The KenPom rankings to begin the 2019-2020 season were released this weekend and Rutgers starts in uncharted territory. The Scarlet Knights will open the most anticipated season in years ranked 63rd. They finished 78th last season. The program has never finished a season ranked higher than 71st since KenPom began in 2001-2002. The season they finished that high was the 2005-2006 campaign, which is the last time Rutgers produced a winning record and earned a postseason appearance.
With a preseason ranking of 63rd, Rutgers is listed as 11th in the Big Ten. The ten teams ranked ahead are 45th or better, while the three teams behind Rutgers are Minnesota (81st), Northwestern (87th), and Nebraska (96th).