Andrew Pace
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are the athletic teams that represent Rutgers University's New Brunswick campus. Rutgers is famously known for being the Birthplace of College Football, hosting the first intercollegiate football game in 1869. The university currently fields 24 teams in the Big Ten Conference, which participates in Division I competition, as sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Rutgers men's basketball team has a historic rivalry with Seton Hall University and has appeared in the NCAA tournament eight times, most recently in 2022. The Rutgers women's basketball team has also found success, reaching the Elite Eight in the 2005-2006 season and advancing to their first National Championship game in 2007.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the basketball team | Rutgers Scarlet Knights |
| University represented | Rutgers University |
| Basketball division | Division I |
| Athletic conference | Big Ten |
| Number of times in the NCAA tournament | 8 |
| Best performance in the NCAA tournament | Final Four in 1976 |
| Number of players drafted to the NBA | 23 |
| Highest drafted player | Dylan Harper, 2nd overall in 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team history
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team represents Rutgers University in the NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The team competes in the Big Ten Conference, joining in the 2014–2015 season. 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 38–16. The team was dissolved following the 1907-1908 season, only to be reformed in 1913, and remained uninterrupted until the 1943 season.
Rutgers has appeared in the NCAA tournament eight times, most recently in 2022. They made the NCAA Final Four in 1976 and have produced many NBA players, including Roy Hinson, John Battle, and James Bailey. 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. That year, they ranked in the top 25 of the AP men's college basketball poll for the first time since 1979.
The team was predicted to be included in the 2020 NCAA tournament, but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following year, the team broke its 30-year tournament drought, earning a 10-seed in the 2021 NCAA tournament and achieving its first tournament win since 1983 with a first-round victory over Clemson. They returned to the tournament the next season, becoming the team with the lowest NET ranking to receive an at-large bid.
In the 2025 NBA Draft, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey made history as the highest-drafted Scarlet Knights ever, being selected with the second and fifth overall picks, respectively. Harper is the highest-selected Scarlet Knight ever, being drafted second overall. 15 Rutgers alumni have played at least one game in the NBA, including Junior Etou, a Congolese player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.
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The team's performance in Division I NCAA tournaments
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team represents Rutgers University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. They compete in the Big Ten Conference, having played their first season in the conference in 2014–2015.
The team has appeared in the NCAA tournament eight times, with a combined record of 6–9. They made the NCAA Final Four in 1976, ending the season ranked fourth in the nation. This was the last men's Division I tournament to date to feature two unbeaten teams, as both Indiana (who won the title) and Rutgers entered the tournament with no losses. Rutgers went 31–0 during the regular season but lost 86–70 to the Michigan Wolverines in the semifinal and then 106–92 to the UCLA Bruins in the third-place consolation game.
After a 30-year drought, the Scarlet Knights returned to the NCAA tournament in 2021, achieving their first tournament win since 1983 with a first-round victory over Clemson. They appeared in the tournament again in 2022.
The Scarlet Knights have also had success in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), appearing 15 times with a combined record of 16–15. They played in the championship game of the 2004 NIT Final but lost to the Michigan Wolverines 62–55.
The team has produced several NBA players, including Roy Hinson, John Battle, and James Bailey. In the 2025 NBA Draft, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey became the highest-selected Scarlet Knights in the history of the draft, going second and fifth overall, respectively.
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The team's performance in other tournaments
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team represents Rutgers University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The team competes in the Big Ten Conference and has a rich history dating back to 1906.
Over the years, the Scarlet Knights have experienced both triumphs and setbacks. Here is a detailed look at their performance in various tournaments:
NCAA Tournament:
The Scarlet Knights have appeared in the NCAA Tournament eight times, most recently in 2022. Their combined record in these tournaments is 6-9. In 1976, Rutgers made a remarkable run to the NCAA Final Four, which remains their best finish. After a 30-year drought, the team returned to the tournament in 2021, achieving their first tournament win since 1983 with a victory over Clemson in the first round.
National Invitation Tournament (NIT):
Rutgers has a more frequent appearance in the NIT, participating 15 times with a combined record of 16-15. In 2004, the Scarlet Knights reached the NIT Final but fell short, losing to the Michigan Wolverines 62-55.
AP Poll Rankings:
During the 2019-20 season, the Scarlet Knights experienced a resurgence under Head Coach Steve Pikiell. They reached the 20-win mark for the first time since the 2003-04 season and ranked in the top 25 of the AP men's college basketball poll, a feat not achieved since 1979. Unfortunately, the anticipated 2020 NCAA Tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Player Achievements:
Rutgers has produced several notable NBA players, including Roy Hinson, John Battle, and James Bailey. In the 2025 NBA Draft, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey made history as the highest-selected Scarlet Knights, being drafted second and fifth overall, respectively.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have had their share of successes and challenges throughout their participation in various basketball tournaments. With a passionate fan base and a commitment to excellence, the team continues to strive for greater achievements in the highly competitive world of collegiate basketball.
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The team's most notable players
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team competes in the NCAA Division I and represents Rutgers University in college basketball competition. The team has produced several notable players over the years, some of whom have gone on to successful careers in the NBA.
One of the most notable Rutgers basketball players is Ron Harper Jr., who, along with Geo Baker, led the Scarlet Knights to achieve a 20-win mark during the 2019-20 season. This included an impressive 18-1 home record and four victories over ranked opponents. The team also ranked in the top 25 of the AP men's college basketball poll for the first time in four decades.
Another well-known Rutgers basketball alum is Roy Hinson, who played in the NBA. John Battle and James Bailey are also notable former players for the Scarlet Knights, with Bailey being selected in the NBA draft.
The Scarlet Knights have had recent success in the NBA draft, with two players from the 2024 recruiting class making history. Airious "Ace" Bailey and Dylan Harper were selected as the second and fifth overall picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, the highest selections for Scarlet Knights in the NBA Draft.
Other notable players include Junior Etou, a Congolese basketball player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva of the Israeli Basketball Premier League, and Dane Miller Jr.
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The team's head coaches
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team represents Rutgers University in the NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The team competes in the Big Ten Conference and has appeared in the NCAA tournament eight times, most recently in 2022.
The current head coach of the men's basketball team is Steve Pikiell, who was hired in 2016. Pikiell has had a successful career as a basketball coach, previously serving as the head coach at Stony Brook for over a decade and leading the team to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016. Since joining Rutgers, Pikiell has led the team to renewed success, including a 20–11 overall record in the 2019–20 season and the team's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 30 years in 2021.
Pikiell was born and raised in Bristol, Connecticut, and attended the University of Connecticut, where he played as a point guard and served as a two-year captain for the Huskies. After graduating, he began his coaching career as an assistant at UConn and Yale University. He then went on to hold assistant coaching positions at Wesleyan University and Central Connecticut State University, before joining the staff at George Washington University. In 2005, he became the head coach at Stony Brook, where he remained until taking the head coaching position at Rutgers.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights women's basketball team also competes in the NCAA Division I and is part of the Big Ten athletic conference. The current head coach of the women's team is C. Vivian Stringer, who has one of the best records in the history of women's basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Rutgers University's New Brunswick campus basketball team, the Scarlet Knights, competes in the NCAA Division 1 level for both men's and women's basketball.
Rutgers basketball is part of the Big Ten Conference. They joined this conference in 2014.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA tournament eight times. They reached the Final Four in 1976 and ranked fourth in the nation at the end of the season. In 2021, they achieved their first tournament win since 1983.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights women's basketball team has also seen success, reaching the Elite Eight in the 2005-2006 season and advancing to the National Championship game in 2007.
