Rutgers’ season opener is still days away, but plenty of former Scarlet Knights were already in action Monday night, and several of them made quick impressions with their new teams.
Dylan Grant got the cleanest start of the bunch. In his debut for Charlotte, the forward was in the first five and helped the 49ers knock off Indiana State, 78-70. Grant finished with 5 points on 2-of-3 shooting and added four rebounds in 16 minutes.
Gavin Griffiths also opened as a starter and turned in a fuller stat line in Temple’s 68-56 win over Central Connecticut State. In the first game of his second season in Philadelphia, the former four-star forward scored 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting, pulled down eight rebounds, handed out three assists and picked up a steal in 29 minutes.
Baye Fall came off the bench for Fresno State and produced in limited time. The former five-star center had 5 points on 2-of-3 shooting, six rebounds, an assist and a block in 13 minutes as the Bulldogs beat Division II Fresno Pacific, 88-79.
Lathan Sommerville was productive for Washington in the Huskies’ 90-76 win over Colgate. In the first game of his second year with the program, the center scored 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting, grabbed five rebounds, blocked a shot and recorded a steal before fouling out after 16 minutes.
Antonio Chol gave UC Santa Barbara a lift off the bench in an 85-55 win over Division II San Francisco State. The forward scored 13 points on 3-of-8 shooting, added four rebounds, an assist and a block in 19 minutes.
Antwone Woolfolk continued to look like an important piece for Miami of Ohio. In the RedHawks’ 86-77 win over James Madison, he scored 8 points on 3-of-4 shooting, collected 10 rebounds, dished two assists, blocked a shot and added a steal in 25 minutes. The center was a major part of Miami of Ohio’s historic run last winter, and he remains a key cog for the MAC program.
Bryce Dortch saw limited run in Notre Dame’s 74-70 win over Villanova in Italy. The forward played five minutes, grabbed two rebounds and did not take a shot.
Not every former Rutgers player got on the floor. Dorian Jones did not make his collegiate debut in Kent State’s 10-point loss to Louisiana Tech.
Derek Simpson is also currently unavailable for Providence. The guard had tried to play a fifth season with the Friars, but his petition for a temporary restraining order against the NCAA was rejected, leaving him not eligible to play.
Chris Nwuli, who transferred to Seton Hall early in the offseason, will not play for the Pirates this winter while he works through personal issues back home, according to Seton Hall coach Shaheen Halloway.
In Other News...
Rutgers Field Hockey Built Real Momentum At Exactly The Right Time
Rutgers field hockey heads into the Big Ten Tournament with a wave of recognition behind it, a sign of how much ground the program has covered at just the right moment. Five players were honored in the leagues postseason awards, with the Scarlet Knights landing four names on All-Big Ten teams and two on the All-Freshman list, a strong reflection of both the rosters top-end talent and its younger depth.
Eden Doucelin, Olivia Fraticelli, Talia Schenck and Ella Gandy all earned postseason recognition, and Schenck added another distinction with the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Now the focus shifts to the bracket, where Rutgers enters as the No. 4 seed and opens against Indiana in the quarterfinals, carrying both momentum and a fresh reminder that this group has been noticed around the conference. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Fans Now Have A New Way To Back Steve Pikiell
Rutgers Athletics is giving fans a new way to rally around Steve Pikiell this season with the launch of Rutgers Tough, a fundraising initiative tied to the mens basketball coachs recent cancer diagnosis. The effort includes a limited-edition T-shirt that will be sold at the first three home games, with proceeds going to support cancer treatment efforts through RWJBarnabas Health, while also giving the fan base a visible way to show support beyond the usual game-night noise.
The initiative also extends beyond the shirt sales, with a separate fund set up through the Rutgers Cancer Institute for donations that will help support cancer research. For a program that has long leaned on its connection to the community, the campaign adds a more personal layer to the season and gives supporters a chance to contribute in a way that reaches well past the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Offense Faces Two Huge Questions Before Wisconsin
Rutgers heads into its meeting with Wisconsin carrying a couple of offensive unknowns that could shape the game plan. Wide receiver KJ Duffs status is up in the air after he left the previous game with an injury, and quarterback AJ Surace is also being monitored as the Scarlet Knights work through a competition with Gavin Lonergan.
Greg Schiano addressed both situations during a recent practice, keeping the focus on availability as the week moves on. For a Rutgers offense that could use stability, the next few days will go a long way toward determining how much flexibility the staff has when the Badgers come to town. [Read more 🡒]