Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2023–24 Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team
UniversityRutgers University
First season1906–07[1]
All-time record1,298–1,263 (.507)
Head coachSteve Pikiell (8th season)
ConferenceBig Ten
LocationPiscataway, New Jersey
ArenaJersey Mike's Arena
(Capacity: 8,000)
NicknameScarlet Knights
ColorsScarlet[2]
 
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


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.

History

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.

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Scarlet Knights have appeared in the NCAA tournament eight times. Their combined record is 6–9.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1975First RoundLouisvilleL 78–91
1976First 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#6Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
#3 Georgetown
#10 St. John's
W 64–58
L 65–67
1983#9First Round
Second Round
#8 Southwest Louisiana
#1 St. John's
W 60–53
L 55–66
1989#13First Round#4 IowaL 73–87
1991#9First Round#8 Arizona StateL 76–79
2021#10First Round
Second Round
#7 Clemson
#2 Houston
W 60–56
L 60–63
2022#11First Four#11 Notre DameL 87–89 2OT

NIT results

The Scarlet Knights have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 15 times. Their combined record is 16–15.

Year Round Opponent Result
1967First 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
1969First RoundTennesseeL 51–67
1973First RoundMinnesotaL 59–68
1974First RoundUtahL 89–102
1977First RoundSt. BonaventureL 77–79
1978First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
3rd Place Game
Army
Indiana State
Texas
Georgetown
W 72–70
W 57–56
L 76–96
W 85–72
1982First Round
Second Round
Iona
Purdue
W 55–51
L 65–98
1990First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Holy Cross
Fordham
Penn State
W 87–78
W 81–74
L 55–58
1992First Round
Second Round
James Madison
Manhattan
W 73–69
L 61–62
1999First Round
Second Round
Hofstra
Clemson
W 58–45
L 68–78
2000First RoundKent StateL 62–73
2002First RoundYaleL 65–67
2004First 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
2006Opening Round
First Round
Penn State
Saint Joseph's
W 76–71
L 62–71
2023First RoundHofstraL 86-88OT

Retired numbers

Three Rutgers players have had their numbers retired:[8]

No. Player Pos. Tenure
12
Phil Sellers1972–1976
14
Bob Lloyd1964–1967
20
James Bailey1975–1979

Scarlet Knights in the NBA

23 Rutgers alumni have been selected in the NBA draft.

15 Rutgers alumni have played at least one game in the NBA, including:

Players in international competition

References

  1. Rutgers Men's Basketball History, 22 December 2020.
  2. "Colors | Visual Identity System". Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  3. 1976 NCAA Division I basketball tournament Archived 2008-01-19 at the Wayback Machine at shrpsports.com, accessed 29 December 2006.
  4. The Guardian, Rutgers' firing of coach Mike Rice exposes a toxic locker-room culture, 3 April 2013.
  5. NCCA.com, .
  6. ESPN, .
  7. twitter.com, .
  8. Rutgers Men’s Basketball Media Guide (PDF), 2020 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Men’s Basketball Media Guide”, Rutgers Sports Information Department, Pages 92–94.
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