The situation at Rutgers is an unusual predicament. The Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten in a largely football move just over a decade ago and were immediately a doormat in the conference in basketball. The 2016 decision to hire Steve Pikiell helped turn the program around, as he led Rutgers to a pair of NCAA Tournaments right after the pandemic, including a run of three straight finishes at 6th place or higher in the conference.
His Scarlet Knights struggled to a 15-17 mark during the 2023-24 season, their first finish under .500 in five years, but there was still reason for optimism. Pikiell and his staff had landed a pair of blue chip prospects in Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey Jr. and the hope was that they would propel this program back into that great standing, but that simply didn’t come to pass.
Rutgers absolutely struggled last season once again. Bailey and Harper both put up incredible production but there wasn’t a ton of talent behind them on the roster. Fellow freshman Lathan Sommerville ha a nice season but incoming transfers like Tyson Acuff and Jordan Derkack underachieved and the Scarlet Knights were not a factor in the Big Ten. In fact, even with a pair of elite players Rutgers would once again finish just 15-17.
In the blink of an eye Pikiell has now spent nine seasons on the sidelines in Piscataway and this past one was certainly the most disappointing. What should be concerning is where the future lies for this program. Rutgers didn’t exactly break the bank this offseason and certainly don’t have the talent to replace what they’re losing in Bailey and Harper, who both just became Top 5 picks in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Former George Washington forward Darren Buchanan is the best transfer addition while a pair of fringe 4-star prospects in Lino Mark and Chris Nwuli could earn notable minutes right off the bat. When you look at the full picture, this roster will not be as talented as last seasons, though Pikiell is hoping that it’s a more cohesive group.
When the Scarlet Knights were making the postseason, they were led by stars like Geo Baker and Ron Harper, but neither of them was a highly-touted recruit. Perhaps this program needs to focus more on developing their talent and building a more balanced rotation. Whether or not that happens this season, the fact of the matter is that last season was a major disappointment and things like that cannot keep happening.
You have to consider what Pikiell has meant to this program, because dismissing him doesn’t necessarily mean good things come to this program. Many of his predecessors failed to build contending teams, whether in the Big Ten or Big East before that. There are no guarantees that the next hire turns things around in Piscataway so giving Pikiell another chance certainly isn’t a bad move. Regardless, Rutgers might need to show more fight or we could see a change next March.
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