Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: Updated way-too-early rankings after the NBA Draft

By Lukas Harkins

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 04: The Michigan Wolverines celebrate after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-66 during the championship game of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 4, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 04: The Michigan Wolverines celebrate after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-66 during the championship game of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 4, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 02: Baker #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights reacts. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 02: Baker #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights reacts. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Rutgers has been in the Big Ten for four complete seasons now. Over these years, the Scarlet Knights have compiled a total conference record of 9-63 (.125). Given this track record, compiled under both Eddie Jordan and Steve Pikiell, it is hard to imagine that Rutgers will be leaving the cellar during the 2018-19 season. The odds of Rutgers finishing higher than last place also took a serious hit when star guard Corey Sanders elected to turn professional after his junior year. In addition to losing Sanders, the program also had to say goodbye to DeShawn Freeman, who graduated after finishing second on the team in scoring behind Sanders.

However, this does not mean that the talent cupboard is bare for the Scarlet Knights. Now a rising sophomore, the baton of leadership has been handed onto Geo Baker. Baker started 29 of Rutgers’ 33 games last season and scored 10.8 points per game. Although his 38.0% shooting from the field was rather inefficient, he shot 36.1% from 3-point range on 147 attempts. He was the leading 3-point shooter on the team last season and he should become an even more dangerous threat as the leader of the team.

Two other major contributors from last season are also returning. Both Eugene Omoruyi and Issa Thiam averaged seven points per game a year ago and will return as important pieces in the frontcourt for the Scarlet Knights. From a recruiting standpoint, Rutgers’ class is led by four-star shooting guard Montez Mathis and three-star small forward Ronald Harper. Both of these players rank within the top-200 for the 2018 class and should immediately see roles.

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