Rutgers (15-17, 8-12 Big Ten)

The Scarlet Knights enter the season without six of last season’s top seven scorers. Among the departures are Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, freshmen who were taken second and fifth, respectively, in the NBA draft. Despite the hype surrounding the duo, Rutgers failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament and finished 11th in the Big Ten. The priority will be a return to tight-fisted defense and rebounding, staples of coach Steve Pikiell’s 10-year tenure at Rutgers. There are no clear-cut stars among the five players who were part-time starters a year ago. But there is an injection of youth with six freshmen on the roster.

Players to watch

After playing a supporting role last season, Jamichael Davis (junior, g, 6-2, 4.6 ppg) will provide leadership and toughness

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