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Rutgers Basketball: Outlook for the future of the Scarlet Knights

By Bryan Mauro

PISCATAWAY, NJ - JANUARY 09: Geo Baker #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights reacts after scoring the game winning three-point basket defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 64-61 in a game at Rutgers Athletic Center on January 9, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - JANUARY 09: Geo Baker #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights reacts after scoring the game winning three-point basket defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 64-61 in a game at Rutgers Athletic Center on January 9, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Steve Pikiell of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights reacts during a game against the Michigan State Spartans in the first half at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Steve Pikiell of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights reacts during a game against the Michigan State Spartans in the first half at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Steve Pikiell

Since the coach has arrived in Piscataway, the Rutgers program has been different. While the early returns may not have resulted in many wins, the Scarlet Knights became one of the teams who made the other team uncomfortable. Pikiell took the reins of the Rutgers program at exactly the right time. Former coach Eddie Jordan, who was one of the stars on the 1975 final four team, had driven the program into the ground. The last season of the Eddie Jordan era saw Rutgers win seven games and the team appeared to quit playing for their former coach.

Now that the program is in the hands of Pikiell, Rutgers hangs their hat on the defensive end of the floor. Initially it was out of necessity as Rutgers had a hard time scoring the basketball. As the team has acquired more weapons and become more adept at scoring the ball, their defense has remained. Rutgers and their defensive identity is something the team takes a ton of pride in as well.

Coach Pikiell plays a certain way and it is a physical brand of basketball, built on defense and rebounding. Rutgers is a good rebounding team and can haul in a bunch of offensive rebounds. The rebounding can minimize a lot of the offensive deficiencies because it will lead to transition baskets or easy baskets around the rim. To play the style the Scarlet Knights do you need to have a ton of size. Rutgers has plenty of size and their size is skilled and can score, protect the rim and rebound.

Pikiell has gotten the buy in of everyone in the program from the players to the administration. The fans are starting to show up and the wins are starting to come. Pikiell appears to be the man to help Rutgers return to the NCAA tournament.

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