The Rutgers men’s basketball team shows some “progress”

If you’re looking for any tangible sign of an upgrade in public perception of the Rutgers men’s basketball program under third-year head coach Fred Hill, then look no farther than Wednesday morning’s annual Big East Media Day at Madison Square Garden.  The coaches’ poll predicts that the Scarlet Knights will finish 12th in the 16-team league this coming season.  That’s an improvement from the 15th place prediction last season.  Picked to finish below R-U are Seton Hall, St. John’s, DePaul and USF.  Of course, that’s a bit of a moot point this season since all of the team make it to the Big East Tournament, not just the top-12.  Even with this bit of good news for Fred Hill and Company…and despite the outstanding recruiting class that the Scarlet Knights are bringing in…there’s still a definite amount of disinterest towards the current cast of R-U players.  None of them were named to the Big East Pre-Season All-Big East team…not the suspended senior forward J-R Inman, who’s the team’s leading returning scorer and rebounder…not junior center Hamady N’Diaye.  Also shunned was highly-regarded incoming freshman guard Mike Rosario.  Fellow MacDonald’s All-Americans Samardo Samuels of Louisville and Greg Monroe of Georgetown were named the Pre-Season Co-Rookies of the Year.