Rutgers Scarlet Knights | |||
---|---|---|---|
| |||
University | Rutgers University | ||
First season | 1906–07 [1] | ||
All-time record | 1,298–1,263 (.507) | ||
Head coach | Steve Pikiell (8th season) | ||
Conference | Big Ten | ||
Location | Piscataway, New Jersey | ||
Arena | Jersey Mike's Arena (Capacity: 8,000) | ||
Nickname | Scarlet Knights | ||
Colors | Scarlet [2] | ||
Uniforms | |||
| |||
NCAA tournament Final Four | |||
1976 | |||
NCAA tournament Elite Eight | |||
1976 | |||
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen | |||
1976, 1979 | |||
NCAA tournament round of 32 | |||
1975, 1976, 1979, 1983, 2021 | |||
NCAA tournament appearances | |||
1975, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1989, 1991, 2021, 2022 | |||
Conference tournament champions | |||
1975, 1976, 1979, 1989 | |||
Conference regular season champions | |||
1943, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1991 |
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team represents Rutgers University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition and competes in the Big Ten Conference. Rutgers made the NCAA Final Four in 1976. Rutgers has appeared in the NCAA tournament eight times, most recently appearing in 2022. Rutgers has produced many NBA players, most notably Roy Hinson, John Battle, and James Bailey.
The Rutgers men's basketball team played in the Final Four in the 1976 NCAA tournament and ended the 1976 season ranked fourth in the nation, after a 70–86 loss against the Michigan Wolverines in the semifinal round and a 92–106 loss to the UCLA Bruins in the tournament's third-place consolation game. [3] This was the last men's Division I tournament to date to feature two unbeaten teams, as both Indiana, who won that year's title, and Rutgers entered the tournament unbeaten. Rutgers went 31–0 during the regular season.
The Scarlet Knights also played in the championship game of the 2004 NIT Final, losing to the Michigan Wolverines 55–62.
The Scarlet Knights had a prolonged down period through the following decade, cycling through a number of coaches and routinely finishing at the bottom of the Big East standings. This period included a scandal in 2013 with then head coach Mike Rice Jr. being shown on video verbally and physically abusing players. [4] The scandal resulted in the firing of Coach Rice as well as the resignation of then Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti.
Rutgers basketball played their first season in the Big Ten conference in 2014–2015. Fortunes began to improve following the hiring of Head Coach Steve Pikiell in 2016. The 2019–20 Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team saw their win total improve from 14 to 20 and included multiple wins over ranked teams, as well as an 18–1 home record, one of the best in the country. Experts widely predicted Rutgers's inclusion in the 2020 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament which was subsequently cancelled before the field was announced. [5] Additionally, this season marked the first time since 1979 that Rutgers basketball was ranked in the top 25 teams. [6] The team officially broke the 30-year tournament drought in 2021, when they earned a 10-seed in the 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. [7] Another dry spell was ended when they beat Clemson in the first round, their first tournament win since 1983. The Scarlet Knights, led by guards Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr., bowed out after a close loss to eventual Final Four participants Houston in the second round. Currently through Steve Pikiell’s 2022–23 season, the teams leaders revolve around senior point guard Paul Mulcahy, junior center Cliff Omoruyi, and last years Big Ten all defensive winner, super senior guard Caleb McConnell.
The Scarlet Knights have appeared in the NCAA tournament eight times. Their combined record is 6–9.
Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1975 | First Round | Louisville | L 78–91 | |
1976 | First Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National 3rd Place Game | Princeton Connecticut VMI Michigan UCLA | W 54–53 W 93–79 W 91–75 L 70–86 L 92–106 | |
1979 | #6 | Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #3 Georgetown #10 St. John's | W 64–58 L 65–67 |
1983 | #9 | First Round Second Round | #8 Southwest Louisiana #1 St. John's | W 60–53 L 55–66 |
1989 | #13 | First Round | #4 Iowa | L 73–87 |
1991 | #9 | First Round | #8 Arizona State | L 76–79 |
2021 | #10 | First Round Second Round | #7 Clemson #2 Houston | W 60–56 L 60–63 |
2022 | #11 | First Four | #11 Notre Dame | L 87–89 2OT |
The Scarlet Knights have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 15 times. Their combined record is 16–15.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1967 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd Place Game | Utah State New Mexico Southern Illinois Marshall | W 78–76 W 65–60 L 70–79 W 93–76 |
1969 | First Round | Tennessee | L 51–67 |
1973 | First Round | Minnesota | L 59–68 |
1974 | First Round | Utah | L 89–102 |
1977 | First Round | St. Bonaventure | L 77–79 |
1978 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd Place Game | Army Indiana State Texas Georgetown | W 72–70 W 57–56 L 76–96 W 85–72 |
1982 | First Round Second Round | Iona Purdue | W 55–51 L 65–98 |
1990 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals | Holy Cross Fordham Penn State | W 87–78 W 81–74 L 55–58 |
1992 | First Round Second Round | James Madison Manhattan | W 73–69 L 61–62 |
1999 | First Round Second Round | Hofstra Clemson | W 58–45 L 68–78 |
2000 | First Round | Kent State | L 62–73 |
2002 | First Round | Yale | L 65–67 |
2004 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final | Temple West Virginia Villanova Iowa State Michigan | W 76–71 W 67–64 W 72–60 W 84–81 L 55–62 |
2006 | Opening Round First Round | Penn State Saint Joseph's | W 76–71 L 62–71 |
2023 | First Round | Hofstra | L 86-88OT |
Three Rutgers players have had their numbers retired: [8]
No. | Player | Pos. | Tenure |
---|---|---|---|
12 | Phil Sellers | 1972–1976 | |
14 | Bob Lloyd | 1964–1967 | |
20 | James Bailey | 1975–1979 |
23 Rutgers alumni have been selected in the NBA draft.
15 Rutgers alumni have played at least one game in the NBA, including:
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are the athletic teams that represent Rutgers University's New Brunswick campus. In sports, Rutgers is famously known for being the "Birthplace of College Football", hosting the first ever intercollegiate football game on November 6, 1869, in which Rutgers defeated a team from the College of New Jersey with a score of 6 runs to 4.
Stephen Christopher Pikiell is an American college basketball coach and since March 16th, 2016, the head men's basketball coach at Rutgers. Prior to Rutgers, Pikiell was the head coach at Stony Brook for over a decade, leading the Seawolves to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016.
The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Wolverines play home basketball games at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan has won one NCAA Championship as well as two National Invitation Tournaments (NIT), 15 Big Ten Conference titles and two Big Ten tournament titles. In addition, it has won an NIT title and won a Big Ten tournament that were vacated due to NCAA sanctions.
The Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball program is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. The team competes in the Big East Conference and plays their home games in the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Pirates are currently coached by Shaheen Holloway. Seton Hall has appeared 14 times in the NCAA tournament and were national runners-up in 1989.
The 1975–76 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1975–76 season. The team played its home games in the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference. Under the direction of head coach Johnny Orr, the team finished second in the Big Ten Conference.
Phillip Sellers Jr. was an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association.
The 2016–17 Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team represented Rutgers University–New Brunswick during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Scarlet Knights, led by first-year head coach Steve Pikiell, played their home games at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, New Jersey as third-year members of the Big Ten Conference.
The 2016–17 Big Ten men's basketball season began with practices in October 2016, followed by the start of the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. The Conference held its preseason media day on October 13 in Washington, D.C. The season began on November 11 and conference play started on December 27.
The 2017–18 Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team represented Rutgers University–New Brunswick during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Scarlet Knights, led by second-year head coach Steve Pikiell, played their home games at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, New Jersey as fourth-year members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 15–19, 3–15 in Big Ten play to finish in last place. In the Big Ten tournament, they defeated Minnesota and Indiana before losing to Purdue in the quarterfinals.
The 2018–19 Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team represented Rutgers University–New Brunswick during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Scarlet Knights, led by third-year head coach Steve Pikiell, played their home games at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, New Jersey as fifth-year members of the Big Ten Conference. The Knights finished the season 14–17, 7–13 in Big Ten play to finish in a three-way tie for 10th place. In the Big Ten tournament, they lost in the first round to Nebraska.
The 2019–20 Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team represented Rutgers University–New Brunswick during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Scarlet Knights were led by fourth-year head coach Steve Pikiell and played their home games at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, New Jersey as sixth-year members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 20–11 and 11–9 in Big Ten play to finish in a four-way tie for fifth place. Following the regular season, the Big Ten tournament and all subsequent postseason tournaments were canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, effectively ending the Knights's season.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball program in various categories, including points, three-pointers, assists, blocks, rebounds, and steals. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Scarlet Knights represent Rutgers University in the NCAA's Big Ten Conference.
The 1976 NCAA Division I Basketball Championship Game was the final of the 1976 NCAA Division I basketball tournament and determined the national champion for the 1975–76 season. The game was held at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 29, 1976. In a matchup of two Big Ten Conference teams, the Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Michigan Wolverines 86–68 to earn the university's third championship. The Hoosiers' victory concluded the last undefeated season in Division I men's college basketball.
The 2020–21 Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team represented Rutgers University–New Brunswick during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Scarlet Knights were led by fifth-year head coach Steve Pikiell and played their home games at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, New Jersey as seventh-year members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 16–12, 10–10 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for sixth place. As the No. 7 seed in the Big Ten tournament, they defeated Indiana in the second round before losing to Illinois in the quarterfinals. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1991. As the No. 10 seed in the Midwest region, they defeated Clemson in the first round before losing to Houston in the second round.
Eugene Omoruyi is a Nigerian-Canadian professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Oregon Ducks.
The 1975–76 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1975, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1976 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on March 29, 1976, at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Indiana Hoosiers won their third NCAA national championship with a 86–68 victory over the Michigan Wolverines.
The 1975–76 Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball represented Rutgers University in the 1975–76 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Tom Young, then in his third season with the Scarlet Knights. The team played its home games in College Avenue Gymnasium in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and was an NCAA Division I Independent. The Scarlet Knights played an exciting, up-tempo brand of basketball, averaging a school-record of 93.3 points per game. They entered the NCAA tournament with a perfect record (28–0), and went on to defeat Princeton, Connecticut, and VMI to reach the only Final Four in school history. After 31 consecutive wins, Rutgers fell to Michigan, 86–70, in the national semifinals, then to UCLA, 106–92, in the consolation game.
The 2021–22 Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team represented Rutgers University–New Brunswick during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Scarlet Knights were led by sixth-year head coach Steve Pikiell and played their home games at Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey as members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 18–14, 12–8 in Big Ten play to finish a three-way tie for fourth place. As the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten tournament, they lost in the quarterfinals to Iowa. The Knights received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year as a No. 11 seed in the West region. There they lost in the First Four to Notre Dame in double overtime.
The 1982–83 Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball represented Rutgers University as a member of the Atlantic-10 Conference during the 1982–83 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Tom Young and the team played its home games in Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway Township, New Jersey. The Scarlet Knights finished first in the conference's East division, but lost in the semifinals of the Atlantic-10 tournament. The Scarlet Knights received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. After an opening round win over Southwestern Louisiana, Rutgers fell to St. John's, 66–55, in the round of 32. Rutgers finished with a 23–8 record.
The 2022–23 Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team represented Rutgers University–New Brunswick during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Scarlet Knights were led by seventh-year head coach Steve Pikiell and played their home games at Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey as members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 18–13, 10–10 in Big Ten play, to finish a tie for ninth place. As the No. 9 seed in the Big Ten tournament, they defeated Michigan in the quarterfinals before losing to Purdue in the quarterfinals. The Knights received an invitation to the NIT tournament as a No. 1 seed. There, they were upset in the first round by Hofstra.