22. Rutgers (3-0)
The story in Piscataway has greatly changed in recent years. A complete punching bag in the Big Ten, Rutgers has turned the corner under Steve Pikiell and his leadership. The Scarlet Knights weren’t great last season, but this year’s success hinges on 5-star freshmen Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, two names that they’ll hope become nationally relevant before the season is over.
Unfortunately, Bailey missed the first two games of the season, including Monday’s 75-65 win over Saint Peter’s. Harper led the cause with 24 points and 6 rebounds in a game where the long-range shooting was cold but the team did enough against the Peacocks. Bailey was able to make his collegiate debut Friday in a 98-81 win over Monmouth, with 17 points and 6 rebounds. Harper continued his fine play with 20 points while Zach Martini added 18 as well.
The early returns have been mixed, with inconsistent shooting and questionable defense at times for the Scarlet Knights. It’s important to remember that those two star players are both just getting their feet wet in the college game, though at least the lineup is now healthy. The bottom line is that mid-majors from New Jersey aren’t going to tell us what we need to know about the Scarlet Knights; we’ll have to wait a few more weeks for a significant test for these young rookies.