2006-2007 Big East Preview: #12

#12- Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Last season: 19-14 (7-9), lost to St. Joe's in the first round of the NIT.
Coach: Fred Hill Jr. (1st year). 0-0 at Rutgers.

A new era begins at Rutgers this year with the promotion of Fred Hill Jr. to head coach. Known as one of the best New Jersey/NYC metropolitan area recruiters, Hill will make some recruiting waves in the Big East these next few years. Rutgers returns four starters from a team that almost won 20 games. However, the one starter not coming back is NBA first round draft pick Quincy Douby. Rutgers was carried by Douby for the entire season last year, and losing him will be very difficult for Rutgers to overcome in the short term. Rutgers returns a talented point guard in sophomore Anthony Farmer, who was good for 8.3 ppg and 3.9 apg last season for the Knights. Defensive specialist Marquis Webb returns for his senior season, hoping to step up and be the senior leader on this team. Although Webb is known for his stifling defense, he dramatically improved his offensive game last season averaging 9.5 ppg. He is Rutgers' leading returning scorer and figures to be a key player in 2006-07.

Rutgers also picks up a transfer this year. Courtney Nelson, a 6-1 sophomore from Richmond will be eligible to play this season. He is a scorer and could help the Knights replace some of the scoring Douby provided last year. Up front is 6-9 stud forward JR Inman, a sophomore who missed nine games last season with a broken leg suffered in a February 5th game at Seton Hall. In his time on the court, Inman averaged 8.7 ppg as a freshman. He showed a lot of talent last year, dropping 14 points against both Seton Hall and Syracuse. I believe Inman will be the key to the season for Rutgers. The Knights also have Byron Joynes and Ollie Bailey up front, two big bodies that will need to bang to get points.

Rutgers has one big recruit, center Hamady N'Diaye out of Africa. N'Diaye may not start right away, but I expect him to make his way into the starting lineup considering his size (6-11) and the fact that neither Bailey or Joynes are very good.

I expect the Knights to be competitive in many of their Big East games, as their schedule is not that difficult. Their repeat opponents are Cincinnati, Connecticut, and in-state rival Seton Hall. A record of 3-3 in those 6 games would be a nice goal as of now. Outside of their final three Big East road games, the road schedule is very easy all things considered. In the non-conference portion of the schedule, a big game at home vs. Bob Huggins' Kansas State team (Nov. 15), and road games at Temple, Bradley, and North Carolina highlight the Scarlet Knights schedule. Rutgers could have a very solid year, and I may be underrating them in this preview. The problem is there are a lot of unknowns, chief among them the loss of Quincy Douby.

Schedule and predictions:

11/15 vs. Kansas State- L
11/19 vs. St. Thomas Aquinas- W
11/21 vs. Jackson State- W
11/24 vs./@ Bradley (Chicago Invitational Challenge)- W
11/25 vs./@ TBA (likely Illinois)- L
11/29 @ Temple- W
12/2 vs. Nebraska- W
12/6 vs. New Hampshire- W
12/9 @ Princeton- W
12/16 vs. Iona- W
12/22 vs. Lehigh- W
12/28 @ North Carolina- L
12/31 vs. South Carolina State- W
1/3 @ Seton Hall- L
1/7 @ Cincinnati- W
1/10 vs. Syracuse- L
1/13 vs. DePaul- W
1/17 vs. Georgetown- L
1/20 @ Providence- L
1/24 @ South Florida- W
1/27 vs. Seton Hall- L
1/31 vs. West Virginia- W
2/3 @ Connecticut- L
2/7 @ Marquette- L
2/10 vs. Cincinnati- W
2/15 @ St. John's- L
2/21 vs. Connecticut- L
2/24 @ Villanova- L
3/3 vs. Notre Dame- W

Projected record: 16-13 (6-10).
Postseason: NIT 2nd round.