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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 18-13;
8-8 in Big East (5th/West)
Postseason: Lost to Yale 67-65 in first round of NIT.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Coleman 16.9
Rebs: Shields 3.6
Assists: Sherrod 4.1
FG: Axani 42.6%
3pt: Lamizana 40.9%
FT: Coleman 71.3%
01-02 Stats:
Rutgers | Big East
KEY LOSSES
Rashod Kent | 10.5 ppg
Eugene Dabney | 5.7 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Jer. Coleman | Senior
G | Mike Sherrod Junior
G | Ricky Shields | Soph
F | He. Lamizana | Junior
C | Sean Axani | Senior
Player to Watch
Herve Lamizana
Junior Forward
Second-best shotblocker in Big East swatted 61 in debut season.
DATE TO REMEMBER
Virginia comes to town in a game that not only could have NCAA Tournament ramifications down the line -- but ought to be a blast to witness.
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RUTGERS
SCARLET KNIGHTS
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After proving last season he could win with somebody else's players, second-year coach Gary Waters will show this season he can win with some of his own. As good as Waters was last season on the bench, leading Rutgers to an 18-13 mark and the NIT, he might have been even better on the recruiting trail. He signed two big-time recruits who turned down scholarships to national champion Maryland (6-7 forward Cortez Davis) and Final Four-bound Oklahoma (6-1 guard Calvin Wooten). With that kind of talent joining a core of skilled players featuring gifted 6-10 wing Herve Lamizana (6.6 ppg, 41 percent on 3s) and guards Jerome Coleman (16.8 ppg), Mike Sherrod (8.6 ppg) and Ricky Shields (11.5 ppg), Rutgers has the kind of roster that could make a dent in March. Don't laugh.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
The Scarlet Knights ought to be able to fill it up this season, and they should be a whole lot of fun to watch. If you've never heard of Lamizana, learn the name now. He could be in the NBA in a few years. Coleman is a big-time scorer, and Wooten comes to campus with that kind of reputation. Add it up, mix in the gifted freshman wing, Davis, and the steady point guard, Sherrod, plus Shields, and you've got some points potential.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
So, who rebounds? Rutgers' two biggest personnel losses last season were second-team All-Big East big man Rashod Kent (10.5 ppg, 10.2 rpg) and 6-10 Eugene Dabney (3.7 rpg). Lamizana is more about finesse than power, as is Davis. The bulk of the dirty work will fall to Sean Axani, who is gritty but undersized at 6-7, 225 pounds.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
It surprised everyone when Rutgers rallied down the stretch last season and nearly earned itself an NCAA Tournament bid. Would it surprise ESPN.com if the Scarlet Knights finished off the job this season? No, it would not.
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