Last season, if Corey Sanders shot 1-7 from the floor and had just 2 points, along with 2 fouls, 2 turnovers and only 1 assist at halftime, Rutgers would be undoubtedly trailing whichever opponent they were playing. That was the stat line for Sanders at the break in the second game of the new season this afternoon, but there was a major difference in how Rutgers was playing as a team. It was a result of a key new player and a major shift in the mindset of this team.
After freshman guard Kari Jonsson hit a three-pointer cutting the Rutgers lead to 28-26 with 4:24 remaining in the first half, the emphasis by the coaching staff on defense started to pay dividends.