FanPost

Rutgers 88 Sacred Heart 50: Numbers and notes



For the second time this week Rutgers was impressive posting a resounding win. The Scarlet Knights defeated Sacred Heart 88-50 at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Thursday. Rutgers is now 2-0 while Sacred Heart of the Northeast Conference dropped to 1-1.


Possessions: 75 - Coach Anthony Latina prefers his Sacred Heart club to push the pace. The uptempo tempo had little effect and actually was a benefit for Rutgers as the next category shows.


Offensive efficiency: Rutgers 117, Sacred Heart 67 . Steve Pikiell’s group had it all over the visiting Pioneers on both ends. Both defensive and offensive metrics fall into the ‘outstanding’ category.


Four Factors:


eFG Pct: Rutgers 46, Sacred Heart 35

FT rate: Rutgers 37, Sacred Heart 15

OREB Pct: Rutgers 22, Sacred Heart 17

TO rate: Rutgers 13, Sacred Heart 33


Little surprise, given the final margin, Rutgers dominated each of the Four Factors. They were especially dominant in the turnover area. In raw numbers they forced Sacred Heart into 25 miscues while committing only 10 on their own end.


Kenpom.com MVP: Cam Spencer Rutgers. The 6’4" senior scored 18 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and handed out 6 assists. A stat stuffing showing in 31 minutes of work.


Raheem Solomon scored a team high 14 points on 3 of 4 shooting from deep to lead Sacred Heart. Rutgers was paced by Aundre Hyatt with a game high 19 points. Scarlet Knights spread the wealth by placing four, Hyatt, Spencer (18), Cliff Omoruyi (17, 7 rebounds) and Derek Simpson (11), in double digits.


Two and a half minutes in, Sacred Heart led 7-4. Thoughts of a visitor’s upset were rapidly dispelled. By intermission Rutgers enjoyed a 21 point lead. The second half they kept their foot on the accelerator.


Last season Rutgers averaged 65 possessions, a moderate tempo, per outing. Two games in and a very small sample, they average 75 possessions. Should be interesting moving forward to see if coach Pikiell maintains an uptempo pace as the season progresses.

Next up for Rutgers is a home game Saturday against UMass-Lowell.

Any posting of copyrighted material is expressly forbidden. It will be removed when discovered, and anyone who does that risks revocation of their account privileges.