As expected, Mike Rice is making a difference at Rutgers, but much quicker than expected. (Photo courtesy of Newark Star-Ledger)At the start of the season, everyone who knew Rutgers and new coach Mike Rice expected a positive marriage. However, not everyone expected so much so soon.
Even after last night's road loss to St. John's, the Scarlet Knights are performing much better than anyone could have envisioned; with a 12-10 record that includes a 9-3 mark in nonconference games. In fact, if Rutgers can pick up at least three more wins down the stretch; which given their schedule is not impossible, coupled with a win in the Big East tournament next month, it's not inconceivable to think that the Scarlet Knights can pick up an invite to the NIT. Considering what Rice inherited following the resignation of Fred Hill and departures of Mike Rosario, Greg Echenique and Pat Jackson, it would be a monumental improvement on the banks of the old Raritan.
Say what you want about his on-court demeanor, but the fact remains that the 41-year-old Rice can coach just as well, if not better than, his counterparts in the Big East. Just four years into a head coaching career that began at two-time defending Northeast Conference champion Robert Morris, Rice has remained positive during his maiden voyage in Piscataway, not an easy feat considering the hard times that have befallen Rutgers in recent years. However, Rice has been assisted in keeping an enthusiastic disposition with the play of his roster, namely senior forward Jonathan Mitchell, who carried the Knights last night with 21 in their losing effort against Steve Lavin and the Red Storm.
Rice only plays a nine-man rotation due to lack of depth on his bench, through no fault of his own. That will change next year when the highly regarded Rutgers recruiting class makes its way into Piscataway, where they will learn Rice's style, described to me by the coach at Big East media day as an "intense and aggressive" brand of basketball that "emphasizes teamwork over talent." While Rice's students made significant headway at the start of the season by winning nine of their first twelve, they have struggled in Big East play, losing seven of ten. Yet somehow, Rice is doing the same thing he was able to do at Robert Morris in guiding the Colonials to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments and a near-upset of Villanova; and that is continuing to get so much out of so little.
When I watched Rutgers for the first time in person this season against North Carolina, there honestly wasn't much to be impressed about with the Scarlet Knights other than Rice's intensity on the bench. Just over a month later, the Scarlet Knights have done a complete 180 and are playing much harder as a team; and I couldn't help but compare Rutgers' play last night to the end of the first "Rocky" movie. Apollo Creed (St. John's last night) may have won the battle, but Rocky Balboa (Rutgers) gained more credibility and eventually won the war. Whether the Scarlet Knights do indeed come out on top remains to be seen; but they have already come much further than anyone would have imagined possible at this point, thanks to a great coach and even better person.
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