Time Running Out on Fred Hill?

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — In the face of rising criticism from a disgruntled fan base that is calling for major change, Rutgers head coach Fred Hill met the media Tuesday with a smile on his face and an optimistic tone in his voice.

During the past week, Rutgers (9-6, 0-3 Big East) lost at West Virginia and at Providence by a combined 39 points. Things won’t get any easier Wednesday when No. 5 Syracuse (15-1, 2-1) comes to a Rutgers Athletic Center that is likely to be filled with more orange-clad Syracuse fans than red-dressed Rutgers faithful.

Off the court, Gregory Echenique, one of the cornerstones of the program’s future, announced that he would transfer after undergoing retinal detachment surgery that will keep him out the rest of the season.

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Written by Adam Zagoria

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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.