A dynamic, stylized basketball jersey with "RUTGERS" in bold letters, hanging in a bright, modern locker room with a glowing doorway, symbolizing a new era.
Rutgers Basketball: A New Era Begins in 2025-26
Season Opener and Transition Period
Rutgers men's basketball is set to begin the 2025–26 season with a home game against Rider University on Wednesday, November 5, at 6 p.m. at Jersey Mike's Arena. This season marks a period of transition for the Scarlet Knights, as they aim to rebound from a 15–17 record in the 2024–25 season, during which they finished 11th in the Big Ten Conference and did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
Roster Overhaul and Key Departures
The team faces the challenge of replacing six of its top seven scorers from last season, including standout freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, who were selected second and fifth overall in the NBA Draft, respectively. To address these departures, head coach Steve Pikiell has brought in a mix of experienced transfers and promising freshmen. Notable additions include Darren Buchanan Jr., a redshirt junior forward from George Washington University, and Tariq Francis, a junior guard from NJIT who led the America East Conference in scoring last season with 19.2 points per game.
Challenging Schedule Ahead
The Scarlet Knights' schedule features several challenging matchups early in the season. They will participate in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, facing preseason No. 18 Tennessee on November 24, followed by games against Notre Dame and a third opponent. Additionally, Rutgers will open its Big Ten play by hosting No. 1 Purdue on December 2 and traveling to No. 7 Michigan on December 6.
Home Court Advantage
Rutgers' home games continue to draw strong support, with Jersey Mike's Arena known for its intense atmosphere and a streak of 79 consecutive sold-out regular-season games over the past five seasons.
Looking Forward
As the Scarlet Knights embark on this new season, the focus will be on integrating the new roster and returning to the defensive and rebounding strengths that have been hallmarks of Coach Pikiell's tenure.
The prompt for this was: rutgers basketball
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