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This Week in Rutgers Athletics
This Week in Rutgers Athletics is navigating one of those classic, chaotic stretches where every day feels like a buzzer-beater, and the entire athletic department is running a full-court press. Let’s break it down like we’re chatting courtside.The men’s basketball squad is sitting pretty at 4-0 after handling American 80-71, a win that, let's be honest, had more drama than a reality TV show. A sluggish first half had fans sweating, but they flipped the script after halftime, leaning on that interior strength and winning the board battle 42-32.It’s their best start since the 2020-21 season, a nice little flex, but the fact they keep letting these pesky mid-major opponents hang around is a subplot worth watching. Next up, they host Central Connecticut—a team that already knocked off Boston College, so no one’s taking that lightly—before heading to Vegas for the Players’ Era Festival.That’s where things get real, with matchups against heavyweights like Tennessee and Notre Dame waiting in the wings. It’s a huge opportunity for this team to prove they’re not just a early-season mirage.Over with the women’s team, it was a week of highs and lows, the kind that tests a squad's character. They grinded out a 59-49 win against FDU at home, powered by a career-high 17 points from Zachara Perkins and a fourth-quarter 13-2 run that sealed it.But the road trip to Auburn was a tough lesson. They went into Neville Arena, kept it tight at the half down 23-21, but then came the third quarter—a nearly scoreless stretch that let Auburn build a lead they couldn't claw back from, despite a valiant 17-12 final quarter.Falling 51-46 stings, but it’s a learning moment. Now, they’re back at Jersey Mike’s Arena for a homestand with Siena, Northeastern, and Saint Peter’s, all leading into the Big Ten opener against Iowa.That’s a gauntlet, and how they respond will say a lot about their resilience. Wrestling brought some bright spots, too, with sophomore Conner Harer going unattached and snagging a runner-up finish at 157 pounds in the Black Knight Open.He had a sudden-death win to make the finals, showing guts, even if he fell to Army’s Joey Antonio. Plus, with other placewinners like Mason Gibson and Dagen Condomitti stepping up, the #13-ranked squad is building depth ahead of the Keystone Classic and a showdown with #10 NC State.Swimming and diving had a mixed bag at Princeton, losing the dual but with highlights like Emiliana Gonzalez’s 50 free win and a podium sweep in the 3-meter diving, where Bailee Sturgill hit a personal best. Now, at the Navy Invitational, it’s all about testing that roster depth and building momentum.Volleyball’s West Coast swing was rough, getting swept by #17 USC and UCLA, then dropping another to #17 Indiana. But they’re back home now, facing #19 Minnesota in a mid-afternoon clash on BTN—a chance for redemption after that September sweep.And then there’s football, the big ticket. The Scarlet Knights are prepping for a monster road test at #1 Ohio State, riding high off a dominant rushing performance against Maryland.Antwan Raymond is the talk of the town, a Doak Walker Award semifinalist after that insane 240-yard, 41-carry game. It’s wild that the Big Ten hasn’t given him weekly honors, but his 1,000 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns speak for themselves.Recruiting news dropped a late-night commit from RJ Wortman, a 2026 ATH who decommitted from Maine and brings serious potential as a receiver. With 21 commits in the class, the buildup to National Signing Day on December 3 is getting spicy.Off the field, Rutgers is hiring a Director of NIL to boost RNIL operations, a smart move in today’s college sports landscape, and baseball dropped its 2025 schedule with 14 weekend series. As the weekend unfolds, all eyes are on that Ohio State game, plus the homestands in basketball and volleyball—it’s a packed slate that could define seasons.
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