Rutgers men’s basketball spent Thursday in Chicago for Big Ten Media Days, with coach Brandin Knight joined by Jamichael Davis and Tariq Francis as the Scarlet Knights worked through the league’s preseason spotlight.
The day included the full media grind: photo shoots, interviews with reporters at different stations, television hits and radio appearances. Rutgers wrapped things up on the Big Ten Network studio set, where Steve Pikiell sat down with BTN’s Dave Revsine and Bruce Weber. Knight used that platform to emphasize the same message he’s been driving with his team.
“I just try to focus on what I can control throughout the day and get our players to focus on what we can control each day and we try and dominate the day,” Knight said. “Them focusing on the task at hand in the most important thing.”
BTN also highlighted what Rutgers is bringing back. The Scarlet Knights return 60.4% of their possession minutes from last season, which ranks second in the Big Ten. Along with that experience comes a mix of transfers, international newcomers and freshmen that gives the roster a different look.
“We've got some guys back from last year, and those guys were tasked with taking their games to the next level over the summer,” Knight explained. “Now every year, it's a new team.
For the coaching staff, some of the positives from last year we try and take those and look to them. But we remind the guys that it's a new year.
We pay attention to how they are progressing and keep working. We added some experience scoring on the wing and we added three big guys on the interior.
I love our front line as a group. The new guys have to come in and understand their roles and what we need from them.
The biggest thing is for our staff to put them into positions to be successful.”
Davis and Francis then joined BTN’s Andy Katz and Rapheal Davis, where both players talked about their roles, Knight’s presence and what they see as the keys for Rutgers this season.
“It’s been great,” Jamichael Davis said. “I'm trying to be as vocal as I can as a leader and make sure that we're taking steps to get better. Coach Knight brings that fire and if we can play with that edge, we're going to be in good shape.”
“I learned about the play styles of the teams in the Big Ten last season,” Francis explained. “Going forward, I'm trying to use the tools that helped me be successful last year to try and impact the game and help that lead to winning.
Coach Knight has definitely been passionate. We've been using the tools and wisdom that he gives us to put us in good position.”
Rutgers’ first look at the new group comes Sunday, when Villanova visits Jersey Mike’s Arena for an exhibition game at 1 p.m. Tickets are still available on ScarletKnights.com, and the game will stream live on B1G+.
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