Basketball Rutgers Basketball lands Manhattan transfer forward Will Sydnor

MadRU

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seansherm

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Feb 20, 2009
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Assuming powers comes back and your bench is powers Davis Buchanan backup center and maybe Wooten or Duarte they should certainly be at least a few wins better on paper
Who knows, on paper other teams, like Maryland, have gotten better too
 

Mr. Magoo1

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Nov 15, 2001
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Another solid transfer

None of these kids are super stars but on paper this is definitely an improved roster. Without question

We still another center

Another big is critical. We upgraded the center position and at least one (hopefully two), forward positions. The guards will be a year older. Could be a 3-4 game improvement over last year if things break right.
 

RUfan1977

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Who knows, on paper other teams, like Maryland, have gotten better too
Last year on paper Maryland with all of its transfers and recruits was way better than us. On the basketball court though they weren’t close to being better!

Purdue is rebuilding the old fashioned way with talented freshman who stay with the program but they are losing Smith, Loyer, TKR and probably Cluff which is 4 of 5 starters and the best 4 players on their team.

With all the turnover we really don’t know how the teams will come together including Rutgers. However, Rutgers kept the players they needed to keep and replaced the players Rutgers lost with more talented players.
 

Bob Chaewsky_rivals

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Assuming powers comes back and your bench is powers Davis Buchanan backup center and maybe Wooten or Duarte they should certainly be at least a few wins better on paper
Pike should have his starters figured out by 2/21/27. Question - How was he allowed to play as a freshman without his high school transcript from two years prior yet processed, and why did it take so long?
 

seansherm

Heisman
Feb 20, 2009
14,420
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Last year on paper Maryland with all of its transfers and recruits was way better than us. On the basketball court though they weren’t close to being better!

Purdue is rebuilding the old fashioned way with talented freshman who stay with the program but they are losing Smith, Loyer, TKR and probably Cluff which is 4 of 5 starters and the best 4 players on their team.

With all the turnover we really don’t know how the teams will come together including Rutgers. However, Rutgers kept the players they needed to keep and replaced the players Rutgers lost with more talented players.
Exactly, it's why we said on paper. Reality is still unknown.
 
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BillyC80

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Watched some highlight videos and see a little Donnell Lumpkin on the pull up deep 3s and a little Kevin Durant on the smooth dribble drive pull up and/or finish.

It's the offseason - let’s be optimistic !
Watching his highlights my first thought was that as a freshman he played like a senior — confident, aggressive, good handle, savvy moves to the rim, and can knock down the trey.

Also flashed some D with good timing on his blocked shots. At 6’8 with good footwork, he will be a major upgrade at the 4 spot, will go get rebounds and will be a challenging cover for opponents at the 4 as well.

Assuming he stayed close to game shape while he sat out, he should come to us even stronger than before.

Great pickup.
 

LeapinLou

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I agree this team is better than last year's team. But I fear the rest of the Big 10 is improving, particularly the teams we beat last season.

14-20 last year. Can this team be 3 games better and finish .500? I'll say yes, but they can't have any hiccups before conference play starts.
 

Bob Chaewsky_rivals

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I agree this team is better than last year's team. But I fear the rest of the Big 10 is improving, particularly the teams we beat last season.

14-20 last year. Can this team be 3 games better and finish .500? I'll say yes, but they can't have any hiccups before conference play starts.
18+ easy with Pikiel. 20+ if it were someone else.
 
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RUfan1977

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I agree this team is better than last year's team. But I fear the rest of the Big 10 is improving, particularly the teams we beat last season.

14-20 last year. Can this team be 3 games better and finish .500? I'll say yes, but they can't have any hiccups before conference play starts.
We need to stay healthy especially at the center position.
 

goru7

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Well Pike the staff and Rob Sullivan got it done so far. They got a new frontline with capable players that can finish , hit a shot , dribble and can play some defense. Would like a backup center to complete the team otherwise Smith , Kurdack and Syndor, with the retention of who should have been retained , Mark Francis, Davis , Powers, and Buchanan with the shedding of dead weight has been a tremendous job. Ware as another backup center is fine and hope he improves. But overall a competitive team in the BIG 10 that appears to correct our rebounding problem , our low post problem and some of our defensive frontcourt problems. So no second guessing. First guess is for the first time Pike navigated the portal well. Do not want to hear any Monday Morning QB’s saying they do not like the moves if the transfers do not pan out. Go get a backup center , shot blocker for 10-15 minutes and let’s play ball.
 

Eagleton95.99

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Jul 25, 2001
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The big change is the speed and focus. All three of the incoming portal players are guys, but especially Gurdak, that could easily have gotten priced up as time went by and teams got desperate after missing out on their top few priorities. We locked these guys in early and now are in a good position to hunt for bargains and watch the market to fill out the roster. We had a plan and executed. And that feels good for the first time in a long time.
 

MADHAT1

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Apr 1, 2003
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Sounds good and hopefully he'll prove it and retain eligibility

>Sydnor did not play last season due to eligibility issues. He was named the MAAC Rookie of the Year in 2024-25 after making 29 starts for Manhattan. He averaged 13.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 45.1% from the floor. Syudnor also shot 34.8% from three-point range. He will come to Rutgers with three years of eligibility remaining.<

https://www.onthebanks.com/rutgers-basketball/52200/rutgers-lands-manhattan-transfer-will-sydnor
 
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