Rutgers’ defense reaches elite status
‘Electric’ full-court press wears down opponents
It’s not news that Rutgers basketball plays superb defense. That’s been true for most of Steve Pikiell’s eight seasons at the helm.
What is new is the style of that defense. For the first time under Pikiell, full-court pressure is a staple. That wrinkle melted 11th-ranked Wisconsin Saturday and will be key to neutralizing a similarly slow-moving Northwestern squad that visits Thursday (6:30 p.m., Big Ten Network).
Brian Butch, who called the Wisconsin game as the Badgers’ radio analyst and will be back in Piscataway Thursday as the Big Ten Network’s color commentator, is impressed.
“With the addition of (transfer guard) Jeremiah Williams, that press is way more electric,” Butch said. “All of a sudden offenses have to go against that (half-court) defense with a shorter short clock, and it’s forced really bad shots at times.”
Butch said Rutgers (13-10 overall, 5-7 Big Ten) wore down Wisconsin in a way few opposing defenses have.
“They’re a physical team that bumps all the cutters and you’ve got to work for everything you get,” he said of the Scarlet Knights. “That physicality took over Wisconsin. That I was a little surprised about, because Wisconsin has experienced guys who have been through it.”
Two elite defenders
It helps having two elite-level defenders. Senior center Cliff Omoruyi ranks third in the nation in blocked shots with 3.22 per game, behind only Appalachian State’s Justin Abson (3.24) and Eastern Kentucky’s Isaiah Cozart (3.87).
“When you’ve got a shot blocker back there, it allows you to be a much more aggressive,” Butch said. “That’s what Cliff offers their whole defense. Guards can be in passing lanes. If you get beat backdoor, there’s a guy to clean it up.”
With cat-quick guards Derek Simpson and Jamichael Davis in the passing lanes, Rutgers ranks second in the Big Ten in turnovers forced per game at 15.2. The other ace in the hole is senior forward Mawot Mag, who can defend four positions and is rounding into his old form after tearing an ACL last February.
“I told Wisconsin’s coaches, I think he might be their best player,” Butch said. “They looked at me a little strange. You’ve got to look at all the things he does.”
Against Wisconsin, Mag shut down standout forward Tyler Wall. It will be fascinating to see how much Pikiell deploys him against Northwestern’s star, point guard Boo Buie (18.8 ppg, 5.4 apg). Mag doesn’t typically spend a ton of time guarding point guards but he did so effectively in Rutgers’ win at Seton Hall in December, keeping All-Big East candidate Kadary Richmond out of the lane for most of that night.
Normally, Butch said, Mag would defend Northwestern sharpshooter Ty Berry, who likely is out with an injury. If Berry is sidelined, he said, that really tilts the court toward Rutgers. He also can see Mag on Northwestern’s other sniper, postgrad Ryan Langborg (12.0 ppg), who New Jerseyans know as a key part of
Princeton’s march to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 last year. The ability to plug Mag in anywhere and stop a leak is a luxury,
“So you have a great (defensive) wing and a great shot blocker,” Butch said, “and now you’re scoring the ball a little better so you can set up that press more.”
On the other end
Which brings it back around to Jeremiah Williams. The reigning Big Ten Player of the Week – just the second ever for Rutgers, joining Geo Baker and Cam Spencer – is the X-factor for an offense that had been struggling mightily before he became eligible.
Now that there are three games of tape on Williams – a sample size, so to speak – it will be fascinating to see how Northwestern coach Chris Collins tries to defend him. The Wildcats come in at 17-7 overall and 8-5 in the Big Ten.
“End of the shot clock they go high pick and roll, and Williams is so good at that,” Butch said. “I assume Northwestern will go under (screens) and say, hey you’re going to have to hit a couple of these (long jumpers). Back off and tempt him to shoot it – and see what he does.”
Wisconsin played Williams tighter, Butch said, and paid the price.
“What’s different for Rutgers now is offensively they have a guy who can bail out a bad possession, and that’s a big part of college basketball,” Butch said.
Rutgers is shooting just 29 percent from 3-point range this season, worst in the Big Ten, yet the newly confident Scarlet Knights shredded Wisconsin from beyond the arc Saturday. This is the chess match Thursday.
“I do think Northwestern will play the percentages and say ‘Hey, we don’t know if you’re going to be able to do that again,’” Butch said. “We’re going to go under (screens) and clog the paint and we’re going to see – especially with Williams – what are you going to do?”
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.