nj
With seven returners, five transfers, one international signing, and one toothless freshman, Rutgers basketball is back in action, and there is an air of optimism in the building.
I do think we can compete with anybody, Virginia Tech transfer center Christian Gurdak said after Tuesdays open gym in Piscataway.
Obviously Big 10 was really good last year, but this year I think we have a really good chance to be one of the top teams in the Big 10, just because of our skill, and we put the work in, and we have great coaching, so if the fans get behind the program, thats a huge thing.
Despite being a newcomer, Gurdak is expected to play a key role for the Scarlet Knights as the starting center and is the only transfer with starting experience in a power conference.
Last season as a freshman, he played 17.1 minutes per game and averaged 5.6 points for Virginia Tech.
Returning forward and one of the vocal leaders of the group, Darren Buchanan Jr., agreed with Gurdaks confidence.
Practices are way more competitive than last year, Buchanan said.
We know we got a lot more to prove this season, and I definitely like our chances this year..
I feel like in the summer last year, around this time, it was kind of up in the air about how we were going to be, but I feel like now, we still got ways to go, but I definitely like our chances and feel we can compete with anybody for sure.
Buchanan was a positive contributor to a Rutgers team that finished 14-20 last season and failed to reach the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season.
He started 16 games and averaged 8.1 points per game while playing the veteran role on a team with seven freshmen.
Head coach Steve Pikiell says adding older players and the returners maturing are the main improvements from last years squad.
I like the experience, I like the older guys, Pikiell said at the start of his media availability on Tuesday.
Obviously, we have not rebounded the ball, and we brought in guys that are proven rebounders.
We have not defended, and I think we brought some guys in that can really defend...Im excited about this group.
I think we got more weapons.
We got more size.
We got older...returning guys have gotten better.
That was a big part of our game plan.
Theyve gotten stronger.
We brought in some guys that have some resumes behind them.
The most experienced player with the program is returning captain Jamiachel Davis.
The 6-foot-2 guard is heading into his fourth season with the Scarlet Knights a rarity in college basketballs current climate and knows how important a familiarity with the college game is to a player.
Guys who are older have obviously been around the college game and played against grown men, Davis said.
Coming from high school, then coming to college, its really not the same from the physicality standpoint.
In high school, youre playing against kids.
In college, its older men.