The plan was for Rutgers basketball to play Gonzaga in Seattle this month.
“Then Gonzaga will get into the battleship recreation (in opposition to Michigan State for the Nov. 11 Armed Forces Basic) and hastily we’re out,” Scarlet Knights coach Steve Pikiell stated.
His telephone stored ringing. Rutgers has turn out to be a gorgeous choice for the neutral-site showcases that dot the school hoops panorama every November. Pikiell has resisted committing to a conventional Feast Week match – he’s cautious of prolonged non-conference journey and would relatively give his gamers Thanksgiving off – however he’s warmed to the idea of the one-off contest.
That’s how Rutgers got here to face Temple Friday at Mohegan Solar Enviornment in Connecticut (5 p.m., ESPNU).
“We had an opportunity to play a one-off in San Diego,” Pikiell stated. “However once you go throughout the nation, that’s three days. I didn’t wish to fly to Seattle both, however that was for Gonzaga.”
There are a handful of corporations that e book these occasions, and Pikiell stated they’re continuously reaching out to e book Rutgers. Friday’s recreation is sponsored by the Naismith Corridor of Fame and contains Iona-Vermont as a nightcap. The Corridor of Fame is plugged into Mohegan Solar, which contains a high quality 8,000-seat area. A four-team Corridor of Fame match involving Maryland, Saint Louis, Windfall and Miami takes place there Saturday and Sunday.
“After all I’m attempting to get dwelling video games and that’s turn out to be more durable,” Pikiell stated. “Guys do their analysis and we’re fairly good at dwelling.”
Pikiell stated date availability is the first shaper of his non-conference slate. He stated Rutgers needed to block off this complete week for potential inclusion within the Gavitt Video games between the Huge Ten and the Huge East, solely to be left off the slate’s closing iteration. And the college (like many others) prohibits video games on studying days or final-exam days in December.
“It’s a jigsaw puzzle,” Pikiell stated. “Taking part in a one-off at impartial website has turn out to be an answer to the issue.”
Rutgers already has begun inspecting potential matchups of that nature for subsequent season.
Matching up vs. Temple
For now, the match labored with Temple, a thriller group with additional time losses to Wagner and Vanderbilt and a win over Villanova. The Owls function a dynamic backcourt led by Damien Dunn and Edison native Khalif Battle. Dunn averages a whopping 29 factors per recreation and is taking pictures 59 % from 3-point vary and 96 % from the free-throw line. Battle, a Butler switch who performed highschool ball at St. Joseph-Metuchen and Trenton Catholic, averages 13 factors and obtained second-team preseason All-AAC honors.
“Superior guards who can rating,” Pikiell stated.
Rutgers’ backcourt, in the meantime, stays in flux. Paul Mulcahy (shoulder) and Caleb McConnell (knee) usually are not training this week, Pikiell stated. Their availability for Temple is unsure however up to now, Pikiell has not suited up gamers who’re coming off accidents until they’ve practiced.
McConnell is near prepared after lacking the primary three video games. Mulcahy needed to come out early in Saturday’s win over UMass-Lowell after aggravating a left shoulder harm. Rutgers (3-0) may use a victory over a top-100 foe (proper now Temple is ranked 102 by the analytics web site Kenpom.com).
If Mulcahy can’t go, count on one other future by freshman level guard Derek Simpson, a Lenape Excessive Faculty grad who has confirmed equal to the duty up to now, and a gentle feed of standout middle Cliff Omoruyi (Temple has seemed susceptible inside). Additionally regulate sophomore guard Jalen Miller, a defensive stopper whose specialty may be wanted in opposition to the Owls’ backcourt.
Rooting for soccer
Pikiell attended the Rutgers males’s soccer program’s 3-1 win over Indiana in Sunday’s Huge Ten Match closing and got here on the sphere afterward to congratulate head coach Jim McElderry.
“What an awesome day – I had goosebumps,” he stated. “What he’s accomplished in 4 years, I’ve such respect for that. I used to be so excited for the gamers and the way they performed. Taking part in in opposition to Indiana’s measurement they have been simply powerful – Jersey powerful.”
Jerry Carino has coated the New Jersey sports activities scene since 1996 and the school basketball beat since 2003. He’s an Related Press High 25 voter. Contact him at [email protected].
