What To Know: Rutgers Men's Basketball
Rutgers men's basketball's athletic communications representative is Jordan Ozer. All media availability for Rutgers will be conducted virtually via Webex. For interview/credential requests and all other media relations needs, contact him via at jozer@scarletknights.com or contact in game via text message.
ACCOLADES
Ron Harper Jr.
- Wooden Award Watch List (nation's top player)
- Midseason Watch List member (top 20)
- Julius Erving Award Watch List (nation's top SF) (top 5)
- Preseason defensive player in the Big Ten (Lindy's)
- No. 20 player in nation (ESPN.com midseason rankings)
- Midseason All-American (by Jon Rothstein)
Geo Baker
- Preseason All-Big Ten
- Bob Cousy Award Watch List (nation's top PG)
- No. 9 ranked returning player in the nation by Andy Katz
Cliff Omoruyi
- Ranked as No. 12 Top Impact Freshman (NCAA.com)
- Named No. 21 Most Intriguing Player in the nation in preseason ranking by The Athletic
Team
- Final Four Dark Horse Candidate (Andy Katz and Jon Rothstein)
- Top 5 Best College Basketball Atmosphere (The Front Office)
Assistant Coach Brandin Knight
- The Athletic 40 Under 40: Rising Stars
Director of Operations and Recruiting Ben Asher
- NABC 30 Under 30
ANDY KATZ
“No question, Rutgers can finish in the top-4 in the Big Ten in the 2020-21 season. They added a big time recruit in Cliff Omoruyi from New Jersey, a rim protector, still getting better offensively. You add him to Myles Johnson inside, that's a great 1-2 punch. They also bring back Geo Baker, a big shot maker, Ron Harper Jr., who you can count on at both ends of the floor. I love Jacob Young's defense. Paul Mulcahy, Caleb McConnell, Montez Mathis, another on the ball defender who can keep a perimeter driver out of the lane. This Rutgers team is going to defend. They're going to play extremely hard. They're going to win games at The RAC, maybe every one. They'll win game on the road this season too.”
STEPHEN BARDO
“Rutgers plays great defense. The plethora of wings that Rutgers has gives them tremendous defensive balance. Offense sells tickets. Defense wins championships and defense can travel.”
SETH DAVIS
“The Scarlet Knights have become a thing in college basketball for the first time in a very long time. Pikiell has had to build his roster the hard way, not by out-recruiting his competitors so much as out-evaluating them. The resources for sustained success are now in place. They know they have a lot more room to rise.”
STEVE LAVIN
“Steve Pikiell, with his defensive approach, they are deep and they wear opponents out. They’ll change defenses to give you different looks. The RAC has become one of the more difficult places to play in all of college basketball. That’s really energized the program.”
GARY PARRISH
“Breaking into the AP poll in year four is a huge accomplishment for Steve Pikiell, who is one of the nicest men in the industry. Just a kind and humble man. Coaches always talk about building it the right way, brick by brick, and here’s an example of a guy really doing that.”
GREG GARD
“They’re right in the mix,” Gard said when asked where to forecast Rutgers’ Big Ten chances during the upcoming season . “Steve (Pikiell) has done a terrific job there in a short time. He started by convincing them and getting them to believe in how hard they have to play. Now he’s added talent and that talent has experience and they understand how hard they have to play.”
FRAN FRASCHILLA
"Steve Pikiell has done an amazing job at Rutgers. Having followed his career, I'm not surprised. He's a blue-collar guy, a hard hat guy, and he's got a really good nucleus . They were going to be a NCAA Tournament team last year. I really like their team."
SETH GREENBERG
“I love them. I love their identity. They are going to rebound, they'll defend. Their backcourt is as physical as any in the Big Ten. They can guard the ball, they can attack, they can make shots. They have a tremendous toughness about them. I think they'll be in the upper third of the Big Ten. Steve's done an incredible, incredible job. He's gotten his type of guys. He's built it like Jim Calhoun built the UConn program. I enjoy watching them play and I think they're a really special team.”
JOHN BEILEIN
They can contend for a Big Ten Championship if they stay healthy and get some breaks. They're always going to play defense, that's a constant with them. Now they have multiple ways to score the ball and that's what makes them so dangerous. Steve's defense is always going to make it tough to score. Now they can win a game in the 50s or in the 80s with the way they can play at both ends of the floor."
DICK VITALE
“Coach Pikiell has a quality team that is ready to make nose in the Big Ten."
JON ROTHSTEIN
“Steve Pikiell has built a program that will be a legitimate contender at the top of the Big Ten in what should be the deepest year that the conference has seen in recent memory. The Scarlet Knights have experience, depth, elite rim protection, and a burgeoning star in Ron Harper Jr. The Scarlet Knights are now a team that others are chasing. Expect that sentiment to continue all season long."
JAY BILAS
“Rutgers is a team that hasn't been talked about enough nationally, but Rutgers is legit. They are really good. Ron Harper Jr. is an excellent scorer. Geo Baker, Myles Johnson, who gobbles up just about every rebound. Jacob Young is a really good player. They're very, very good.”
ACADEMIC NOTABLES
- For the fall, Rutgers had a 3.48 term GPA as a team.
- The squad currently boasts a cumulative GPA of 3.24.
- Seven student-athletes had a GPA of 3.5 or higher last semester: Myles Johnson, Caleb McConnell, Paul Mulcahy, Clifford Omoruyi, Mawot Mag, Daniel Lobach and Aiden Terry.
- 11 student-athletes hold a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better
- Earned 2020 NABC Team Academic Excellence Award - first time in eight-year history of award. Myles Johnson, Nick Brooks and Joey Downes named to NABC Honors Court.
- 11 Academic All-Big Ten selections (program record) - with trio of three-time honorees (Geo Baker, Myles Johnson, Luke Nathan)
