PISCATAWAY – Chris Nwuli was open, but not by much. The Rutgers basketball freshman leaked out in transition and had a step on the defense during a 5-on-5 full-court session.
On the other end, Denis Badalau corralled a rebound, instantly spotted Nwuli and sent a baseball pass 75 feet through the air, hitting Nwuli in stride for a layup.
“A full-court dime,” Nwuli said. “I was surprised – it was in my hands perfectly.”
The 6-foot-8 Badalau, a freshman forward from Romania, is just starting to show teammates what he can do after arriving mid-summer due to a delay in getting his student Visa. He’s one of two European freshmen on the roster, joining 6-foot-7 Bosnian guard Harun Zrno, who had originally committed to Indiana. On a roster of defensive grinders, their ability to shoot and pass