Rutgers basketball falls to St. John’s in thrilling charity exhibition

NEW YORK – In the new season for Rutgers basketball, head coach Steve Pikiell continues to emphasize the importance of defense. The Scarlet Knights showcased their suffocating defense in the second half of a charity exhibition game against St. John’s, erasing a 20-point deficit but ultimately falling short in double overtime with a score of 89-78 at Carnesecca Arena.

FIVE TAKEAWAYS

1. Take exhibitions with a grain of salt

It’s important not to draw sweeping conclusions from an October exhibition game. Coaches often use these games to experiment and hold back certain strategies. For instance, Coach Pikiell tried out an unconventional starting lineup consisting of Derek Simpson, Gavin Griffiths, Aundre Hyatt, Oskar Palmquist, and Cliff Omoruyi. This lineup contributed to Rutgers falling behind early, but Coach Pikiell had his reasons for the experiment.

In the second half, Coach Pikiell made changes by sending out four different starters alongside Omoruyi. This is a rare move by Pikiell, even in the face of a significant deficit. Additionally, key players like Mawot Mag, Emmanuel Ogbole, and Jeremiah Williams did not play due to injury or ineligibility.

St. John’s also had players sidelined by injuries, demonstrating the cautious approach teams take in these exhibition games.

2. The game’s tempo

There has been a lot of talk about Rutgers adopting a fast-paced, pressing style of play this season. However, St. John’s provided a tough test for this style with their aggressive full-court press. Rutgers found success when they slowed down the pace and focused on their half-court defense. It’s worth noting that few opponents this season will bring the same level of intensity as St. John’s, but freshman guard Jamichael Davis showed promise in a fast-paced game.

St. John’s took advantage of the fast pace and their deep bench in the extra sessions. Their ball pressure on defense was suffocating, thanks to the influence of Coach Rick Pitino.

3. Omoruyi’s dominance in the big-man battle

The matchup between Rutgers’ Cliff Omoruyi and St. John’s Joel Soriano showcased Omoruyi’s skills. Despite facing consistent double teams, Omoruyi managed to score 15 points and grab 9 rebounds. Defensively, he altered numerous shots and made a crucial block at the rim. Omoruyi’s presence also created opportunities for Rutgers’ 3-point shooters.

4. The importance of defense

The tale of two halves in this game revolved around defense. Rutgers excelled when they played strong half-court defense, showcasing players like Simpson, Fernandes, and Davis. In the second half, St. John’s struggled to find their shooting rhythm, shooting just 25% from the field. Rutgers capitalized on turnovers, scoring 19 points off of them.

St. John’s demonstrated their suffocating ball pressure and depth, a trademark of Coach Pitino’s coaching philosophy. Both teams will likely review this game in their film sessions to improve their defensive strategies.

5. Embracing October basketball

The proliferation of charity exhibitions in college basketball is a positive development for the sport. These games raise funds for important causes, such as the V Foundation’s pediatric cancer research arm. The game between Rutgers and St. John’s drew a crowd of approximately 4,500 fans, injecting excitement into a game with no stakes. After a long offseason, it was refreshing to see the ball bouncing again.

Jerry Carino has been covering the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. Contact him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Rutgers basketball falls to St. John’s in thrilling charity exhibition