One BOLD prediction for Rutgers basketball in 2026-27:

[Tango Two]

 

[LeapinLou]

It's fair to say we got better. But so did the rest of the Big 10. It's going to be difficult to climb that ladder. One thing they can do is win all of the non-conference games that are a toss up or easier. That would at least give them a chance. But it's hard when you basically have to win all of those games. Good teams can afford one hiccup.

 

[RU82]

I hope he’s a genius. But I doubt it.

 

[Bob Chaewsky_rivals]

With a real good coach it's not that bold. With Pikiel - ?

 

[MADHAT1]

Glad to see a positive outlook for this season.
NCAA, here Rutgers comes

 

[RU Jeep]

Lets Go !!!!

 

[RUChet]

I am encouraged on paper but we just don’t know until games are played

 

[shields]

Nice to see positive outlook.

 

[KnightTerrors]

To be a tourney team we need one of Garavaglia, Smith, Sydnor, or Jones to dramatically exceed expectations. On par with a Francis level surprise in production.

The rest obviously can’t be duds but we need one to be a major get.

 

[RUfan1977]

The way players are switching teams like a crazy, it’s hard to say how good the teams will be. There is a lot of talent in the Big Ten, but it is unclear how good the team chemistry will be. Some teams like Purdue are ranked high because of the coach’s reputation, but no way do they lose Smith, TKR, Lawler, and Cluff and not have some type of drop off.

With Rutgers having Francis, Davis, Mark, and Buchanan and possibly Powers and Ware, we have a core group of players to build around. The players brought in at the 4 and 5 at least on paper seem much better than the players they replaced. However, in order to make the NCAAs we will need this team to show the intensity in defending and rebounding that Pikiel’s NCAA teams showed. Unfortunately, that has been lacking in recent years.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

It's fair to say we got better. But so did the rest of the Big 10. It's going to be difficult to climb that ladder. One thing they can do is win all of the non-conference games that are a toss up or easier. That would at least give them a chance. But it's hard when you basically have to win all of those games. Good teams can afford one hiccup.

I’m not sure that’s the case that you look at the rest of the BiG on paper and conclude they clearly got better. A few teams maybe but there are a lot of question marks in terms of newcomers ability to replace what was lost. Now granted, we had further to go to catch up than many of them in the first place.

 

[Waldo73]

I think the best we can do is 16-15.

 

[seels2662]

I feel like its about Diego. If he is better than average, maybe alot better than average, we ill be a legit bubble team. If he is not, we will be around a .500 team.

 

[GM]

I feel like its about Diego. If he is better than average, maybe alot better than average, we ill be a legit bubble team. If he is not, we will be around a .500 team.

We really could use an awesome perimeter defender, maybe even one with size. Maybe Rasheed Jones can be that but Diego seems to have all the makings of it

 

[seels2662]

We really could use an awesome perimeter defender, maybe even one with size. Maybe Rasheed Jones can be that but Diego seems to have all the makings of it

Im not happy over any of the transfers save for Gurdak. I don't think any of the others exceed 15 min/g, especially if Diego is pretty good.

 

[seansherm]

Im not happy over any of the transfers save for Gurdak. I don't think any of the others exceed 15 min/g, especially if Diego is pretty good.

Syndor is the key to this seasons success.

 

[seels2662]

Syndor is the key to this seasons success.

So it sounds like Diego will be the starting wing 4 sorta playing the Yeboah role. If he's playing 25 minutes that leaves Syndor with 15 at best and I imagine Buchanan will steal a couple minutes at the 4. Like I said, if Diego is pretty good, no other transfer gets more than 15 minutes.

 

[Loyal-Son]

I am eager to see what we have. The practice report is very optimistic.

The best thing is that we seem to have more than one option right now at each position. Some of these guys should turn out.

Of course, I was optimistic about the football team too - until the middle of the first quarter of the first game.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

So it sounds like Diego will be the starting wing 4 sorta playing the Yeboah role. If he's playing 25 minutes that leaves Syndor with 15 at best and I imagine Buchanan will steal a couple minutes at the 4. Like I said, if Diego is pretty good, no other transfer gets more than 15 minutes.

I don’t see that at all. Diego’s minutes will be at the 3 as he’s not going to be someone who pulls down 6-7 rpg. Gurdak isn’t really a rebounding 5. Sean is right. Sydnor is the key to this season. If he’s a bust, we’ll likely suck on the glass again this season which is the beginning of the end in Pike’s system. To have success, Pike’s system requires at least servicable defensive rebounding. There’s a reason clear as day why things went well when MJ was here. This. We don’t have an MJ at the 5 so the 4 is going to need to provide some of this (where Grant didn’t). Sydnor is the only one we added who might offer this. It’s otherwise a hole.

 

[seansherm]

So it sounds like Diego will be the starting wing 4 sorta playing the Yeboah role. If he's playing 25 minutes that leaves Syndor with 15 at best and I imagine Buchanan will steal a couple minutes at the 4. Like I said, if Diego is pretty good, no other transfer gets more than 15 minutes.

I doubt this ends up the case off of film. Diego looks like a four like Darren does. If he's taller than 6'5 I'll be surprised.

 

[RUfan1977]

I am eager to see what we have. The practice report is very optimistic.

The best thing is that we seem to have more than one option right now at each position. Some of these guys should turn out.

Of course, I was optimistic about the football team too - until the middle of the first quarter of the first game.

We only have Gurdak as a reliable option at center unless one of the other 3 potential backups surprises us. Buca could be effective if Rutgers plays zone and he planted himself by the basket. Buca is unlikely to be serviceable if he has to chase a more athletic player with an outside shot around the court. Whoever he is guarding will likely be able to shoot an open jumper from 3 or drive by him with ease.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

I doubt this ends up the case off of film. Diego looks like a four like Darren does. If he's taller than 6'5 I'll be surprised.

I think he’s probably taller, but not that type of player. He has a Caleb-like build - not Darren. He could slide over and play spot minutes at the 4 but that won’t be his natural position. And no - I don’t expect his D to be anything like Caleb’s. But I do think it will be better than Zrno or Denis’.

 

[seansherm]

I think he’s probably taller, but not that type of player. He has a Caleb-like build - not Darren. He could slide over and play spot minutes at the 4 but that won’t be his natural position. And no - I don’t expect his D to be anything like Caleb’s. But I do think it will be better than Zrno or Denis’.

Oh, yeah, wasn't comparing the two as players or body type, just that you see Darren at 6"4ish and don't think 4, same for Diego, who is probably a smudge taller and thinner. A 3. I have to see him against US comp before deeming him a solid defender. Zrno improved tenfold (not to good mind you) defensively from day 1 to end of season last year.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Oh, yeah, wasn't comparing the two as players or body type, just that you see Darren at 6"4ish and don't think 4, same for Diego, who is probably a smudge taller and thinner. A 3. I have to see him against US comp before deeming him a solid defender. Zrno improved tenfold (not to good mind you) defensively from day 1 to end of season last year.

Zrno was known to be a project on D coming in. He turned out to be exactly what I expected and what the scouting report suggested. He came in capable of getting hot from 3. Not much else. Denis I could see having possibly looked more versatile on offense in film but he also came in with defensive concerns.

Now granted we’ve had guys with strong defensive reputations (Dercack) come in and disappoint, but the chance of us getting a completely unplayable defensive player from someone known for D is probably pretty low. Chris wasn’t as good as we hoped. Jordan had growing pains in Pike’s system. They weren’t good defenders, but their starting point wasn’t like Zrno’s.

 

[seansherm]

Zrno was known to be a project on D coming in. He turned out to be exactly what I expected and what the scouting report suggested. He came in capable of getting hot from 3. Not much else. Denis I could see having possibly looked more versatile on offense in film but he also came in with defensive concerns.

Now granted we’ve had guys with strong defensive reputations (Dercack) come in and disappoint, but the chance of us getting a completely unplayable defensive player from someone known for D is probably pretty low. Chris wasn’t as good as we hoped. Jordan had growing pains in Pike’s system. They weren’t good defenders, but their starting point wasn’t like Zrno’s.

Funny, I said the other day this kid had some mannerisms and movement very similar to Derkack.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Funny, I said the other day this kid had some mannerisms and movement very similar to Derkack.

Could be a similar style player. From the available film, it does appear that he’s played in a man scheme at least. Those block clips looked like they were coming mostly from man coverage if not transition.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that while the bar is low, I think we can be reasonably optimistic that Diego’s floor will be at least close to competing for starting / 6 man role on last year’s roster. Jordan 100% would’ve done that. He would’ve averaged 20+ minutes for sure. We lacked wings with length. Pretended we had that in guards like Zrno and Powers - slid them to the 3 because we didn’t have anyone else.

 

[RedTeamUpstream94]

Of course, I was optimistic about the football team too - until the middle of the first quarter of the first game.

Haha. Me too.

The diving touchdown and I was like - oh this season is f$&ked

but hey there’s always basketball. Until THEY sh$t the bed . And it’s Rinse and repeat lol

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Haha. Me too.

The diving touchdown and I was like - oh this season is f$&ked

but hey there’s always basketball. Until THEY sh$t the bed . And it’s Rinse and repeat lol

While I hate hearing that Pike is battling cancer, there’s suddenly a lot to look forward to with that season. No pressure. It will be fun to root for that team to pull off some surprises even if they aren’t that good. Hopefully Pike gets healthy and can join the team as the season progresses but regardless it’ll be enjoyable to follow the team this season at least. Every discussion thread won’t feel like a coaching tenure in hospice care like football. Like we’re prepping for Greg’s funeral from Rutgers. Sure - many are happy about that but he’s still here and we won’t have a replacement until next year so it really is like an extended wait for his funeral.

 

[RedTeamUpstream94]

While I hate hearing that Pike is battling cancer, there’s suddenly a lot to look forward to with that season. No pressure. It will be fun to root for that team to pull off some surprises even if they aren’t that good. Hopefully Pike gets healthy and can join the team as the season progresses but regardless it’ll be enjoyable to follow the team this season at least. Every discussion thread won’t feel like a coaching tenure in hospice care like football. Like we’re prepping for Greg’s funeral from Rutgers. Sure - many are happy about that but he’s still here and we won’t have a replacement until next year so it really is like an extended wait for his funeral.

I agree. I mean there is HOPE that the BB team can be decent.

The pre-season prognostications are terrible so the only thing we can do is surprise people - the opposite of the Harper/ ace thing.

So if we suck - oh well, been down that road.

But if we surprise - it’ll be a fun thing to see

and there are so many new faces and so many questions - it will certainly be interesting .