With selection Sunday nine days away we are officially in crunch time to see who will and will not make the NCAA March Madness tournament.
Rutgers took a very bad loss to Minnesota who is last in the Big Ten conference. RU was looking at a nine-seed before the loss Thursday night. With this loss, the level of comfort for the Scarlet Knights has reduced gradually. In the regular season finale Sunday they host Northwestern who has struggled as well lately. A win against them can let them breathe a bit easier but there is still work to do.
Next week they will travel to Chicago for the Big Ten conference tournament. This is where they have to show their worth. Everyone has to be clicking on all cylinders. The Big Ten is wide open, anyone can get beat on any given night so the Scarlet Knights have to bring it every night. In terms of what they have to do in the tournament, they have to win at least two games to get back in a comfortable position.
The Scarlet Knights will need Clifford Omoruyi to dominate he is averaging 13.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Cam Spencer has been on and off lately but the Knights will need him to drop at least 20 a game. His scoring will open up more of the offense. Getting Paul Mulcahy in favorable matchups will be something coach Pikell should do. Put him in the post, let him work on a smaller defender get him some easy buckets to help out with the scoring.
Losing Mawot Mag was a huge blow to this team and it still has its lingering effects. He was the glue guy for this team and a good defensive player. The team will have to figure out how to come together to make a run at the Big Ten championship.
MARCH IS HERE!!!! BATTLE BUZZER BEATER FOR THE WIN!!!! 🔥@battletime510 X @GopherMBB pic.twitter.com/RemB6bK1RL
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 3, 2023
Rutgers Men's Basketball at Madison Square Garden 2.4.23
