Frontcourt - J.R. Inman returns as a forward. Inman led the Scarlet Knights in both scoring 12.0ppg and rebounding (7.3rpg). But only Jaron Griffin (8.6ppg, 3.7rpg) is back to join in the frontcourt. They will probably use shotblocker Hamady N’Diaye at center. N’Diaye (2.7ppg, 2.9rpg) at 6′11″ was a bit player last year. Byron Joynes (6′9″) missed all of last year with an injury. GRADE - C-

Backcourt - Anthony Farmer returns at the point after averaging 7.8ppg and 3.1apg. He too remains the lone returner for RU. Courtney Nelson(3.7ppg, 1.4apg) is set to take the two guard position. Both Farmer and Nelson are backed up by Freshmen. Corey Chandler, Mike Coburn, and 6-4 Justin Sofman are the newcomers in backup roles. GRADE - D+

Depth - Not one player listed on the RU depth chart after starters has any experience except for Joynes, who missed a year. This is a team with limited experience in the starting lineup and none behind them. GRADE - D-

OVERALL - Coach Fred Hill couldn’t have known what he was in for when he took this job. Inman will have to carry this team alone and Farmer can’t afford to make any mistakes. That is a formula for disaster in a league this tough. Rutgers will fight with USF for last place this year. GRADE - D+

At a glance, Jackson State at Rutgers is hardly worth paying attention to. Well I take exception. I’ve never seen a college basketball team start its season quite like Jackson State has. Over the last seven days, the Tigers traveled to Tuscaloosa, Atlanta, Champagne, and Memphis–the last two on consecutive nights–with the sole purpose of getting throttled by power conference teams on their courts. Alabama 96, JSU 65. Georgia Tech 100, JSU 70. Illinois 76, JSU 55. Memphis 111, JSU 69. Rutgers isn’t of the caliber of these teams, but following all of that with a road trip to New Jersey is more aggressive than inviting a directional Louisiana across the border to give your players a reprieve. What are this athletic director and head coach thinking?

The game will provide a glimpse of how the Big East stacks up against the represented major conferences. I don’t expect a blowout by any means, but I’ll be disappointed if the Knights don’t win. Much depends on how beaten down JSU is after running that gauntlet.

 * Follow up *

Rutgers was upset 71-70 at the RAC. Not good.