22. Rutgers (1-0)
Rutgers basketball has been markedly better under Steve Pikiell in recent years, even though last season was something of an underwhelming performance. What’s really elevated the Scarlet Knights this season is the presence of a pair of elite recruits in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. These two pair nicely with the relative strength on this roster and it could be a pretty special year in Piscataway if everything falls in line.
We didn’t see the Scarlet Knights on the court until Wednesday and unfortunately we didn’t get to see Bailey’s debut, as he missed the opener with an injury. Regardless, Rutgers scored a 75-52 victory over Wagner in their season opener and got a great effort from Harper, who had 20 points and 4 assists in his collegiate debut.
The Big Ten feels quite open this season without an overwhelming favorite in the league. If Rutgers’ two star freshman both play up to their potential, there’s every reason to believe that the Scarlet Knights can hang with the rest of this conference. It’ll all depend on how some of those other pieces work out, with a strong defensive performance getting the job done against Wagner. Tougher games lie in wait, though not for a few more weeks as next week starts with Saint Peter’s and Monmouth.