Gotcha. Agree. Can’t compare records of other years to last year.jrn19 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 26, 2021 8:35 pmI agree last years team was the best. No question. Was more talking about the record part of the conversation since OP above said they'd be 11-3 after the end of the regular season which they've never done; I imagine they likely would have in a normal year last yearLaxfan#1969 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 26, 2021 7:56 pmLast year was the best team Rutgers has had in two decades. Yes, last year was different, all big ten schedule, a few less games, but their performance in the NCAA validated them as the best RU team in a long time.jrn19 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 26, 2021 5:30 pmHave they ever had a record that good under Brecht? Their best record pre B1G tourney under him is 10-4 and best overall 11-5. So you’re basically saying they’ll have the best team they’ve ever had after losing 3 of their 4 best players; 2 of whom are all time program greatslivelovelax wrote: ↑Sun Dec 26, 2021 5:00 pm At the very least they will be 11-3 regular season and 1-1 in the Big Ten Tournament so 12-4 overall leading up to the NCAA tourney.
I think Rutgers made some really good moves in the portal and meaningfully raised the floor of their team to the point I’d be surprised if they aren’t in the Top 20 mix most of the year and have a real shot at the tournament; but you’re suggesting they’ll have the best team they’ve had in 10+ years which seems crazy after the losses they had.
Now, everything else you note I agree with. I think RU stays in the top 10-15 range all year, I think they need to beat 2 of 3 in the Loyola, Army, Princeton games. I actually value the conference but I guess what I think doesn’t matter. I think Hop will be very good and if both teams stay healthy I think either Hopkins or Rutgers get a spot after Maryland. If RU goes 10-4 and gets to the big ten tourney final, I think they’re in. It also depends on how the rest of the conference fairs in the OOC schedule. Big Ten wins could have a strong value...maybe. Maybe not. Time will tell...it’s all speculation.
I also agree it’s going to be very hard to replace the three big stars from last year
With all that said, I like RU this year...not to win it all or win the big ten...but to be in the mix and in the conversation. And yes, the OOC schedule may cost them.
Fun conversation.
I also agree the record isn’t the end all hence things like SOS and RPI.
While we don’t know how this will shake out, I just happen to think Hopkins will be very good, I think Rutgers will be very good, Maryland will be Maryland...and I just think one or maybe even two more Big Ten teams are gonna be good.
But that will all play out.
I’m one that felt the B1G was undervalued last year...got caught in a situation that wasn’t the teams fault.
I think the Big Ten might be very good in 2022...which could help RPI measures. But we will see