Last years runners up Rutgers comes back with the entire team and adds one Hoopgurlz top 10 Freshman.
12 ADAMS, KATIE G Sr. 5-10
22 AJAVON, MATEE G Sr. 5-8
5 CARSON, E F/G Sr. 6-0
4 JERNIGAN, D G So 5-11
43 JUNAID, R C So 6-4
24 MCCURDY, MYIA F So 6-1
10 PRINCE, E G So 5-9
35 RAY, B G So. 5-9
15 VAUGHN, KIA C Jr. 6-4
21 ZURICH, H F Jr 6-1
x Rushdan Kadijah G FR 5-10
Last years minutes and scoring average for Rutgers
15 VAUGHN, Kia........ 32.5 12.8
05 CARSON, Essence.... 35.9 12.3
10 PRINCE, Epiphanny.. 32.8 12.2
22 AJAVON, Matee...... 29.5 12.0
35 RAY, Brittany...... 19.4 5.3
21 ZURICH, Heather.... 24.9 4.9
43 JUNAID, Rashidat... 9.4 2.7
This Rutgers team was an enigma last season but when they finally bought into what C Viv was trying to get them to do they became the second best team in the country. Rutgers lost to Pepperdine, DePaul, and Old Dominion before turning things around at season's end and winning the Big East Tournament prior to the run to the NC game. They dropped a game to Duke by 40 and two to Connecticut by 10 and 26 before beating the Huskies by eight in the finals of the Big East.
Five sophomores could offer significant offensive improvement for Rutgers particularly Prince, Ray and Junaid. Rushdan gives them another offensive threat. She is regarded as a "big time scorer" by Scout's evaluation and Prince was the 113 point girl a year ago.
Rutgers has the best upside of the top teams returning all players due to the sophomores and Rushdan. If this team learns to score like they learned defense last year everybody else better watch out. This team is a bit guard heavy and Vaughn and Junaid are the only height.
Tennessee matched up well with Rutgers and when both teams are playing well the Lady Vols should have a significant edge in experience, height, and scoring potential.
Rutgers matches up better against their Big East foe Connecticut. where the size is similar
