Greg’s Observations: What Went Right,What Went Wrong For Rutgers vs Rider.

5 hours ago7 min read

Alright, let's break down the tape from Rutgers' season opener against Rider, because man, what a mixed bag that was. First, the good stuff, and it starts with the backcourt.Seeing Jamichael Davis and Tariq Francis on the floor together was like flicking a switch; their speed is just a different gear, sparking the offense from the jump with a scoring and playmaking vibe that instantly brought me back to the Geo Baker and Jacob Young era. That 2020 season energy is real, folks.Francis dropping 20 and Davis adding 15, with that kind of cohesion and basketball vision, is a sign that once they get past these first five softer opponents, this duo could be the game-changer that makes Rutgers a nightmare for the big dogs in the conference. Then there's Dylan Grant, who just keeps leveling up.The maturation process is real—you can see the work he's putting in, and that breakaway dunk he threw down? Pure highlight reel material. As a freshman last year, he showed flashes, but 17 points and 7 assists in the opener? That's a star in the making, a true team player just a few rebounds and points from a double-double, and in this NIL era, Rutgers is lucky to have him back.And can we talk about the defense? The triumphant return of the 'speed limit' defense, holding teams under 65, was a nostalgic blast from the 2019-2022 playbook. As a fan in the stands, I felt that old hope—it's a safety net when the offense sputters, and I bet future opponents are already sweating over its comeback.Now, for the rough patches. That slow, lax start had all of us at the RAC scratching our heads, and yeah, it's game one, but the fear of a total unraveling was real until they pulled it together by halftime.Overlooking Rider? Totally obvious, and against a tougher team, that mindset could've buried them fast. Shot selections felt forced, turnovers were just lazy 'what the heck' moments, and the free-throw percentage? Abysmal, a decades-long curse that even Coach Pikiell called out post-game.It's cost them close games before, and though Francis went 4-5 from the line—looking like a portal steal—the team needs a film-room overhaul. Lastly, the loyalty to Emmanuel Ogbole at center puzzles me; his rebounding's solid, but the offense is lacking, and with Baye Fall and Gevonte Ware waiting in the wings (Ware even scored 2 points, showing potential), it might be time for an open competition. Player of the game? Tariq Francis, no question, with that smooth crossover highlight that's already buzzing online.

#editorial picks news

#Rutgers basketball

#Rider game

#Tariq Francis

#Jamichael Davis

#Dylan Grant

#team defense

#free throw struggles

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