THE OFFICIAL 2019-2020 RUTGERS BASKETBALL SEASON PREDICTION THREAD

[bac2therac]

We are bac.....3..2...1...go!

Nov. 7: Bryant
Nov. 10: Niagara
Nov. 13: Drexel
Nov. 16: vs. St. Bonaventure (Naismith Classic) Toronto, Ontario
Nov. 20: Stephen F. Austin
Nov. 26: NJIT
Nov. 29: UMass
Dec. 3: at Pittsburgh (B1G/ACC)
Dec. 8: at Michigan State*
Dec. 11: Wisconsin*
Dec. 14: Seton Hall (GSH Classic)
Dec. 22: Lafayette
Dec. 30: Caldwell
Jan. 3: at Nebraska*
Jan. 7: Penn State*
Jan. 11: at Illinois*
Jan. 15: Indiana*
Jan. 19: Minnesota*
Jan. 22: at Iowa*
Jan. 25: Nebraska*
Jan. 28: Purdue*
Feb. 1: at Michigan* (Super Saturday) Madison Square Garden
Feb. 4: at Maryland*
Feb. 9: Northwestern*
Feb. 12: at Ohio State*
Feb. 15: Illinois*
Feb. 19: Michigan*
Feb. 23: at Wisconsin*
Feb. 26: at Penn State*
March 3: Maryland*
March 7: at Purdue*
Wed.-Sun. Mar. 11-15 at Big Ten Tournament Indianapolis, Ind.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Standing by my prediction

10-10/20-11

Win one game in the big ten tournament ...

21-12...

We sweat, sweat and bac will be pounding numbers for 48 hours straight

...and on March 15, 2019...we get called as the 11 seed for the ncaa tournament in the first four game to play the Cincinnati bearcats

We prove that we belong in the dance with an essentially road victory in the first four NCAA game over Cincinnati in Dayton

We then pull a mild upset in the 6/11 game ...let’s call it LSU....before being denied a sweet 16 appearance in a close to loss third seeded Gonzaga

23-13...5 starters returning ....

2020-2021 preseason number 15

 

[whofrewdatmataRU13]

20 - 13

 

[Joey Bags]

16-15 overall regular season

7-13 BIG

0-1 in the BIG tourney. Just can’t justify anything more until I see it

 

[Scarlet Knut]

21 - 12 Overall
11- 9 B1G Good for 7th place and on the bubble.

 

[BillyC80]

10-1 OOC
9-11 B1G
1-1 B1G tourney
20-13 Total, NIT appearance (2-1, Final 22-14)

 

[HeavenUniv.]

After having to endure Division 2 basketball during the Eddie Jordan era, I will be very happy to see us get to the NIT and get a couple home games.

 

[RUHouston]

28-3/17-3. We shock the world!

 

[Joey Bacala]

18-13 Overall
9-11
NIT

 

[RutgHoops]

9-2/10-10
19-12

 

[RUPsyched]

Big 10 = 6-14
OOC = 10-1

Big 10 Tourney = 1-1

Total 17-16

CBI if they want it.

 

[RUDieHard]

OOC: 9-2
B1G: 9-11
B1GT: 2-1

Overall Record: 20- 14

NIT this year..we go dancing in 2020

 

[Plum Street]

8-3 ooc
7-13 big ten

0-1 big ten tournament

15-17.

 

[zebnatto]

9-11
9-2

18-13 going into tourney

 

[RU82]

8-3 ooc
7-13 big ten

0-1 big ten tournament

15-17.

Booooooo

 

[Rutgers25]

9-2 OOC
9-11 conference
1-1 B1G tournament

19-14 overall

 

[RUJMM78]

9-2 OCC
8-12 BIG
1 BIG Tournament win
total 18-15 possible NIT bid depending on quality wins against ranked opponents and road wins.Games against Pitt and Seton Hall will give a early indication of Rutgers scoring prowess.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

It is very difficult to have a lot of conviction with new faces and so many players playing different roles. Add on top of that the loss of Eugene. If I knew the real reason left I'd might have more conviction.

Without a doubt my probabilities of this team succeeding is higher than ever (last 10+ years)before. That speaks to the upside of having many capable bodies, being able to shot, having 4 perimeter players, and all new players/player roles doing better than expectation.

I'll assign a 10% chance of us being in a NCAA tournament bubble conversation at the end of the regular season. In previous years that is a .1%.

Unfortunately the way our schedule is I worry about the PITT to SHU portion of the schedule having the potential to do some damage to our psyche.

My chief concern is toughness/defense and secondarily if Young and Yeboah underperform expectations. I have a difficult time making the leap of faith with a guy playing in the American East conference or a guy not wanted as a 2 guard playing at a school we are hoping to get to a level of and having that guy as a point guard.

My base case....
9-2 OOC
6-14 B1G REVISION 11/6
1-1 B1gT
16-17 REVISION 11/6

This team will be Jeckyll and Hyde. We will have threads questioning whether Pikiell can recruit and we will have threads about next year being a Sweet 16 teams.

If I was hearing all preseason about Montez Mathis my prediction would be a bit different. He is the big X factor. Last year look at all of our impressive games. I believe with the exception of 1 Mathis had a big or the biggest footprint in the game.

 

[kcg88]

We are bac.....3..2...1...go!

Nov. 7: Bryant W
Nov. 10: Niagara W
Nov. 13: Drexel W
Nov. 16: vs. St. Bonaventure (Naismith Classic) Toronto, Ontario L
Nov. 20: Stephen F. Austin W
Nov. 26: NJIT W
Nov. 29: UMass W
Dec. 3: at Pittsburgh (B1G/ACC) W
Dec. 8: at Michigan State* L
Dec. 11: Wisconsin* L
Dec. 14: Seton Hall (GSH Classic) L
Dec. 22: Lafayette W
Dec. 30: Caldwell W
Jan. 3: at Nebraska* L
Jan. 7: Penn State* W
Jan. 11: at Illinois* L
Jan. 15: Indiana* W
Jan. 19: Minnesota* W
Jan. 22: at Iowa* W
Jan. 25: Nebraska* W
Jan. 28: Purdue* L
Feb. 1: at Michigan* (Super Saturday) Madison Square Garden W
Feb. 4: at Maryland* L
Feb. 9: Northwestern* W
Feb. 12: at Ohio State* L
Feb. 15: Illinois* W
Feb. 19: Michigan* L
Feb. 23: at Wisconsin* L
Feb. 26: at Penn State* W
March 3: Maryland* L
March 7: at Purdue* L
Wed.-Sun. Mar. 11-15 at Big Ten Tournament Indianapolis, Ind. 1-1

18-13 (9-11) regular season

One win the B1G Tournament. We have some tournament buzz after the 2/15 win vs. Illinois putting us at 8-7 in the conference but the 2-5 finish relegates us to the NIT.

 

[RUSCFORMERLYRULOU]

Impossible to predict until after Pitt.

 

[NJDOVES]

OOC: 9-2
B1G: 9-11
B1G T: 2-1

20-14 overall record

 

[gregkoko]

This year we don't have one of those WTF OOC losses, maybe we lose to Seton Hall but I think the home crowd will really be nuts, especially if we take out Wisconsin in the prior game.

The middle of the B1G is up for grabs this year. 12-1 entering the new year with home wins over Wisconsin and Seton Hall will bring the crowds out in a big way.

11-0 OOC
13-7 B1G
1-1 B1G Tournament

Nov. 7: Bryant - W
Nov. 10: Niagara - W
Nov. 13: Drexel - W
Nov. 16: vs. St. Bonaventure - W
Nov. 20: Stephen F. Austin - W
Nov. 26: NJIT - W
Nov. 29: UMass - W
Dec. 3: at Pittsburgh (B1G/ACC) - W
Dec. 8: at Michigan State* - L
Dec. 11: Wisconsin* - W
Dec. 14: Seton Hall (GSH Classic) - W
Dec. 22: Lafayette - W
Dec. 30: Caldwell - W
Jan. 3: at Nebraska* - W
Jan. 7: Penn State* - W
Jan. 11: at Illinois* - L
Jan. 15: Indiana* - W
Jan. 19: Minnesota* - W
Jan. 22: at Iowa* - W
Jan. 25: Nebraska* - W
Jan. 28: Purdue* - L
Feb. 1: at Michigan* (Super Saturday) Madison Square Garden - W
Feb. 4: at Maryland* - L
Feb. 9: Northwestern* - W
Feb. 12: at Ohio State* - W
Feb. 15: Illinois* - W
Feb. 19: Michigan* - W
Feb. 23: at Wisconsin* - L
Feb. 26: at Penn State* - W
March 3: Maryland* - L
March 7: at Purdue* - L

Hey I can dream, right? Let's go dancing

 

[RUHills]

19-14
NIT

 

[216 Row E]

We are bac.....3..2...1...go!

Nov. 7: Bryant W
Nov. 10: Niagara W
Nov. 13: Drexel W
Nov. 16: vs. St. Bonaventure (Naismith Classic) Toronto, Ontario W
Nov. 20: Stephen F. Austin W
Nov. 26: NJIT W
Nov. 29: UMass W
Dec. 3: at Pittsburgh (B1G/ACC) W
Dec. 8: at Michigan State* L
Dec. 11: Wisconsin* W
Dec. 14: Seton Hall (GSH Classic) L
Dec. 22: Lafayette W
Dec. 30: Caldwell W
Jan. 3: at Nebraska* W
Jan. 7: Penn State* W
Jan. 11: at Illinois* L
Jan. 15: Indiana* W
Jan. 19: Minnesota* W
Jan. 22: at Iowa* W
Jan. 25: Nebraska* W
Jan. 28: Purdue* L
Feb. 1: at Michigan* (Super Saturday) Madison Square Garden L
Feb. 4: at Maryland* L
Feb. 9: Northwestern* W
Feb. 12: at Ohio State* L
Feb. 15: Illinois* L
Feb. 19: Michigan* L
Feb. 23: at Wisconsin* L
Feb. 26: at Penn State* W
March 3: Maryland* L
March 7: at Purdue* L
Wed.-Sun. Mar. 11-15 at Big Ten Tournament Indianapolis, Ind.

OCC 10-1
BIG 10 9-11
1-1 Big 10 Tourney
20-13 NIT

 

[RUissy1]

21 wins and we are all on the edge of our seats on Selection Sunday.

 

[mikeylew1992]

I am going with a more realistic approach here. We always have a brainfart let's not get carried away yet everyone. I love RU hoops as much as the next guy, but we haven't even made it to 500 yet. Let's be real. Here goes nothing:

Nov. 7: Bryant - W
Nov. 10: Niagara - W
Nov. 13: Drexel - W
Nov. 16: vs. St. Bonaventure (Naismith Classic) Toronto, Ontario - W (close win)
Nov. 20: Stephen F. Austin - W
Nov. 26: NJIT - W (Brainfart game but we pull it out)
Nov. 29: UMass - W
Dec. 3: at Pittsburgh (B1G/ACC) - L
Dec. 8: at Michigan State* - L
Dec. 11: Wisconsin* - L
Dec. 14: Seton Hall (GSH Classic) - L
Dec. 22: Lafayette - W
Dec. 30: Caldwell - W
Jan. 3: at Nebraska* - W
Jan. 7: Penn State* - W
Jan. 11: at Illinois* - L
Jan. 15: Indiana* - W
Jan. 19: Minnesota* - W
Jan. 22: at Iowa* - L
Jan. 25: Nebraska* - W
Jan. 28: Purdue* - L
Feb. 1: at Michigan* (Super Saturday) Madison Square Garden - L
Feb. 4: at Maryland* - L
Feb. 9: Northwestern* - W
Feb. 12: at Ohio State* - L
Feb. 15: Illinois* - W
Feb. 19: Michigan* - W
Feb. 23: at Wisconsin* - L
Feb. 26: at Penn State* - L
March 3: Maryland* - L
March 7: at Purdue* - L

17-14 final record (with chance for win in B1G tour/NIT bid)

9-2 OOC
8-12 OOC

Next season is the make or break year. To me this is year 2 of the Pikell era. The guy finally has 100% his players for the first year ever. 2021 we make the most noise, 2020 is one more building block year IMO

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Nov. 7: Bryant W
Nov. 10: Niagara W
Nov. 13: Drexel W
Nov. 16: vs. St. Bonaventure (Naismith Classic) Toronto, Ontario L
Nov. 20: Stephen F. Austin W
Nov. 26: NJIT W
Nov. 29: UMass L
Dec. 3: at Pittsburgh (B1G/ACC) L
Dec. 8: at Michigan State* L
Dec. 11: Wisconsin* W
Dec. 14: Seton Hall (GSH Classic) L
Dec. 22: Lafayette W
Dec. 30: Caldwell W
Jan. 3: at Nebraska* L
Jan. 7: Penn State* L
Jan. 11: at Illinois* L
Jan. 15: Indiana* L
Jan. 19: Minnesota* W
Jan. 22: at Iowa* L
Jan. 25: Nebraska* W
Jan. 28: Purdue* L
Feb. 1: at Michigan* (Super Saturday) Madison Square Garden W
Feb. 4: at Maryland* L
Feb. 9: Northwestern* W
Feb. 12: at Ohio State* W
Feb. 15: Illinois* L
Feb. 19: Michigan* W
Feb. 23: at Wisconsin* L
Feb. 26: at Penn State* L
March 3: Maryland* L
March 7: at Purdue* L

 

[Local Shill]

Nov. 7: Bryant W
Nov. 10: Niagara W
Nov. 13: Drexel W
Nov. 16: vs. St. Bonaventure (Naismith Classic) Toronto, Ontario L
Nov. 20: Stephen F. Austin W
Nov. 26: NJIT W
Nov. 29: UMass L
Dec. 3: at Pittsburgh (B1G/ACC) L
Dec. 8: at Michigan State* L
Dec. 11: Wisconsin* W
Dec. 14: Seton Hall (GSH Classic) L
Dec. 22: Lafayette W
Dec. 30: Caldwell W
Jan. 3: at Nebraska* L
Jan. 7: Penn State* L
Jan. 11: at Illinois* L
Jan. 15: Indiana* L
Jan. 19: Minnesota* W
Jan. 22: at Iowa* L
Jan. 25: Nebraska* W
Jan. 28: Purdue* L
Feb. 1: at Michigan* (Super Saturday) Madison Square Garden W
Feb. 4: at Maryland* L
Feb. 9: Northwestern* W
Feb. 12: at Ohio State* W
Feb. 15: Illinois* L
Feb. 19: Michigan* W
Feb. 23: at Wisconsin* L
Feb. 26: at Penn State* L
March 3: Maryland* L
March 7: at Purdue* L

Troll post.

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Troll post.

You have paranoia issues

 

[Knights 1212]

I think

9-2 OOC
8-12 BIG Regular season games=

17-14 Regular Season
1-1 BIG Tournament

For 18-15 and a possible NIT

 

[RUby RED]

You have paranoia issues

Nah you kinda just suck

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Nah you kinda just suck

You will swallow
Your words

Let's see you predictions, we will compare at the end of the season.
Do you predict a worse record?

I'd like to see more wins or course, but they always struggle post Thanksgiving, that's my upset loss, UMASS

St Bonnie's its almost a home game for them, I think that's a very tough game.

The conference games are always very difficult, I have RU sweeping Mish and beating Wisky

I was ripped a new one on my football and hoops predictions the past two years and I ended up being very right in my predictions.

 

[Degaz-RU]

It is very difficult to have a lot of conviction with new faces and so many players playing different roles. Add on top of that the loss of Eugene. If I knew the real reason left I'd might have more conviction.

Without a doubt my probabilities of this team succeeding is higher than ever (last 10+ years)before. That speaks to the upside of having many capable bodies, being able to shot, having 4 perimeter players, and all new players/player roles doing better than expectation.

I'll assign a 10% chance of us being in a NCAA tournament bubble conversation at the end of the regular season. In previous years that is a .1%.

Unfortunately the way our schedule is I worry about the PITT to SHU portion of the schedule having the potential to do some damage to our psyche.

My chief concern is toughness/defense and secondarily if Young and Yeboah underperform expectations. I have a difficult time making the leap of faith with a guy playing in the American East conference or a guy not wanted as a 2 guard playing at a school we are hoping to get to a level of and having that guy as a point guard.

My base case....
9-2 OOC
5-15 B1G
14-17

This team will be Jeckyll and Hyde. We will have threads questioning whether Pikiell can recruit and we will have threads about next year being a Sweet 16 teams.

If I was hearing all preseason about Montez Mathis my prediction would be a bit different. He is the big X factor. Last year look at all of our impressive games. I believe with the exception of 1 Mathis had a big or the biggest footprint in the game.

FIG, I happen to share your concern over the loss of Omoruyi, but mostly for interior defense and especially DEFENSIVE REBOUNDING. But 5-15 in the B1G?

We were 7-13 last year (really 8-12 if you consider the fluky Iowa loss at home). I think even you would believe that our offensive flow will be better this year and that we will likely score more points. So there is definitely a positive offset to EO's departure.

So that means you actually think EO's departure is worth 4 or 5 losses, with the better offense offsetting those losses by 2 or 3 additional wins, for a "net" of 2 less wins.

I know you're not a "believe the hype" type of guy, but damn that's a negative view of things.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Dream scenario:
11-0 OOC
12-8 B1G
2-1 tourney - we lose a close one in the semis to MSU, and we are the darlings of the B1G again
25-9 -- a LOCK for NCAA tourney

Worst case scenario:
8-3 (losses to Pitt and SHU, plus one WTF loss at home to a cupcake)
5-15 B1G (FIG's doomsday scenario plays out)
0-1 tourney
13-19 overall -- people are calling for Pike's head

My prediction:
10-1 OOC
10-10 B1G
2-1 tourney
22-12 overall -- we are squarely on the bubble. We are definitely "in" the NIT, but we sneak in NCAA if we have some good quad 1/2 wins and we're playing well in February (and it would help if there are very few major upsets in low- and mid-major conference tournaments).

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Better offense is FAR from a given.
I can't use 7-13 as a base given my thoughts on what Eugene meant to team.

Will we win 50/50 balls?
Will our leaders defend, rebound (when needed) and dive on the floor?
Do we have players ready to be more than role players?

Yes Eugene hurt the offensive flow, but he took a lot of pressure off of other players offensively. Caleb and Ron have to show me they can take and make difficult shots.

5-15 is not my doomsday scenario, it is base case. This is a very difficult conference. We have had teams recently with potentially more talent only win 3 games

 

[Upstream]

Better offense is FAR from a given.
I can't use 7-13 as a base given my thoughts on what Eugene meant to team.

Will we win 50/50 balls?
Will our leaders defend, rebound (when needed) and dive on the floor?
Do we have players ready to be more than role players?

Yes Eugene hurt the offensive flow, but he took a lot of pressure off of other players offensively. Caleb and Ron have to show me they can take and make difficult shots.

5-15 is not my doomsday scenario, it is base case. This is a very difficult conference. We have had teams recently with potentially more talent only win 3 games

There really are so many wildcards that it is hard to predict how the season will play out. I'll have a much better feel for it after the Seton Hall game.

 

[trotter]

19-14

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

There really are so many wildcards that it is hard to predict how the season will play out. I'll have a much better feel for it after the Seton Hall game.

So true....there will be clues along the way, but I think your date could be a good one.

However, let's not forget it was around that time last year when Pike canned Kissa for the young guns. So you can never know for sure.

Agree 100% with your premise. I wish I could believe the glass half full take. My glass is half empty and for me it is healthier.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Better offense is FAR from a given.
I can't use 7-13 as a base given my thoughts on what Eugene meant to team.

Will we win 50/50 balls?
Will our leaders defend, rebound (when needed) and dive on the floor?
Do we have players ready to be more than role players?

Yes Eugene hurt the offensive flow, but he took a lot of pressure off of other players offensively. Caleb and Ron have to show me they can take and make difficult shots.

5-15 is not my doomsday scenario, it is base case. This is a very difficult conference. We have had teams recently with potentially more talent only win 3 games

Hmmpf, so if 5-15 is your "base," that must mean that your worst case scenario is 3-17 or 2-18 or something? I mean, even for you, that's off the reservation. (5-15 is MY doomsday scenario).

Also, I'd be interested to hear what Rutgers team had more "talent" than this year's team since being in the B1G and only won 3 games. (or do you mean only won 3 games in whatever conference we were in, so you're including more than just our time in the B1G?).

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Who is our best player?