Is Rutgers Basketball Becoming an Elite Program?

Rutgers Basketball has had an interesting past 30 years to say the least. Dating back to the 1992-93 season, Rutgers Basketball had *checks notes* 4 winning seasons upon the conclusion of the 2018-19 season. In fact, over that 27 year span they totalled 0 seasons with a conference record above .500 (going 8-8 and 9-9 in 2002 and 99 respectively). Yet despite that, the current state of Rutgers Basketball feels like a different universe all together, having 3 straight winning seasons, all going at least .500 in conference play, back to back NCAA tournament appearances, and back to back seasons of beating the #1 ranked team. The man behind the shocking turn-around? Steve Mothafucking Pikiell.

Pikiell took over the Rutgers program in 2016 after proclaiming to the Rutgers AD that he would "walk the Turnpike to get this job." proving that he was actually insane enough to inherit the 7-25 Rutgers squad.

Now personally, being a Rutgers fan, we fucking suck at everything, however there was a time that wasn't entirely the case. From 2006-14 Rutgers Football wasn't really that bad of a program, posting a ton of 8-4 and 7-5 seasons in the good ol' Big East, even going 8-5 their inaugural season in the Big Ten. But Basketball? I mean Rutgers had made the Final Four somehow back in the mid 70's, but outside of that I'm pretty sure Rutgers Basketball was just a fantasy land of broken dreams and false hope (basically rutgers football post 2015).

Pikiell's impact was immediately felt during his first season as head basketball coach, 2016-17, taking a team that went 7-25 and putting together three straight years with 14+ wins to start his tenure.

The 2019-20 season was where things really took off. Rutgers was able to put up its first winning season in 14 years and was poised to make the tournament for the first time in 27 years until the Covid-19 pandemic came and cancelled the tournament (the 'RU Screw' as most rutgers students are well aware of). However, despite this Rutgers was able to follow up their 2019-20 season with back to back tournament appearances, and appearing in 10 AP polls during that time period.

Fast forward to present day, January 18th, 2023, Rutgers is once again ranked in the top-25, holding 2nd place in the Big Ten through 7 conference games and has a legitimate chance of challenging for the Big Ten championship. Many nay-sayers might point to the fact that the conference is having one of the weakest years in recent memory, with perennial powers such as Maryland, Wisconsin, and Iowa getting off to slow starts within the conference to discredit the fact that Rutgers is currently one of the top teams in the B1G. But, isn't the whole motto of the Big Ten, 'there's no days off in the Big Ten" referring to just how tough it can be to win games in the conference. The fact of the matter is that Rutgers has won has won their games this season, and the other teams have not.

Right now, Rutgers may not be one of the 'best' programs in the country, on par with Kansas, Gonzaga, or Houston, but they are most definitely on track. Following Sunday's overtime win against Ohio State, Rutgers was able to get a commitment from 5 star prospect Ace Bailey of the 2024 class. According to 24/7 sports composite rankings, Bailey is the #6!!! prospect in the country, that's Duke level numbers right there. Currently about 10 months away from the 2024 signing day, Rutgers has the #3 recruiting class, with Bailey committed alongside 4 star guard Dellquan Warren. A recruiting class with just those two guys alone would put Rutgers as a likely favorite to win the B1G in 2024-25 , but alas there's more. Dylan Harper, the younger brother of Ron Harper Jr (a Rutgers legend) is another 5 star prospect that could seriously consider going to Rutgers. Well, call me crazy but I seriously believe if Rutgers can get all three of those guys into middlesex county for 2025 Rutgers would be one of the favorites to win the national championship.

In conclusion, regardless of what history, or any doubters say, there is a true culture change happening on the banks of the Raritan River, and with an elite coach like Pikiell at the helm, there's no limit to the possibilities that Rutgers can achieve.