Painful start

Practices officially dropped this week, which means the start of the 2023-24 is closing in. But some teams and coaches are already in midseason form when it comes to content. Such as St. John’s coach Rick Pitino. In this promo for the Johnnies’ upcoming season, Pitino declares: “To be perfectly honest, if we don’t win a national championship, I’m jumping in the East River and ending my career.”

And some people wonder why writers think Pitino is great.

Let's get to Thursday’s news.

1. One team’s painful start to the season

Jackson State was one of the big transfer portal winners this offseason thanks to landing guard Daeshun Ruffin, a former top-50 prospect who started 12 games in two seasons at Ole Miss. In two injury-plagued seasons, he averaged 11.3 ppg and 3.3 apg, including an 18-point and 7-assist game against Missouri.

Ruffin could’ve easily stayed with a power conference team, but enrolled at Jackson State to play for coach Mo Williams (the school’s one-time hoops counterpart to Deion Sanders). Turns out that’s not happening.

First and foremost, my heart goes out to a talented player who simply cannot stay on the court. Hopefully we can eventually see Ruffin on the court because he’s a top-100 talent who would’ve likely been the SWAC’s preseason POY.

It’s a big blow for Jackson State, which had been The Almanac’s pick to win the conference.

Still, it’s certainly not over for the Tigers.

Chase Adams will likely start again at point guard (8.0 ppg and 3.7 apg last season). Guards Ken Evans and Cofie Young, both of whom were double-digit scorers last season, will need to produce again. Meanwhile, forward Romelle Mansel might be their best player.

Alcorn State is probably now the team to beat SWAC, but don’t rule out the Tigers as a threat to win the NCAA tourney berth.

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2. Tennessee adds a top-100 recruit

Rick Barnes has built Tennessee into a national power thanks to filling his roster with athletic 4- and 5-star prospects. He’s on his way for 2024.

Bishop Boswell is a consensus 4-star and top-100 player in the 2024 class. The 6-4 combo guard has the size and athletic ability to play both on and off the ball on the perimeter and is a solid shooter as well.

As you most certainly guessed by now, he’ll be a Vol.

He’s the first commitment for Tennessee’s 2024 class. The backcourt is an area of need given all of the key rotation players are upperclassmen. Santiago Vescovi and Dalton Knecht are in their final years of eligibility, while Jordan Gainey, Jahmai Mashack, and Zakai Zeigler have two years left of eligibility.

Barnes is going to need a new core of guards to work with in the future and Boswell, who is known for being a plus defender, should fit seamlessly into his system when he arrives a year from now.

In other 2024 recruiting news:

• Yale snagged guard Isaac Celiscar.

• Lehigh picked up forward Hank Alvey.

3. Could Rutgers play (gasp!) fast this season?

College hoops has a few constants: Syracuse plays zone. Gonzaga always wins the WCC. And Rutgers grinds out games.

Hm. At least one of those things is changing this season. Maybe two, if Jerry Carino of the Asbury Park Press is to be believed. He noted this week that the Scarlet Knights are athletic like always, but they’re actually pushing the pace. And quite fast. And that’s by design.

“It’s a different approach this year,” sophomore guard Derek Simpson told Carino. “We’re such an athletic team. We’re running a lot more, we’re faster, we really want to get up and down and wear teams out – and have fun.”

It’s not just moving the ball, either. The Scarlet Knights also are putting up 3s.

During their August preseason tour, they went 48-of-100 from 3-point range in just three games. That’s a stark contrast to recent play. Rutgers has ranked sub-300 in 3-pointers attempted per game all but one of the last seven seasons. The faster approach and willingness to launch shots seems to be what coach Steve Pikiell wants.

So what may have led to the change? There are plenty of athletes on the roster, led by Noah Fernandes, Derek Simpson, and Aundre Hyatt. And while both Caleb McConnel and Paul Mulcahy were quality defenders and all-around playmakers, they weren’t ideal for this type of free-flowing offense that shoots lots of threes.

It also could be timing. Rutgers’ 2024 recruiting class will rank among the nation’s best, with 5-star wing Ace Bailey committed. They’re also among the favorites to land top-3 prospect Dylan Harper. Plus, the team is also reportedly in the mix for other top targets such as class of 2025 star Darius Acuff and Trey McKenney.

Selling top-tier prospects such as Harper and Acuff on a slower, defensive-first approach is tough. So, push the pace. See how it goes.

Whether it works is another question.

The fight for Cooper Flagg

Duke’s been seen as the eventual landing spot for Cooper Flagg since he broke onto the scene a few years ago. Kansas and UConn are trying to change that. Do they have a chance? And is all the hype for the 2024 forward worth it? Fanta, Dauster and T.O. debate.

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Links as you do your patriotic duty and stay up to watch the 2023 Ryder Cup.

• Xavier forward Zach Freemantle underwent successful foot surgery. There’s no timetable for a return.

• Former referee and NCAA Coordinator of Officiating John Adams died this week.

• Five-star guard Boogie Fland is “focused” on three options.

Thanks for reading The Field of 68 Daily! If you have a news tip or feedback, email us at [email protected].