rutgers team is their offense: they're No. 214 according to Kenpom and have struggled with floor spacing and getting buckets in general.
Corey Sanders is probably the Scarlet Knight that Gopher fans know best. He's a junior, former four-star combo guard that's likely their most talented player, but he's been inefficient this year. Sanders is better attacking the basket than he is jump shooting. With Sanders in the backcourt is true freshman combo guard, Geo Baker, a shooter who's actually leading the team in scoring. He's skilled and has been productive (although less productive against good competition) although quite honestly I would still take Washington over Baker. Amir Coffey for once will actually match up with someone his size: Rutgers' small forward, Issa Thiam, is a 6'8" 3 and D player. Power forward DeShawn Freeman is a bull of an undersized power forward that boards really well, plays hard, and doesn't foul. Four-star true freshman Mamadou Doucoure starts at center. He's not much of a scoring threat and that shots he does take comes at the basket. He rebounds well but isn't much of a shot blocker and is more foul prone than Reggie Lynch.
Rutgers runs a lot of four-out ball screen motion on offense. Defensively, they play mostly man but will mix in halfcourt traps and 2-2-1 and 2-3 zones.
