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During his final year at St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, Gregory Echenique won 24 of the 25 games in which he played.

After going a combined 56-1 for coaches Bob and Dan Hurley, respectively, the young stars arrived as freshmen at Rutgers.

At the state university of New Jersey, Rosario and Echenique were bright spots on a team that struggled through an 11-21 campaign under head coach Fred Hill that included a 2-16 mark in the Big East.

"I wasn't used to it," Echenique, a 6-foot-9, 265-pound sophomore forward originally from Guatire, Venezuela, said this week at Big East media day. "At Benedict's we only lose like two games [a year]; that was the most we ever lost. But I was prepared mentally. I knew it wasn't going to be easy. It's a tough league, so I was just trying to stay strong mentally and try to play hard for every game."

A year later, the Scarlet Knights have been picked 15th in the 16-team conference, but Rosario is optimistic the team can finish higher than that.

"I always like being an underdog and not being on top because when you're the underdog and then you start to improve and start to be successful people will give you credit for that," said Rosario, who led Big East freshmen in scoring last year at 16.2 points per game.

Echenique and Rosario both traveled the globe this past summer playing in various international events and now say they are more prepared physically and emotionally to help lead.

Echenique accompanied his Rutgers teammates to Spain and the Canary Islands on a trip that saw them go a perfect 4-0. In August he became the third-youngest player ever to compete with the Venezuelan Senior Men's National Team when it played in the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship.

In that event, Echenique competed against NBA players Charlie Villanueva (Detroit Pistons), Francisco Garcia (Sacramento Kings) and Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks).

Echenique spent only five scattered days with his family in Venezuela because he was training with older players the rest of the time.

"We practiced hard. I was the youngest guy there," he said.

After averaging 8.4 points and 8.4 rebounds as a frosh, Echenique said the Rutgers offense may run through him a little more this season.

"Coach Hill wants to put the ball inside so now I have to prove to them also that it's a good thing that they throw the ball to me. So I have to produce as well," he said.

Rosario filled his passport with stamps by playing in Spain, France, Puerto Rico and New Zealand. Like Echenique he also competed with a Senior Men's National Team, in Puerto Rico.

"Experiencing those places is just unbelievable for an 18-year-old and I had a lot of fun," Rosario said.

The highlights included seeing a bull fight with his Rutgers teammates in Madrid's 25,000-seat La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas.

As for which location had the best cuisine, Rosario didn't hesitate: "The food in Puerto Rico is great."

On the court, Rosario, playing for Puerto Rico, dropped 54 points on France in the FIBA U19 World Championship in New Zealand.

Overall, the 6-foot-3 guard has bulked up to 180 pounds from about 173.

"I improved in getting stronger and just being quicker," he said. "I'm not that big, not that small, but as far as me being stronger and quicker that can help my game a lot."

Said Echenique: "I feel that's a plus for the team because they won't double me because [Rosario] can really shoot it. He definitely has more confidence to his game. You know Mike, he will score."

Rutgers desperately needed a point guard and went out and landed 6-2, 195-pound junior college guard James Beatty of Miami Dade College.

"He brings a lot of leadership," Rosario said. "Him being on our team now is like an extra piece to the puzzle because he's a legit point guard. He's a pass-first point guard and when you need him to do something he'll do it."

Rosario and Beatty are still jelling as backcourt mates and it will take some time.

"He's still trying to understand where I need to get the ball in certain spots and how he can get me the ball," Rosario said. "But as far as practicing, we've been looking good together."

This year's team looks different from a year ago.

Junior guard Corey Chandler of Newark was dismissed from the team in August and then transferred to Binghamton. He lasted only a few weeks there before he was dismissed, along with five other players, in a scandal that eventually brought down head coach Kevin Broadus.

Rutgers, meanwhile, added six players, including 6-7 forward Jonathan Mitchell of Mount Vernon, N.Y., who sat out last season after transferring from Florida, where he won an NCAA championship; and 6-7 freshman forward Dane Miller of Henrietta, N.Y., who averaged 18 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks as a senior.

"Those guys are helping us a lot on the wings as far as them being aggressive, getting rebounds and being aggressive going to the hoop," Rosario said. "I think Dane's going to help us a lot because of his long, lanky arms and he can handle the ball. He plays above the rim.

"Jonathan Mitchell has a great mid-range game. He understands the game and he's always being a leader out there."

The days of undefeated seasons are probably gone for Mike Rosario, but he's relishing the role of underdog.