Big Ten Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

By Adam Childs | Sep 16, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Big Ten logo on the floor before the Big Ten Men's Basketball Final against the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines at the Verizon Center on March 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Wolverines won 71-56. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

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PISCATAWAY, NJ – MARCH 03: Shaq Carter #13 and Geo Baker #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Rutgers was a surprise in the Big Ten. After being really bad in 2018-19 and losing some key players, the outlook was not very bright for the Scarlet Knights. But then they blew out Seton Hall and got rolling in the Big Ten and they became nearly unbeatable at home.

They had turned a place Big Ten teams weren’t worried about into one of the biggest home-court advantages in the conference. They only lost one game at home (against Michigan) all year long.

Led by Ron Harper Jr and Geo Baker the Scarlet Knights played a tough low scoring style of play and it worked. They hounded the opposing teams all over the court and will look to do that again this year.

They have talent coming back and coming in, but they still don’t look like an offensive powerhouse, but with the defense they play, they don’t have to be a high-scoring team. As a team last year they averaged just 69 points per game but gave up just 62 per.

The defense is going to be key for the Scarlet Knights, but after missing out on a trip back to the NCAA tournament, they should be very hungry this year. If they can play defense like last year, they again should be able to compete with the top teams in the conference. But if they can’t keep it up it could be a long year.

We think they will feed off last year’s success and be in the top half of a very competitive conference.

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