The Monday Morning Kickoff
Another busy weekend is in the books and that means it is time for The Monday Morning Kickoff to get you caught up on all the latest Rutgers sports news.
The take from center court (Rutgers Basketball)
It was a busy week for men’s hoops as the Scarlet Knights won two of three games, notching back to back vistories against NJIT and FDU. The latter took place on Saturday night as Rutgers rolled to a 92-54.
“I think we had a good bounce back game. We didn’t play the way I liked to play the other day,” head coach Steve Pikiell said. “I think we got back to Rutgers basketball. Greg Herenda does a great job at FDU, he really does. Heck of a coach. They got a really good basketball team, I just think we had one of those nights where everything was going in. We were really sharing the game. We were locked-in to rebounding. We wanted to contest every three because they’re a very good three-point shooting team. I thought we had good energy today and our guys earned a well-deserved day off.”
Rutgers is now 8-3 on the season and will be back in action Tuesday night inside The RAC against Fordham and that will be followed by a noontime Saturday afternoon home contest against Seton Hall.
On the mat (Rutgers Wrestling)
The RU grapplers lost a tough dual meet Friday to No.7 Iowa in front of 6,754 fans inside a very lively RAC. Rutgers was up 12-0 but could not hold off the Hawkeyes, who grabbed a 23-15 victory.
Richie Lewis lost a 6-4 overtime match at 165 pounds while Joe Grello dropped a 5-4 decision at 174 pounds.
“Two big matchups there in second part of the match, 165 and 174, just got away from us. We have to find a way to close those out,” head coach Scott Goodale said. “To beat a really good team you got to do that. You’ve got to close out those matches.”
Rutgers is now 3-2 on the season and will not get back to competition until Dec 29 at the Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill.
A view from the gridiron (Rutgers Football)
It was a big official visit weekend at Rutgers as several recruits were in Piscataway. Quarterback commit Artur Sitkowski made the trip up from IMG Academy in Florida with teammate Jalen Jordan, who is also a Rutgers target.
“It’s up to Jalen right now, I feel very confident,” Sitjowski said. “He has one more visit and we have to see what happens. I’m really happy for Jalen. I’ll support him whatever he chooses and whatever path of life he’s on. It’s his life and I want the best for him and his family.”
Rutgers also hosted a last-minute visitor in Jamree Kromah of Springdale, Md.
“My player host Tijuan (Mason) told me about why he committed to Rutgers. When he went to other visits Rutgers was just something different,” Kromah said. “He was also just telling me that socially it’s pretty good here and academically you can get a job anywhere when you graduate from school there. I was also hanging out with Stevie (Scott), Zihir (Lacewell), Chris (Izien), and some others.”
Stay logged onto The Round Table for more on the official visit weekend as well as the latest recruiting developments as they unfold.