Rutgers basketball 2026-27: Reasons to hope and mope, must-see games, prediction

These are unprecedented times for the Rutgers basketball program.

Head coach Steve Pikiell is battling cancer, sparking a “Rutgers Tough” movement in the process.

The Scarlet Knights finally caught up with the Joneses in terms of roster funding and hiring a general manager.

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Outside prognostications expect little of this team, but there were tantalizing preseason glimpses.

Rutgers basketball players, including new center Christian Gurdak (No. 32), huddle up during a June workout

What to make of all this? Here’s a look at how it might unfold for the Scarlet Knights as the 2026-27 season gets underway with a home game against New Haven on Nov. 6.

3 REASONS TO HOPE

1. A promising postman

Rutgers’ glaring weakness last season was its post play, which was mostly nonexistent. Priority No. 1 was finding an impact center and 6-foot-10, 265-pound Virginia Tech transfer Christian Gurdak appears to be just that. In exhibitions against Villanova and St. John’s the sophomore averaged 19.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 50 percent from the field. He’s legit.

Rutgers basketball center Christian Gurdak drives against St. John’s Keyshawn Hall in an Oct. 18 exhibition at Madison Square Garden

2. A solid returning core

Six players returned – a high number in the free-agency era – and three of them are starters. Senior guard Tariq Francis was honorable mention All-Big Ten last winter, and he won’t have to carry the offensive load this season. Expect by leaps by senior forward Darren Buchanan and sophomore guard Lino Mark, both of whom played well in the preseason. Senior guard Jamichael Davis is a rare four-year Scarlet Knight. These guys know the system, the culture and the Big Ten.

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3. The Big Dance expanded

The move from 68 to 76 teams was mostly panned by the public, but it’s now highly likely that a 10-10 Big Ten record – something Rutgers has achieved four times under the current regime – punches a ticket. On paper there’s a fair amount of…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/rutgers-basketball-2026-27-reasons-100348670.html

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Publish date : 2026-11-04 10:03:00

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