Red Hot Rutgers Captures Fourth Straight Victory
PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY - FEBRUARY 15: Jamichael Davis #1 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights puts up a shot ahead of Justin Mullins #20 of the Northwestern Wildcats in the second half at Jersey Mike's Arena on February 15, 2024 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers defeated Northwestern 63-60.
Rutgers men’s basketball continues to roll in the month of February. The Scarlet Knights edged out Big Ten rival Northwestern 63-60 at a sold out Jersey Mike’s Arena for its fourth straight victory to improve to 14-10 overall and 6-7 in the Big Ten.
Just a few weeks ago, Rutgers was ranked 13th in the Big Ten Standing with a conference record of 2-7. Now they find themselves in ninth place in the Big Ten standings, tied with Indiana and Minnesota, and with a chance to catch Minnesota by the weekend!
Whoa!
Aundre Hyatt hit the game winning shot with 56 seconds to go in the second half, when he took a kick-out pass from Derek Simpson and drained the three at the top of the key. Jersey Mike’s exploded.
“We have been down and this team just keeps on fighting,” Head Coach Steve Pikiell said. “This group is really practicing the right way. We’re doing a great job at getting prepared for these games and you never know what obstacle you will face. It just takes everybody to stay alive and I appreciate it.”
With the likes of Rutgers legends Caleb McConnell, Eric LeGrand, and football coach Greg Schiano in the building, Rutgers found itself down seven points at the half. At one point, Rutgers trailed by as much as 11-points, 42-31 in the early stages of the second half.
But they kept chopping.
A 10-0 run, highlighted by a three-ball from Hyatt, and good free throw shooting by Jeremiah Williams brought Rutgers to within one point of the lead.
Rutgers eventually took the lead 52-51 on Derek Simpson’s jumper with 5:18 to go.
A layup by Williams, and another jumper by Simpson helped Rutgers build a five-point lead.
Finally in the waning seconds Hyatt drained the game winner to give Rutgers a 61-58 lead. Williams’ layup touched up the final score.
https://x.com/RutgersMBB/status/1758509770447749236?s=20
Rutgers visits Minnesota on Sunday night.
5 NBA Players We'd Love To See In the Slam Dunk Contest
This weekend the NBA will take over Indianapolis for All-Star weekend. On Saturday night, the Slam Dunk contest will serve as the grand finale of the day two events at Lucas Oil Stadium. That got us thinking about NBA stars we’d love to see in Slam Dunk contest.
Before we crack into the list, let’s take a look at the modern landscape of the NBA dunk contest. The biggest complaint about the event is that the biggest names in basketball rarely participate. Why is that? Well, last year at this time, Front Office Sports dove into this exact subject. “The last time a player from that season’s All-Star Game actually participated in the Dunk Contest was in 2017, when the Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan competed,” they said.
Front Office Sports went on to list a lack of creative options, scoring, and top players not participating in the dunk contest as reasons why the competition had declined. “I think they’re maybe afraid to lose,” NBA Hall of Famer, and slam dunk legend, Dominique Wilkins said via Front Office Sports. Of course, potential injury could also be considered.
Though there has been a lack of star power in the Slam Dunk contest, there have been a few shining moments as of late. Last season, there was much confusion as to why the NBA was allowing a G League (minor league) player to participate in Mac McClung. Now with the Orlando Magic franchise, McClung was called up by his then-team, the 76ers, a few days before the contest. He would go on to win and thrilling fashion. Furthermore, McClung is just six-foot-two.
This Year’s Slam Dunk Contest
The NBA Slam Dunk contest will often be associated with the likes of Wilkins and Michael Jordan. In the late ’80s, these legends made our jaws drop dunking the ball during all-star weekend. Sure, we have had Vince Carter and the late great Kobe Bryant go in it and win it. However, you can’t help but think about what might have been, if these stars had won. Some of them came close, while others opted out.
Nonetheless, we do have some surprising and well-received news when it comes to the 2024 contest. Jaylen Brown, one of the biggest stars in the game, is participating. He will compete against last year’s winner in McClung. In addition, Jacob Toppin from the Knicks and Jamie Jaquez. Jr of the Heat are in. Perhaps with Brown participating, we will begin to see the trend of more all-stars opting into this fan-favorite event in the future.
Here are five players we’d love to see do their thing in the NBA Slam Dunk contest.
Michael Cohen is the News and Sports Director at Fox Sports Radio New Jersey and Magic 98.3 FM, as well as a radio production assistant with Fox and Magic in New Jersey. He started his career in Somerset in 2018 initially as a news fill-in at WCTC 1450 AM, and soon moved up to higher responsibilities in the ensuing years, assuming News & Sports Director title in 2021Prior to his time with Fox Sports New Jersey, Michael was play-by-play voice for New Jersey Jackals baseball, and as well as play-by-play and color for the College of Staten Island basketball (men and women), softball and baseball. Michael began his career as a news and sportswriter with the Jersey Journal of Hudson County.
