Rutgers 2009-2010 Basketball Betting Prediction, Odds, Lines,

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Rutgers 2008-2009 Record: 11-21, 2-16

Rutgers Coach: Fred Hill (32-60 at Rutgers, 32-60 overall)

Rutgers Projected Starters:

• James Beatty, Junior, Guard, DNP last season
• Mike Rosario, Sophomore, Guard, 16.2 points per game
• Earl Pettis, Junior, Guard, 4.6 points per game
• Gregory Echenique, Sophomore, Forward, 8.4 points per game
• Hamady N’Diaye, Senior, Center, 5.6 points per game

Rutgers Player to Watch: Mike Rosario

Rutgers Key Losses: G Anthony Farmer, F J.R. Inman

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2009-2010 Rutgers Season Preview

Fred Hill knows that anything worthwhile is also worth waiting for. That’s especially true when it comes to recruiting – and filling a major area of need.

The Rutgers coach did just that in July, when he landed 6-2, 195-pound point guard James Beatty, a junior college standout, to plug the one glaring hole on his roster.

Hill had been preparing to go with the tandem of combo guard Corey Chandler and career reserve Mike Coburn at the all important point guard position. Coburn will still be tried there, but Beatty, who averaged 13.4 points and 7.9 assists for a 26-3 Miami­Dade Junior College team last season, gives the Knights the one thing they lacked: a pure point guard.

The late addition of Beatty is another reason for optimism to percolate in Piscataway as Hill continues to rebuild the program, doing so around sophomore standouts Mike Rosario and Greg Echenique. Both lived up to the lofty expectations as freshmen, giving Rutgers a scorer and leader (Rosario) and a low-post presence (Echenique),

Rutgers Backcourt

Rosario, the first McDonald’s All-American to play at Rutgers, was as good as advertised, setting a school scoring record for freshmen with 517 points while leading the team in 3-point and free-throw shooting (83.9 percent). He was even better against top flight competition, averaging 18.9 points vs. the eight ranked opponents the Knights faced – a group that included all four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

The problem was he was often the only offense for a team that ranked 269th nationally in scoring.

The addition of Beatty was expected to eliminate a lot of the uncertainty at the point and it does, but the dismissal of Chandler again puts Rutgers at a deficit for depth and also costs a great deal of experience.

Hill expects vast improvement from wing Patrick Jackson, who was a non-factor as a freshman last season.

Rutgers Frontcourt

Echenique set the school’s freshman rebounding record and had 78 blocks – all with little low post help. Despite the absence of a supporting cast, the burly forward nearly averaged a double-double and his block total was the second highest in school history for a freshman.

Senior center Hamady Ndiaye had his best season yet despite back problems, but remains limited in what he will give the Knights offensively. His role is as more of a rebounder, shot-blocker and defensive presence (as he proved by holding Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody to 3-for-17 shooting in the Big East Tournament).

Now there’s some versatility in the frontcourt as well. Florida transfer Jonathan Mitchell, who earned a national championship ring as a reserve with the Gators two years ago, is expected to slide into a frontcourt starting Spot immediately. Versatile freshman Dane Miller will provide depth right away.

Hill’s other two freshmen – 6-11 center Brian Okam and 6-8 Austin Johnson – will probably need time to develop, though Johnson may pick up some early minutes.

2009-2010 Rutgers Predictions

So much of Rutgers’ success depends on how the point guard situation works out with Beatty and Coburn. If they’re good, Rutgers will be much better. If they’re not, the Knights will only be more competitive. There’s no question Hill has improved the talent pool, but fans are eager to see more from the win-loss record as well after 60 losses (vs. just 32 victories) in three years. It should happen – though the NIT is probably the ceiling for this team.

Rutgers Finish in the Big East: 13th
Rutgers Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT

Rutgers Betting Odds

Rutgers Odds to Win 2010 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament: +5000
Rutgers Odds to Win the Big East: +4000

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