Rutgers Basketball to face Houston in Players Era Eight Bracket
Rutgers will take on Houston in Las Vegas in mid-November, according to a report from CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein
Basketball Rutgers Basketball to face Houston in Players Era Eight Bracket
- Thread starter Richie O
- Start date
Will be a huge bounty to Rutgers OOC SOS as Houston SOS is always top tier
Even better if we beat them!
The second round matchups will be determined based on the results of each game.
I assume they’re trying best to avoid same conference teams playing if possible. Difficult with Florida Auburn SEC, and Kansas Houston and West VA all Big 12. If that’s the case, I’d see us playing West Va or Auburn in 2nd Rd if we lose. Or it could play out to be likely case of Losers meet so ND and then UNLV just like last year. It’s Best opportunity for 2-1 tourney at least
I assume they’re trying best to avoid same conference teams playing if possible. Difficult with Florida Auburn SEC, and Kansas Houston and West VA all Big 12. If that’s the case, I’d see us playing West Va or Auburn in 2nd Rd if we lose. Or it could play out to be likely case of Losers meet so ND and then UNLV just like last year. It’s Best opportunity for 2-1 tourney at least
Hopefully we’ll be able to hang with them. Seems like Houston will be pretty loaded in the frontcourt but they are somewhat of a wildcard in the backcourt. They have almost nothing returning at guard. Dedan Thomas is a nice pick up at PG, but he missed the whole second half of the season to injury and really only played in a couple high major games before getting hurt (LSU lost those games). Transferres from UNLV. I think I’d rather have our collection of returnees than just him. Corey Hadnot is as much of a question mark as Jones IMO.
Maybe being that the game is early it’ll take their bigs some time to adjust (the frosh center) and we can take advantage. A long shot - but you never know.
its more like rutgers will have a struggle as a team that early in the season facing a goliath like that.
yeah they definitely will avoid those big12s playing as much as possible in 2nd round, I see maybe WVU if they lose their game or ND as they should lose in the 2nd round . Playing WVU will be a much better test and much better for resume than Notre Dame and hopefully RU can avoid another matchup with UNLV since they really dont do anything for the resume.
Change of plans!
According to a source, the winner of Houston versus Rutgers matchup, will play the winner of Florida versus Notre Dame. The same will take place between the losers of each game.
According to a source, the winner of Houston versus Rutgers matchup, will play the winner of Florida versus Notre Dame. The same will take place between the losers of each game.
Weird they didn’t put our game on the other side of the bracket. Kansas can play WVU in game 2z
Based on the brand history, or a side by side comparison of the rosters? They return one starter - a forward who averaged 8.4 ppg. Their other couple returners didn’t play more than 12 mpg. They have the LSU point guard transferring in - but is that kid so much better than our guards? LSU stunk last season too. They don’t have anyone else yet with high major experience. Maybe they are still adding. They have a center transferring from Lamar. A PF from Kent State. And a SG from Purdue Fort Wayne. These guys were productive at the lower levels, and they have a 5 star guard true frosh center coming in, plus a 4 star true frosh guard, but all of these players are unproven. Maybe they are still adding impact pieces. I guess we’ll see.
Are you really questioning Houston and Sampson. Come on they havent missed a bit its simply reloading I nto their system with little slip
Please dont say our roster is near theirs
Nope - I’m not comparing them to us at all.
Rather - I’m comparing their preseason roster this year on paper to what they had coming into last season and it’s night and day at the moment (maybe they are still adding guys). Sampson is a great coach - I’m sure he’ll figure things out, but it’s simply not true to say it appears to be a straight up reload.
They went 30-4 and lost in the Natty by 2 2024-25. They returned 3 of their top 5 guys (based on average minutes played) from that team along with reeling in three top 20 nationally rated frosh (3rd ranked recruiting class in the country). They also added Sam Houston State’s starting center to be their back up. He was their only portal pick up.
Contrast that with this year’s projected roster and it’s night and day. They return only one guy in Tugler (23.5 min 8 8 ppg / 5 rpg forward) who averaged more than 12.9 min per game. They added Dedan Thomas (and I’m sure his frosh brother 3 star recruit was a package deal to get him). So okay - Dedan is a good player - he is their best portal pick up. I’m not saying the others aren’t going to turn out great, but they are mid-majors making the jump up just like everyone else. They are a far cry from locks to be the studs on Houston that Sharp and Uzan were proven to be going into last season. Besides Dedan’s brother - they have 2 other frosh coming in and while both may be great players - one isn’t even ranked in the top 50. The other is the center who is currently ranked 24th (contrast that with 3 top 20 guys last year).
Again - maybe they aren’t done yet. But based on where the roster stands right now it does seem they have more questions going into the season than they did last year. I’m not sure how you could argue otherwise. Breaking in 4 new starters is very different from breaking in 2.
It will depend on whether his knee has fully healed over the yearsHopefully Myles Johnson can hit the alley oop in Vegas!