This is only January, but Rutgers belongs among NCAA tourney-caliber teams

Ron Harper, Jr. shot Rutgers past Lamar Stevens (11) and 20th-ranked Penn State Tuesday. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — After Rutgers shocked the majority of New Jersey with its authoritative takedown of in-state rival Seton Hall last month, the prevailing opinion was that maybe, just maybe, what was viewed as just another game by the coaches and players was merely the beginning of the rest of Rutgers’ life as a true program and not the national punchline for which it had come to be defined over the past decade.

But to take the next step, more opportunities need to be seized, Tuesday night being the latest example of such potential.

A Penn State team ranked 20th in the nation and three days removed from an emotional victory over Iowa at The Palestra awaited the Scarlet Knights, still without point guard Geo Baker, who missed his second straight contest with a left thumb injury and figures to be out “a while,” according to head coach Steve Pikiell, who was visibly disappointed that he had no update with which to provide on Baker’s condition. Throw in the two-headed interior monster of Lamar Stevens and Mike Watkins, and the chance could have been construed as a tall order.

Not for Rutgers, whose next-man-up mentality was no further evident than for these 40 minutes against the Nittany Lions — particularly the final eight — in a methodical 72-61 knockout that saw a game-ending 23-10 run after Montez Mathis’ three-pointer put the hosts ahead to stay in what was then a tenuous 52-51 affair.

“All the guys could make some plays,” Pikiell said, heaping praise upon a Rutgers squad whose 12-3 record is the program’s best start since 1975-76, when Gerald Ford occupied the White House. “The next guy was ready. Everyone stepped up and made some decisions.”

On Tuesday, that next guy was Jacob Young, who ignited Rutgers’ offensive fire at various stages through the night en route to 13 points and an understated impact in Baker’s stead.

“JY has made huge progress,” said Myles Johnson, who handled his challenge of defending the 6-foot-9 Watkins with aplomb, scoring 10 points. “I remember in the beginning, he’d be running a million miles per hour. I think that’s his biggest strength. I think he’s the fastest player I’ve ever seen on a basketball court, and he’s utilized it to get to the rim, get fouls, get layups, and I just think he’s made so much progress in general.”

So too has the team as a whole. Seasons have gone by where insiders and fans alike wondered if Rutgers would even win three conference games in a whole year. This season, the Scarlet Knights have taken three of four to start the Big Ten slate, the lone loss being a 12-point setback in East Lansing to league favorite and preseason No. 1 Michigan State, which only underscores just how far Pikiell’s pupils have come in such a short period of time.

“I think, as a team, we expected to be here,” Ron Harper, Jr. candidly admitted. “We go into every game and we expect to compete, and being 3-1 in the conference — I think we’re in second now — feels good, but we expected to be here.”

Now comes the obligatory NCAA Tournament bubble talk, no matter how much Pikiell wants to gloss over it, being that two more months remain in the regular season. Bracket guru Joe Lunardi already had Rutgers in his field of 68 before Tuesday, and the chatter for an at-large berth is only gaining steam, directly proportionate to that of the upward-trending Scarlet Knights.

“We came a long way and this is a big statement, I think,” Johnson opined. “I think a night like this shows that we’re capable, and if we just take the same mindset into every game — win road games, pull together home games, keep doing stuff like that — the postseason is very possible.”

“I believe in this team day and night,” Harper gushed. “I pour my heart and soul into this team. I think we’ve got a special group of guys. I’ve got 14 brothers on this team, I think we’re a close, tight-knit family, we just keep getting better and getting to know each other better. This team is just amazing. It’s special.”

No matter how it turns out, so too is this season, for better or worse.