NEW YORK — When Mike Rice looked out on the Madison Square Garden floor Tuesday night, he saw a whole lot of Maalik Wayns.
The Villanova junior guard sliced through the Scarlet Knights’ defense for 28 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists en route to a 70-49 pasting in the first round of the Big East Tournament.
Rice has three talented freshmen guards of his own in Eli Carter, Myles Mack and Jerome Seagears and he’s banking on them evolving into something approximating what Wayns is now: a rugged veteran of Big East battles and a Second-Team All-Big East performer.
“I am very confident,” a clearly flustered Rice said after his team managed just 3-for-25 shooting and 15 points in the second half. “It’s going to happen. Rutgers is going to happen.”
The fiery Rice is the right man to turn things around at Rutgers, but this season was clearly a disappointment.
After saying in October that the goal was to win the Big East eventually, the Scarlet Knights finished 14-18 overall and 6-12 in the league.
What’s more, they may have to stand by and watch as their Jersey neighbors to the North head to the NCAA Tournament, pending what happens in Wednesday’s critical night contest between Seton Hall and Louisville.
Villanova coach Jay Wright has coached his share of McDonald’s All-American and talented guards, from Wayns to Corey Fisher, Corey Stokes and Scottie Reynolds.
When he looks at the Rutgers’ trio of Carter, Mack and Seagears, he sees hope for Rutgers’ future.
“You look at some of the damage they’ve done, they beat Florida, beat a lot of good teams in our league,” Wright said, probably thinking of Rutgers’ win over UConn, too.
“They’re just freshmen. And there’s three of them together. Usually, like Maalik got to play with Corey Fisher and he got to play with older guards. Those guys are out there by themselves doing a hell of a job, and they’re going to be together for three or four years. They’re going to be really good.”
Wayns, a tough Philly kid with something to prove this week at the Garden, said he saw a bit of himself in the young, raw Rutgers backcourt.
“I think all three of those guys are great players,” Wayns said. “I’m surprised none of them were on the All-Big East Rookie team. I’ve got a lot of respect for those guys being young guys. I think they’re going to be great in this league.”
Carter, who missed out on the All-Rookie Team, was asked what he learned from this tough season and from the latest beating by Wayns and company.
“Just how hard you have to work to compete at this level and to be a good team in the Big East,” he said.
Yes, the Knights have their work cut out.
But they will return a strong core of freshmen in addition to sophomore forward Gilvydas Biruta and junior wing Dane Miller, who came on strong toward the end of the year.
Kansas State transfer Wally Judge, the biggest guy on the team, also becomes eligible after sitting out last season.
“Yeah, I’m encouraged,” Rice said when mentioning Judge by name.
The Big East next year will be without West Virginia but will add basketball power Temple, and in 2013 Memphis, Houston, UCF and SMU come aboard.
Rice believes Rutgers is going to happen, but the young guys still have a lot of growing up to do.
Photo: Star-Ledger
