The Rutgers men’s basketball team won its 2009-2010 season opener Saturday afternoon at home against Marist 74-67 in a game heard on Good Time Oldies, 1450 WCTC…as the Scarlet Knights should have.  Sophomore guard Mike Rosario led the way with 17-points…sophomore forward Patrick Jackson came out of nowhere to get his first-ever start and he responded with career-highs in points and rebounds with 15 and seven respectively.  AND sophomore forward Greg Echenique posted a double-double with 13-points and ten-rebounds.  However, that win will not prevent Rutgers from posting another losing season at the RAC.  Let’s break it down this way.  The Knights begin the season with 12 straight non-conference games and I pick them to go 8-4 in that stretch.  The losses will come to UMass and either Florida or Michigan State down in the Atlantic City tournament….at home to Rider…and, of course, at North Carolina.  Throw in the gimme win over Caldwell College in February and you have a 9-4 non-con record.  Then comes the 18-game Big East season and I pick the Scarlet Knights to go 5-13.  Don’t forget, the league’s coaches picked R-U next-to-last in their poll back on Media Day in October.  Then, throw in a first-round loss in the Big East Tournament and you’re looking at a 14-18 record.  The question is—will that be enough to save the job of fourth-year head coach Fred Hill.  Stay tuned.