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Rutgers Basketball: Outlook for the future of the Scarlet Knights

By Bryan Mauro

PISCATAWAY, NJ - JANUARY 09: Geo Baker #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights reacts after scoring the game winning three-point basket defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 64-61 in a game at Rutgers Athletic Center on January 9, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - JANUARY 09: Geo Baker #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights reacts after scoring the game winning three-point basket defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 64-61 in a game at Rutgers Athletic Center on January 9, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Steve Pikiell of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights yells to his team during the first half of a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Rutgers Athletic Center on February 5, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan defeated Rutgers 77-65. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Steve Pikiell of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights yells to his team during the first half of a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Rutgers Athletic Center on February 5, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan defeated Rutgers 77-65. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Rutgers Basketball has opened eyes across the country this year. They appear to be here to stay. So why is their future outlook positive?

1975. This year is the year that all Rutgers Basketball fans will remember. During the 1975 season the Scarlet Knights found themselves in the final four one win away from the National Championship. After that season it has been a mostly uphill climb for Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are far away from their glory years, but this is a fanbase who has proven they will support a winner.

When your program has not made the NCAA tournament for 29 years, has yet to finish higher than 14th in the current formation of the Big Ten, and has not experienced a winning season since 2005 there is not much to cheer about. When the fans come out to support their team the Scarlet Knights have one of the best home court advantages in the entire league. The Rutgers Athletic Center or the RAC is good for an upset of a top team almost every year.

New head coach Steve Pikiell has led a resurgence of the Scarlet Knight program and has gotten Piscataway excited about their basketball team again. The state University of New Jersey has shown they are tired of being of doormat. Coach Pikiell has been able to convince the best talent in the state to stay home and play for the state school. Rutgers behind the tutelage of Steve Pikiell has grown as a program. The Scarlet Knights are no longer a pushover or a rocking chair game in the Big Ten. How will they handle no longer being able to sneak up on their opponents?  What does the future hold for the program?

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