THE OFFICIAL RUTGERS-MERRIMACK PREDICTION THREAD
- Thread starter bac2therac
- Start date
BTW I didn't realize where they were located, didn't really know anything about them (they are relatively new to D1 I believe), but it looks as thought they are only about 25 minutes from Geo Baker's hometown, so I'm guessing he prob. knows the school very well and might even know some of the players if any of them are local.
from an NEC blog:
6. Merrimack
I’m a little more bearish on Merrimack than KenPom (#3) and BartTorvik (#1), and I don’t really feel good about that. In reality, Merrimack firmly stands in my second tier, meaning that projecting any of the remaining teams as a regular season conference champion is no longer a stretch. With a Warriors defense all but guaranteed to reside near the top of NEC in terms of defensive efficiency – they finished one and two in Joe Gallo’s first two seasons in Division I, respectively – a climb to the middle of the pack in offense would undoubtedly soar the Warriors prospects.
The team certainly isn’t devoid of playmakers. Jordan Minor enters his junior campaign following an impressive season where he posted 12 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest, and that was despite converting just 50.1% of his takes near the rim, per Hoop Math. A realistic progression toward 60% probably gets the bruising big in the 14 to 15 points per game category. His battery mate at the forward position, Ziggy Reid, has already illustrated his potential to reach that scoring level – if he continues the momentum from his last six games (15.7 ppg, 50.7% FG) then the sky’s the limit.
And then there’s sophomore Malik Edmead, in my opinion one of the most dynamic playmakers that NEC has to offer. If he takes the floor at least 60% of the time as Merrimack’s main floor general (he was at 34.9% in 2020-21), the duo of Edmead and Mikey Watkins presents Gallo with backcourt that’s lethal attacking off the bounce to finish or kick it out to sharpshooters Devin Jensen and Mykel Derring. Both of those veterans easily have the skill to convert at least 40% of their long-range jumpers.
Furthermore, Gallo has the athletes to excel in transition, as the Warriors posted a splendid 61.5% eFG in such opportunities, per Hoop Math. While that number may naturally regress, players such as Minor, Watkins and Edmead have the skillset to thrive in the open floor and the aforementioned shooters certainly don’t hurt on those 3 on 2 fast breaks. A few more opportunities in transition could go a long way in elevating Merrimack’s point total on a game-by-game basis.
This Warrior offense could be a sleeping giant relative to their tenth place finish in offensive efficiency just a season ago. Where they land scoring the basketball will determine how high they shoot up the regular season standings, thanks to the 2-3 attacking zone that establishes a solid base to work off of.
6. Merrimack
I’m a little more bearish on Merrimack than KenPom (#3) and BartTorvik (#1), and I don’t really feel good about that. In reality, Merrimack firmly stands in my second tier, meaning that projecting any of the remaining teams as a regular season conference champion is no longer a stretch. With a Warriors defense all but guaranteed to reside near the top of NEC in terms of defensive efficiency – they finished one and two in Joe Gallo’s first two seasons in Division I, respectively – a climb to the middle of the pack in offense would undoubtedly soar the Warriors prospects.
The team certainly isn’t devoid of playmakers. Jordan Minor enters his junior campaign following an impressive season where he posted 12 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest, and that was despite converting just 50.1% of his takes near the rim, per Hoop Math. A realistic progression toward 60% probably gets the bruising big in the 14 to 15 points per game category. His battery mate at the forward position, Ziggy Reid, has already illustrated his potential to reach that scoring level – if he continues the momentum from his last six games (15.7 ppg, 50.7% FG) then the sky’s the limit.
And then there’s sophomore Malik Edmead, in my opinion one of the most dynamic playmakers that NEC has to offer. If he takes the floor at least 60% of the time as Merrimack’s main floor general (he was at 34.9% in 2020-21), the duo of Edmead and Mikey Watkins presents Gallo with backcourt that’s lethal attacking off the bounce to finish or kick it out to sharpshooters Devin Jensen and Mykel Derring. Both of those veterans easily have the skill to convert at least 40% of their long-range jumpers.
Furthermore, Gallo has the athletes to excel in transition, as the Warriors posted a splendid 61.5% eFG in such opportunities, per Hoop Math. While that number may naturally regress, players such as Minor, Watkins and Edmead have the skillset to thrive in the open floor and the aforementioned shooters certainly don’t hurt on those 3 on 2 fast breaks. A few more opportunities in transition could go a long way in elevating Merrimack’s point total on a game-by-game basis.
This Warrior offense could be a sleeping giant relative to their tenth place finish in offensive efficiency just a season ago. Where they land scoring the basketball will determine how high they shoot up the regular season standings, thanks to the 2-3 attacking zone that establishes a solid base to work off of.
Their head coach Joe Gallo is a Middlesex County guy who says he roots for Rutgers any night other than Sat. Here is the postgame vid after their win at NJIT where he mentions that:
Joe Gallo...
Joe Gallo...
Beat me to it, except I was going to have Merrimack (aka CSS Virginia) with 100Merrimack 93 Rutgers 54
Sincerely,
Most On This Board After Game One
If the athletes are quick, you should care. We aren't the fastest team in the world. That said, yes shooters would also be a major problem so I hear ya.
Sigh, yes strange that they did this. I can't EVER remember football and men's basketball overlapping like this. Has it ever happened? Am I just forgetting?
Great. Another local guy like that guy from Hartford who used to kill us. Can't wait.
I'm just the opposite. I'll be at the hoops game. Football has me burned out already.
There are a few examples but I’ll give you two of the most notable that I remember.
Basketball got blown out at UNC the night of the Texas Bowl in December 2006.
Basketball hosted Georgetown the afternoon of the International Bowl in January 2008.
I don't remember those because I went to both bowl games. I remember a Friday night game at the RAC and I think football was playing at Army on ESPN or ESPN 2 at the same time in 2007. I remember trying to catch some of the game on the TVs behind the concession stands. I think that was the game with the lost bus driver on the TD Club trip.
I think most expect us to keep it close.Merrimack 93 Rutgers 54
Sincerely,
Most On This Board After Game One
You mean he doesn't play left field for the Yankees in the offseason?His name is Joey Callo, not Gallo.
Latest
-
01
The Knight Report
Which Power Four programs could Rutgers Football schedule in 2028?
-
02
The Knight Report
Rutgers Athletics Roundup | Basketball, Football, Wrestling & More - TKR Pod
-
03
The Knight Report
2026-27 Rutgers Basketball Desktop / Mobile Wallpaper
-
04
The Knight Report
Rutgers Football versus Penn State Game Time Announced
-
05
On3 Football
Everything to know about 24-team College Football Playoff expansion