The Regular Season - Part I

Time would tell whether the schedule was "pretentious and ambitious," but one thing was clear, it would have been difficult to find a tougher opening opponent than New York University (NYU).   Rutgers could take some comfort from the prior year's road victory, but the 1920 NYU squad was a different team and a very experienced one at that.  Four of the visitor's starters missed the 1919 game due to military service, beginning with Howard Cann, "considered one of the best players on the court," a member of the Naismith Hall of Fame.  To make matters worse, NYU had already played three games.  As expected, Coach Hill started Taliaferro and Benzoni at the forward positions, Dettlinger at center with French and Meury at the guards.  Led by Cann, NYU took the lead after five minutes of play and never looked back, coasting to a 45-27 victory, a deficit that would have been even more embarrassing without Taliaferro's 21 points.  The Home News acknowledged that NYU was "superior," but also criticized the Rutgers team for excessive dribbling and too much individual play.  Perhaps not surprisingly, Benzoni struggled in his first college game, managing only two points.  One positive sign was the "exceptionally large crowd" which confirmed the need for expanded seating.

Howard Cann of NYU

In the next game, only two nights later, Rutgers bounced back against a strong Syracuse team, showing "remarkable" improvement in route to a 30-20 triumph before a slightly larger crowd estimated at 800.  Coach Hill made one lineup change which would proved both valuable and permanent, starting Art Hall at center instead of Dettlinger whose play against NYU had reportedly "lacked spirit."  Syracuse led only once in the first half before Rutgers opened a 16-7 halftime lead and the visitors never got closer than four points.  As expected/hoped Benzoni played much better scoring eight points while French proved "a wonder" on the defensive end.  After turning away prospective ticket buyers at both games, something that had also happened a year ago, the administration announced plans to add new sets of bleachers on each side of the running track as well as a new tier on the main floor.  The result would be an announced capacity of 900 that could probably accommodate a 1,000 spectators when necessary.  The increased seating capacity was to be in place by the January 24th game against Muhlenberg.

Art Hall - Home News - March 3, 1920

Before that, however, the team would play one of its two 1920 road games, a visit to Swarthmore.  Initially Rutgers had a hard time adjusting to a smaller court and trailed 14-6 after ten minutes before rallying to lead 17-15 at halftime.  With 11 minutes left in the second half, the score was tied at 22-22, but Rutgers pulled away for a 29-26 victory over the previously unbeaten Swarthmore squad.  Back home at Ballantine Gym a week later, Rutgers was supposed to dominate Muhlenberg, but got a rude awakening when the visitors jumped out an 8-0 lead at the 10 minute mark before Rutgers rallied to tie the game at 12-12.  Having dodged Muhlenberg's best efforts, Rutgers outscored the visitors 14-5 in the second half for a 26-17 win.  Although praising captain Meury who scored 12 points, the Home News claimed Rutgers looked like a high school team.  Perhaps part of the problem was Taliaferro was suffering from the flu.  After struggling through the first half, the Rutgers star was removed from the game over his protests.  Rutgers did not play a whole lot better in the next game where they were consistently inconsistent in a 39-30 win over Temple.  Although now suffering from a cut over his eye due to a fall on the ice, Taliaferro led the way with 17 points.

Naismith Hall of Fame Inductee - Nat Holman - while still playing professionally for the original Celtics, Holman coached CCNY

While the team and its fans had to be pleased with the 4-1 record, two lackluster performances were a concern especially heading into back-to-back games with CCNY and Princeton.  The New York City school was 6-1 having lost only to Princeton and was coached by future Naismith Hall of Fame inductee, Nat Holman, "probably the best player who ever put on a pair of suction shoes."  A record crowd was expected and the fans more than did their part with a 1000 spectators braving a snow storm to watch the closest game of the season.  The visitors led 11-10 at half time and the game went back and forth in the second half before CCNY came out on top by the margin of a single foul shot, 25-24.  Benzoni was Rutgers high scorer with 10 points while Taliaferro had 8.  Unfortunately, Taliaferro's performance at the foul line hurt his team.  Taking all the team's foul shots (as he did all season), the leading Rutgers scorer was 6 of 10 compared to CCNY's designated shooter who was 7 of 9.  The crowd certainly did their part especially in the second half when "the gymnasium was in an uproar with the pleading cries for victory."  Alas it was not to be, but there was little time to mourn with the Princeton game only five days away.