Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball power rankings: Michigan makes big statement to start the season

By Austin Walther

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - FEBRUARY 25: Carsen Edwards #3 of the Purdue Boilermakers reaches for the ball to keep it in bounds during the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Mackey Arena on February 25, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - FEBRUARY 25: Carsen Edwards #3 of the Purdue Boilermakers reaches for the ball to keep it in bounds during the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Mackey Arena on February 25, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 02: Head coach Pikiell of Rutgers. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 02: Head coach Pikiell of Rutgers. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-1)

Blame it on their history, I guess. Rutgers finds itself at the bottom of the Big Ten each and every year since joining the conference. The non-conference schedule hasn’t done much help either. Their best opponent was St. John’s in the Gavitt Games where they lost by 19. The Red Storm looks like the one of the favorites in a very depleted Big East. Honestly though a win would have been the only thing to keep them out of basement with how well the Big Ten has played.

Rutgers does have some nice things to hang their hats on. They put up 90 or more in the first two games. The Scarlet Knights did hold Eastern Michigan to just four points in the first half of their game on Monday nights. That’s kind of wild. But then the Eagles matched the Illini in points in the second half.

It hasn’t been all just Geo Baker like many had thought. Eugene Omoruyi is leading the team in scoring with over 16 points per game. Baker is taking on more of a point guard role than the primary scorer which could be beneficial. The other surprise has been transfer sophomore Peter Kiss. He comes from Quinnipiac where he averaged over 13 per game. He dropped a nice 17 in the first game and 13 in the second.

I’m done talking about where this team would be if Corey Sanders had stayed. Rutgers has used the same starting lineup in the first four games. That’s a positive. But in-order to get out of this spot, they need to continue to win. They’re not going to get much help from above. It doesn’t look all bad for these guys, but their pedigree keeps them in this position for yet another week.

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