2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 15) Rutgers

September 22, 2007


THE RUTGERS ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Official 2007-2008 Rutgers Roster and Bios

Meet Coach Fred Hill

Louis Brown Athletic Center: aka ‘The RAC’

2007-2008 Rutgers Scarlet Knights’ Schedule


OVERVIEW:

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are set to begin the second season of the Fred Hill era and will hope to improve upon last season’s 3-13 conference mark which forced RU to miss the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden last March.

Fred Hill has long been touted as one of the best college basketball recruiters of New Jersey talent. He was very successful as the lead recruiter at both Seton Hall and Villanova as they brought in some of the best talent the Garden State had to offer while he was on staff. Now, he not only gets to recruit the talent, but he is responsible for molding them into a winner, something that has not happened much at all for Rutgers since they joined the Big East.

Fred Hill has been aggressively recruiting for Rutgers since his appointment as head coach, replacing Gary Waters after the 2005-2006 season, but the roster is still thin heading into this season and it could be a struggle for Rutgers to improve much on last year’s record.

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2006-2007 SEASON:

Last year the Scarlet Knights struggled scoring the basketball, averaging a conference worst 59.8 PPG on the season and just 58.2 in Big East action. Rutgers were also a league worst in field goal percentage (37.5% in league play) and 15th out of 16 teams in 3-pt shooting percentage (30.1%). In all, the Scarlet Knights were very inept in trying to replace 2006 NBA 1st round pick Quincy Douby and the scoring pop he provided. To make things even more worrisome for 2007-2008, Rutgers graduated two of their top three scorers from last year’s team (Marquis Webb and Adrian Hill).

To illustrate how tough it was for the Scarlet Knights to score last year, the scored 55 points or less 15 times in a game last season. JR Inman was their leading scorer at 12 PPG, but he struggled trying to become their go-to scorer as he hit just 40% from the floor. Marquis Webb was their leading 3-pt shooter at 34%, but the rest of the team manager a meager 28.7% shooting accuracy from the arc.

In addition to losing Webb and Adrian Hill due to graduation, the Scarlet Knights also saw Ollie Bailey leave the program this past summer and move to an NAIA school in Oklahoma. The Knights did not have the services last season of 6’9, 265 lb senior C Byron Joynes, who returns this season from injury and should help their painful lack of size in the paint.

THE BACKCOURT:

Fred Hill worked for several years under Jay Wright and Villanova and helped on the recruiting front for ‘Guard U’, so coach Hill knows the importance of building a program around top-level guards. Last season, Anthony Farmer and Courtney Nelson both struggled mightily shooting the ball. Nelson was shaking off the rust after transferring in from Rutgers and sitting out the 2005-2006 season per NCAA transfer rules. Farmer battled nagging arm/wrist injuries during the season and never found any consistency in his offensive game. They return with experience, but they will be pushed hard from a promising group of newcomers in the Rutgers backcourt.

The most anticipated new arrival is Corey Chandler, a 6’2 guard from East Side High School in Newark, NJ. Fred Hill locked up a commitment from the talented scorer early in the recruiting game. Chandler vowed to act as another recruiter for the Scarlet Knights, but his efforts will be better served with some successful time on the court to attract other locals to follow his lead. Chandler will provide an immediate lift to the meager Rutgers offense, but the freshman will need some help. He should be one of the most productive freshmen in the conference this year.

Three more guards also join the mix this season, led by Mount Vernon product Mike Coburn, a 6-foot point guard. Coburn was part of a very successful high school program under coach Bob Cimmino and will look to bring his winning experience to the Rutgers program. Versatile frontcourt player Earl Pettis, originally from Philadelphia, and sweet-shooting Justin Sofman also are part of the mix. This group has a lot of promise, but with any group of freshmen, especially in this conference, it is going to take them time to mature and get comfortable against this level of competition night in and night out.

Maybe the biggest key is the development of wing Jaron Griffin, a 6’6 junior G/F from Manchester, NJ. Griffin has size and athletic ability, along with 3-pt range to be a very productive wing in the league, maybe a poor man’s Demetris Nichols. However, like Nichols early on at Syracuse, Griffin’s lack of consistent production is frustrating the staff. Last season, playing a vital role in the system, Griffin bombed out averaging just 8 PPG and shooting an anemic 32% from the floor and 27% from 3-pt range. Griffin has too much talent to put up numbers like that again this season. If he can find his niche in the offense and Chandler can provide the boost he is capable of, the Rutgers offense should improve greatly.


THE FRONTCOURT:

This is easily the thinnest unit in the conference and it will be tough to be competitive night in and night out with their lack of numbers in the paint. As it stands right now, the Scarlet Knights have just three available bodies on scholarship in their frontcourt: JR Inman, Hamady N’Diaye and Byron Joynes. OUCH!

The leader of this group is clearly the multi-talented Inman. At 6’9, 220 lbs, Inman is built for success at the Big East level playing inside and out at the forward position. However, with a team desperately in need of help in the paint, do not expect the Scarlet Knights to be able to take advantage of his diverse talents because of their need for him to play like a power forward more than not. Inman managed to average 12 PPG last season and he can stuff the stat sheet with rebounds (7.3 led the team) and toss in some steals and blocks. If Inman can get some help up front, he could be a player that expands his game as much as anyone this season.

With just Joynes and N’Diaye to team with, do not expect much help. Joynes is a 5th year senior that is most effective taking up space in the middle. He knows how to throw his boy around, but he is not that productive on the offensive end nor as a big time rebounder. He takes up space. N’Diaye is a different story, still very raw, especially on the offensive end, N’Diaye does have a high amount of upside because of his size (6’11, 235) and athletic ability. Despite playing just 13 minutes a game last season, N’Diaye led the team in blocked shots. For Rutgers to improve, he must average nearly double that amount of time and be productive during that time.

Rutgers still seems to be involved with ultra-thin 6’6 Canadian import Marvel Waithe at this time. However, do not expect Waithe to turn up at Rutgers until at least the second semester as NCAA Clearinghouse issues continue to derail his career.


2007-2008 PREDICTION:

With their lack of depth, especially upfront, and their lack of proven scorers, it is tough to be high on the hopes of Rutgers this coming season. Individually, I like some of the pieces, but it remains to be seen if anyone is willing to take the leap and become a top-level Big East performer. JR Inman potentially could be that type of player, but he will need Corey Chandler and/or Jaron Griffin to be a consistent perimeter scoring threat every night and for Hamady N’Diaye to ramp up his progression as a top big man in the conference. If those ‘ifs’ develop positively, the Scarlet Knights could steal some wins when your not looking. However, those pieces must fall perfectly into place otherwise their lack of scoring and depth will continue to hold the Scarlet Knights back. Even their improved backcourt depth, while encouraging, will not be the answer if they are forced to go to a 4-guard line-up. Maybe in a few years, but expect another rough season at the RAC in 2007-2008.


BIG EAST PREDICTION: 4-14