Wagner Seahawks vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 6th 2024
Preview and Prediction
Anticipation for the upcoming season at Rutgers has reached a fever pitch, with the program securing commitments from two highly-touted five-star high school recruits. These recruits, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, are not just any two five-stars, but potential future NBA players who were ranked second and third in the Class of 2024. The Scarlet Knights are confident that they have built a strong team around Bailey and Harper, and have been ranked No. 25 in the AP preseason poll. They are set to open their season against Wagner in Piscataway, N.J. on Wednesday.
Bailey, a 6-foot-10 forward and wing from Atlanta, and Harper, a lead guard whose brother Ron Harper Jr. was a standout player at Rutgers, have already formed a strong bond despite committing at different times. Their friendship and occasional opportunities to play together during the summer have helped to develop early chemistry between the two. In an exhibition game against St. John's in October, they combined for 45 points, six made 3-pointers, and nine rebounds.
Coach Steve Pikiell has high praise for Bailey and Harper, calling them talented and great passers. However, he also acknowledges that they still have much to learn, particularly on the defensive end. The Scarlet Knights' returning players include guard Jeremiah Williams, who is also a team captain, guard Jamichael Davis, and center Emmanuel Ogbole, who missed most of last season due to a knee injury.
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Known for their strong defense, Rutgers had one of the worst offenses in power-conference basketball last season, averaging just 65.4 points per game. In addition to Bailey and Harper, the Scarlet Knights will rely on transfers such as Tyson Acuff, Zach Martini, and PJ Hayes. Acuff, who averaged 21.7 points per game at Eastern Michigan last season, will come off the bench in a limited role. Martini, a co-captain with Williams, shot 38.5 percent from 3-point range at Princeton, while Hayes shot nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman at San Diego.
Their first opponent, Wagner, was tied for first in the Northeast Conference preseason coaches' poll with Central Connecticut State. The Seahawks finished sixth last season but went on to win the conference tournament and secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament First Four, where they defeated Howard. Head coach Donald Copeland was rewarded with a new five-year contract for his team's success.
After injuries depleted their roster to just seven healthy scholarship players during the tournament, Copeland is happy to have key players like Javier Ezquerra, Keyontae Lewis, and Zaire Williams back for the upcoming season. In an interview with PIX 11 over the summer, Copeland expressed satisfaction with the team's progress and chemistry, and is looking forward to implementing new strategies in the fall.