The “Season Opening” Game Thread: Sacred Heart at no. 24 Rutgers

Sacred Heart (0-0) at No. 24 Rutgers (0-0)

How To Watch, Listen, News & Notes

Where: The RAC in Piscataway, New Jersey

Tip-off: Wednesday, November 25 at 7:00 p.m. ET.

TV: BTN Plus - Play-by-play: Lou Brogno, Color Analyst: Dom Savino

Stream: Fox Sports App

Radio: Live Listen - WCTC 1450 AM / Sirius 135 / SXM 195 / App 957 ; Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan; WRSU 88.7 FM

KenPom Rankings: Rutgers 27th; Sacred Heart 325th

Efficiency Rankings: Rutgers - Offense 105.4 (51st) Defense 86.6 (12th); Sacred Heart - Offense 98.9 (283rd) Defense 106.2 (334th)

KenPom Prediction: Rutgers 83 Sacred Heart 58. Rutgers is given a 99% chance to win.

OTB Guide to KenPom

Vegas Line: Rutgers -26.5

Series History: Rutgers leads the all-time series 3-0, including a 79-54 victory in the last meeting in 2014.

Key Returning Players

Sacred Heart - 6’1” junior Aaron Clarke (11.3 points, 2.7 assists, 1.7 rebounds); 6’2” senior Zach Radz (missed last season due to injury, previous season averaged 5.1 point, 2.0 rebounds); 6’3” sophomore Tyler Thomas (5.6 points, 2.3 rebounds)

Rutgers - 6’6” junior Ron Harper Jr. (12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 34.9% 3-PT FG); 6’4” senior Geo Baker (10.9 points, 3.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals); 6’2” senior Jacob Young (8.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists. 1.0 steal); 6’10” redshirt junior Myles Johnson (7.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 60.2% FG); 6’4” junior Montez Mathis (7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steal); 6’6” sophmore Paul Mulcahy (3.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 54.0% FG)

GAME PREVIEW

Here we go....I think. Despite it being the opening day for both men’s and women’s college basketball, cancellations and postponements have occurred throughout the sport. That includes Rutgers women’s basketball, who had their season opening matinee postponed until Friday earlier today. This is the new reality we are living in for this season and as our own Dave White pointed out, try and enjoy the journey, despite the unpredictability of it all.

As for tonight’s game, Rutgers needs to impose its will, play with purpose on both ends of the floor and build a comfortable lead so the starters can rest a good part of the second half and the freshmen get some much needed work.

The Scarlet Knights are scheduled to play three times this week in five days, so they need to keep their legs fresh and limber enough to play well Sunday against Hofstra.

Enjoy the game and if you aren’t watching on BTN Plus, I highly recommend you listen to Jerry Recco and Joe Boylan on the radio here.

Join us in the comment section during the game and I’ll have a game recap posted ASAP afterwards.