Rutgers basketball: 5 offseason priorities for the 2023-24 season

Rutgers basketball coach Steve Pikiell is a “stay the course” guy. It’s how he built the Scarlet Knights from the ashes into a perennial NCAA Tournament contender. But after his team finished 19-15 and suffered a Big Dance snub this past season, he’s not going to simply stand pat.

Here is what Pikiell said about offseason priorities in a recent interview.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Steve Pikiell yells down court during the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament game against the Purdue Boilermakers, Friday, March 10, 2023, at United Center in Chicago. Purdue Boilermakers won 70-65.

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Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Steve Pikiell yells down court during the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament game against the Purdue Boilermakers, Friday, March 10, 2023, at United Center in Chicago. Purdue Boilermakers won 70-65. Purrut031023 Am14866

1. Mawot Mag’s recovery

Everyone saw just how valuable the junior forward (7.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg) was after he suffered an ACL tear in early February and Rutgers finished 3-8 without him.

“He’s well into his rehab,” Pikiell said. “He’s a worker, so I feel really good and think that we’ll have him back doing stuff, not full-time, but hopefully August, September-ish. He won’t be cleared to play by that time, but hopefully he’ll be able to run up and down and shoot.”

2. Sorting out the roster

As with many programs, there are moving pieces galore on this front. All-Big Ten center Cliff Omoruyi is exploring the NBA Draft process and has until May 31 decide whether he’ll return to campus for his senior year.

“I thought he would do this last year, so it’s not really a surprise,” Pikiell said. "I encouraged him. He’s done such a good job academically that he’s in a really good place. He’ll get workouts, teams have been calling, so he’ll get a chance to test himself and see where he’s at.”

In the same vein, Pikiell said he also encouraged senior forward Aundre Hyatt (8.8 ppg), who is graduating in May but has a year of eligibility left, to explore pro-ball opportunities while leaving the door open to return (which Pikiell would welcome). Hyatt has not announced his intentions yet, but if he does play one more collegiate season it most likely will be with Rutgers.

Senior guard Paul Mulcahy already has graduated and is finishing up his first year of grad school. If he decides to play one more year of college ball, it will almost certainly be at Rutgers.

“I told him, ‘Take some time,’” Pikiell said. “His body is banged up. After the season’s over for him, it’s like a football player.”

Reserves Jalen Miller and Oskar Palmquist have entered the transfer portal, bringing Rutgers one scholarship under the limit for 2022-23. That includes the arrival of three commitments in wing Gavin Griffiths, forward Baye Ndongo and guard Jamichael Davis (Griffiths is signed; the latter two are expected to sign during the upcoming spring period). If another reserve transfers out, Rutgers would have two open scholarships. Pikiell found a successful transfer-portal fit last offseason in guard Cam Spencer and is examining potential fits now.

Mar 9, 2023; Chicago, IL, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Derek Simpson (0) brings the ball up court against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2023; Chicago, IL, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Derek Simpson (0) brings the ball up court against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

3. Developing the rising sophomores

Point guard Derek Simpson and forward/center Antwone Woolfolk showed promise as freshman and are expected to fulfill bigger roles next season, as is freshman forward Antonio Chol, a late arrival last offseason who didn’t play this year.

“Derek’s got the whole package. He’s got to get stronger, and he knows that,” Pikiell said. “Wolf, this was the first time he ever played basketball full-time; he lost a lot of weight from the start of the season so we’ve got to get him back in that 235-240 range. He said, ‘Coach I can’t wait; I’ve never had a (basketball-only) offseason.' Usually he went right back into football at this time. Chol got a year under his belt to know our system, and he’s a high-level shooter, which we need. I like their upside, all of them, but they’ve got to have big summers. It’s important for all of them, and for four program, to really progress.”

Rutgers' Antwone Woolfolk (13) goes up for a basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan at the Big Ten men's tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Rutgers' Antwone Woolfolk (13) goes up for a basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan at the Big Ten men's tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

4. Scheduling up

Pikiell is heeding the NCAA Tournament selection committee’s criticism of Rutgers’ non-conference schedule. The Scarlet Knights already are booked to visit Seton Hall and Wake Forest and are supposed to return to the Gavitt Games for a matchup against a Big East team to be determined.

In addition, “we’re trying to play neutral-site game at Madison Square Garden,” he said, against a high-major opponent to be determined. The way that works: There are basketball events groups that orchestrate such matchups and routinely canvass high-major teams about their interest. Pikiell has indicated Rutgers’ interest and the search for an opponent and date is underway.

Also, Pikiell said Rutgers is exploring entering a November event in the Bahamas as a way to provide NIL opportunities to the foreign players on his roster. Although he didn’t specify which one, that could mean the Baha Mar Bahamas Hoops Championship, a two-game event which reportedly includes Miami, Kansas State and Providence and is seeking a fourth entrant. Last year the event took place Nov. 18-20, the week before Thanksgiving.

5. Foreign tour

Rutgers will visit Senegal and Portugal in August for a cultural tour and four or five exhibition games. The trip will include the incoming freshmen and allows Pikiell to hold 10 full-scale practices over the summer in advance.

“I like those trips for a lot of reasons and not just basketball,” Pikiell said. “It will be an educational trip, it will be a team-bonding trip, we’ll play some good teams and I get 10 full practices before we leave, so it gives you a little bit of a snapshot before the season.”

Mental-health concerns

One other issue Pikiell hopes to address, more for the coming season than offseason, is mental-heath stresses on his players, which have grown considerably with the increasing pervasiveness of social media.

“I’ve got to figure that out for these kids,” he said. “They spend too much time on the 10 percent criticism. I’ll have a great meeting with them for 30 minutes after practice, I feel pretty good that I’ve got them in a good place, and then the phone gets them for the next 10 hours. I haven’t done a good job of helping guys navigate it...and understanding that you’re not capable of playing well every game – nobody is.”

Rutgers employs a full-time sports psychologist and that’s helping, but Pikiell will be rethinking his own approach in an area he never dealt with as a college player.

“It’s the same thing with my own kids,” he said. “I can’t tell them not to do it, so I have to teach them to deal with the car crash.”

For example: Pikiell said Simpson received a rude and stunning introduction to the issue this season when he was harassed by degenerate gamblers. He’s discussed the problem with other coaches, including Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano.

“We all know it’s a huge problem,” Pikiell said. “We just don’t know how to help them.”

Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Rutgers basketball: 5 offseason priorities for the 2023-24 season