university of oregon ducks mens basketball rutgers preview

After ending 2022 and 2023 with winning records, Rutgers Basketball took a slight step back in 2024, finishing just under .500 at 15-17. Heading into their first season in the expanded Big Ten, there was hope they could get back on the winning side.

They started with a loss to a tough St. Johns team but followed that up with four consecutive wins. Heading into the Players Era Tournament in Las Vegas, they were 5-2.

They gutted out a one point overtime victory over Notre Dame and were nearly matched up with Oregon for the tournament title game, but fell to Top 10 Alabama in a close contest. A follow-up loss to Top 20 Texas A&M completed their run in Sin City.

Their first two Big ten games were a split, with a loss to Ohio State and a win over Penn State. They then followed up a solid win over Seton Hall with a heartbreaking loss to Pinceton. A victory over Columbia completed their nonconference slate.

Resuming conference play, things weren’t looking pretty with an 0-3 start. They followed up an impressive win over UCLA with a victory at Nebraska, but dropped three of their next four.

They earned perhaps their biggest win of the season at home against Maryland, but proceeded to lose three straight after that, including a blowout loss in Eugene.

They finished the regular season relatively well, winning three of five, but succumbed to USC in their first Big Ten Tournament game in double overtime, effectively ending their season.

Roster-wise it will be a tall task heading into 2025-26 to replace Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, who were by far the most productive players last season. Harper averaged 19 points per game with five rebounds and Bailey notched 18 points and seven rebounds per contest.

Not only that, they lost starters Lathan Sommerville and Jeremiah Williams as well and head into this season with only one Senior on the roster.

Expect the Scarlett Knights to have some major growing pains and likely finish near the bottom of the conference.