Busting Brackets
Fansided

Rutgers Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Scarlet Knights

By Holden Walter-Warner

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 10: Geo Baker #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defends during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on January 10, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 10: Geo Baker #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defends during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on January 10, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 03: Head coach Steve Pikiell of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights reacts on the sidelines against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half of a game at Rutgers Athletic Center on February 3, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Purdue defeated Rutgers 78-76. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 03: Head coach Steve Pikiell of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights reacts on the sidelines against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half of a game at Rutgers Athletic Center on February 3, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Purdue defeated Rutgers 78-76. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Season outlook

When Corey Sanders left, the odds of Rutgers competing for a postseason berth went with him. Perhaps it would’ve been an uphill climb regardless, but Sanders was still the best product the school trumpeted on the basketball court in some time.

Rutgers has two players that can develop into stars in Geo Baker and Montez Mathis. Neither has the seasoning yet, though, with the former entering his sophomore season and the latter yet to play a game of college basketball. That means the Scarlet Knights are in for tough sledding, despite their manageable non-conference schedule.

Rutgers has spent four seasons in the Big Ten. In each of their four years, they have finished in dead last in the regular season conference standings. This doesn’t appear to be the season the Scarlet Knights will get out of the cellar.

Rutgers fans shouldn’t be disheartened by this season’s grim prognosis. The building blocks are there for a future that doesn’t involve last place. Baker is a promising player. Pikiell is the most promising coach the team has had in a while.

Next. Best/worst case scenarios for each Big Ten team. dark

Patience is a virtue, though, and Scarlet Knights fans are going to need it in droves to get through the coming season, which may only feature a couple of conference victories.

Home/Rutgers Scarlet Knights