It’s been just under a month since men’s basketball Rutgers beat No.1 Purdue, and the Scarlet Knights are now set to return to the Big Ten on Tuesday against Michigan. It’s been a while since the Scarlet Knights faced an opponent in conference, so here are five takeaways from my reporting on the team for the Daily Targum this season.

The vault is a major problem

It’s always difficult to replace a player like Myles Johnson, but Cliff Omoruyi has been the best defensive big-man replacement you’re going to get. Omoruyi has had a solid season so far, average 12.4 points and 7.3 rebounds on 61.5% shots.

The problem lies when Omoruyi is off the field, as Steve Pikiell couldn’t find a reliable back-up big man on the eve of the Big Ten game. The prime contender for that replacement role was, and still is, San Jose State transfer Ralph Gonzales-Agee, but he struggled against the conference greats to start the season.

Focusing on the Scarlet Knights’ two Big Ten games before Christmas, Gonzales-Agee struggled to keep Kofi Cockburn and Trevion Williams. Dean Reiber had his own difficulties adjusting to the same physical aspect of the Big Ten game. With Hunter Dickinson, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Zed Key, then Cockburn and Williams a second time, Rutgers will have to rely on one of those players to play reliable save minutes when Omoruyi is on the bench.

Rutgers offense goes like Ron Harper Jr. goes

While Geo Baker is undeniably the heart and soul of the Rutgers program, Ron Harper Jr. is the driving force behind the offense, and has been for some time.

Example of the Purdue and Seton Hall games. When Ron Harper Jr. is on his “A” game, like the 30-point, 10-rebound masterpiece that toppled the Boilermakers, the Scarlet Knights will be a tough outing for any team across the country.

That said, Rutgers’ offense tends to suffer from severe droughts, and those droughts tend to occur more often and to a greater extent in the matches that Harper Jr. struggles in. Against the Pirates, the Scarlet Knights were unable to muster baskets in the critical stretches of the loss, namely a 14-0 streak at Seton Hall before half-time that opened up a deficit that Rutgers ultimately did. could not overcome.

I’m not saying Harper Jr. has to host a Purdue-level performance every night, but he has to be the one to handle the # 1 option responsibilities if Rutgers is to return to the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row. .

To further illustrate my point, this season the Scarlet Knights are 4-1 when Harper Jr. scores 15 or more points. On the contrary, Rutgers is 3-4 and when it does not exceed this threshold.

Defensive end will provide Rutgers with opportunities to right the ship

With offense having its fair share of ups and downs, the defensive end, as he always was in Steve Pikiell’s day, was reliable throughout the early part of the schedule. Without the solid game on defense, Rutgers wouldn’t have been able to beat Purdue and Clemson, and wouldn’t have had the opportunity to play many of the close games they’ve had this season.

As the saying goes, defense wins championships and the Scarlet Knights’ ability to lock in on defense will prove crucial if they are to steal road wins and have a productive Big Ten roster.

That brings me to Caleb McConnell, whose defense has been a major factor in some of Rutgers’ best wins at the start of the season. Returning to Purdue, McConnell’s defense against Sasha Stefanovic was a big reason the Boilermakers sniper finished 3-10 of the field and 2-7 of three. McConnell’s defense has been a running theme throughout the year, as he also enjoyed success over NJIT’s Dylan O’Hearn and set up a defensive clinic in the win over Maine.

With players like McConnell, the Scarlet Knights can secure success on this side of the ball. Plus, if they can be strong defensively, it will ultimately give them the opportunity to win almost any game they play the rest of the way.

Below is a clip from the Purdue game that shows how McConnell pulled Stefanovic out of the game. In the clip, he also does stunts on Trevion Williams, forcing a crucial offensive foul. For a more detailed movie review, check out our own Pete Winter movie review articles.

(go to the 7:35 mark and the 12 minute mark)

Young players have shown potential

Rutgers basketball is set to undergo a tough adjustment next season with the expected departures of Geo Baker, Ron Harper Jr. and Caleb McConnell. That said, the emergence of several young players has given momentum not only to next season, but to this season as well.

Despite only having 4.8 points per game this season, Jaden Jones has looked good in the spots and has the potential to be an impact player in the Big Ten game. Standing at 6’8 “with guarding skills, Jones provides Pikiell with a quality threat off the bench.

Omouryi can also be seen as part of this young core, and one facet of his game that has improved over recent games is his ability to stay out of trouble. With the aforementioned lack of depth behind Omoruyi, the sophomore’s ability to play flawless defense and stay on the pitch will be crucial in some of these future Big Ten battles.

Finally, Jalen Miller’s play and Mawot Mag’s improvement gave Pikiell two more coins on his bench. I like the way Miller competes, especially on the defensive end, as he steadily pushes down on opposing guards and keeps them on 94 feet. Having a keeper ready to do what Miller does only uplifts the game for the rest of the team. If you want a clue as to what Miller’s teammates think of him, I remember Paul Mulcahy, Caleb McConnell and Ron Harper Jr. applauded at the post-game press conference when Miller’s name was mentioned after making his college debut against Clemson.

As for Mag, the runner-up has made similar progress over the season. His best performance by far was against Purdue, where he scored a high of 12 points in 29 minutes. What Mag provides is extra wing depth to go with Harper Jr., Jones and Aundre Hyatt, a benefit that will prove invaluable going forward.

Here’s a video that showcases the smart basketball Mag played on his first start against the Boilermakers:

Rutgers’ ability to capitalize on Jersey Mike’s Arena will have a huge impact on the rest of the season

For anyone who hasn’t attended a game at Jersey Mike’s Arena, I can tell you it’s getting STRONG. In fact, the Rutgers games are getting so loud that the building has gathered the respect from some of the biggest names in college basketball over the years.

The final testament to this was the madness of Purdue’s victory. I’m not sure if I had become immune to the decibel levels at Jersey Mike’s Arena, but I was reminded of how loud this arena can get when the Scarlet Knights presented the opportunity.

From the rowdy of the refs to the roaring after a three-point shot, it was clear the Boilermakers were uncomfortable in their first real road game of the season. I’m saying all of this to make it clear that “Trapezoid of Terror” can do the same to more opponents this season, giving Rutgers a unique opportunity to pick up his NCAA tournament resume.

Some of the teams the Scarlet Knights have yet to host at home this season are Michigan, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State, Illinois and Wisconsin. I can say that each of these teams can be beaten within the friendly limits of the “Trapeze of Terror”.

It remains to be seen whether the new COVID-19 protocols affect the number of fans who will attend games the rest of the season, but luckily we won’t be fanless. The move preserves Jersey Mike’s Arena’s unique combination of noise, student section and proximity to the crowd. Add the final element, a tough Scarlet Knights team, and the playing field is drastically changed. Concrete example: Purdue.