Saturday, November 16
Toronto, Ontario
7:30 PM ET
Rutgers University
vs
St. Bonaventure
Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
Men's Basketball to Take on St. Bonaventure at Naismith Classic in Toronto
Nov 14 | Men's Basketball
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-0) vs. St. Bonaventure Bonnies (0-3)
Saturday, November 16, 2019 | 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Scotiabank Arena (19,800) | Toronto, Canada
TV: ESPN+ (Doug Sherman, play-by-play; Sean Farnham, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/SiriusXM 988; Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Justin Sontupe & Corey Jason)
Series Record: Rutgers leads 21-18
Last Meeting: November 23, 2008 (St. Bonaventure 64, Rutgers 63 OT)
OPENING TIP: After opening its season with three home wins, Rutgers takes flight for Toronto to meet former Atlantic 10 Conference rival St. Bonaventure in a tripleheader at the James Naismith Classic. It will be the first official game for the Scarlet Knights outside of the United States since playing in the 2011 Cancun Challenge. Scotiabank Arena is a 491.3-mile drive from the RAC and a 167.9-mile drive from SBU's Reilly Center.
Rutgers established a 26-2 advantage in fast break points to run past Drexel 62-57 Wednesday night. The Scarlet Knights led for more than 35 minutes, established a 42-36 advantage on the glass and issued eight blocks.
RU has generated production throughout its lineup, with four players averaging double-figures in scoring, led by Geo Baker (14.0). In establishing a scoring margin of +18, the Scarlet Knights have shot 44.7% while holding opponents to 34.4%, and out-rebounding opponents by a + 10.3 margin.
THE OPPONENT: Under 13th-season head coach Mark Schmidt, the Bonnies were selected fifth in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll following an 18-win season in 2018-19. St. Bonaventure has opened its season with losses to Ohio, Vermont and at Siena. Dominik Welch leads the team with 13.0 points-per-game, followed closely behind by Kyle Lofton (12.0 ). Preseason all-conference selection Osun Osunniyi played in the opener before missing the past two games due to injury.
THE SERIES: Rutgers and St. Bonaventure will match up for the 40th time, with the Scarlet Knights holding a 21-18 all-time advantage. RU has a 3-1 edge over the Bonnies in neutral site contests. A pair of former Atlantic 10 conference rivals, Rutgers has won 15 of the past 20 match-ups. The teams have only played once since 1995, an overtime loss for RU in 2008. In 1976, Rutgers defeated St. Bonaventure to seal its perfect regular season.
CONNECTION: Bonnies assistant coach Tray Woodall played point guard at Pittsburgh from 2008-12, where he was coached by then Panthers' assistant Brandin Knight, who was a two-time All-American for Pitt at the position.
RUTGERS HEAD COACH STEVE PIKIELL
RUTGERS IN GAME FOUR UNDER PIKIELL
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES
Saturday, November 16, 2019 | 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Scotiabank Arena (19,800) | Toronto, Canada
TV: ESPN+ (Doug Sherman, play-by-play; Sean Farnham, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/SiriusXM 988; Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Justin Sontupe & Corey Jason)
Series Record: Rutgers leads 21-18
Last Meeting: November 23, 2008 (St. Bonaventure 64, Rutgers 63 OT)
OPENING TIP: After opening its season with three home wins, Rutgers takes flight for Toronto to meet former Atlantic 10 Conference rival St. Bonaventure in a tripleheader at the James Naismith Classic. It will be the first official game for the Scarlet Knights outside of the United States since playing in the 2011 Cancun Challenge. Scotiabank Arena is a 491.3-mile drive from the RAC and a 167.9-mile drive from SBU's Reilly Center.
Rutgers established a 26-2 advantage in fast break points to run past Drexel 62-57 Wednesday night. The Scarlet Knights led for more than 35 minutes, established a 42-36 advantage on the glass and issued eight blocks.
RU has generated production throughout its lineup, with four players averaging double-figures in scoring, led by Geo Baker (14.0). In establishing a scoring margin of +18, the Scarlet Knights have shot 44.7% while holding opponents to 34.4%, and out-rebounding opponents by a + 10.3 margin.
THE OPPONENT: Under 13th-season head coach Mark Schmidt, the Bonnies were selected fifth in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll following an 18-win season in 2018-19. St. Bonaventure has opened its season with losses to Ohio, Vermont and at Siena. Dominik Welch leads the team with 13.0 points-per-game, followed closely behind by Kyle Lofton (12.0 ). Preseason all-conference selection Osun Osunniyi played in the opener before missing the past two games due to injury.
THE SERIES: Rutgers and St. Bonaventure will match up for the 40th time, with the Scarlet Knights holding a 21-18 all-time advantage. RU has a 3-1 edge over the Bonnies in neutral site contests. A pair of former Atlantic 10 conference rivals, Rutgers has won 15 of the past 20 match-ups. The teams have only played once since 1995, an overtime loss for RU in 2008. In 1976, Rutgers defeated St. Bonaventure to seal its perfect regular season.
CONNECTION: Bonnies assistant coach Tray Woodall played point guard at Pittsburgh from 2008-12, where he was coached by then Panthers' assistant Brandin Knight, who was a two-time All-American for Pitt at the position.
RUTGERS HEAD COACH STEVE PIKIELL
| Overall Record (years) | 239-210 (15th) |
| Rutgers Record (years) | 47-54 (4th) |
| Record vs. St. Bonaventure (RU) | 0-0 |
| Record vs. St. Bonaventure (overall) | 0-0 |
RUTGERS IN GAME FOUR UNDER PIKIELL
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| 11/19/18 | Eastern Michigan | W, 63-36 |
| 11/19/17 | Coppin State | W, 64-39 |
| 11/23/16 | North Texas | W, 66-53 |
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES
- Rutgers leads the Big Ten in blocks (7.0) and defensive rebounds (31.3).
- Geo Baker is tied for 3rd nationally among guards in blocks (2.0).
- Caleb McConnell is tied for the national lead in turnover rate (0 TOs in 52 minutes) while Paul Mulcahy leads the Big Ten is tied for 6th nationally among freshmen in assist-turnover ratio (4.5).
- Rutgers ranks 14th nationally in blocks (7.0) and 32nd in FG% defense (34.4).
- Rutgers is still a young squad, ranking 221st nationally in experience per Pomeroy. The starting lineup has featured one junior (Baker) and four sophomores (Johnson, Mathis, Harper Jr., McConnell).
- Rutgers entered the Fall 2019 semester with a 3.06 cumulative team GPA.
- Rutgers was named the Most Improved Team of the 2018-19 season by Sports Illustrated in its year-end awards. The Scarlet Knights improved 70 positions in the Pomeroy ratings since the season's initial rating, best among all power conference programs.
- Rutgers was among the approximately 30,000 individuals who joined in the 18th annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk on Sept. 29. It marked the third consecutive year the team has participated in the event, with proceeds benefitting first responders and catastrophically injured service members. Under Steve Pikiell, RU has maintained 100 percent team participation in Leadership Development and Strategic Partnerships community service initiatives for the past three seasons.
- Rutgers posted a 4-0 record against professional club teams during a tour of Spain in August. RU outscored its opponents 387-284 and had five players with double figure scoring averages.
- Rutgers has its deepest roster in some time, with all 11 scholarship players expected to see action in the rotation. Of the 10 scholarship players who made the trip to Spain, all averaged 15 or more minutes.
- Of Rutgers' 11 scholarship players, 10 are 6'4 or above and seven are 6'6 or taller.
Players Mentioned
Guard
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