CBS Sports Jerry Palm has Rutgers basketball in the First Four
In the latest NCAA Tournament projections from Jerry Palm of CBS Sports, Rutgers basketball is in the NCAA Tournament but still has to prove something.
In his update on Friday morning, Palm has Rutgers basketball as a No. 11 seed but playing in the ‘First Four’ against fellow No. 11 Mississippi State. Last year, Rutgers lost to Notre Dame in the ‘First Four.’
On Thursday night, Rutgers lost 75-74 at Minnesota. Rutgers led by eight points with 54 seconds left in the game. With the loss, Rutgers is now 18-12 (10-9 Big Ten).
Now, there is some outrage from Rutgers and Big Ten fans about this projection. But, the uncomfortable truth right now is that the projection from Palm makes some sense and assumes that:
Rutgers loses on Sunday against Northwestern
Rutgers doesn’t make much noise in the Big Ten Tournament and is an early out
Both scenarios, given how the Scarlet Knights are playing right now, are certainly plausible. Rutgers fans may not want to hear it, but it is true.
Since beating Michigan State at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 4, Rutgers has hit the skids and lost five of their last seven games. Two of those losses, to Nebraska and Thursday night at Minnesota, are disappointing losses that stain an otherwise solid Big Ten regular season.
Now, were Rutgers to right the ship and beat Northwestern on Sunday at Jersey Mike’s Arena or win at least one Big Ten Tournament game (or do both), then it is likely that Palm and other bracket projections wouldn’t have Rutgers being in the ‘First Four.’
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Three Big Ten teams are in the ‘First Four,’ an interesting move from Palm that also makes a certain amount of sense. Michigan has shaken off a rough start to the season to put together some solid performances in recent weeks (including beating Rutgers at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Feb. 23). Penn State, who lost to Rutgers over the weekend, have had some big wins this month as well including a Thursday night win at Northwestern.
Basically, Palm is saying that the credentials for these three Big Ten teams is solid but as things stand right now, the trio of Michigan, Penn State and Rutgers still have something to prove.
