Rutgers basketball Big Ten Tournament preview: Our predictions as Knights get ‘new life’

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A new life, a new season.

Whichever way you want to put it, Rutgers has a chance to start fresh this week in the Big Ten Tournament after a disappointing regular season that fell well short of expectations.

Can the Scarlet Knights capitalize on it?

That’s the big question Steve Pikiell’s team will need to answer out in Indianapolis, where No. 11 Rutgers will play No. 14 USC in the opening round on Wednesday (approximately 8:30 p.m., Peacock) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Mar 9, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Ace Bailey (4) is introduced before the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Jersey Mike’s Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

If the Scarlet Knights can get past the Trojans, whom they beat by 10 points at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Feb. 23, they would play No. 6 Purdue just a week after suffering a blowout loss to the Boilermakers at Mackey Arena.

So the task ahead for Rutgers is a challenging one.

“It’s a new season,” Pikiell said after his team’s 75-67 overtime win over Minnesota on Sunday. “The regular season is over. Everyone is 0-0, and we have a new chance. We try to get our guys to learn from their lessons. Going to a neutral site may be good for us. Our guys have gotten better. We have played some great basketball. We have been on a nice run here. We are excited for that tournament, and we will go from there.”

At this point, all Rutgers’ fanbase can do is hope and pray for a miracle run in the Big Ten Tourney. Winning the whole thing is the Scarlet Knights’ only chance of earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

That they’re even in this position reflects just how disappointing this season has gone considering they have two projected top-five NBA draft picks in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, whose 22-point performance saved Rutgers in the win over a mediocre Minnesota team.

That was a perfect microcosm of the entire season – both the good and bad versions of the Scarlet Knights showed up. They…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/rutgers-basketball-big-ten-tournament-080421795.html

Author : App.com | Asbury Park Press

Publish date : 2025-03-11 08:04:00

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