Can Monmouth basketball shock No. 24 Rutgers? 3 keys for Hawks in NJ clash

Monmouth’s brutal early season schedule, part head coach King Rice’s non-conference philosophy, part economic reality at a time when guaranteed money games are vital for mid-majors, continues when the Hawks make the journey up Rt. 18 to Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway for tonight’s (6:30 p.m.) Big Ten Network clash with No. 24 Rutgers.

The Hawks (0-3) have only ever beaten one nationally ranked team, taking down No. 17 Notre Dame in 2015, and the Scarlet Knights are heavy favorites to stay unbeaten, with the potential for 5-star recruit Ace Bailey to make his college debut.

With that as the backdrop, Monmouth, coming off Monday’s 79-66 loss at Northern Illinois, finds itself in a tough spot.

No one expects much here given the way they’ve looked over the first three games. Yet the Hawks have to show something, some signs of life as a team, whether or not Jaret Valencia plays, with the 6-9 forward missing the first three games.

Can Monmouth land a few punches here?

Monmouth’s Justin Ray works against a Temple defender at CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, N.J.

Saint Peter’s had a halftime lead at Rutgers Monday, and had a one-point lead with less than four minutes to play before falling.

It’s early, with Monmouth integrating a lot of new pieces into the rotation, the new normal across the college basketball landscape. But there are some early season statistical trends that give insight into what ails the Hawks.

So here are three keys for Monmouth against Rutgers:

1. Stop fouling

At 24.3 fouls per game, the Hawks rank 345th out of 355 Division 1 programs. They committed 27 fouls against NIU, with Madison Durr and Boog Robinson fouling out. Robinson has fouled out twice, and Durr had four fouls in the two other games, while Morgan fouled out against Michigan State.

Northern Illinois went to the free throw line 35 times, with Temple shooting 32 free throws and Michigan State getting 27.

Monmouth can’t beat anyone like that.

2. Knock shots down

Easy to say, but it’s…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/monmouth-basketball-shock-no-24-101558910.html

Author : App.com | Asbury Park Press

Publish date : 2024-11-15 10:15:00

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