Can the 2026-2027 team over perform like the 2019-2020 team.

[RUfan1977]

The 2019-2020 team was picked to finish 12th out of 14 Big Ten teams. They didn’t finish 12th, they finished fifth. Can this team outperform expectations in a similar manner? I would argue that although Rutgers has closed much of the talent gap, that is not enough. Rutgers will also need to show that they are tough and tenacious. The “meaningless” exhibition games suggest that they are tough and tenacious. There is no guarantee that Rutgers will capture lightning in a bottle again, but I think that this team will really surprise a lot of people.

 

[RUDiddy777]

Yes.

 

[seansherm]

Not if its losing by 30 to Yale in scrimmages! Ha, scrimmages still irrelevant but if our depth is a steep drop off its tough. Need 8 solid contributors including 3 "bigs", and probably don't count Darren as a big.

 

[Zebnatto1!]

Not if its losing by 30 to Yale in scrimmages! Ha, scrimmages still irrelevant but if our depth is a steep drop off its tough. Need 8 solid contributors including 3 "bigs", and probably don't count Darren as a big.

We had a third scrimmage v Yale?

 

[seansherm]

We had a third scrimmage v Yale?

Sounds like a closed door vs them yesterday. Its said starters minutes may have been limited, but still not a result you want to see if 6-10 played big minutes. 11-15 big minutes losing by 30 more understandable.

 

[Zebnatto1!]

Sounds like a closed door vs them yesterday. Its said starters minutes may have been limited, but still not a result you want to see if 6-10 played big minutes. 11-15 big minutes losing by 30 more understandable.

Can anyone confirm this? Hard to imagine we play Villanova and St. John’s even and get blown out by Yale.

 

[RUbyRED]

Can anyone confirm this? Hard to imagine we play Villanova and St. John’s even and get blown out by Yale.

That’s from the mods, sounds legit. Now as to who played / whether we coached to win, who knows

 

[Zebnatto1!]

That’s from the mods, sounds legit. Now as to who played / whether we coached to win, who knows

Can you comment on the losing by more than 30 points statement?

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Sounds like a closed door vs them yesterday. Its said starters minutes may have been limited, but still not a result you want to see if 6-10 played big minutes. 11-15 big minutes losing by 30 more understandable.

Would definitely need context to assess the meaning. If by “limited”, it means the starters played 22 minutes instead of 32 that’s a pretty bad sign.

Our bench is full of role players who wouldn’t be impact players right now on decent low majors. If the line up for most of the game was JMike, Powers, Jones, Diego and Miteo with a bench of Sydnor, Ware, Chris, Martin and Buca (getting their first action of the season) - I wouldn’t expect us to compete with anyone. So it depends.

 

[Simce91]

Can anyone confirm this? Hard to imagine we play Villanova and St. John’s even and get blown out by Yale.

"It's only Yale

Shades of the 2002 NIT game reappear

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Not if its losing by 30 to Yale in scrimmages! Ha, scrimmages still irrelevant but if our depth is a steep drop off its tough. Need 8 solid contributors including 3 "bigs", and probably don't count Darren as a big.

To be fair, I’m not sure how great the 2019-20 team would’ve looked pre-season either in a scrimmage where guys 6-12 saw most of the PT.

The 2019-20 team also lost early to St Bonnies, only beat Bryant by 2 and Drexel by 5. So there’s that.

 

[seansherm]

To be fair, I’m not sure how great the 2019-20 team would’ve looked pre-season either in a scrimmage where guys 6-12 saw most of the PT.

The 2019-20 team also lost early to St Bonnies, only beat Bryant by 2 and Drexel by 5. So there’s that.

Yeah, I was mostly kidding, I find almost all preseason scrimmage results to be irrelevant, especially ones that we have no visibility to. No one looks like they will later in the year in these and we know Pike teams aren't always the quickest to find their footing.

Although the case could be made that Caleb, Jacob young, and Mulcahy, Carter and insert #10 here could have hung with an Ivy. Maybe?

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Yeah, I was mostly kidding, I find almost all preseason scrimmage results to be irrelevant, especially ones that we have no visibility to. No one looks like they will later in the year in these and we know Pike teams aren't always the quickest to find their footing.

Although the case could be made that Caleb, Jacob young, and Mulcahy, Carter and insert #10 here could have hung with an Ivy. Maybe?

JY was very out of control early that season. Paul was first finding his way too. I think Caleb was a starter early that season. Yeboah started on the bench and then moved into the starting line up.

It isn’t necessarily so much always about the level of the players, but more the combination honestly. JMike, Smith, and Powers hypothetically playing together for big minutes is going to be an AWFUL defensive line up. You tend to defend JMike’s game more than others, but there’s no denying he just hasn’t figured out how to roll those screens. He’s good at other things when it comes to D but that’s a big problem to pair with Powers and Smith against a team of sharp shooters. If Buchanan wasn’t available (possible considering he got banged up at SJU) - Gurdak could’ve been exposed too because we’d then be undersized at the 4 too. Also - JMike is a big drop off (vs Lino or Tariq) since he himself isn’t a theat to do much damage scoring and isn’t an elite passer. Missing Lino and Tariq would definitely hurt our offense. If neither of them are in the line up the offense isn’t going to be nearly as good all around. Obviously we don’t know the details. My point is - just because Smith could be a solid starter for us, for example, does not necessarily mean he would help us not lose big to a decent mid-major with weak defenders around him. There’s a reason he graded out bottom 5% on D last year.

 

[seansherm]

JY was very out of control early that season. Paul was first finding his way too. I think Caleb was a starter early that season. Yeboah started on the bench and then moved into the starting line up.

It isn’t necessarily so much always about the level of the players, but more the combination honestly. JMike, Smith, and Powers hypothetically playing together for big minutes is going to be an AWFUL defensive line up. You tend to defend JMike’s game more than others, but there’s no denying he just hasn’t figured out how to roll those screens. He’s good at other things when it comes to D but that’s a big problem to pair with Powers and Smith against a team of sharp shooters. If Buchanan wasn’t available (possible considering he got banged up at SJU) - Gurdak could’ve been exposed too because we’d then be undersized at the 4 too. Also - JMike is a big drop off (vs Lino or Tariq) since he himself isn’t a theat to do much damage scoring and isn’t an elite passer. Missing Lino and Tariq would definitely hurt our offense. If neither of them are in the line up the offense isn’t going to be nearly as good all around. Obviously we don’t know the details. My point is - just because Smith could be a solid starter for us, for example, does not necessarily mean he would help us not lose big to a decent mid-major with weak defenders around him. There’s a reason he graded out bottom 5% on D last year.

Of course, pieces always need to fit well. Jmike is what he is at this point. A vet that can ball handle, typically (but not always) doesn't turn the ball over, an adequate shooter, and over rated defender who always give effort. I thought he got bad raps when younger, now, he just is. If Jones is the guard next to him, it's a decent pairing in the back court. Not the offense with Lino and Riq, but better defensively and bigger overall. I could see issues across the front court w our depth, especially if a cover it all like DB wasn't available.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Of course, pieces always need to fit well. Jmike is what he is at this point. A vet that can ball handle, typically (but not always) doesn't turn the ball over, an adequate shooter, and over rated defender who always give effort. I thought he got bad raps when younger, now, he just is. If Jones is the guard next to him, it's a decent pairing in the back court. Not the offense with Lino and Riq, but better defensively and bigger overall. I could see issues across the front court w our depth, especially if a cover it all like DB wasn't available.

If I had to “guess” who was out or very limited - I’d say Lino, Tariq and Buchanan. Tariq played SJU hurt and with a wrist injury I can’t see them having him scrimmage Yale much, if at all. That injury lingers and the wrist is vulnerable to tweaks for a while after. No way they’d let him scrimmage again after he was seen holding it throughout the second half of the scrimmage. Lino and Buchanan got banged up vs. SJU.

In which case - it wouldn’t have been Jones and JMike at the 1-2 - Jones would’ve probably been the 3 sandwiched between Powers and Smith at the 2 and 4. That line up with Gurdak isn’t great even against Yale and I’m sure Brandin wasnt letting Gurdak get anywhere near 40 min again. When he’s out and you put in one of the others with this group - there’s nose dive potential for us unless Smith just goes off scoring.

 

[soundcrib]

Hopefully, this team learns how to cross the finish line and end up in the W column. While the two exhibitions were encouraging, they showed the do not necessarily know how to shut the door and win.

 

[seansherm]

If I had to “guess” who was out or very limited - I’d say Lino, Tariq and Buchanan. Tariq played SJU hurt and with a wrist injury I can’t see them having him scrimmage Yale much, if at all. That injury lingers and the wrist is vulnerable to tweaks for a while after. No way they’d let him scrimmage again after he was seen holding it throughout the second half of the scrimmage. Lino and Buchanan got banged up vs. SJU.

In which case - it wouldn’t have been Jones and JMike at the 1-2 - Jones would’ve probably been the 3 sandwiched between Powers and Smith at the 2 and 4. That line up with Gurdak isn’t great even against Yale and I’m sure Brandin wasnt letting Gurdak get anywhere near 40 min again. When he’s out and you put in one of the others with this group - there’s nose dive potential for us unless Smith just goes off scoring.

Assuming Syndor couldn't play too? Also played Ware at the 4 in the Nova game. So much depends on who was available. Toncej or whatever could be a 4.

 

[Zebnatto1!]

I had thought that often "closed scrimmages" were not played as "games" with traditional clock or even scorekeeping, but sitruationally and at request of coaches. No?

 

[RUfan1977]

"It's only Yale

Shades of the 2002 NIT game reappear

I like this team, but they aren’t good enough for the attitude it’s only Yale. They need to work their butts off to be good.

 

[RUfan1977]

Assuming Syndor couldn't play too? Also played Ware at the 4 in the Nova game. So much depends on who was available. Toncej or whatever could be a 4.

I’d argue Ware played the 5 that game and Miteo played the 4.

 

[Simce91]

I like this team, but they aren’t good enough for the attitude it’s only Yale. They need to work their butts off to be good.

Not sure what happened this weekend

was more reminiscing about the good old day !

 

[RU82]

I had thought that often "closed scrimmages" were not played as "games" with traditional clock or even scorekeeping, but sitruationally and at request of coaches. No?

It’s whatever the coaches want it to be.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Yes to the answer

a lot depends on snyder and what he brings

I need to see that

if he is a legit starting four man …then I like our first seven

Backcourt
Francis
Mark
Jones

Front court
Smith
Snyder
Buchannan

center
Gurdack

Snyder complete our top 7….and I think powers and Miteo will develop as the year goes on to make it a top 9….with depth supplied by Jmike and Buca

Need 10-3 to start the season …which means no cupcake slip ups , and finding three wins out of seton hall, Notre dame , west va/UNLV, Michigan and Indiana ……

Like that we have something going on establishing an early season rotation …..

 

[seansherm]

No idea if anything this guy says is right, but he's saying it was starters v starters and bench v bench

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Assuming Syndor couldn't play too? Also played Ware at the 4 in the Nova game. So much depends on who was available. Toncej or whatever could be a 4.

Sydnor looked very far from being able to contribute effectively @ SJU. He might’ve played but wasn’t stopping anyone the way he looked.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

No idea if anything this guy says is right, but he's saying it was starters v starters and bench v bench

Subbing 5 in 5 out to match starters and subs that way suggests this was structured more like an instructional scrimmage than a practice game. Not great news that Yale has a few players that gave our guys some trouble but probably not a lot more to take away other than that.

It really doesn’t matter - for instance - if a line up that will never be on the court together such as JMike, Chris, Diego, Martin, and Miteo got schooled.

 

[seansherm]

Subbing 5 in 5 out to match starters and subs that way suggests this was structured more like an instructional scrimmage than a practice game. Not great news that Yale has a few players that gave our guys some trouble but probably not a lot more to take away other than that.

It really doesn’t matter - for instance - if a line up that will never be on the court together such as JMike, Chris, Diego, Martin, and Miteo got schooled.

Well, it would give an indication that if those guys can't handle being on the court w Ivy league back ups they aren't going to fill many decent minutes in the B1G. Same w starters, whoever got run out of the gym.

 

[Scarlet Blind_rivals]

2018-19 Rutgers 14-17(7-13) 67.9 / 68.8
2025-26 Rutgers 14-20(6-14) 70.5 / 75.3

18-19 brought back 6 of the top 8 scorers (EO 1st, Kiss{sat out/benched} 5th) Geo, Tez, RHJ, Caleb, Myles, Shaq Carter, / and Doucoure. Added Jacob Young, Mulcahy, and Yeboah.

25-26 brought back 5 of the top 7 scorers (Dylan Grant 2nd, Harun Znro 5th) Francis, Buchanan, JMike, Lino Mark, Kaden Powers, / and Gevonte Ware. Added Gurdak, Darin Smith Jr, Rasheed Jones, Will Sydnor, Buca?, Miteo?

The teams are pretty similar. I think we added more in transfers this year than 18-19 but college basketball has changed a lot from then to now. 18-19 returned a player from every position and added pieces to the bigger puzzle where 25-26 needed an overhaul at the 4&5. Chemistry and depth in the front court is the biggest question mark going into this season, especially if Gurdak gets into early foul trouble.

 

[fatsam98]

Well, it would give an indication that if those guys can't handle being on the court w Ivy league back ups they aren't going to fill many decent minutes in the B1G. Same w starters, whoever got run out of the gym.

The guy consistently makes **** up. I wouldn't put too much stock into a Richard Kent scrimmage report, especially one against his beloved Yale.

 

[seansherm]

2018-19 Rutgers 14-17(7-13) 67.9 / 68.8
2025-26 Rutgers 14-20(6-14) 70.5 / 75.3

18-19 brought back 6 of the top 8 scorers (EO 1st, Kiss{sat out/benched} 5th) Geo, Tez, RHJ, Caleb, Myles, Shaq Carter, / and Doucoure. Added Jacob Young, Mulcahy, and Yeboah.

25-26 brought back 5 of the top 7 scorers (Dylan Grant 2nd, Harun Znro 5th) Francis, Buchanan, JMike, Lino Mark, Kaden Powers, / and Gevonte Ware. Added Gurdak, Darin Smith Jr, Rasheed Jones, Will Sydnor, Buca?, Miteo?

The teams are pretty similar. I think we added more in transfers this year than 18-19 but college basketball has changed a lot from then to now. 18-19 returned a player from every position and added pieces to the bigger puzzle where 25-26 needed an overhaul at the 4&5. Chemistry and depth in the front court is the biggest question mark going into this season, especially if Gurdak gets into early foul trouble.

Took me a second, but your parenthesis are who didn't return, got it.
I would say we returned much more talent back then, and whether we added more is questionable, but likely. We had Young multiple years. Yeboah was a super solid all round guy. Mulcahy was even useful as a freshman, averaged like 5 points a game once February hit.
Gurdak looks like he's going to be a big plus. Myles gave us 8 and 8 in 24 minutes that year.
What will Smith, Jones, or Syndor add. Can Jones match a Tez, Smith match a RHJ?

I think the teams will also be similar in that group had like 7 guys over 21 minutes a game vs last year where we only played 4 over that number.

 

[seansherm]

The guy consistently makes **** up. I wouldn't put too much stock into a Richard Kent scrimmage report, especially one against his beloved Yale.

Oh, the only thing I'd pay any attention to are things that could be fact checked elsewhere. Starters v starters, bench v bench is different than hearing starters didn't play much. They may have, and when they did it was against other starters, but it wasn't our bench vs their starters.
I don't really put much of any stock in anything scrimmage based i don't see with my own eyes.

 

[BillyC80]

I take more from the televised exhibitions than I do from a closed, controlled scrimmage.

Those exhibitions were intense for October bball, especially with so many new faces all around.

Seemed liked both of our opponents played to win, as did we. If it didn’t matter, then both RU and SJU would not have played their starters through 4 OTs.

The other factor in those exhibitions is that everyone is now a paid professional, looking to earn PT and playing for pride. I saw a lot of competitive fire and I’m very encouraged for the season.