Rutgers Basketball grinds out win over Maine for second straight victory
In order to win games at a high level this season, Rutgers Basketball was going to need consistent defense and enough offense to pull away.
Through two games, check and check.
The Scarlet Knights (2-0) took their second straight victory to start the year in grind-it-out fashion 72-60 over Maine on Monday night. The defense had a solid outing for the second straight game, and while the offense struggled to consistently generate good looks, Rutgers was able to capitalize on that defensive performance, stifling the Black Bears (0-3) for much of the game.
Romanian freshman forward Denis Badalau had a breakout performance in his second game as a Scarlet Knight, scoring 19 points after struggling from the floor in his debut. Tariq Francis and Darren Buchanan Jr. also scored in double figures, with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Dylan Grant recorded his first double-double of the season, with 10 points and 10 rebounds apiece.
Rutgers shot 46 percent from the floor, though it did manage a solid 8-for-19 mark from the three-point line. The Scarlet Knights also won the rebounding battle big-time, outrebounding Maine 37-23, one game after head coach Steve Pikiell called Rutgers’ rebounding performance “awful” in Wednesday’s win over Rider.
Badalau Bonanza
The Romanian freshman took over in the first half, and clearly did not waver in confidence after a 1-for-12 debut against the Broncs.
Badalau was ready and firing from the start, scoring a game-high 19 points in the first half, over half of the Scarlet Knights’ team output, on an efficient 6-for-8 shooting clip, including 4-for-5 from the three-point line. Both of his misses came at the shot clock buzzer, but was confident and hit all of his shots in rhythm.
He looked especially comfortable spotting up in the corner, an aspect sorely needed when Rutgers’ half-court offense started to dry out. He was able to bail out multiple possessions by helping reverse the floor when the Black Bears went to a zone, and his length at six-foot-eight made it harder for Maine to contest.
Although he did not score in the second half, missing all three shot attempts from three-point range, Badalau’s first half offensively gave optimism that the Scarlet Knights may have surprise option to lead the team in scoring.
Forcing turnovers
Rutgers’ defense has looked solid through two games, and a big reason the Scarlet Knights burst ahead to an 11-2 start was turnovers.
Maine committed nine turnovers in the opening half, and added five more to start the second half, giving Rutgers plenty of runway to create in transition and avoid getting stuck in the half-court offense. The Scarlet Knights also opened the second half on a 10-0 run, spurred by its defense.
Head coach Steve Pikiell has said time and time again that this Rutgers team was going back to the roots of what made the Scarlet Knights successful earlier in his tenure, emphasizing getting stops on defense and rebounding at a high level. Though both Maine and Rider have struggled offensively in their other respective other games, Rutgers has also displayed a level of physicality and intensity on the defensive end that could be refined and replicated come Big Ten play.
Searching for No. 1
Early in the season, given the opponents, Pikiell has been able to put plenty of lineup combinations on the floor, whether a size-heavy group with more forwards, or some more guard help in the backcourt.
The one question that remains, however, is who the true top option offensively will be.
Badalau certainly gave his case, though much of his production was on spot-up work, and there was not as much self-creation. Even though the size and length help with his on-ball abilities, he is limited by his lack of top-tier athleticism to get past defenders off the dribble and create space on his own. He will be at his best in that same role, as a spot-up threat and secondary ball-handler since he does excel in terms of basketball IQ, and knowing where to be on the floor offensively.
Francis was not able to replicate his 20-point performance from Wednesday, but he and Jamichael Davis continued to control much of the ballhandling duties. Buchanan adds another potential option with his ability to get to the basket.
Up next
The Scarlet Knights will be back in action on Friday, November 14th, as they host Lehigh in the third leg of a five-game homestand to open the season.
That game will tip off at 6:30 pm, and will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
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