Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball | |||
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University | Rutgers University | ||
First season | 1906–07; 118 years ago [1] | ||
All-time record | 1,298–1,263 (.507) | ||
Head coach | Steve Pikiell (9th season) | ||
Conference | Big Ten | ||
Location | Piscataway, New Jersey | ||
Arena | Jersey Mike's Arena (capacity: 8,000) | ||
Nickname | Scarlet Knights | ||
Colors | Scarlet [2] | ||
Uniforms | |||
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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 history of Rutgers men's basketball dates back to 1906 when they began their first season of play. Their first recorded game was a loss to New York University by a score of 16-38. [3] The team was dissolved following the 1907-1908 season, only to be reformed in 1913 where they remained intact uninterrupted until the 1943 season.
The 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. [4] 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. [5] 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. After the hiring of Head Coach Steve Pikiell in 2016, the program began to see renewed success. In the 2019-20 season, led by guards Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr., the Scarlet Knights reached the 20-win mark for the first time since the 2003-04 season, including an 18-1 home record and four wins against ranked opponents. That year, they ranked in the top 25 of the AP men's college basketball poll for the first time since 1979. [6] Experts widely predicted Rutgers' inclusion in the 2020 NCAA tournament, but the event was cancelled before the field was announced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. [7] The following season, the team would officially break its 30-year tournament drought when it earned a 10-seed in the 2021 NCAA tournament, where it would also achieve its first tournament win since 1983 in a first round win over Clemson. [8] The Scarlet Knights returned to the tournament again the next season, becoming the team with the lowest NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) ranking at 77th overall to receive an at-large bid since the NCAA has utilized the NET to inform tournament selection choices. [9]
After disappointing back-to-back seasons of missed tournaments, the Scarlet Knights now anticipate the arrival of their 2024 recruiting class, which ranks among the best of all collegiate basketball programs for the year, headlined by two McDonald's All-American players: forward Airious "Ace" Bailey and guard Dylan Harper. [10]
The Scarlet Knights have appeared in the NCAA tournament eight times. Their combined record is 6–9.
Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
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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 |
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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: [11]
No. | Player | Pos. | Tenure |
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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:
Edward Montgomery Jordan is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He formerly served as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards, and Sacramento Kings in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was also head coach for three seasons at Rutgers University.
James L. Bailey is an American former professional basketball player. A 6'9" forward/center from Rutgers University, he was selected with the 6th pick of the 1979 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. Nicknamed "Jammin' James," he spent 9 seasons (1979–1988) in the National Basketball Association (NBA), playing for the Sonics as well as the New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, and Phoenix Suns. He ended his NBA career with 5,246 total points.
John Patrick Beilein is an American professional basketball coach who currently serves as a college basketball analyst for the Big Ten Network. Before being hired by the Big Ten Network, Beilein served as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Prior to joining the Cavaliers, he coached the Michigan Wolverines (2007–2019), West Virginia Mountaineers (2002–2007), Richmond Spiders (1997–2002), Canisius Golden Griffins (1992–1997) in NCAA Division I as well as the Le Moyne Dolphins (1983–1992), Nazareth College (1982–1983) and Erie Community College (1978–1982). Beilein has won 754 career games at four-year universities and 829 games altogether, including those at the junior college level. Beilein's overall career wins counting the time spent in Cleveland is 843 games.
Quincy Douby is an American-born, naturalized Montenegrin former professional basketball player. At 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m), 175 pounds (79 kg), Douby played shooting guard for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The Sacramento Kings made him the 19th selection of the 2006 NBA draft.
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.
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I college basketball and competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Hoosiers play at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on the Branch McCracken Court in Bloomington, Indiana on the Indiana University Bloomington campus. Indiana has won five National Championships in men's basketball – two coming under Branch McCracken and three under Bob Knight. For forty-seven years and counting, Indiana's 1976 squad remains the last undefeated NCAA men's basketball champion.
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), and play their home games at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Wolverines have 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, Michigan won an NIT title and a Big Ten tournament that were vacated due to NCAA sanctions.
The Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team represents Marquette University in NCAA Division I college basketball and competes in the Big East Conference. The team plays its home games at Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee.
The Xavier Musketeers men's basketball team represents Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school's team currently competes in the Big East Conference, and are coached by Sean Miller. Xavier has appeared in the NCAA tournament 29 times, 16 times in the 18 tournaments between 2001 and 2018. On March 11, 2018, Xavier earned its first ever No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Xavier is also a two-time winner of the NIT, with their most recent championship coming in 2022.
Bob Wenzel is a former American college basketball coach and broadcaster for the Big Ten Network, ESPN, CBS Sports and Fox Sports.
The St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team represents St. John's University located in Queens, New York. The team participates in the Big East Conference, where it is a founding member of the league. As of the end of the 2022–23 season, St. John's ranked ninth with 1,922 total wins among NCAA Division I teams. St. John's has appeared in 30 NCAA tournaments, most recently appearing in 2019. The Red Storm's best finish in the NCAA tournament came in 1952 when they were NCAA runner-ups and made the Final Four. St. John's also made a Final Four appearance in 1985. St. John's is coached by Rick Pitino.
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 2010–11 Big East Conference men's basketball season was the 32nd season of competitive basketball played by the Big East Conference, since its inception in 1979, and involved its 16 full-time member schools. The season officially opened on December 27, 2010, when Pittsburgh defeated Connecticut, 78–63, and ended on March 5, 2011, with a 72–56 victory for St. John's over South Florida.
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.
Ronald Harper Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights of the Big Ten Conference. He is the son of former NBA player Ron Harper.
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 team 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 1982–83 Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team 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.