The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have had an uneven start to a much-anticipated season. With the program's top two recruits in tow, Steve Pikiell's team was expected to be a Top 25 squad from the jump. That didn't happen.
The team has played up to some of its better opponents and down to some of its weaker ones (re: Kennesaw State). That's resulted in a 6-4 start and a question as to what this team's ceiling looks like in what presumably will be Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey's lone seasons in college.
Its opponent on Saturday afternoon, Seton Hall, is off to an even more disappointing start this year. The Pirates are 5-5, losing games to the likes of Fordham, Hofstra, and Monmouth. Shaheen Holloway's team may be stuck towards the bottom of the Big East this year.
Still, there are always fireworks when New Jersey's top two programs come together on the hardwood. The competition may not be aesthetically pleasing, but it should be competitive.
Here are three keys to a Scarlet Knights victory on Saturday afternoon.
1. Limit Chaunce Jenkins
Rutgers may not need to do anything to limit Chaunce Jenkins, who suffered a knee injury during Seton Hall's most recent game against Oklahoma State. Early indications are that Jenkins will be ready to go for Saturday, though it's worth monitoring.
When healthy, the senior guard has been Seton Hall's best player, leading the team with 11.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Neither mark would be enough to lead many teams in either category. It's no wonder the Pirates fail to rank in the top 300 in points per game in college basketball.
The only other player scoring in double figures for Seton Hall is guard Isaiah Coleman. There aren't any elite shotmakers coming out of Seton Hall, but it would do Rutgers well to shut down who the Pirates put forth.
2. Open up the floor
As established, Seton Hall's offense is putrid. It's one of the worst in the entire country, with the Pirates averaging just 60.1 points per game. Sunday's loss to Oklahoma State was the only time the Pirates have passed 70 points in a game this season - they didn't even hit 70 in their overtime win over VCU.
So while Seton Hall is much better on the end of the court, Rutgers should be able to win if they can just get the ball in the bucket consistently by opening up the floor. Nobody is going to confuse Rutgers with Mike D'Antoni's Phoenix Suns, but the team is averaging nearly 20 points per game more than their counterpart.
In fact, Rutgers has only scored less than 70 points once this season. That offensive output against Seton Hall is a winning recipe.
3. Pressure the ballhandler
There are few teams more susceptible to turnovers than Seton Hall. While Rutgers isn't known for forcing turnovers this year, the Pirates cough it up a staggering 21.2 percent of the time. There's no reason not to pressure Seton Hall when they're taking it up the court.
Seton Hall also doesn't have a true point guard to speak of, making the team more vulnerable to an attack on the ball. Pikiell will drill that into players like Jamichael Davis before the team takes the court on Saturday.