In which we try and figure out who Rutger is, why they suck, and why Northwestern has to play them.
Nothing in this article is hyperbole.
Many a diatribe has been written/spoken/commented on about Northwestern's non-conference schedule which can best be described as "junk." It currently checks in as 345th in strength of schedule according to KenPom and 334th according to the worse, but committee accepted, RPI.
Rutger ranks below darn near all of them.
Here are the 10 worst teams NU has played/will play this season according to KenPom rankings.
185: Fairfield
188: DePaul
282: Loyola Maryland
290: Sacred Heart
302: Rutger
310: New Orleans
313: UMass Lowell
323: SIU Edwardsville
341: Mississippi Valley State
343: Chicago State
Sacred Heart is an 11-17 team in the NEC, the worst conference in America.