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A new season and very different results for Rutgers Women's basketball

It’s been a while, but the Knights are in play in the national polls

By rvc73
PISCATAWAY, NJ - FEBRUARY 26: Head coach C. Vivian Stringer of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights talks during her post game press conference after defeating the South Florida Bulls 68-56 in a game at the Louis Brown Athletic Center on February 26, 2013 in Piscataway, New Jersey. The win was Stringers' 900th in her career. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images) Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images

Well, well, well. Look who showed up in the national polls.

“...makes an appearance...” That may not sound like much, but....

Others receiving votes: Oklahoma 64, Villanova 26, Michigan State 22, Depaul 15, Green Bay 14, New Mexico 8, Iowa 5, Alabama 4, Oklahoma State 4, USC 4, Georgia 3, Northern Colorado 3, Purdue 3, Rutgers 3, Western Kentucky 2, Georgia Tech 2, Princeton 2, Dayton 1

Yeah, but.... A year ago - on this date, in fact - Rutgers Women’s Basketball went to 0-4 and would lose still one more on their way to an 0-5 start, losing by an average 15 points per game. What a difference a year makes. The 4-0 start has the Knights winning by an average of 16.7 points. This is the 15th time in program history that the team has opened 4-0.

Sunday’s home opener against Wake Forest (2-2) was literally no contest from the outset, as RU opened a 12-0 lead and never looked back. Tyler Scaife led Rutgers with 19 points while freshman Tekia Mack had 8. Stasha Carey, a redshirt junior, pulled in a team-high eight rebounds.

The Scarlet were strong on defense, holding the Demon Deacons to just under 31% from the field. Rutgers shot almost 41%, a bit under its season average of 42.4%.

Gulf Coast Showcase

The competition cranks up a good bit when the Knights take to the road over the Thanksgiving weekend. They open the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Florida against No. 3 South Carolina (4-0), the defending national champions. This will be a very good test to see if the 4-0 was simply a quick start or a sign of things to come.

The bracket has the winner of that game facing the winner of the St. John’s (2-0)-Western Michigan (2-2) game. The other bracket includes South Florida (No. 17, 3-0)-Washington State (1-3) and Notre Dame (No. 6, 3-0)-East Tennessee (4-1).

Another note about the polls....

In the USA Today/Coaches Poll, Rutgers did not receive any votes. It also has South Carolina at No. 2. Temple, a team that Rutgers beat by 17 on the road, received votes in the USA Today poll. Go figure....

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