In this years’ battle to determine the best New Jersey college basketball program, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will be hosting the #22 Seton Hall Pirates.
TV Schedule: Saturday, December 14th, 4:00 PM EST on the Big Ten Network
Arena: The RAC (Rutgers Athletic Center) in Piscataway, New Jersey
The Garden City Hardwood Classic returns for its fifth installment, this time at the RAC where a Rutgers coming off a big win will face a nationally ranked Seton Hall team in a match-up to determine state basketball supremacy. This annual challenge was made after Rutgers left the Big East following the 2013 conference realignment and will last to at least 2028.
Over the past four seasons, since this challenge has been introduced, Seton Hall has won three out of four of the challenges. Last year was a 72-66 Seton Hall win. Rutgers only win came a year before that with a 71-65 win at home.
The #22 Seton Hall Pirates (6-3) will enter in this game coming off a loss at Iowa State, which dropped them down six spots on the poll and also happens to be their biggest win on a neutral court. This Seton Hall team has been ranked as high as #12 in the polls yet they have yet to beat a ranked opponent, but they have ended up close with the Pirates losing to a ranked Oregon and Michigan State by just one basket(2 and 3 points respectively)
Seton Hall is led by the senior 2018-19 All-Big East first-team guard Myles Powell who leads the team in points and is third on the team in assists per game, with 22.9 points(which is in the top 10 across the country) and 2.0 assists per game. He is definitely a Big East Player of the Year candidate this season due to performances like the one against a #3 Michigan State where he scored 37 points going 6-14 beyond the arc in addition to having a 32-point performance against a #11 Oregon. The Pirates also have junior forward Sandro Mamukelashveli at their disposal and is second on the team in points and rebounds with 10.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-3) are coming into this game off of a huge conference win against Wisconsin at home. They also have reached one of their highest KenPom rankings in years at 69 and are undefeated at home.
The Scarlet Knights offense is led by junior guard Geo Baker who leads the team in points and assists with 13 points and 4.3 assists per game as well as getting 22 points for Rutgers in their latest win. Another key player is sophomore center Myles Johnson, who leads the team in rebounds per game with 7.6 rebounds per game and is first in shooting percentage on the team. shooting .725 so far this season.
If Rutgers wants to pull off this win, they’ll need to step up their 3-point game from both sides of the ball. On offense, they are among the bottom third nationally for attempts, makes, and percentage. Seton Hall, on the other hand, is in the top 100 for makes and percentage, with Myles Powell in the top 15 for most 3-pointers made.
In the end, it will be a close game but Seton Hall will prove to be just too much for Rutgers.