Previewing Tigers' first-round matchup with Rutgers

CLEMSON — March Madness is here, and the Tigers are dancing for the third time under coach Brad Brownell.

Clemson is the No. 7 seed in the Midwest Region and will play No. 10 Rutgers on Friday at 9:20 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Find out more about the Scarlet Knights, who are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1991.

Rising Program

When Steve Pikiell was hired at Rutgers following the 2016 season, the Scarlet Knights were coming off 10 consecutive losing seasons. The program was just 3-33 in conference play in its first two years in the Big Ten.

Things have changed quickly, though.

Rutgers went 44-54 in Pikiell’s first three seasons in Piscataway, N.J., but progress was being made. The Scarlet Knights won a program-high seven Big Ten games in 2019, leading to a breakthrough 2020.

Behind a dominant defense that finished No. 6 overall in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom, Rutgers finished the regular season 20-11 and with an 11-9 record in the Big Ten.

Well on their way to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in two decades, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Rutgers bounced back, however, going 15-11 with a 10-10 mark in conference play this season. Now, Pikiell has his program in the NCAA Tournament playing Clemson.

Yes, that Ron Harper

Last summer’s ESPN documentary, “The Last Dance“, reintroduced the dominant Chicago Bulls dynasty that came to an end in 1998. A key cog in that NBA championship run was point guard Ron Harper, who provided a defensive presence to help Michael Jordan win his sixth ring.

Harper’s son is providing a presence on both ends of the floor for Rutgers this year.

The 6-foot-6 and 245-pound Ron Harper Jr. leads the Scarlet Knights in scoring and minutes played. Harper was a third-team All-Big Ten selection this season and is Rutgers’ best player.

Defense First

During this rebuild, Rutgers’ offense was the last piece to show improvement. The Scarlet Knights haven’t finished inside the top-70 in adjusted efficiency, and the Scarlet Knights rank 289th nationally in three-point field goal percentage and (31.1%). They’re 332nd in free throw shooting percentage (63.2%).

This is a team that wants to produce most of its offense in the paint.

On the other end of the floor, Rutgers is a top-100 scoring defense, allowing just 68.2 points per game. The Scarlet Knights check in at No. 18 in adjusted defensive efficiency, and they did that while playing a brutal Big Ten schedule.